Richmond Mayor Ron Oler used his March 14 State of the City address to share what his administration accomplished during 2024, his first year in office, and what’s underway and planned for 2025. The 35-minute speech was attended by about 60 people in the council chambers of the Richmond Municipal Building. “Our remarkable history, recent […]
Author Archives: Mike Emery
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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County drives toward fairgrounds parking solution
Improvements to the Wayne County Fairgrounds’ First Bank Kuhlman Center and First Bank Expo Hall are increasing rentals, which sometimes results in events occupying both buildings simultaneously. And that puts a premium on fairgrounds parking. A county fairgrounds committee ranks increased parking as the fairgrounds’ top priority. Wayne County’s commissioners discussed the issue during their […]
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Richmond’s I-70 fuel and food options could grow
More fuel — and snacks and drinks — could be added to Richmond’s competition to provide traveler services. A zoning change has been requested for 2477 U.S. 35 so a gas station and convenience store can be built on the property directly across from the Love’s Travel Stop north of the Interstate 70 interchange. The […]
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Parallax 2-car purchase provides Tesla test drive
Richmond Power & Light will test using electric vehicles as a utility through its Parallax Systems, which provides fiber internet service. General Manager Tony Foster received permission from the RP&L board, which is composed of Richmond Common Council members, to purchase two Tesla Model Y vehicles for about $39,000 each after receiving a tax rebate. […]
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Sheriff experiences historic occasion
When President Donald Trump stepped to the podium March 4 to address the nation, millions of Americans watched on television, but Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter was there, inside the House of Representatives’ chamber. Retter took in Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress a few seats away from former Speaker of the House […]
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Public challenges state lawmakers on priorities
Both State Rep. Brad Barrett and State Sen. Jeff Raatz told about 80 people gathered at a March 7 legislative forum that this is the most difficult legislative session they’ve experienced. Members of the public asking questions communicated their own frustrations and concerns about the impact of changes in state policy and funding priorities that […]
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Judge denies motion to dismiss charges
A former Richmond Sanitary District accounts payable clerk still faces 16 felony charges after a judge denied her motion to dismiss 11 of them. Jennifer Wilson, 48, is accused of shorting sanitary district cash deposits by $825,819.74 during a 6 1/2-year span. A State Board of Accounts audit found $173,750 cash was deposited into Wilson’s […]
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City aligning $4.33 million in housing match money
Richmond has begun the process of securing $4.33 million in match money to develop infrastructure for the Smith Hill housing development. The Richmond Advisory Plan Commission on Feb. 26 approved creation of the Smith Hill Economic Development Area for the 80 acres south of Backmeyer Road between South 37th Street and Garwood Road. The economic […]
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Commissioners fulfill $2 million commitment for 6Main
Wayne County Commissioner Brad Dwenger voted against appropriating $2 million in consolidated Economic Development Income Tax funds for Richmond’s 6Main apartment development, and during a Feb. 26 meeting, he voted against providing Richmond the money. Commissioners Aaron Roberts and Jeff Plasterer, however, voted in favor of paying the city’s invoice with the committed funds. The […]
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No prosecutor misconduct found
A grievance against Wayne County’s prosecutor had no merit, according to the Indiana Supreme Court’s disciplinary commission. Prosecutor Mike Shipman received a letter dated Feb. 14 from Adrienne Meiring, executive director of the disciplinary commission. It said the grievance filed by Richmond Police Department Major Adam Blanton was dismissed “as not raising a substantial question […]