Caspar Arbeeny was hired by Belden right out of college. He was thrilled to find a good job during the pandemic. Once he began searching for living arrangements in Richmond, however, he was less thrilled. He detailed the struggle of finding a suitable apartment during the Jan. 24 Richmond Advisory Plan Commission’s public hearing about […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
Posted inNews
Companies receive tax abatements for investments
Menasha Packaging Company and Liberation Labs will receive tax relief for new local investments. Richmond Common Council unanimously approved Jan. 16 two tax abatements for Menasha, which was formerly Color-Box, and one for Liberation Labs. Menasha received a four-year abatement for personal property and an eight-year abatement for real property. Menasha expects to invest about […]
Posted inNews
Recommendation would boost county’s emergency radio coverage
Radio communication problems have plagued Wayne County first responders for decades. That’s why fixing those problems became a Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program priority. With American Rescue Plan Act dollars available, county officials hope to finally fix areas with poor reception for emergency radios. Ritter Strategic Strategies, a consulting firm owned by Wayne County Council member […]
Posted inNews
Officials prioritize smoking cessation, student health
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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. […]