A recent Wayne County 4-H Fair queen has earned a prestigious statewide honor. Zoe Brock was one of 33 college-aged women selected as a 500 Festival Princess. They are ambassadors for the 500 Festival, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis and Indiana. Brock was among hundreds of applicants reviewed for leadership, academic stewardship, community involvement and embodiment […]
Author Archives: Millie Martin Emery
Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Centerville library might move for a year
Centerville Public Library’s request to temporarily move into the former town hall is under consideration. At its Feb. 11 meeting, council heard about the approximately $1.2 million of renovations planned at the library building. Those projects include entryway lighting, addition of a bathroom and updates to another, removal of a back stairwell to add more […]
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Zoning decision could have cascading impact
A zoning issue affecting one potential Cambridge City home sale is threatening several other sales, and prompting the town’s council to review zoning issues on a wider basis. A loan to purchase a home in the 1000 block of East Church that’s currently zoned industrial is in limbo because of a lender’s concerns about its […]
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EDC loosening wage requirements for grants
Seeking more flexibility in employer recruitment, economic development officials voted to broaden salary requirements for those seeking grants. Since December, Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County board members and staff have discussed revising their Economic Development Income Tax grant qualifications. Employers can request EDIT cash grants for needs such as land acquisition, construction, utility connections, […]
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Biomanufacturing plant finds finishing funds
A company building a plant in Richmond to make proteins for food, chemicals and industrial products announced it has raised the capital needed to complete construction. Liberation Labs closed a convertible note with $31.5 million in new capital, which, combined with $19 million of insider bridge notes raised during 2024, brings the total raised in its […]
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RSO offering 3 concerts, new youth programs
Richmond Symphony Orchestra will play a piece this weekend that musicians chose as their highlight of this season, and the ensemble is offering some new and returning education programs. Concerts RSO’s concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, in Civic Hall Performing Arts Center includes Igor Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella.” When RSO musicians were surveyed before the […]
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Earlham trustees decline teachers’ union
After months of deliberations, Earlham College won’t voluntarily recognize a teaching faculty union. Tom Thornburg, the trustees’ board chair, announced the decision Feb. 3. An ad hoc committee of trustees had explored the request for the union and made a recommendation to the board. The board made its decision with its financial oversight role firmly […]
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Shoppers find Richmond 3rd cheapest U.S. urban area
Richmond ranks third out of 254 urban areas nationwide when six categories were compared in a year-end Cost of Living Index review. Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County discussed the latest ranking at their Feb. 3 board meeting. EDC staff gather and submit prices for 61 different items related to housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, health […]
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Bills could negatively impact paving funds, I-70 businesses
Centerville officials are concerned about the possibilities of Interstate 70 becoming a toll road and changes in how towns qualify for local paving funds. Road discussion Council President Dan Wandersee monitors legislation going through Indiana General Assembly before its session ends in April. During council’s Jan. 28 work session, he asked those attending to contact […]
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Most local grad rates between 90-100%
Nearly all Wayne County high schools neared or exceeded a 90% graduation rate for the Class of 2024. Three local schools surpassed Indiana’s average of 90.23%, which is the highest graduation rate since state officials began publishing data. Indiana’s rate was 88.98% in 2023. Centerville Senior High School Principal Brian Bellew said rates can vary widely […]