Vol. 38, No. 38
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. November 11, 2015
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Veterans’ memorial to be dedicated Nov. 14 By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Mayor-elect Scott Long and his wife, Jackie, applaude when the results for the Wabash mayoral race were announced Tuesday night, Nov. 3, in the Wabash County Clerk’s office. Photo by Joseph Slacian
Long elected Wabash mayor By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com Pick one of the following emotions – anxiousness, relief, a feeling of accomplishment – and there’s a good chance Republican Scott Long felt it Tuesday night, Nov. 3. Long, a 16-year-member of the Wabash City Council, was elected mayor of the City of Wabash, in a three-person race. Long received 951 of the 2,532 votes cast to defeat Democrat Margaret “Boo” Salb (860) and Independent Wade Weaver (721). The anxiousness came when, after the 522 early votes cast in the race were announced, Long and Weaver were in a tie, each receiving 189 votes. It continued when, after the results from the four vote centers around the city and the Town of LaFontaine were tabulated, Wabash County Clerk Elaine Martin began announcing them, starting with the LaFontaine Clerk-Treasurer’s
The happy couple share a hug following the announcement. Long defeated Margaret “Boo” Salb and Wade Weaver to win the mayoral race. Photo by Joseph Slacian
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LAFONTAINE – A trip to Markle to visit family sparked an idea with local resident George Barnes. The idea will come to fruition on Saturday, Nov. 14, when a memorial dedicated to United States veterans will be unveiled near the LaFontaine Community Building. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. “Right downtown in Markle they have a veterans memorial,” Barnes told The Paper of Wabash County during a recent telephone interview. “We stopped and looked at it, and I asked my wife, ‘Why can’t we have one in LaFontaine?’” Upon returning to LaFontaine, Barnes said he “started talking it up to different people” and the work began. That was about 18 months ago. After broaching the idea with local residents, he said, it didn’t take much effort to get them to work toward the goal. “Once we got everyone kind of coming (to hear about the project) and got them interested, it really went better than I thought it would go,” Barnes said. “I was a little concerned about getting the money and all this kind of stuff. “But it really worked out real good.” Local artist Bill Stouffer drew up a plan for the park, Barnes said. “What we did, I kind of took his plan and changed it around and came up with the one we’ve got now,” Barnes continued. Commemorative memorial bricks and a bench are among the items located in the park, which is west of the town’s Community Building. The memorial stands about six feet tall, and memorial bricks run alongside it. “I had to hunt all over for these bricks,” Barnes said. “I talked to
the mayor in Decatur. He was the head of the memorial in Decatur … and I finally found the bricks in Berne.” The 8-inch-by-8-inch bricks, purchased by family members in honor of their loved ones, contain names and other information of local veterans. There are about 185 bricks sold, and they still can be purchased. The bricks are located to the east of a sidewalk leading up to the memorial. There also is a granite bench nearby for the public to sit at. A mural on the community building was painted by former LaFontaine residents John and Joey Khrin, who now lives in Greentown. “We’ve got a lot of cooperation from the veterans and a lot of good workers,” Barnes said. “The ladies have been absolutely wonderful, especially Ethel Eib and Donna Ballard. They have really been great. “I don’t think we could have done it without them.” Ballard will emcee the dedication ceremony, which will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. The Southwood Elementary School third graders will perform under the direction of Rhonda Dubuque. The Wabash VFW Post No.286 color guard will present the colors, and the Pledge of Allegiance will be recited. Following the Pledge, Josie Wade of Wabash will sing the national anthem, and then Ballard will make the memorial presentation. Dr. Tom Mansbarger of Marion will present “Proud to be an American,” followed by remarks by State Sen. Jim Banks, Columbia City, who earlier this year spent time in Afghanistan serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. Following Taps, the Rev. Brad Wright of the LaFontaine Christian Church will give the benediction.
Dr. Dugan to be named Healthcare Hero By The Paper staff M e d i c a l Oncologist/Hematologist Dr. William M. Dugan Jr. is the 2015 recipient of Parkview Wabash Hospital Foundation’s Healthcare Hero Award, Foundation Director Beth Squires Stein announced. Dugan will receive the award at the Foundation’s annual gala on Saturday, Nov. 14. “Dr. Dugan has a long and remarkable history with our hospital,” Stein said. “The oncology program would cer-
tainly not be where it is today without his foresight, his vast knowledge and his dedication. It is truly our pleasure to recognize him with this award.” The Healthcare Hero Award was created by the Foundation to recognize an exceptional healthcare worker or volunteer. The annual award provides the opportunity to celebrate and honor their vision, inspiration and achievements for the betterment of healthcare in Wabash and surrounding communities. Nominated by Parkview Wabash’s oncology staff, Dugan
was selected for his concept of what a rural cancer program could be and for bringing it to Wabash County more than 30 years ago. It was his passion and firm belief in the difference a sophisticated oncology program could make in the lives of those in rural communities that inspired him to co-found Indiana Community Cancer Care (ICCC) in 1983. Through ICCC, Dugan would come to the hospital and develop protocols. Chemotherapy was then administered by oncol(continued on page 5)
Dr. William M. Dugan Jr., Medical Oncologist/Hematologist, has been named the PWB Foundation’s Healthcare Hero 2015. He was nominated by the Parkview Wabash Oncology staff. Pictured with Dr. Dugan are his nominators, from left: Paula Holmes, RN, OCN; Debbie Reahard, department secretary; Robin Cooper, RN, OCN; and Tara Leland, RN. Photo provided