Vol. 40, No. 33
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. November 1, 2017
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
County’s LIT changes explained By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com The Local Income Tax rate is not increasing. However, homestead property owners may see increase on their tax statement, according to Marcie Shepherd, Wabash County Auditor. On Monday, Oct. 16, the Wabash County Council approved an ordinance modify-
ing the LIT allocations. As per the ordinance, the modifications were to decrease Property Tax Relief rates from 1 percent to .5 percent, allocate .41 percent to Certified Shares and direct .09 percent of the Expenditure rate to the Public Safety Access Point (PSAP). The LIT modifications will take affect as of Jan. 1, 2018. The Paper of Wabash County
sat down with Shepherd to have these changes explained. Is the LIT rate increasing? “Our income tax rate is 2.9 (percent). There is not an increase in our income tax,” Shepherd said. “So we’re talking about two different things (regarding increases). So income tax there is not an increase. With that income tax,
Property tax deadline nears By The Paper staff Wabash County property taxes are due Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. The normal date is November 10, however the Courthouse will be closed that day in observance of Veterans Day. The Courthouse hours are 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Taxes not paid on Nov. 13 will have a penalty added. If there is (continued on page 5)
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Lilly finalists announced By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com
Six Wabash County youth were named finalists for the 2017-2018 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, the Community Foundation of Wabash County announced Tuesday, Oct. 24. This year, from an applicant pool of 50 students, the six finalists for Wabash County are Jessica Bott, Anna Driscoll, Jada Laycock, Parker Mays, Lucas Topliff and Remington Trick. Bott, Mays and Topliff are Southwood Jr.Sr. High School students. Driscoll attends Northfield Jr.-Sr. High School, Trick is a Manchester Jr.-Sr. High School student and Laycock attends North Miami High School. Established in 1998, the scholarship provides recipients with four years of full tuition expenses paid at an accredited public or private nonprofit Indiana college or university of the student’s choice. Lilly Endowment, Inc. entrusts community foun(continued on page 6)
AlyssaBeth Archambault discusses a map she created pinpointing various sites around the United States at which her greatgrandparents, Sam and Eugenia Nainoa, performed while on the Vaudeville circuit. The pair performed at the Eagles Theatre in downtown Wabash at least two times in 1916. Photo by Joseph Slacian
An adventure of two lifetimes California resident explores great-grandparents’ lives in Vaudeville By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
AlyssaBeth Archambault is living the journey of a lifetime. In reality, it can be called the journey of two lifetimes. A Los Angeles resident, Archambault is the great-granddaughter of Sam and Eugenia Nainoa, native Hawaiians who traveled the Vaudeville circuit for about two decades in the early 20th century. Archambault is in the sixth week of a cross-country journey to visit the various towns in which her great-grandparents played. She has found about 90 cities in
which the couple had performed, and was in Wabash on Friday, Oct. 27, to do research, for the Nainoas performed at least two times at the Historic Eagles Theatre in 1916. She toured the Eagles Theatre, and stood on the stage upon which her great-grandparents once performed. Later, she sat in one of the first-floor seats, reflecting on what life was like 100 years ago for them, as well as her grandmother, Ula, who was born while the couple traveled the countryside, and her great-aunt Joyce, who also was born on the road. Archambault admitted to getting a bit
emotional while looking at the stage, imagining her great-grandfather on the stage. “I don’t know what path he took (on the stage), but I’m under the same roof he was,” she reflected. Archambault’s journey gained life while she was working at an artist residency program in Reading, Pa. A sign-painter, she accepted a residency at the GoggleWorks Center for Arts in Reading. While there, she began exploring the history of the city and, while researching old newspapers, discovered that her great-grandparents once performed there. (continued on page 7)
Konyha named to Regional Chamber post By The Paper staff
FORT WAYNE – Bill Konyha, former President and CEO of the Economic Development Group of Wabash County, is the new President of the Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana. The hiring was announced Monday morning, Oct. 30, Regional Chamber officials. In this role, Konyha is responsible for planning, overseeing and executing all efforts for the Regional Chamber. “I am very excited to join the Regional Chamber and anxious to work with our members to advocate for the continued improvement of the business environment and quality of life in Northeast (continued on page 5)