News

Officer Seara Burton dies Sunday night; police announce Monday’s escorted route

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Richmond Police Department announced shortly after 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, in a statement noting “profound sadness” that Officer Seara Burton died at 9:59 p.m. at Reid Health in Richmond. Burton was surrounded by her family as she has been for the past five-plus weeks since her injury. Burton, a Northeastern High School graduate who became a K9 officer earlier this year, was shot in the head while assisting with a traffic stop on Aug. 10 in the 200 block of North 12th Street.

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Williamsburg man killed in farming accident

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A man tried to rescue his brother after a tractor rolled on top of him in Williamsburg, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Just after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, Wayne County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a tractor rolling on top of its driver in the 7100 block of Morgan Creek Road in Williamsburg. John Frost, 62, of Williamsburg was attempting to remove a small tree with a utility tractor and a chain when the accident occurred, according to Sheriff Randy Retter. As Frost attempted to pull the tree with the tractor, the tractor rolled over, trapping him between the seat and the ground.

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Levi Coffin Days activities this weekend

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Lions Club, state historic site offer special attractions

A parade, activities for the family, music and special activities at a state historic site will be offered during the Levi Coffin Days Festival in Fountain City on Saturday and Sunday. The Fountain City Lions Club organizes the festival and special activities are offered by the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site. The Lions Club is observing the 75th anniversary of its founding. The historic site’s staff worked with the Lions Club to develop a self-guided scavenger hunt involving locations within Fountain City. Festival visitors can pick up a list of clues for the scavenger hunt at the historic site and other places during the festival.

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How to get a flu shot and/or new COVID booster

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Wayne County Health Department has begun offering the new bivalent COVID booster. “The bivalent booster offers protection against the original strain of COVID-19 and also includes the two most recent strains that are circulating,” said Wayne County Health Officer Dr. David Jetmore in a news release. Wayne County Health Department accepts walk-ins for flu shots and COVID boosters between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays at 100 S. Fifth St., and also stays open on Mondays until 7 p.m.
WCHD also offers vaccines from 8 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday each month. Appointments also are available by calling 765-973-9245. COVID vaccines and boosters also can be scheduled by visiting ourshot.in.gov.
Businesses that would like to offer flu vaccinations to their employees can email mrunkle@co.wayne.in.us for more information.

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No more door hangers before for Fountain City water shutoffs

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Fountain City residents whose water bills are delinquent will no longer receive a notice at their door before the water service is shut off. The Fountain City town council approved the change in the notification process during its Sept. 6 meeting. Town clerk Trina McGuire asked council members to eliminate that step, saying that putting “door hanger” notices of imminent water shut off for delinquent payment never has formally been part of the town’s water termination process. More importantly, she said, the step is costing the town money, since the door hangers cost about $25 per package, and it is taking employees’ time away from other duties, as they have recently been posting about 30 per month.

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WCTV focuses on Centerville-Abington school board

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Whitewater Community Television has organized its IN Focus series of interviews with candidates in contested races, with help from Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce and Western Wayne News. School board races kick off the weekly series throughout September. Western Wayne Schools at-large incumbent Phil Pflum was interviewed Thursday evening, and that program will be available for replay. His opponent, Amber Rushton, did not respond to an invitation to appear. This week, Centerville-Abington incumbent Brad Lambright and challenger Tiffany Torbeck have been invited for interviews at 7 p.m. Thursday.

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1,000 bikers could rally for wounded officer

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Richmond’s downtown and Historic Depot Districts could have as many as 1,000 motorcycles and cars – or even more – in town Sunday for a fundraiser to benefit wounded Richmond Police Department Officer Seara Burton. Here’s an update/announcement about several fundraisers and other forms of support being offered to her family. Community concern continues
On Sept. 3, Burton was transferred from Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, to a hospice facility in the Richmond area. Police Chief Mike Britt and Majors Jon Bales and Aly Tonuc requested privacy for Burton.

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Hagerstown resident chosen for ‘The Chosen’

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Hagerstown resident Kim Whalen has probably never placed a bet around a poker table or laid down any money before the roll of a pair of dice. But earlier this year, she did gamble, and it paid off big for her in a very unusual way. The 1979 Northeastern graduate became 1 in 5,000 to appear in an episode of the current popular Christian drama, “The Chosen.”
“I fell in love with ‘The Chosen’ about a year and a half ago,” said Whalen, a member of Bethesda Worship Center in Richmond. “I downloaded the free app to watch the program and was hooked. I don’t like to read, so this series helped me learn a lot more on the lives of the disciples.”
‘The Chosen’ is about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth and the different people who met and followed him.

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2 candidates removed from ballot

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Two Wayne County candidates have been removed from this fall’s ballot after two other residents submitted challenges to the county’s election board. The election board, consisting of one Republican, one Democrat and Wayne County Clerk Debbie Berry as a tiebreaker, met Thursday in the voter registration office to hear the two challenges. Centerville-Abington Community Schools board member Brad Lambright challenged one of his two opponents in the district’s at-large race. He said he filed a challenge form against Lora Cruse because Indiana code 3-8-1-34 states a candidate must have lived in the school corporation for at least a year before the election. He said Cruse’s home in the 5000 block of Abington Township Line Road is just outside the CACS district.