Wayne County plans to spend nearly $300,000 to improve safety and security for sheriff’s officers and jail inmates. The sheriff’s officers transport inmates to the courthouse’s west entrance for court appearances. The entrance is next to the building’s cooling tower inside an alcove accessed on a narrow, crumbling concrete driveway. Council member Jeff Cappa, a […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Uranus receives zoning change despite lawsuit
When it was recently informed about a water dispute, Richmond Common Council delayed its decision about Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store’s request to rezone adjacent land, preferring to receive more information. What council members heard June 15 convinced just enough of them to approve the ordinance changing the parcel at 6412 National Road E. […]
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Rose View driver challenges position switch
Following a sixth-month driver trial period, Rose View Transit switched from three to two drivers for its paratransit service. The driver affected, Matthew Reed, moved to a Rose View bus route, but he filed a grievance against Rose View through the Amalgamated Transit Union 1474. The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety heard Reed’s […]
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Smith Hill ready for progress
Day after day, the 2026 construction season passes without dirt turning for the Smith Hill planned unit development. The developers, however, expect that will change before the season ends, according to Chris Hamm of HWC Engineering. There’s already activity with on-site surveying and a traffic study, plus progress toward funding for the initial phase’s infrastructure. […]
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Intersection, parking garage to receive $1M upgrades
A Depot District intersection and the city’s downtown parking garage will receive more than a million dollars’ worth of improvements paid by tax increment financing revenue. The Richmond Redevelopment Commission approved 5-0 funding for both projects during its June 16 meeting. It committed $791,400 from its Johns Manville TIF allocation area to the intersection and […]
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County’s insurance premiums will rise 7%
Wayne County will pay 7% more in casualty and liability insurance premiums after commissioners voted June 17 to renew the county’s policy with Travelers. The overall quote is $941,477 for the July 1 renewal. The county paid about $879,000 in premiums for the current policy year. Commissioners chose to raise the liability deductible to $25,000 […]
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Shed-building business receives zoning approval
A Henry County man received approval to expand his shed-building business to a Hagerstown-area property. During its June 11 meeting, the Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved Amos Esh’s request for a variance of use to construct storage sheds and small home shells on a 34-acre property at Indiana 1 and Fagan Road. […]
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Commissioners stick with current health insurance provider
Wayne County will continue with its current employee health insurance provider for another year. The county’s commissioners voted 3-0 on June 10 to renew its plan with One80. Cathy Dunn of Dunn & Associates, the county’s Columbus-based third-party administrator, had presented commissioners May 27 with their options after the current plan expires June 30. Commissioners […]
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City contracts with Wetzel for 2 police vehicles
Wetzel Ford submitted the only proposal to provide Richmond Police Department with two Ford Explorer Interceptor vehicles. The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved a $98,618 contract with Wetzel during its June 11 meeting. Money for the two vehicles is coming from the city’s opioid settlement money. Each year, the city receives a […]
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$5.45M price tag for gorge’s next phases
Richmond Parks and Recreation Department knows which company it wants to lead the next two phases of the Whitewater Gorge Park Activation project. And it knows the cost. Four prospective companies were interviewed about their proposals using the newly permitted build-operate-transfer model. The parks department selected GM Development of Springport as the developer, working with […]