Rubble from the April 2023 plastics fire in Richmond remains on just one lot, and cleanup efforts now appear underway there. Large equipment has worked onsite at 308 N.W. F St., the parcel owned by Seth Smith and Cornerstone Trading Group. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency informed Smith that he would be responsible for cleaning […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Mayor: Baby box ‘will save lives’
Wayne County now has a safe place for the anonymous and legal surrender of infants. A Safe Haven baby box was introduced June 20 at Richmond Fire Station 1, 101 S. Fifth St. The large, black box on the station’s east exterior wall is the 242nd installed in the nation and the 128th in Indiana […]
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Developing crisis center ‘very exciting stuff’
Centerstone of Indiana has received funding that’s planned to reduce barriers to behavioral care for Wayne County residents. Centerstone is one of eight Indiana community health organizations to receive Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration program funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, according to Amanda Mullins, a Wayne County Board […]
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Resident request: Kill the weeds, please
Howard Price wants Richmond to look better. Price, who finished third in last year’s mayoral election, moved from litter to weeds when he addressed Richmond Common Council during its June 17 meeting. He expressed disappointment at weeds 2 feet tall in cracks between the sidewalk and curb and near stormwater drains along North J Street. […]
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Zoning OK clears way for Helm Road furniture business
A furniture business is now permitted on a Helm Road property after a unanimous decision by the Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals. The BZA approved a variance of use for Elam Glick to build furniture and shuffleboard games and add a detached 10-foot-by-20-foot retail showroom at 6074 Helm Road, a property zoned for agriculture. […]
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Budget proposals prepare for the future
Transitions were top of mind June 12 when Wayne County’s commissioners conducted 2025 budget discussions. Commissioners heard from department heads about what they would request in the budgets. The requests were due to the auditor’s office June 14. From there, Wayne County Council will consider the requests when formulating the county’s 2025 budget. In three […]
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County badly needs health help
Wayne County’s commissioners approved nearly $725,000 in Health First Indiana spending June 12, and state statistics show the county badly needs results from the new state program. The Indiana Department of Health added three categories to its online county scorecards, and two of the three provided bad news for Wayne County. Becca Alliston, clinical director […]
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RP&L customers will save a few bucks
Richmond Power & Light customers will pay less for electricity during the year’s third quarter. General Manager Tony Foster told the RP&L board, which is composed of Richmond Common Council members, during a June 3 meeting that the quarterly energy cost adjustment change will lower customer bills by 0.3284 of a cent per kilowatt-hour, which […]
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$1.5M likely not enough to fill radio gaps
Wayne County’s commissioners learned $1.5 million likely won’t be enough to solve the county’s emergency radio communications problems. Barry Ritter, a Wayne County Council member and owner of Ritter Strategic Services, provided commissioners an update about the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program project during their June 5 meeting. Ritter estimated costs of two communication towers plus […]
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No butts about it: Council wants city cleanup
Howard Price held aloft a large bag of trash June 3 as he began addressing Richmond Common Council members. “We’re not the Rose City anymore; we’re the Butt City,” Price said, estimating there were 200 cigarette butts in the bag. Price collected the trash walking through Glen Miller Park and brought it as an example […]