Five local luminaries who made lasting contributions to life in Hagerstown will be remembered with signs. Town manager Chris LaMar told the Town Council June 5 that they hope to have the signs up by Jubilee Days in mid-August. The five, all deceased within the last 50 years, are Ralph Teetor, an inventor and the […]
Author Archives: Bob Hansen
Bob Hansen is a reporter for the Western Wayne News.
Respected math teacher departs Room 212
When a young teacher took time to explain the lyrics of a song to a student, it created a lasting memory. Julie Drake is that math teacher. She has held forth from the same classroom at Hagerstown Jr.-Sr. High School for 42 years. Now, upon retiring, she is departing Room 212. Those who know Dan […]
Free youth meals offered at schools, parks
Several local school districts and parks will offer a variety of free summer meals for toddlers as well as high schoolers. Some will be offered in a weekly grab-and-go format weekly, while others will be offered daily and need to be eaten on site. Here’s a look at some of those opportunities around Wayne County. […]
Tour tells stories of freedom seekers
Freedom, according to one story, meant so much to an enslaved man named William Bush that he had himself shipped in a wooden box addressed to “Newport, Wayne County, Indiana, care of Levi Coffin.” That story from 180 years ago is one that Aaron Martin loves to hear and retell in his work as program […]
6th-graders moving to WW Elementary
In a meeting most notable for its brevity, the Western Wayne School board decided to move sixth grade from Lincoln Middle/High School to Western Wayne Elementary School. This year’s fifth grade pupils will attend sixth grade at the elementary school, following a unanimous vote at the May 17 board meeting. Superintendent Andy Stover recommended the […]
Nettle Creek names employees of the year
Honoring and thanking school staff became the Nettle Creek school board’s focus on May 10. Superintendent Emily Schaeffer presented certificates to staff members recognized by vote of fellow staff members. Each, she said, represented examples of Nettle Creek School Corporation by maintaining high levels of performance in their daily work. She read from comments submitted […]
Hagerstown police ask residents to take care of yards
Spring is in bloom and so are complaints of unsightly properties in Hagerstown. The police department is asking property owners to clean up. Hagerstown Police Chief Keith Folkner said the department is getting two or three complaints a day about trash and debris or abandoned vehicles on properties in town. Hagerstown Police Department tries to […]
Fountain City council shuts down discussion with resident
As many as five police officers came to Fountain City Town Hall on May 2 to help keep order during a Town Council meeting. Council members mostly talked with each other, but after several minutes of heated exchanges during its meeting, the council stopped one resident from continuing to speak. David Oakes said he was […]
Student innovators pitch passion projects
For a thousand dollars, investors could help a group of Lincoln High School students add spice to life. At least, that’s the idea that six students calling themselves by the group name of Gabble shared with a parade of listeners during a Shark Tank program at the school on May 3. Modeled after the “Shark […]
73 Hagerstown kindergartners enroll
Seventy-three children went through the recent kindergarten roundup at Hagerstown Elementary School, according to information presented to the Nettle Creek School board on April 12. Superintendent Emily Schaeffer reported, “This is the highest number of students we’ve had since before the pandemic. We are excited to welcome our next group of Tigers!” During the meeting, […]