Author Archives: Mike Emery

Spring Grove will pay Richmond Fire Department less this year for fire coverage than anticipated. A discussion among Mayor Ron Oler and Spring Grove’s town board at the board’s Feb. 11 meeting set the change in motion. The city believed that Spring Grove owed a past-due amount for fire coverage; however, Oler blamed the situation […]

Wayne County’s commissioners canceled the annual deed sale of properties. The commissioners reviewed 18 properties eligible for the sale during their April 2 meeting. The city of Richmond requested the county convey nine of those properties to the city. Commissioners voted unanimously to fulfill the city’s request. The city has preliminarily been awarded Regional Economic […]

When Cathy Williams was trying to help a resident regain solid footing after battling addiction, she learned that Indiana had made regaining a driver’s license easier for some suspended drivers. A 2022 law change enables reinstatement of driving privileges while delaying payments, whether for citations or the reinstatement fees. Williams, a Wayne County Council member, […]

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 […]

The Richmond Police Department Merit Commission demoted an RPD investigator to patrolman during a special session April 3. Jeremy Worch will not be fired as recommended by RPD administration. During the quick meeting attended by about 30 people, most of them RPD officers, the merit commission members denied terminating Worch. They also recommended Worch receive […]

Trucks turning at the Love’s Travel Stop complicate U.S. 35 traffic when speeding vehicles encounter the stopped or slowly moving semis. Building a convenience store and gas station across the street might address some traffic difficulties by adding a traffic light. U.S. 35 traffic north of Interstate 70 was a concern during the March 26 […]

Sheriff Randy Retter played tug-of-war with one of Wayne County’s newest crime fighters, and Skup kept a firm grip on his toy ball. Skup and Deputy Tyler Greene are the county’s newest K-9 team, having completed their training Feb. 21 at Ultimate Canine. So far, there haven’t been any big drug busts, but Skup has […]

Wayne County’s court system is dealing more frequently with language barriers that require translators. To make sure there’s enough money, Wayne County Council created a new budget line item in the court services 2025 budget and transferred $10,000 to that line item from the pauper attorney line item. Adam McQueen, the assistant chief probation officer, […]

Wayne County will receive about $230,000 and Union County about $25,000 from the distribution of Wayne Union Recycling’s assets. During a joint meeting March 21 in Union County’s courthouse, the WUR board, Union County commissioners and Wayne County commissioners approved an analysis of WUR assets and obligations, the distribution of assets and allocation of responsibilities […]