Vol. 40, No. 6
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. April 26, 2017
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
CEO tabbed for proposed organization
Goff named finalist for state Supreme Court
By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com Keith Gillenwater has been named the president and CEO of the proposed combined Wabash County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Group of Wabash County. Gillenwater, currently president and CEO of EDG, won’t assume the new post unless the merger is approved by members of both organizations. He was named to the post by the Transition Committee on Monday, April 17. It was done even though is not expected to take place until mid-May. “During this time of transition, it is imperative we select leadership that will champion a combined vision,” Transition Board chair Emily Boardman said in a press release. “Keith is an excellent match for the aspirational vision of the new organization and his ability to collaborate with community partners will be key to its success.” The Paper of Wabash County posed a series of questions to both Boardman and Jason Callahan, CEO Selection Committee chair about the decision. “The vote to merge organizations has not yet taken place,” Boardman said, explaining why the CEO was named prior to the vote. “The Transition Board felt it was our obligation to solidify leadership for the new organization to ensure a smooth transition without interruption of (continued on page 4)
County man dies after falling in well By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com LEESBURG — Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the death of man after he fell into a well at his residence on the Barbee Chain of Lakes. The incident took place about noon Monday, April 24. Maurice Terry, 84, Lafontaine, was cleaning out a well pit on his property on EMS B45 Lane making sure it was operating properly. About a half an hour later his wife found him submerged in the well. She flagged down a passerby that called 911. North Webster Fire and EMS responded with Indiana Conservation Officers to the (continued on page 4)
By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Jaisyn Petersen glues a pink paper puff his cherry blossom tree at the 11th annual Wabash FAME Festival on Saturday, April 22. Photo by Emma Rausch
Local students get glimpse of life in China By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com China returned to Wabash on Saturday, April 22, for the 11th annual Wabash FAME (Foundation of Art and Music in Education) Festival. Thirty years ago, the FAME Festival was founded in Fort Wayne on the idea of giving students “a chance to perform their music, to display their artwork in a noncompetitive atmosphere away from school,” according to Judy Ward, local festival planning committee head. In 2006, Ward assisted with bringing the festival to Wabash County. This year, the local festival focused on China. The event first spotlighted the Chinese culture in 2015 and introduced local youth to its customs, writing and arts. At Saturday’s event, youth continued their exploration of the country’s heritage and had the opportuni-
ty to try more of its traditional artworks firsthand. Throughout the past school year, Wabash County schools’ art teachers also worked with students to produce artwork for the festival to display while also teaching the children about Chinese culture through various projects, according to Ward. Wabash resident Amber Bretzman told The Paper of Wabash County that art is an important value that she and her husband, Kevin, encourage in their three daughters. “(The FAME Festival) is kind of big for us because we have three daughters and they are kind of crafty, artistic and they love to create things,” she said. “So encouraging it outside of the home and having other people’s voices inside their heads telling them great directions and how to do things, it just encourages and fosters creativity.” (continued on page 7)
Wabash County Superior Court Judge Chris Goff is one of three finalists for the soon-to-be-vacant seat on the Indiana Supreme Court. Goff, the Hon. Vicki L. Carmichael and the Hon. Matthew C. Kincaid were selected by the Judicial Nominating Commission on Wednesday, April 19, as the top three candidates to replace Justice Robert D. Rucker, who is retiring May 12 as one of five Indiana Supreme Court justices. The trio was selected from a field of 11 candidates, all of whom were interviewed by the commission last week. Goff declined a request for comment from The Paper of Wabash County, saying that out of respect for the process he would wait until a new justice was named to speak. Goff, 45, has been a member of the Indiana Bar since June 1997, serving in the general practice of law until he became a judge in 2005. “My practice was typical of a county seat practitioner,” he wrote in his application for the Supreme Court post. “Most of my clients were ordinary Hoosiers seeking assistance with ordinary legal problems. The majority of my practice involved domestic relations and criminal cases. However, I also practiced in the areas of collections, wills and estates, personal injury, and I represented a number of small businesses.” Goff served as Huntington County Public Defender for two years. Before becoming Superior Court Judge 12 years ago, he served five years as a part-time judicial officer under Wabash Circuit Court judges Daniel J. Vanderpool and Robert R. McCallen III. “Wabash County’s courts are among the busiest in the state,” Goff wrote in the application. “According to the Indiana (continued on page 5)
CHRIS GOFF
VICKI CARMICHAEL
MATTHEW KINCAID
CF releases plans for school study By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com Wabash County’s three public school districts met Thursday evening, April 20, to learn the specifics about the “Studies for Advancement,” a Community Foundation of Wabash County initiative focused on assisting the corporations meet current and future educational needs. In January, the Community Foundation offered to fund and
coordinate feasibility studies and research from jointly submitted proposals for the three school districts, Manchester Community Schools, MSD of Wabash County and Wabash City Schools. All three corporations accepted the invitation in February. “Many of you know that in 2012, the Community Foundation of Wabash County prioritized educational attain(continued on page 5)