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 […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
SugarCreek wants more land for truck parking
SugarCreek Packing has expressed interest in expanding within the Gateway Industrial Park. SugarCreek wants to acquire 16.9 acres south of its plant to expand its truck staging and parking area, Valerie Shaffer, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, told the county commissioners during their June 14 meeting. The county owns that land. […]
Posted inNews
Plastics company owner says city liable for fire damages
The owner of a plastics recycling and sales company says in a court filing the city of Richmond is liable for damages caused by an April 11 fire. Seth Smith and Cornerstone Trading Group LLC have been sued by Tushawn Craig, Marquetta Stokes and Limitless Pallets for damages from the fire that emitted toxic smoke […]
Posted inNews
State boosts mental health funding
The state of Indiana took a step toward supporting its residents’ mental health with a $100 million investment the next two years. State Sen. Jeff Raatz, a Richmond Republican, updated Wayne County Council during its June 7 meeting about that investment and Senate Bill 1, which became Public Law 162 after Gov. Eric Holcomb signed […]