The burned out remains of the Richard Simpson home stands along Bailey Road on Monday morning. Photo by Josh Sigler
By The Paper Staff
An early morning fire Monday, April 16, at a home on South Baily Road is under invesitagion.
Noble Township Fire Department responded to the blaze at the Richard and Jennifer Simpson home, 3166 S. Bailey Road at 2:18 a.m., according to Fire Chief Nathan Zinn.
The residents were not at home at the time of the incident.
Coach Aaron Butcher has a new home, as he announced last week he was leaving his alma mater Ancilla College to take the head coaching job at Northern Oklahoma College -- Enid. Photo provided by Ancilla College.
By Josh Sigler
jsigler@thepaperofwabash.com
He’s spent the past six seasons building his alma mater’s men’s basketball program into a perennial contender. Now, he’s ready for a new challenge.
Aaron Butcher accepted the head men’s coaching job at Northern Oklahoma College – Enid, a National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Division I school in between Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kan. He leaves Ancilla with a 113-65 record in six seasons.
“Each of the past few off seasons some opportunities have been presented, and I think you always have to look,” Butcher said. “We did have it going here, but at the same time, Enid is a really nice city and it’s a great basketball job and great people. From a career standpoint, being a Division I Junior College where resources and funding is a better set up. I felt like it was a good move for us.”
Butcher built Ancilla from the bottom up both in the classroom and on the court, setting a record for team GPA as well as a record for wins in a season, as the Chargers went 29-3 this past season and won a conference title.
“When I got the job, the administration said the best we could ever hope for was .500.” Butcher said. “To go 29-3 and 75-19 over a three year span, those are things we’re really proud of.”
Butcher surmised that in most cases, new coaches get jobs because the predecessor wasn’t successful.
That’s not the case at Enid. Coach Greg Shamburg built a strong program in his 17 seasons there, taking the Jets to the national tournament as recent as the 2016-17 season.
“The job came open in the middle the season, around December,” Butcher said. “The coach had been there a while and went to transition into some other things. It was open and we got it wrapped up (Wednesday, April 4). It’s a good program.
“They won the region last year. They have seven returning guys right now. We’re hoping to keep those seven. It’s a pretty good location near Oklahoma City and Wichita, and I think we’ll be able to get into Texas a little bit. We think it’s an area where we think we can get some high level guys and continue to win.”
Butcher, a 2003 Wabash High School grad, will spend the first few days in his new role reaching out to returning players.
“Any time a situation like this happens, there’s an uneasy feeling (among players),” Butcher said. “There’s probably a lot of mixed emotions for the guys in terms of nervousness, not knowing who’s coming in and what their personality or style of play are going to be like. I want to reach out to the guys and introduce myself to them. We’ll meet them face to face (this) week, but you want to call them and text them and reach out to them.
“That was the first order. Then, we assess the roster to see where we’re at and what our needs are. I spent a lot of time on the phone talking to high school coaches in Oklahoma, and some different kids that feel like maybe it would be a fit.”
The diminutive guard for Mike Noszka’s Wabash Apaches is now a head coach of a NJCAA program.
“From Wabash to a college coach in Oklahoma – I never really thought we’d be going out that way,” Butcher said. “It’s funny how it all works. There’s no rhyme of reason. You just work hard and trust the plan.”
North Manchester police officers Isaac Adams (left) and Devin Bechtold apprehend Wade Beck, of South Whitley, Wednesday, April 11. Adams aimed his taser at Beck but did not use it during the incident.
By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com
NORTH MANCHESTER -- A South Whitley man faces several charges after allegedly running from police officers and into a North Manchester home Wednesday night.
Wade A. Beck, 22, of South Whitley is preliminarily charged with resisting law enforcement, resisting law enforcement with a motor vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, illegal possession of a syringe, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, maintaining a common nuisance, residential entry, reckless driving and criminal mischief.
Beck was also served a warrant for probation violation, maintaining a common nuisance, illegal possession of a syringe and possession of paraphernalia. He was cited for no proof of financial responsibility and failure to signal within 200 feet.
By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
ROANN – The Town of Roann has been selected to participate in a pilot program being overseen by the State Board of Accounts (SBOA).
Clerk-Treasurer Robert Ferguson told Town Council members on Tuesday, April 10, that he received a call from SBOA representatives earlier in the day asking him to participate in the program.
The new program is designed to allow SBOA staff members to conduct audits remotely, rather than onsite.
By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Changes are afoot at a longtime Wabash business.
Pefley's Farm Equipment is now offering the new Kubota line, company officials told The Paper of Wabash County on Monday, April 16.
In addition, the firm now has a second location in Greentown known as Dirt-N-Turf.
In the near future, they said, they will be relocating their current facilities inside of Wabash County. Pefley's will have a name change once in the new location.
