Karsyn Bratch’s sister, Jordan, addresses the crowd Saturday morning during the Kick it for Karsyn kickball tourney. Photos by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian

Eighteen teams spent part of Saturday, July 29, playing kickball and, more importantly, remembering the short but touching life of Karsyn Bratch.

The fourth annual Kick it for Karsyn kickball tourney took place at four diamonds at the Morrett Sports Complex.

Karsyn was diagnosed with cancer when she was 4-years-old and battled the disease for eight years before succumbing to it in October 2015, just weeks after the second annual kickball tourney. She was generous, friendly, and had a positive outlook no matter how she was feeling, something that inspired all who knew her.

The South Side Park Project invested more than $50,000 in the playground space located at 1470 Vernon St. in Wabash. The project renovated the park’s playground system and resurfaced the basketball court, providing new backboards as well. Photo by Emma Rausch

By Emma Rausch

South Side Park, located at 1470 Vernon St. in Wabash, is complete and ready to be played on.

The park’s project committee officials dedicated the renovated space with an informal ceremony Friday evening, July 28.

“I just want to thank everybody,” Mitch Figert, committee co-chair and Wabash City Council member, said to a group of 15 people that gathered to celebrate the occasion. “It’s been at least two years ago when (committee co-chair) Jordan Tandy came to me and we had this beautiful idea. Hanna Park had been completed and South Side Park was looking in disrepair. It was a nice space, but the equipment had been aged and things were broken."

Firefighters from several area departments responded to a report of a barn fire on 300 W., north of 1300 N. late in the night of Saturday, July 29. When the firefighters arrived, the hay-filled barn was fully engulfed. Photo by David Fenker

By David Fenker

A northern Wabash County barn was lost to a fire late Saturday night.

According to Pleasant Township Fire Department (PTFD) Chief Kent Trickle, the department was dispatched around 10 p.m. Saturday, July 29 to a barn fire on 300 W., north of 1300 N.

Donald Fecher

By Emma Rausch

A Milford man is facing felony reckless homicide in connection to a 2016 rural Wabash County accident that resulted in the death of a North Manchester resident.

Donald Fecher, 61, was booked into the Wabash County Jail for the charge on Friday, July 21.

The charge stems from a crash that took place on May 20, 2016, on Wabash County Road 100 East at Wabash County Road 1400 North.