THE PAPER Paid for by The Committee to Re-elect Mayor Vanlandingham, Doug Lehman, Treasurer.
of Wabash County Inc.
www.thepaperofwabash.com
March 30, 2011
Habitat for Humanity to acquire Ferry Street property by Danielle Smith The March 28 meeting of the Wabash County Board of Commissioners began with County H i g h w a y Superintendent John Martin presenting a memorandum of understanding regarding an unofficial detour of SR 16 while the drain structure is replaced. The detour will travel on CR 500 E, CR 700 N and CR 650 E before returning to SR 16. Wabash County Sheriff Bob Land then reported that they are currently housing 68 inmates at Wabash County Jail. Medicaid for the inmate that recently received a liver transplant expired March 28. Health Professionals, Ltd., will pay the first $1,500 for medication; any medical expenses incurred thereafter will be Wabash County’s responsibili-
by Danielle Smith The LIFE Center, Wabash, will soon begin using a sonogram system in their quest to assist women in crisis pregnancies. Jeni Friedersdorf, former executive director of the LIFE Center, presented her dream of purchasing a sonogram system for the LIFE Center to the board of directors a few years ago. “I had heard of other centers getting ultrasounds and had kind of looked into that and thought that would be a great idea,” Friedersdorf said. “The proof is that if a woman sees her baby, more than likely, she will choose to carry the baby rather than have an abortion. That’s our whole outlook. We’re here to help women and help save children’s lives.” The board agreed it was a project that they would work
Robert Cox Sr., 60 Paul Fogel, 76 Marvin McBride, 88 Mary McClurg, 86 Richard Mock, 43 Evelyn Sanders, 91 Chester Skinner Jr., 63 Richard Smith, 81 Lois Thompson, 101
Community News.......15-18 D & E ............................8-9 Sports Shorts ..................19 Weekly Reports ..........10-11 Vol. 34, No. 2
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
toward several years down the road. However, an unexpected donation from Victory Christian Church, North Manchester, expedited the process. Wabash Council #2957 of Knights of Columbus followed suit with a tenderloin fry that raised $8,600. Donations began coming in from local churches, businesses and individuals. “People started hearing about it and started giving, then we had an anonymous donation from someone in Florida that heard about it in the paper,” Friedersdorf said. Fundraising, however, was only a portion of what needed to be accomplished in order to make Friedersdorf ’s dream a reality. The LIFE Center had to be converted from a women’s service center to a medical facili-
THE LIFE CENTER, Wabash, recently underwent changes in preparation for the arrival of their sonogram system. Pictured with the system are former Executive Director Jeni Friedersdorf (right), who is now client service manager, and Executive Director Cheryl Meyer (left), who was hired in December 2010. Julie Willmert (not pictured) joined the staff in February as nurse manager. (photo by Danielle Smith) ty. They enlisted the help of the National Institute for Family and Life (NIFL), an organization that helps pregnancy cen-
ters around the country convert to medical centers. “They came in and trained our board and staff, that was
quite a process,” Friedersdorf said. Insurance and statements were reviewed and audited and more staff was
hired. “We hired Cheryl (Meyer) as our new director and I became (continued on page 6)
Konyha: 2011 shows promise of job creation in Wabash
In Memorium
Classifieds ................23-27
Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
LIFE Center gears up to offer ultrasounds to pregnant women
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Index
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Konyha The Indiana Department of W o r k f o r c e Development released February 2011 unemployment data on March 21. Included with the preliminary data is the monthly “Ranking of County Data” in which the Wabash County unemployment rate of 9.2 percent is ranked
62nd in the state. This is an improvement of 50 places since the height of the recession when Wabash had the 12th highest unemployment rate in the state. The Wabash County unemployment rate is now lower than seven of the counties that make up the Northeast Indiana Region with only Wells County at 9.1 percent and Adams County at 8.8 percent experiencing lower rates than Wabash County. Bill Konyha, president and CEO of the E c o n o m i c Development Group of Wabash County, Inc. (EDG) cited several factors in the improving economic
and employment conditions in Wabash County. According to Konyha, EDG, Wabash Mayor Robert Vanlandingham, the Wabash City Council, Wabash County Commissioners and County Council, the North Manchester Town Council, and EDG created an environment that is supportive of new business investment, and that this environment encourages both new businesses and existing businesses to invest in Wabash County. In 2010 alone, this cooperative environment led to the private sector investing more than $70 million and the creation 472 jobs. Konyha also stated
that 2011 holds forth promise of additional investment and job creation as a number of opportunities are pursued by EDG. Two of the 10 current attraction projects being worked by EDG have given verbal commitments. One stated that the initial attraction to Wabash County is the cooperation among the local units of government. Konyha also stated that two national site selection consultants advised that this cooperation among local units of government have Wabash County on the national radar screen. Konyha added, “One of the attraction projects is slated for the new Wabash
Business Park. We believe that it will be the development catalyst that gets things moving.” A second attraction project also committed to develop its facility in the Business Park, but “it is not nearly as far along”, said Konyha. A third project, one not slated for the business park, is the most advanced. The leadership of EDG and the cooperation of the City, County and Town of North Manchester were recently cited by Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman during separate visits to Wabash County. “What you are
doing is being noticed in Indianapolis and around the state,” said Mourdock, during the first of two February speeches in Wabash County. Skillman was the keynote speaker during the EDG Annual meeting on March 4. During her speech, she said, “Regional approaches to economic development and other matters are emerging as the new national norm. Wabash County efforts are being copied by other rural counties in Indiana, a tribute to the effectiveness of your efforts.”