A U.S. district judge has certified as a class action a lawsuit filed after the April 2023 plastics fire in Richmond. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana filed her order Sept. 29 in the lawsuit by Tushawn Craig and Marquetta Stokes accusing the city of Richmond, […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Budget clash about how to spend city’s cash
Some Richmond Common Council members pushed back against the 2026 budget, which is funded but not balanced, when it was presented Sept. 29 for first hearing. Mayor Ron Oler said that about $3 million budgeted for this year will not be spent, and that surplus will cover a $2,344,000 shortfall in the 2026 general fund. […]
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County worker wages get bump
Wayne County Council has earmarked more than $1 million to boost employee wages next year. Council met Oct. 6 for the public hearing on its 2026 budgets, and during discussions that followed, decided on the wage issues. No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Budget adoption is scheduled for council’s 7 p.m. Thursday, […]
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RFD will collect $973K for fire coverage
Richmond Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services outside the city’s boundaries in Wayne Township and Spring Grove. During its Sept. 25 meeting, the Richmond Board of Public Works and Safety approved contracts with both entities to continue RFD’s service in 2026. Wayne Township will pay $894,254, an increase of $93,508 from 2025’s […]
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Richmond sets new goals, paths to pursue
Richmond officials have drafted an updated comprehensive plan document that they say could shape community decision-making and help prioritize spending for years to come. Jennifer Barclay, the assistant project manager for HWC Engineering, presented an overview of the document during the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission’s Sept. 24 meeting. The city last created a comprehensive plan […]
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2025 savings expected to cover Richmond’s 2026 budget shortfall
The city of Richmond scrimped and saved this year, aiming not to spend all of its appropriated money. Mayor Ron Oler expects that more than $3 million will remain unspent, predominantly from open police and fire positions, and he plans to use most of that to fully fund the 2026 budget. The budget presented to […]
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RCS denies negligence in bullying suit
Richmond Community Schools has denied an accusation that its negligence led to four bullying and sexual assault incidents that resulted in injuries to a David W. Dennis Middle School student during the 2024-25 school year. Attorneys for Church Church Hittle and Antrim filed the school district’s response to a lawsuit the student’s family filed June […]
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Purdue Extension changes won’t affect 4-H program
Wayne County will be involved in a Purdue Extension pilot program to share services across counties in 2026, but don’t worry, that won’t impact Wayne County’s 4-H program. “Most people in Wayne County, when they think Purdue Extension, think 4-H, and we want to make sure they know our 4-H programs will not change,” Commissioner […]
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Wayne County vacates Williamsburg alley
An alley in Williamsburg will now be split between North Centerville Road neighbors. During their Sept. 17 meeting, Wayne County’s commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance vacating the 165-foot-long and 10-foot-wide alley at the request of Daryll and Lilah Webb. The Webbs’ request had received a favorable recommendation from the Wayne County Advisory Plan Commission. The […]
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Slow progress as county trims budget
Wayne County Council members want to keep the 2026 general fund budget about the same as 2025’s $38.4 million. To do that, though, they still face difficult decisions, with time slipping away. Another budget discussion during the Sept. 17 workshop clipped $49,256 from the working budget, leaving it at $44,166,070. That figure contains padding to […]