Concerned about traffic, drainage, crowding and home prices, many of the more than 50 people attending the Feb. 28 Richmond Advisory Plan Commission meeting wore buttons that said “Vote no on ordinance 2-2024.” They did not get their wish. Plan commission members voted 7-0 to recommend Richmond Common Council approve the request of 11th Street […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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County pushes forward with health plans
Indiana’s Health First Initiative infused $801,000 in funding into Wayne County to help address 16 core services. The Wayne County Health Department continues work toward building partnerships to help achieve Health First Indiana’s goals. Becca Alliston, the department’s clinical director, updated Board of Health members on Health First Indiana progress during the board’s Feb. 20 […]
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Stellar money available for 2 grant winners
Wayne County will explore submitting a letter of intent seeking up to $8 million from the state’s Stellar Pathways program. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer requested approval to pursue the funding, and the request was approved unanimously during the Feb. 21 commissioners meeting. Plasterer said the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs originally deemed Wayne County […]
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Compromise allocates more ARPA money
Wayne County’s commissioners and council members allocated another $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars Feb. 21. When they met that morning, commissioners developed a counterproposal to more than $2 million in recommendations council advanced during its Feb. 7 meeting. Then, during the evening workshop, council members voted 5-0 to accept the counterproposal that […]
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What’s planned for Richmond’s former Steak ’n Shake site?
A popular restaurant for chicken sandwiches plans a Wayne County location. A petition before Richmond’s Board of Zoning Appeals indicates a Chick-fil-A restaurant is planned for the former Steak ’n Shake location at 5901 National Road E. Chick-fil-A Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia, is the applicant requesting five variances of development standards for the location. The […]
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Sheriff: Opioid money could help jail inmates
Sheriff Randy Retter hopes Wayne County opioid settlement money will help him institute a new jail program to assist inmates during and after their incarceration. Retter explained to Wayne County’s commissioners Feb. 14 that he’d like to employ a “navigator” to help connect inmates with resources that help them fight addiction and improve their lives. […]
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Gas station receives OK for illuminated signs
The gas station at 100 Richmond Ave. received Board of Zoning Appeals permission to install illuminated Citgo signs. Ohio Richmond LLC, which owns the station, applied for a variance of development standards to install the signs on its canopy, which is within 300 feet of neighboring residences. The BZA voted 4-0 in favor of the […]
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Richmond extends animal agreement
Richmond has extended its contract with the Henry County Humane Society for care of stray dogs and cats. Terms of the contract approved Feb. 15 by the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety match those of 2023. The city will pay $41,200 for up to 400 animals housed at the New Castle facility. The […]
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County expects improved radio system by end of 2025
By the end of 2025, Wayne County expects to have an improved emergency communications system. Long-known radio coverage gaps in the county’s northeast and southwest areas will be addressed, and the county’s 12 volunteer fire departments will use new 800 megahertz mobile and portable radios. Ritter Strategic Services, a public safety consulting firm of which […]
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911 hang-ups increase 40% in 2023
Communications specialists in the Wayne County Emergency Communications Center last year answered 44,592 calls to 911, but more than one out of five times, nobody was on the line. The number of 911 hang-ups increased 40.0% from 2022 to 9,646, according to statistics released by the ECC. Matthew Cain, the county’s 911 director and director […]