On average, the Wayne County Emergency Communications Center handled a call or text every 4.6 minutes during 2024. That’s 313 per day. Or, for the communications specialists, business as usual. The 2024 call load fits in the upper bounds of calls received for the past five years. The average daily work load has ranged from […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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County rejects Hagerstown’s 2-year EDIT contract request
Wayne County’s commissioners decided Jan. 22 against Hagerstown’s request to participate in the countywide consolidated EDIT program for just two years. The town in December provided the county a two-year contract to contribute half of its economic development income tax revenue to consolidated EDIT. That fund pays operating expenses for the Economic Development Corporation of […]
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Richmond parks help families enjoy fun times
Simply put, parks provide fun for the people who use them. During 2024, Richmond Parks and Recreation Department facilities hosted 362 birthday parties, 104 baby showers, 67 graduation parties and 61 holiday parties, according to Denise Retz, the parks superintendent, during a Jan. 21 presentation to Richmond Common Council. “That’s a lot of fun times […]
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Auditor faces 2 intimidation charges
Wayne County Auditor Mark Hoelscher faces two misdemeanor intimidation charges regarding handwritten notes left in neighbors’ mailboxes. The notes that were handwritten on envelopes read, “Break into my house again or hurt any of my animals I will give you something to arrest me for,” according to the police narrative by Indiana State Police Trooper […]
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Transformers to cost RP&L $5.5 million
Richmond Power & Light will spend more than $5.5 million for two new transformers. During a Jan. 21 meeting, RP&L’s board, which is composed of Richmond Common Council members, awarded Virginia Georgia Transformer the transformer bid for $5,543,850. Virginia George provided the lowest of four bids and the quickest delivery time, at 85 to 90 […]
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Common Council business continues despite friction
Larry Parker’s seen plenty of disagreements during four decades as a Richmond Common Council member. Even a fistfight on the elevator. So some strife during the past year between council members and between council members and the mayor wasn’t so significant, especially because council’s business proceeded during meetings. “I don’t think it ever stopped anything […]
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Council’s lawsuit vote carries no bite
Eight Richmond Common Council members do not approve of taxpayer money paying for a Richmond Police Department assistant chief’s lawsuit against the county prosecutor. Council member Jerry Purcell said during council’s Jan. 21 meeting that he has received constituent complaints about RPD paying an Indianapolis law firm for Major Adam Blanton’s legal action against Prosecutor […]
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Abington needs help pursuing fire station funds
Abington Township needs Wayne County government’s assistance as it pursues funding for a new fire station and community center. Trustee Steven Kaiser and Mike Taylor, chief of the township’s volunteer fire department, presented the project’s progress to Wayne County’s commissioners during the Jan. 15 commissioners meeting. The county has four slots — increased from the […]
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WUR board hears about next steps
Although the Wayne and Union Solid Waste Management District was dissolved Dec. 31, 2024, work remains for Wayne Union Recycling’s board during 2025. The board received an update on its timeline and necessary actions this year during a Jan. 15 meeting. Ron Cross, the Wayne County attorney, said the board has an obligation to oversee […]
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Emergency room or urgent care?
With influenza cases peaking and a stomach bug spreading, Reid Health’s being kept busy. That makes selecting the correct treatment option important. Dr. Jennifer Bales, Wayne County’s health officer and a Reid emergency physician, shared during the county health board’s Jan. 14 meeting when to seek treatment from Reid’s emergency department or its urgent care […]