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Author Archives: Mike Emery

Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.
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Auditor faces 2 intimidation charges

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Wayne County Auditor Mark Hoelscher faces two misdemeanor intimidation charges regarding handwritten notes left in neighbors’ mailboxes. The notes that were handwritten on envelopes read, “Break into my house again or hurt any of my animals I will give you something to arrest me for,” according to the police narrative by Indiana State Police Trooper […]

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Transformers to cost RP&L $5.5 million

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Richmond Power & Light will spend more than $5.5 million for two new transformers. During a Jan. 21 meeting, RP&L’s board, which is composed of Richmond Common Council members, awarded Virginia Georgia Transformer the transformer bid for $5,543,850. Virginia George provided the lowest of four bids and the quickest delivery time, at 85 to 90 […]

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Common Council business continues despite friction

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Larry Parker’s seen plenty of disagreements during four decades as a Richmond Common Council member. Even a fistfight on the elevator. So some strife during the past year between council members and between council members and the mayor wasn’t so significant, especially because council’s business proceeded during meetings. “I don’t think it ever stopped anything […]

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Council’s lawsuit vote carries no bite

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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 […]

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Abington needs help pursuing fire station funds

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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

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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?

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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

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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 […]