A five-month cleanup effort has removed most traces of last April’s devastating plastics fire from two of three North West F Street properties involved. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency removed about 4,800 tons of debris from the two city-owned sites — at 310 and 358 N.W. F St. — Mayor Ron Oler told Richmond Common […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Public access counselor receives complaint about Abington Township
Indiana’s public access counselor has received a formal complaint about the Abington Township trustee and advisory board regarding an alleged violation of the state’s open door law for government meetings. The complaint was lodged by a former Abington Township Volunteer Fire Department member who has provided the complaint and response from the state agency. He […]
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RP&L customers urged to manage accounts online
Richmond Power & Light customers are urged to use the SmartHub online tool to monitor and manage their accounts. General Manager Tony Foster explained the digital system during the RP&L board’s April 1 meeting. Richmond Common Council members comprise the RP&L board. Foster said that since the utility began using SmartHub in 2021, it mails […]
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Cappa fills seat for ‘dear friend and mentor’
Jeff Cappa left Richmond Common Council after one term to spend more time with his family. Then Bob Chamness, a man Cappa considers family, asked Cappa to replace Chamness on Wayne County Council, if the need would arise. Chamness died March 3, just more than a year into his third term, and a month later, […]
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Celebration without congestion, issues
The community prepared for massive crowds, traffic delays, and an eclipse celebration of a lifetime on April 8. In the end, the last one happened largely without the first two. There was heavy traffic around Indianapolis, and hotels did fill up much more than usual. But whether it was the abundance of viewing opportunities across […]
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Online vehicle auction proves success for county
Wayne County might have found a better way to rid itself of old, unwanted equipment. The county’s fleet management committee used a vehicle as a trial for an online auction, rather than waiting for an annual in-person auction. Steve Higinbotham, the county’s director of facilities and development, reported April 3 the trial was a success. […]
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Abington Township board removes fire chief
The Abington Township board removed James Ausmus as the township fire department’s chief with a 2-1 vote March 26. Township Trustee Steven Kaiser said that during a meeting with an attorney, a determination was made that Ausmus breached his contract with the township and misused funds when distributing stipends to department officers during January. Ausmus […]
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Commissioners support Make My Move continuation
Thirteen families have already moved to Wayne County through the Make My Move program. Another two have accepted the county’s relocation incentive offers and a third is considering an offer, despite the fact the Make My Move contract ended Jan. 31. Wayne County’s commissioners would like to see Make My Move continue at least for […]
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Thrown by the Loop?
Richmond’s East Main Street and the Depot District are prepared for Phase 2 of the Loop transportation improvement project now that trees have been cleared. Milestone Contractors, however, will not begin construction until after the April 8 total solar eclipse, Mayor Ron Oler said. The Indiana Department of Transportation and the contractor control the project […]
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Program plans to better lives through training, tackling blight
Learning building trades could soon build better futures for participants who were chronically unsheltered or emerging from treatment programs or incarceration. Bridges for Life is developing a Building Together program that would provide low-cost housing and a six-month training program for participants renovating blighted homes. Tim Pierson and Jeff Holthouse of Bridges for Life updated […]