School plans
Two Wayne County school districts will not be in their buildings on Monday so faculty, staff and students can attend K-9 Officer Seara Burton’s funeral at 11 a.m. in Richmond High School’s Tiernan Center if desired.
Two other districts are planning an early dismissal to avoid families being caught up in Burton’s funeral procession on U.S. 40.
*Northeastern Wayne Schools will be closed Monday.
Burton, 28, is a Northeastern graduate, and some teachers and school employees who were there during her student days still work for the district and want to pay their respects.
In addition, some Northeastern families are connected to Burton through the first responder community, said Assistant Superintendent Jessica Neill.
The school received a waiver from Indiana Department of Education, so the day is not an eLearning day, and does not need to be made up.
*Richmond Community Schools announced last week that it would conduct an eLearning day for the entire district Monday since it is playing host to Burton’s funeral.
*Centerville-Abington Superintendent Mike McCoy announced all the district’s students will be dismissed at 1 p.m. Monday, except for Rose Hamilton Elementary, which will be let out at 12:45 so the transfer buses can get to the elementary by 1 p.m. Local authorities told McCoy the funeral procession could go through Centerville between 2 and 3 p.m., and could last for more than an hour. The CARES after-school program will continue operating.
*Western Wayne Schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. Monday. Boys and Girls Clubs will be open Monday starting at 12:30 p.m. There will be no WCC classes on Monday.
All athletes will be notified by their coaches about athletic events on Monday.
*Seton Catholic Schools will conduct an eLearning day on Monday to allow families and staff the opportunity to attend the funeral. Those not attending the funeral are invited to gather at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 710 N. A St., to pray for Burton’s reposed soul and hold her family, friends and fellow officers in their prayers.
Traffic updates
Wayne County communities along the National Road are alerting residents to prepare for traffic congestion and the closure of U.S. 40 as Burton is transported to her final resting place in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.
The procession could arrive in Cambridge City as early as 2 p.m. and might take more than 3 1/2 hours because of so many first responder vehicles participating, according to Indiana Fraternal Order of Police officials helping coordinate Burton’s funeral. The procession will leave Richmond at an estimated 20 miles per hour.
“Please be patient with traffic closures and leave plenty of time for your travels or use back roads,” Cambridge City Volunteer Fire Department posted, noting the procession will effect the intersection of Indiana 1 and U.S. 40 as well.
Fraudulent fundraising account removed
A social media post seeking funds for Burton through the Plumfund gifting platform has been shut down by company leaders after local residents reported it was fraudulent.
An employee confirmed the request was a fraud, and wrote, “I am so sorry that this account was created as well as for any stress, frustration, and pain this has caused family and friends.”
The company also confirmed that no actual money was donated to the account and all listed donations were cash pledges entered by the person who created the account to make it look legitimate.