Nov. 2, 2011

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INSERTS IN THIS ISSUE OF THE PAPER

THE PAPER

November 2, 2011 Veteran’s Day service to be held on Wabash County Courthouse lawn

A Veteran’s Day service will be held Nov. 11, 11 a.m., at the War Memorial on the Wabash County Courthouse Lawn. This service is open to the public and is conducted by the veterans’ organizations of the Wabash area and their associated auxiliaries. Invocation will be given by American Legion Post #15 Chaplain Jim Black. Mrs. Robert (Jo) Wade will sing the national anthem. Mayor Vanlandingham will speak, and the ladies’ auxiliaries will perform the laying of wreaths. VFW Post #286 Commander Duane Truss will give remarks, as well as American Legion Post #15 Commander Steve Conner. A salute by a rifle team and taps with the lowering of the flag and a benediction by VFW Post #286 Chaplain Mike Teal will conclude the service.

Index Classifieds ..........37-39 D & E ..................26-27 Weekly Reports ....16-18 Vol. 34, No. 33

PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326

Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977

Wabash County Chamber of Commerce hosts candidate debate Oct. 25 by Brent Swan Several local candidates for the various offices up for election on Nov. 8 met in the Honeywell Center to answer questions prepared by Wabash County’s print and radio media. Charlie Miller moderated the event, which was put on by the Chamber of C o m m e r c e ’ s Government Affairs Committee. Republicans attending the event were: Gilpin, City John Council Dist. 1; Bryan Dillon, City Council Dist. 2; Scott Long, City Council At-Large; Rick Harness, ClerkTreasurer; and current mayor Bob Va n l a n d i n g h a m , Mayor. Democrats attending the debate included: Jim Wenrich, City Council Dist. 3 (unopposed); Pat Lynn, City Council Dist. 4; Margaret “Boo” Salb, City Council Dist. 5; Jim Cosby, City Council At-Large; Joan Haag, City Council AtLarge; and Wendy Frazier, ClerkTreasurer. Several candidates chose not to attend as most cited some confusion over either the format of the debate or the invitations to the debate itself. “I told them I did not like the format of the debate,” Democratic Mayoral Candidate Marcia Short explained. “There was a lot of confusion, and ultimately I decided I would rather get out and talk to the individual voters themselves.” Each candidate that chose to attend was

asked a series of three questions by Miller and was given two minutes to respond. Wabash City Council District 1 John Gilpin (Rep.) vs. Keith Jolly (Dem.)

Do you believe that tax abatements are the best way to bring industries to Wabash? Gilpin: I think its necessary. If we don’t, other cities do it all the time, so they might get those businesses and they won’t come to Wabash if we don’t. This is as far as business abatements. Residential abatements, I have questions about that – how necessary they are. People that build houses or remodel their houses do it without a tax abatement anyway. But it’s on the books now, and has been for many years, so I’m fine with it. If the city were to annex a parcel of land into your district, how would you explain the benefits of coming into the city to those residents of that area? Gilpin: Well the benefits of any place that comes into any part of the city. You get the police and fire protection, the sewer and water services that you don’t have in the rural areas. There are many benefits to becoming a citizen within the city limits. We just recently did that as far as annexing an area outside the new business park this past year. It wasn’t a forced annexation, but there were quite a few people that wanted to be annexed in. What does the City of

SEVERAL LOCAL CANDIDATES attended a recent debate, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee. In attendance were: front row, (from left) Pat Lynn, Wendy Frazier, Joan Haag, Margaret “Boo” Salb; back row, Jim Cosby, John Gilpin, Bryan Dillon, Rick Harness, Mayor Bob Vanlandingham, Scott Long and Jim Wenrich. (photo by Brent Swan) Wabash need to do to enhance the quality of life for its citizens? Gilpin: We need to continue to do what we have been doing, which is to continue to bring new business to the city; more business and more jobs to the city. We need to try and make Wabash a better

Bryan Dillon (Rep.) vs.

Bill Hapner (Dem.)

Do you believe enough is being done to deal with the drug problem in Wabash? Dillon: That’s a tough question. I don’t think you can ever do enough. The way things are changing, you think you conquer one thing before some-

one comes up with another form, sneaking it through convenience and retail stores. I think when we’re posed with a tough situation, we’ll take action whether it be through and ordinance, supporting our Drug Task Force, or (continued on page 6)

Wabash County Transit requests $10,000 for operating expenses by Danielle Smith DSmith @thepaperofwabash.com

At the Oct. 31 meeting of the Wabash C o u n t y Commissioners, Wabash County Sheriff Bob Land reported that the Wabash County Jail is currently housing 74 inmates, and five are being housed in Miami County Jail. Central Dispatch and Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Bob Brown

e r u t u f e h t r o f n o i s i v A of

Wabash!

place to live and work as well. The more we beautify our historic downtown district and our residential districts, the more money and jobs we’ll be able to bring into our city, which is a good thing. Wabash City Council District 2

announced that there is now a link to the National Weather Service on Wabash County EMA’s webs i t e , http://ema.wabashcounty85.us. This link provides weather warning and forecast information. Wabash County Clerk Elaine Martin presented the annual hardware maintenance agreement for her computer systems. The contract was approximately $2,400 less than last

year’s agreement. The total cost was $11,310. C o u n t y Coordinator Jim Dils presented two payment applications for the approval of the Commissioners. The first payment, totaling $5,045, was for concrete and railing work at the Courthouse. The second, totaling $71,685, was for the work currently being done on the north façade of the Courthouse. This project includes window replacement and masonry repairs.

The meeting closed with representatives from Wabash County Transit presenting grant applications for the signatures of the Commissioners and presenting an additional appropriation request for $10,000. Transit is in need o this additional appropriation due to fuel costs and increased demand. The Commissioners took the request under advisement and Transit will present the request to Wabash County Council.


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Nov. 2, 2011 by The Paper of Wabash County - Issuu