BOYS’ 2A SECTIONAL - 19
On March 5, the Manchester Squires hosted the North Miami Warriors for the championship game of IHSAA Sectional 39. Just two points separated the squads at the break but when Manchester struggled in the third North Miami capitalized, and that proved to be the difference. For more details see this week’s edition of Sports Shorts.
THE PAPER
of Wabash County Inc.
www.thepaperofwabash.com
March 9, 2011
State budget cuts threaten rural public transportation
by Danielle Smith At the March 7 meeting, of their Wabash County Commissioners granted County H i g h w a y Superintendent John Martin’s request for an additional procreation of $24,000 to resolve issues with Bridge 67, which is located at CR 150 W and CR 400 S, south of Noble Fire Department. Martin also presented F r o n t i e r Communications’ request for permission to work under 10690 N 175 E, North Manchester. Wabash County Sheriff Bob Land reported that the jail is currently housing 82 inmates. He gave an update on the incarcerated liver transplant patient. “It doesn’t look like he is going to bond out, they are serious charges,” Sheriff Land said. “He is insulin-dependent and has Hepatitis C so he is isolated at this (continued on page 7)
In Memorium Franklin Brandenburg, 84 Frank Butcher, 76 Randy Day, 58 Harold Enyeart, 86 William Grossman, 87 Wilma Hedrick, 95 Sylvia Howard, 80 Charles Jamerson, 61 James Keefer, 62 David Nickels, 31 Edna Noonan, 102 Jane Ratekin, 67 Delores Royer, 83 June Sigsby, 78 Cheryl Strickler, 53 Ines Tracy, 94 Linda Waller, 66 Dorothy Williams, 84 Ernest Zerbe, 81
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Roann family experiences devastating house fire Community rallies to support the Powell family during trying times by Shaun Tilghman During the morning hours on Feb. 28, tragedy struck the Powell family as their home, located at 130 N. Benton St., Roann, was destroyed by fire. Matt and Cindy Powell had put their two daughters, Madisyn, 12, and Kassidy, 9, on the bus for school at around 7:30 a.m. as usual. Approximately two hours later they left the house as well, heading into Wabash to run some errands. They had just gotten into Walmart when Matt received the call that no one is ever prepared for. “My dad called asking where the girls were,” Matt said. “I told him they were at school then I asked why, and that’s when he told us the back of our house was on fire. I was in disbelief and it felt like a bad dream.” Cindy added, “It all just happened so fast because we hadn’t been gone more than half an hour. On the way home we could see the smoke and I just kept thinking:
TRAGEDY STRIKES: The back of Matt and Cindy Powell’s home, located at 130 N. Benton St., Roann, is engulfed in flames after a fire broke out at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 28. None of the Powell family was home when the blaze wreaked its havoc not only on the structure, but on their years of hard work as well. (photo provided) that’s not our house.” Unfortunately, it was their house. Firefighters from the Roann Fire Department, along with units from the
Urbana and Noble fire departments, battled the blaze for about 20 minutes before getting it under control, but not before the house was figured to
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years. “Six years ago we began work on the back of the house,” Matt explained, “with plans to eventually move our bedroom
upstairs and turn the old room into a game room. I also extended the kitchen, put in a closet for the laundry room, and rewired the (continued on page 6)
State legislators share progress of current session, hear public’s concerns
Index Classifieds ............29-31 Community News...........22-25 D & E ..................20-21 Sports Shorts ............19 Weekly Reports ....11-14
be a total loss. The Powells moved into the house 13 years ago and had started doing major work on the back section in the last several
STATE REPRESENTATIVE REBECCA KUBACKI AND STATE SENATOR JIM BANKS gave Wabash residents an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback regarding the current legislative session at Modoc’s Market on March 4. Attendees used the opportunity to discuss education reform, public transit budget cuts and the status of the pseudoephedrine prescription bill. (photo by Danielle Smith)
by Danielle Smith State Senator Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) and State Representative Rebecca Kubacki (R-Syracuse) visited Modoc’s Market, Wabash, on March 4 to meet with constituents and discuss the progress of their first legislative session. “I don’t know if Wabash County got a good deal or bad deal by having two rookies in the state legislature,” Sen. Banks said. “Hopefully the two of us are bringing a fresh perspective to the statehouse. That’s what we intend to do.” The current session must accomplish two constitutional tasks: passing a two-year budget and redrawing the senate, house and congressional districts. Redistricting takes place every 10 years, and residents should expect legislators to hold public forums to hear input. Constituents that attended the March 4 meeting expressed concerns about everything from the Super Bowl to veterans’ benefits; education reform ranked as the most-discussed topic. “These are some pretty dramatic reforms of public education in Indiana. That is an issue that has drawn emotional and passionate responses from many of you,” said Sen. Banks, who is a member of the Senate’s education committee. The reform that Sen. Banks speaks of is a series of bills designed to raise the quality of education in Indiana. These bills address teacher merit-based pay and charter schools and introduce a voucher system to remove students from failing schools. (continued on page 7)