Commissioners ask for financial, budget information before finalizing commitments Wayne County’s commissioners are asking for a little more information from local agencies before finalizing awards from its 2022 opioid settlement money. Commissioners divvied up $411,000 among seven organizations from the county’s share of a national settlement with opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and distributors Cardinal […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Parks department plans to polish hidden gem
Whitewater Gorge Park Activation Plan to feature river On a recent Wednesday the Bayly family walked the Whitewater Gorge Trail, taking advantage of sunshine and unseasonably warm weather. “We love this trail,” said Josh Bayly, who was with his wife Brandi and daughter Charlotte. On most warm days, the Baylys use the trail or Cope […]
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County increases 2023 assessments on 4 legal drains
Funds pay for ditch maintenance Landowners in four Wayne County watersheds will have their legal drain assessments increase 25% this year. At first glance that seems a large increase, however many landowners will see little or no change to the drain assessments on their property tax bills. Individual assessments for small, residential parcels are often […]
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Commissioners plan to award opioid settlement money this month
Applicant projects were prioritized through scoring system Twenty-three applicants should know this month whether they’ll receive a share of Wayne County’s 2022 opioid settlement disbursement. On Feb. 8, the county commissioners set their commitment goal to help interested agencies apply for $25 million the state has made available in additional grants. Local matches are required […]
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Richmond, firefighters still at odds over 2023 contract
Council rejects fact-finding panel’s recommendations, negotiations continue Richmond Fire Department members continue working without a 2023 contract. Common Council rejected a fact-finding panel’s recommendations Feb. 6 with an 8-1 vote. There was no discussion prior to the roll-call vote, only a recommendation from Ron Oler, chair of council’s finance committee, that council reject the recommendations […]
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HELP planning process seeks resident input
Meetings scheduled for all participating communities How would you spend $10 million to improve life here? Planning has begun for Wayne County communities participating in the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program, and they’re ready to hear from their residents. Meetings are scheduled for the county, Richmond and the six towns participating in HELP, which is the […]
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Sugar Creek requests tax relief on new investments
HELP group planning public meetings Sugar Creek Packing Company is investing nearly $11 million in building and equipment expansions at its Cambridge City facility. And the company has asked Wayne County for some tax relief. The county council’s tax abatement committee reviewed Sugar Creek’s two abatement applications Feb. 1 and unanimously voted recommending that council […]
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Couple feels flood of joy
David and Lori Garard received unexpected good news last week. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources no longer considers their Jacksonburg home as sitting in a hazardous flood plain. That will allow them to construct a steel building on their property for David’s workshop. “We were ecstatic; we were excited,” Lori said about the DNR’s […]
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Planning process begins to boost fairgrounds rentals, self-sufficiency
Commissioners also review requests for opioid settlement funding Wayne County Fairgrounds rentals are beginning to rebound after slipping sharply because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That trend must continue for the fairground’s finances to become self-sustaining, which is the ultimate goal. The fairgrounds drew $136,000 in rental income during 2017; however, it brought in just $89,000 […]
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INDOT hears hopes, concerns about Revive I-70 project
About 75 attend public meeting to provide input, hear plans Nothing distinguishes Richmond’s U.S. 40 exit from others found on Interstate 70. Motorists pass under the blue arch and sweep through a right-hand curve, then there’s two plain exit ramps. One leads back into Ohio, and the other funnels traffic to National Road East businesses […]