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THE PAPER May 29, 2019
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of Wabash County Vol. 42, No. 9
Rain slows planting season By Josh Sigler jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com Farmers in this area normally start getting into fields to plant their crops in the middle of April to late April. But, due to the copious amounts of rain that has fallen in North Central Indiana this spring, farmers have been able to do only a minute amount of planting so far this season. “They’ve planted up around the Eel River where we have some sandy ground,” said Curt Campbell, Wabash County Purdue Extension
City Schools has hearing on building projects By Josh Sigler jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com Wabash City Schools held a public preliminary determination hearing Monday night to unveil its plan for building projects that it plans to undertake in the near future. Superintendent Jason Callahan explained that there were three total projects, including an expansion of the L.H. Carpenter Center, a high school-middle school connection project which will include upgrades to Coolman Gymnasium and Alumni Field, as well as maintenance projects throughout the district. Brian Bolander of Barton Coe Vilamaa was on hand to explain the projects. At L.H. Carpenter, the plan calls for the addition of restrooms, the opening of the second deck of the multi-purpose room, the relocation of the main office, the addition of eight classrooms which will allow the district to shift its kindergarten classes over to the center, and the addition of some parking. The hope is that by winter of 2019, the bids for construction on the L.H. Carpenter project will be awarded, with a breaking ground date in the
educator. “I’m guessing, less than 5 percent of the ground has been planted. We normally, by this time of the year, are wrapping things up for corn.” Campbell can’t remember a season this severe in terms of weather dictating how late farmers can get into the fields. “We’ve just never had a year like this before,” he said. “So, what are we going to do?” Most farmers need about 10 days of good planting time to get their crops in the ground. If it were to stop raining now,
farmers could still get planting done before repercussions set in. “But, we’re losing yield every day from this point on,” Campbell said. “There used to be a saying that after May 15, you would lose a bushel an acre for every day later you plant. I’m not so sure any more with the new hybrids if that’s absolutely the case.” Soybeans are affected more by later planting dates because they don’t grow as many nodules, so the older they are, the more pods the plants will have on it, causing a higher yield. Planting date affects crop yield
because famers have less growing time. The crops don’t mature in time for the end of the season. Plants can pick up growing degree days when it’s really warm, but there’s no guarantee that it will get really warm and stay really warm. Farmers normally like to go with hydrids that have 110 to 112, full-season growth day time. Now, since they are going to be planting later, they may have to switch to some earlier maturing crops. (continued on page 4)
Play ball! Roann Little League seeing many changes By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
ROANN – A new sign. A new press box. A new flag pole. New equipment for the kids and the field. Those are just a few of the changes the Roann Little League has seen over the last two years under the tutelage of commissioner Chandler Jones. Jones took over the post last season, largely at the urging of his brother, Stuart. He was no stranger to the league, having umpired for the organization for a couple of years. “Last year the people running it moved,” he said. “My brother called and said, ‘I think you should put your name in to do this.’” His brother urged Jones to discuss the matter with his wife, Amanda. He didn’t listen. “The first thing I told my wife is we’re going to do this,” Jones said, noting that she “looked at me like I was nuts.” But, he said, he had something in mind when taking over. “I wanted to put the culture of baseball back out on the baseball field,” Jones said. “We need to have the culture of baseball back out here. “We’re not here to compete against Wabash. I will never say anything bad about Wabash. I played there growing up. But I also know it’s a little more competitive, a little more (continued on page 4) serious, and sometimes people just don’t want that. “I don’t do politics and I don’t do drama. We’re just out here to play ball.” The league ranges in age from youngsters Manchester High School, 7:30 between 3 and 12 years of age. It has two T-ball p.m. May 31 at high school gymnateams, two coaches pitch teams and two Major sium League teams. Wabash High School, 7 p.m. May It competes with teams from Lagro, 31 at Honeywell Center LaFontaine and Urbana in the Metro League, Southwood High School, 7 p.m. and has incorporated the Manchester May 31 at the high school gymnaRecreation Association league into the schedsium. ule. In all, there are five T-ball teams, three Northfield High School, 7 p.m. Chandler Jones and his son, Barrett, show off the new sign naming the Roann Little coaches pitch teams and eight Major League June 1 at the high school gymnasi- League field Indians Field, in homage to the Roann School mascot. Photo by Joseph teams among the various communities. um Slacian
Graduation dates
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