Vol. 39, No. 24
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. August 24, 2016
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Marion’s GM plant to get $91M update Investment to help keep 1,400 full-time jobs MSD of Wabash County Superintendent Mike Keaffaber discusses busing during the Aug. 15 forum at Northfield High School. Photo by Emma Rausch
MSD board gets public input on declining enrollment fight By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com A few hundred Wabash County citizens gathered at Northfield and Southwood high schools Monday and Wednesday nights, Aug. 15 and Aug. 17, for the MSD of Wabash County public forums. MSD students and parents joined Wabash County taxpayers, local community leaders and other concerned citizens at the two-day event. Many prepared questions and comments for the MSD School Board about its plans to combat declining
enrollment. The two forums were created to answer questions about the Board’s initial decision to reconfigure Northfield and Southwood high schools into one school and close Sharp Creek Elementary in the 2017-2018 school year. The Board’s rescinded its decision on Aug. 9, following the Indiana’s Public Access Counselor’s advisory opinion announcement that the decision violated the Open Door Law. Although the forum was originally advertised as multiple small
group discussions, the Board expanded the evening to include an open discussion segment as well as a short presentation that included information about the possible reconfiguration plan. The presentation also provided information about other options the Board had explored prior to its initial decision to reconfigure on July 12 and a possible a shuttle bus concept as a busing option for the reconfiguration. The Aug. 17 public forum can be watched on Wabash Web TV. “Before we begin, I’d like to say (continued on page 24)
By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com
General Motors (GM) will invest $91 million in the GM Marion Metal Center over the next several years, officials announced Monday, Aug. 22. Established in 1956, the plant provides steal blanks, stampings and sub-assemblies for a variety of GM products. The multimillion-dollar investment will go toward updating the plant’s existing equipment, with expansion expected to start later this year and be completed by 2017. The investment will also preserve more than 1,000 jobs at the site, according to Dan Hermer, GM North American manufacturing manager. “I think what it’ll do is preserve jobs that are here,” Hermer told The Paper of Wabash County. “It’s an investment in dyes for future programs essentially and it will continue to make the plant competitive and provide for the future. “The people here (at the Marion Metal Center) earn the work that they get. They continue to build excellent products for General Motors and they serve many of the plants that produce GM vehicles. So we believe that it’s a smart investment for General Motors.” In addition to the future investment, officials also announced that GM has invested more than $116 million at the plant since 2014, according to Hermer. “This, just again, reflects the commitment and the (continued on page 30)
Brandt’s named Chamber’s 2016 Business of the Year By The Paper staff
Brandt’s Harley-Davidson is the 2016 Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year, Chamber Chair Aaron Campbell said. “I’m excited to be able to honor Brandt’s HarleyDavidson and Michael Brandt, given their long-standing commitment and presence in Wabash County,” Campbell said. “They are an involved organization creating great benefit to the community through not only their economic contribution, but also through their philanthropy. They understand the impact they can have on issue
awareness and put a great deal of both efforts and resources into making the impact happen. “I’ve seen firsthand, the respect the company receives from their peers and customers, which made honoring Brandt’s Harley-Davidson as Business of the Year an easy decision. Congratulations to Mike Brandt and the entire staff at Brandt’s Harley-Davidson on the welldeserved award.” The Harley-Davidson legacy and tradition is unmatched by any other brand in the industry. To this day, Mike Brandt continues the legacies left from both the late founder, Waldo Brandt, (continued on page 18)
The showroom at Brandt’s Harley-Davidson is filled with both new motorcycles for purchase, as well as vintage motorcycles for display. Photo provided