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 […]
Author Archives: Millie Martin Emery
Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.
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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 […]
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Expo offering food, kids’ fun, vendors
A new local event will feature food trucks, nearly 70 vendors, dancers, singers and a bounce house. The Black Expo will take place from noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at First Bank Kuhlman Center, 861 Salisbury Road N., Richmond. Organizers say the indoor event, which celebrates Black culture and heritage, is open to all, and […]
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CACS adds grad paths, addresses weather
Centerville-Abington Community Schools board members learned about new graduation pathways through a medical training school and administrators’ criteria for weather-related delays or cancellations. Graduation pathways The board approved a memorandum of understanding with KLR Medical Certification Training School to help CACS meet Indiana’s new diploma requirements. Superintendent Mike McCoy and Director of Student Learning Tammy […]
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Northeastern school board eager for new reading texts
Inspired by a presentation by two Northeastern Wayne educators, school board members enthusiastically expanded the purchase of new reading textbooks to an additional grade level. During the board’s Jan. 22 meeting, Tierney Stevenson, elementary principal, and Teresa Ervin, literacy coach, requested a purchase of textbooks for kindergarten through second grades for next fall and expanding […]
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County’s housing ‘accelerator’ program launches
Housing developers are getting a new tool to use to increase housing stock. The Housing Accelerator Program, announced by Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County, will provide grants, with a maximum of $250,000 per project, to support public infrastructure projects in existing, unfinished, platted subdivisions. On Jan. 17, EDC staff announced that applications are now […]