For the second consecutive year, Wayne County government will receive more than $400,000 in opioid settlement money in 2023. Since the county received about $411,000 last December in the first settlement installment, new settlements have been reached to hold companies accountable for their roles in the opioid addiction crisis. The Indiana Attorney General now estimates […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
Posted inNews
Roundabouts coming to Wayne County
The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to install Wayne County’s first roundabouts. Two roundabouts are included in the new-look Interstate 70 interchange with U.S. 40 on Richmond’s east side. That reconstruction is part of the Revive I-70 project that will impact I-70 throughout its 20-plus miles in Wayne County, then extend to Indianapolis. INDOT representatives […]
Posted inNews
2 grant-funded positions become county employees
Wayne County Council approved making two grant-funded health department positions county employees, after significant debate. The two positions — a full-time coordinator and a part-time employee — work as part of the fetal infant mortality review grant. A committee reviews all fetal deaths and deaths of infants up to 1 year old in Wayne and […]
Posted inNews
Parking problem? Public needs spaces at county complex
Wayne County’s commissioners will discuss parking with county department heads during this month’s staff meeting. The commissioners talked during their Aug. 2 meeting about the parking situation around the Wayne County Administration Building, Wayne County Courthouse, sheriff’s office and jail, and Wayne County Health Department. Parking sometimes becomes an issue for the public visiting the […]
Posted inNews
Providing disaster assistance requires county preparation
Would Richmond be ready? That’s the question Dana Mollenkopf asked himself while assisting with relief efforts after tornadoes decimated Mayfield, Kentucky, during December 2021. His answer was: Probably not. That’s when he began pushing to form a Wayne County Community Organizations Active in Disaster group, abbreviated as COAD. There wasn’t much momentum until the April […]
Posted inNews
Museum to open Burton exhibit
Those who knew Seara Burton say she cared about children, history and the north side Richmond neighborhood she patrolled. Thus, Wayne County Historical Museum staff say they are honored to open a new permanent exhibit honoring the late Richmond Police Department K9 officer and her contributions to the community. The display, called “Seara Burton Legacy […]
Posted inNews
County provides RCS police cars, protective vests
Wayne County is helping equip Richmond Community Schools’ new police department. Commissioners voted 3-0 July 26 to sell RCS four police vehicles and three protective vests for $20,000. Superintendent Curtis Wright and board member Peter Zaleski attended the meeting to make the RCS request for “those things that are essential to make sure that our […]
Posted inNews
Courthouse exterior repair work likely to end this fall
Repairs to the Wayne County courthouse’s exterior could conclude this fall. Steve Higinbotham, the county’s director of facilities and development, provided project updates July 19 during the combined county council and commissioners workshop. The project was originally expected to stretch into 2024; however, Higinbotham said work has proceeded this spring and summer enough to expect […]
Posted inNews
City contracts for work on bicycle path’s Phase 2
After a pandemic delay, wheels are again turning toward completion of Richmond’s Loop bicycle path. Phase 2 of the Complete Streets Loop Project was originally scheduled for 2022 construction; however, the Indiana Department of Transportation requested the project be rescheduled for November 2023 bidding and 2024 construction. The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety […]
Posted inNews
Council has little room for increases to 2024 budget
Wayne County Council members spent more than six hours July 19 listening to 2024 departmental budget requests. After only about a half-hour, requests for additional funding already exceeded the extra funds available for 2024. Department heads explained and defended the requests they had submitted, but the county expects only about $680,000 in additional property tax […]