Nettle Creek School Corporation has adopted new rules providing equal opportunity in sports and extracurricular activities related to federal Title VI and Title IX during its Dec. 11 meeting. The policies state that students shall “have equal access to opportunities in all aspects of education.” Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits […]
Author Archives: Bob Hansen
Bob Hansen is a reporter for the Western Wayne News.
Photos: Hagerstown Hometown Christmas
Hagerstown’s Hometown Christmas festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, featured an expanded schedule of events and activities this year, including horse-drawn carriage rides, a holiday dance recital, vendors and a lighted parade. View photos of the events in our online gallery below.
Town giving notice to EDC
Hagerstown has confirmed that it intends to quit the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County. The town departed from its usual four-year agreement with EDC, only partnering until the end of 2025. Some council members have expressed dissatisfaction with the EDC for several months, deciding in October to renew the contract for one year. On […]
Honoree: Everyone plays a part
Everyone has a part to play in bettering the place they live, according to Brad Bowman. His place — Cambridge City — honored him as its 2024 Citizen of the Year for his many activities in community betterment. It didn’t take long for Bowman to realize he had been chosen when Beth Leisure, the 2023 […]
3 Hagerstown property owners explain plans for blighted houses
Owners of three properties have until next spring to repair or demolish houses as the result of agreed-to orders resulting from Hagerstown’s first unsafe buildings code hearings. A fourth house will be scheduled for demolition. The town called the Nov. 20 hearings after notifying owners of apparent violations of the town’s unsafe building code. The […]
Hagerstown weighs its future with EDC
President Valerie Shafer of the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County, Indiana, asked the Hagerstown Town Council to renew its contract for four years. Hagerstown is one of several towns that pays the county one-half of its economic development income tax, which is then used for the EDC and economic development projects. Hagerstown is paying […]
Town’s council discusses variety of topics
A wide variety of topics kept Hagerstown Town Council on its toes during its Nov. 4 regular meeting. Among matters addressed: a railroad crossing, contract renewal for economic development, a countywide planning process, the unsafe building ordinance, a resident’s concerns about construction on a neighbor’s property, town festivals and conditions at a vacant house. Railroad […]
Nettle Creek teachers will average nearly $60K
Nettle Creek teachers will see a 3% increase in base pay for 2025-26 under terms of a tentative contract that the school board will vote on Nov. 6. Base pay will be $47,000 under the contract terms, an increase from $45,000 this year. Teachers who are rated as effective or highly effective will get $1,125 […]
Northeastern schools’ budget about 6% higher
Northeastern Wayne School Corporation anticipates spending about 6% more in 2025 than it planned to in 2024. The school board approved budgets for the general fund, bus replacement and capital projects during its Oct. 23 meeting. All told, next year’s budget is $19.2 million, compared to just over $18 million this year. Northeastern plans to […]
Township wants change in fire plan
Twice in the past year, Hagerstown Town Council has given a 12-month extension for Jefferson Township’s fire protection agreement rather than the traditional three-year contract. Members said both times they wanted more information about changes advocated by the township trustee. The Hagerstown Town Council extended the fire contract on Dec. 4, 2023, asking Jefferson Township […]