Would your property sell for the assessed value? That’s what Wayne County Assessor Tim Smith asks property owners wondering about their annual assessments. Indiana expects local assessments to reflect the local market values, Smith said. “Our goal is to be as accurate as possible and to be fair and equitable with everyone else,” Smith said. […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Custom gun business receives OK
A Fountain City man who loves working on guns received Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals approval to begin a small custom gun business at his home. Joshua Allen petitioned the BZA for a variance of use to begin the business on his agriculturally zoned property on Davis Meyers Road north of Fountain City. The […]
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Dedicated & delightful
As a ninth grader, Judy Spicer wanted spending money of her own, so she got a job shelving books at Morrisson-Reeves Library. “I’ve been here ever since,” Spicer said last week — 55 years later — during her retirement party in the library’s Bard Room. MRL staff, family members, patrons and friends gathered to honor […]
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Surplus produce will feed those in need
As coordinator of Richmond Farmers Market, Hannah Snoddy has watched vendors haul away unsold produce every time the market closed, and Snoddy knew Wayne County families could use that nutritious food. Many families struggle with food insecurity, not knowing where they’ll get their next meal, especially a healthy one. According to a Gleaners Food Bank […]
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New hotel’s height OK’d for 4 stories
Richmond’s highway commercial zoning limits buildings’ heights to 40 feet, and that’s not enough for a four-story hotel. Needing more than 17 extra feet, Ani Lodging LLC requested a 60-foot maximum for its planned TownePlace Suites by Marriott on West Eaton Pike, as reported in the April 16 WWN. The Richmond Board of Zoning appeals […]
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Abilities Richmond receives council support
Tami Johnson founded Abilities Richmond because her son, Matthew, who has Down syndrome, needed the services. Now, the group serves 147 individuals with developmental and physical disabilities and is preparing a new South Ninth Street facility. Johnson spoke to Richmond Common Council during its April 21 meeting, explaining the program and requesting a letter of […]
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County braces for state’s budget impacts
Wayne County department heads and elected officials were encouraged to find ways to cut their 2026 budgets when they met with the county commissioners April 23. In their joint meeting the initial discussion involved the Indiana legislative session and its negative impact on county property tax revenues. Max Smith, president of Wayne County Council, and […]
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Legislature OKs food and beverage tax bill
Richmond received a green light from Indiana’s legislature to enact a food and beverage tax, and so too did eight other Wayne County communities. Now, Cambridge City, Centerville, Dublin, Fountain City, Greens Fork, Hagerstown, Milton and Mount Auburn also could choose to tax diners. Those provisions ultimately were sent to Gov. Mike Braun as part […]
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Hearing about housing dollars set for May 7
Wayne County Council plans to conduct a public hearing May 7 about appropriating $320,000 for a housing accelerator program launched by the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County. The additional money from county economic development income tax funds and consolidated EDIT funds would help five developers build houses on 82 sites in three county communities. […]
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Chief deputy will seek top spot
Alan Moore’s involvement with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office stretches back three decades. Now, after serving as chief deputy, he’d like to lead the department as sheriff. Moore was scheduled to officially announce during an April 22 event at Red Front Pizza and Grill in Richmond his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2026 […]