After one false start, Wayne County’s commissioners will take another crack at putting a new elevator inside the county courthouse. The project went out for bid previously, but commissioners rejected the $1,040,000 bid from Thor Construction that exceeded estimates and did not include removing an existing flue in an existing shaft where the elevator would […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Firefighter seeks OT pay for paramedicine course
A Richmond Fire Department firefighter/EMT has filed a grievance against the department because he has not received overtime pay for work associated with a paramedicine class. Michael Stolzfus, who joined the department Jan. 1, 2024, is enrolled with School of EMS in Winchester, a licensing program for paramedics. RPD’s new firefighters sign a contract agreeing […]
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Couples seek county’s help with neighbor problems
Problems between neighbors drove two couples to the Wayne County Advisory Plan Commission looking for help June 26. Daryll and Lilah Webb of Williamsburg request that the county vacate an alley between their North Centerville Road home and their neighbors to the north. Daryll Webb said the undeveloped alley provides access to his garage, but […]
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‘Tickled pink’
David Davis couldn’t wait to cross the new Heiney Road bridge. For nine years, the old bridge was closed, forcing a detour from one field to another for the Wayne County farmer. Then, he watched this year as Brumbaugh Construction crews built the new two-lane bridge across the Whitewater River. Although it wasn’t officially open […]
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2 housing projects receive necessary OKs
Projects that could result in 72 apartments and 20 new homes received Richmond Advisory Plan Commission approvals June 25. Commission members voted 8-0 in favor of the development plan presented by Powers Properties Investments LLC to expand Chester Heights Apartments. The expansion into the former Berryfield Park will add three buildings and 72 units. Gordon […]
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Helping crime victims drives candidate
Ashley Green stepped before about 50 people June 28 on the south lawn of the courthouse to announce her Republican candidacy for prosecutor. The timing was right, she said, not only because she’s spent four years as chief deputy prosecutor for Mike Shipman, who decided not to run in 2026, but an announcement before the […]
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Is it a pothole or a crack? The software knows
A new software tool could help smooth out driving on Wayne County roads. Taylor White, a director of customer success for Vialytics, showed off the road management system during a June 18 presentation to Wayne County’s commissioners. Vialytics loads its software onto an iPhone that mounts inside a vehicle, which is then driven at 40 […]
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Small business center asks county to keep $15,000 support level
Five Wayne County small businesses that began last year received help from the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center. The Muncie-based regional location to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners met with 44 Wayne County clients last year, said Judy Porter, the regional director, during a June 18 presentation to Wayne County Council members […]
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Phony hostage situation prompts police response
June 25, 10:07 a.m.: RPD statement Just before 10 p.m. yesterday, Richmond Police Department posted a statement about the incident on their Facebook page. The statement reads in part: Shortly after 5:00 PM today, the Richmond Police Department received a disturbing call from an unknown male stating that he was located in the 700 block […]
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Greens Fork business receives zoning variance
A Greens Fork man whose business tears down old houses and barns received permission to store the reusable lumber at his residence. The Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals approved Amos King’s variance of use request to operate the wholesale construction salvage business at 3699 N. Mineral Springs Road, which is zoned agricultural. King has […]