The city of Richmond denies any negligence, knowledge of or responsibility for the alleged bullying of a David W. Dennis Middle School student last school year. Lawyers representing the student and parents filed a lawsuit June 23 in Wayne County Superior Court 1 claiming the student was seriously injured and sexually assaulted during four separate […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
Posted inNews
Who pays for progress?
Expanding the Midwest Industrial Park’s sewer capacity might be a worthy endeavor, but several Richmond residents addressing Richmond Common Council on Aug. 18 balked at being asked to pay the $38 million price tag. “If this is for the industrial park, let the industrial park occupant pay for it,” Nick Wilson said during the public […]
Posted inNews
County council adopts vehicle taxes
Wayne County residents will pay between $7.50 and $212.60 in new taxes for each of their cars, motorcycles, trucks and trailers beginning next year. With a 5-2 vote, Wayne County Council enacted local option highway user taxes Aug. 25 that will provide tax money and, beginning in January 2027, access to the state’s lane-mile distribution […]
Posted inNews
Thousands of kids missing required vaccines
About 3,800 Wayne County schoolchildren are missing required vaccinations. Beth Newton, the Wayne County Health Department’s deputy director of clinical services, updated the county’s health board about the department’s efforts to vaccinate children during the board’s Aug. 12 meeting. Newton said postcards are being sent to each student ages 5 to 18 missing a vaccination. […]
Posted inNews
Auditor: Simple filing could save big money on taxes
Indiana’s changing property tax structure relies heavily on homeowners’ homestead exemptions. Wayne County Auditor Mark Hoelscher told the county commissioners during their Aug. 13 meeting that many eligible county homeowners have not filed for the homestead exemption. He said his office will mail 35,000 tax statements next spring, but only about 17,000 homeowners have the […]
Posted inNews
4-3 vote provides temporary wheel tax reprieve
Concerns about Richmond residents being taxed by both the county and city for their vehicles stopped Wayne County Council from enacting local option highway user taxes Aug. 20, while indicating it’s a temporary delay of the inevitable. Council voted 4-3 in favor of enacting an excise tax surcharge on passenger vehicles, small trucks, motorcycles, mopeds […]
Posted inNews
County council leaves library bond request in limbo
Wayne County Council members heard how important Morrisson-Reeves Library is to its community, but that hasn’t yet convinced them to approve an $18 million, property tax-based bond that would help fund a library construction project. More than 200 people overflowed the Wayne County Administration Building chambers, spilling into the hallway outside the door, during the […]
Posted inNews
Probation programs evolve as chief moves on
Kory George reported to work Monday, Aug. 18, with the same enthusiasm to help people he’s displayed the past 30 years. But, for the first time since he was a college senior, George did not report to the Wayne County Probation Department; instead, he entered a new role as executive director of Tippecanoe County Community […]
Posted inNews
BZA grants variance for day care facility
A mom who’s passionate about helping children’s development now has the opportunity to open a day care. Sarah and Edison Perdomo purchased the house at 528 S. 14th St. in Richmond specifically for the day care, and during an Aug. 13 meeting, the Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals granted the Perdomos a variance of use […]
Posted inNews
Make My Move could continue attracting workers to county
Wayne County’s Make My Move initiative has reached its goal of attracting 30 movers to Wayne County, and there might be more in the future. Valerie Shaffer, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County, spoke about Make My Move as she provided Wayne County’s commissioners a monthly EDC update during their Aug. 6 […]