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Vol. 39, No. 32
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. October 19, 2016
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
City OKs sewage, stormwater rate hikes
Nearly 23,000 registered to vote in election
By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com Increases in the sewage and stormwater rates were approved on first reading Tuesday night, Oct. 11, by the Wabash City Council. The three-phase sewage rate increase, the first since 2010, will range from $2.13 in 2017 to $2.37 in 2019, based on residential use of 5,000 gallons per month. The increase is 5.6 percent annually for the three-year period, or 16.8 percent over the three years. The stormwater rate increase is 5 percent, and would be reflected by a 20-cent increase in residential rates. Increases for non-residential sites depends on the facility’s size. For example, a structure 50,000 square feet or less would rise from the current $16.32 per month to $17.14 per month. The sewer rate increase is needed to provide funding for additions, extensions and replacements to, and proper maintenance of the sewage works. Likewise, the stormwater (continued on page 21)
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By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com
Electra Merrell (right) reaches out with a cup of Shine Shack’s chili to serve a passerby during the 14th annual Wabash Cannonball Chili for Charity Chili Cook Off on Saturday, Oct. 15. Photo by Emma Rausch
Ideal weather draws record crowd to 14th Chili Cook-off By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com Tickets nearly sold out at Wabash Cannonball’s Chili for Charity Chili Cook-Off Saturday, Oct. 15, with more than 5,000 guests in attendance,.
With 85 teams registered to serve on Saturday, the Chili for Charity committee prepared 5,000 voting ticket packages and was less than 100 away from selling out when 2:30 p.m. hit. “We stopped selling at 2:30 p.m. but continued to take dona-
tions until 3 p.m.,” Committee member Steve Weir said. “Out of 5,000 voting strips, we had less than 100 left so we easily had over 5,000 chili tasters.” With ticket prices set at $5, the event raised at least $24,500, not (continued on page 33)
Voter registration closed Tuesday, Oct. 11, and more than 22,700 Wabash County residents will be eligible to vote this Election Day, Nov 8, according to Theresa Ehret, Wabash County deputy clerk. “It picked up a lot,” Ehret told The Paper of Wabash County. “This weekend (Oct 8-9) through (Thursday, Oct. 13) I have processed 454 registrations. That was between the BMV, online registrations and mailins. “Right now we have a total of 22,724 on the roster right now with another 419 pending and in those pending are address updates and new registrations.” Registrations are up compared to 2012’s General Election count of 22,501, according to the Wabash County Clerk’s Office records. (continued on page 21)
Increase in mycotoxins seen in local corn crop By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com The majority of Wabash County’s corn farmers are reporting elevated levels of mycotoxins in their crops and it could mean trouble if not handled properly, according to Curt Campbell, Wabash County
Purdue Extension educator. Mycotoxins are natural chemicals that are associated with ear rot and can be harmful for humans and animals to ingest, according to cornmycotoxns.com, Purdue University’s research website. Farmers across the state report mycotoxins annually
and, therefore, it is common to see low levels of the toxins throughout the agricultural community, according Charles Woloshuk, a botany and plant pathology professor at Purdue University whose research specializes in mycotoxins associated with grain production. However, in Wabash County, (continued on page 31)
A sample of an ear of corn with aflatoxin. Photo provided