King and I Honeywell Center Ford Theater Dates: Sept. 23, 24, 7:30 p.m. / Sept. 25, 2:00 p.m. Tickets: $15 for adults / $10 for Students K-12. Tickets are on sale at the Honeywell Box Office or at www.honeywellcenter.org Vol. 39, No. 26
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. September 7, 2016
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Wabash to honor Karsyn’s memory
River Trail breaks ground
Mayor to declare Karysyn Bratch Day on Sept. 17.
By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com LAGRO - The Wabash River Trail (WRT) Phase 1 construction is underway in Lagro after breaking ground Monday, Aug. 22. Phase 1 of the proposed 33mile trail, which is planned to eventually connect Huntington, Wabash and Peru, will be approximately 6.6 miles and connect Lagro to Wabash. The trail is estimated to cost $1 million per mile, according to the WRT Committee. Currently, the construction is for Phase I Sub-Phase I, which will pave a path through Lagro from the east side of Kerr Lock to the end of Basin Street. While organizers hope to extend the first phase west to Wabash, not all the landowners between Lagro and Wabash have agreed to have the trail extend through their property. The WRT Committee denied to comment when requested by The Paper of Wabash County. However, nothing is set in stone yet, WRT board member Mark Frantz told The Paper in August.“The actual path the Wabash River Trail will ultimately follow is not decided, and is contingent upon the approval of the property owners involved,” Frantz told The Paper in an email. “Several different routes have been identified, and currently we are trying to receive approval from the property owners on what has been chosen as the most desirable route for the trail. If some property owners decline to allow the trail to be constructed on their property then alternate routes will be explored.”
By The Paper staff
Showing off prizes for holes-in-one at the Rotary golf outing are (from left) Mark Shanks, Brandt’s Harley-Davidson; Tim Stiglich, United Fund board chair; Russ Mothershead, Inguard; Steve Johnson, United Fund executive director; and Dave Dorais, Wabash Rotarian and Dorais Chevrolet owner. Photo by Joseph Slacian
Rotary golf outing enters 25th year Annual event serves as UF kickoff By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com The 2016 Wabash County United Fund drive will kick off Wednesday, Sept. 14, with the annual Rotary Club Golf Outing at the Honeywell Golf Course. Lunch, served by Miller’s Merry Manor, will begin at noon with a 1 p.m. tee time. This is the 25th anniversary for the event, according to Dave Dorais, a Wabash Rotarian who serves on the golf committee. “I’ve been involved with 24 (UF outings),” Dorais told The Paper of Wabash County. “I missed the first one. I joined Rotary the year after and jumped on the (golf) committee. “Dave Mann started it out.” UF Executive Director Steve Johnson said it’s hard to believe that the event is now in its 25th
year. “It’s a really fine community event for the kickoff of the United Fund Campaign,” he said. “It really sets the pace for the whole campaign.” UF Board Chair Tim Stiglich agreed. “It’s a great way to kick off the campaign, jump start it so we can get to where we can provide the funds for our agencies so we can improve the quality of life in Wabash.” This year’s drive goal is $250,000, Johnson said, which will benefit 19 local agencies. The newest agency is the Blessings in a Backpack program in North Manchester. As usual, golfers will have a chance to win two big prizes by shooting a hole-in-one. Dorais Chevrolet is offering a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze while Brandt’s Harley-Davidson is offering a motorcycle as hole-in-one prizes. (continued on page 2)
Saturday, Sept. 17 will be Karsyn Bratch Day in the City of Wabash, according to an ordinance by Mayor Scott Long. Karsyn, a local 12-year-old girl, passed away in October 2015 after an eight-year battle with childhood cancer. However, before she passed, Karsyn raised more than $70,000 for the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation’s Pediatric Cancer Research Lab at the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis through Kick It with Karsyn, an annual pediatric cancer fundraising program and kickball tournament. “Karsyn truly loved the Kick It for Karsyn event because it gave her the opportunity to experience her community and make a difference for research,” Larry Graff, Kick It event coordinator, said. “She knew the importance of childhood cancer research and this event furthers her incredible legacy to ensure that every child diagnosed with cancer is guaranteed a safe and effective cure.” Graff and Karsyn’s family will continue her legacy with the annual kickball tournament on Sept. 17. However, this year the event will be renamed Kick It for Karsyn in honor of her memory. “Karsyn was a fighter who inspired so many of us during her time here on Earth,” Long said. “This is a way for our community to continue her legacy and fight against childhood cancer.” (continued on page 3)