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 […]
Author Archives: Bob Hansen
Bob Hansen is a reporter for the Western Wayne News.
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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 […]
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Hagerstown studies costs for system upgrades
An engineering study recommends repairs and upgrades to Hagerstown’s water, wastewater and stormwater collection systems that could cost $11.4 million to $18.85 million. Triad Associates of Indianapolis reported the results of its study to Hagerstown Town Council on Oct. 2. The firm evaluated each system, recommending repairs and upgrades. Town Council will decide on final […]
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Area schools cooperate, but will not consolidate
Public school corporations have ways of improving student achievement without forced consolidation, according to local small school officials, including online learning and some degree of cooperation with other school districts. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce agrees but is renewing its push for improving the academic performance and economic efficiency of the smallest school corporations, with […]
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Hagerstown mulls implementing April eclipse controls
While applauding Hagerstown residents and businesses’ eagerness to prepare for the 2024 solar eclipse, Brian Longbons is sounding a cautionary note. A second public planning meeting is planned for Thursday, Oct. 12. “There is a lot of interest in people doing a lot of things” to welcome an expected horde of visitors during the April […]
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3 groups continue Rural-Urban Dinner
A coalition of three service clubs is continuing the 64-year tradition of recognizing a Good Friend and Neighbor at the Nettle Creek Rural-Urban Dinner. The Rural-Urban Dinner is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at Willie & Red’s, 40 E. Main St. in Hagerstown, according to David Williamson, the Economy Lions Club president. The […]
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Jubilation: A fresh start for Jubilee Days
There’s been a lot of agreement that this year’s Jubilee Days ran smoothly and there is consensus that Hagerstown wants to keep its late-summer festival going. The question: Who will do it? The longtime festival chairwoman, Robin Nugent, convened a meeting about that on Sept. 26. She and four of the six other active members […]
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‘Right place at the right time’: Stories of doing good
Three stories help Steve Davis illustrate how volunteering with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana – or any service organization — can put people in a position to make unintended good things happen. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Gleaners serves 21 counties. It distributes food that might otherwise be wasted at low cost or no cost using local […]
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Northeastern HS accepting mural donations
A fund has been established for donations toward restoration of a mural in the Northeastern High School gym. The Northeastern Wayne schools board set up the fund during its Sept. 20 meeting. Donations can be sent to the high school with a notation that the money is to go toward the gym mural. The mural […]