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SOUTHWOOD PICKS UP 14-0 HOMECOMING WIN
Brian Howenstine, owner of Wabash True Value, recently purchased the Sunshine Pack & Ship from Bob Mitting who will remain on the staff at the new location.
Southwood sophomore Nathan Hollars ran for 165 yards and a touchdown during Southwood’s 14-0 Homecoming-night win over Northfield Friday.
Sunshine Pack & Ship relocates
of wabash county inc. October 10, 2012
www.thepaperofwabash.com
Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Vol. 36, No. 30
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992
(260) 563-8326
City of Wabash residents to notice sewage billing change effective Nov. 1
by Brent Swan Starting Nov. 1, City of Wabash residents will notice a difference in the billing of wastewater and storm water billing. Instead of paying one monthly water bill to Indiana American Water as has been customary for many years, residents will now have to pay a water bill to Indiana American Water for water consumption and a separate bill to the City of Wabash for sewage use. “We were notified by Indiana American Water that they were no longer going to take care of the wastewater and sewage billing so we realized we were going to have to do it at the end of the year,” Mayor Vanlandingham said. “As we went through this process, it went from the end of the year to the end of the July to now the
end of October.” Upon realizing the city would need to take over the billing, Vanlandingham reached out to other towns and cities to see what the process would involve. “We visited and looked at different towns and communities that had been doing this to see how they went about it (billing),” Vanlandingham said. “At that point in time, we hired Regina (Sundheimer) to get the process rolling.” With the staff being limited, the city has no plans at this time to accept walk in payments at City Hall. Instead, customers may make payments a variety of ways including: online at www.cityofwabash.com; a drop box located at City Hall on the south side of the building; walkin payments at Crossroads Bank, 1205 N. Cass St.; mailing
payments to the City of Wabash Wastewater Utility Office, P.O. Box 254, Wabash, IN 46992; or bill pay will be accepted through customers’ banks. “Even now, Indiana American Water customers’ walk-in payments are only accepted at Daywalt’s Pharmacy,” Sundheimer said. “They are now getting charged $2; with our billing at Crossroad’s, residents will have no added charge.” According to a press release issued by the City of Wabash, the billing date for residential service will be the third of each month. The billing date for commercial service will be the 18th of each month. A 10 percent penalty will be added to wastewater and storm water accounts past due. When an account becomes 90
days delinquent, a lien will be filed and attached to the property. Landlords will have the option to receive the wastewater and/or storm water bill direct from the city for their rental properties. In order to receive this option, landlords are required to register with the Wastewater Utility Department. Any and all outstanding wastewater and/or storm water balances as of Oct. 31 will be added to the next bill, which will be sent by the City of Wabash Wastewater (Sewage) Utility Billing Department in November. Although the billing is yet to have launched officially, Vanlandingham admitted to process is likely to evolve over time. “Right now, we have Regina who will be our full time person
handling the sewage bills, but we have also have had Shelly, our clerk treasurer, trained as well,” Vanlandingham explained. “We are trying to not hire someone for now, but we might see that we have to in the future.” One of the dilemmas faced when making the switch was whether the city would bill based on consumption or charge a flat fee based on residents. “We looked at all our options, but decided that consumption was the fairest way to go,” Vanlandingham said. “Throughout this process we have wanted to remain income neutral compared to where we were at before the switch and we have wanted to be fair to those that don’t have a large family living in their home.”
Pam Woodall to pass Pam’s Diner torch to son
By J.D. Sparks After 14 years, Pam Woodall hung up her chef ’s hat, waitress’s apron, and business title. On Oct. 1, she retired from owning of Pam’s Cafe in Urbana, passing on the ownership to her son, Jeremy Woodall. “After 14 years, I’ve put my time in and I’m ready to explore new options,” she said to The Paper. “The people who come in here, they’re like my family and I’m not abandoning them. “I’m not sick. I’m not broke. It’s just my time to move on.” Jeremy has been an employee at Pam’s Café for nine years. He said he will not change anything “Nothing else will change,” Pam added. “The prices, the name, the staff, everything will be the exact same as it is now. I didn’t want to confuse the public.” After working from 5 a.m. to close, 1 p.m. or sometimes as late as 9 p.m., at least six days a
week, Pam knows exactly how she’ll spend her free time. “My husband is a truck driver and might be home maybe 24 hours every week and I want to be able to spend time with him when he’s home,” she said. “I want to be able to just get up and go when my dad calls me to go fishing. “I want to spend time with my parents who are becoming elderly. I want to go four wheeling.” Pam said she has come out of the owning-a-business experience a stronger person. “It was definitely a learning experience,” she said. “It was a challenge and it was nice because I was able to prove to myself I could do it. I learned that when a person puts their mind to something, you could do it. You just have to try. “In my case, I tried and it worked. It’s tough for a woman in a man’s world. I taught myself everything it took to run this place.” Pam said was tough making
PAM’S CAFÉ’S NEW OWNER JEREMY WOODALL (far right) stands outside of the restaurant with employee Chasity Cunningham (left) and his mother and former owner Pam Woodall. Jeremy became the new owner on Oct. 1. (photo by Ashley Flynn) the decision to retire. “I went back and forth on deciding whether or not it was my time to retire,” she said. “I called my sister and talked to her while on my vacation about it. It was such a tough decision. I didn’t know if I was truly ready or not (to retire). “My regulars are like family and this is all I’ve known for
years and years, really.” She continued to say she will miss being involved in the community. “I live in Roann and that’s where I grew up,” she said. “We’ve been involved and I really enjoyed that. We’ve done the Chili for Charity, we’ve sponsored baseball teams, and we’ve helped out with Shop with
a Cop. That all was a lot of fun.” Pam stated she hopes people will treat Jeremy with the same love they have shown her. “Yeah, I want people to come in and say hello to Jeremy just as they did to me,” she said. “He’s quite a bit more shy than I am, but he’ll do a great job.”