An actor, software developer, and tireless volunteer, Julie Pickett has spent more than two decades weaving together technology, theater, and community in Wayne County. In this episode of the Western Wayne News podcast, Julie reflects on how studying at Earlham College, working at DoxPop, and finding her voice at Richmond Civic Theatre shaped her path, […]

Throughout her time in different educational and nonprofit settings, Rachel Ulrich has built her career around a simple commitment: staying rooted in Wayne County while helping students succeed. In this episode of the Western Wayne News podcast, she shares with Kate what it’s like to build a meaningful career in a small community, why she […]

Mary Anne Butters has spent a lifetime insisting that government work in the open, and that ordinary people use their voices. A journalist turned public servant, Butters moved from the newsroom to city hall, from advertising executive to Wayne County commissioner, carrying with her a deep belief in transparency, equity, and civic responsibility. In this […]

In this episode of the Western Wayne News podcast, Kate Jetmore sits down with Mary Crumley-Effinger, managing partner of the Richmond Texas Roadhouse, to talk about growing up in Richmond and Wayne County, choosing to stay, and building a career here from the ground up. Mary shares her path from hostess to restaurant owner, her […]

Darcey Meridith has spent decades supporting children and families in Wayne County, and in this episode she pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening inside our schools, homes, and community systems. On this episode of the WWN podcast, she traces her path from Earlham College to leading Children and Family Services at Centerstone, then […]

Born and raised in Cambridge City, Tamra Davis believes in the power of small, even anonymous, acts of kindness to strengthen the community. In this episode of the Western Wayne News podcast, she sits down with Kate to discuss Tamra’s work as president of the Cambridge City Chamber of Commerce, her 24 years at the […]

Richmond family physician Dr. Andrew Deitsch has spent decades caring for patients in the same community where he grew up — and where his father practiced before him. In this episode of the Western Wayne News podcast, he reflects with Kate on the power of long-term relationships in medicine, the joys and challenges of small-town […]

In this episode of the WWN podcast, funeral director Alan Austin reflects on his unexpected journey from Detroit to Cambridge City, where he now leads Waskom Capitol Hill Chapel and serves as an active community leader. From his family’s deep roots in the funeral business to his own calling to serve others, Alan shares how […]

In this episode of the Western Wayne News podcast, we talk with Karen Bays-Winslow, who left the big city behind in Oklahoma for small-town Cambridge City and discovered the warmth of local community. As Director of Cambridge City Public Library, she’s navigating funding challenges while championing libraries as vital community spaces where study groups, GED […]

In this episode of the Western Wayne News Podcast we talk with Kate Glen, co-owner of The Two Sisters: Books and More, located in Richmond’s Depot District. Kate shares how she and her sister turned a lifelong dream into a welcoming community space that’s as much about connection as it is about books. From hosting […]