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 […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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. […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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BZA delays livestock auction decision
Some Wayne County farmers told the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals that a proposed livestock auction is badly needed in the county. Opponents don’t discount that need, thinking it is a worthy project, they just don’t like the proposed location: the property directly west of The Barn at Helm flower farm and event site on […]
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Resident asks Richmond council to solve blight problem
An insurance agent addressed Richmond Common Council about what he called a “horrendous problem,” blight. Richard Lake said Richmond residents share the blame for the city’s blight; however, he asked council members during the June 5 meeting to solve the problem he said leads to drug use, crime, generational poverty and declining property values. “The […]
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Bidders sabotage county auction
Out-of-state bidders sabotaged the county’s June 6 deed sale. The group, which has attended other Indiana counties’ deed sales, did not follow through on winning bids and pay for the properties. Winning bids on 14 properties totaled nearly $4 million, including $3.5 million for one North 17th Street property with a boarded-up house. Following the […]
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Firefighters renovate N. 8th building
When Richmond Fire Department Engine 1 arrives at a fire, its three firefighters strive to save the burning building. Now, during their time away from RFD, Tom Broyles, Nick Arbogast and Matt Baker work in a different way to save a building. The three formed Buddies on the Block LLC and are renovating a 33,465-square-foot […]