Vol. 41, No. 39
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. December 12, 2018
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Hilton property coming to Wabash? Wabash Plan Commission clears way for new facility By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com A Hilton Hotel & Resorts property could be coming to Wabash sometime in the future. The Wabash Plan Commission, on Wednesday, Dec. 5, unanimously approved a request from Halderman Investments LLC to exclude approximately five acres of land from the city’s Land Subdivision Ordinance. The property in question is at the northwest corner of Wedcor Avenue and State Road 15, approximately an eighth of
a mile north of U.S. 24. “We had a party come to us wanting to buy the five acres on which to build a hotel,” Robert Halderman told the commission. “They want to build a Hilton Hotel of some variety on the five acres. That would be a pretty nice asset for Wabash.” “It seems like … there’s a need for more hotel space.” The site is already zoned for business, which would include hotels and motels. Frontage roads are planned on Ind. 15 and Wedcor Avenue, Halderman said. “The plan is at the north end of the five
acres, we’re putting an additional easement of 15 feet on that and the group is putting an additional 15 feet on it to get 30 feet for a roadway to go in there off of 15,” he said. It would be up to the investment group planning the building to get permission from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Plan Commission attorney Doug Lehman explained to commission members the need for the exclusion. “When you’re dividing property for purpose of development, you have to go through the process of a subdivision,” he
said. “A subdivision requires being platted. It requires various studies, including surface drainage. It requires the placement of easements for utilities. It requires the construction of infrastructure such as streets, streetlighting, possibly sidewalks and things like that. “It’s a somewhat complicated and somewhat lengthy process.” However, the city’s ordinance has a provision in which one can ask to be excluded from the requirement to plat the subdivision. The commission must decide whether to approve the exclusion. (continued on page 5)
Reformed addict tells others that change is possible By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com Change doesn’t happen unless an individual makes changes. That was one of the messages driven home by Grant County resident Nathan Harmon during a public talk Monday, Dec. 3, at the Honeywell Center’s Ford Theater. Harmon should know, for he has battled alcohol and drug addiction for several years. That is, until something happened, a turning point in his life, that had tragic consequences. That night was July 17, 2009.
The accident
Lilly Scholar Faith Macy receives a hug from her sister, Ashlyn, while another sister, Shelby is all smiles. Photo by Joseph Slacian
NHS’ Macy named LIlly Scholar By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com Northfield High School senior Faith Macy and her entire family received a very early, but well appreciated, Christmas present on Friday, Dec. 7.
Faith was named the 2019 recipient of the Lilly Endowment Scholarship for Wabash County. She received the honor from Julie Garber, who oversees the program for the Community Foundation of Wabash County, during a brief
ceremony in an NHS conference room, surrounded by family and Northfield faculty members. As a Lilly Scholar, Faith will receive a four-year full tuition scholarship to any accredited public or private college or university in Indiana. It also (continued on page 5)
“It was a Friday night, July 17” Harmon told a quiet theater audience. “There was a big party happening.” After he and a friend had finished a bottle of whiskey, they went to a Grant County bar. After about 10 shots of tequila, Harmon continued his story, they decided to go to an after party. Because Harmon was on probation for a prior DUI conviction, he decided to call a friend, Priscilla Boswell, to be a designated driver. Somehow, he ended up with Barnes’ car keys. “We got in the car and took off,” he recalled. “I heard a scream. I woke up and cops were on top of me.” Harmon struck a tree. “There were no skid marks,” he said. “Priscilla didn’t have a seat belt on.” Boswell’s head struck the front window, breaking her neck and killing her.
“This happens to other people, but it doesn’t happen to you,” Harmon said, noting that’s what everyone thinks. “I started making deals with myself. I started making deals with God. “At 23, because of decisions I made, Priscilla lost her life. She was the mother of two. She was a sister, a daughter.”
Who he blamed
While Harmon’s troubles escalated that night, he admits his life had been on a downward spiral for several years. It all started when his par(continued on page 5)
In observance of the holidays, our office will be closed December 24 & 25.
EARLY DEADLINE Our December 26 issue deadline for news and ads will be Thursday, December 20 at noon and our paper will be delivered Friday, December 21.
We wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year!