In his new book on Christian theology, “The Road Back,” Wabash author Rick Tolley offers refreshing lessons to draw Christians even closer to God and re-ignite the love that Christians might have lost.

Many today are searching for relevance of the Christian life. In “The Road Back,” Tolley challenges those who are wrestling with the Christian life to think outside the box. With a unique look at how the Christian life fits into the world today, he uses stories and analogies that will challenge the readers’ thinking. His plain and simple approach challenges them to grow deeper in their walk with God by going outside traditional, religious thinking without compromising God’s Word.

Mark your calendars for North Manchester’s most memorable night out on the town. Manchester Main Street’s 2nd annual “Light up the Town” Holiday Gala will be held on Friday, Dec. 6, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

This progressive dinner event will feature specialty treats from North Manchester’s finest restaurants, bars and entertainers. Four historic downtown venues will be transformed into holiday splendor, and filled with live music, dancing and silent auction treasures.

By Eric Stearley
eric@thepaperofwabash.com

A serious accident occurred at the intersection of 24 and 15 just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

A light blue Geo Tracker, driven by Markeeta M. Webb, 71 Huntington, collided with a black Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Charles C. Smith, 62, Martinsville.

The Wabash Police Department stated that Webb turned left from westbound US 24 onto southbound SR 15 when Smith, who was headed eastbound on US 24, struck her vehicle. 

by Eric Stearley

In late September, Scott Poole took some time out of his Sunday afternoon to look over a property that he has often hunted in the past. An avid hunter for the last 30 years, Poole inspected the property just over a week before the opening of bow hunting season, which began Oct. 1. As he approached a creek, he found a deer lying motionless, its body half in the water, half out. Further down the creek, he saw another dead deer laying in the water, and then a third, on the bank of the creek. 

Poole says he thought this was strange, but he didn’t think much about it until he found a fourth deer that same week on his own property, less than a mile from where he found the others.

“Anytime I’ve ever found a dead deer, I inspect it and there’s always a bullet hole or it was a car wreck,” said Poole.

These deer were different. Poole explained that they looked perfectly healthy. They didn’t appear to be sick. There were not gunshot wounds or signs of trauma. The only thing he noticed was a blue tongue sticking out of the deer’s mouths. The disease that turned their tongues blue could be more deadly to white-tailed deer than hunters’ rounds and driver’s cars combined.  

by Kalie Ammons

kalie@thepaperofwabash.com

Vickie Barton grew up like many people in Wabash County: she helped out on her family farm.

“It’s on the 124, about three miles east of Southwood,” Dr. Barton explained fondly.

However, Barton’s passion did not lie with the farm, but with helping children meet their full potential.

The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities is a residential two-year high school for gifted and talented juniors and seniors.

“It’s difficult to get people to understand that when you put a bunch of these kids together in the same space, the potential is immeasurable,” Barton told The Paper.

Students must apply during their sophomore year, a rigorous process. After writing multiple essays, keeping grades above average, getting recommendations from four different teachers and sometimes an interview process, students wait in anticipation for the phone call that will send them to live on Ball State’s campus for the next two years.

by Ashley Flynn

ashley@thepaperofwabash.com

As pants sizes shrink, the client list grows, and already, the Sweat Factory has outgrown its current location in the former Radio Shack on North Cass Street.

Having just opened in April 2013, business partners Shelly Ruch and Jill Vigar are pleased with the membership. Their space will double when they move down the road into the Shopper’s Mart on Cass Street on Oct. 15.

“We’ve been fortunate and blessed with a good membership so far. We outgrew that place and that’s nice,” Ruch told The Paper.

Ruch is certified with the American College of Sports Medicine, and has been in the group fitness business for 20 years.

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson approved Wabash County’s application for money to improve voting accessibility. The county was awarded $13,000 as part of the latest round of funding distributed to counties who meet the qualifications of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002. Applications are approved with the consent of the bipartisan co-directors of the Indiana Election Division. These funds will be used to upgrade current polling places to ensure those locations are handicap accessible.

“I commend Wabash County’s commitment to improving accessibility for Hoosiers,” Secretary Lawson said. “These upgrades at the request of Wabash County Clerk Elaine Martin will improve the town hall structures for all citizens, not just on election day but every day.”  

by Eric Stearley

In late September, Scott Poole took some time out of his Sunday afternoon to look over a property that he has often hunted in the past. An avid hunter for the last 30 years, Poole inspected the property just over a week before the opening of bow hunting season, which began Oct. 1. As he approached a creek, he found a deer lying motionless, its body half in the water, half out. Further down the creek, he saw another dead deer laying in the water, and then a third, on the bank of the creek.

Poole says he thought this was strange, but he didn’t think much about it until he found a fourth deer that same week on his own property, less than a mile from where he found the others.