Southwood sophomore Jackson Simons speaks to the crown during a welcome home rally Saturday evening at the Southwood High School gymnasium after the team returned from Indianapolis. Photo by Joseph Slacian. 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The reaction of the community following the Class A State boys basketball championship was evident: Win or lose, the Southwood Knights are still champions in their hearts and minds.

Throughout the contest at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Southwood faithful stood and cheered, hoping beyond hope that a miraculous comeback would be at hand. Sadly, it wasn’t. The Knights fell to Morristown, 89-60.

But that didn’t matter to the contingent of fans that braved a Central Indiana snowstorm to attend the Saturday morning contest.

When Carson Blair was announced as the recipient of the Ray Craft Mental Attitude award winner for Class A basketball, the northwest corner of the fieldhouse erupted with cheers.
 

The Dawes family pose for a group photo. Photo by Joseph Slacian. 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

There were few words spoken when Ralph and Greg Dawes accepted the 2017 Wabash County Farm Family of the Year Award on Tuesday, March 20.

However, the words that were spoken were sincere and from the heart.

“We thank the committee, Grow Wabash County and all of you who came tonight,” Ralph said after he and Greg accepted the award on behalf of Liberty Acres Dairy Farm. “We are extremely honored and when we found out the news, we were surprised. We surely appreciate it.”

Ralph said he was once asked why he decided to go into farming instead of a factory job.

“Well, we can’t all work at Fisher Body or Ford or Chrysler,” he said. “We all can’t be doctors or lawyers. Somebody has to produce the food.”
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

Repairs to the bridge washed out by February's flooding will cost the county roughly $234,000.

County Highway Superintendent John Martin presented the inspection report for the bridge carrying 1050 South over Grant Creek at the March 26 meeting of the county commissioners, and asked for permission to have an engineer continue studying the damage.
 

Dentist John Conner checks the teeth of Jameson Dennis a the Wabash County Kindegarten Roundup on Wednesday, March 21. 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Several Wabash County schools participated in Kindergarten Roundup Wednesday, March 21 at the Honeywell Center.

Schools, including Wabash City Schools, Metropolitan of Wabash County, Emmanuel Christian and St. Bernard participated in the event, designed to streamline the process for parents who have a child signing up for kindergarten in the fall.
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- The Wabash County Animal Shelter recently reached out to the Town of North Manchester regarding animal control services, but the town has moved on.

Shelter Manager Doug Bogert also sent a press release on Friday to the media “to explain the situation between the Town Council of North Manchester and the Wabash County Animal Shelter (WCAS),” according to the release.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash County 4-H Spark Clubs are hosting a variety of events for local youth over spring break.

“Spark Clubs are short-term, special interest clubs to spark an interest in 4-H with new audiences,” Angela Christopher, Extension Education 4-H Youth Development, told The Paper of Wabash County. “We are going to take spring break week as a way to offer four different days of Spark Club.”

The program, which runs from April 2-5, is open to all Wabash County youth, regardless of if they are a 4-H member.

“We are looking at a slight fee to attend,” she said. “That’s just to help cover our expenses and costs for the week.”
 

Pam Guthrie, Ivy Tech Community College executive director, watches a made in her honor. Photo by Joseph Slacian. 

By Joseph Slacian
Jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

A fundraiser for Ivy Tech Community College’s Wabash campus turned into a farewell party Friday night, March 23, at the Honeywell Center.

Before things got into full swing at the ninth annual Monopoly Night scholarship fundraiser, a surprise video tribute to retiring executive director Pam Guthrie was shown. Guthrie is retiring Wednesday, March 30, after more than 30 years with the college.

“It was a total surprise,” Guthrie told The Paper of Wabash County about the video tribute. “I told them I wanted to go quietly into the sunset, and then I didn’t hear anything else from them, so I thought they took my word for it. I should have known better.”
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com
and
Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash City Schools will see a shakeup in personnel in its athletic department and school board, it was announced at the Monday, March 19 school board meeting.

It was revealed at Monday’s meeting that board president Brandon France will be resigning his position with the board due to the fact that he is moving out of the school district.

“Brandon came back and filled an appointment of (Jordan) Tandy when Tandy became the board attorney,” Callahan explained. “Brandon has done a fantastic job. He’s been committed to all of our kids, our programs, our community. He and his wife have kids in our system. They’ve just really bought in and are engaged in what we’re doing. Although I hate to lose him from the board, I know he’s going to remain engaged and involved in what we’re doing.”

In his place, the board and Wabash City Council approved France’s replacement, Bill Konyha, to return to the board.

“Bill has served several terms as a board member for Wabash City Schools,” Callahan said. “… When we have that appointment responsibility, we always try to get somebody who has that experience. Bill has some of the best experiences. We’re glad he was willing to take that back on.”