Vol. 38, No. 16
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. June 10, 2015
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Crash claims 2 NM residents By The Paper staff NORTH MANCHESTER – Two North Manchester residents were killed Friday morning, June 5, in a single-vehicle accident on Ind. 114, about a half-mile east of County Road 500 E. According to the Wabash County Sheriff ’s Department’s police report, the preliminary investigation showed that a 2002 GMC driven by Genny A. Gidley, 67, North Manchester was east(continued on page 20)
The Access plans school supply fundraiser By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com While the 2015 school year has just finished, officials at The Access Youth Center are already turning their sights toward the 2015-16 school year. More specifically, they are turning their attention toward fundraisers to help obtain back-to-school supplies for area youth. The AYC, located at 74 W. Canal St., will distribute backpacks with a variety of back-to-school supplies on July 30-31. However, between now and then, organizers are looking for funds to help purchase the items or community groups and individuals to donated the needed items. One fundraiser is planned Saturday, July 11, at Cannonball Lanes. The Pins for Pencils event will begin at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the day, AYC Director Liz Hobbs explained. “This is our second year to do that,” she said of the Pins for Pencils event. Rather than acting as a typical bowl-a-thon, participants don’t need to form teams or raise funds. Rather, Hobbs noted, participants can bowl as many games as they like throughout the day, at a cost of $3 per game (including shoe rental). Cannonball officials will donated $1 per game bowled to AYC, while Modoc’s Market plans to match the donation at $1 per game as well. Meanwhile, several area businesses and organizations have pledged to contribute $1 per pin for the high game. Last year, Hobbs noted, the high game was a 231, and two businesses each contributed $231 to AYC for the school supplies. So far this year, four businesses or organizations – Brodbeck (continued on page 17)
A single-vehicle crash in North Manchester claimed two lives on June 5 when, for unknown reason, the 2002 GMC driven by Genny Gidley, 67, North Manchester, left the roadway and overturned. The vehicle came to a rest in a field approximately 60 feet from the road. Photo by Emma Rausch
Manchester High School graduates 97 seniors
The Manchester High School Senior Ensemble and Concert Choir perform “Orinoco Flow” during Friday night’s commencement ceremony. Photo by Shaun Tilghman.917 By Shaun Tilghman news@thepaperofwabash.com NORTH MANCHESTER — Manchester Community Schools (MCS) bid farewell to the Class of 2015 and honored 97 graduates during the 58th annual commencement ceremony held Friday evening in the Manchester Jr.-Sr. High School (MJSHS) gymnasium. Following the processional, Salutatorian and Student Council President Claire Barnett offered the welcoming remarks. “It is a great honor to stand here before administrators, faculty, staff, families, friends, and most importantly my peers, on this landmark day – a day that marks an end and a beginning,” said Barnett. “After 13 long years, which now do not seem so long, as I stand here in this cap and this gown, here we finally are,” she continued. “Today, we graduate from Manchester JuniorSenior High School. Today, the Class of 2015 meets for our
final time. We have been nurtured and taught the fundamentals every step of the way leading us to this moment. I still do not know how our elementary, middle school, junior high, and high school teachers managed us at times, but they did, and they did so in a way that will forever impact our lives. For that, we thank you. “We are the class that has always challenged each other to grow in character. We are the class that is not afraid to step outside of the box, to start new traditions, and to show compassion towards others. We are the class that has competed to stand out academically, athletically, artistically, musically, technologically, agriculturally, in fashion, in mechanics, you name it, one of us can do it. Today, this class breaks off individually…but you better believe we are taking our tenacity with us.” Barnett went on to quote author and philosopher Ayn Rand, who once said, “All you have to do is look straight and
see the road, and when you see it, don’t sit looking at it – walk.” “As we separate, and begin each of our own walks, we will take the lessons we have learned here with us,” she concluded. “We will not sit back and wait for opportunity to come knocking. Instead, we will chase opportunity down, firmly shake his hand, and make the first move. We will not get stuck scrolling through other people’s lives on our phones, but we will go out and live ours. We have the tools, the talent, and the drive. Our potential is endless. And today we go.” Senior Kendra McKinley was next on stage, as she provided a rousing rendition of the song, “Your Heart Will Lead You Home.” Following her performance, fellow senior and Manchester FFA President Cole Mize took the stage to impart some wisdom on “The Arena of Life.” “If you have ever been to the (continued on page 22)
All-inclusive park back in City’s Stellar program By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
An all-inclusive park that was removed from the city’s Stellar Community Grant program in February is once again a part of the program. Mayor Robert Vanlandingham, in an interview with The Paper of Wabash County in mid-February, said the project was removed from the plans because none of the three agencies involved with the Stellar Grant – the Indiana Department of Transportation, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority – provide funding for such projects. However, during the Wabash Stellar Team’s quarterly meeting in late May, OCRA Representative Kathleen Weissenberger notified local officials the agency had an additional $200,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds to be applied toward the playground. “We are very excited to be able to use these funds for such a great community project and an integral part of Wabash’s overall Stellar Plan,” she said. Vanlandingham, told The Paper on June 1 that “to me it’s always been in our investment plan for Stellar, but Stellar chose not to finance it. It’s still all a part of Stellar, but not the financial part of it.” He said he was surprised when he learned of the additional funding, noting he too thought the agencies didn’t fund parks. OCRA Director Bill Konyha explained how the funding came about during an interview with The Paper on June 2. “You were right, that our (continued on page 20)