Nearly perfect summer growing weather contributed to better-than-average yields for soybean and corn farmers in Wayne County. But lower prices and increasing costs have left farmers feeling less optimistic than a year ago. “Weather conditions have been really good,” said Ben Alyea, a Williamsburg-area farmer who had finished his soybean harvest and started combining corn […]
Author Archives: Bob Hansen
Bob Hansen is a reporter for the Western Wayne News.
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Nettle Creek teachers getting raises
Teachers and other certified personnel in the Nettle Creek School Corporation will receive a 7% raise under terms of a contract that the school board expects to ratify Wednesday. Teacher base pay will be $45,000 annually, an increase from the current $42,000, according to Emily Schaeffer, superintendent. Returning teachers who are rated “effective” or “highly […]
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Veteran rural mail carrier retires
Kenny May retired as a rural mail carrier last Friday, Oct. 27. A Hagerstown native, May started working at the Hagerstown post office in 1989. He worked as a substitute carrier for the first 15 years. In that position, he also subbed in other offices, including Losantville, Modoc, Economy and Greens Fork. He also did […]
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Egg farm gets zoning go-ahead
A unanimous vote after a 15-minute discussion ended a four-month quest for a zoning variance for a Hagerstown-area farmer. The Hagerstown Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4-0 on Oct. 25 in favor of Gideon and Anna Ebersol’s request for a zoning variance that will allow them to keep up to 20,000 chickens on their farm. […]
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Nettle Creek board OKs bonding
In a series of meetings on Oct. 3, Oct. 11 and Oct. 18, the Nettle Creek schools board has formalized details of a bond sale to fund improvements and buses, approved its 2024 budget and spotlighted accomplishments of school staff and students. On Oct. 11, the board approved documents detailing a $1.325 million bond issue […]
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Kent, Shellie Gray honored for quietly helping
Nettle Creek area clubs honored a family tradition of community involvement for the third time with this year’s Good Friend and Neighbor award. Kent and Shellie Gray received the award Oct. 19 during the Rural-Urban Dinner. The Economy Lions Club, Nettle Creek Lions Club and Optimist Club organized the annual event, which began in 1959 […]
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Northeastern teachers, staff get 7% raises
Teachers and support staff at Northeastern Wayne Schools will get 7% raises this year. Under a new contract negotiated with the Northeastern Wayne Classroom Teachers Association, teachers employed there before the current school year will get a 7% raise. Teachers who started this school year will receive 5% because they were hired at a higher […]
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Town agrees to spend $15K more on eclipse party
Hagerstown Town Council has agreed to spend up to $40,000 for activities surrounding the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse. Meeting in a work session on Oct. 16, council members voted to spend $15,000 more on activities leading up to the eclipse, as requested by the Heart of Hagerstown business group. Council had previously allocated $25,000 […]
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$2,000 pay raise planned for WW teachers
Teachers in Western Wayne School Corporation will get a $2,000 raise in their base pay under tentative terms of a contract discussed by the school board on Oct. 11. Base pay for teachers would range from $42,000 to $65,000 under contract terms negotiated with the Western Wayne Education Association. Teachers who are rated “effective” or […]
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Hagerstown’s longest-tenured employee will step down
When 2024 arrives in Hagerstown, Bob Bullock probably will no longer be the person with the longest service as a town employee. Bullock has been the town building commissioner for 32 years. The Town Council planned to hire his replacement, Terry Ford, on Monday, Oct. 2, effective Oct. 10. The town asked Bullock to stay […]