RICHMOND, Ind. – Girls Inc. of Wayne County is celebrating women in the community while recovering from storm damage that temporarily closed its building.

Melissa Soper, director of the organization, said the community support has been amazing since a storm damaged part of the roof and air-conditioning units.

“Everyone has been there for us,” Soper said. “We’ve had donations. We had offers to use buildings. It has just been an amazing outpouring of love and kindness to Girls Inc.”

Thanks to the Richmond Senior Recreation Center, programming was only paused for one week. Soper said she even had the chance to lead the teen group and play pickleball with the girls during that time. Donations are still being accepted at local partners including RPD and Phillips Drugs.

Girls Inc. is accepting nominations for its Athena Leadership Awards, which honor women in the community. There are two awards: the Athena Leadership Award and the Athena Young Leadership Award for professionals aged 22-35.

Nominations are open through April 22. Letters of recommendation and detailed information are encouraged. Nominations can be submitted through the Girls Inc. Facebook page or at girlsincwayne.org.

The 27^th annual RunWalk 5K will be held May 27 and will kick off the Wayne County Challenge. Registration is $25 through May 8 and $30 afterward. The first 200 registrants receive a T-shirt. Sponsors who register by April 15 will have their names printed on the back of the shirts.

Soper said the course is beginner-friendly and has historically had good weather on race day.

Summer program registration is open. While some activities may not take place in the building due to repairs, details will be available on the Girls Inc. Facebook page and Instagram.

“Our mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold,” Soper said. “It's all about empowering the young girls because they're going to be our future. ”

Girls Inc. also teaches digital media safety and addresses unrealistic social media standards in schools throughout Wayne, Fayette, and Union Counties.

WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – Richmond is preparing for its new summer baseball team. The Richmond Flying Mummies, a Northwoods League team, will make their debut at McBride Stadium on Monday, May 25 at 6:35 p.m.

The Flying Mummies are the 26th team in the Northwoods League, which spans seven Midwestern states and one team in Canada. The league schedule of 72 games over roughly two and a half months mirrors minor league baseball, giving players a professional-style summer experience.

“We bring in Division One, Division Two, Division Three, and junior college guys,” said General Manager Trevor Amerson.

Players are coming in from across the country, with one local player on the roster. They are looking to gain exposure for Major League scouts, move from D2/D3 to higher-level programs, and get extra innings and at-bats to improve their skills during the summer.

“We have people coming in from Georgetown,” Amerson said. “We also have guys coming in from IU. We have some West Virginia guys coming in…they come in from all over.”

The Flying Mummies’ name came from a community contest. “We submitted a bunch of names from the community for what they wanted to name the team… and the top-voted name was the Flying Mummies,” Amerson said. He explained the inspiration behind the name.

“The ‘Flying’ comes from the Wright brothers, with Wilbur Wright’s birthplace right off the highway. And then obviously with two mummies in Richmond, one at the Wayne County Historical Museum and the other at Joseph Moore at Earlham. That’s kind of how the name came together.”

The team was officially named on October 7. The ownership group includes six members, including two from the league offices, as well as mayor of Uranus Fudge Factory Louie Keane, and actors John Heder, Efren Ramirez, and Jon Gries.

One unique aspect of summer collegiate baseball is that players live with local host families. The Flying Mummies are currently seeking families in the area to house team members. Many players maintain long-term relationships with their host families, and even some local business owners have opened their homes to the team.

With over a month until opening day, management is busy upgrading the stadium. Plans include building a deck along the left-field line, adding a picnic area, and renovating the team store for easier public access.

The Flying Mummies are also creating opportunities for locals. The team plans to bring in 15 to 20 interns in areas like video production, marketing, operations, ticket sales, graphic design, and media relations. Part-time jobs will also be available.

Community engagement is a major focus. The team will host themed game nights and partner with local nonprofits through the Nonprofit of the Night program, raising funds via ticket sales and 50-50 raffles. Local youth teams will also receive special access, and children can earn game tickets by participating in a summer reading program.

Fans can also look forward to weekly themed nights, on-field games and promotions led by interns, and special giveaways throughout the season.

“Monday is going to be a hot dog happy hour, and you get a dollar hot dog the first hour before the game starts. Friday we’re doing fireworks,” Amerson said. “We’re going to be doing a whole bunch of stuff.”

Opening night will feature Tyler's Amazing Balancing Act, a performer who balances objects and interacts with fans. 

"If people leave not knowing the score, we did our job correctly," Amerson said.

Amerson said the team aims to create a summer spot for local residents, blending activities and baseball into one experience.

“I really think that once people come out here… that they're going to fall in love with it. it doesn't just have to be a baseball game,” he said. “You guys can come out and have fun, enjoy the weather, spend quality family time together, while also getting some good food and drinks in as well.”