Vol. 39, No. 48
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. February 8, 2017
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Chamber, EDG to join forces By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com The Wabash County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Group of Wabash County are joining forces. The unification was announced in a Jan. 31 letter to Chamber members from Emily Boardman, chairman of a board overseeing the transition. The move, she wrote in the letter, is
being made for several reasons, including: — Stronger alignment of mission and vision, aligned resources and speaking with one voice. — Stronger collaboration for achievement of shared goals. — Single point of contact for those inside and outside the community. — Strength in resources to support meaningful projects. — Stronger relationships with the
business community for support of economic and business development. The expectations for the new group is stated in its mission and vision statements, Boardman noted. The mission statement is “Together, growing a prosperous Wabash County,” while the vision statement is “Wabash County will be the model for small town America making a relevant impact on the global community by offering vibrant cultural experiences, enriching lifestyles and growing
economic opportunities while building on our heritage.” “My hope is that you will find what’s important to you in these statements,” Boardman wrote. “We are working toward a full implementation by June 30, 2017, and ask that you maintain your memberships in these organizations during 2017. “We are committed to monthly communication regarding the progress of (continued on page 2)
County OKs old jail survey By David Fenker david@nmpaper.com
The county is one step closer to transferring ownership of the old jail. At the Monday, Feb. 6 meeting of the Wabash County Commissioners, County Attorney Steve Downs informed the commissioners that he and Indiana Landmarks reached an agreement in principle, but that Indiana Landmarks wanted the commissioners to pay for a survey of the property first. After discussion, the commissioners approved up to $700 to be spent on a survey of the property. “In their draft of the agreement, [Indiana Landmarks] didn’t provide for anybody to do a survey, so I was caught off guard when they said the agreement’s fine, but what’s the status of the survey?” Downs said. (continued on page 3)
Simulator gives WFD hands-on training
Heather Allen fires a round while Rick Simmons, Wabash Wildlife and Sportsman’s Association range safety instructor, holds her steady. Allen joined 11 other women at the WWSA’s first women’s firearms safety training and shooting program on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Photo by Emma Rausch
Course teaches women firearm safety
By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com
In early December, the Wabash Fire Department donated an old ambulance to the Parkview Mirror Center to create a Mobile Medical Simulation Lab. For three days last week, firefighter-paramedics from the WFD became the first to train in the new lab. Representatives from the lab were on hand to conduct onsite training in providing emergency care for babies and small children. During one scenario, a computerized mannequin was used to represent a 5-year-old boy who was having breathing difficulties. The paramedics, paired in groups of two, had to assess the situation and provide treatment to the youngster, all the while trying to have a “parent” (one of the trainers) remain calm
Wabash County women are “taking their safety into their own hands” by attending the Wabash Wildlife and Sportsman Association’s (WWSA) women’s firearms training and safety program from February to April, according to WWSA President Tim Roberts. The program kicked off Wednesday, Feb. 1, and was a “huge success,” Roberts told The Paper of Wabash County. Without even announcing the
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program, registrants filled the classes, he said. “Just by word of mouth from our members, the classes have filled within a few days,” he said. “They filled up right away, so we scheduled five more for March and (two) more for April. All of those events will be filled. There’s all but two of them filled now.” “So the amount of interest really blew all of us away. We didn’t see that coming.” Through April 26, the WWSA will host the training program, listed as “Ladies’ Night at the Range” on the association’s website calendar, cost-
free to interested participants on Wednesday nights. The class instructs women on the “basics” of firearms training, such as in’s and out’s of handguns, mustknown safety guidelines and how to properly hold, aim and shoot a firearm. With a 12-student limit per class, the program offers participants group instruction on safety training and individual instruction on shooting a handgun, Roberts continued. He emphasized that it’s a “very basic class.” (continued on page 2)