Most Wayne County schools leaders are expressing pride about their Class of 2023 graduation rates. However, some frustration simmers among some board members and administrators about how those rates can be affected by factors outside schools’ control. According to Indiana Department of Education data, nearly every Wayne County high school showed a graduation rate of […]
Author Archives: Bob Hansen
Bob Hansen is a reporter for the Western Wayne News.
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Western Wayne schools flush with cash
Having been awarded $2.8 million in grant funding during 2023, Western Wayne School Corporation is financially more healthy than it has been for several years, according to Superintendent Andy Stover. Cash balances at the end of 2023 included $954,633 in education, $572,846 in operations, $176,054 in debt service and $1,539,908 in the emergency and rainy […]
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Telling Teetor’s tale
After spending most of the past two years doing research, recruiting actors for his script and making video, Jack Teetor returned to Hagerstown on Dec. 15, entering the home stretch of his effort to give his uncle’s life story national exposure. Teetor’s uncle was the late Ralph R. Teetor, part of the family who led […]
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Council elects new leaders
Its newest member will lead the Hagerstown Town Council, after the former president and president pro tem decided against staying in those positions. The council unanimously elected Allan Bullock president and Fred Dill as president pro tem on Jan. 2. They replace Becky Diercks as president and Brian Longbons, pro tem. Diercks said she had […]
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Pershing planning public park
After decades sitting idle, a basketball court and the yard next to it in Pershing will be made into a playground for children. “We’ve never had a place for the kids,” said Steve Mills, Pershing Town Council president. The work to make 0.165 acres next to the former Pershing school into a public park is […]
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Principal promoted as curriculum director
After serving as Northeastern Middle School principal since 2020, Kelly Plank will be moving into the district’s administrative offices as the director of curriculum and instruction. The Northeastern Wayne Schools board approved the change during its Dec. 20 meeting. Plank will also continue as NMS principal until her replacement is hired. “My new role will […]
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Hagerstown tries to save for electric bills
After listening to an alarming prediction of electric price volatility within the next few years, Hagerstown Town Council decided to try to save money for unforeseen expenses. The council met in two work sessions on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21. At the second meeting, council president pro tem Brian Longbons said he and Town Manager […]
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Western Wayne board socks away extra $250,000
With the addition of a quarter-million dollars, Western Wayne School Corp. will have more money to meet unexpected expenses than it has for many years. The school board agreed to add $250,000 to the rainy day fund, as recommended by Superintendent Andy Stover during its Dec. 13 meeting. After that, the rainy day fund will […]
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Staff member’s school greetings recognized
A library aide’s enthusiastic greeting of Hagerstown Elementary School students drew favorable attention from a visitor to the school; so much so that he sent an email about her to Nettle Creek School Superintendent Emily Schaeffer. Cortney Sizemore drew the attention from Craig Towns, business partnerships manager for Reid Health, who visited the school in […]
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Hagerstown, county look at building demolition
Hagerstown might be getting back into demolition. At the Dec. 4 Town Council meeting, Rick Cole called one building a “two-story junk house that’s about ready to fall down.” It and a next-door house are a blight, he said. Cole, a former council member, recommended that the town building commissioner consider whether they should be […]