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Health officer hopes to expand ‘safety net’

Working in the Reid Health emergency department, Dr. Jennifer Bales often treats patients when it’s too late to make a difference. By serving as Wayne County’s new health officer, Bales wants to impact residents’ health so she won’t see them at her day job. “If there’s an opportunity to help somebody before they need me […]

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Council OKs building, planning fee increases

The city of Richmond is increasing fees related to building codes, planning and zoning, and the next round of increases will probably not take as long as this one. Dustin Purvis, the city’s planning director, said during Richmond Common Council’s Nov. 18 meeting that the building code fee schedule that involves building, electrical, mechanical and […]

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Busier fairgrounds requires additional parking spaces

With improvements to First Bank Kuhlman Center and First Bank Expo Hall, Wayne County’s commissioners hope to draw more events — and more people — to the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Those people will often arrive in vehicles, increasing the need for parking around the fairgrounds’ showpiece buildings. During their Nov. 20 meeting, commissioners received a […]

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County commits money to attract more money

Wayne County hopes to receive $3.98 million in state money from the Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s Regional Economic Acceleration Development Initiative 2.0 grants. To further those hopes, the county commissioners and council have committed to $2.98 million in match money. Wayne County Council members agreed during the Nov. 20 council/commissioners workshop to that commitment and […]

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3 Hagerstown property owners explain plans for blighted houses

Owners of three properties have until next spring to repair or demolish houses as the result of agreed-to orders resulting from Hagerstown’s first unsafe buildings code hearings. A fourth house will be scheduled for demolition. The town called the Nov. 20 hearings after notifying owners of apparent violations of the town’s unsafe building code. The […]

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13 nonprofits receive $100K in grants

Reid Health Community Benefit awarded 13 nonprofit organizations $100,000 during its third grant cycle of 2024. The final cycle supported maternal, infant and children’s health programs, according to a news release. Overall this year, Community Benefit awarded $300,000 to nonprofits. The first grant cycle focused on mental health and substance misuse and the second on […]

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CACS, IUE partnering to help future teachers

Centerville Senior High School students who want to teach will have an early pathway to a local university.  Centerville-Abington Community Schools’ board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with Indiana University East at its Nov. 20 meeting.  The agreement takes effect from July 1, 2025, to May 3, 2026, and could be renewed.   IU East […]

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Plan commission supports apartments

Construction might start as soon as March on three new apartment buildings planned for Richmond’s northeast side if Richmond Common Council approves a zoning change. At its Nov. 20 meeting, Richmond’s Advisory Plan Commission unanimously recommended that Chester Heights Apartments be allowed to expand onto nearly 2 acres that has been known as Berryfield Park. […]

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Citizen of the Year to be surprised Dec. 3

Tickets are now available for the annual banquet recognizing a Citizen of the Year in Western Wayne County.  New Day Kiwanis organizes the annual event, which surprises someone who has worked hard to help the community.  The gathering begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Golay Community Center, 1007 E. Main St., Cambridge City.  […]

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Library plans move for building repairs

Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond will move at least some of its operations to a temporary space while its building undergoes major renovations to address problems. The library said in a Nov. 20 press release that a recent facilities assessment revealed “significant issues” with the building on North Sixth Street in Richmond’s downtown, including deteriorated masonry, […]