Derek Wheeler
Editor
Derek founded The Blackford Ledger to cover the local government business that too often goes unreported in Blackford County. He spent his career in marketing and public relations, holding leadership and strategy roles before turning that experience toward accountability journalism. He holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA. Derek lives in Blackford County with his wife and their four children. His reporting starts from a simple standard: lead with the documents, show the facts, and let readers draw their own conclusions.
Articles by Derek Wheeler
- Montpelier Police Hiring Advances — Recommendation Expected Soon
- Main Street Manhole Left Offset After Repaving — Fix Being Scheduled
- Montpelier PFAS Testing Shows No Contamination
- Montpelier Receives First Shipment of New Water Meters
- Montpelier's Master Water Meter Has Never Been Calibrated in 15 Years
- Montpelier Water Loss Drops Below 25%, Ending Three-Year Violation
- Montpelier Schedules Smoke Testing in 3–4 Weeks to Diagnose Sewer Problems
- Shamrock Lakes Website Needs Minor Updates for Federal Accessibility Deadline
- Shamrock Lakes Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Work Underway
- Shamrock Lakes Board Member Steve Waller Confirms 2–4 Week Departure Timeline
- Shamrock Lakes Addresses Vegetation Complaint at Dam Area
- Shamrock Lakes Collecting Past-Due Accounts Through Property Tax Liens
- Shamrock Lakes Prioritizing Street Repairs, Seeking Pricing
- Shamrock Lakes Wells Park Garage Gets Reflective Panels, Cleanup Planned
- Shamrock Lakes Lake Association Rules Draft Nears 20 Pages
- Shamrock Lakes Well Ahead of State Wastewater Reporting Deadline
- Shamrock Lakes Sets Budget Hearing Dates for September and October
- Shamrock Lakes Beach House Reservation Reveals Policy Gap
- Shamrock Lakes Wells Park Fund Ordinance Advances After Attorney Response
- Shamrock Lakes Codification Stalls as Deadline Window Narrows
- Shamrock Lakes Board Vacancy Unresolved as Member's Departure Nears
- Shamrock Lakes Sewer Phase 2 Largely Complete, One Pipe Repair Deferred to Phase 3
- Hartford City Issues Public Warning on E-Bike and E-Scooter Safety After Complaints
- Hartford City Crews Tackle West Elm Street Flooding with $8,000–$10,000 In-House Stormwater Project
- State Board of Finance to Vote on $533 Million Gas Tax Reimbursement July 21
- No OSHA Report Filed Five Days After Blackford County Solar Farm Worker Death
- Indiana Tax Amnesty Program Opens Today, Runs Through September 9
- 18,000 Patients Face Disruption as Anthem Ends Meridian Contract in 10 Days
- Montpelier Housing Preservation Grant Draws 12 Applications — Committee Deciding After July 15
- 125 South Main Interior Work — Contractor Quote Requested for $98,250 Project