Centerville-Abington principals each shared three goals for improving their schools in 2024-25 while reflecting on some challenges from the previous year. At their Sept. 11 meeting, board members heard Principals Brian Bellew (high school), Tiffani Thornburg (junior high), Kelly VanWinkle (C-A Elementary) and Diana Hill (Rose Hamilton Elementary) describe improvement plans for each school and […]
Local news and updates from Wayne County, Indiana reportersCenterville
Centerville, Indiana is a town in Center Township, Wayne County that describes itself as “an American town in the heart of the midwest.” Famous for its antique shopping and as home of the annual Archway Days festival, Centerville is fun to visit, beautiful to live in and easy to get to from US 40 or via interstate 70.
The Western Wayne News covers updates from Centerville’s Town Council as well as Centerville-Abington Community Schools and their sports teams. Read below for the latest articles, meeting coverage, government activities and education news by our local reporting team.
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Beautification efforts receive praise
Ten new or remodeling construction projects and a committee that’s raised more than $70,000 for charities are being recognized for improving Wayne County. Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated those initiatives at its Sept. 10 Community Improvement Awards at Hartley Hills Golf Club and Events Center in Hagerstown. Melissa Vance, chamber president/CEO, said the […]
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Bulldogs upset 3rd-ranked Royals
The Centerville football team gained statewide attention on Friday, Sept. 6, when they defeated 2A third-ranked Eastern Hancock 29-26 on the Royals’ home field before a large crowd. It was the second year in a row that the winner between the two rivals was not determined until late in the game, and Centerville won both […]
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Centerville-Abington schools’ enrollment declines
Centerville-Abington Community Schools is now feeling the financial pinch of declining enrollment that some Wayne County districts have experienced in recent years. Indiana’s official student count date is in October, but Superintendent Mike McCoy prepared the board for unpleasant news at its Aug. 28 meeting. CACS has 1,675 students, compared to 1,728 in February. That […]
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Red Devils rule Wayne County meet
The Richmond Red Devil cross country teams won both the boys and girls cross country championships in the Wayne County meet run Saturday, Aug. 31 at Indiana University East. Xavier Ogle (17:10.84) and Cale Newton (17:11.98) finished first and second in the boys’ race to help lift Richmond to victory. Centerville sophomore Anna Nevels (21:20.37) won […]
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Centerville addressing police staffing shortage
Centerville council learned about what will hopefully be a short-term police personnel shortage and approved an orange shirt temporarily being placed on the town’s mascot. Those were two of the discussion topics at council’s Aug. 27 work session. Police Chief Ed Buchholz said Austin Hines, whose hiring was announced in June, was to start Indiana’s […]
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Festivalgoers enjoy good eats, eye carnival feats
The two-day Archway Days festival in Centerville at Maplewood Park featured food, games, vendors and entertainment as well as a Saturday parade. It was the 36th year for the event. WWN photographer Joshua Smith was there and captured these photos. Ben Hartman with Abington Media was also on hand for the Western Wayne News, and […]
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Centerville sees support for $50K grant
Centerville leaders are gathering residents’ support before applying for $50,000 to update plans guiding future decisions and growth. Before its Aug. 13 regular meeting, council conducted a public hearing to collect comments for its application to Indiana’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The town’s share for Lochmueller Group’s work would be $9,600. The town’s […]
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Archway Days offers mechanical bull, car smashing
This is the 36th year for Centerville’s Archway Days, and the festival will have about seven dozen vendors and activities. The festival will take place from 3-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, and 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, in Maplewood Park, just a couple blocks north of the stoplight at U.S. 40 and Morton Avenue. […]
Posted inSports
Day retires as Centerville track coach
Before moving completely to fall sports coverage, there is a newsworthy event to report from a spring sport: the retirement of a successful and beloved coach. Some people mark the days off their calendar as they look forward to retirement. For Mike Day, who announced his retirement as the Centerville High School head girls track […]