For the last seven years, Indiana University East was connected with a Richmond-based trustee who could easily visit the regional campus and share its realities, needs and aspirations with the leaders of the entire university. However, new Indiana Gov. Mike Braun suddenly removed that advocate and listening ear, Donna Spears, from her position on the […]

Author Archives: Millie Martin Emery
Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.
38 competing in 4-H royalty contests
Six young women are competing for the opportunity to be Wayne County 4-H Fair queen. Their competition takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 14, in Centerville Senior High School’s auditorium. 507 Willow Grove Road, Centerville. Admission is $5 for ages 10 and older. Queen contestants must be between ages 16 and 21. They’ll be […]
Phone number switch will save Hagerstown $14,000
Hagerstown has changed its police department’s nonemergency phone number to save money. The new nonemergency phone number has changed to 765-973-9355. Soon the 765-489-4711 number will be deactivated. A vendor increased the cost of the 489 line to $1,200 a month, or more than $14,000 per year. Councilor Chris Blaase, who retired as an officer […]
Centerville gets 1 bid to rent former town hall
Centerville’s library faces no opposition in its bid to rent the former town hall during its upcoming renovation. At council’s May 27 work session, Clerk-Treasurer Sarah Rice opened the lone bid from library leaders. They bid $1,825 per month ($21,900 for the year), which appraisals determined is the required fair market value. No one spoke […]
RCS considers $30K marketing plan
Richmond Community Schools is considering ways to improve its website, marketing and other communication with families, staff and the community. During their May 28 meeting, board members heard a presentation from Indianapolis-based Q7 Associates. RCS had requested proposals to improve its marketing and communications. Both areas were recurring themes during the recent first phase of […]
Economy marks bicentennial June 13-14
With a new playground and mural added in the past year, the assets of Economy are improving as the small community celebrates its bicentennial. The approximately 150 residents of the northwest Wayne County town are organizing a two-day celebration on Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14. The public is invited. Celebration The opening night […]
2 music teachers leave Northeastern schools
Two Northeastern Wayne Schools music teachers submitted their resignations within days of the school year ending. On Thursday, May 29, Superintendent Matthew Hicks confirmed the departures of band director Kimberly Markiewicz and middle/high school choir teacher Geneva Price to Western Wayne News. Those resignations weren’t part of the personnel items approved during the board’s May […]
RCS board supports early career experiences
Richmond Community Schools took three steps to offer career opportunities to its high school students. During its May 14 meeting, the board approved a memorandum of understanding between RCS and Indiana University for its College Now program. As many as 32 qualifying students can receive one free-to-them, college-level course per semester in 2025-2026. The board […]
4 school districts say no to behavioral technicians
Northeastern Wayne Schools, along with other area schools in the East Central Indiana Special Services Cooperative, have decided not to allow registered behavioral technicians to work with special education students in their buildings. The move comes after an evaluation of student needs and where RBTs fit in to meeting those needs. Superintendent Matthew Hicks and […]
Centerville adds dual credit, grad pathways
Preparing for new high school graduation requirements, Centerville-Abington Community Schools approved several changes to academics starting this fall. Tammy Chavis, district director of student learning, and Brian Bellew, senior high school principal, shared CSHS curriculum materials for the board’s consideration at its May 21 meeting. A vote takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, […]