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 […]
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.
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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RFD contract provides 3% raise
Richmond’s firefighters will receive a 3% salary increase with their new two-year contract. The raise will be split with 1.5% this year and 1.5%, non-compounding, in 2024, according to the contract approved April 27 by the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety. The contract — and the raise makes the base firefighter salary $53,279.90 […]
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Lawsuit alleges ‘blatant disregard’ for residents’ safety and welfare
The billowing black smoke from an April 11 plastics fire triggered an evacuation order that forced residents from their homes and closed businesses. A class-action lawsuit claims residents have experienced physical problems and emotional distress because of the fire at a North West F Street plastics recycling and resale business. It seeks compensatory and punitive […]
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RCS enrollment full for STEAM program, preschool
Richmond Community Schools addressed a variety of topics at its April 26 board meeting, including an update on its new STEAM Academy, helping kids impacted by trauma, and a $60,000 contract for strategic planning. STEAM Academy: All student spots are filled in the new program for science, technology, engineering, arts and math. A second fifth-grade […]
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Unexpected cash precedes dash
About 30 seconds before he was to run the 200-meter dash, Austin Rohe’s friends told him he’d just won a car or a $25,500 scholarship. The Richmond High School senior was one of 120 students being recognized at Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce’s Senior Celebration for near-perfect school attendance this year. Rohe hasn’t missed […]
Posted inSports
Richmond duo wins state fishing title
Richmond High School seniors Henry Vincent and Ross Peacock are state champions. Western Wayne News ran an article in our March 22nd issue announcing the signing of Vincent to attend Adrian College in Michigan on a fishing scholarship. Last weekend Vincent, with his fishing partner and classmate Ross Peacock, validated Adrian College’s decision by winning […]