Five Wayne County small businesses that began last year received help from the East Central Indiana Small Business Development Center. The Muncie-based regional location to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners met with 44 Wayne County clients last year, said Judy Porter, the regional director, during a June 18 presentation to Wayne County Council members […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Phony hostage situation prompts police response
June 25, 10:07 a.m.: RPD statement Just before 10 p.m. yesterday, Richmond Police Department posted a statement about the incident on their Facebook page. The statement reads in part: Shortly after 5:00 PM today, the Richmond Police Department received a disturbing call from an unknown male stating that he was located in the 700 block […]
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Greens Fork business receives zoning variance
A Greens Fork man whose business tears down old houses and barns received permission to store the reusable lumber at his residence. The Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals approved Amos King’s variance of use request to operate the wholesale construction salvage business at 3699 N. Mineral Springs Road, which is zoned agricultural. King has […]
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Gas station receives 5 variances from Richmond’s BZA
A new gas station and convenience store on U.S. 35 north of the Interstate 70 interchange will have two pole signs so I-70 motorists will more easily see where the business is located. Permitting two signs was one of five variances of development standards Richmond’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved June 11 for the planned […]
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District would protect historic structures downtown
Richmond’s Historic Preservation Commission voted June 9 to initiate the process of forming a downtown conservation district to protect important architecture and historic structures. All six members attending voted in favor of the motion, setting the district’s proposed boundaries as the Whitewater Gorge to 13th Street from North A Street to South A Street. Both […]
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County residents’ transit usage grows
The Union County Council on Aging and Aged’s transportation program provided 4,781 rides to Wayne County residents during 2024, and that number has increased significantly during 2025. Through May 27, the program’s provided 3,051 rides for Wayne County residents, Trisha Dearth-Adkins, the council’s executive director, told Wayne County’s commissioners during a June 11 presentation. She […]
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Council balks at Smith Hill rental component
Richmond Common Council last year approved a zoning change for the Smith Hill planned unit development on 80 acres south of Backmeyer Road between South 37th Street and Garwood Road. Bryan Stumpf of 11th Street Development returned June 16 to update council about the project’s progress. He talked about challenging financial and market changes that […]
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Health officer aims to prevent drownings
June and July are peak times for the nation’s top killer of children ages 1 to 4. That’s why Dr. Jennifer Bales, the health officer for Wayne County, took time during the June 10 Board of Health meeting to discuss drowning. Bales provided information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indiana Board of […]
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Candidate touts unity among agencies
Kyle Weatherly observes a rocky relationship among Wayne County law enforcement agencies, something he wants to change as the county’s elected sheriff. “I want to bring unity to all law enforcement agencies and really start doing what I think is the best for the community,” said Weatherly, who currently leads one of those agencies, the […]
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City serves ‘greater good,’ pays WCTV
Richmond will increase its contributions to Whitewater Community Television this year. The city’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved a resolution June 12 boosting the city’s contribution from Comcast franchise fees it receives from 40% to 65% this year, retroactive to Jan. 1. The resolution was drawn after Richmond Common Council unanimously voted its […]