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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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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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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 […]

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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 […]

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The shared costs of blighted properties

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 […]