Two Wayne County groups will take over management of Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program projects after Oct. 4 decisions by the county’s commissioners, including one described as “irresponsible governing.” The three commissioners unanimously agreed that the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County would organize and operate blight elimination within Wayne County. The EDC’s Sarah Mitchell previously […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Residents provide feedback on I-70 plan
The Indiana Department of Transportation has included 5-foot-wide sidewalks along U.S. 40 at the Interstate 70 interchange in its reconstruction plans. Barry Cramer, an avid bicyclist, doesn’t think that’s enough, however; he advocated for wider multiuse lanes rather than the sidewalks during a Revive I-70 public hearing Oct. 4 at Ivy Tech Community College Richmond. […]
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County council plans 2024 employee raises
Wayne County Council plans to again improve employee salaries during 2024. Consultant Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele and Associates of Muncie is comparing county salaries with comparable positions in other counties and the private sector. It then provides a midpoint for each position. During its Oct. 4 meeting, council addressed employee raises for 2024. Council members propose […]
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3 council members oppose funded, unbalanced budget
Richmond Common Council passed a $60 million budget for 2024, but three council members voted against it. Ron Oler, Jeff Cappa and Larry Parker said last year that they would not vote for another budget that does not have its expenditures matching the city’s income, and all three lived up to their words during the […]
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Commission supports zoning for self-storage facility
A zoning change that would allow a self-storage facility on Industries Road returns to Richmond Common Council with a recommendation for approval from the city’s plan commission. The Richmond Advisory Plan Commission voted 6-0 during its Sept. 27 meeting to recommend the outdoor commercial zoning for a 6.25-acre lot on the southeast corner of Industries […]
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River flows freely as Weir Dam demolished
About two years after Richmond received funding, demolition began on Weir Dam. The Whitewater River already flowed Sept. 27 through a gap in the 10-foot-tall, low-head dam as three excavators, two with breaker hammers, broke apart the concrete. The noisy hammers sometimes harmonized as they cut into the dam, creating pieces moved by an excavator’s […]
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READI funding offer highlights economic development priorities
Wayne County’s regional partnership is developing its vision to apply for READI 2.0 state money. The East Central Indiana Regional Partnership received $15 million in December 2021 from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s original Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative. With the application due during February, the nine counties could receive up to $75 million […]
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Sheriff proposes uses for opioid settlement funds
Wayne County Jail inmates frequently struggle with opioid addiction. Treatment programs help those inmates for the days, weeks or months they are incarcerated, but Sheriff Randy Retter would like to increase those programs’ impact. He addressed Wayne County’s commissioners Sept. 13 about receiving some of the county’s 2023 opioid settlement disbursement. “What my goal is, […]
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BZA approves U.S. 27 location for livestock auction
Wayne County will have a livestock auction. Midway Auction Barn LLC and Omer Kauffman received approval Sept. 14 from the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals to locate an auction facility along U.S. 27 north of Fountain City. The BZA had previously denied a petition to locate the auction on Helm Road south of Williamsburg. Five […]
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DORA explorers: Richmond considers new alcohol law
People might soon stroll through Richmond’s Depot District sipping alcoholic drinks if council approves two ordinances presented Sept. 5. Mayor Dave Snow presented the ordinances that would enable the city to take advantage of a new state law permitting Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas. The DORAs are exempt from certain open container laws, allowing alcoholic beverages […]