T HE PAPER July 18, 2012
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Tennant claims 2012 Wabash County Round Robin Showmanship
2012 ROUND ROBIN SHOWMANSHIP: Collin Tennant (center) was selected as the 2012 Round Robin Showmanship Champion during the annual showmanship competition held July 12. Pictured are: (from left) Sidney Reed, Swine; Bethany Azbell, Veal; Jackie McConnell, Goat; Collin Tennant, Sheep; Round Robin Judge Matt Tyner; Taylor Chamberlain, 2011 Round Robin Champion; Colton Dawes, Dairy; Marlee Stefanatos, Horse and Pony; and Cole Mize, Beef. (photo by Brent Swan) by Brent Swan After becoming the Sheep Department’s Round Robin Showmanship representative, Collin Tennant felt that particular species should be the least of his worries. That belief, however, proved to be
far from the truth. During the Round Robin competition, seven participants (one from each animal department at the fair) take a turn showing each of the seven different animals represented. No participant is allowed to
show their own animal and the order of the animals is kept from the showmen until the competition begins. Tennant, a fifthyear 4-H member, was this year’s Sheep Department representative. Having won
Senior Showmanship in a previous year, Tennant qualified for the Sheep Supreme Showman drive during the sheep show earlier in the week, which he ultimately won. Other representa(continued on page 6)
COLTON DAWES tries to lead his horse during the July 12 Round Robin Showmanship held at the fairgrounds. The annual competition pits the seven best showmen from seven species shown at the fair against each other in an effort to crown a Round Robin champion. (photo by Brent Swan)
City residents should see adjustment on July water bill
by Danielle Swan The July 9 meeting of Wabash City Council opened with the passing of General Ordinance #7 regarding open burning. Council Member Joan Haag asked how the proposed ordinance differs from the City’s existing burn ordinance. City Attorney Doug Lehman explained that the proposed ordinance includes an exception to allow the
City’s wastewater treatment plant to burn the reed bed, which extends the life of the reed bed and saves the City money in cleaning the reed bed. Mayor Robert Va n l a n d i n g h a m introduced the new addition to the Wabash City Fire Department, Jared Tackett. He also commended local fire departments, Roann, Noble, Lagro and
Wabash, for their exceptional teamwork at the recent brush refuse fire. In a related note, he thanked Wabash residents for keeping fireworks to a minimum over the dry Fourth of July holiday. W h e n Va n l a n d i n g h a m asked for questions from the audience, Paul Lewis posed a few questions regarding the status of the 2013 City Budget.
Lewis asked Council President Margaret “Boo” Salb if she feels the counsel has done everything they can to keep the budget low. “A lot of our departments turn money back in at the end of the year and we just continue to keep within the budget, so I feel we do a very good job with it,” she said. Local Landlord Darrell Benson was next to take the floor.
Index Classifieds ......................28-31 D&E ................................22-23
Weekly Reports................13-15
He expressed frustration at the City for notices he received regarding a tenant that failed to pay sewage fees on Benson’s rental property. The notices warned Mr. Benson that the City is required to file a lien against a property if sewage fees are not paid. Benson feels this is unfair because the tenant is the individual who incurred the debt.
“The rationale behind it is that your property is not a health hazard, backed up with sewage, because the City of Wabash takes your sewage away from it,” Lehman explained. In the past, the City has tried to recoup sewage fees from the actual tenant, but the State Board of Accounts now requires that the City file a lien against property. Council
In Memoriam Margaret Barton, 89 Joyce Butcher, 50 Aleea Brubaker, 2 Mary Lou Christman, 84
Ross Fisher, 93 Max Gray, 75 Lorna Mason, 84 Bob Owen, 75
Member Scott Long reminded Benson that his recourse is to file suit against the tenant in Small Claims Court, to which Benson responded that he has obtained judgment against former tenants in several cases, but still has been unable to collect money from them. After a lengthy discussion, Lehman informed Benson that if he disagrees with (continued on page 6)
Vol. 35, No. 18 Lawrence Pace Jr., 98 Johnie Shepherd, 88 Alice Wagmer, 72
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