Vol. 39, No. 15
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. June 22, 2016
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Land acquired for dog park By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com A dog park in the City of Wabash is one step closer to reality. Stan and Patsy Myers have agreed to let the park be built on about an acre of land south of their business, EcoWater Systems, 615 S. Carroll St. The park will be under the auspices of The Dog Man of Wabash County, according to Gary Henderson, better known as
The Dog Man. “It’s not actually affiliated at all with the 4-H Dog Club, but obviously they’re going to be a huge part in using it,” Henderson told The Paper of Wabash County. “It’s also not affiliated with the City of Wabash. “I’m going to have to come up with my own liability insurance and stuff like that. The only thing we can hope for is that it be self-sustaining.” Because of that, an annual fee to use
the park will likely be charged, Henderson noted, possibly $10 per year. “The plan is right now to put a six foot fence around the perimeter,” he said. “That’s not necessarily to keep people in, but to keep people and other dogs out. “Entrance is going to be controlled as to who is able to go in and out. The preliminary plan right now is we do a card swipe or a key fob. It would be a double gate. You go in the first gate, shut it, then go in the second. Obviously if there are
dogs in there we don’t want them to be able to run out. The key fob would be able to track whose going in and whose going out and how often it’s being used.” Dogs also will have to meet certain criteria to be admitted to the park. “We’re going to have to do vet checks,” Henderson said. “We’re going to have to be pretty critical as far as vet checks. This spring we had a round of kennel cough. It goes pretty fast. We want to (continued on page 17)
Keaffaber named MSD superintendent By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com
Drake Heitz receives his Minuteman Scholarship from Staff Sgt. Willie Justice while Northfield football coach Brandon Baker and assistant coach Brian Enyeart look on. Photo by Joseph Slacian
NHS grad is Minuteman scholar By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com A Northfield High School graduate is one of five Hoosiers to have received a Minuteman Scholarship from the National
Guard. Drake Heitz received the scholarship on Wednesday, June 8, from Staff Sgt. Willie Justice of the Indiana National Guard. Heitz will use his scholarship to attend Rose Hulman Institute of Technology.
“Over the next for years, the Guard will pay $57,000 a year,” Justice told The Paper of Wabash County. “So he’s going to graduate not owing anything.” Heitz began the application (continued on page 18)
The MSD of Wabash County School Board named Mike Keaffaber as the corporation’s next superintendent at a special meeting Thursday, June 16. The board began searching for its next superintendent on June 8 following former Dr. Sandra Weaver’s retirement announcement. Weaver’s resignation will come into full effect June 30. Finding her replacement happened pretty quickly because Weaver’s retirement wasn’t anticipated, Keaffaber told The Paper of Wabash County. “She just decided it was time and that, somewhat, was a surMIKE prise to us,” he explained. “We KEAFFABER just had to wait to see how things played out.” On June 16, the board announced their decision to hand the position over to Keaffaber. “I’m very thankful and blessed and feel very privileged for the opportunity,” he said. “I know there are a lot of challenges in education. There always has been, but I really feel like I’m very capable of leading the charge and continuing on of what we’re doing here at (continued on page 17)
Official pleased with Lagro festival By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
LAGRO – Several hundred people line the streets of Lagro on Saturday afternoon, June 18, for the annual Lagro Good Ole Days Festival. The parade featured fire trucks, old cars and floats from various community organizations. Of course, most of the entries tossed candy to the youngsters who were standing along the parade route, bags to hold the free goodies in hand.
Lagro resident Clyde Rife was the parade’s grand marshal. A Lagro resident since 1971, Rife is a Northfield High School graduate and is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He retired from Diehl Machines after 38 years. “Clyde can be seen around town with his lawn mower or weed eater,” according to the festival booklet. “He loves being outdoors and adores his children. He is a member and very active in activities at the Lagro American Legion.
“He is willing to help whenever and where ever needed.” Activities began Thursday evening and continued through Sunday afternoon with a mud volleyball tourney. Festival Committee member Kristie Bone said that she was pleased with this year’s event and that she has been receiving positive comments from the public. “They really liked the circus and the bands we had this year,” she said. (continued on page 18)
Clyde Rife, the Lagro Good Ole Days Festival parade grand marshal, waves to the crowd along the route. Photo by Joseph Slacian