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. […]
Author Archives: Chris Hardie
Chris Hardie is the owner and publisher of the Western Wayne News.
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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 […]
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No application needed for college
Richmond High School students ready to pursue a college degree at Indiana University East now have one less hurdle to think about. During a surprise Oct. 10 presentation in the school’s Tiernan Center for sophomores, juniors and seniors, IU East representatives announced that all students with a 2.5 GPA or higher will be automatically admitted […]
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Whitewater Community TV: Still on the air, planning for the future
Reflecting on a year of transition and uncertainty, Whitewater Community Television leaders say one thing remains clear: the station and its video production and broadcast services are still wanted and needed by the community. How to sustain funding for that work well into the future is still to be determined. That was the question of […]
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Court settlement addresses patient health data disclosures
A notice recently sent to some Reid Health patients about the settlement of a class action lawsuit involving disclosure of their personal information is real and could entitle recipients to receive a $25 cash payment. The case was filed in Wayne Superior Court 1 on Nov. 13, 2023. An unnamed group of plaintiffs, led by […]
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Mayor’s warning about city employee speech prompts reactions
Community members are reacting to a Sept. 21 Facebook post by Richmond mayor Ron Oler warning city employees that their public comments about political violence could lead to firing or prosecution. In the post, Oler says he issued an executive order about conduct expected of “employees, appointees, and members of City boards and commissions” when […]
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Board rejects teachers union complaint against Richmond schools
The Indiana Education Employment Relations Board has ruled against the Richmond Education Association in its complaint alleging unfair labor practices by Richmond Community Schools, closing the case at the agency level. REA, which represents district teachers, originally filed its complaint in June 2023 after the school board approved supplemental stipends and salary increases outside the […]