Sports
Courthouse fencing signals new project


Signs of another project have appeared like spring flowers around the Wayne County Courthouse.
Fencing has been erected near the courthouse’s east entrance in preparation for rebuilding the plaza leading to the entrance. Steve Higinbotham, the county administrator, updated Wayne County Council about the project during council’s April 2 meeting.
The project, which was projected to cost nearly $450,000, will add stairs and a ramp to the plaza, ensuring that it meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The ramp north of the doorway will be built first, ensuring access to the east entrance is maintained throughout plaza construction.
In the original plans, the east entrance was to be closed during construction, with the main entrance shifting to the courthouse’s south door. The change saves some money in the project; however, a 4-inch bed of concrete was discovered underneath the current brick plaza. Removal of that concrete offset the savings from the entrance and resulted in a change order totaling $11,038.50.
Commissioner Jeff Plasterer suggested that expense come from the general fund line item filled with money saved when American Rescue Plan Act dollars were spent on general fund expenses. Commissioners and council members must agree on which projects to use that money.
Council voted unanimously to take the $11,038.50 for the change order and another $6,657.60 to clean debris from a courthouse flue from the ARPA replacement line item. The flue must be cleaned then removed for installation of a new elevator in the courthouse.
WUR update
Plasterer explained to council actions taken during a joint meeting of the commissioners, Union County Commissioners and Wayne Union Recycling board in Liberty.
All three boards accepted the plan to distribute WUR’s assets, and Ron Cross, the county attorney, subsequently sent a letter to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management about the dissolution of WUR and the fact Wayne County opts not to be part of a solid waste district.
During the afternoon commissioners meeting, commissioners unanimously approved cutting checks to Union and Wayne counties for their respective 10% and 90% shares of WUR’s cash assets. Plasterer said the balance was $258,192.43. Wayne County’s check would not include $50,000 in a certificate of deposit that does not mature until Sept. 10.
The Wayne County money will be put into a newly created recycling fund for use on recycling endeavors. The county plans to continue WUR’s collection efforts through 2025 and is discussing the future of the county’s recycling with Richmond Sanitary District, which has expressed a desire to expand its curbside recycling program outside Richmond.
This year, tipping fees at the New Paris Pike Landfill that have financed WUR are not being collected; however, the county could reinstate them next year.
One of WUR’s projects has been assisting Seton Catholic High School with an e-waste collection. That collection will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 1 at Seton, 233 S. Fifth St., Richmond. Electronics will be collected for free, except for televisions and computer monitors, which carry a $20 charge.
Other actions
- Council approved transferring a public health nurse in the health department from a county position to a contractual position and transferred $55,703 to the proper line item to cover the cost.
- Council also approved paying a part-time nurse from a health department grant that’s no longer active but has remaining funds; $24,500 was transferred to cover that cost.
- Wayne Township Assessor Gary Callahan had previously requested a pay increase for his chief deputy, saying the increase was overlooked when county positions received increases. Council approved the $5,924.16 cost of that pay increase.
A version of this article
appeared in the April 9 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
Sports
Colonels Claim Four ASUN Performer of the Week Honors
RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s and women’s track and field teams took four of the first six ASUN Performer of the Week honors in the 2025-26 indoor track and field season as announced by the conference office on Wednesday.
On the track, Taha Er Raouy and Edna Chelulei earned the men’s and women’s weekly honors, with Daroyce Flemons and Kristan Simmons taking the honors in the field after all four broke school records in their respective events to open the indoor season.
Er Raouy took the men’s track honors after breaking the school record in the invite section of the 3,000 meters with a time of 7:40.56, finishing 6th in a mixed field of top collegiate athletes and professionals at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener last Saturday.
At the same meet, Chelulei set the EKU indoor record in the women’s 5,000 meters with a time of 15:42.14.
Back in the Commonwealth, Flemons and Simmons set new program records in the men’s and women’s weight throw at the KTCCCA Commonwealth College Opener in Louisville to earn Field Performer of the Week honors.
Flemons’ record-breaking throw went 17.81m (58.05.25) in his Colonel debut to take first in the men’s event, while Simmons threw 17.28m (56-08.50) to take first on the women’s side.
The Colonels will next compete in the new year at the Bellarmine Open on January 16.
Sports
Katelynn Oxley to Join Women’s Basketball Roster for Remainder of 2025-26 Season
“We’re excited about the opportunity to bring a 6-4 player like Katelynn to our roster. It’s a rare occasion when you can add someone with size, who you know well, who you’re genuinely excited about, and who has competed at a high level,” said Pizzotti. “Katelynn is a great fit for our program, and we’re thrilled for her to continue her Blue Demon career with our team.”
In four seasons as a volleyball letterwinner, Oxley appeared in 106 matches for the Blue Demons and totaled 483 kills and 318 blocks. In her senior campaign, the Lincoln, Neb. native ranked sixth in the BIG EAST with 1.12 blocks per set while her .318 hitting percentage ranked eighth.
In her prep career, Oxley played two seasons of varsity basketball at Lincoln Lutheran and led her squad in points, blocks and rebounds her junior and senior campaigns. Her teams went 45-7 in two seasons and finished top three in C1 State championship in back-to-back seasons. Oxley won multiple all-city, all-conference and all-state accolades in her time on the hardwood.
Oxley earned her undergraduate degree in Finance in June of 2025 and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Business Analytics. She has been named to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team on three occasions and compiled a 4.0 GPA throughout her time in Chicago.
Up Next
The Blue Demons return home to host UMass Lowell Thursday, Dec. 11. Tipoff from Wintrust Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Follow the Blue Demons
For all the latest information on DePaul Women’s Basketball, please visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Ticket Information
Season tickets for the 2025-26 DePaul women’s basketball season are on sale now, starting at just $115. Season ticket holders receive access to every game at Wintrust Arena and exclusive benefits! Secure your seats today at DePaulBlueDemons.com/Tickets. Group ticket options are also available now for parties of 10 or more, making it easy to bring your team, company or friends to a game. Explore all group ticket options at DePaulBlueDemons.com/Groups.
Flex plans, mobile passes and single-game tickets are also on sale. To stay up-to-date, sign up for DePaul Athletics email updates or text alerts.
Sports
Nabwe Wins Seventh Career Big Ten Weekly Honor
Nabwe returned to the college indoor scene at the M City Classic where she tossed a season-opening 23.74m (77-10 3/4) in the weight throw to sit at No. 1 in the NCAA. The toss for Nabwe was over four feet further than her 2024 opening weight throw of 22.45m (73-8) at the same meet. Nabwe’s winning throw of 16.40m (53-9 3/4) in the shot put was also an improvement from last year’s opening indoor competition by nearly two feet (15.95m | 52-4). Nabwe’s shot put mark from the M City Classic is ranked No. 3 in the nation and the No. 1 in the Big Ten after last weekend’s action.
The weekly honor for Nabwe is the seventh the redshirt junior has earned between the indoor and the outdoor season. Last indoor season Nabwe became the first Big Ten weight thrower in nine years to repeat as champion at the Big Ten Indoor Championships and was just the fifth Big Ten women’s weight thrower all-time to defend their conference title. According to the USTFCCCA, Nabwe ranks No. 8 all-time with her lifetime best weight throw mark of 24.22m (79-5 1/2) – which she set at last year’s Big Ten Indoor Championships.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X.com (Twitter) and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
Sports
Kimm, LaPlant and Thompson Earn AVCA All-America Honors
This is the sixth straight season that the Huskies have had at least two players named to the AVCA All-America teams and the fourth time in program history that SCSU has had three or more All-America selections in a season which have all come in the last four seasons (four in 2021, three in 2022, three in 2024).
Thompson becomes the fifth player in program history to become a multi-time All-American after Lindsey Rachel ’22 (3x; 2019, 21, 22), Phebie Rossi ’22 (2x; 2021, 22), former teammate Kenzie Foley ’24 (4x; 2021, 22, 23, 24) and current teammate Emma Berran (2x; 2023, 24). Last season Thompson was also named to the second team. Kimm and LaPlant are the 12th and 13th players in program history to earn All-America honors.
The redshirt senior middle blocker was named a first team All-Central Region performer by the AVCA and Division-II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) after being named a second teamer by the AVCA in 2024. Thompson was also named to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) First Team, to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team, the NSIC All-Tournament Team all for the second consecutive season and was also the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year this season. The Lakeville, Minnesota native averaged 3.89 points, 3.37 kills and 0.96 blocks per set this season on .331 hitting this season.
Kimm earned her first all-region and all-conference honors this season after being named to the AVCA All-Central Region First Team and the D2CCA All-Central Region Second team and the All-NSIC First Team. The North Liberty, Iowa native was also named to the to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team, the NSIC All-Tournament Team (second consecutive season). The junior outside hitter averaged 3.88 points, 3.47 digs, 3.40 kills and 0.46 blocks per set this season.
LaPlant also earned the first all-region and all-conference honors of her career this season after being named to the AVCA All-Central Region First Team and the D2CCA All-Central Region Second team and the All-NSIC First Team. The sophomore setter was also named to the to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament Team, the NSIC All-Tournament Team. She also became just the fifth player in program history to be named AVCA DII Player of the Week and was the lone Husky to earn weekly NSIC honors this season after being named Setter of the Week twice (her first career weekly awards). The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native averaged 11.69 assists, 2.21 digs, 1.23 points, 0.62 kills and 0.49 blocks per set this season.
This season, the Huskies won their second consecutive and fourth overall NSIC Tournament Championship (all in the last five seasons) after taking down the No. 13, No. 2 and No. 5 teams in the country and advanced to the NCAA Central Region Championship/Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season, tying the program record for NCAA Tournament wins in a season, with two (4x; 1995, 2022, 2024, 2025). En route to the region championship, the Huskies beat the No. 17 team in the nation before taking down the No. 2 team and tournament host, Nebraska Kearney, on their home court.
AVCA All-America
Second Team:
Shelby Kimm
Braya LaPlant
Ella Thompson
AVCA RELEASE
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Volleyball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Sports
Blinn makes Bentley history with All-American nod
WALTHAM, Mass. – The 2025 Bentley volleyball team continues to make history. Elizabeth Blinn is the first player in program history to be named to an All-America team, as she landed on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Third Team, the AVCA announced Wednesday morning.
Sophia Poehlein, Tory Vitko, and Lulu Pavan each received All-American Honorable Mention from the AVCA.
Prior to 2025, only two players in Bentley history earned AVCA All-American honors. Christiana Sadowski is a three-time All-American Honorable Mention (2005, 2006, 2007), and Alyssa Carter was an All-American Honorable Mention in 2003.
Heading into Thursday’s NCAA Quarterfinal match, Blinn leads the country in blocks per set (1.67). She is the Northeast 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, and she was named the Most Outstanding Player during the NE10 Tournament.
Poehlein is Bentley’s leading outside hitter, averaging 3.74 kills per set. Three times this year she reached at least 20 kills, each in just four sets. She had a career-high 23 kills in Bentley’s 2025 home-opener against Post.
Vitko is the 2025 NE10 Setter of the Year. She enters the NCAA Quarterfinals averaging 9.37 assists per set, and she has 10 double-doubles this season. Two of those double-doubles were during the NE10 Tournament.
Pavan’s 2.87 kills per set rank second on the team, and she has reached double-digit kills 12 times this season. Pavan’s collegiate career began with 10+ kills in each of her first four matches.
Bentley won the NCAA East Regional title for the third consecutive year. The Falcons are the only program in the country to reach the NCAA DII Championship Quarterfinals in each of the past three seasons.
The Falcons enter the NCAA DII Quarterfinals as the #6 seed, which is the highest seed ever for a team from the East Region. Thursday’s game time against #3 Point Loma is at 12 p.m. (EST).
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