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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WABASH, IN PERMIT NO. 233 Vol. 44, No. 12
FEWER?
Group explores impacts, consequences of 5,000 fewer residents in Wabash County
By 2050 Wabash County could have 5,000 fewer residents than it does today. This slow but steady decline began in 1980 when the county reached its high point for inmigration and population. That year, close to 400 people moved in and the population tipped over 36,500 residents for the first time. Since then, between 50 and 100 households have left each year. Population isn’t the only measure for community vitality, but the consistent loss has had an impact and will continue to compound. Communities in decline around Indiana and the broader Midwest have experienced a wide range of effects as a result of the trend. Some of these are expected, direct impacts like declining school enrollment, and lower tax revenue or increasing tax burden. Many are more subtle, like a softening retail and housing market, smaller workforce, and others. Now four decades into the trend, Wabash County can document the changes. A loss of 5,000 additional people would mean 1,800 fewer families and their children in the county’s three school districts, 2,000 fewer needed housing units, along with a greater tax burden on remaining residents and businesses. “We tend to get fixated on the overall number when we talk about population as communities, but really, it’s about continued investment and sustainability,” said Adam Penrod, North Manchester Town Manager. “New people mean more than just our ranking in the state. They mean new families, students, homeowners, businesses, and amenities. Without this energy it makes everything just a little harder.”
Next stop: Nationals
Heartland student wins state nail care competition, advances to national By Mandy Mahan mmahan@thepaperofwabash.com
Vivian LeMaster, a Wabash High School senior and Heartland Career Center (HCC) Cosmetology student recently placed first in the Cosmetology: Nail Care portion of the SkillsUSA competition. SkillsUSA is an organization that is designed to be a student organization who attend technical and trade schools. SkillsUSA provides an opportunity for members to prove their industry readiness by testing their skills and abilities to standards set and assessed by industry partners. These competitive events begin at the local level and allow students to advance to regional, state, and national levels for recognition. Through the SkillsUSA Championships, members are able to connect with professionals within the field and develop relationships for future employment and success. LeMaster recently completed her two-year program
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Regionally, however, the population picture is more positive and points toward opportunity for the county. As Wabash decreased from 1980, the 11-county region centering on Fort Wayne grew by more than 150,000, or 25 percent. This growth outpaced the state (23 percent over the same period) and has continued through 2020 with bold plans to reach one million total residents in the area by 2030. Imagine One 85 is a process to confront the population challenge head on. Through direct engagement with the community and stakeholders and in-depth analysis of the county’s conditions and trends, the Steering Committee is working to develop a strong and visionary plan to help lead the communities of the county toward growth. A recent presentation by the group revealed that the county would need to grow by 85 new families or households each year in order to recapture it’s previous population high in 25 years. The “+85” initiative is emerging as a central recommendation of the work, with strategies focused squarely at the challenge. On July 14 the Steering Committee will host an event to explore the challenges and potential of Wabash County. The Imagine One 85 Growth Summit will be a unique and interactive moment for community members to share and make a direct impact on their community. The meeting will take place from 6 to 8 PM on the Honeywell Plaza and include food and entertainment highlighting the best of Wabash County. Attendance is free and registration is available on the project website, www.imagineone85.org.
A French manicure nail set that Vivian LeMaster did to earn her first place at the SkillUSA Indiana State Contest. Photo providat HCC and passed her State Board exam in April of 2021. LeMaster, who competed as a team of herself and her model, told The Paper of Wabash County that the competition process was taxing. “Starting out, we had to register for competition and get our contestant account set up and know our contestant number. We had two separate tests, 50 questions each,” she said. “In addition to the tests, we were required to submit an integrity statement and an integrity form with our signature. Leading up to the competition we had to collect all the supplies that were listed as requirements, such as monomer, polymer, nail files, first aid kit, disinfection utilities, even an LED light to cure the gels. Due to current CDC restrictions, state contest was held at Heartland Career Center in the Cosmetology class room. I was excused from my morning classes in order to compete with the other girls.” All contestants had an hour to do a pink and white French tip overlay set of nails. On one hand, contest-
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ants were required to use acrylic sculpted with a form and on the other hand, hard gel with a glueVIVIAN LEMASTER on tip. Contestants were judged based on the nail surface’s smoothness and the curved line of the French tip. “In addition to the acrylic and hard gel application we had one hour to perform nail art on one of the hands,” said LeMaster. “We could use acrylic paint, nail polish, or gel polish. We could not use stencils, rhinestones, stickers or other items that would have the effect of art. Everything needed to be 2 dimensional and entirely free handed.” Continued on Page 17
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