Four dealers submitted bids to supply Richmond Power & Light with a new dump truck. Tony Foster, RP&L’s general manager, opened the bids during the March 2 meeting of RP&L’s board, which is composed of Richmond Common Council members. The dump truck was budgeted for 2026, and RP&L could trade in a 2011 International dump […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Reid receives $6K program funding boost
Reid Health will receive an additional $6,000 for its Health First Indiana partnership with the Wayne County Health Department. Wayne County’s commissioners approved the program director’s compensation during their March 4 meeting. The compensation previously was approved by the county’s Board of Health. Reid was one of three partners to receive Health First Indiana programming […]
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Council considers how to attack parks projects
Richmond’s new 1% food and beverage tax will fund improvements to the city’s parks, but some officials are at odds about whether to use bonds to start that work before the tax revenue actually arrives. The first disbursement of revenue is expected in May. State law says it must be spent on parks, trails and […]
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Contract provides for asbestos inspection at Warfield Oil site
Richmond is taking a step toward demolishing the former Warfield Oil property. The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved a $3,200 contract with Patriot Engineering during its Feb. 26 meeting. Patriot will conduct a pre-demolition survey for asbestos-containing materials. Matt Keller, the city’s director of public operations and engineering, said the survey is […]
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County to collect assessments for 7 drainage watersheds
A routine county decision means some residents will pay higher drainage ditch assessments this spring, while others get a year off. Wayne County’s Drainage Board, which is composed of the county commissioners, approved 25% assessment increases for six of those watersheds during a Feb. 25 meeting. Assessments are paid with spring property taxes. Each drainage […]
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County boosts HELP payments
An organization that shelters dogs waiting to find their forever homes is expected to get more financial support from county government. Wayne County’s commissioners have agreed to increase payments for unaltered dogs the county shelters with HELP the Animals. Commissioners Aaron Roberts and Brad Dwenger approved the 2026 contract during their Feb. 25 meeting. Commissioner […]
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County set to receive vehicle tax revenue
Wayne County government prepared Feb. 18 to begin receiving new tax revenue from residents registering their vehicles with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The county council last year enacted local option highway user taxes that took effect Jan. 1. The BMV collects the wheel tax, a $40 charge for large trucks, large trailers, buses […]
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Chief deputy coroner sues county over Facebook block
Wayne County’s chief deputy coroner claims that he’s been blocked from the county commissioners’ Facebook page, violating his First Amendment rights, and he’s sued to regain his access. On behalf of Dillon Pitcher, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed the lawsuit against the county and its commissioners Feb. 12 in the U.S. District […]
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Life-saving efforts receive recognition
Three residents, seven police officers and 14 firefighters came together Jan. 5 to save a life. During Richmond Common Council’s Feb. 18 meeting, those individuals were honored for their efforts to rescue and save a suicidal person who had become impaled on safety fencing along the South G Street bridge. Each received a certificate. “Their […]
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Trailer wash to buy 5 acres in industrial park
A trailer wash is planned for a 5-acre site in the Midwest Industrial Park. During its Feb. 12 meeting, Richmond’s Board of Public Works and Safety unanimously approved the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County exercising its option to sell 5.731 acres north of Industries Road and west of Salisbury Road to Milestone Properties LLC. […]