Keystone Cooperative will supply the city of Richmond with unleaded and diesel fuels during 2026. The Richmond Board of Public Works and Safety approved a contract with Keystone during a Jan. 8 meeting. Keystone was the only bidder for the yearlong contract. The board also provided Kara Noe, the city purchasing manager, authority to sign […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
Posted inNews
RP&L expects progress on coal ash project
Richmond Power & Light hopes to this year begin the process of containing roughly 400,000 tons of coal ash on its property, General Manager Tony Foster told his board of directors Jan. 5. The Whitewater Valley Generating Station along U.S. 27, which was built in 1954, burned coal and created the ash from the 1950s […]
Posted inNews
City seeks $1.4M grant for new airport terminal
Richmond will apply for a $1.4 million grant to help construct a new Richmond Municipal Airport terminal. During its Jan. 5 meeting, Richmond Common Council unanimously granted permission for the application to the Federal Aviation Administration, which has funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant requires a $35,000 city match from airport funds, […]
Posted inNews
City food, beverage tax takes effect March 1
Diners at Richmond restaurants will begin seeing a 1% food and beverage tax on their bills March 1. Denise Retz, the city’s parks superintendent, updated parks board members about the tax during a Jan. 8 meeting. In December, Richmond Common Council enacted the tax, which was made possible by legislation passed during last year’s state […]
Posted inNews
Auditor, council members clash
Wayne County Council member Beth Leisure requested Auditor Mark Hoelscher resign during council’s Jan. 7 personnel committee meeting. Hoelscher not only declined to resign, but later that morning, he filed his 2026 candidacy for reelection. Leisure’s request came after Hoelscher asked for permission to fill vacant bookkeeper, payroll clerk and grant clerk positions. The payroll […]
Posted inNews
Wind causes damage at county fairgrounds
Wayne County commissioners approved bids, heard about fairgrounds weather damage and wrapped up several other items in their final meetings of 2025. During a brief Dec. 30 meeting, county administrator Steve Higinbotham said that a tree at the Wayne County Fairgrounds was downed by high winds, breaking a light pole and downing electric lines. Electricity […]
Posted inNews
107 new parking spots in fairgrounds’ plan
The Wayne County Fairgrounds will have 107 additional parking spots when a new lot east of First Bank Expo Hall is completed. During the Dec. 17 monthly workshop, Wayne County Council members unanimously gave permission for the project to proceed, promising to appropriate full funding next year. Mike Sharp, the county’s highway supervisor, and Brandon […]
Posted inNews
New police contract provides 3% raises
Richmond Police Department officers will receive 3% noncompounding raises each of the next two years after agreeing to a contract with the city. During its Dec. 18 meeting, Richmond’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved the new two-year contract with the Fraternal Order of Police John Hennigar Lodge No. 63. The contract covers 76 […]
Posted inNews
Richmond boosts its WCTV support
Richmond Common Council pledged $250,000 to Whitewater Community Television during 2026. During its regular Dec. 15 meeting, council passed an amended memorandum of understanding regarding quarterly franchise fees the city receives from Comcast. The resolution originally promised 100% of the franchise fees to WCTV, up to $250,000; however, council member Jerry Purcell proposed the amendment […]
Posted inNews
Health First Indiana contracts receive approvals
Reid Health, Birth to Five and Bridges for Life will continue helping the Wayne County Health Department work toward improved community health outcomes during 2026. The three organizations were selected for Health First Indiana funding next year, and the Wayne County Board of Health approved their contracts during its Dec. 9 meeting. The next day, […]