Vol. 41, No. 23
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. August 22, 2018
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Local officials headed to Asia By David Fenker david@nmpaper.com Representatives of several Wabash County stakeholders are preparing to travel to Asia for a trade mission, with hopes to expand economic development opportunities for the county. Grow Wabash County president and CEO Keith Gillenwater announced the trade mission to Japan and China at the Aug. 20 meeting of the county commissioners. “This is a project that we’ve had in the works for about two years,” Gillenwater
said. Wabash Mayor Scott Long will lead the delegation, which will include representatives from Grow Wabash County, Wabash City Schools, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, Honeywell Foundation and area businesses. Gillenwater said that the trip is scheduled for November, and will start with a visit to Tokyo and Oji Intertech’s parent company, Oji Holdings Corporation. He noted that Oji Intertech, located in North Manchester, recently began a project to double its 80,000-square-foot facility and add more than 30 jobs.
“Having Oji in our backyard is akin to having a Toyota or someone that large,” Gillenwater said. “They’re a multi-billion dollar company that has a wide swath of business interests across the world.” The Japan trip will also include various other business and economic development opportunities, as well as cultural and educational exchanges. After Japan, the delegation will travel to Linhai City, China, where the City of Wabash is working to establish a sistercity relationship. “The sister city program brings with it
a number of potential economic benefits,” Gillenwater said, noting that several cities throughout the U.S. have such relationships. “It’s something particularly important that you have in place if you want to open up your doors to international economic development opportunities.” Focal points for the relationship include economic development, educational exchanges, arts and cultural exchanges and tourism. A press release, provided by Gillenwater, included comments from (continued on page 4)
LaFontaine C-T resigns post County GOP chair picks replacement By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Garden Fest visitors stop by one of the many booths Saturday at the Paradise Spring Historical Park. Photo by Harold V. Chatlosh
Events draw hundreds downtown By Josh Sigler and Joseph Slacian news@thepaperofwabash.com
Diane Morris was on pins and needles. With rain in the forecast Friday night, she was worried that the 21st Garden Fest at Paradise Spring Historical Park would get dampened on. The inclement weather stayed away, and a good time was seemingly by all Saturday, Aug.18. “It’s been a great day,” Morris said. “I was kind of nervous because (Friday) night it poured as we know. Today has been great. It’s breezy now, it’s not too hot and not too super sunshiny. There’s a good crowd down here. People are buying. It’s really been a nice day. On top of vendors galore, the morning kicked off with the Berry Grape Talk, where Jason McClure from McClure’s Orchard spoke on berry and grape varieties, climate and utilization. (continued on page 6)
LAFONTAINE — Less than a week after Cindy Erb resigned as the town’s clerk-treasurer, a new one has been named. Wabash County Republican chair Barbara Pearson announced Monday morning that she appointed Diana Heath to the position. The GOP chair appointed the replacement because Erb was a Republican. Heath was selected from a field of six candidates, Pearson told The Paper of Wabash County. Erb’s resignation, which took place at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, caught the Town Council by surprise. Council President Jay Gillespie told the Council at its Monday night meeting that he received a letter from Erb earli-
er in the afternoon. He said after the meeting that he was surprised by the resignation, noting, “I haven’t talked to her in two weeks.” In her resignation letter, Erb wrote, “I feel that resigning from my position is best for myself and the Town of LaFontaine. I will resign at 4 p.m. on August 13, 2018. I hope the Town Council is willing to work with another clerk-treasurer more than they have been with me for the best interests of the Town. I also hope that the Town Council will treat the new clerk-treasurer with patience to learn this job and with some respect that has never been shown to me by the Council members or the town attorney.” She added that she loves and cares about her hometown. “I can resign knowing that I (continued on page 4)
Proposed GDX cleanup clears initial hurdle By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
An entrant in the Dave Kunkel Cruise-In polishes his vehicle Friday morning at the Honeywell Center. Photo by Joseph Slacian
The proposed cleanup at the former GDX property at One General Street cleared its first hurdle on Thursday, Aug. 16. The Wabash Board of Public Works and Safety approved a
Development Services Agreement for the site between the city and Luckett & Farley Development Services of Louisville, Ky. “We’ve been working on this for approximately 18 months,” Mayor Scott Long told the (continued on page 5)