Richmond Power & Light has a new control house at its U.S. 27 location. The control house was delivered in two pieces that were lifted by crane onto a foundation. Now, RP&L staff is working to make the new control house operational. Tony Foster, RP&L’s general manager, provided the control house update to the RP&L […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Square-body pickups to gather Aug. 4-5 at county fairgrounds
Square-body pickup trucks will take over the Wayne County Fairgrounds on Aug. 4 and 5. Wayne County’s commissioners authorized a contract for the informal gathering plus the judged Midwest Truck Show during their July 5 meeting. The not-for-profit event will pay $1,500 to rent the fairgrounds. That’s the same amount it paid last year. Commissioners […]
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Auditor requests 2 positions to track grants
Auditor Mark Hoelscher requested from Wayne County Council funding for two full-time positions that would track grant money awarded to the county. He said grants and grant payments have not been properly tracked to ensure payments are applied to the correct line items and that grants are properly closed upon their conclusion. The auditor’s office […]
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2 buildings deemed unsafe
A burned house and a Garden City mobile home were deemed unsafe by unanimous votes during the June 28 meeting of Wayne County’s commissioners. The next steps, however, varied. Owners of 2927 Westview Drive were given 90 days to return with a plan for the demolition or repair of the house that burned during February […]
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6-house Garwood Road subdivision receives plat approval
A six-house subdivision along Garwood Road received primary plat approval June 28 from the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission. Members voted 6-1 to approve the plat and two variances — one to allow the subdivision’s single driveway on the property’s north end 109 feet from Hughes Lane rather than 150 and one that allows 38-foot-wide lots […]
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Health department hopes to expand RFD’s paramedicine program into county
Richmond Fire Department’s paramedicine program might receive two additional employees and cover all of Wayne County. Christine Stinson, executive director of the Wayne County Health Department, told the county’s health board June 22 that her budget for additional state funding that begins in 2024 includes $140,000 for two additional social workers. Indiana’s legislature approved a […]
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HELP committee recommends county spend $5.8 million on identified projects
Wayne County’s Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program core committee recommends the county spend more than $5.8 million from its American Rescue Plan Act dollars to projects developed during the HELP process. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer shared the recommendations with commissioners and Wayne County Council members during the June 21 combined evening workshop. The county was allocated about […]
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Design firm chosen for new Depot District plaza
The city of Richmond is moving forward with the design of a Depot District plaza. The Board of Public Works and Safety on June 15 approved a contract with Clark Dietz to design the North Ninth Street Park Plaza. Cost for the design work is $40,000, which Richmond Redevelopment Commission funds will cover. One block […]
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Ground broken for new pet food ingredient supplier
Wayne County development as a pet food hub continues. Anchor Ingredients of Fargo, North Dakota, last week announced the groundbreaking for its transload and ingredient processing facility to support area pet food manufacturers. It’s a $40 million investment that will create 30 jobs paying an average hourly wage of $25, Valerie Shaffer, president of the […]
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Safety concerns scuttle retail plan
Safety concerns, including about students crossing a busy roadway, played a large role in Wayne County’s commissioners denying a zoning request that would allow a retail store near the Northeastern schools complex. The commissioners voted 3-0 against rezoning 2 acres on the northwest corner of U.S. 27 and Williams Road south of Fountain City as […]