Vol. 38, No. 22
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. July 22, 2015
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
LaFontaine faces utility rate increase
Pence names Marion judge to Appeals post Wabash judge was among finalists
Debt stands at $1.8 million
By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com G o v. M i k e Pence named Judge Rober t R . Altice, Jr., of Marion Superi o r Court to fill the CHRISTOPHER Indiana GOFF Court of Appeals vacancy on Friday, July 17. Wabash Superior Court Judge Christopher Goff was among the three finalists nominated by the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission to fill the vacancy left by Judge Ezra H. Friedlander who announced his retirement in February. Appeals attorney Patricia C. McMath was the third nominee. (continued on page 10)
By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com LAFONTAINE – LaFontaine water and sewer costs spiked in June and the residents there aren’t happy.
At the Town Council meeting on Monday, July 13, Council President Gary Henderson, councilmen Jon Gillespie and Jeremy Waite, Clerk Treasurer Cindy Erb and Town Attorney Al Plummer listened to more than a dozen complaints of bills jumping $20-$100 in a month. The utility rate increases were applied to the July billing (continued on page 10)
Midwest Poultry expansion plan upsets neighbors By Shaun Tilghman news@thepaperofwabash.com
Old time excursion: The Nickel Plate Steam Engine No.765 spews black smoke as it makes its way east Saturday afternoon at the overpass on Old U.S. 24 near Richvalley. The engine made four trips through Wabash County – two on Saturday and two on Sunday – as it made its way from Fort Wayne to Lafayette and back, taking passengers on a daylong excursion. Photo by Joseph Slacian
NORTH MANCHESTER — Midwest Poultry Services, the family-owned and operated egg farming business based in Mentone, recently submitted an application to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) requesting approval of an expansion project for Hi-Grade Egg Producers and Processors, located at 5780 E 1100 N, in
North Manchester. Originally, Midwest Poultry submitted Confined Feeding Operation (CFO) application packet on April 22nd proposing the construction of six new layer barns on the Hi-Grade farm. However, on June 1, Midwest Poultry CEO Robert Krouse advised IDEM that the application was being withdrawn. On June 15, Midwest Poultry submitted the current CFO (continued on page 22)
Barker Trust Fund helps Ivy Tech, Learn More Center By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
The Learn More Center and Ivy Tech Community College’s Wabash Campus shared more than $75,000 in funding from the Pauline Barker Educational Trust. The funds — $33,800 for the Learn More Center and $42,000 for Ivy Tech — were distributed during a brief ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the Ivy Tech Campus. Officials from First Merchants Bank’s Trust Company presented the funds to
representatives from the two organizations. The firm oversees the trust fund. Officials from the Learn More Center will use the funds to help advance educational opportunities for adults in Wabash County. The Center provides students a path to attain their goals within an efficient, effective and nurturing environment that provides instruction, guidance and mentoring. Since 2010, the trust fund has provided funds for 194 local adults to receive a high school equivalency diploma.
Learn More Center Executive Director Cynthia Johnson said the agency is blessed to receive funds from the Barker Trust. “Each and every year, I think since I’ve been director, it’s come through at a critical time and it’s been such a blessing,” she said. “If you ever get a chance to come to our graduation, the stories you get to hear about the importance of getting a high school diploma make on a student’s life and their family’s life, it really is just incredible. “We hear about No Child Left (continued on page 9)
Richard “Chuck” Huffman, Senior Vice President of First Merchants Trust Company, and Pam Guthrie, Executive Director of Ivy Tech Community College’s Wabash campus, talk about the Pauline J. Barker Educational Trust. Photo by Joseph Slacian