Beginning Thursday, Sept. 9, Reid Health is pausing all elective inpatient surgeries as the health system works to manage the latest surge of COVID-19 cases. Wayne County moved Wednesday, Sept. 8, to the state’s worst advisory level for community spread, which is the red level. Emergent/urgent surgeries will proceed, as will outpatient surgeries scheduled at […]
Author Archives: Millie Martin Emery
Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.
Wayne County attributes first death in 40s age group to COVID; nearly 70 kids test positive over weekend
Wayne County has lost its first 40-something resident to COVID-related illness. In addition, nearly 70 kids and teens tested positive for the virus during the Labor Day weekend, which is about the same number of patients in containment areas at a local hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Over those four days, Wayne County recorded 227 […]
Wayne County adds 144 new COVID cases Tuesday; drive-up vaccine, testing site at Ivy Tech closes Wednesday
Wayne County Health Department reported 144 lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, Aug. 31, while state officials are offering a three-day drive-up testing and vaccination site at a local college to meet increased local demand. Of those new illnesses reported Tuesday, 54 were in ages 18 and younger. After a surge of positive tests […]
Wayne County beats its 1-day record for new COVID cases; nearly half are kids
Wayne County has surpassed more than 100 new COVID cases in the daily count announced Thursday, Aug. 26, with nearly half of those illnesses in children. The county broke its one-day record for new cases, which has been in place since Nov. 19, 2020. The previous record was 103, and now the county has an […]
Richmond man dies after shooting; woman accused of reckless homicide
A Richmond woman has been arrested on a charge of reckless homicide after a shooting on the city’s southeast side. Richmond Police Department was called to the 600 block of South Seventh Street at approximately 9:52 a.m. Monday after a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, a female could be heard screaming inside the […]
Western Wayne Schools requiring masks starting Friday, Aug. 27
Western Wayne Schools is establishing new guidelines for social distancing and preventative measures and implementing an indoor mask mandate for all students and adults starting Friday, Aug. 27. New Superintendent Andy Stover said the change is “an ongoing effort to ensure the health, safety, and education for the children at Western Wayne Schools.” He said […]
Wayne County marks 30 new COVID cases in 1 day, 1 death as yellow level announced
Wayne County’s COVID cases are rising sharply, and the first local death since May that is associated with the virus has been recorded. Wayne County had 30 new cases of COVID-19 that were announced Wednesday, Aug. 11, as well as the death of a woman in her 80s that is tied to COVID-19. Wayne County […]
UPDATE: Milton boy found; Hagerstown girl still being sought
Late Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 10), Wayne County Sheriff’s Office announced it has located Phillip Pitcher Jr., a 16-year-old boy from Milton, Indiana, whose whereabouts were sought earlier in the day. However, the sheriff’s office also is still seeking Adrea Strickland, a 16-year-old female from Hagerstown. Her disappearance was announced June 11. She has brown hair […]
Delta variant has arrived in Wayne County, health department says
Wayne County Health Department was notified Monday of the county’s first COVID-19 sample testing positive for the Delta variant (B 1.617.2). Only a fraction of all sample are sent for DNA speciation. “We have been operating for several weeks as if we have had the Delta variant in Wayne County already,” explained Christine Stinson, executive […]
Silver Alert canceled for missing New Castle man
A Statewide Silver Alert has been canceled for a New Castle man. New Castle (Indiana) Police Department had investigated the disappearance of David Mise, a 63-year-old white male. Mise is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 390 pounds and has white hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a light blue polo shirt, […]