Trading one utility rate hike for another will get Hagerstown’s long-awaited water line replacement underway, according to a creative financial plan set for adoption on Monday. Hagerstown Town Council agreed to put off a scheduled increase in electric bills in favor of adding to the cost of water after council member Brian Longbons gave results […]
Author Archives: Bob Hansen
Bob Hansen is a reporter for the Western Wayne News.
Town celebrates reaching playground funding goal
Hailed as a good example of the results of collaboration between several layers of government and citizens, county officials joined with the Town of East Germantown in celebrating a funding milestone. In a party at the town hall, East Germantown announced that more than $50,000 in donations to its online funding program had qualified the […]
Food programs feeling the pinch
Local food pantries are facing a funding hurdle: The rising cost of food is hitting suppliers hard at the same time as more people need their services. Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and Midwest Food Bank Indiana are two Indianapolis-based food banks serving the Wayne County area. Food banks help supply local food pantries, which […]
Knights qualify for national archery tourney
Sirens screaming through Fountain City announced what many in town already knew: Northeastern’s archery teams had qualified for the national tournament. Again. One team from Northeastern High School and one from Northeastern Middle School will be shooting in the US Eastern National Tournament of the National Archery in the Schools Program on May 9-11 in […]
Town officials seek RR crossing answers
Two rough railroad crossings in Hagerstown stirred town officials to public criticism of what they say is an unresponsive corporation. A busy Norfolk Southern Railroad track crosses at about 600 S. Washington St. It crosses South Street a few blocks east. Town Council discussed both on March 4. A truck vs. train crash at the […]
Town taking aim at unsafe, unsightly properties
A new emphasis on keeping Hagerstown houses in good condition brought a woman to Town Council where she found temporary relief. Building Commissioner Terry Ford told the council that he had sent letters to owners of unsafe or unsightly properties. He gave the owners 30 days to respond by fixing the problems or explain their […]
Hagerstown making final eclipse plans
Three days of activities are the pillars of Hagerstown’s plans for the weekend before the April 8 solar eclipse, and residents are still adding to the structure. More than 50 local people came to a Feb. 21 “final” planning meeting for the eclipse, according to Gary Schuette. As chairman of the Heart of Hagerstown community […]
District joins suit against social media firms
Northeastern Wayne School Corp. is joining a class action lawsuit that maintains social media sites are a cause of mental health issues among students. At the recommendation of Superintendent Matthew Hicks, the Northeastern Wayne schools board agreed on Feb. 21 to join one of many lawsuits against social media companies. According to the Education Week […]
Film of automotive pioneer’s life to premiere April 5
The public premiere of a documentary film about Hagerstown inventor Ralph R. Teetor will take place during Wayne County’s lead-up to the April 8 solar eclipse. “Blind Logic – The Ralph R. Teetor Story” will be shown at the Hagerstown High School auditorium at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, and at Earlham College’s Goddard Auditorium at […]
Hagerstown moving on major water rehab
Rehabbing Hagerstown’s water system will mean a water rate increase. A first phase should cost about $2.86 million, according to an engineer’s estimates. Town Council has agreed to start replacing water lines based on an engineer’s system evaluation. Town Manager Chris LaMar said he hopes the entire network of water lines will be replaced eventually. […]