Mayor Dave Snow made one point “crystal clear,” as he said, when speaking about the conundrum the city faced with plastics-filled properties on North West F Street that were a known fire hazard: Taxpayers would not pay the multimillion-dollar cleanup tab. The city had been working with Seth Smith, the owner of Cornerstone Trading Group, […]
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Former resident sharing TV, film industry insights
A former Richmond resident who writes, produces and directs for TV shows and movies is returning home from Los Angeles to share his experiences. Aaron Harberts, who was born in Iowa and raised in Richmond and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will speak at 6 p.m. Friday at Richmond Art Museum’s 16th annual Phantoscope High School Film […]
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Hagerstown starts eclipse planning
Leaders from at least one Wayne County town are making plans for a horde of sun-chasing tourists that is expected here when the sun goes into hiding for a few minutes on April 8, 2024. Hagerstown town hall officials, town council members, the town parks department, police and fire chiefs, the airport board president, the […]
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Long-term health effects from plastics fire unlikely
The thick, black smoke from the April 11 plastics fire in Richmond looked ominous, and it definitely carried toxic material from the burning plastic. There were many unknowns about the air quality at the time; however, constant Environmental Protection Agency testing for more than a week has left health officials confident the burning plastics won’t […]
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Study: Main Street structures need millions in maintenance, restoration
About five dozen building owners in four downtown areas now have an idea how much it will cost to maintain and restore their buildings in the short and long term. The answer: Nearly $56 million. Main Street organizations in Cambridge City, Centerville, Hagerstown and Richmond recruited building owners in their communities to participate in a […]
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Jail health care costs, staff levels rise
Wayne County will spend extra money on health care for people in the Wayne County jail. Council approved 5-2 during the April 19 council/commissioners workshop to pay an additional $206,776 for increased health care staffing. Council members Tony Gillam and Bob Chamness voted against the additional expenditure. Quality Correctional Care had already been selected to […]
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EDC sees investment momentum
The Richmond Redevelopment Commission has agreed to contribute $900,000 to assist a new rail-served transloading, processing and warehousing project. Valerie Shaffer, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, updated Wayne County’s commissioners about EDC activities during their April 19 morning meeting. Project Thomas, reported on in the April 12, 2023 Western Wayne News, […]
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Richmond council OKs tax abatement scoring system
Richmond Common Council approved a new, 12-category scoring system to award tax abatements. The measure passed 8-0 during the council’s April 17 meeting after two amendments also passed unanimously. Council raised the minimum starting wage for new and retained jobs from $14 to $18 and required applying companies to provide employees health and wellness benefits. […]
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WWN recognized with journalism awards
The Western Wayne News, Wayne County’s local newspaper, was recognized for its sports reporting and photography at an awards event on Friday, April 21 in Carmel. Winning first place in sports photography for publications with a circulation of 10,000 or less was WWN photographer Rachel Hilligoss Moore’s “Walk Off Feeling” photograph of Hagerstown’s Preston Allred, […]
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3 events planned to help residents affected by fire
Upon returning, some residents of Richmond’s fire evacuation zone might not be physically able to deep clean their home after their neighborhood became smoky. Some might need detergent and quarters for extra loads of laundry at a coin-operated wash to remove odors from clothes, drapes and bedding. Some might need help buying food or paying […]