Emmett Smelser worked in several Midwest communities and spent some of his retirement years in Arizona, but he had committed to moving full-time to Richmond toward the end of his life. Smelser’s former local colleagues in journalism and those he met through many civic engagements are mourning his Aug. 13 death, which was announced […]
Category: News
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Some local schools, offices requiring masks; 1 school going virtual
Several news developments have occurred with local school and government offices regarding mask requirements in recent days, and one school is switching to virtual learning for one week because of a high number of cases. Wayne County is now in the state’s orange, or second-worst, advisory level for its number of COVID-19 cases and testing […]
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Commissioners gathering Friday to discuss masking in county buildings
Wayne County Commissioners have put off until Friday making a decision about making masking mandatory in county buildings. They will meet at 2:30 p.m. Friday in commissioners’ chambers in the Wayne County Administration Building. The commissioners initially postponed taking a vote during their regular meeting on Wednesday, choosing to wait until hearing the opinion of […]
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With 200-plus students in quarantine, Centerville-Abington schools adds mask mandate
Wayne County’s COVID cases are rising sharply, and as of Tuesday, Aug. 17, Centerville-Abington Community Schools is joining Richmond Community Schools in adding a mask requirement because more than 200 CACS students have had to be quarantined since its schools opened Aug. 9. In a letter sent home Monday to families, Centerville’s Superintendent Mike McCoy […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Bulldogs finish 2nd at Band Day; Knights 7th; RHS 13th
Centerville’s Blue Regiment finished second at Indiana State Fair Band Day on Friday night. Muncie Central won by just a little more than two points, and Centerville edged Winchester by about half a point for third place. Northeastern finished seventh and Richmond was 13th. Hagerstown was one of three Indiana bands that could not compete […]
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Centerville, Northeastern, Richmond make Sweet 16 at Band Day
Three of Wayne County’s four schools competing this year at Indiana State Fair Band Day have advanced to Friday night’s Sweet Sixteen competition. Those making the cut, in alphabetical order, are Centerville, Decatur County, Jay County, Kokomo, Lebanon, Marion, Monroe Central, Montgomery County United, Muncie Central, Northeastern, Richmond, Speedway, Tipton, West Lafayette, Winchester and Yorktown. […]
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Police: 4 in ‘self-proclaimed criminal gang’ arrested; about 50 officers involved
About 50 law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies teamed to arrest four young men they say have caused havoc in Wayne County through their “self-proclaimed criminal gang.” One of the suspects faces charges of murder, attempted murder and criminal gang intimidation, while police say the others face a variety of lesser charges […]
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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 […]