Two years after extensive damage to the historic Capitol Hill Cemetery, most of the vandalism has been repaired, and the man who’s doing the work plans to return this spring and finish it. On April 1, 2022, police and two of the volunteers who had spent years working to preserve Cambridge City’s earliest public cemetery […]
Author Archives: Bob Hansen
Bob Hansen is a reporter for the Western Wayne News.
Posted inNews
Town supports effort for $8 million
Hagerstown became the first community to sign onto a program that might bring $8 million to Wayne County. Town Council agreed on April 1 to provide a letter of interest for the county’s Stellar Pathways application. It’s a funding program from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs which encourages regional cooperation on projects that […]
Posted inNews
Hagerstown’s new building commissioner resigns
Hagerstown finds itself looking for a new building commissioner for the second time in less than a year, and perhaps redefining the position. Terry Ford has resigned to take a similar position with the Town of Centerville. Hagerstown had hired him last fall after searching several months to replace his predecessor. At that time, Ford […]
Posted inNews
Hagerstown council will swap 1 rate hike for another
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inSports
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]