“It’s his fault.” Mayor Dave Snow blames Seth Smith, owner of Cornerstone Trading Group LLC, for hazardous conditions at a three-property complex that burned for more than three days last week. Smith stored tons of plastics in six buildings that total nearly 255,000 square feet on the 13.8-acre complex. Government officials recognized the properties as […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Firefighters put ‘heroic stop’ to historic blaze
Richmond firefighters aggressively attacked burning plastic when they arrived shortly after 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 at a facility known as a fire hazard. Overcoming limited access to the burning pile of the 358 N.W. F St. complex, the firefighters tried to quickly gain control, but strong winds helped the fire jump to another plastics […]
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Local syringe exchange up for county renewal
Should Wayne County continue providing a syringe exchange program? Since 2016, commissioners have decided yes, and again face that decision as the most recent two-year renewal expires June 30. Christine Stinson, executive director of the Wayne County Health Department, formally requested April 12 that commissioners renew the program. They have the option of a one- […]
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Common Council applauds fire response
Richmond Fire Department continues to monitor the scene of last week’s plastics fire at a North West F Street complex. Chief Tim Brown said Monday night that two people watch for smoke around the clock more than six days after the April 11 fire ignited at 358 N.W. F St., consuming 13.8 acres across the […]
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Sheriff’s office seeks grant for drug-detection equipment
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office has applied for $102,000 in Bureau of Justice Assistance grant funding to purchase drug-detection equipment, Sheriff Randy Retter told Wayne County’s commissioners during an April 5 meeting. The Ionscan 600 is a highly sensitive trace detector that utilizes litmus paper to show the presence of and identify narcotics, including fentanyl. […]
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Fire fatigue: Evacuation order remains as officials work to assess health impact
At an afternoon press conference on Thursday, state and city officials said that while progress is being made, they are not ready to allow evacuated residents back into homes surrounding the site of Tuesday’s fire. An order to shelter in place remains active as shifting wind directions and smoke patterns mean that even more of […]
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RP&L approves minor rate relief
Richmond Power & Light residential customers will benefit from a dip in an electric rate this quarter. The savings are estimated to be about five cents for customers consuming 1,000 kilowatt hours during a month. RP&L’s board April 3 unanimously approved a decrease in the utility’s Energy Cost Adjustment rate. The ECA is in addition […]
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Richmond fire response continues as officials blame ‘negligent’ property owner
READ THE LATEST: Fire fatigue: Evacuation order remains as officials work to assess health impact 6:24 PM: Mayor announces press conference Mayor Dave Snow posted on Twitter that the fire is still active, that environmental hazard assessment is still happening, and that a press conference is planned for Thursday at 2 p.m. 5:40 PM: Red […]
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Richmond council considers changes for tax abatements
An ordinance presented to Richmond Common Council during its April 3 meeting would change requirements and the award process for companies requesting city tax abatements, which are intended to incentivize economic development activity. Two immediate changes are raising the minimum investment by new businesses or expanding businesses to $500,000 from $250,000 and limiting personal property […]
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Bids due for county projects
Progress continues through a list of major Wayne County projects. Bids are due April 5 for a replacement generator at the Wayne County Administration Building, and bids for a new HVAC system at First Bank Expo Hall will be due May 3, said Steve Higinbotham, the county’s director of facilities and development, during a short […]