Centerville’s having a mixture of good and not-so-good financial news, according to reports at Centerville council’s Dec. 11 meeting. Positive Wayne County, after a recommendation from Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County, is contributing $143,000 from its Consolidated EDIT Fund to upgrade Centerville’s electrical system. That amount is half of the town’s required match for […]

Author Archives: Millie Martin Emery
Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.
$5M Lilly grant will improve Creitz, gorge
Wayne County Foundation successfully applied for a total of $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to improve two outdoor recreation spaces. LEI awarded 30 grants for quality of life improvement projects across the state. Community foundations and their partners were eligible for funding through LEI’s eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow initiative, […]
150 teens qualify for state contest
Wayne County will send a big delegation — at least 150 students — who’ve qualified for state competition with Business Professionals of America. After Northeastern added a chapter this year, each public high school in the county sent students to compete at BPA’s regional contest in December. Their skills range from personal financial management to […]
RCS postpones meeting about school security
Richmond Community Schools scheduled and then postponed a special meeting on Dec. 20 to discuss a new memorandum of understanding between Richmond Police Department and RCS that could affect who runs school security efforts. On Dec. 19, RCS staff notified media that the meeting would not take place the next day, and a new date […]
Food pantry $32K short at year’s end
After seeing more clients and higher food costs, a local food pantry seeks $32,000 in donations to catch up to its expenses. Community Food Pantry at 306 N. 19th St. in Richmond served 4,989 families through Dec. 12. Board President Eldon Harzman said the pantry has seen slightly more families and its food costs are […]
RCS analyzes artificial intelligence opportunities
Richmond Community Schools is preparing for the future of artificial intelligence in the district. E-Learning Team members Tim Arnold and Jeremy Hill presented on the past, present and planning for the future of AI during the board’s Dec. 11 meeting. They said AI is a powerful tool in education that, when used responsibly, can create […]
County seeking nearly $4M for revitalization
Blight concerns have been growing in Wayne County, and the county has committed money in hopes of winning nearly $4 million more to address the problem. To qualify for grant funds for blight reduction and redevelopment through a statewide program, local matches are required. No announcements have been made about the final recipients of the […]
Exhibit includes flowers, furry friends
With titles such as “Melty Ice Cream,” “Loco-Motive,” “Hoops” and “Biltmore Pineapple,” regional artists are sharing works that could appeal to a variety of interests and tastebuds. Several advanced or amateur artists from Wayne, Fayette and Randolph counties were among those selected for Richmond Art Museum’s 126th Annual Exhibition by Indiana and Ohio Artists. Some […]
EDC amending wage guidelines for EDIT grant eligibility
Economic development officials have agreed to be more flexible when considering grants for prospective businesses and heard a new slogan that could help recruit employers and workers. Wage guidelines At its Dec. 10 meeting, Wayne County’s Economic Development Corp. board learned a couple of projects have prompted questions about current grant guidelines. To recruit and […]
Centerville schools focus on 3 goals
Centerville-Abington Community Schools has begun setting district goals as it prepares for its accreditation visit that’s three years away. At its Dec. 11 meeting, board members heard from Superintendent Mike McCoy, Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson and principals about district goals. Those goals focus on improving student learning and achievement, especially on reading and math; creating […]