Alyssa Haupert shows off her artwork to patrons during the Best of the Best at the Honeywell Center on Sunday, May 19. Photo by Josh Sigler

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

The Best of the Best art program showcased work of some of the area’s most talented youth artists Sunday, May 19 in the Honeywell Center’s Honeywell Room.

Young artists from around the county, as well as Heartland Career Center, put their artwork up for sale to patrons, who stopped in the Center to check out what they had to offer from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Co-director Jeanie Cooper explained that the Best of the Best is an entrepreneurial group made up of high school art students. The group meets four times a year, culminating with Sunday’s show and sale.

“When we meet those four times during the year, we have guest artists come in,” Cooper said. “We take a field trip to usually a museum or college, and we also have one morning where we practice just getting ready for the show.”
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

A 37-year-old Somerset man died in a crash Tuesday night, according to the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department.

Meanwhile, a Celina, Ohio, man was seriously injured in a separate accident in Wabash County on Tuesday morning.

According to Huntington County officials, around 10:20 p.m., Justin Adkins, of Somerset, was driving on County Road 500 West, north of County Road 700 South when his vehicle went off the east side of the road.

Investigators think he overcorrected, and then ended up on the other side of the road before overturning and striking a utility pole.

The Huntington County coroner’s office reported Adkins wasn’t wearing his seatbelt and was partially thrown from his car. Adkins died from his injuries.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Benjamin D. Vanderpool became Wabash County's newest Superior Court Judge.

Vanderpool received the oath of office from his father, Judge Daniel Vanderpool (Ret.) during a brief ceremony on Wednesday evening, May 8, in the Wabash County Superior Courtroom. The room was filled with family, friends and members of law enforcement and the Wabash County Bar Association.

Judge Benjamin Vanderpool replaces Judge Amy Cornell, who passed away earlier this year. He was appointed to the position by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb on April 11.

“I’m just excited to get started,” Judge Vanderpool told The Paper of Wabash County following the ceremony. “I’m humbled and honored to be selected for this role, and I’m really looking forward to serving the entire community.”
 

By David Brinson
news@thepaperofwabash.com

Derrick Shelton has endured a lifetime of medical complications, surgeries and transplants. Currently on dialysis and awaiting his second kidney transplant, Shelton will have a benefit held in his name Saturday, May 18.

“It’s been a rough life, a difficult life,” Shelton said. “But there’s always someone worse off than I am. If I could take pain from someone, I would take it away, because I’ve been through it.”

The benefit begins at 4 p.m. at the Wabash Moose Lodge. A $7 pulled pork dinner will be served, followed by an auction.

Everything from the massages being bid on to the food being used for the event were donated by different people and businesses around Wabash County. The following Monday, May 20, Goodfella’s Pizza will be donating 10 percent of its sales to the cause. All proceeds and donations will go directly to Shelton and his intensive medical bills.
 

Wabash County Republican chair Barb Pearson chats with Terry Brewer Jr., winner in the Wabash City Council's Third District race. Photo by Joseph Slacian. 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Challenger David Monroe defeated Wabash City Council incumbent Eric Schoening by seven votes Tuesday in the Republican Primary for the Council’s Second District seat.

Monroe received 38 votes to Schoening’s 31 in the closes race of the night in the City of Wabash and the towns of North Manchester and LaFontaine.

In other contested races within the City of Wabash, GOP incumbent Doug Adams defeated challenger Jonathan Bouse, 112-23, in the Council’s Fifth District race, while Terry Brewer Jr. defeated Sheryll Ulshafer, 63-29, in a race between two political newcomers to win the nomination for the Council’s Third District seat.

In North Manchester, Republican incumbent Jim Smith defeated Anthony “Tony” DeLaughter, 279-134, in the race for the North Manchester Town Council’s Second District seat.
 

Dr. Gregory Garner (from left) of Midwest Eye Consultants, poses with Self-Reliance Award recipients Brittany Bussard of Northfied High School, Konner Cripe of Manchester High School, Paige Frank and Lucinda Anderson, both of Wabash High School. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

On Tuesday afternoon, four Wabash County high school seniors were honored during the 2019 Midwest Eye Consultants Self Reliance Award Ceremony.

The event took place at the weekly Wabash Kiwanis luncheon. The Kiwanis Club oversees the program for Midwest Eye.
The seniors -- Brittany Bussard of Northfield; Konner Cripe of Manchester; and Lucinda Anderson and Paige Frank, both of Wabash -- each received $2,000 to be used for whatever they choose.

The program is designed to honor students who are able to overcome the hand that life has dealt them and succeed through their own self-reliance.

Kiwanis President-Elect Eric Seaman detailed the various trials and tribulations the students faced in their young lives.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The Wabash River Walk could be getting a different route sometime in the future.

The Wabash Board of Parks & Recreation agreed to look into changing the route on the eastern portion of the trail between Wabash and Huntington streets.

The city, Park Superintendent Adam Hall noted, has been getting some complaints from residents because high water from the Wabash River has closed down a portion of the trail this spring.

Some have suggested moving the trail to the north of the existing pathway. Hall told the board that in order to do that, the trail would have to be close to the city’s northern property line.

In order to move the trail, board members were told, many trees would have to be removed. The board also questioned whether asphalt would be needed or gravel would suffice.

Some board members noted that gravel would make it hard for those with baby strollers or wagons, as well as for bike riders.
 

Manchester University students begin their protest march from Petersime Chapel to Tall Oaks, home of MU President Dave McFadden. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Eric Christiansen
echristiansen@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- Students at Manchester University had a mock funeral on Friday, May 10, for, they said, the university's liberal arts program. University officials recently announced cuts to the program which included the elimination of the French program. Several staff members are expected to lose their positions as well.

The students had a ceremony at Petersime Chapel, then marched across campus to Tall Oaks, home of University President Dave McFadden. There, the students heard taps played, as well as a few speeches from classmates.