Nearly 30 local youth-focused organizations and schools have received grants. Stamm Koechlein Family Foundation’s board recently awarded $270,000 to enhance community vitality in Indiana, California, North Carolina and Missouri. The 2023 grant cycle brings the foundation’s total giving to more than $4.3 million since 2001. The board also has invested more than $25,000 in local […]
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Egg farm gets zoning go-ahead
A unanimous vote after a 15-minute discussion ended a four-month quest for a zoning variance for a Hagerstown-area farmer. The Hagerstown Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4-0 on Oct. 25 in favor of Gideon and Anna Ebersol’s request for a zoning variance that will allow them to keep up to 20,000 chickens on their farm. […]
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Tripled demand for food pantry strains funds
Citing heavy demand, a local food pantry is seeking nearly $50,000 to end the year in the black. Eldon Harzman, board president for Community Food Pantry, said the organization has fed 3.5 times as many people as this time last year. In 2023’s first nine months, CFP provided 102,408 meals, compared to 73,870 meals for […]
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Pay raise for RCS staff draws cheers
Although agreeing to purchase McBride Stadium might be the most visible outcome of Richmond Community Schools’ Oct. 18 board meeting, it wasn’t the action that received audience applause. That celebration was after a 6-0 vote to increase pay for staff such as preschool teachers and classroom paraprofessionals. Classified staff salaries Some RCS teachers have previously […]
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Nettle Creek board OKs bonding
In a series of meetings on Oct. 3, Oct. 11 and Oct. 18, the Nettle Creek schools board has formalized details of a bond sale to fund improvements and buses, approved its 2024 budget and spotlighted accomplishments of school staff and students. On Oct. 11, the board approved documents detailing a $1.325 million bond issue […]
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Centerville, Northeastern cheer teams advance to state
Centerville and Northeastern cheerleaders have advanced to a state championship. Squads competed Saturday, Oct. 21, at North Central High School in the Indiana Cheer Championship varsity preliminaries. It’s a program of Indiana Association of School Principals. During the previous weekend’s competition at Clinton Central, the Bulldogs competed in UCA Game Day and Traditional-Varsity C and placed […]
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Richmond council approves $18M in investments
Richmond became the final participant to approve Wayne County’s Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program strategic investment plan during the Oct. 16 Common Council meeting. Council members heard a comprehensive presentation about the nine projects anticipated to result in $18,809,776 of investment. Four projects, with an expected investment of $5,075,000, are shared with Wayne County, while another […]
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CACS receives 1 of 33 global awards
Outside reviewers have given Centerville-Abington Community Schools a rare form of recognition. Jennifer Horvath from Cognia, who was part of the team that evaluated CACS for accreditation earlier this year, presented a certificate to the school board and administrators at their Oct. 18 meeting. Horvath said a total of 25 schools and eight districts around […]
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Kent, Shellie Gray honored for quietly helping
Nettle Creek area clubs honored a family tradition of community involvement for the third time with this year’s Good Friend and Neighbor award. Kent and Shellie Gray received the award Oct. 19 during the Rural-Urban Dinner. The Economy Lions Club, Nettle Creek Lions Club and Optimist Club organized the annual event, which began in 1959 […]
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Down to the wire with county’s 2024 budget
Wayne County Council planned to adopt the county’s 2024 budget during its Oct. 18 workshop; however, that did not occur. Instead, adoption was delayed until council’s next scheduled meeting on Nov. 1, which is the approval deadline established by the Department of Local Government Finance. Previously, council voted to raise employee salaries to job-specific midpoints […]