Vol. 39, No. 3
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. March 30, 2016
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Weekend crash claims NM boy’s life
Measure keeps Hawkins’ farm in operation
By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
By Amanda Bridgman abridgman@nmpaper.com NORTH MANCHESTER — Thanks to legislation signed into law Thursday, local poultry farmer Jeff Hawkins can keep chicken on the menu. The new policy comes after a long battle between state health officials and Hawkins’ family farm in rural Wabash County. The J.L. Hawkins Family Farm is a 99-acre farm that raises and butchers about 200 birds per week during its busy season. Hawkins sells his birds to local restaurants that specialize in locally-sourced foods. The farm’s customers include KenapocoMocha Coffee Shop in North Manchester; Joseph Decuis in Roanoke; and Cerulean in Winona Lake. In August 2015, Hawkins was served with a cease-and-desist order to stop selling his chickens on the grounds his farm was violating a processing and direct sales law. But first, one must go back to the beginning. Hawkins, a fifth-generation farmer, spent 23 years as a Lutheran pastor in the community before moving back to his father’s family farm in 1987. (continued on page 5)
Jeff Hawkins, owner and fifthgeneration farmer of J.L. Hawkins Family Farm in rural Wabash County, can continue selling his chickens to local restaurants after new legislation was signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Thursday. Photo by Amanda Bridgman.
Donald Davidson, Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian, talks about the Indianapolis 500 during a stop last week at the Wabash Elks Lodge. Photo by Harold Chatlosh
Wabash has strong ties to Indy 500 By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com Donald Davidson, Indianapolis Motor Speedway historian, whetted the appetites of Indianapolis 500 fans from around Wabash County on Tuesday, March 22. Davidson spent 90 minutes talking about the Indy 500, it’s ties to Wabash, and answered a wide variety of 500-related questions from the 30 people. Davidson’s visit was part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s efforts to promote the 100th running of the race on May 29. He was joined by Michael Harmless, the former Greencastle mayor who dubs him self as “Donald Davidson’s personal chauffer.” In actuality, Harmless is part of the committee helping to promote the 100th running of the race. Davidson spoke briefly on the history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500. He noted that those men and women racing on the track today are racing on the same track that Ray Harroun did when he won the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. The only difference, he pointed out, is that today the track is several feet higher than it was 105 years ago, largely because various repaving projects have cause the track level to raise a few feet. Davidson’s talk primarily focused on two people – Wabash residents Jimmy Daywalt and Dick Miller. (continued on page 5)
HUNTINGTON – A 6-year-old North Manchester boy was fatally injured Saturday afternoon in a three-vehicle accident in Huntington County. The boy, Kayden Brubaker, was a passenger in a van driven by Brandon Mettler, 31, North Manchester, according to a news release from the Huntington County Sheriff ’s Department. Five other people were injured in the accident, which occurred about 3:52 p.m. in Huntington County’s Jackson Township. According to the release: Dodge Ram pickup trucks driven by Jonathon E. Studebaker, 44, Larwill, and by Steven G. Fosnaugh, 67, Columbia City, were westbound on State Road 114, east of Huntington County Road 200 East. Studebaker’s truck was pulling a farm cultivator, while Fosnaugh’s truck was pulling a trailer with farm equipment. Mettler’s 2015 Dodge Caravan was eastbound on State Road 114 when it made contact with the left side of Fosnaugh’s pickup and trailer. The van then left the north side of the road went down an embankment and came to rest after striking a tree. First responders found Kayden Brubaker unconscious and unresponsive. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and he was declared dead at the scene from
blunt force trauma to the head, according to the release. Four other people in Mettler’s van were transported to Lutheran Hospital with various injuries. Mettler sustained head and chest injuries and was in serious condition last Monday morning, March 28, according to hospital officials Meanwhile, Kaytlin E. Brubaker, 25, North Manchester, a front-seat passenger in the van, was treated at Lutheran Hospital and released. Kyler Brubaker, 6, North Manchester, a rear seat passenger in the van, was treated at Lutheran and released. Konner Brubaker, 3, North Manchester, suffered head injuries and was in fair condition Monday morning, hospital officials said. Fosnaugh complained of minor neck pain but refused treatment at the scene. Huntington County Sheriff ’s Department officials said the accident investigation is ongoing. Assisting at the scene were the Roanoke Fire Department, the Jefferson Township Fire Department, Parkview Huntington and Parkview Whitley EMS, the Whitley County Sheriff ’s Department, the Whitley County Coroner’s Office and the Huntington County Coroner’s Office.
Reporter Emma Rausch contributed to this story
Bicentennial Torch Relay coming to county Sept. 28 By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay is expected to be in Wabash County on Sept. 28. It is expected to arrive about 4 p.m. and the relay here will stop near 7 p.m. The route through all 92 counties was announced last week by the state’s Bicentennial Commission. The Wabash visit is the last stop for the torch on Sept. 28. It also will be in Blackford and Grant counties that day. “It’s going to come in to
LaFontaine, most likely at the gas station there on the highway,” County Bicentennial Committee chair Mitch Figert told The Paper of Wabash County. “It’s going to come up Wabash Street, across the bridge, and then the convoy that’s traveling with it will stop at the Visitor’s Center. “From there, it will go through Wabash on foot, ending at O.J. Neighbours.” From there, the torch will be placed on the 85 Trolley and be taken to North Manchester, where it does a foot walk (continued on page 6)