Seara Burton’s name was read first during Friday’s annual Peace Officers Memorial Service honoring Wayne County law enforcement. The Richmond Police Department K-9 officer became the county’s 16th officer to lose their life in the line of duty Sept. 18, when she died from gunshot injuries sustained Aug. 10 during a traffic stop. Burton was […]
Local news and updates from Wayne County, Indiana reportersRichmond
Richmond, Indiana is the county seat of Wayne County and sits in the eastern part of the county near the Ohio state line. Full of rich history, vibrant culture and beautiful landscapes, the city offers a wide variety of experiences, neighborhoods, events and community opportunities to residents and visitors alike.
There’s always something new happening in Richmond, and the Western Wayne News team is there to cover it. Our reporters bring updates from local government meetings, school boards, sports teams, colleges and universities, small businesses, non-profit organizations, performing arts events and much more. Below you can find the latest news, information, scores and updates.
Posted inNews
RCS approves teacher stipends
Facing district teacher turnover averaging 25% and as high as 50% in some schools, Richmond Community Schools has approved a plan to improve teacher retention using two types of supplemental payments. One teacher group says the process didn’t follow proper protocol. First, all RCS teachers rated as highly effective or effective on this year’s evaluation […]
Posted inNews
Historic Preservation Commission looks to grow its impact
Richmond’s Historic Preservation Commission members want to better promote and influence preservation in the city. Most are citizens living in historic homes who want to protect and enhance the city’s history. Unfortunately, the group often is called upon to make difficult decisions about demolitions involving historic buildings. They are taking steps, however, to expand their […]
Posted inNews
Lt. gov. sees celebration, devastation
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch enjoyed a celebration and viewed devastation May 9 during a spur-of-the-moment visit to Richmond. Crouch participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony as Test Intermediate School celebrated its 100th year, then she visited the site of the April 11 plastics fire, getting a firsthand look at the rubble remaining on the 13.8-acre site. […]
Posted inNews
BZA votes clear path for solar park, grain facility
Richmond’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved variance requests last week that will allow an eighth solar park and a new grain handling company that will supply area pet food manufacturers. The requests for fence height by the Indiana Municipal Power Agency and for building height by Anchor Transload LLC needed and received affirmative votes from […]
Posted inNews
Protesters make 3 demands for campus labor standards
About three dozen students and faculty gathered on a finals week morning to display signs along Earlham College’s U.S. 40 entrance and walk a lap around administrators’ offices, showing concern about labor conditions for some of the campus’ lowest-paid workers. Earlham outsourced its housekeeping and facilities a few years earlier. It began contracting with National […]
Posted inNews
Plan addresses city heat dangers
Extreme heat takes a toll and presents a hazard to Richmond residents. The city now has a guide for alleviating heat-related problems for vulnerable residents. Richmond Common Council on May 1 adopted a heat management plan developed through the grant-funded Beat the Heat program. It addresses heat response protocols, public outreach, home cooling and climate […]
Posted inNews
New solar park to catch rays along U.S. 40
The Indiana Municipal Power Agency plans an eighth Richmond solar park, this one along U.S. 40 west of the city limits. IMPA submitted paperwork requesting relief from zoning standards about fence heights to install a 7-foot-high fence with another foot of barbed wire at the top. The request is similar to the fencing allowed at […]
Posted inNews
Richmond man deemed ‘dangerous’ 2 days before allegedly shooting neighbor
Two days before a Richmond man allegedly shot a neighbor, a Wayne County judge ruled him a dangerous person and decided a confiscated gun should not be returned. Charles R. Adams, 81, of the 2100 block of Flatley Road was wounded by Indiana State Police gunfire late May 4 after a nearly nine-hour standoff. Adams […]
Posted inNews
Fire experience: ‘It’s been horrible’
Talisha Spicher’s family has experienced breathing problems, coughs, sore throats and headaches since returning to their Linden Court home after Richmond’s plastics fire. Still, she had one main objective when attending an April 25 informational session at Fairview Elementary School. “We want to know if the soil is safe for our kids,” said Spicher, who […]