The issue of an auction facility along U.S. 27 will soon go before a judge, essentially pitting agribusiness against rural living. Judge April Drake scheduled a hearing at 9:30 a.m. June 6 in Circuit Court to consider John and Tammy Tackett’s appeal of Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals decisions last September permitting a general […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Sanitary district plans building purchase
Richmond Sanitary District’s required record storage has overwhelmed its current administration building. Some customers have also complained the 2380 Liberty Avenue location is not convenient. The district plans to solve both issues by purchasing an office building at 25 N. Seventh St. Pat Smoker, the sanitary district director, told Richmond Common Council during its May […]
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BZA vote untangles hair salon zoning
Applause greeted a Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals decision May 9 that allows a hair salon to continue operation. The BZA unanimously granted Amanda Seal a variance of use to continue operating her salon in a building outside her Union Pike home on property zoned agricultural. Seal began the salon more than four years […]
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Auditor to offer Saturday hours
Auditor Mark Hoelscher will open his office Saturday for residents needing to file property tax exemptions. Hoelscher received permission from the Wayne County commissioners to open the Wayne County Administration Building from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18. He said some residents are unable to visit the office in person during regular Monday-Friday business […]
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RP&L board awards bids
The Richmond Power & Light board awarded bids for a tow motor and tree-trimming bucket truck during its May 6 meeting. MH Equipment Company of Dayton, Ohio, bid $43,255.73 to provide the electric tow motor with an estimated 40 weeks for delivery. MH provided the only bid that met specifications. Altec Industries of Indianapolis bid […]
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2024 primary election results
Wayne County’s Republican voters nominated candidates for judge, commissioner, clerk of courts, treasurer and coroner, along with various state and federal offices, in the 2024 primary election held today. Ronald J. “Ron” Moore won the primary race for Superior Court 1 judge with 3,000 votes, or 48%, defeating J. Clayton Miller (1,858 votes) and Austin […]
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Health officer proposes restructuring health department
Wayne County’s health officer hopes to alter the health department’s structure. Dr. David Jetmore spoke to Wayne County Council members during a May 1 personnel committee meeting. He received council’s unanimous permission to have five job descriptions forwarded to consultant Waggoner Irwin Scheele & Associates in Muncie for analysis. Jetmore proposes to eliminate the executive […]
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Company withdraws both zoning requests for temporary asphalt plant
A construction company that hit two board of zoning appeals snags last month has withdrawn its two variance petitions for temporary portable asphalt plants. Rieth-Riley Construction Company of Goshen had petitioned the city of Richmond and Wayne County to permit the plants it would use if awarded a contract for the Indiana Department of Transportation’s […]
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7 communities join county in Stellar effort
Seven communities joined Wayne County in its Stellar Pathways application. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer told Wayne County Council members May 1 that the Wayne County Foundation that day would submit a letter of intent to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Four finalists will be chosen to submit complete applications, and two will be […]
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County donates properties to housing organizations
Bridges for Life and Good News Habitat for Humanity will receive property donations from Wayne County’s commissioners. During their April 10 meeting, commissioners unanimously voted to give each organization two properties that were slated for the deed sale. Bridges for Life prioritized — and will receive — properties on Crosshall and Butler streets, while Habitat […]