Local News Archives for 2016-10

VOTE CENTERS OPEN TODAY IN WAYNE COUNTY

(Wayne County, IN)--Just under 600 people turned out for the first round of Saturday voting at the Kuhlman Center in Richmond this weekend.  And, while early voting on weekdays has been higher locally than in 2012, the Saturday total is a decrease of about 30% from four years ago.  More than 3100 votes have been cast at the Wayne County Courthouse so far.  Wayne County’s four vote centers open today.  Those centers are at the Kulhman Center and First English Lutheran Church in Richmond, at the Golay Center in Cambridge City, and at the New Testament Church in Hagerstown.

TIVOLI BUILDING SELLS TO CENTRAL INDIANA ARCHITECT

(Richmond, IN)--There’s new life for an 89-year-old Uptown Richmond building.  On Thursday, details were released of the sale what was once the Tivoli Theater and what was most recently a Hoppe Jeweler location.  That building has been sold to a central Indiana architectural firm.  "It will be his Richmond office as he does architectural projects in East Central Indiana," said Scott Zimmerman with Center City.  The building was given to Center City three years ago by the Reid Foundation

Zimmerman with Center City described how the firm’s leader will impact the community.  "He is anticipating being able to help with and participate in any further Stellar Communities activities."  One of the firm’s employees was instrument in th Whitewater Gorge's development.

RICHMOND MAN ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A MINOR

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man was taken into custody late Thursday afternoon and charged with sexual misconduct with a minor.  27-year-old Tyler Reeve, who lives in the 200 block of South 14th, was arrested at RPD headquarters.  Details of what Reeve is alleged to have done have not been released.  Also booked into the Wayne County Jail Friday morning were Jason Johnson and Brittany Snider.  Drugs were found when the couple was arrested for check fraud and theft at Walmart at around 2:30 Friday morning.

BED BUTLER TO OCCUPY FORMER PURINA BUILDING

(Richmond, IN)--The local company Bed Butler will have a new home.  Thursday, a property on Progress Drive that had been leased by Purina was sold.  RP&L was the owner.  The EDC was used as a pass-through because RP&L is part of city government and cannot sell directly to a commercial buyer.  Bed Butler will use the location as a distribution center with a goal of manufacturing there.  Bed Butler is a storage caddy for bedside items you’d typically put on a nightstand.

WOMAN REPORTS SHOT FIRED IN NORTH 11th ROBBERY

(Richmond, IN)--There was a report of a robbery with a shot fired in Richmond Thursday morning.  It happened at around 3:30 Thursday morning on North 11th.  According to scanner traffic, a female victim was robbed inside a home by what was described only as two black males.  A shot was fired and struck a wall.  The two men fled in a dark, two-door passenger car.  No arrests have been made.  It did not appear that the victim was injured.

COUPLE ARRESTED AFTER SHOTS FIRED ON SMYRNA ROAD

(Richmond, IN)--There was a large police response to Smyrna Road in Richmond at just after midnight Thursday morning after a man had reportedly fired off multiple shots with a high-powered rifle.  It began as a domestic dispute at the home of Steven and Rachel Nicholson in the 5300 block of Smyrna Road.  Rachel Nicholson came out of the home quickly; Steven was slower to exit but finally did so without incident.  There were no injuries.  The rifle was recovered.  Both Nicholsons were taken to the Wayne County Jail.

RCS BOARD APPROVES REA CONTRACT

(Richmond, IN)--A contract between Richmond Community Schools and the union representing its teachers was approved in a unanimous vote by the school board Wednesday night.  The board also Wednesday night agreed to go forward with obtaining bids for student laptops.  Each student in grades 5 through 12 would receive laptops.  The plan was delayed a year when the teachers’ union filed an unfair labor practice complaint.  The goal now is to have the laptops at the start of the next school year.

SENTENCED REDUCED FOR MAN WHO STOLE $5 MILLION FROM INVESTORS

(Brookville, IN)--The Brookville man who ripped off Whitewater Valley investors of more than $5 million has had his sentence drastically reduced.  Jerry Smith operated a Ponzi scheme and was convicted at both the state and federal level.  A state appeals court overturned the sentence.  Smith has now been resentenced.  His time behind bars was dropped from 40 down to ten years and the order that he pay $5.4 million in restitution has been dropped.  Smith is currently in federal prison in Atlanta.

MAN WITH LENGTHY CRIMINAL RECORD ATTACKS FEMALE RPD OFFICER

(Richmond, IN)--A female Richmond police officer was attacked by a man with a long criminal history during a melee on North 10th at 2 o’clock Tuesday morning.  Officers were originally called to the 200 block for an unwanted subject.  43-year-old Forrest Tevis of Richmond fought the officer and was Tased during the scuffle.  Two women piled out of the house.  Both were also taken to the Wayne County Jail and charged with disorderly conduct.  They were identified as 47-year-old Linda Arnett and Sondra Tevis.  Drug paraphernalia was found at the scene.  The officer was not injured.

DRUNKEN MAN ON MOWER WITH CHILD DRIVES INTO STATE TROOPER'S DRIVEWAY

(Milton, IN)--A state trooper was working outside at his home near Milton Monday night when a drunk man on a riding lawn mower rolled into the trooper’s driveway.  That man, who was later identified as 22-year-old Samuel Wilson of Connersville, was also carrying a five-year-old boy.  Wilson asked for a tow but quickly became belligerent.  At one point, he allegedly pulled a knife on the trooper and used his five-year-old son as a human shield.  Other officers arrived and subdued Wilson.  His blood-alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit.  His son was not hurt.

SERIOUS VIOLENT FELON FROM KENTUCKY CAPTURED ON SOUTH L

(Richmond, IN)--A traffic stop on South L Street near the Country Club Apartments in Richmond was anything but routine late Monday night.  Officers pulled over 26-year-old Alex Clay, who listed a Lexington, Kentucky address.  RPD found a Glock handgun and learned that Clay was a serious violent felon.  Clay originally refused to identify himself.  When he arrived at the Wayne County Jail and was searched, drugs were found.  Clay faces a host of felony charges.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER LEADING POLICE ON DRUNKEN SCOOTER CHASE

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man led police on a moped chase late Monday night.  Police suspected that 33-year-old Gary Harrison was on a stolen moped when they tried to stop him on North West 1st at around 11:30 Monday night.  Harrison fled and wound his way toward Richmond High School.  Harrison was eventually caught after scooting through several RHS parking lots.  He was charged with OWI and resisting.

MAN FLOWN FROM SCENE OF MOTORCYCLE CRASH

(Webster, IN)--A serious motorcycle crash shut down U.S. 35 near Webster late Sunday afternoon.  A man now identified as Greggory Barnett went through a curve near Webster Road.  A medical helicopter flew Barnett to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.  He was not wearing a helmet.  35 was re-routed for about an hour.  Barnett’s condition has not been released.

MILTON MAN CHARGED IN FATAL DUI CRASH

(New Castle, IN)--A Milton man has now been charged with causing a crash that killed a New Castle woman.  The crash happened nearly six months ago.  Megan Hughes was a passenger in an SUV being driving by 25-year-old Dusty Dunaway of Milton.  Dunaway told police he had just drunk a half-pint of alcohol before crashing in eastern Henry County.  Hughes was dead at the scene.  Dunaway is now charged with OWI causing death.

CONNERSVILLE GIRL DROPS LAWSUIT AGAINST FORMER SUBWAY SPOKESMAN

(Connersville, IN)--The lawsuit filed on behalf of a Connersville girl against former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle has been dropped.  The lawsuit asked for $150,000 after Fogle and two other people used hidden cameras to take nude photos of the girl.  The lawsuit has been dropped because an out-of-court settlement has been reached.  Fogle had filed documents last month blaming the girl’s parents.  He is currently serving a 15-year sentence at a minimum security prison in Colorado.

WAYNE CO. ELECTION OFFICIALS CITE VOTER ERROR AS CAUSE OF TRUMP-TURNED-CLINTON VOTE

(Richmond, IN)--Wayne County election officials this week took a close look at voting machines after one woman claimed her straight-party Republican vote actually registered a vote instead for Hillary Clinton.  She noticed the problem before casting the final ballot and notified officials at the Wayne County Courthouse.  After interviewing that woman and trying to duplicate what she had claimed, it was decided that voter error was the problem.  Multiple other machines were tested without incident.

WANTED ILLEGAL DRUG MANUFACTURER CAPTURED

(Eaton, OH)--A wanted Preble County drug manufacturer has been caught.  The Sheriff’s Department had offered a $5000 reward for information leading to the arrest of 52-year-old Ronald Risner.  Risner was wanted after failing to show up in court on a host of drug-related charges.  He was arrested Thursday and remained in the Preble County Jail Friday morning.  Details of his capture have not been released.

NEW PARIS MAN WINS $10,000 ON HISTORY CHANNEL SHOW

(New Paris, OH)--A New Paris man was the winner of $10,000 on a History Channel television show this week.  Pete Winkler is the owner of Buckeye Custom Knives.  He appeared on Forged in Fire this week.  It’s a History Channel show that features people who forge bladed weapons.  In the end, the judges determined his blade was the best.  Pete will use his winnings to buy new equipment and to visit his brother in Australia.

REWARD OFFERED FOR STOLEN SCHOOL BELL

(Alquina, IN)--It had been there for decades.  But somebody decided to steal the large bell from the bell tower at the school in the eastern Fayette County town of Alquina.  Now, a small group of residents has banded together to offer a reward for its return.  The bell was stolen at some point during the inaugural Blue Arrows Park Fall Festival.  It’s heavy and could not have been removed by one person.  If you can help police find the bell, you’re eligible for a $600 reward.  Contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.

RPD SEARCHING FOR PERSON OF INTEREST TIED TO SHOOTINGS

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Police said Wednesday that they are currently looking for a male suspect who is known to them and is suspected of being involved in Wednesday morning’s shootings on NW E and NW 1st.  They have not provided that male’s name.  Investigators are also still looking for the silver or champagne-colored passenger car that was driven away from the shootings.  Police now say it’s unknown if Wednesday morning’s incident is related to two other shootings earlier in the week.  Officers were called to the first block of South 23rd at 2 o’clock Thursday morning for a fight involving several people that may have been tied to the shootings.

STORMS CAUSE MINOR DAMAGE, POWER OUTAGES

(Whitewater Valley)--There were a few reports of minor storm damage Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.  Storms caused a transformer to blow on Richmond’s west side and may have contributed to a minor house fire on College Corner Road.  Power was out to several homes in that area.  About 700 homes were in the dark in Preble County.  That was restored at around 3 o’clock Thursday morning.  Weather sirens sounded in Wayne County yesterday, but that was part of routine monthly testing.

EARLY TO RELEASE STUDY ABOUT LOCAL VOTING TRENDS

(Richmond, IN)--Earlham College has conducted research about local voting trends in Richmond and the Wayne County area.  Earlham checked census data, voter turnout, and election results and determined that local trends are consistent with those nation-wide.  They point out that turnout locally can vary widely from election to election.  Earlham will present the results of the study at 4 o’clock this coming Tuesday at the Landrum Bolling Center.

PROPOSAL WOULD PLACE 10,000-HOG CAFO NEAR BROOKVILLE LAKE

(Franklin County, IN)--There’s new concern over a proposed concentrated animal feeding operation.  Earlier in the year, two people had indicated they had no plans for a CAFO near Brookville Lake.  Now, though, they have applied for rezoning to allow for a 10,000-hog facility on seven acres near the Fairfield Causeway.  The property includes Templeton Creek, which flows directly into Brookville Lake.  They claim manure would be shipped off and would not affect the lake.  Residents in the area are fighting the proposal.

RESIDENT IN NW 1st AREA SHOT IN NECK INSIDE HOME; THREE HOMES STRUCK BY BULLETS

(Richmond, IN)--Shots have rung out once again in Richmond.  This time, it happened at around 3 o’clock Wednesday morning in the area of North West 1st Street and Pearl Street.  At least three houses in that area were struck by bullets.  And, this time, a resident inside one of the homes was struck in the neck.  The victim was barely grazed in the neck by the bullet, which left only a red mark.  The shots came from someone passing by in what one witness described as a "piece-of-junk gray or silver car with a loud muffler".  Wednesday morning was the third shots-fired incident in Richmond in a 36-hour period.

MAN REPORTS SUSPECT PUT GUN IN HIS BACK ON NORTH 15th

(Richmond, IN)--No arrests have been made in either of two shootings in Richmond Monday evening and early Tuesday morning.  Investigators said Tuesday that the two incidents are not connected.  There is a person of interest in yesterday’s shooting of a car in an alley on North 20th Street.  The victim in that case is listed as Devonte Kennedy.  Investigators said that Kennedy has refused to cooperate with police.

CHAMBER NAMES NEW LEADER

(Richmond, IN)--The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce has a new leader.  The chamber announced Tuesday that Philip D’Amico has been hired as CEO and President.  D’Amico is currently the chief marketing officer for a firm in South Bend.  D’amico has been involved in business recruitment and growth initiatives there.  He’ll begin his role with the chamber at the first of next month.

MORE SHOTS FIRED IN RICHMOND ALLEY TUESDAY MORNING

(Richmond, IN)--More shots were fired in Richmond Tuesday morning.  This time, the shots were fired into a car in an alley between the 100 and 200 blocks of North 19th and 20th Streets at around 5 o’clock Tuesday morning.  After collecting evidence there, RPD moved its investigation to a home in the 200 block of SW 3rd Street.  One witness indicated the shots may have been fired from a silver Saturn.  There were no injuries.

MAN SHOT ON NORTH 15th

(Richmond, IN)--One man was shot in the leg in Richmond Monday night.  It happened at around 6:30 in the area of North 15th and G Streets.  Dredon Barnes suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Reid Health.  If there were any witnesses to the shooting, they have not yet cooperated with police.  Investigators found a dozen shell casings in the area of two different calipers, meaning there were two different shooters.  There was no indication that any homes were struck by bullets.

COUNCIL PASSES 2017 BUDGET OVER TWO MEMBERS' OBJECTIONS

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council voted Monday night to pass the city’s budget.  The passage means city employees will get a modest two percent pay raise.  But, not all members of council are on board with the budget.  Misty Hollis and Jamie Lopeman voted against the budget and released statements afterward.  Hollis said that it would result in a tax hike and to pass a budget before union negotiations are complete is in violation of city code.  Lopeman pointed out that the city’s health insurance issue remains unresolved.  While council passed the budget, it voted against a pay raise for itself.

TURBINE COMPANY SUES UNION CITY, RANDOLPH EASTERN SCHOOLS

(Union City, IN)--A wind turbine company is claiming that Union City and the Randolph Eastern School Corporation has stiffed them for more than $800,000.  A lawsuit has been filed by Performance Services, known as PSI, against Randolph Eastern and the city.  PSI claims Union City has failed to submit payments of $808,000 that were required under a previous agreement.  That agreement was formed back in 2010.

MIAMI UNIVERSITY REACHES SETTLEMENT IN CASE INVOLVING BLIND NEW PARIS STUDENT

(Oxford, OH)--Aleeha Dudley is a blind student from New Paris who sued Miami University two years ago, claiming the school failed to provide tech access to students with disabilities.  Now, there’s a settlement.  Miami announced yesterday that it’s upgrading access.  Earlier this year, the school reached an agreement with Dudley to pay her room, board, and tuition at Ohio State.

RPD MAKES TWO DRUG ARRESTS TUESDAY MORNING

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Police Department has taken drugs off the streets with two separate arrests Tuesday morning.  33-year-old Micah Ray of Richmond was allegedly stealing from the South E Street Village Pantry Tuesday morning.  Officers searched her and found drugs and a needle.  Then, at 2 o’clock Tuesday morning, police found 25-year-old Jarod Willis of Liberty in the parking lot near Meijer.  They say Willis was in possession of methamphetamine.  Both he and Ray were both taken to the Wayne County Jail.

COUNCIL TO ADDRESS BUDGET WITH UNION CONTRACTS UNSETTLED

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council meets Monday night with an eye on next year’s budget.  While some called this year’s budget process the smoothest in years, there are still many unanswered questions regarding union contracts.  At last check, all four city employee unions were waiting on responses to contract counter-offers.  That includes AFSCME, which has been waiting for a contract for two years.  Monday night’s council meeting begins at 7:30 and immediately follows the RP&L Board meeting.

ARREST MADE IN OXFORD DOUBLE-SHOOTING

(Oxford, OH)--That double shooting in Oxford earlier this month was not the result of the sale of a car as originally thought…it was the result of the sale of $4000 worth of marijuana.  That’s according to a weekend press release from the Oxford Police Department.  Now, police have arrested a Cleveland man for shooting two Miami students.  Investigators are still looking for a second suspect.

MAN WHO DRANK HAND SANITIZER CHARGED WITH ATTACKING FIREFIGHTERS, MEDICAL STAFF

(Richmond, IN)--Criminal charges have been filed against the man who crashed on Henley Road in Richmond on Wednesday night after allegedly drinking hand sanitizer.  Police reports indicate that 31-year-old Shane Campbell tried to fight members of the Richmond Fire Department in the back of an ambulance and then tried to fight medical personnel at Reid Health.  Campbell was still in the Wayne County Jail Friday morning.  He’s charged with disorderly conduct and resisting, but he was not charged with DUI.

DEPUTIES CHASE ATV RIDERS THROUGH WESTERN WAYNE COUNTY

(Cambridge City, IN)--Two people on ATV’s led police on a high-speed chase through western Wayne County at around 10 o’clock Thursday night.  An officer tried to stop them because one ATV had no lights.  Both riders took off.  21-year-old Kyle Reed of Cambridge City was caught near Brick Church Road after allegedly leading officers through farm fields.  The other rider sped through fields and into Pershing but was not caught.  Reed is charged with resisting arrest.  He has already bonded out of jail.

TEACHERS' UNION ENDORSES SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES

(Richmond, IN)--For the first time ever, the Richmond Education Association, which is the union representing the schools’ teachers, has endorsed candidates for school board.  In a prepared statement, the REA said a long history of working together with RCS has changed in the last few years, and that’s prompted a need for the endorsements.  The REA has endorsed Linda Morgason, Brad Walton, Kevin Gaddis, and Aaron Stevens in the upcoming election based on interviews and questionnaires.

RCS BOARD TO EXPLORE MAJOR RHS RENOVATIONS

(Richmond, IN)--Consultants will look into the long-term viability of Richmond High School with an eye toward major renovations in the next decade.  The RCS Board this week discussed a need to reconfigure and renovate the building, which is now 77 years old. Different classroom setups, electrical infrastructure, and a declining enrollment are all elements of the renovation.  The project could carry a price tag of between $62 and $88 million.  More bonding becomes available in 2020.

SCAMMER CLAIMS TO BE SHERIFF

(Richmond, IN)--The latest area scam now involves someone claiming to be Wayne County Sheriff Jeff Cappa.  On Thursday, an area resident received a call from a man who identified himself as Cappa and said that he was collecting money for cancer research.  The would-be victim became suspicious, called the sheriff’s department, and learned that the call was not legit.

MAN DRUNK ON HAND SANITIZER CRASHES ON HENLEY ROAD

(Richmond, IN)--There was a serious accident on Henley Road in Richmond Thursday morning.  The man behind the wheel appears to have been intoxicated, but not on beer, wine, or whiskey.  He became drunk by swallowing hand sanitizer.  He was in and out ofconsciousness at the scene of the crash on Henley near Reeveston Road.  He was taken to Reid Health.  His identity and condition have not been released.

"GHOST BIKE" PLACED NEAR CENTERVILLE AS FAMILY CONTINUES CROSS-COUNTRY RIDE

(Centerville, IN)--They’re calling it a ghost bike, and if you travel U.S. 40 near Centerville, you may notice it.  It’s been placed at the spot where Joanna Abernathy of Australia was killed two years ago.  Joanna was riding cross-country to raise money for the Martin Luther King Foundation.  This week, Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Kyle Weatherly joined Joanna’s friends and family at the site.  For the next couple of weeks, a group will continue her ride to Washington and hope to get there on her birthday.

WORK BEGINS TO CLEAN UP OLD REID

(Richmond, IN)--Work began Wednesday to clean up parts of the old Reid Hospital building.  Barnhizer and Associates began to remove areas damaged by arsonists.  Jason Barnhizer described part of the process.  "Remove the burnt part of the awning so we can expose the brick.  We'll get up here with a large lift and we're going to pressure clean and chemically clean all of that soot that you can see on the side of the building."  Graffiti is also being removed from the top of the building.  They will not be doing any actual demolition.  Environmental issues and a cost of anywhere between $6 and $12 million are preventing that.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF APPEALS, DRUG DEALER BEGINS SERVING SENTENCE

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond drug dealer is beginning to serve an 11-year sentence after a two-year series of appeals that went all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court were exhausted.  Back in March of 2014, investigators found 200 pounds of marijuana at the home of 46-year-old Mark Sekse, who lived in Lakengren at the time.  Drugs were also found at his New Westville tree-trimming business.  Sekse went through a series of appeals, which were all exhausted this week.  Sekse has a lengthy criminal record that dates back at least to 1994.

TRUMP CAMPAIGN REPRESENTATIVES TO VISIT RICHMOND THURSDAY

(Richmond, IN)--Members of the Donald Trump campaign will be in Richmond Thursday.  Representatives will be on hand at Republican headquarters on South 10th between 1:30 and 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon to pass out yard signs and other materials.  Early voting is getting underway Wednesday morning across the Whitewater Valley.  All registered voters can vote early as long as they have a photo ID at courthouses in Indiana and Ohio.  In the last presidential election year of 2012, Wayne County had a 51% voter turnout.  In Preble County, it was 71%.  Officials say they’re not sure if this year’s contentious presidential election will bring more people to the polls or turn them off completely.

PASTOR THREATENS TO SHOOT KIDS BIKING IN CHURCH PARKING LOT

(Henry County, IN)--When some kids in Henry County rode their bicycles onto the property of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church recently, the pastor threatened to shoot them.  69-year-old Bobby Slagle now faces charges that include intimidation.  Slagle admitted to lifting his shirt and showing the kids the gun that he had in his waistband.  When Slagle was taken into custody, he tried to reach for the gun, which was loaded and ready to fire.

CRIMINAL CHARGES LIKELY AGAINST TWO MIAMI STUDENTS WHO WERE SHOT

(Oxford, OH)--Criminal charges are likely to be filed against the two Miami students who were shot last week.   Court documents released Tuesday show that investigators found lots of drug-related items when they responded to the shooting at a home on North Campus Avenue in Oxford.  That includes scales, multiple ID’s, marijuana, and $2000 in cash.  They said they were shot by two men were who were selling a car on Craigslist.  The search for the two gunmen continues.

RPD SEARCHES FOR FOUR PEOPLE WHO INVADED RICHMOND HOME

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police were busy searching the city’s south side Monday night and into Tuesday morning after four people stormed into a house near the 900 block of South 5th.  At least one handgun was displayed.  The person carrying the gun fled the scene before police arrived.  No one was arrested and there were no injuries.  There was a similar incident in the same area of South 5th a couple of weeks ago.  There’s no word on if the two incidents are connected.

TRAFFIC STOP YIELDS A DOZEN ARRESTS, $14,000 IN METH

(Laurel, IN)--A routine traffic stop turned into a drug bust that landed a dozen people in the Franklin County Jail.  Officers stopped a car on State Route 121 near Laurel on Sunday.  It was occupied by four Dayton people.  Police found crystal methamphetamine and two handguns.  That led to a further search of a home on Basin Street in Laurel.  Inside, investigators found eight more people, $14,000 worth of meth, some heroin, some marijuana, and two more guns.  All 12 people are having initial court hearings Tuesday and Wednesday.

RICHMOND WOMAN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION FOR 3rd TIME IN FIVE MONTHS

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond woman was arrested again Monday for possession of drug paraphernalia.  For 31-year-old Heather Eubanks, it’s the third time she’s been jailed for the same crimes in just the last five months.  Eubanks allegedly resisted arrest when she was taken into custody at 4 o’clock Monday afternoon.  She had been arrested for possession in June and July as well as late last year.

SHOTS FIRED IN HOLSAPPLE NEIGHBORHOOD

(Richmond, IN)--Police were searching the Holsapple area of Richmond late Sunday night after multiple shots were fired.  Investigators found at least five shell casings after responding to the area of the 2400 block of North West 15th at around 9:30 Sunday night.  One witness indicated that the shots came from a passing car that headed south on Williamsburg Pike.  There were no injuries and there was no description of the car released.

RCS FILES COUNTERSUIT OVER FAILED HIGHLAND SALE

(Richmond, IN)--The legal wrestling match continues between Richmond Community Schools and the company that had originally tried to buy the Highland Heights school building.  RCS on Thursday filed a countersuit seeking $810,000 from Mint Management.  That company had tried to buy Highland for a million dollars with the intent of leasing it to Northeastern schools.  The deal fell through, and RCS sold instead to Reid Health for just $90,000.  The sale of the building to Reid closed on Wednesday.

MAYOR RELEASES VIDEO AIMED AT HELPING JOB SEEKERS

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Mayor Dave Snow Thursday launched a video on social media that’s meant to be used as a resource for people who are unemployed or underemployed.  "I want you to consider this your personal meeting with me.  And I've brought with me some key people whose job it is to help you reach your personal potential," Snow said in the video.  The video highlights local organizations whose mission it is to help connect people with the resources they need.  You can see that video on Dave Snow’s personal Facebook page.

AREA COUNTIES ADDED TO VOTER REGISTRATION INVESTIGATION

(Indianapolis, IN)--Two Whitewater Valley counties are now included in an investigation by the Indiana State Police in possible voter registration fraud.  The list of counties Thrusday expanded from nine to 57 counties and now includes Fayette and Franklin.  Investigators are checking to see if fraudulent names and addresses have been used to register voters.  A separate organization claimed Thursday that the investigation is an effort to suppress black votes.  The state police are recommending all voters check the accuracy of their information.

TEEN GETS SIX YEARS FOR RICHMOND ROBBERY

(Richmond, IN)--Six years in prison is the sentence a Richmond teenager received this week for his role in an armed robbery in August of last year.  19-year-old Jeffrey Paradise held a knife to the victim’s throat during what was supposed to have been a deal to sell Xanax in an alley in the 1000 block of South 9th.  The sentence was part of a plea deal.

OXFORD SHOOTING RESULTED FROM CRAIGSLIST CAR SALE

(Oxford, OH)--More information was out Friday morning regarding the shooting of two Miami University students on Wednesday night.  Investigators now say one the two victims had arranged to buy a car on Craigslist.  Two men arrived with the car.  The victim handed over $4000 in cash.  When the suspect had the money, he shot one victim.  A second victim was shot when he tried to wrestle the gun away.  Both suspects are still on the loose.  Both shooting victims survived.

BLUE BULBS TO BE HANDED OUT IN SUPPORT OF RPD

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond residents have a new way to show their support for local police.  Friday morning, blue light bulbs will be handed out to people who attend Coffee With A Cop at Central United Methodist Church.  First Bank is distributing the bulbs at no cost to people who want one.  First Bank bought 300 bulbs and has already placed an order for more.

DROPPED INJUNCTION PAVES WAY FOR HIGHLAND SALE

(Richmond, IN)--Legal challenges to the sale of the Highland Heights Elementary School building have been dropped, and that paves the way for the sale of the building to Reid Health beginning Wednesday.  Mint Management had sought to block the deal after its own attempt at buying the building fell through earlier this year.  According to court filings, Mint Management learned information during the injunction process that made an injunction by the court unlikely.  Reid is buying the building for $90,000.  Mint Management would have paid a million dollars.

COUNCILMAN PROPOSES CHANGES TO SOLID WASTE COLLECTION BILLING

(Richmond, IN)--One member of Richmond Common Council is making an effort to change the way solid waste disposal is billed in an effort to make that billing more fair and to lower the cost to residents.  Jamie Lopeman said that, currently, waste disposal is based on assessed value, meaning that someone living in a more expensive home could pay significantly more for the same service.  Lopeman is proposing charging all residents a flat $20 per month fee and building that fee into tax collection.  He claims the change would save someone living in a $150,000 home up to $500 each year.

MAN REPORTS BEING BEATEN WITH PIPE, ROBBED AT GUNPOINT

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police investigated an armed robbery report.  It happened in the 200 block of South 5th at around 8:15 Tuesday night.  Initial scanner traffic indicated one man had been beaten with a pipe, held at gunpoint, and possibly injected in the arm with an unknown substance.  Police searched the area around Seton school but did not locate a suspect.  No arrest was made and there’s no word on the condition of the victim.

CRASH SENDS TWO TO LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER

(Hagerstown, IN)--Two Wayne County residents were flown to a Level One trauma center after a crash on State Road 1 south of Hagerstown Monday.  Police reports indicate 18-year-old Chandler Mathews of Richmond pulled into the intersection of State Road 1 and Swoveland Road and hit Tricia Crawford of Hagerstown.  Crawford had to be cut free.  Mathews was ejected.  He is listed in critical condition.  Crawford is not listed as a patient.  State Road 1 was closed for about an hour Monday.

MODOC TEEN CHARGED WITH ROBBING CONVENIENCE STORE

(Modoc, IN)--A Modoc teenager was arrested Monday and charged with robbing a Farmland convenience store.  19-year-old Gavien Issacs was found in downtown Muncie.  Tips on social media led investigators to Isaacs.  A search warrant executed at his home on U.S. 36 between Modoc and Lynn turned up items used in the robbery, including a Superman T-shirt and a pink backpack.  Issacs is being held in the Randolph County Jail on a $20,000 bond.

CONVICTED EATON ATTORNEY GETS EARLY PRISON RELEASE

(Eaton, OH)--An Eaton attorney has been set free after serving only half of his sentence.  James Thomas Junior forged the documents of several elderly clients and stole their money for six years ending in 2013.  He had been sentenced to four years in prison.  But Thomas asked for early release.  Now, the judge has granted that release.  Judge James Brogan said he thought Thomas was sorry and has beaten his drug addiction.

DARKE COUNTY FARMER DIES IN GRAIN BIN ACCIDENT

(Gordon, OH)--A Darke County farmer died in a grain bin accident Monday.  75-year-old Gary Brown fell into a grain silo and died at a farm on State Route 722 just outside of Gordon.  Brown was in the process of transferring grain from one bin to another when he fell in and became trapped.  It took crews nearly four hours to recover Brown’s body from the bin.  Brown had been a farmer for most of his life.

MAN DIES FROM INJURIES RECEIVED IN CRASH

(Boston, IN)--One man has died as the result of a Wayne County crash.  The accident happened on Friday morning when Cheryl Volke lost control of her SUV on Old State Route 122 between Boston and the state line.  The vehicle rolled over several times.  She was not seriously hurt.  But a passenger, Thomas Volke, was taken to a Level One trauma center.  He died from his injuries Sunday.  Investigators have not determined what caused the crash.

WOMAN JAILED FOR DOMESTIC INCIDENT INVOLVING A SHOTGUN

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond woman was jailed Monday morning after allegedly holding a male victim at the business end of a Mossberg 12-guage shotgun.  Police say 28-year-old Kaycie Mattias held the shotgun on the victim while they were inside an SUV near South 13th and T Streets.  The incident began at Mattias’ home on North West 3rd.  She apparently threw the shotgun out of the SUV’s window as police arrived.  It appeared initially to officers that the gun had been fired, but no one was hurt.  Mattias has been charged with criminal recklessness.

RCS ENROLLMENT: 777 LESS THAN A DECADE AGO

(Richmond, IN)--Enrollment numbers are in for the Richmond Community School system.  RCS is continuing its trend of decreasing enrollment.  According to newly-released figures, Richmond is down to 4732 students.  That’s 43 fewer students than were enrolled in the spring.  In the last five years, RCS’s enrollment has dropped by 740 students.  Ten years ago, the system had 777 more students than it does today.

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