“The cooperation and support Cinergy MetroNet has received from M a y o r B o b V a n l a n d i n g h a m , t h e c u r re n t C i t y C o u n c i l a n d B i l l K o n y h a a r e t h e b e s t we have experienced anywhere in the state.” Steve Biggerstaff, Cinergy MetroNet
THE PAPER Paid for by The Committee to Re-elect Mayor Vanlandingham, Doug Lehman, Treasurer.
OVER 19 GARAGE SALES INSIDE! www.thepaperofwabash.com April 13, 2011
Courthouse display to advertise need for CASA volunteers by Danielle Smith The April 11 meeting of the Wabash County Board of Commissioners began with the jail report from Wabash County Sheriff Bob Land. He reported that the jail population is 81, and he is evaluating options to lower that number. Land also reported that Deputy Andy Payne recently turned in his resignation. Payne’s last day will be April 16; he will then take a position at the Delaware County Sheriff ’s Department. The commissioners agreed to allow Land to begin the interview process to fill the position. E m e r g e n c y Management Agency and Central Dispatch Director Bob Brown shared quotes for the repair or replacement (continued on page 7)
In Memorium Sandra Campbell, 74 Andrew Childress, 85 Beulah Flora, 79 David Graham, 72 Judy Henwood, 65 Artie Moore, 79 Ellis Pickering, 64 Joe Stacy, 78 Betty Weesner, 75
Index Classifieds................28-31 Community News ....14-16 D & E .......................18-19 Sports Shorts................20 Weekly Reports ........12-13 Vol. 34, No. 4
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc.
Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Eight-year-old faces cancer with courage, positive attitude by Danielle Smith Karsyn Bratch is a beautiful, intelligent, eight-year-old student of Sharp Creek Elementary. She enjoys arts and crafts and spending time outside; her defining trait is her optimistic and magnetic personality. When first meeting her, you would never guess the trials that she has been faced with throughout the last four years. Karsyn’s mother, Linette Burchett, first noticed something was amiss when they moved to a new house. “She would walk by me and call for me because she wouldn’t see me or she would run into walls because she wasn’t familiar with the area,” Burchett said. This prompted her to take Karsyn to an eye doctor, who sent her to a specialist, who sent her to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. An MRI was performed, and on Aug. 2, 2007, she was diagnosed with what doctors believed was an optic gleomia. The gleomia was inop-
erable, so they were unable to biopsy it for identification. Within a few days of the diagnosis, doctors placed a port on Karsyn and began chemotherapy, but the results were not what they were hoping for. In January 2008, Riley referred Karsyn to Bloomington for a new type of radiation called Proton Beam R a d i o t h e r a p y. Normally there is a six- to eight-month waiting list for this treatment, but due to Karsyn’s age and situation she was rushed in. “At the time there were only three facilities in the whole United States doing this. I can’t talk them up enough. The doctor would spend an hour and a half in our office visits explaining everything to us and talking to Karsyn,” Burchett said. During the seven weeks of proton radiation, Karsyn and Burchett lived in Bloomington, coming home on weekends. “Once we had that
KARSYN BRATCH, 8, (second from left) has spent the last four years battling a rare form of cancer. Her mother, Linette Burchett (third from left), describes her as possessing a “spirit that people only wish they had.” They are pictured with (from left): her sister, Jordan Bratch, 12; her stepfather, Bill Burchett; her step-nephew, Caidan Burchett, 3; and her stepsister, Kassie Burchett, 11. (photo courtesy of Portraits by Kimberly) radiation done, they said that we should be finished and should be able to go on with our lives,” Burchett said. They continued administering regular MRI check-ups
with Karsyn. Everything seemed to be stable and the doctors removed the port in May 2009. However, on Sept. 10, 2009, Karsyn began another uphill battle.
“She had a mass that showed up on the right side of her head and partially up the left side. They were baffled as to what it could be,” Burchett said. She went on to
explain that this disputed the doctors’ former diagnosis of an optic gleomia, because optic gleomia’s do not typically spread. From that (continued on page 6)
Formal charges pending in suspected methamphetamine lab seizure Five Wabash County individuals were recently arrested on charges of violating the State’s pseudoephedrine law. All five individuals – Anthony Rasmussen, 31; Carrie Fox, 27; Todd Hartzler, 48; Amber Conner, 33; and Bobby Garrett, 34 – allegedly purchased over the legal limit of pseudoephedrine. Indiana statute provides that an individual cannot purchase over 3.6 grams per day, or over 9 grams in a 30-day period. Pseudoephedrine is
Conner
Fox
Garrett
Hartzler
Rasmussen
the main ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine. During the investigation, information was obtained that there was possibly a
methamphetamine lab in a garage located at a residence in which Garrett was currently living. Officers from the Wabash County
Sheriff ’s Department approached the owner of the residence, and obtained consent to search the garage. The owner of the property was not
aware that such activity was occurring and cooperated fully with the officers. During the search, officers located chemicals and supplies that
are associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine. A small quantity of methamphetamine was also recovered. (continued on page 6)