Eight Richmond Common Council members do not approve of taxpayer money paying for a Richmond Police Department assistant chief’s lawsuit against the county prosecutor. Council member Jerry Purcell said during council’s Jan. 21 meeting that he has received constituent complaints about RPD paying an Indianapolis law firm for Major Adam Blanton’s legal action against Prosecutor […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Abington needs help pursuing fire station funds
Abington Township needs Wayne County government’s assistance as it pursues funding for a new fire station and community center. Trustee Steven Kaiser and Mike Taylor, chief of the township’s volunteer fire department, presented the project’s progress to Wayne County’s commissioners during the Jan. 15 commissioners meeting. The county has four slots — increased from the […]
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WUR board hears about next steps
Although the Wayne and Union Solid Waste Management District was dissolved Dec. 31, 2024, work remains for Wayne Union Recycling’s board during 2025. The board received an update on its timeline and necessary actions this year during a Jan. 15 meeting. Ron Cross, the Wayne County attorney, said the board has an obligation to oversee […]
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Emergency room or urgent care?
With influenza cases peaking and a stomach bug spreading, Reid Health’s being kept busy. That makes selecting the correct treatment option important. Dr. Jennifer Bales, Wayne County’s health officer and a Reid emergency physician, shared during the county health board’s Jan. 14 meeting when to seek treatment from Reid’s emergency department or its urgent care […]
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Dental office planned near Meijer store
A Chipotle restaurant recently opened on a Chester Boulevard-facing lot in front of Richmond’s Meijer store. Soon, a dental office could be built on land just east of the Chipotle. Richmond’s Advisory Plat Committee approved 4-0 a petition to split off 0.929 acres from Meijer’s 21.575-acre parcel for development of a dental office. The parcel […]
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House bill would permit Richmond to enact tax
Diners paying for restaurant meals in Richmond could soon help foot the bill for community improvements if the city enacts a food and beverage tax. State Rep. Brad Barrett, a Republican, authored House Bill 1596 that would permit Richmond to implement a food and beverage tax. It would add up to a penny per dollar […]
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Judge recuses herself from police major’s lawsuit
A Wayne County judge recused herself from a police major’s lawsuit and indicated it’s unlikely any Wayne County judge could preside over the suit. Circuit Court Judge April Drake filed her recusal from Richmond Police Department Major Adam Blanton’s lawsuit against Prosecutor Michael Shipman. Drake served as chief deputy prosecutor with Shipman prior to being […]
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Councilor braces for state changes
Indiana’s busy 2025 legislative session with new Gov. Mike Braun could significantly affect county governments. State legislators will look at reducing or eliminating property taxes that significantly fund local government. And, it’s a budgeting year. Misty Hollis wants to make sure Wayne County is ready for any upcoming loss of funding. She was the only […]
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Drainage board OKs auction facility’s plan
A livestock auction facility planned for U.S. 27 is taking steps forward, even though its future remains uncertain. One step involved presenting a drainage plan during the Jan. 8 meeting of the county’s drainage board, which is composed of the three county commissioners. The board voted 3-0 to approve the plan as Gordon Moore, the […]
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BZA grants variances for home beauty salon
A planned beauty salon received two variances from Wayne County’s Board of Zoning Appeals during a Jan. 9 meeting. Tracy Glynn plans to build a 40-foot-by-60-foot pole barn for her salon at her Minneman Road home, which is zoned agricultural. Glynn needed a variance of use for the salon and a variance from development standards […]