(Richmond, IN)--Optical Disk Solutions in Richmond has released more information on the plant closure we told you about earlier this week.  ODS has sold to a company called WTS Media, which will shift all of the production to its facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Some of ODS’s 38 employees have been offered jobs there.  ODS opened in Richmond in 1987 as Sanyo Laser Products.  The company will end production in Richmond next month.

(Richmond, IN)--Believe it or not, Richmond police looked into another sex-on-a-porch allegation Friday morning.  That allegation was likely unfounded, but the incident on Wednesday was legitimate.  On Thursday, more details were released about a Wednesday incident in which a couple was stopped after getting busy on a stranger’s porch on South 20^th Street in broad daylight.  The couple originally denied doing it when stopped by police a couple of blocks away, but later admitted it when the homeowner said he could positively identify the female’s tattoo of a Power Ranger in her private area.

(Liberty, IN)--Three alleged drug dealers were taken into custody in Union County Thursday night.  24-year-olds Katrina Rhodus and Brian Sparks, along with Dennis Meadors Junior, were jailed late Thursday night after warrants were issued following an investigation by numerous agencies.  Several other people were still being sought Friday morning, so more arrests are likely later today.  All three are being held on $50,000 bonds.

(Eaton, OH)--A Preble County man was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison for killing his roommate.  44-year-old David Ramsey accepted a plea deal in the case that was offered due largely to the fact that he is terminally ill.  Ramsey shot and killed William Pike in the Camden home they shared and then dumped his body.  "You rolled my father in an old dirty piece of carpet, loaded his body up, and dropped him off to rot on an abandoned road for three days," said Pike's daughter in court Thursday.  Ramsey had originally been charged with aggravated murder.

(Richmond, IN)--It’s going to look like some type of catastrophic event at Richmond High School on Friday afternoon, so school officials want to be sure the public knows that it’s just a drill.  First responders will be conducting drills on various scenarios involving police, fire, and medical personnel between noon and 3 p.m. Friday.  Some students will be taking part.  Residents in neighborhoods surrounding the high school will notice an increased police presence.

(Richmond, IN)--Two people were walking down South 21^st Street in Richmond Wednesday when, apparently, the mood struck.  So, they did what anybody would do…they went onto a stranger’s front porch and took care of business.  RPD officials said the homeowner came out with a gun drawn and got rid of the two.  He said they appeared to be drunk or high.  They were caught a few blocks away and charged with indecent exposure.

(Richmond, IN)--Optical Disk Solutions in Richmond appears to be closing.  Company officials have not returned numerous calls for confirmation, but several employees have stated that the company in the former AVCO building on Sheridan Street has already eliminated production staff.  The rest of the staff has not been given a final date, although the lease expires at the end of next month.  35 ODS employees will lose their jobs.  That number is down significantly from the 111 the company reported when it requested a tax abatement in 2007 for $1.1 million in new equipment.  ODS manufactured CD’s and was formerly known as Sanyo.

(Richmond, IN)--When the Richmond Redevelopment Commission meets at noon Wednesday, it’s expected to pursue legal action against Frontier Communications.  The city is blaming Frontier for delays in construction on Salisbury Road.  Specifically, the city claims it lost the whole construction season last summer because Frontier would not move lines along Salisbury Road.  The city is expected to seek more than a quarter of a million dollars from Frontier.

(Richmond, IN)--On the heels of 22 drug-dealing arrests last week, the Richmond Police Department made another one Tuesday night.  Khristina Campbell was jailed for dealing cocaine, but was able to post a $30,000 bond and was out jail Wednesday morning.  Also early Wednesday morning, police caught a Fountain City man accused of trying to kick his way into multiple Richmond houses.  28-year-old Dillon Morefield was caught after several incidents in the area of North 14^th.

(Richmond, IN)--New numbers from the Indiana Department of Children’s Services show the number of child neglect cases in Wayne County is shooting upward.  The newest numbers, which are for the month of March, show 31 substantiated cases in Wayne County.  That’s by far the most in Region 12.  And, it’s more than twice as many as the month before, when 13 cases were reported.  Most cases of child neglect involve drug-addicted parents.

(Richmond, IN)--drug and alcohol treatment center is targeting an east-side Richmond location for its expansion.  Officials with Recovery Works will be in Richmond this week to look into developing a facility at the former VA Center at the intersection of Garwood Road and South A.  It would also be next door to the methadone clinic.  The first of next year is the targeted opening date for the facility.

(Preble County, OH)--A teenager was killed in a Preble County crash Sunday.  18-year-old Austin Lahey was a passenger in a vehicle that was headed north on U.S. 127 between Camden and Eaton.  The driver lost control, became airborne, hit trees, and went down an embankment.  Lahey was pronounced dead at the scene.  The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries.  The cause is under investigation.

(Richmond, IN)--Local law enforcement agents, including the Wayne County Drug Task Force, have wrapped up a week-long drug sweep that has resulted in the arrests of 22 Whitewater Valley drug dealers.  All are accused of selling heroin.  Some are also accused of selling cocaine.  RPD Chief Mark Connery talked Thursday about how addiction spawns other crimes.  "From shoplifting to burglaries...shoplifters return property to get money for their addiction," Connery said.  Investigators recovered 92 grams of heroin and 110 grams of cocaine with a street value over $20,000.

(Centerville, IN)--The victim in Monday’s shooting in Centerville told investigators this week that her estranged husband, Danny Watson, did not mean to shoot her.  That statement prompted an original attempted murder charge to be downgraded to a criminal recklessness charge Thursday.  According to an affidavit, the victim now claims the shooting occurred when she was trying to take the gun from Watson in an attempt to keep him from hurting himself.  Watson was not re-booked into jail Thursday.  A source close to the situation has indicated he is on a 72-hour watch at a mental health facility.

(Greenville, OH)--A New Madison bar owner and newly-convicted rapist was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison.  The prosecutor had asked for ten years as punishment for Klint Kuck’s attacks on two women.  "Ten years would be appropriate to punish him and to protect the public," said Prosecutor Kelly Ornsby.  But seven years and a lifetime on the sex offender registry was Kuck’s punishment.  He continued to deny the attacks Thursday.  "I didn't do these crimes," Kuck said.  Kuck owned Backroads Bar & Grill in New Madison.

(Centerville, IN)--The man who shot a Centerville woman on Monday has been released from jail.  Formal charges had not been filed against 44-year-old Danny Watson in 48 hours as required by law.  Friends of his victim, Christina Watson, indicated that Watson went to a mental facility for 72 hours.  But, the staff at the hospital where Christina is recovering has been placed on alert.  Meanwhile, law enforcement officials on Wednesday blocked the release of a 911 call and other information about a domestic violence call involving the couple in late March in Richmond.  The victim allegedly called 911 to urge police to watch a video of Danny Watson threatening his wife.  Kicks 96 and the Point News has access to the video, but will air it only if given permission by the victim and the person who possesses it.

(Hamilton, OH)--A Liberty woman is now facing eight counts of aggravated vehicular homicide for her role in a crash that killed two people in February.  18-year-old Christina Bolt was indicted Wednesday in Butler County for a crash that killed 20-year-old Amanda Durham and 18-year-old Douglas Minton of West College Corner.  Residents of Todd Road near Hueston Woods say people speed.  "People do speed through here a lot.  They underestimate what those hills can do," said Diana Phillips.  But, according to the indictment, Bolt was driving while she was high on marijuana.

(Richmond, IN)--Three more alleged Richmond drug dealers were taken into custody Wednesday.  It brings the total number of drug dealers jailed just this week in Richmond to 14.  Seven were jailed Monday, four were jailed Tuesday, and there were three Wednesday.  One of the three has bonded out.  Kicks 96 and The Point News will honor the Richmond Police Department’s request that specific names not be released by the media until the investigation is complete.

(Noblesville, IN)--A former Richmond urologist and the former director of the DORN Center has picked up his second DUI charge in less than a week.  Dr. Larry Ley is accused of selling Suboxone, which is a heroin substitute, to patients in a cash and carry operation at the DORN Center on U.S. 40 between Richmond and Centerville.  The DORN Center was raided last summer by federal agents.  Ley was stopped last week and again this week and charged with DUI.  His federal drug case is still pending.  Charges against other DORN employees were dropped.

(Richmond, IN)--Danny Watson remained behind bars Wednesday, charged in the shooting of his soon-to-be ex-wife, Christina Watson.  Although there was no history of domestic violence from the Centerville home where she lived, there was a specific videotaped threat made by Danny Watson in late March.  Police were called to a home in the 700 block of South 13^th in Richmond on March 29 to investigate after a videotape was allegedly made by a friend of Christina in which Danny Watson was making threatening remarks.  Danny Watson was not charged that day.  He has claimed Monday’s shooting was accidental.  Christina Watson went through a second surgery Tuesday and continues to recover.

(Union City, OH)--In its heyday, it employed over a thousand people.  Today, the building that housed those employees is being reduced to rubble.  Demolition is underway at the former Union City Body Company.  Union City Body filed for bankruptcy in the 1990’s  and closed for good in 2004.  The brick part of the building is already down and crews will continue to remove what’s left.  Union City Body started in 1898.

(Connersville, IN)--The oldest manufacturer in Connersville has been sold.  It was known for decades as Dresser-Roots until it sold to General Electric.  Now, GE has sold the company to a Maryland-based company called Colfax.  Colfax is paying $185 million in a deal that will finalize in a few months.  Employees, who signed a new labor agreement last month, are expected to be retained.  The plant dates back to the 1850’s.

(Centerville, IN)--A woman who was shot in the chest in Centerville Monday is reportedly recovering, while the man who allegedly shot her was behind bars Tuesday facing a charge of attempted murder.  44-year-old Danny Watson is accused of shooting the woman following a verbal dispute that was heard by utility workers in the area of South Street.  Watson held a gun to his head shortly after the shooting, but surrendered without further incident.  Centerville Police have not released the victim’s name or described the relationship between the two.  The victim had surgery Monday and was in a Level I trauma center Tuesday.  Friends of the woman have indicated she had a 20-year history with Watson.  Kicks 96 and the Point News is not releasing the victim’s name until it’s released by Centerville Police.  Friends have indicated she is the mother of eight children.  Watson is being held without bond.  He has no criminal record in Wayne County.

(Richmond, IN)--There was a major round-up of alleged Richmond drug dealers Monday.  Seven Richmond men were jailed on charges that include dealing cocaine, heroin, and other controlled substances.  The seven include Derek Burke, Devon Christie, Dylan Hampton, Robert Harris, Devin Johnson, Ben Parrish, and Steven Walsh.  Burke and Johnson have bonded out.  Most of the seven have lengthy criminal records.  Officials have not yet indicated what led to the arrest of the seven men or if they are in some way connected.

(Ridgeville, IN)--A Randolph County teen was killed in a crash early Monday morning.  19-year-old Morgan Qualls was pronounced dead at the scene on State Road 28.  The vehicle drifted off of 28 and into a tree.  Two other people in the vehicle survived.  17-year-old Austin Mallory and three-week-old Keiden Mallory were treated at the scene.  Investigators are still looking into the cause of the crash.  The press release does not indicate who was driving.

(Richmond, IN)--Two Richmond men are facing charges after an incident in the 300 block of South 8^th Sunday morning.  Police say a man later identified as Christopher Stewart was on a porch yelling at people.  When police approached, he punched one officer in the face and bit another.  Two officers went to Reid Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.  As that was happening, a second man, Jonathon Rusk, allegedly threatened to kill officers.  He was caught after fleeing into an upstairs bedroom.

(Eaton, OH)--Film crews wrapped up shooting in Eaton early Monday morning for the movie The Long Home.  On Sunday, exterior scenes were shot on Main Street.  Dirt was placed on the street and old-time cars were brought in the film, which stars Timothy Hutton and Ashton Kutcher.  Nicole Ehler of Eaton was back at her job at Daylight Donuts in Eaton Monday morning.  She had a different job Sunday.  She was one of a handful of locals cast as an extra.  "It was probably one of the coolest things I've ever done.  I rode up and down the street a few times in an old car and then I got to sit in a bar and just watch Josh Hutcherson act.  That's when James Franco was directing," Ehler said.  Streets opened back up at around 4 o’clock Monday morning.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police investigated early Monday morning when shots were reportedly fired in two separate areas of the city.  An initial incident was reported in the 200 block of North 10^th or 11^th.  Shortly after, there was a report from North 17^th and B.  Police were able to recover at least two shell casings at that location.  The initial report was that the shots were fired from a silver or gray-colored vehicle.  No injuries were reported.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man is now facing decades in prison after being found guilty of molesting a young girl Thursday.  33-year-old Charles Craft was arrested in March of last year as a result of complaints from a seven-year-old girl.  She told investigators that the molestation began when she was four years old.  A Wayne Circuit Court jury found enough cause to find Craft guilty despite a physician’s report indicating there were no physical signs of abuse.  He’ll be sentenced on June 9 and could get up to 50 years.

(Richmond, IN)--There were two incidents of people getting hit on bicycles in Richmond just a few hours apart Thursday night.  It the first, a 15-year-old girl was struck at the intersection of National Road West and South West 5^th at around 5:30.  Witnesses said the girl darted out into traffic and was hit by a pickup.  She suffered non-life-threatening injuries.  Then, at 9:30 Thursday night, a bicyclist was struck at 16^th and East Main.  The male victim was taken to Reid Hospital.  Other details, including his name and condition, have not been released.

(Richmond, IN)--Good news for employees of the city of Richmond…two health care premium holidays are coming.  Last summer, during budget and contract negotiations, the city promised to look for times when employees would not have to pay health insurance premiums as a result of savings to the plan.  The dates are May 29 and October 30.  Employees not on the city’s health plan will see their paychecks remain the same.

(Richmond, IN)--As many as ten Richmond Community School teachers could lose their jobs in the next school year.  The reductions were discussed at Wednesday night’s meeting of the RCS Board.  The reductions are mandated by budget cuts and reduced revenue from the state.  The exact number of reductions will be dependent on teacher retirements over the summer.  Letters to teachers who face the possibility of losing their jobs will be delivered next week.

(New Paris, OH)--The federal government is joining a lawsuit filed by a New Paris woman last year.  Aleeha Dudley is a blind Miami University student.  She sued, claiming Miami used technology that presented a barrier to her education.  The Justice Department filed a motion this week to intervene.  Miami continues to deny that it has done anything wrong and that it does accommodate disabled students.

(Winchester, IN)--Witnesses saw a trailer rocking in Randolph County, but it’s not what you think.  Two men were charged Wednesday in an attack involving a love triangle.  A 39-year-old Winchester man stuck with the name Jackie Kennedy was charged Wednesday with entering a camper and severely beating a 59-year-old man.  An alleged accomplice, Richard “Richie Rich” Higgins is also charged.  When the victim went to the hospital in an ambulance, 56-year-old Richard Tucker allegedly jumped inside and shoved an EMT who was trying to provide medical help.  Tucker said he did it because he was worried about his friend.  Meanwhile, Jackie Kennedy and Richie Rich face six years in prison.

(West Alexandria, OH)--A popular zoo is closing.  The owner of Heaven’s Corner Zoo in West Alexandria has decided to close permanently in the wake of Ohio’s new law that restricts ownership of wild animals.  "He spent a lot of his own money fencing them in," saids neighbor Sylvia Clayton, who said she never felt threatened.  Ray Burshur said it was a popular place for students.  "A couple times a week, you would see busloads going to the zoo.  It's quite a shame that they have to close."  Ohio's tougher laws were prompted in part by the escape of numerous large animals from a similar zoo in Zanesville.  13,000 people visited Heaven's Corner last year.  Richmond’s closest big-city zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo, is ranked as the 3^rd best in the country.

(Richmond, IN)--Reid Hospital released plans Tuesday for the former Ruby Tuesday restaurant in Richmond.  That building on West Eaton Pike will have renovations completed by next month.  Then, a medical office called State Line Family Medicine will open.  The office will be the new home of two long-time physicians, Drs. Janet Meckley and Tina Reichley.  A retiring New Paris physician, Jeung Ahn, will be referring all his patients to State Line Family Medicine.

(Noblesville, IN)--There’s more legal trouble for a former Richmond urologist.  Dr. Larry Ley is accused of selling Suboxone, which is a heroin substitute, to patients in a cash and carry operation at the DORN Center on U.S. 40 between Richmond and Centerville.  The DORN Center was raided last summer by federal agents.  This week, Ley was pulled over in central Indiana and charged with drunken driving.  His federal drug case is still pending.  Charges against other DORN employees were dropped.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man who was already on Indiana’s sex offender registry is now facing a brand-new charge of child molestation.  36-year-old Ryan Davis was booked into the Wayne County Jail Monday night, immediately posted bond, and was free Tuesday morning.  Details of what Davis is alleged to have done this time have not been released.  But, back in 2009, Davis was arrested for child molestation.  He was arrested again for sexual battery in 2012.  Davis’s address is listed on the sex offender registry as 1006 South M Street in Richmond.

(Richmond, IN)--There was yet another robbery attempt at a Richmond business overnight.  At midnight, two men approached an employee at the east-side Rally’s as he was taking out the trash.  Jon Mills was that employee and he described what happened.  "The came up behind me and one of them grabbed me and slammed me into a fence.  They started demanding my keys."  Mills said they never displayed a weapon, and that his first concern was for his co-workers.  "I was more worried about not letting them into the store for the sake of my employee and the money."  Mills was able to fight off the attackers, who fled toward a dark-colored passenger car parked nearby.  They fled to the north.  The suspects were described only as one white and one possibly bi-racial male.  Mills was not injured.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Police Department has released surveillance images of the man who robbed the Days Inn over the weekend.  Counting Tuesday morning’s attempt at Rally’s, Wayne County businesses have had 12 robbery-related incidents since the first of April.  Robberies that remain unsolved, in addition to the Days Inn and Rally’s incidents, are one at Centerville’s Super 8 Motel and a Richmond Avenue Clark station.

(Richmond, IN)--There was another reported robbery of a Richmond business over the weekend.  Police were called to the Days Inn on National Road East near the state line at just after 7 o’clock Saturday morning.  No description of the robber or other details of the incident have been released.  That motel has been targeted by armed robbers several times in the last decade.  There were no reports of any injuries.

(Winchester, IN)--The couple accused of pulling off one of the biggest burglaries in Randolph County history have entered a plea deal.  26-year-old Robert Lewis and 22-year-old Briana Hawley stole $80,000 from the home of the owner of the Winchester Speedway.  They had spent $35,000 of it before being caught.  A judge last week ordered Hawley released until sentencing because she’s eight months pregnant.  Her attorney argued that being in jail caused undue hardship to Hawley’s unborn child.  Terms of the plea deal have not been released.

(Webster, IN)--Two more young Wayne County residents were behind bars Monday after drug and theft arrests Sunday.  26-year-old Josh Moore and 18-year-old Brooklyn Carlin, who share the same Webster address, were taken into custody Sunday at their home and charged with possession of heroin, drug paraphernalia, and possession of stolen property.  In last week’s trailer court bust, seven of the ten people arrested were under the age of 24.

(Whitewater Valley)--New statistics from the organization Indiana Career Connect show where all the job openings have been in the Whitewater Valley in the last year.  In the 12-month period that ended in April, the most job openings in counties in our area have been in customer service.   And, it’s not even close.  There were 1236 openings in customer service.  The category that had the second-most job openings was inspectors with 534.   Other jobs with over a hundred openings include tax preparers, truck drivers, and carnival workers.

(Richmond, IN)--Several area colleges and universities are preparing for commencement ceremonies.  Earlham College holds its 168^th commencement Saturday on the Richmond campus.  A total of 204 graduates will receive degrees in ceremonies beginning at 2:30 Saturday afternoon.  Ivy Tech will hold graduation Saturday at the Tiernan Center.  IU East and Miami University will hold their commencements next weekend.

(Richmond, IN)--There was a major drug bust at a Richmond trailer park overnight.  Wayne County officials say 11 people were jailed after law enforcement agents went to the trailer park in the 800 block of N.W. 5^th.  Three people face numerous felonies including possession of meth, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.  They have been identified as Jamie Johnson, Mike Earley, and Joshua Reed.  Eight other people faces lesser charges, including visiting a common nuisance.  Others who were arrested include Jaden Berry, Bernard George, Steven Williams, Logan Hockett, Justin Johnson, and Casey Limburg.

(Darke County, OH)--A Fountain City fugitive wanted on a $10 million bond for child molestation and sexual misconduct with a minor has been located.  32-year-old Timothy Shuff was taken into custody Wednesday at his dad’s home in Darke County.  Shuff’s father, Rory Shuff, is now also facing criminal charges for allegedly harboring a fugitive.  Wayne County officials will now go through the extradition process to bring the younger Shuff back to face charges.

(Richmond, IN)--Investigators on Thursday will search a car they seized in connection with a shooting that occurred near Richmond High School Wednesday afternoon.  One man suffered non-life-threatening injuries when he was shot in an alley in the 300 block of S.W. 3^rd.  That victim was less than cooperative with police.  The car used in the shooting was found later on Cart Road north of Richmond.

RICHMOND- Todd Terrill was approved yesterday as the new superintendent of the Richmond Community School system. Terrill’s history with RCS dates back to 1998 when he was a teacher and coach. He was most recently working in the Muncie School system. Terrill will be meeting today with groups of students and parents. He will officially begin on June 15.

RICHMOND- An arrest was made yesterday in connection with Richmond’s recent string of armed robberies. A Greenfield man was taken into custody and charged with robbing the National Road West Shell station on April 5 and the Phillips 66 on April 13. The arrest now leaves only the three most recent robberies unsolved, including CVS on April 26, the Super 8 Motel last Sunday, and a Clark gas station on Monday.

RICHMOND-

A bus carrying kids from the Boys and Girls Club was struck by a man who was allegedly under the influence of drugs yesterday. It happened in the first block of South 15th Street in Richmond. 46-year-old Greg Gomez crossed into the bus’s path. The collision sent some of the kids flying upward, causing them to hit their heads on the top of the bus. A few were taken to Reid Hospital to be checked out. Gomez lives just a couple of blocks from the crash site and is in the Wayne County Jail today.

 

*UPDATE* Boys and Girls Club officials are asking Kicks 96 and The Point News to clarify that no children were taken from the scene of yesterday's crash to Reid Hospital (although at least two went later). They also wanted it stressed that the bus driver was not in any way at fault, and that statements from children that they hit their heads on the top of the bus may have been exaggerated due to the stress caused by the crash.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man has been arrested for child pornography.  33-year-old Rodney Conley was booked into the Wayne County Jail Thursday morning and will see his case go through Wayne Circuit Court.  Details of Conley’s arrest, including the amount of child porn that was allegedly discovered, have not been released.  Conley was able to post an unspecified bond and was out of jail Friday morning.

(Richmond, IN)--While the number of heroin arrests and overdoses is skyrocketing in Wayne County, the good news is that the number of meth lab busts is dropping drastically.  According to new numbers from the Indiana State Police, Wayne County had 15 meth lab busts in 2012, ten in 2013, but only three last year.  Only two area counties – Union and Franklin – saw their number of meth labs rise last year.

(Whitewater Valley)--Do you ever wonder how many married people cheat on their spouses locally?  If you believe statistics provided by the website Ashley Madison, it’s quite a few.  Ashley Madison is a website that helps married people looking to have affairs hook up.  A spokesperson said there are 3400 members just in Richmond and over 6000 members in the counties that make up the Whitewater Valley.  Which local town has the highest percentage of cheating spouses?  That would be Eaton, where 9% of residents are members.