(Richmond, IN)--Lots of law enforcement agents turned out Saturday for the funeral of former RPD Officer Kenneth Lester.  Lester died last week from complications from an injury he received while on duty way back in 1995.  Because his death is attributable to that on-duty crash, he became the fifth RDP officer to die in the line of duty.  Lester’s badge number, 149, has been permanently retired.  His name will also be inscribed on the monument in front of the Richmond Municipal Building.

(Richmond, IN)--An Arcanum man was captured near Glen Miller Park after a high-speed chase that began Sunday morning in Greenville.  Police in Greenville tried to pull over 27-year-old Michael White, but White allegedly fled on State Route 121.  He entered Preble County at speeds of 100 miles per hour.  White then turned toward Richmond on U.S. 40 with officers from multiple jurisdictions in pursuit.  It ended near 22^nd and East Main.  Officers found meth and drug paraphernalia.  White faces multiple charges.

(Richmond, IN)--Potential modifications of the boundaries for Test and Dennis Intermediate Schools were discussed when the Richmond Community School Board met this week.  Chief Operations Officer Rob Tidrow shared with the Board current enrollments at Test and Dennis and presented four-year enrollment forecasts for both schools.  After lots of discussion, the Board had no interest in changing boundary lines.  The Board also approved designs for new bleachers at the Tiernan Center, which will include RHS in black lettering with white shadowing on the east and west upper-level bleachers.

(Union County, IN)--After being closed much of last year, the Fairfield Causeway over Brookville Lake has been repaired and is open.  Now, attention is turning to the causeway over the northern part of the lake near Quakertown.  That bridge is one of only three pin and hanger bridges left in Indiana.  They’re being phased out due to structural issues.  Union County leaders are preparing for an engineering study that will determine the bridge’s safety and how much money is needed to fix it or replace it.  Repairs to the Fairfield Causeway cost about $2 million.

(Richmond, IN)--The legal wrangling continues in the case of accused Richmond murderer Austin Neathery.  Neathery is accused of killing Richmond teen Tremell Carpenter in May of 2018 and then fleeing law enforcement for more than a week.  This week, a hearing date was set for Neathery’s request for forensic testing.  That hearing is set for March 11.  Neathery’s trial is set to begin in late May…two years to the day after Carpenter’s murder.

(Cambridge City, IN)--The Western Wayne School Board voted Wednesday night to let voter decide whether or not additional funding is needed for the school system.  As a result of Wednesday night’s vote, a referendum will appear on a ballot in May that would result in an increase of 19 cents for every $100 of net assessed value.  Without that increase, Western Wayne officials say there could be a reduction in teaching staff, an increase in class size, and the elimination of some other programs and activities.  The school has dipped into its Rainy Day fund in recent years, but that action is non-sustainable in the long term.

(Abington, IN)--Some residents in the Abington area have received letters recently about an attempted re-opening of the old Camp Clements in southern Wayne County.  The letter states that an informational meeting will take place Thursday night in Commissioners chambers.  Camp Clements hosted thousands of area kids in summers throughout the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.  The property changed hands last year.  The current owners are living year-round in what was once the lodge.  They say they now want to share it with others on a small-scale basis.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man is facing charges that include strangulation and felony domestic battery after an incident near a Richmond medical facility on Chester Boulevard Wednesday afternoon.  Witnesses said that 25-year-old Anthony Washington chased down a female victim and tried to force her into a vehicle.  There was no word about the extent of injuries suffered by the victim, if any.  Washington has a criminal history that includes at least one other incident of domestic battery.

(Richmond, IN)--A recent traveler to China who is now back in the Richmond area is showing no signs whatsoever of the coronavirus, but is still being monitored by the Wayne County Health Department.  The department released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying that the individual will be monitored daily for two weeks for any symptoms that may develop.  The person’s name has not been released, but the Health Department indicated that the person lives alone and works from home.  Two Miami students were isolated a couple of weeks ago.  Coronavirus testing in those cases came back negative.

(Eaton, OH)--An online predator in Preble County has been sentence to 22 years in prison.  Devin Tutt is a former Preble Shawnee football player who began talking to two young girls on social media last year.  He arranged a meeting with a 13-year-old girl, took her to a remote location, and raped her in his car.  He then did nearly the same thing to a 15-year-old girl.  At sentencing, Tutt asked the court for leniency so that he could be a father to his own 18-month-old child.  That request was rejected.

(Indianapolis, IN)--Centerville-Abington School Superintendent Phil Stevenson was honored at the Indiana Statehouse earlier this week for nearly 50 years of service to the community.  State Representative Brad Barrett and State Senator Jeff Raatz both recognized Stevenson for his career at Centerville, which began back in 1972.  Stevenson announced recently that this school year would be his last.

(Cambridge City, IN)--At 6 o’clock Wednesday night, the Western Wayne School Board will decide whether or not to put a referendum on the May ballot that would increase revenue for the school but would also result in a property tax increase for those who live in the district.  Western Wayne, like most other area schools, has experienced declining enrollment.  Western Wayne’s enrollment is down by 355 from the mid ‘90’s.  In the last five years, the school has stayed afloat by taking more than a million dollars from the Rainy Day Fund.  But that fund is now drying up.  The school has said it could be out of money by as soon as 2023.

(Richmond, IN)--There was a house fire in Richmond Tuesday morning.  Firefighters were called to an area near South 11^th and B at around 5:30 Tuesday morning.  By 6 a.m., firefighters appeared to have gotten the flames knocked down.  According to a battalion chief, one man was on the roof of a home but was able to escape with the help of an RPD officer.  The victim was taken to Reid Health.  His identity and the extent of his injuries has not been released.  Other nearby structures had reportedly become involved, although it did not appear at the scene that there was any significant involvement.  Investigators will be on the scene Tuesday looking for a cause.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond woman is now accused of embezzling an incredible amount of money from her employer.  55-year-old Denise King has now bonded out of jail after having been arrested for felony theft.  The president of Logistics Revolution in Richmond, which is a specialized trucking company, reported possible internal theft at the building last month.  A review of accounts revealed that King had allegedly embezzled more than $327,000.  Court documents indicate she used fraudulent checks and deposited the money into four different accounts, including two in the names of her children.

(Cambridge City, IN)--Multiple drug charges are pending against a man who, according to witnesses, was driving on the sidewalk on Main Street in Cambridge City Tuesday morning.  34-year-old Daniel Tanksley was jailed at just before 3 a.m. Tuesday after being arrested in Cambridge City.  Officers found methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.  There’s no word yet on why Tanksley was driving on the sidewalk.  No injuries or property damage was reported.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond woman who describes herself as a lead teacher at CAECI Head Start in Richmond is now facing a meth possession charge.  42-year-old Karla Davis-Green is not only charged with felony meth possession, but also felony theft.  Details of what led to her arrest have not been released.  Head Start is a free program for preschoolers whose families meet income guidelines.  It serves about 300 kids in Wayne County.  There’s been no word of Davis-Green’s status with Head Start as a result of her arrest.

(Richmond, IN)--Another $225,000 has been pledged for Phase III of the Izzy Edelman Training Ground.  Wayne Township Trustee Susan Isaacs has met with Mayor Dave Snow and Fire Chief Jerry Purcell to confirm the commitment.  $900,000 has now been committed for the $1.3 million project.  The Izzy Edelman Training Ground is located near RP&L and is a state-of-the art police and fire training center.  Phase III of the project includes a 16,000 square foot classroom and conference building.  The goal is to break ground sometime this year.

(Richmond, IN)--Work to replace stormwater inlets and add additional manholes and pipes will affect southeast Richmond residential streets for at least the next month.  That work begins Monday and will mean that part of South 27^th will be closed for at least ten days.  When that’s done, part of Southeast Parkway will close, and when that’s done, construction will close part of South 23^rd.  The work should be done by the end of next month.

(Eaton, OH)--An arrest has been made in connection with an alleged Preble County kidnapping and rape.  26-year-old Sean Barnett, who now lists a Middletown address, allegedly held a woman who he knew against her will for an extended time beginning late last month.  He held her for 11 days.  "Some pretty serious stuff had gone on during those days that she was kept at the house," said Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson.  Barnett’s ex-wife heard the victim screaming in the background during a phone call and guessed what was happening based on her own experience.  She then called 911.  Barnett served two years in prison for a similar incident seven years ago.

(Connersville, IN)--A Connersville man is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly trading deadly drugs for sexual favors.  According to an affidavit, 2.3 grams of fentanyl was found during a search of the home of 59-year-old Jack Ferman.  That’s enough to kill more than a thousand adults.  During the investigation, multiple women told police that Ferman had traded drugs for sex for years.  Charges include human trafficking and promoting prostitution.

(Fountain City, IN)--The Northeastern Elementary School Principal has resigned.  The resignation of Matt Truesdell was accepted Wednesday night by the Northeastern Wayne School Board.  Superintendent Laura Blessing has refused to return calls or respond to emails this week from Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News about Truesdell’s status and did not address details Wednesday night.  But, by his own public admission on social media and to many of his supporters, Truesdell had an extramarital affair last year with the mother of one of the students at the school.  Despite that, many parents had made efforts to get Truesdell reinstated after he was originally placed on leave.  A new principal will be in place by the start of the next school year.

(New Paris, OH)--A man was rescued after falling into the water-filled gravel pit at Natural Springs Resort in New Paris late Wednesday night.  It’s a popular swimming spot in the summer. But, Wednesdaty night, the man fell about 20 feet from a cliff into the icy water.  A nearby resident heard him screaming for help, and first responders were able to pull him out.  He was cold, but otherwise unhurt.  It’s not yet known what caused him to fall.

(Richmond, IN)--You might notice a familiar face if you buy Girl Scout cookies this year.  Serena Pisacano, who is a student at Earlham, is depicted on boxes of Lemonades and Lemon-Ups that are being sold nationwide (at left in accompanying picture).  Serena is shown wearing a hard hat and safety glasses holding a solar panel that she helped to install.  In addition to devoting time to Girl Scouts, Serena has worked as a part-time EMT for the Richmond Fire Department.

(Randolph County, IN)--An Economy man is dead because a Union City man ran a stop sign at the intersection of two Randolph County highways Wednesday morning.  It happened at around 5:15 at State Road 227 and U.S. 36 just east of Lynn.  According to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, 63-year-old John Dickinson was headed south on 227 and did not stop.  His car struck the side of a vehicle driven by 59-year-old Ronald Day.  Day was pronounced dead at the scene.  Dickinson was taken to Reid Health in Richmond.

(Wayne County, IN)--A statement from Richmond Community Schools on Wednesday morning indicates that Superintendent Todd Terrill continues to serve in that role.  There are reported efforts by some RCS Board members to have Terrill reassigned following a recent executive session.  Official action could only be taken at a public Board meeting.  The Board meets again on February 12.  Meanwhile, at Northeastern, there has been no response to questions about the current status of a principal, who is reportedly on leave due to alleged negative personal conduct outside the school building.  Calls and emails from Kicks 96 and the Point News to Superintendent Laura Blessing and board members have gone unreturned.