The offer was accepted and within 3 weeks, citizens of both communities had transformed the old Salamonie Twp. Consolidated School into the Southern Wells Elementary School.   Parents, teachers, community leaders and interested citizens toiled throughout the holiday season, painting and refurbishing the building.  Truckloads of books, desks and other supplies arrived from neighboring school systems.  On the first scheduled school day after Christmas break, students were back in class in what was to become their school for the next one and one half years.

    Recognizing the great community spirit that was evident that Holiday Season in 1992, Warren Civic Leader, Joyce Thompson nominated the Warren-Southern Wells Communities for the Midland, Texas Community Spirit Award.   The nomination, one of over 100 from across the United States, was chosen, and in October, 1993, Joyce, Warren Businessman David Daugherty, Southern Wells Elementary Principal Bob Williams, School Board member Jane Jarrett and Bluffton News-Banner Editor, Jim Barbieri traveled to Midland to accept the award for the two communities.

    The Midland Award has been given six times to communities who show outstanding achievement in community spirit.  In 1987, Jessica McClure fell to the bottom of an abandoned well in Midland, and for 58 hours, people from all walks of life joined together to rescue the little girl.  Former Mayor Carroll Thomas thought it appropriate that Midland recognize other communities with similar spirit, and in 1989, President George Bush presented the first award to the citizens of Sioux City, IA for their handling of the crash of a United Airlines plane.

   Since that time in addition to our community, Yakima, WA received the award for a neighborhood cleanup of drug houses, Bangor, ME for greeting Gulf War Veterans returning to the United States, Petaluma, CA for their efforts in trying to locate Polly Klass who was later found murdered and Tri Cities, WA for building a Hospice House.