Indiana’s top health official recently visited Wayne County as the state begins its Health First Indiana program. Dr. Lindsay Weaver, the state’s health commissioner, and members of her team met with local health and elected officials Jan. 12. Becca Alliston, the clinical director for the Wayne County Health Department, updated the county’s Board of Health […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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BearCat creates council controversy
An armored vehicle created the most controversy among Wayne County Council members when they considered possible expenditures of American Rescue Plan Act dollars. During the Jan. 17 workshop, the county’s commissioners presented council members with recommendations for some of the county’s remaining $4.3 million in uncommitted ARPA funds. Commissioners had reached a consensus about the […]
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County dog deal’s done
Wayne County’s animal control officer will now take stray and confiscated dogs to the HELP the Animals shelter. The three county commissioners unanimously approved a contract Jan. 17 with HELP to pay $200 per dog housed with the West Main Street shelter. The HELP board had previously signed off on the agreement. Commissioners will approach […]
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BZA ruling helps Milestone with I-70 bid
Milestone Contractors wants work from the upcoming Revive I-70 project that will expand the interstate, improve interchanges and update bridges. The company plans to soon bid on the first phase of Revive’s Wayne County portion, stretching from the Ohio state line to the Williamsburg Pike/U.S. 35 interchange, and its bid received a boost Jan. 10 […]
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Commissioners identify ways to spend ARPA dollars
Wayne County has about $4.3 million in uncommitted American Rescue Plan Act dollars remaining. The money must be committed by the end of this year, and while that sounds like a lot of time, the county’s commissioners are now moving forward with identifying possible projects to fund, leaving plenty of time to complete the commitment […]
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Proposed neighborhood plans 178 homes
A proposed South 37th Street neighborhood would have 178 homes and up to 250 apartments. An ordinance was scheduled for presentation Jan. 16 before Richmond Common Council for referral to the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission. It would permit the mixed-residential neighborhood on five parcels totaling about 80 acres south of Backmeyer Road and between South […]
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Superior 3 judge giving up the ‘best gig’
When Judge Darrin Dolehanty addressed Indiana’s judges as the Indiana Judges Association’s president, he always began the same way: “This is the best gig in the world.” Dolehanty took the Wayne County Superior Court 3 bench Jan. 1, 2003, and after more than two decades, he’s giving up his spot on the bench — mostly. […]
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How do you say expensive in Tangale or Kekchi?
Wayne County’s probation department paid for court interpreters in Tangale, Kekchi and more last year. While the need to interpret languages other than Spanish is relatively rare, it’s costly — about $200 an hour. A state grant usually pays those costs, but an upcoming trial that would require two French translators could strain the probation […]
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County continues path toward animal welfare solution
Wayne County’s commissioners are reviewing a preliminary contract with HELP the Animals for the Richmond shelter to accept the county’s stray and abused animals. Ron Cross, the county attorney, presented the draft during commissioners’ Jan. 3 meeting. It calls for the county to pay $4,000 a month to cover a $200-per-animal cost. The sides would […]
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Developing downtown
Commissioner Brad Dwenger spoke with downtown Richmond business owners, and what he heard convinced him to vote against funding for a downtown apartment project. Dwenger said during the Dec. 20 commissioners meeting that those business owners do not support the $36 million project at the former Elder-Beerman site. Commissioners did pass 2-1 the $2 million […]