Trick or Treat Hours October 31st Wabash 5 – 8 p.m. Roann 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Lagro 5 – 7 p.m. N. Manchester 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
THE PAPER
October 19, 2011 Wabash County land auction reaches record number A capacity crowd filled the Wabash County REMC, Touchstone Energy Center to witness Halderman Real Estate Services sell 1,002 acres of exceptional farmland. The tillable acreage and 55 acres of woods spanned across Liberty, Noble and Waltz townships in Wabash County. Steady bidding rallied the price per acre on the 34 acres in Noble Township to set a new Wabash County high of $8,876 per acre. “This sale is consistent with other sale results across the Corn Belt. In fact, some sales in Iowa and Illinois eclipse $15,000 per acre, which, in my opinion makes the Wabash County farm a better investment at these prices,” stated Howard Halderman, president of Halderman Farm Management and Real Estate Service Inc. “In spite of the tepid gen-
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Weaver takes ownership of 105.9 The Bash and MiTunes 101.9 by Danielle Smith DSmith @thepaperofwabash.com
After 30 years in radio and 11 years as the face of 105.9 The Bash, veteran broadcaster Wade Weaver took ownership of four area radio stations on Oct. 1. The stations, formerly owned by David Keister, Mid-America Group, Inc., include WJOT AM 1510 and FM 105.9 in Wabash and WARU AM 1600 and FM 101.9 in Peru. This opportunity came as no surprise to Weaver. He had been acting as general manager of the stations and has had the luxury of running them as if they were already his own. “Three and a half years ago I took over management of 101.9 and AM 1600 so we had an agreement that I would get first rights to buy the stations,” Weaver said. In addition to the Wabash and Peru stations, Keister had previously owned sta-
tions in Marion, Kokomo and various other locations. He has slowly been phasing himself out of the business over the past several years. “I know you’ve done a fine job over the years and it just seemed like the timing was right for you and me,” Keister told Weaver in an on-air interview. “It’s kind of hard to leave, but you know there’s a time in your life, as we travel seasons, that it’s time to leave.” Weaver’s journey through the radio industry began in 1982 when he worked as a part-time announcer at Keisterowned WBAT in Marion, where his father, Walter Weaver (then known as Walter Lewis), began his extensive broadcast career. After eight years as a popular disc jockey, Weaver added radio time-sales to his resume. In early 1995, Weaver was presented
WADE WEAVER became the owner of 105.9 The Bash and MiTunes 101.9, along with AM 1510 and AM 1600, on Oct. 1. Weaver, who has been managing the stations for several years, plans to continue and expand the radio stations’ community involvement. (photo by Danielle Smith) with a new opportuni- gramming and adver- down from lack of boss, David Keister, ty when the Kansas tising opportunities income. The two suc- offered him the manCity owner of WLHN, brought the station to cesses prompted a agement position, serving the Anderson a profit posture with- lucrative sale in 1999 which led him to this and Kokomo area in three months. to an investment recent purchase. from Elwood, invited Acquiring owner- group headed by a forThis journey led him to manage the ship of WLHN in 1996, mer ABC network Weaver, a Marion station. The business Weaver soon saw the executive. native, to set up perhad been losing some opportunity to purAfter two years of manent residency in $5,000 a month for an chase the former pow- establishing new mar- Wabash three and a extended period, but erhouse Muncie sta- keting businesses, half years ago. changed quickly as tion WERK, which radio again came call“I just decided that I (continued on page 7) Weaver’s creative pro- was about to be shut ing when his former
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In Memoriam Duane Wingert, 60 Mary Kern, 101 Terry Cundiff, 58 Joan Davis, 65 Jack Krom, 70 Glenn Riemersma, 64 Kerry Schannep, 49 Donald Dunphy, 82 Ray Michael, 79
Index Classifieds ..........35-39 D & E ..................26-27 Weekly Reports ....16-18 Vol. 34, No. 31
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
Chamber honors Steven Richard Ford and Cinergy MetroNet at annual dinner by Danielle Smith DSmith @thepaperofwabash.com
Highlights of the 70th Annual Wabash County Chamber of Commerce meeting, held Oct. 13 at the Honeywell Center, included honoring Cinergy MetroNet as the 2011 Business of the Year and Steven Richard Ford as the Distinguished Citizen. Following dinner, Marilyn CusterMitchell, president of the board of directors for the Chamber, went over some of the high
points of 2011. She mentioned the revamped ag dinner and President Kim Pinkerton receiving the 2011 Chamber E x e c u t ive of the Year Award. She also discussed various Chamber programming, such as the discontinuation of the lunch prog rams, which are
being replaced with t h e Leadership Luncheon S e r i e s through a partner-
the Chamber is restarting the Wabash Chamber Leadership Program, in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College, with a full class and excellent feedback. The President’s Choice Award was presented to Rachel CINERGY METRONET was Cruz, director named the 2011 Business of the of community Year at the Wabash County and memberChamber of Commerce’s ship services at annual dinner and meeting. Wabash REMC Steve Biggerstaff (left) and and memberDan Townsend attended the event, along with other staff ship chair of and administration of Cinergy the Chamber. C u s t e r MetroNet to accept the award. Mitchell later (photo by Brent Swan)
ship
with Friends Counseling C e n t e r. She also informed attendees that
announced that the Annual Business Expo will not be held in 2012. “We’re going to take 2012 to evaluate that, plan, look at it and make sure it is still meeting our members’ needs,” she explained. “It is our intent to bring it back in 2013, stronger than ever.” She asked for community feedback regarding this and the other changes in Chamber programming. (continued on page 6)