During the last auction item of the night, a steady hum of casual conversations gradually faded into stunned silence, murmurs, exclamations and cheers as bids frantically rose toward $10,000. Those present at this year’s Depot Festival of Trees auction did not expect to see a five-figure record donation for a tree (which turned out to […]

Author Archives: Millie Martin Emery
Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.
Cemetery board seeks help with $5,000 match opportunity
Donations can still be matched toward driveway repairs at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Pershing. An anonymous donor is matching donations 1:1 through Jan. 31 up to $5,000. Gifts are tax-deductible because the reorganized cemetery board’s new volunteers successfully applied to become a 501(c)3 organization through Indiana Secretary of State and the federal Internal Revenue Service. […]
CACS addressing financial challenges, savings opportunities
Centerville-Abington Community Schools discussed ways to meet rising 2024 expenses, including new buses, insurance, technology and personnel, and save money. Special meeting In other business Personnel Board member Brad Lambright joined Indiana School Boards Association’s Region 6 legislative committee.
RCS looks at necessary big-ticket building repairs
Richmond Community Schools’ aging buildings need repairs that will not be “a cheap undertaking,” administrators say. During their Dec. 13 meeting, Chief Operations Officer Karen Scalf presented potential facilities and building operation upgrades, and Jamie Bolser, who oversees human resources and finances, discussed financial options. Scalf said goals are to enhance learning environments, update dated […]
Council agrees 3 homes need demolition
Cambridge City’s council agreed that three homes are unsafe and need demolishing but gave a single mom 90 days in case Wayne County’s new blight elimination program can help. During a public hearing at council’s Dec. 11 meeting, 411 and 415 W. Front St. were found unsafe. Ken Risch, superintendent of public works, hasn’t been […]
Centerville again sounds fire station alarm
Hoping the sixth time’s the charm, Centerville’s council conducted its sixth public hearing in its third attempt to secure a $500,000 state grant for renovating Fire Station 1. Goals include adding a bay, installing an exhaust system and fire alarm system, replacing heaters, adding women’s restrooms and showers since there weren’t female first responders when […]
Warming shelter seeks help
Organizers of a new overnight warming shelter are seeking more volunteers, flyers from social services, donations, and more residents who could use free lodging and referrals. The warming shelter opens at Oak Park Pentecostals, 1920 Chester Blvd., at 25 degrees or below. On a few nights, the shelter closed by 9 p.m. because no one […]
Business students qualify for state competition
After years of success at state and national levels, it’s not surprising that dozens of local high school students again qualified for Business Professionals of America’s state competition. On Dec. 2, Lincoln, Hagerstown, Centerville, Richmond, Tri, Morristown, Shenandoah and Blue River Valley high schools tested their skills at BPA’s Regional Leadership Conference in Centerville, a […]
$25M won for revitalization projects
Community leaders are celebrating the award of a $25 million grant to improve the quality of life and place in Wayne County. The funds from Lilly Endowment Inc. were secured to help revitalize downtown Richmond and better connect it with the Earlham College campus on the city’s west side. According to the endowment’s Dec. 14 […]
500 wreaths to be placed on veterans’ graves
Wayne County is joining the national Wreaths Across America Day, with plans to lay 500 wreaths on the graves of military veterans. A brief ceremony is currently scheduled at noon Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Veterans’ Field of Honor at Earlham Cemetery, 1101 W. National Road, Richmond, before the wreaths are placed on headstones. The […]