(Richmond, IN)--Get ready for another long-term travel restriction.  INDOT announced Thursday that a one-mile stretch of Williamsburg Pike will be reduced to one lane beginning next week and running through at least late September.  The area in question is from Industries Road to Salisbury Road, which is essentially about a half-mile on either side of the I-70 overpass.  INDOT says the work is necessary to strengthen pavement in the area.

(Richmond, IN)--A fire at a house on East Main in Richmond drew a lot of attention yesterday afternoon, but really didn’t amount to much.  It happened next door to First English Lutheran Church.  As is always the case when a call comes in as a structure fire, there was a large response with crews blocking a part of East Main.  Here’s Battalion Chief Jerry Benjamin:  “Once we got there, we realized pretty quick that it was just part of the porch that got caught on fire by the people who were working there.”  The fire never actually entered the house and there were no injuries.

(Richmond, IN)--Here’s more on the Richmond Community School Board meeting from Tuesday night.  An announcement was made more public last month that RCS was proposing a reduction in force of 22 positions and many people expressed concern that music and the arts would be affected.  Clearly, Tuesday night, Board members expressed a desire to find other solutions.  Here are some of them:  Kristen Brunton:  "Cuts need to start at the administrative level.".  Nicole Stults:  "I am of the strong opinion that we should explore alternative solutions."  And, Aaron Stevens:  "Don't touch the arts."  No action was taken Tuesday night.  Nearly three dozen people signed up to address the Board.

(Richmond, IN)--A sexual battery investigation culminated Thursday with the arrest of 32-year-old Joseph McCalister.  The arrest stems from an incident that happened at a business in the 4300 block of National Road East in Richmond.  The specific business was not identified.  McCalister is alleged to have inappropriately touched an adult female.  McCalister was arrested on the exact same charge less than a year ago after trying to pull a woman’s pants down as she left a Dollar General in Richmond.  He was sentenced in that case to 300 days in jail.

(Richmond, IN)--Three more alleged methamphetamine dealers were arrested in Richmond on Wednesday.  The Richmond Police Department’s SAFE Unit arrived to the 900 block of North 19^th Wednesday and took Brandon Carpenter, Deanna Duncan, and Jeannette Oliver into custody.  All now face dealing and numerous other charges.  All three have at least two previous meth possession cases.  Rodney Necessary was also arrested on lesser charges.  The amount of drugs recovered was not disclosed.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Community School Board met Tuesday night and, as expected, heard from numerous teachers and students about the proposed reduction in force of 22 staff members.  Much of the concern was directed toward music and arts programs.  Here’s one RHS student addressing the Board:  "The music programs can get hurt by your decisions.  There is serious concern about about students dropping out of class because of what has happened," that student said.  In advance of those public comments, Karen Scalf gave a detailed explanation of school funding and talked about changes in taxation at the state level.  "Homeowners are going to see additional deductions.  They are going to move from a flat rate to a percentage.  They are going to see changes to abatement rates.  They are going to see changes to overall taxation," Scalf said.  The RCS Board took no action Tuesday night, but several members read prepared statements about the RIFs.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond drug dealer was taken into custody along with three other people when Richmond police executed a search warrant Tuesday in the 700 block of South 10^th.   Lance Perkins was charged with dealing cocaine.  Perkins was sentenced to ten years in prison back in 2015 for drug dealing.  Also arrested Tuesday on less serious charges were Sean Mayberry, Chelsea Reynolds, and Jessica Corner.  Perkins was still being held Wednesday on a $75,000 bond.  The amount of drugs recovered Tuesday was not disclosed.

(Richmond, IN)--Drivers on a section of I-70 will soon be getting their first taste of driving on new pavement that used to be the median.  Traffic on eastbound I-70 is set to move to the new roadway as crews begin work on a new phase of the project.  The shift extends from west of U.S. 35 to State Road 227.  The east and westbound lanes in that area are now separated by a barrier wall.  There has also been another ramp closure this week.  The ramp from westbound 70 to westbound U.S. 40 at the state line has been closed, effectively cutting interstate traffic to east-side Richmond businesses in half.

(Connersville, IN)--The man who led Connersville High School to its first-ever state boys basketball championship has died.  Coach Myron Dickerson, who coached Connersville in 1972, died on Sunday.  Dickerson is also a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.  A service will be held on Saturday in Greenwood.  Myron Dickerson was 91.

(Richmond, IN)--Here’s more on the arrest of William “Billy” Johnson of Richmond on numerous child molestation charges that Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News reported Monday.  Johnson has worked in the Starr Elementary School cafeteria for 32 years, but there is no indication in the affidavit of probable cause that any children in the school were molested at any time.  What the affidavit does state is that Johnson was originally accused of molesting family members back in 2010, but that case was never prosecuted because the father of the victim did not want to press charges.  A second family member came forward with very similar allegations in January of this year. Johnson originally spoke to investigators, but has since retained an attorney and is no longer cooperating.

(Richmond, IN)--Even though it doesn’t appear specifically on the agenda, looming Reductions in Force, or RIFS, are virtually assured of coming up during the public comment portion of Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of the Richmond Community School Board.  Last Wednesday, Superintendent Dr. Curtis Wright posted a video in which he talked about the elimination of 22 positions.  "When teaching positions are reduced, it can feel personal," Wright said.  The Richmond Education Association, or teachers union, responded with a statement that alleges that RCS was either misleading or misinforming the bargaining team about the nature of the planned cuts when a new contract was ratified late last year.  No action can be taken Tuesday, and Board members will not respond to whatever will be said.  Tuesday afternoon’s meeting gets underway at 5:30.

(Whitewater Valley)--The first unemployment numbers for 2026 have finally been released for Indiana.  And, in the Whitewater Valley, those numbers are up across the board.  Wayne County’s rate has increased from 2.7 to 3.3%.  That’s due mostly to 184 more Wayne County residents listed as unemployed than were the month before.  Rates for all counties are up about a half a percent.  Union County has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.4%.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Mayor Ron Oler talked about a casino for Richmond in a podcast that was posted early Monday.  In the episode, which can be viewed on the city’s Facebook page, Oler said that a Richmond casino would have required an investment of up to $650 million, and that’s what eliminated the city from contention earlier this year.  But, Oler said in the podcast that the pursuit of a resort-style casino is not over and that developing companies are still eyeballing the city.  "They've been really interested in coming to Richmond / Wayne County and we have an opportunity in the next legislative session to get added back in," Oler explained.  But, there’s this:  "But there's one problem we have.  2027 is not a general election year.  We'd have to wait until 2028 to do a referendum in November.  We would welcome a referendum," Oler added.  Oler said in the podcast that Richmond’s pursuit of the casino this year put it on the radar for other large projects.

(Darke County, OH)--Darke County investigators announced Sunday night that they have made an arrest in what they’re classifying as both an arson and a homicide.  First responders were sent on Friday afternoon to a house fire on Zumbrum Road near Ansonia.  The house was engulfed in flame.  When it was out, firefighters found the body of 50-year-old Ericka Kramer.  Further investigation over the weekend led to the arrest of 22-year-old Peyton Beam on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson.  They have not said what the connection – if any – was between the two was or what the motive may have been.

(Richmond, IN)--William “Billy” Johnson remained behind bars in the Wayne County Jail Monday as he awaits an initial hearing after being taken into custody on Friday on numerous counts involving alleged child molestation.  The 54-year-old Johnson was arrested Friday on North 21^st Street in Richmond and was initially charged with four counts child molesting and two counts each of incest and sexual misconduct with a minor.  He was being held Monday on a $50,000 bond. 

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Education Association, or teachers union, issued a scathing response Thursday to the message from Superintendent Dr. Curtis Wright, which wasdelivered earlier in the week about Reductions In Force, or RIF.  22 positions are set to be eliminated.  In his message, Wright said there was discussion about potential RIF’s as early as last fall.  "That give-and-take was central to the bargaining process," Wright said.  In their response, the REA said "there have been no conversations.  RCS has told teachers what will happen.  RCS has told staff that they are in dire financial straits."  The statement goes on to allege that RCS was either misleading or misinforming the bargaining team about the nature of the planned cuts when a new contract was ratified late last year.  The RCS Board meets this coming Tuesday, and public comment will be taken.

(Richmond, IN)--Roger Richert, who is the owner of the Richmond Furniture Gallery, answered a series of questions about the closure of that building, which has been an anchor of the revitalized Depot District, on his social media page.  Richert stated that the building has sold to the land bank, but did not disclose the terms or the intended future use of the building.  This year, that building turns 140 years old.  It was one of the first in the Depot District to be revamped – a process that started 22 years ago.  Furniture sales will now be centered around the new east-side location.  Richert said that the goal is to have inventory at the Depot District store cleared by May 15.  (Note:  the photo accompanying this story is not Richert's store.  The photo used is in the public domain).

(Liberty, IN)--Police in Liberty executed a search warrant at a home on East Sycamore Street and came away with a substantial amount of drugs.  Details were released Thursday of the Wednesday search.  Inside the home, officers found 176 grams of meth, scales, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.  Haylee Saylor was charged with dealing meth and a host of other charges.  Another person who was wanted in Fayette County was also taken into custody.  That person was not identified.  Saylor has had two previous meth possession arrests in Fayette County in just the last five months.

(Richmond, IN) -- At Reid Health in Connersville, emergency services have now made the move to the new campus on Park Road and are no longer available at the Virginia Avenue facility.

Today, more services are making the move. That includes outpatient radiology, infusion therapy, and the USLA Cafe.

Primary and specialty care services will begin at the new location starting Monday.

(Preble County, OH) -- The investigation is continuing after skeletal remains were found in Preble County.

The discovery was made on Tuesday night in the 7700 block of Eaton-Lewisburg Road. The initial indication is that the remains are of a male and had been there for an extended period of time.

The property where the remains were found was unoccupied.

The remains were discovered in an old pool house. There was no initial indication of foul play.

(Darke County, OH) -- A former teacher in Darke County has been sentenced for sexual crimes committed against his 15-year-old female student.

Justin Travis will now spend the next four-to-six years in prison after admitting guilt as part of a plea agreement.

The juvenile victim testified in court and actually apologized to Travis. Her sister then spoke and said she should not apologize.

Travis resigned as a teacher last September when the allegations came to light. He will have to register for life as a sex offender.

(UNION COUNTY, IN) - Fire crews battled a massive barn fire Tuesday afternoon on E Kitchel Road in Union County, with flames visible as far away as Richmond.

Multiple departments responded with mutual aid, including four tankers, and remained on scene for about six hours.

Liberty Fire Chief Jim Franklin says the fire started as a man tried to jump-start a truck inside the barn using a tractor.

The structure, used for equipment and hay storage, was a total loss. No injuries were reported.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council on Monday night addressed an interlocal agreement between the city and the county that establishes a land bank.  It’s a project being spearheaded by the local EDC.  Here’s President Valerie Shaffer:  "The purpose of a land bank is to acquire, manage, and repurpose vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties to return them to productive use so we can revitalize our neighborhoods and strengthen our community."  A local board would be established to guide the land bank through specific areas of revitalization.  Council Monday night approved the interlocal agreement.

(Richmond, IN)--Monday was the 58^th anniversary of the explosion in downtown Richmond.  Monday night, Richmond Mayor Ron Oler talked about a permanent memorial that will be installed.  "We had a committee of community leaders and council members design a bronze plaque that we're looking to get installed at the front of 6th and Main.  We came up with a final design a couple of weeks ago..got the names in alphabetical order of the 41 victims, Oler said.  The plaque is expected to be installed sometime this summer at the spot where Marting Arms once stood.

(Richmond, IN)--It’s a big honor for the Board Chair of the United Way of the Whitewater Valley.  Karen Pipes has been presented with the prestigious Castaldi Award, which is given by the Indiana Association of United Ways in recognition of her commitment.