Communications specialists in the Wayne County Emergency Communications Center last year answered 44,592 calls to 911, but more than one out of five times, nobody was on the line. The number of 911 hang-ups increased 40.0% from 2022 to 9,646, according to statistics released by the ECC. Matthew Cain, the county’s 911 director and director […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Honoree delivers to help save man’s life
Richmond Police Chief Kyle Weatherly told Common Council members that on any given day first responders can be identified who went “above and beyond the call of service.” That could be emergency communications specialists, firefighters, EMS personnel or law enforcement officers. However, Weatherly appeared at council’s Feb. 5 meeting to honor a citizen with a […]
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Council OKs $2M in ARPA spending
Sheriff Randy Retter will get the armored vehicle he’s long wanted. Wayne County Council designated $350,000 for a BearCat as part of $2 million in spending it approved for uncommitted American Rescue Plan Act dollars. During a Feb. 7 morning meeting, council members considered eight ARPA expenditures the county’s commissioners had recommended during the Jan. […]
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‘Really scary’: Property fraud grows nationwide
Wayne County Recorder Debbie Tiemann has heard a scary example of property fraud: Snowbird landowners return home to find a different house on their property. Their property had been fraudulently sold, and the buyers had demolished the existing house and built their own. Such property fraud is rare in Indiana, according to the Indiana Recorders […]
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RP&L remains 99.9% reliable with its service
Richmond Power and Light continues to provide electricity for more than 99.9% of customer demand time. General Manager Tony Foster presented the 2023 reliability numbers during the Feb. 5 RP&L board meeting. Members of Richmond Common Council comprise the board. RP&L’s reliability was 99.9736% during 2023, which is actually a slight drop from the 99.988% […]
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Commissioners OK radio project’s next step
Wayne County will move forward with the second phase of its project to improve emergency communications within the county. The county’s commissioners voted 3-0 to accept a $246,000 contract with Ritter Strategic Services for that second phase, which provides for planning of the eventual work to address coverage issues. Wayne County Council member Barry Ritter […]
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Radio proposal: $261K to study options
The next step in Wayne County’s plan to improve emergency radio communications will likely cost more than a quarter of a million dollars, and that just gets the county to the point of being able to start making the needed improvements. Matthew Cain, the county’s Emergency Management Agency and Emergency Communications director, presented commissioners a […]
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Housing debate hits home
Caspar Arbeeny was hired by Belden right out of college. He was thrilled to find a good job during the pandemic. Once he began searching for living arrangements in Richmond, however, he was less thrilled. He detailed the struggle of finding a suitable apartment during the Jan. 24 Richmond Advisory Plan Commission’s public hearing about […]
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Companies receive tax abatements for investments
Menasha Packaging Company and Liberation Labs will receive tax relief for new local investments. Richmond Common Council unanimously approved Jan. 16 two tax abatements for Menasha, which was formerly Color-Box, and one for Liberation Labs. Menasha received a four-year abatement for personal property and an eight-year abatement for real property. Menasha expects to invest about […]
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Recommendation would boost county’s emergency radio coverage
Radio communication problems have plagued Wayne County first responders for decades. That’s why fixing those problems became a Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program priority. With American Rescue Plan Act dollars available, county officials hope to finally fix areas with poor reception for emergency radios. Ritter Strategic Strategies, a consulting firm owned by Wayne County Council member […]