The Paper will be closed July 4. News Deadline: June 30, noon Ad Deadline: July 1, noon
THE PAPER June 29, 2011
Applicants complete testing requirements for Sheriff’s deputy positions
by Danielle Smith The June 27 meeting of the Wabash C o u n t y Commissioners began with County H i g h w a y Superintendent John Martin presenting paperwork regarding the reclassification of various county roadways. Martin hopes to reclassify these roadways as “major collectors”, which would make them eligible for federal funding of repairs. The roadways include: America Road from SR 124 to the southern county line; CR 300 E from Servia to SR 114; CR 300 E from Lagro to CR 800 N; CR 200 W from U.S. 24 to CR 200 N; and CR 700 W from Old 24 to Roann. Wabash County Sheriff Bob Land reported that, after 26 new book-ins over the weekend, the Wabash County jail is now housing 89 inmates. He is considering moving some inmates to Miami County Jail to alleviate overcrowding. Land also informed the Commissioners that he is exploring options to make the Sheriff ’s Department more handicap accessible. He will speak with the Wabash City Street Department regarding this matter. Land informed the Commissioners that (continued on page 7)
Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
There is still HOPE for the uninsured in Wabash County by Amanda Hoff When some people think about going to the doctor’s office they cringe in fear of what they might hear. They don’t want to know what is wrong with them or what medications they will have to add to their ever-growing lists. However, they go anyway because they know they need to. Others, however, have to consider something else as well. Their minds are not preoccupied with medications and the poking and prodding they will have to endure. Instead, they worry about the bill they will have to pay afterward. Some will even avoid doctor’s visits because of their lack of insurance and, as a result of no insurance, an inability to pay for treatment. There is hope in the future though; 85 HOPE that is. 85 HOPE will be a notfor-profit, free healthcare center located on Ash Street across from the Wabash Hospital. The hospital owns the building and is letting the clinic use the space for practically nothing. “It is a very little office and we hope to outgrow it soon, but right now the price is right,” said Dr. Rose Wenrich, president of the 85 HOPE board. “It’s a place for us to start.”
The clinic is set to open Dec. 1 and in the beginning will be operational one day a month on Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. After a couple months of this, the clinic hopes to be open at least one day a week if they see a need for it. However, before they can accept their first patients in December, a lot of things need to fall into place. The board for 85 HOPE has applied for nonprofit status and has set up a PO Box. “Now that we’ve applied and we have a board, we’re at the point that we can do fundraising,” Wenrich said. The board does have a fundraising committee but has yet to host any events. Plans are in the making though, and many have committed to approaching churches and service clubs to ask if they would like to donate to the clinic. Board members include Erin Shaw as vice president, Chris Goff, J. Dean Gifford, Jane Skeans, Bob McCallen, Kevin Besore, Mark Sapusek, Marilyn Custer-Mitchell, Claudia Rosen and Donna Bogert. “Everyone has a different skill set,” Wenrich said. The board ranges from doctors, RNs and nurse practitioners to someone who
DR. ROSE WENRICH is president of the 85 HOPE Board of Directors. 85 HOPE will be a nonprofit, free healthcare center, serving uninsured Wabash residents. Board Members include: Erin Shaw, vice president; Chris Goff; J. Dean Gifford; Jane Skeans; Bob McCallen; Kevin Besore; Mark Sapusek; Marilyn Custer-Mitchell; Claudia Rosen; and Donna Bogert. (photo by Amanda Hoff)
Wenrich calls a computer guru. One of the other steps is finding a parttime employee once the organization has enough funding. Although all of the doctors, RNs, and practitioners who will treat the patients will be volunteers, the one part-time employee will be paid. The board has begun to interview candidates for this position, which Wenrich
Helen Baker, 86 Ryan Mendoza, 30 Julia Metzger, 93 Patricia Mock, 71 John Simmons, 82 Jackie Smith, 67 Norma Thompson, 99 John Worthington, 63
Index Classifieds................28-31 D & E .....................22-23 Weekly Reports ........12-13 Vol. 34, No. 15
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
help.” Some people, like the ones who only worry about going to the doctor’s office because of what could be wrong with them, might be unable to see why Wabash needs a free healthcare clinic – the 85 HOPE board never had to wonder about that. Many of them, the doctors and nurses, have seen countless patients come into their offices without insur-
ance and seen them struggle to come up with a way to pay for treatment and medication. “We all know somebody without insurance who is struggling,” Wenrich said. “We know people who have had complications from high blood pressure because they couldn’t come in and get their medication.” The board has also done a “needs assess(continued on page 6)
Sheltered Reality uses music to guide young adults
In Memoriam
Community News ............17-21
describes as being a ringleader-like figure, but that the real title they will be functioning under is clinic coordinator. This person will keep things flowing smoothing and hopefully bring in more volunteers. “We’re going to need everything but mostly we’re going to need people,” Wenrich said. “I’ve had people that as soon as they hear about it, they want to
SHELTERED REALITY will bring its choreographed drumlines and real-life stories to the Wabash Church of the Nazarene, July 4, at 7 p.m. The program, focused on young adults, is aimed to generate interest within the community to create a community-backed Sheltered Reality group. (photo provided)
Program is notable for choreographed drumlines and reallife messages
by Brent Swan On July 4 at Wabash Church of the Nazarene, 902
Manchester Ave., Wabash, people will have an opportunity to experience music
with a meaning, performed by Sheltered Reality. Sheltered Reality is a nonprofit musical organization with performing members all over the Midwest. Members pair percussion instruments with choreography and motivational messages. While completing his dissertation for his doctorate in intrinsic motivational theory, Steven Schlosser felt the calling to take what he later described as a “chance of his lifetime” and make Sheltered Reality his
career. Centered primarily on inspiring participants to become better individuals and to take action to assist others to succeed in life as well; Schlosser’s program has grown from 150 shows in its first year, to 315 shows in 2010. Each show features participants from local Sheltered Reality groups consisting of young adults with some members being as young as four years old. One local resident, Eric Armentrout,
first encountered the group four years ago. “When I first saw them perform, I immediately thought we need to get a group started here in Wabash,” Armentrout said. “I thought of it as a church-related, or a church outreach type of program, but realized it’s too big for any one church to manage.” Currently, an effort is being launched by Armentrout and other volunteers to gauge the interest in creating a local Sheltered Reality group. As part of this effort, (continued on page 6)