(Richmond, IN)--A Centerville motorcycle rider was flown to Miami Valley Hospital after a crash Thursday afternoon that resulted in the closing of a section of one of Richmond’s busiest streets.  It happened late Thursday afternoon on East Main Street.  Investigators have not yet released details, but the indication from witnesses is that someone tried to turn left onto East Main at the Walmart exit near Jimmy John’s.  Turning left there is prohibited, but drivers often do it anyway.  The motorcyclist then hit the vehicle in the side.  Family members have identified the victim as Cory Gindling and indicated that Gindling faces a long road to recovery.

(Hamilton, OH)--A high-speed chase that began in Union County Thursday afternoon didn’t end until the driver crashed in downtown Hamilton.  The driver, who has not yet been identified, fled in a pickup truck from Union County and crashed near the Butler County Courthouse.  The female driver had stolen the truck in Liberty.  Stop sticks in Hamilton brought the chase to an end.  Union County officials would not release her name Friday morning.

(Richmond, IN)--A guilty plea as part of a plea deal means that an upcoming trial for a Richmond mother is now off.  29-year-old Casey Miller pled guilty this week to a mid-level felony.  Back in the spring of 2020, her four-month-old daughter suffered injuries that were described as catastrophic and included broken bones and a brain bleed.  Miller will be sentenced in early November.  The baby’s father, Matthew Shaffer, has already been sentenced to 30 years.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Education Association – or teacher’s union – is urging residents to attend what they’re calling a press conference but appears to be more of a rally in advance of next Wednesday’s Richmond Community School Board meeting.  The statement, which was posted Wednesday night on the REA's Facebook page, says that next week’s event is an effort to restore REA President Kelly McDermott to her teaching position and to demand that union voices be respected.  The event begins at 4:45.  The REA is inviting the public to attend.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond man accused of stabbing two people early Wednesday morning remained behind bars Thursday morning.  Officers were called to the 200 block of North 10^th Wednesday morning and found that 26-year-old Tyshawn Cochran and 43-year-old Melissa Darling had both been stabbed.  Cochran ultimately went to Miami Valley Hospital.  Darling was less seriously injured.  25-year-old Stephen Centers now faces two counts of battery with a deadly weapon.  Details of what led to the incident were not released.

(Richmond, IN)--There was a robbery at a Richmond liquor store Wednesday night.  It happened at Papa Joe’s at the east end of the G Street Bridge.  Charges indicate that 31-year-old Dillon Hofacker was already intoxicated when he tried to take more alcohol by force or threat of force.  Hofacker has also been charged with felony intimidation.  No injuries were reported.

(Richmond, IN)--The formal establishment of Richmond’s first DORA – or Designated Outdoor Recreation Area – will have to wait – at least for a little while.  Council member and mayoral candidate Ron Oler explained where the Saftey Committee stands to his fellow council members this week.  "We ended up with more questions than answers, so we want to spend some more time on this.  The Depot District is okay with not having the ordinance in place for Oktoberfest," Oler said.  The issue will come back before council at a later date.  A DORA designation would allow people to drink alcoholic beverage in public areas under certain conditions.

(Wayne County, IN)--Here’s more on the booming price of Wayne County homes.  On Tuesday, Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News reported that the median home price in Wayne County had gone from $95,000 in July of 2021 to $149,000 today, according to realtor.com.  The effect of much higher interest rates points out the burden on today’s local new-home buyer.  Back in July of ’21, buying a Wayne County house at the median price with a 30-year mortgage would have resulted in a monthly payment of $604.  Today, buying a house at the median Wayne County price with today’s average mortgage rate would result in a payment of $1166.

(Richmond, IN)--Here’s a criminal charge you don’t often see in Wayne County.  25-year-old Timothy Stokes, who lives in Mississippi, was taken into custody Tuesday by state police troopers in the 1100 block of North J in Richmond.  He was charged with possessing marijuana and unlawful carrying of a handgun.  But, he was also charged with carrying synthetic urine.  That charge is a Class A misdemeanor.

(Whitewater Valley)--Wayne County housing prices have fallen by nearly eight percent in the last month.   But, looking back further, there’s been an incredible increase in a relatively short time.  According to realtor.com, the median home price in Wayne County is just under $150,000.  Just two years and two months ago, though, the median price was $95,000. July of 2021 will likely be the last time the median price was under $100,000.  Preble County median home values have doubled in just the last five years and stand this morning at $261,000.  Franklin County has our area’s most expensive homes, by far, with a median price of $309,000.

(Connersville, IN)--Connersville City Council member Tommy Williams has now acknowledged that the man who confessed to burning Williams’ home down is Williams’ own son.  Tommy Harrison was arrested more than a year and a half ago under federal charges because he came from Alabama to set the fire.  Nowhere in the charging document is the relationship between Williams and Harrison mentioned, and Williams had not come forward publically about it until now.  The FBI claims that Harrison called his father nine minutes after parking near the home to set the fire.  Williams was out of town when the fire was set.

(Liberty, IN)--An initial hearing was held Monday in a Union County child molestation case.  Nicholas Sandlin has been charged with three counts of child molestation and one count of vicarious sexual gratification.  The charges come after a search warrant was executed three weeks ago at Sandlin’s home on Quail Run Court in Liberty.  He was taken into custody at his place of employment in Butler County.

(Connersville, IN)--You may remember back in 2015 when a racial slur was spray-painted on a Richmond house and a car in the driveway was set on fire, but investigators learned later it was orchestrated by the home’s occupant.  Is it possible that something similar has happened with a Connersville city council member?  That’s what investigators want to know based on information included in newly filed federal court documents.  The home of Councilman Tommy Williams burned two years ago.  Tommy Harrison, who is alleged by insurance investigators to be Williams’ son, is charged with arson.  New court documents indicate that Harrison contacted Williams just before leaving Alabama, stopped in Kentucky to buy spray paint, and contacted Williams again just after the fire was set.  Harrison was supposed to have been sentenced a couple of weeks ago, but that’s now been pushed back into February of next year.

(Lakengren, OH)--A 37-year-old Preble County man was killed early Sunday morning when he crashed his UTV.  It happened in Lakengren at around 2:30 Sunday morning.  Bradley Cummins was driving his UTV on Lakengren Drive when he went off the roadway and struck a culvert.  The UTV flipped and came to rest on its side.  Cummins was pronounced dead at the scene.  It was one of two alcohol-related fatal crashes in Preble County this weekend.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council meets Monday night with a couple of important issues on the docket.  One will set the city’s budget for 2024.  That ordinance is on first reading.  On second reading, which is when public comment is taken, is an ordinance that would establish a Designated Outdoor Recreation Area – or DORA – in Richmond’s Depot District.  A legal DORA would make it legal for people to walk outside while carrying alcoholic beverages if those drinks were purchased from vendors inside the DORA.  Monday night’s meeting begins at 7 o’clock.  As always, you can catch it live on WCTV.

(New Paris, OH)--Newly filed court documents provide more details about the deadly mobile home fire on New Paris Pike a week ago.  According to that document, a female who was inside the mobile home when the fire broke out told investigators she heard popping sounds and then heard Kenneth Doolin ask Anthony Luker if Luker was going to stop shooting off fireworks.  The fire broke out shortly after that.  Doolin’s body was found near a door that had been boarded up from the outside.  Luker then allegedly fled in a car he stole and then dumped the car in Connersville.

(Winchester, IN)--There was a happy ending Thursday in the search for a missing special needs child in Winchester.  Randolph Central Schools and Winchester police took to social media Thursday afternoon to enlist the community’s help in finding a missing nine-year-old girl who did not get off of her bus after school.  After an extensive city-wide search, it was determined that the girl had gotten on the wrong bus and was returned home safely.

(Connersville, IN)--It happened again Thursday in Connersville…yet another truck tried and failed to fit underneath the Central Avenue railroad bridge.  City and railroad leaders have met in recent months to discuss preventing trucks from slamming into the bridge, but nothing has worked so far.  Thursday’s strike was at least the eighth time it’s happened this calendar year.  No one was hurt.  (Photo courtesy of Fayette/Union County Scanners)

(Richmond, IN)--The city of Richmond has issued a response to a claim by the family of a New Paris woman who say that she died as a result of the My Way Trading fire.  That family, through their Dayton law firm, has filed notice of a pending $2.1 million lawsuit.  City Attorney A.J. Sickmann said Wednesday that the city is aware of the notice filed, but cannot comment on pending litigation.  This lawsuit is not connected to the class-action lawsuit filed by two Richmond residents.  The case will now go through a federal court.

(New Paris, OH)--Charges have been increased against the man who investigators say is responsible for a fatal mobile home fire on New Paris Pike last week.  Richmond’s Anthony Luker now faces new charges that include reckless homicide and having weapons under disability.  57-year-old Kenneth Doolin died in the mobile home where he lived.  Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson said there was lots of activity and that police had been called there before.  "There were other people that would come and go from this place."  Luker also faces a drug charge in Wayne County.

(Lynn, IN)--The smell of gas impacted classes at a Randolph Southern school building Wednesday morning.  Here’s Superintendent Donnie Bowsman in a message to parents:  "The emergency plan was implemented.  Students and staff were evacuated."  First responders and the gas company responded at 8 o’clock.  "They cleared the building for us to go back inside at 9:17 a.m.," Bowsman said.  There was no word on the source of the gas smell.

(New Paris, OH)--The family of a New Paris woman is claiming she died as a direct result of April’s My Way Trading fire in Richmond, and now they’re suing for millions as a result.  Smoke from the fire passed over New Paris.  Linda Hardin was 72 when she died two weeks after the fire broke out.  Her estate and two immediate survivors are now asking for $700,000 each, which is the statutory limit per person.  The lawsuit is being filed through a Dayton law firm.  A notice from Dyer, Garafalo, Mann, and Schultz does not go into detail about why Hardin died as a result of the smoke when no one else did.  The city of Richmond has filed a notice of removal through a federal court.  As a result of that filing, all future hearings in the pending class-action lawsuit filed by two Richmond residents in Wayne Superior I have been cancelled.

(Richmond, IN)--An exhibit honoring the legacy of fallen RPD K9 Officer Seara Burton opened to the public Tuesday inside the Wayne County Historical Museum.  The exhibit is permanent and showcases Burton’ cruiser and tokens of love that people left at her memorial.  The museum’s Kerry George talked about putting the exhibit together:  "Once we took a step back and were able to take a look, there were a few tears shed by the staff of the museum."  The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday each week on North A Street in Richmond.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond drug dealer had time tacked on to his already lengthy prison sentence Tuesday for shooting a property owner in the leg during a burglary.  Earlier this year, Alex Irwin was sentenced to 35 years for drug dealing.  Tuesday, as part of a plea deal, Irwin was given an additional nine years.  In early 2020, Mike Elstro opened a door to his basement not knowing Irwin was in the process of a burglary.  That’s when Irwin shot Elstro.  Even with credit for good behavior, Irwin will not be eligible for release until at least 2048.  At that point, he’ll be 58 years old.

(Richmond, IN)--The growing dispute between the Richmond Education Association, or teachers’ union, and Richmond Community School administrators will be more evident during this week’s Homecoming events.  Last week, the REA claimed to be "under attack" by RCS in a dispute over contract negotiations.  On Monday night, a call went out to teachers to either wear black or T-shirts that say IT IS TIME for Wednesday night’s Homecoming parade.