By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Wabash Firefighter/Paramedic Joe Butterbaugh was honored Monday night during the Wabash City Council meeting.

Butterbaugh received a Cardiac Save Award from Zoll, which supplies safety equipment for the department, for his efforts in helping save the life of a Wabash man in December 2017.
 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Steve Brubaker retired as a teacher from the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County in 2011.
That doesn’t mean he’s stopped lending students a guiding hand.

Brubaker met up with one of his old students, Zach Campbell, who had fallen off the educational path along with way and dropped out of school.

Brubaker knew he needed to come to Campbell’s aid, so he helped him get enrolled at White’s High School, where Campbell graduated this year.
 

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

The Wabash County Election Board, after more than 20 minutes of discussion on Thursday, June 28, approved the wording for the Manchester Community Schools’ proposed referendum question.

The measure now must go to the Department of Local Government Finance for approval before it can be placed on the November ballot.

The major aspect of the board’s discussion was the wording in the question. Board members felt it too vague.
 

By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com

Mikayla Munn, a former Manchester University student charged in connection with the death of her infant child, will be sentenced Tuesday, July 24.

The sentencing hearing date change is the result of a June 27 hearing, in which Wabash County Circuit Court Judge Robert McCallen III accepted Munn's guilty plea and reset the sentencing hearing date.

Munn pleaded guilty to one count of neglect of a dependent as a level three felony Monday, June 4. She originally faced charges of murder and neglect of a dependent as a level one felony.

According to the plea agreement, Munn waived her right to appeal the court's decision regarding her sentence, and faces a maximum sentence of 16 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
 

Dennis Haller holds up an 1812 flag hig family has owned for generations. Haller has been offered as much as $250,000 for the heirloom. Photo by Josh Sigler

By Josh Sigler

jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

NORTH MANCHESTER – Dennis Haller seems like an ordinary man, living out his years in a small-town, Main Street fashion.
But, tucked away in his house is a secret which is very old and possibly very valuable.

Haller has in his possession a war flag from the Texas secession from Mexico in 1812, making the flag well over 200 years old.

By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com

Nine double bass students from around the country were in Wabash last week, participating in the 11th annual Wabass Institute.

The students gathered Monday through Thursday to receive group and individual instruction from three of the premiere bass players in the world, Harold Robinson, Eric Larson and Ranaan Meyer. On Friday evening, the group performed in a recital at the Honeywell Center.

“Things are amazing,” Meyer, the institute’s artistic director, told The Paper of Wabash County during a break in the instructions. “Every year we say the same thing. It sounds redundant, but it just always seems like it’s better than the last year.

Mitch Shutz shows off a piiece of leather in the Schutz Brothers workshop. Photo By Eric Christiansen

By Eric Christiansen
Echristiansen@nmpaper.com

NORTH MANCHESTER -- A staple in the North Manchester community has closed its doors after 72 years in business.

Located at 1604 East St., just north of State Road 13 in North Manchester, Schutz Brothers has been a family business that has made an impact in every state in the country and in at least 15 countries around the world.

Owner Mitch Schutz said that it was time to move on to the next stage of his life.

“I'll miss the people the most that we've met over the years … the people we've sold to, the vendors,” he said. “I've realized how much I've learned over the years. It's a unique industry, and it's been good to us.

“We've met some of the best horsemen from all over the world who have endorsed our stuff, and I call them my friends.”
Founded in 1946, Schutz Brothers specialized as manufacturers and wholesalers of horse tack, high-end leather, and tack and training equipment.
 

Northfield students practice for their performance of A Family Portrait, which will air on PBS 39 on Sunday, July 8 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and again on August 26 from 1-2 p.m. Photo provided. 

By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com

Northfield High School’s A Capella and Treble choirs spent the fall and winter practicing for a 200-voice joint performance with Warsaw High School, Fairfield High School and Manchester University.

Now, they’ll be able to see the fruits of their labor, as the performance will be broadcast on PBS 39 on Sunday, July 8, from 2:30  to 3:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, Aug, 26 from 1-2 p.m.

Northfield Jr. Sr. High School director of vocal music Mark Nevil was asked by Dr. Debra Lynn, the choral conductor at Manchester University to participate with his choirs in a combined performance of a work she had written.

The work, “A Family Portrait,” is based on a series of letters between a family and their family member, a civil war soldier.

“She set several to music, and decided to create work for orchestra, soloists and choir,” Nevil said. “We have collaborated with her on several different occasions – three times at least before with her and Manchester Symphony. So, she knew the quality of our program and that we would be able to handle the repertoire and perform it accurately.”