Category: News
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Water line, future projects focus of council

Lorin Williams by Lorin Williams

Town manager Chris LaMar’s updates on current and potential city projects were the bulk of the discussion at the hour-and-a-half-long Hagerstown council meeting on Feb. 2. LaMar addressed the latest on the town-wide water line project and council’s questions on issues of concern.  Progress on the water line project has advanced, with Pearl and Harrison […]

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Barrett recognized as term winds down

Avatar photo by WWN Staff

Indiana House of Representatives honored State Rep. Brad Barrett (R-Richmond) last week for his service as he concludes his final session at the Statehouse. Barrett has served House District 56, which includes Wayne County and portions of Henry County, since being elected in 2018. “It has been a privilege to serve the people of House […]

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NAACP’s event focuses on freedom of speech

Lorin Williams by Lorin Williams

Richmond’s local NAACP branch held its fourth Community Voices Town Hall at Earlham College’s Co-Lab on Feb. 3. The topic was freedom of speech, with Free Press Indiana’s Lisa Renze and Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s Brennen VanderVeen as facilitators. Kelley Cruse-Nicholson returned to serve as the event moderator. Fifty-five people participated in lively […]

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Facility guides sobriety journey

Lorin Williams by Lorin Williams

A need for care in the community inspired a former Richmond resident to open a licensed sober home facility. Ashlee Smith, owner and executive director of the Journey House, wanted to give back and provide care, structure and support to those who want to recover and transition into a sober, stable life.  “Journey House stands […]

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Second Black Expo celebrates community connections

Lorin Williams by Lorin Williams

Grab your fans and boots for the second annual Black Expo presented by the Black Legacy Project of Wayne County. The free event will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the First Bank Kuhlman Center, 861 Salisbury Road N., in Richmond. The “friend-raiser” aims to create community connections while celebrating Black […]

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Businesses must file $2M tax exemption by May 15

Avatar photo by Mike Emery

For more than a decade, Indiana has expanded personal property tax relief for small businesses, churches and not-for-profit organizations. The latest change takes effect this year, and Wayne County Assessor Tim Smith wants to ensure eligible businesses realize their savings. Any business with tangible personal property totaling less than $2 million is exempt from taxation; […]

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Council exercises additional spending oversight

Avatar photo by Mike Emery

When approving the 2026 budget, Richmond Common Council, the city’s fiscal body, implemented a policy giving itself additional oversight of city departments’ spending. That oversight became apparent during council’s Feb. 2 meeting, generating discussion among council members. An appropriation resolution requesting $329,343.65 for infrastructure and development, code enforcement, board of public works and safety, police, […]

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Housing accelerator advances

Lorin Williams by Lorin Williams

Come April, another portion of Wayne County’s greater housing initiative will break ground in Richmond’s Hidden Valley subdivision. Adding housing to the westside subdivision is one of five projects that are part of the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County’s home accelerator program. The other two in Richmond are Garwood Acres and Sandbridge Hills, along […]