Vol. 39, No. 11
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. May 25, 2016
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Downtown ready for Revolution Deluxe officials begin working with local businesses Wabash businesses help counterparts in Silverton, Ore.
By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com Volunteers were downtown Monday morning, sprucing up the City of Wabash in preparation of the arrival of crews with the Small Business Revolution Main
Related story, Page 8 Street this week. Workers began sweeping the sidewalk, washing windows and some buildings were even going to be power washed prior to filming scenes downtown for the Small Business Revolution series based in Wabash. Officials from Deluxe Corporation, which sponsored the contest, and a film crew from Flow Nonfiction will be in town this week meeting with and filming small businesses as part of the contest prize. The City of Wabash won the Small Business
By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Karen Eilts and Whitney Millspaugh sweep along South Wabash Street on Monday morning. Photo by Joseph Slacian
(continued on page 4)
While the competition was fierce, the new friendship built between residents of Wabash and Silverton, Ore., isn’t. Several local residents downtown business owners have reached out to their counterparts in Silverton, many ordering various wares from the businesses there. Wabash and Silverton were competing for the top prize in the Deluxe Corporation’s Small Business Revolution Main Street competition. Wabash won and will receive $500,000 in goods and services for its small (continued on page 4)
MHS grad killed in Wyoming accident By Joseph Slacian & Eric Christiansen news@thepaperofwabash.com
A North Manchester resident was killed Tuesday, May 17, in a one-vehicle accident about 13 miles south of Laramie, Wyo. The resident, Matthew FahsBrown, was a passenger in a 2004 Suzuki XL-7 SUV driven by Tyler Peters of Richmond, Ky. According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Peters’ vehicle was traveling south of U.S. 287 in light snow with wet and icy road conditions. While crossing over a bridge deck, Peters lost control of the vehicle, left the highway and rolled several times. Fahs-Brown, 20, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected during the crash. He was taken to a Laramie hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Peters and another passenger in the vehicle were wearing their seat belts. They were taken to the same Laramie hospital. Peters was treated and released while the second passenger, Crea Knight, 20, Richmond, Ky., was hospitalized. Police said speed was too fast for highway conditions. Driver fatigue also is being investigated (continued on page 17)
City Schools begin staff cuts Charlie Metz makes his way around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with his riding mechanic, Harry Martin, next to him. Photo courtesy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indy 500 riding mechanic’s niece is Wabash resident Martin finished 1st, 3rd in 1912, 1913 Indy 500s By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Harry Martin had a promising career at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was the riding mechanic in 1912 for Joe Dawson, whose National Motor Vehicle Company entry passed Ralph DePalma on the 198th lap of the race to go on an become the second winner in race history. The following year, Martin
was the riding mechanic for Charlie Metz, who piloted the Ideal Motor Car Company Stutz entry to a third place finish. Martin had dreams of entering the 1914 500 as driver. But tragically, those dreams
were cut short in June 1913, when he was killed and his riding mechanic, Frank Agan, was critically injured in a testing accident at the famed twoand-one-half mile speedway. Martin was born in Fulton (continued on page 6)
By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com
Sighs were audible from the Wabash City Schools Board members on Monday, May 16, as they announced five faculty resignations and the elimination of eighth grade science, two administrative positions and the school resource officer. In total, the board announced a total of 13 budget cut changes to reduce spending by $390,000, which included Wabash-Miami Area Program reconfiguration, changes to charges for Vernon Manor children and eliminating two aides at the high school. Prior to Monday’s decision, the board’s budget for 2016 was $9,917,760 while target revenue was only $9,600,000. Therefore, $317,760 in cuts was needed. “Part of the issue is that we needed to save $317,000 during this school year, this calendar year,” Matt Stone, WCS business manager, told the board. “So when we say $390,000, that only saves us $130,000 through the end of (2016) and that leaves us ($187,760) short which will be absorbed by our cash balance, (continued on page 5)