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Milton post office reopens; regular hours resume after 7-month closure

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Just in time for Christmas cards and packages to be sent and received, Milton’s post office has reopened more than seven months after it caught fire. The post office re-opened Saturday and resumed its regular hours. Before the fire, Milton’s post office offered 24-hour lobby access for customers to pick up their mail. It was staffed 22 hours per week, 8-10 a.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m. weekdays, and 8-10 a.m. Saturdays. Since April, Milton customers with P.O. boxes had to drive to Cambridge City post office to get their mail, buy stamps or send packages.

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RP&L measure passes by 37 votes; Zaleski, Mopps, Claypoole win contested school board seats

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Wayne County voters returned many familiar faces to government offices, but a few new faces will be in leadership positions for Richmond and Northeastern schools. And, by a 37-vote margin, Richmond Power & Light will opt out of what the utility’s officials called expensive state rate studies. School boards

Richmond pharmacist Peter Zaleski and former Richmond Community Schools administrator Stacy Mopps have been elected to at-large seats on the RCS board. Of the 10 candidates, Zaleski led with 3,250 votes, or 23.15 percent. Mopps had 18.62 percent of the vote.

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Early voters: A resounding ‘yes’ for paper ballots

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Wayne County voters new to paper ballots consistently showed support for the process leading up to Election Day. “It was so much easier,” said Christine Guarisco of Cambridge City, who previously worked elections in Michigan. After voting at the Golay Community Center, Agnes Fisher of Milton said she likes the ease of the paper ballots and said older voters will remember them. Bob Smith of Richmond also supported the use of paper ballots after casting one at First Bank Kuhlman Center. He said he appreciated how those votes can be verified, compared to Wayne County’s votes previously cast on computerized equipment.

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Sheriff addressing council about radio upgrades

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Retter: Small towns still will be able to communicate with sheriff’s office

Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter hopes to reduce what he believes is confusion about new communication technology coming to the county. Saying that “nothing is really changing from the way it is now” regarding radio communication between county and smaller town first responders, Retter was to meet with Centerville town council this week to address any concerns. Council’s regular monthly meeting occurred after press time for this edition. County officials approved a purchase of new radios for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office earlier this year at a cost of close to $500,000. Retter told Western Wayne News that the radios currently used by Wayne County Sheriff’s Office are about 15 years old and they are no longer supported by their manufacturer.

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Are you missing out on property tax deductions?

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Indiana offers 8 types of savings, but paperwork is required

As landowners get into the habit of paying property taxes twice a year, they might not pause to re-evaluate whether they are newly eligible for any deductions. For example, they might qualify because they’ve joined the 65 and older club, or maybe they’ve added geothermal heat pumps or solar power to their home. Indiana offers eight types of property tax deductions, and they aren’t automatically applied to someone’s records unless a form has been filed. Hoosiers must file for the deduction with their county auditor’s office before the end of the calendar year for tax bills to be paid in 2023. The good news is that once they’ve filed and been approved for each deduction, taxpayers do not need to reapply annually.

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IU East researcher, panel to discuss battling misinformation online

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As a part of its Media Literacy Week programming, Indiana University East will host a panel discussion on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. in the library at Hayes Hall in Richmond. Dr. Andrea Quenette, Dr. E. Scott Lee and KT Lowe will discuss battling misinformation online, how information and misinformation affect elections, and how the media portrays international conflict. The event is free and open to the public, and can also be attended online. Lowe, who studies and presents on fake news and combating misinformation, developed a guide to those topics that is now used by librarians and instructors around the world.

A group of students and educators stand together to show off certificates of recognition
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Centerville schools updates: salary boost, renovations

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Centerville-Abington Community Schools’ teachers will receive a minimum salary increase of $6,303 through their newly approved 2022-2023 district contract. Superintendent Mike McCoy said that negotiations aren’t always smooth sailing, but he appreciates the opportunity to have professional conversations with Centerville Education Association leaders to find solutions. McCoy also said he’s pleased the district could provide a pay increase for teachers that helps show appreciation for their hard work and gets CACS “to where we need to be legally.” Indiana lawmakers implemented salary schedule requirements that have taken effect during this school year. For example, full-time teachers must make a minimum of $40,000 per year.

A panel discusses addiction treatment options
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Panelists: County focused on opening doors to addiction treatment

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Wayne County is moving away from solely locking up those battling addiction to viewing them as people who can be helped when they’re open to assistance. Five area leaders in law enforcement, government, health care, education and harm reduction participated in a panel discussion Oct. 19 at Holiday Inn in Richmond as part of Meridian Community Health’s speaker series. Participants were Charmin Gabbard, executive director of Connection Café, harm reduction advocate and subject expert; Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter; Richmond Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Curtis Wright; Lisa Suttle, regional vice president of clinical services for Meridian Health Services; and Dr. Brad Barrett, who is currently running for re-election as District 56’s state representative. Retter said he’s proud that local law enforcement is moving beyond “warehousing” residents and instead helps them find resources to address their addiction and/or mental health concerns, because inmates often deal with one or both.

Dena Little
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Morrisson-Reeves Library hires director

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National search culminates with selection of Dena Little

A Virginia librarian who previously worked in Ohio will become director at Morrisson-Reeves Library in early December. Dena Little will become the Richmond library’s sixth director since its founding in 1864, its board of trustees announced on Monday. “Dena’s depth and breadth of library experience, strong communication skills, knowledge of and approach to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), approachability, and professionalism are among her many strengths,” board president Jennifer Lewis said in a news release. Little is coming to Wayne County from Arlington Public Library in Virginia, where she served in leadership roles for the past five years, most recently as assistant division chief. She also has experience in Ohio public library systems.

Little’s strengths include project management, staff development, strategic and outcomes planning and analytical evaluation, MRL officials said.

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Developer planning 232-unit senior housing complex for Richmond’s southeast side

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Independent living proposal coming to Plan Commission Oct. 26

A real estate investment company’s plan to build a senior living complex just outside of city limits on Richmond’s southeast side will come before the city’s Advisory Plan Commission Wednesday, Oct. 26. Powers Properties Investments LLC of Indianapolis is proposing a complex of two-bedroom multi-family dwellings surrounding a recreation area. It fronts on the west side of Garwood Road about halfway between Hodgin and Wernle roads.