No appointment needed. Treating all ages. • Bronchitis and pneumonia Many insurances accepted. • Asthma and allergic reactions Unable to accept MDwise • Physical exams at this time. • Coughs, colds, flu Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Basic laboratory and X-ray services available. 260-274-0387
• Treatment of illness and injury • Bumps and bruises • Sprains, strains and burns • Minor lacerations
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of wabash county inc. www.thepaperofwabash.com June 18, 2014 Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977 Vol. 37, No. 15
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
Bubba Blackwell wows Brandt’s crowd with death-defying stunts by Aaron Johnson As the crowd at Brandt’s Harley-Davidson in Wabash got larger and larger, the music grew louder and louder. Guns and Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” played over multiple loudspeakers in the parking lot only minutes before 47-year-old James “Bubba” Blackwell attempted to jump over 12 brand new Dodge Darts provided by Wabash Valley Chrysler. The American motorcycle stunt rider came to Brandt’s to perform stunt shows on Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14 for his fans in the Wabash area. To some, Blackwell is known as “The King of Harley,” as he is the only man to beat both Evel Knievel’s car and bus jump records. Knievel’s record was flying over 19 Dodge Colts, which Blackwell broke by one car on April 26, 1998. “The King of Harley” also broke Knievel’s bus record by leaping over 14 busses on his bike. Blackwell uses a HarleyDavidson XR-750 flat-track race motorcycle, which is the same bike that Knievel used when he set his record. The XR-750 is painted with an American flag pattern on the side, which matches his infamous outfit. Blackwell’s suit is covered in red and blue flames coming from the legs and arms with white stars across the lower abdomen and legs. This ensemble is important to Blackwell’s show, as he wears it to accentuate who he is. “Not only because it’s representative of an American-made motorcycle that I ride,”
Blackwell said, “but I wear red, white, and blue because I’m a country boy that believes that America is the best place in the entire world.” Blackwell’s jump in Wabash was one of a series of daredevil acts that the motorcyclist has been performing. On June 9, Blackwell embarked from Uke’s Harley-Davidson in Kenosha, Wisc. to make the 224-mile trip to Wabash. After arriving at Brandt’s on that same day, Blackwell started to make preparations for the jump over 12 Dodge Darts. On June 9, the daredevil tweeted out, “100’ of grass, 175’ of pavement to the ramp “Cars” Landing ramp. 146’ to stop... yeah, it’ll be tight.” This was no average jump for Blackwell; it was a smaller space than he was used to, so getting up and over the cars while still being able to stop could be a challenge. He had to reach a speed of 80 mph in order to clear the cars and manage to stop within 146 feet of landing. On June 13, motorcycle enthusiasts from around the state came to Wabash to watch Blackwell’s stunt show. The rider popped wheelies and did tricks on five different bikes, all Harley-Davidson. The bikes he used over the course of the 45-minute show were H-D XR-1200, H-D VRSC, H-D Super Glide, HD FLHTCU, and H-D XR-750. The crowd cheered for every rev of the engines, every wheelie, and every burnout. Blackwell left Brandt’s parking lot with a few skid marks from the show, but wasn’t done yet.
JAMES “BUBBA” BLACKWELL performs motorcycle stunts at Brandt’s Harley Davidson on Friday, June 13 preceding his jump of 12 vehicles the following day. (photo by Aaron Johnson)
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Hobson heading back to India mission field
by Emily Armentrout emily@thepaperofwabash.com Brittany Hobson, Indiana Wesleyan University student and 2011 graduate of Southwood High School, began making jewelry as a hobby when she was in the 8th grade. As a sophomore, Hobson was able to go to India on a mission trip with Friends Church. Never did Hobson think that such a “girly” hobby could be used to bring people to Christ, but as she has learned over the past five years, “God’s a creative God,” Hobson told The Paper. “I met Eric Fleck from Friends Church and he just randomly asked me if I wanted to go to India. I didn’t even know him, but I was going to India,” Hobson explained. Fleck works a lot creating sustainHOBSON BROUGHT BACK JEWELRY from her able income while in India. Hobson time in India and sold the jewelry in the States. The was able to work for the first time profit was sent back to Kolkata to build a factory for with some women in making jewelry these women to have a place to work. (photo provided) while visiting India in 2009. After her
first visit to India, she knew she wanted to return. Her second trip to India actually began in Atlanta, Ga., at Passion conference in May 2013. 60,000 youth members gathered at the Georgia Dome and Hobson found in her group of 10 people someone who had been praying for her. He was not praying for Brittany specifically, but for a woman to come along and help him with his business venture. Cole Johnson had decided to build a factory in India for women to make scarves to sell to support their families. Though Hobson doesn’t make scarves, she was the woman he had been waiting for, and Hobson found herself back in Kolkata, India in August 2013, a few months after meeting Johnson. “This was a total God thing. 60,000 people and he had been praying for a woman to come along,” Hobson told The Paper. While in India in 2009 and 2013,
Hobson worked with an organization called Kolkata City Mission. KCM provides jobs for women but they also offer the spiritual side by presenting the gospel so the women can come to know Christ as their savior. Hobson worked with women from four different slums and another American girl from Indiana Wesleyan, Faith Neidig of Plymouth. Neidig is a 2013 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University. “I could not have done this trip without her. She agreed to be a part of this mission trip out of blind faith and assisted me with jewelry making and was able to entertain the children while I did additional training with the mothers,” Hobson said of her traveling partner. Hobson and Neidig brought back a suitcase full of the jewelry that was made during their visit. While home, the girls sold that jewelry for a total (continued on page 18)