Vol. 39, No. 6
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. April 20, 2016
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Chamber president to retire By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Kimberly Pinkerton joined the Wabash County Chamber in 1998. File photo
Kimberly Pinkerton, President and CEO of the Wabash County Chamber of Commerce, has informed the group’s executive board she plans to retire. Pinkerton, in an April 1 letter to the board, said she would remain in the position until a search committee from the board of directors can find a replacement, Chamber Board Chair Aaron Campbell announced in an April 14 news release. “It has been a pleasure to serve throughout my tenure here,” Pinkerton wrote in her retirement letter. “I count myself lucky to have been mentored well and made many friends among you. “From each of you, I have always learned something and tried to become a
better leader for having that guidance and friendship. I wish each of you the best and thank you for letting me be a part of an organization that has worked hard to provide guidance and support for the business of Wabash County. “I will cherish my memories and friendships always.” Pinkerton began her career with the Chamber in February 1998. Early on, she was responsible for coordinating the development of new marketing strategies, team building and program redesign which resulted in a 63 percent revenue increase for key programs and a 110 percent increase in Educational Series attendance. The new gift check program was implemented during her tenure. Pinkerton also was responsible for the
rebirth and transformation of the Leadership Development Wabash County Program, which moved from an everyother-year program to an annual event. Through the program, participants have worked on various community service projects, including the Christmas Spirit Program, Little Libraries, the LaFontaine Park Project and the North Manchester Community Service Organization project. In more recent years, Pinkerton worked in partnership with the Small Business Development Center, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Economic Development Group of Wabash County to create the Entrepreneurial Development Program, which created a venue for training, business plan work and development of new and emerging (continued on page 5)
Man pleads guilty to 2015 burglary, arson By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com
A Wabash man has entered a guilty plea in connection with the burglary and arson to a Stitt Street structure in 2015. Jason Harrell, 36, Wabash, entered a plea of guilty on Monday, April 18, to felony burglary, felony arson and being a habitual offender. On June 18, HARRELL 2015, the Wabash P o l i c e Department and Wabash Fire Department responded to (continued on page 6)
The Paper seeking motor route carriers By The Paper staff The Paper of Wabash County is seeking motor route carriers to help distribute newspapers around Wabash County. Motor route carriers only work two days per week, and there is no collecting and no weekend work involved. Motor route carriers will receive papers Tuesday morning and have a 6 p.m. deadline Wednesday to have the newspapers delivered. To entice interested parties, several changes have been made in payment policies. (continued on page 5)
Cameron Campbell paints a block print in Karen Eilts-Walter’s workshop at the 10th annual FAME Festival on Saturday, April 16. Photo by Emma Rausch
FAME celebrates Indiana heritage By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com From the Peru Circus to local artists and an appearance by Johnny Appleseed, Wabash County and surrounding area children “artfully” celebrated Indiana at the 10th annual FAME (Foundation of Art and Music in Educaiton) Festival at the Honeywell Center on Saturday, April 16. To celebrate the Indiana bicentennial, the local festival focused its activities, workshops and performances around the theme, “Artfully Celebrating Indiana,” and was officially endorsed by the Indiana Bicentennial Committee as a legacy project, according to Judy Ward, local festival planning committee head.
“We tried to include lots of things about the Indiana culture and things that happen uniquely in Indiana,” Ward told The Paper of Wabash County. “So a lot of what we were doing spotlighted things in Wabash and also in Peru, since we have good involvement from there.” Festivalgoers had opportunities to watch the Miami Nation of Indians perform songs on a tribal drum, enjoy area students’ artwork and craft in the Imaginarium. The festival provides another outlet for students to learn and appreciate art and music outside of school, according to Ward. “We have so many talented students and it’s nice to have them get the opportunity beyond what they get to do at school,” she said. “The arts seem to get
reduced a little bit at the schools with all the stress on the academic math and English and whatever, but art and music both help us become more human as we can express our emotions and get in touch with ourselves as we do those. “So it’s very important that we keep these things for the students and keep it alive, a part of their (lives) as something they can enjoy all of their lives. “Whatever age, we can still enjoy music, can still enjoy art and appreciate what other people are able to do,” she continued, “but for our young kids it’s a chance for them to express and to show people what they’re able to do and they are remarkable in their work.” It’s important to attend events like FAME to learn about history and the (continued on page 5)