EARLY DEADLINES
Our office will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Deadlines this week will be Friday at 12 p.m. for ads and Thursday 3 p.m. for news.
THE PAPER May 25, 2011
Sheriff receives 55 applications for two available positions BY $ANIELLE 3MITH The May 23 meeting of the Wabash County Commissioners began with the commissioners approving Wabash County Recorder Lori Draper’s request to purchase a new desk for her office at a cost of $1,794.74, which includes delivery and set-up. County Highway Superintendent John Martin presented a permit to fix a tile on CR 700 N; an application for utility burial to retire a gas main on 85 N. Wabash Ave., North Manchester; a request from NIPSCO to install service at 2685 N. Old SR 15; and a right-of-way certification for Bridge 61 on CR 700 W. He also presented the 2010 Annual Operational Report for the County Highway Department. Wabash County Sheriff Bob Land reported that 83 inmates are currently being housed in the Wabash County Jail. He also informed the commissioners that he has 55 applicants for the two positions he needs to fill. Those applicants will undergo written and physical testing, then the remaining applicants will continue on for interviews and background checks. Christa Stroup attended the meeting to request permission to purchase five new computers for the Circuit Court at a cost of $3,840. The computers range from three to five years old. The commissioners (continued on page 6)
Index Classifieds ..............30-35 Community News ..............22-26 D & E ..........................21 Sports Shorts ................19 Weekly Reports ........12-14 Vol. 34, No. 10
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
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City Council passes ordinance banning use and sale of “bath salts” BY $ANIELLE 3MITH On May 23, Wabash City Council completed an initiative to help remove “bath salts” from the shelves of our local convenience stores. City Council President and Police Officer Scott Long first heard about “bath salts” on the Internet three months when the drug was becoming popular in Louisiana, Alabama and Kentucky. “It popped up on my radar then and I thought ‘if they are doing it down there it won’t be long before it ends up here,” Long said. He was right, at least three of our local convenience stores began selling the product
and many of our residents began using it. “The effect that this is having on the people that are ingesting it is unbelievable. We’ve had longtime drug users of methamphetamine and cocaine saying this is a far greater high than they have ever got on those things, which is scary,” Long said. Indiana took notice of the dangerous drug and passed a law prohibiting sale or possession of “bath salts”, however, the law will not take effect until July 1. Wabash law enforcement officers continued to see an increasing number of “bath salt” users and offic i a l s
became determined to expedite the process. Three weeks ago, Long began working with City Attorney Doug Lehman to draft an ordinance immediately banning the sale and possession of “bath salts”. A high school prom attendee suffering from difficulties due to the product sped the process even more. “That really amped up everything and we pushed getting this ordinance done so that we could get it off the shelves,” Long said. Even with the ordinance drafted, City Council had to jump through a few procedural hoops in order to have it take effect immediately.
BANNED: The Wabash City Council passed an ordinance mandating the removal of “bath salts” from the shelves of local convenience stores. The abuse of “bath salts” had been seen as a way around previous local legislation prohibiting the use of K2 and other synthetic cannabinoids. (photo by Brent Swan)
“Normally when we pass an ordinance that has a fine as punishment, the state law requires us to publish a notice in the newspaper 30 days before that ordinance becomes effective,” Lehman explained to the Council. By the time the 30 days were completed, the State law would have already taken effect, removing the necessity for the ordinance. Lehman determined that the only way for the ordinance to immediately be enforceable would be to have the mayor proclaim that there is an “urgent necessity.” If the mayor makes a proclamation that there is urgent necessity, the ordinance becomes effective
once notice has been posted in at least three public places in each of the five council districts. Mayor R o b e r t Vanlandingham also felt it was important to give newspapers time to publish an article announcing the ordinance. General Ordinance No. 5, 2011, passed first and second readings unanimously, then the mayor proclaimed the presence of urgent necessity. “These chemicals are extremely dangerous to the health, safety and even the very lives of the citizens of Wabash; especially, but not limited to, our youth and young adults,” Mayor
Vanlandingham proclaimed. Notice of the ordinance will be posted at Village Market, Penguin Point, Brother’s Mart, City Hall, Daily Express, The Works, Village Pantry, A to Z Tobacco, Plaza Mini Mart and a few other locations by 8 p.m. on May 24. The ordinance becomes effective at noon on May 26. “That would give any people who are selling, possessing or using an opportunity to dispose of these chemicals before it becomes enforceable,” Lehman said. After May 26, those (continued on page 6)
NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION: Makers of “bath salts” labeled their products as “Not for Human Consumption” in an effort to circumvent laws prohibiting their usage. The new local ordinance, taking effect May 26, will prohibit the sale or possession of the drug. (photo by Brent Swan)
American Legion Auxiliary continues 91-year tradition of poppy fundraiser BY $ANIELLE 3MITH On May 27 and 28, members of the American Legion Auxiliary will head out into the community to continue a 91year tradition of offering poppies in return for donations to our veterans. The poppy became synonymous with remembrance of fallen veterans as a result of a poem, In Flanders Fields, written in 1915 by World War I Colonel John McCrae. “In Flanders fields the poppies blow; between the crosses, row on row,” the poem reads. It refers to the many soldiers that died on Flanders’ battlefield, which was located in a region of western Belgium and northern France. The first poppy sale
was held in 1920; the proceeds went to the American and French Children’s League to assist orphans and others left destitute by the war. In late 1923, unemployed or disabled veterans began constructing the artificial poppies for distribution. This is a tradition that has continued to present day. Wabash residents will have opportunities to purchase poppies handcrafted from crepe paper by residents at the Marion VA Hospital. Ladies from Wabash’s American Legion Auxiliary will be at various Wabash businesses offering poppies for donations. All money raised from the poppies goes back to the veterans at Marion VA. The
POPPY DAYS: Local residents, Jean Leakey, Lola Glazier, and Marilou Mullett show off some of the poppies handcrafted by residents at the Marion VA Hospital. The poppies will be at various Wabash businesses and all money raised from the sales will go back to the veterans at the Marion VA Hospital. (photo by Danielle Smith) funds are used for entertainment and
rehabilitation, as well as to purchase
Christmas gifts for family members of
veterans. (continued on page 6)