April 16

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of wabash county inc. www.thepaperofwabash.com April 16, 2014 Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977 Vol. 37, No. 6

PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326

Selleck expands repertoire to keep shoe repair store open Small Business Owner Promotes “Made in America” By Shaun Tilghman Allen Selleck has provided shoe and leather repair services in North Manchester since 1980. But, after more than 30 years in business, the owner and operator of Selleck’s Shoe Repair & Western Wear (214 E. Main St.) says if he had it all to do over again, he wouldn’t. Selleck was working in the foundry when his father-in-law, Paul Frieden, proposed to finance purchase of the local shoe repair store from Fred Barnes. “I was a foundry guy, and the former owner that we bought out had money, and I mean money!” said Selleck. “All he had was a shoe store and repair shop,” he continued, “and I knew I could do that. So, when my father-in-law was willing to buy the machines and get me in business, I decided to go for it. I thought I was going to come in here and make some money – like Fred Barnes did. I never expected to get rich or anything like that, but we’ve just struggled and struggled, and did without, to keep our business here. “I got into business to be a shoe repair shop, but the world has changed big time since then. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t be here; I would never put my family through what we’ve been through. It’s been a struggle, it’s been a big struggle, and we’ve kept our business by doing without – we don’t go see movies and go out to eat like everybody else does. I think we own plenty, but that’s because we didn’t give the money to those big companies.”

Selleck never intended to be a retailer – he just wanted to fix shoes – but he found out long ago that he had to be in retail if he wanted to be in business. His store now carries Double H, Tony Lama, Nocona, Abilene, Rocky, Georgia, Wolverine, and LaCrosse boots, as well as Western wear, Western hats, wood carvings, artwork, footwear treatments and accessories, perfume, cologne, wallets, and much more. According to Selleck, as long as Americans continue to give our business to foreign companies – based on the idea that we’re getting some kind of deal, when in reality we’re paying for cheaper labor and reduced quality – our economy will continue to decline. “We know have Chinese slaves making our stuff, which takes our jobs, but a lot of Americans don’t understand that,” he added. “The problem is that Americans want junk,” Selleck continued, “and most of them would disagree with that, but the fact is they want to buy cheap junk,throw it away, and go buy it again. Most Americans really don’t understand how much it costs companies to make a lot of these products – they build something for $1.50 and sell it for $20 – so they think they’re getting a deal, but they’re really just making those companies extremely rich. All the while, it’s the ‘mom-andpop shops’ that suffer, and generally end up going out of business. “So, I got into doing anything and everything; it’s no longer just a shoe repair shop because I will literally fix anything that my hands and my machines can do. In addition to shoes and boots, (continued on page 2)

ALLEN SELLECK SEWS one of his many custom creations with his antique Singer machine in his shoe repair shop. Selleck hopes that new items like sheaths and holsters will work to revitalize his small business in North Manchester. (photo by Harold Chatlosh)

Truss named Parson family finds laughter is the best medicine “Sagamore of the Wabash” by Eric Stearley eric@thepaperofwabash.com For those who have been involved in 4-H or veterans’ affairs in Wabash County, Duane Truss is a household name. After receiving the Sagamore of the Wabash award on April 9, Truss will now be known by people across the state. Family and friends surprised Truss at the courthouse Wednesday, but when he walked through the door of the Commissioners Meeting Room and saw representatives from the local VFW and Wabash County 4-H standing with Senator Jim Banks, he had an idea why he had been asked to come. “You have a lot of friends,” Senator Banks said to Truss as he began to present the award. “What I like to (continued on page 5)

by Emily Armentrout emily@thepaperofwabash.com When everything that could go wrong does go wrong, some people in this world would shut down, give up and let the bad things take their will to live, but the Parson family are not just some people. Audrey Hepburn once said, “I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.” This seems to be the mantra the Parson family lives by, loving to laugh and loving each other. Gary, father and husband, drives truck for a living, while his wife, Sally, works at The Nail Emporium, located at their home in LaFontaine, and their son, Evan, is a senior at Southwood Jr./Sr. High School. From the outside the Parsons look like any other family, but it’s the insides that have caused this family struggle for the past 15 years. Gary was diagnosed with polycystic (continued on page 3)

GARY PARSON STANDS WITH HIS WIFE AND SON, Sally and Evan. All three members of the Parson family have undergone extensive surgeries to overcome serious illnesses. Gary is awaiting his second kidney transplant, which he hopes to recieve this summer. (photo by Emily Armentrout)


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