Nettle Creek School District continues working to meet student needs in a variety of forms. According to a report from superintendent Emily Schaeffer at the district’s Nov. 12 board meeting, it has distributed over 152 bags of food over the course of five weeks as part of the weekend backpack program, which works to ensure […]
Author Archives: Chris Hardie
Chris Hardie is the owner and publisher of the Western Wayne News.
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Richmond OKs short-term rental exception
After a lengthy debate, Richmond’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved a couple’s request to allow their neighborhood home to be used as a short-term rental during its Wednesday, Nov. 12 meeting. Petition BZA 18-2025, filed by the Rothwell Family Trust, sought a special exception to continue operating a non-owner-occupied, short-term rental at 3190 Toddsbury Lane […]
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Western Wayne Schools flags noncompliance, offers few answers
The Western Wayne Schools board breezed through a 20-minute meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 12, held just before the Fourth Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner in the Lincoln/Middle High School cafeteria. Superintendent Kelly Plank said the Indiana Department of Education required the school to acknowledge during its meeting that it had not complied with certain state requirements. […]
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‘Bankruptcy abuse’ stalls property sales
Wayne County’s commissioners are wrestling with how to stop some residents from using bankruptcy proceedings to halt the deed sale of properties. The pattern of behavior, which county attorney Ron Cross described as “bankruptcy abuse,” was discussed at the group’s Nov. 12 meeting. If a property owner becomes severely delinquent on property taxes, their property […]
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Cambridge cat colony control collects contributions
The Town of Cambridge City is taking further steps to ensure its stray cat populations shrink over time, including taking donations to support spay/neuter clinics there. At its Nov. 10 town council meeting, members unanimously passed an ordinance creating a new stray and feral cat fund. It will not use any existing taxpayer dollars, but […]
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Who watches the watchers?
Cameras being installed on Wayne County roads are slowly but surely connecting the community to a nationwide, privately owned surveillance network. Local law enforcement officials say images captured by the devices will increase public safety, while officials and courts in other areas that have used them are reconsidering the invasion of privacy they may represent. […]
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UPDATED: City council vote supports new food and beverage tax
An 8-1 vote on Monday put Richmond one step closer to enacting a new food and beverage tax. Richmond Common Council passed a resolution Nov. 17 supporting a city food and beverage tax. If adopted the tax would provide a new funding source for city parks, trails and Whitewater Gorge activation. Council will likely consider […]
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Clerk-treasurer search continues
East Germantown is still looking for a new clerk-treasurer. The person previously in that role, Carleene Collins, resigned from the elected position on Oct. 1. Because Collins had run for election as a Democrat, the Wayne County Democratic Party was given 30 days to fill the position for the remainder of Collins’ term. According to […]
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State investigation: Principal altered employee time cards
An Indiana State Board of Accounts investigation found that for more than a year, former Lincoln High School Principal Renée Lakes altered five employees’ time cards to remove hours worked. Western Wayne Schools officials first noticed the discrepancies when a part-time employee emailed WWS Director of Human Resources Robin Hokey in November 2024 to ask […]
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Earlham hopes big cuts foster long-term survival
Hoping to continue its acclaimed liberal arts education offerings well into the future, Earlham College in Richmond is pursuing big cuts in staffing, educational programs and campus operations. In recent communications to its campus community, Earlham’s leadership said expenses have far exceeded revenue for too long. Following its board of trustees’ mandate to balance its […]