Vol. 40, No. 20
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. August 2, 2017
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Work on old jail progressing By David Fenker david@nmpaper.com Restoration work on the old Wabash County Jail and Sheriff ’s House is expected to be completed this fall. That’s what Paul Hayden, director of the Indiana Landmarks Northeast Field Office, told the Wabash County Board of Commissioners at its July 31 meeting. “Literally, we’re working from
Isaiah (left) and Matt Burlingham unload trash from a boat on Saturday during the cleaning of the Wabash River. Photo by Emma Rausch
Volunteers clean up river By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com More than 110 Wabash County residents trekked through the Wabash River Saturday morning, July 29, to remove tires and debris during the Wabash River Defenders’ annual “Clean Out the Banks.” From the Huntington County
line westward, locals waded through 19 miles of the river in search of trash and dumped items to clear out and properly dispose of. “Hey Wabash River Defenders, it’s a great day,” Michael Beauchamp, organization founder, said receiving cheers from the crowd Saturday morning. “We’re going to get
wet today!” The Wabash River Defenders, a nonprofit organization focused on educating, reviving and maintaining the Wabash River running through Wabash County, began the annual clean out in 2011. Since then, defenders have pulled out more than 124 tons of (continued on page 4)
the top of the building down. The major improvement at this time is the roof and gutting system… the cornices had large holes in them with pigeons coming in and out; those have been rebuilt, the roof ’s been rebuilt, the cupula has been repaired and reroofed, and gutters and downspouts have been installed,” Hayden said. Additional work thus far includes the completion of inte(continued on page 5)
WRT hearing set Aug. 24 in Indy By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com COLUMBIA CITY – A hearing on a stop work order at the site of the Lagro boat ramp will take place Aug. 24 in Indianapolis. The hearing came at the request of opponents to the ramp, which was created by the Wabash River Trail as part of its plans for a 33-mile bike route through the county. Administrative Law Judge Sandra Jensen also will hear a
status update that day on a second matter concerning the river, an appeal to a pedestrian bridge to be built over the Lagro Creek. Those were the results of two hearings on Thursday, July 27, on appeals of the Department of Natural Resource’s issuance of after-the-fact permits to WRT for the boat ramp and for the pedestrian bridge. The hearings were at the DNR’s District 2 Conservation Officer (continued on page 5)
Gouveia wins pageant crown By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com Alyson Gouveia took home the crown at the 27th annual Wabash County Festivals Queen Pageant Friday night, July 28. Gouveia told The Paper of Wabash County she’s excited to take on her role as a representative of Wabash County. “I think it’s an honor to represent Wabash County,” Gouveia said. “We are a small community, but we have so much to offer. The people are great and to be the face at the festivals is truly
an honor. “So I’m excited to do that and I hope to represent us well.” A Southwood High School graduate, Gouveia is currently studying elementary education and teaching English as a second language at Ball State University with plans to graduate in 2018. Prior to Friday night, Gouveia has competed in the Wabash County Festivals Queen Pageant on three other occasions, earning the first runner up title in 2014 and second runner up designations in 2013 and
2015. As queen, Gouveia will be attending Wabash County’s various festivals during the next year. She will also be attending a variety of state events as a representative of Wabash County. However, Gouveia added, she hopes to do more. “I would really like to see the Festivals Court expand as far as what we do,” she explained. “We attend a lot of festivals, but I would like to see us engage more in a service aspect, volunteering and doing different (continued on page 6)
Alyson Gouveia is all smiles as she was named the Wabash County Festivals Queen. Photo by Emma Rausch