(Wayne County, IN)--The Wayne County Drug Task Force has arrested eight alleged drug dealers already this week.  On Monday, the Task Force charged Bernard George and Brandon Doyle and arrested Vincent Boddie and Tallis McCoy.  Then, Tuesday, Brent Hicks, Carlotta Wilkerson and Roger Maiola of Richmond and Rebecca Powell of Centerville were all jailed.  The eight are accused of dealing heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and other controlled substances.

(Richmond, IN)--Reid Health has organized an event to help the 3000-plus Wayne County residents who are enrolled in Obamacare.  Lots of questions exist for local residents who are unsure about enrollment next year.  Reid just recently reached an agreement with MDwise regarding ACA coverage.  The event has been set for December 8 from 3-6 p.m. at Reid to help residents enroll.  Participants should bring a photo ID and other legal documentation.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Police Department is once again looking for people who are interested in becoming officers.  According to a release from Major Jon Bales, RPD wants candidates with a strong desire to serve Richmond.  The hiring process begins with a test at Ivy Tech beginning Thursday.  Applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 35, have a high school diploma and must have never been convicted of a felony.  For more information, call RPD headquarters at 983-7247.

(Whitewater Valley)--Did you notice the odd smell in the air Monday night?  Some in our area said smelled like burning rubber.  Others told dispatchers they smelled smoke.  What the smell was was smoke from wildfires that are burning in the eastern half of Tennessee.  On Tuesday morning, areas near Pigeon Forge are being evacuated.  That’s 464 miles from Richmond as the crow flies, but the fires are big enough and the winds were strong enough to smell it here Monday night.  Those winds caused power outages overnight in our area.  Power was fully restored by 5 o'clock Tuesday morning.  Several trees across the area were also blown down.

(Richmond, IN)--For more than month, someone has been shooting a laser from the old Reid Hospital building in Richmond into the windshields of cars passing on Chester Boulevard.  Now, four people have been arrested.  Two teenagers and two other men, all from Englewood, have been charged with criminal trespass.  The four also threw items off the roof of old Reid.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man woke up in the Wayne County Jail Tuesday morning after having been arrested Monday night on several drug-related charged. RPD officers found 20-year-old Jaden Berry on North 24^th just off of New Paris Pike Monday night.  Berry was allegedly in possession of both methamphetamine and marijuana.  He was also charged with dealing meth.  Berry was also caught in a large drug sweep in Richmond a year and a half ago.

(Winchester, IN)--On Monday, we told you that Fountain City residents Ricky Maddox and Sarah Bauer had been arrested for using a box truck to steal items from Winchester’s Walmart.  But we didn’t tell you how they were caught.  Police were alerted because one of them butt-dialed 911 and were overheard arguing in the truck.  They were freed from jail, but were caught again Monday when they allegedly tried to pass off bad checks at a Pack-a-Sack in Randolph County.

(Richmond, IN and Eaton, OH)--Law enforcement officers in Wayne and Preble County are on the lookout for a man accused of stealing a brand-new car from a veteran who had not even made the first payment.  And, they say the suspect posted a picture of himself in the stolen car on Facebook.  Craig Culler of Eaton posted the picture and put his location in Richmond.  The car is a 2016 black Chrysler.  Culler was indicted last month for possessing heroin.

(Eaton, OH)--Emergency medical care continues to improve in Preble County.  Now, MedFlight and the Kettering Health Network will have an emergency helicopter base at the Preble County Medical Center on Washington-Jackson Road on the northwest side of Eaton.  It was just over a year ago that the emergency center opened.  A helicopter will be based in Eaton in the next two months while the base is being constructed.

(Richmond, IN)--Fire caused $40,000 worth of damage to a home on South L Street in Richmond Sunday morning.  It broke out at around 10:30 after someone walking near South 13^th noticed the smoke.  No one was home at the time, although firefighters originally thought someone was inside.  The fire started in a bedroom.  The exact cause has not yet been released.

(Richmond, IN)--The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce has drafted a statement against wind turbines.  A draft of a position letter cites a variety of reasons to oppose wind energy.  Those concerns include effects on the environment and decreased property values.  Mainly, though, the Chamber is concerned about a 50-year lease.  If the company were to fail, the county could be left will dozens of tall, non-operational turbines.

(Hagerstown, IN)--Hagerstown will ban wind turbines.  As the debate about wind energy heats up in Wayne County, the Hagerstown Town Council indicated this week that it would enact a zoning change that will ban the 150-foot tall turbines in the two-mile fringe that surrounds the town.  A current map shows proposed turbines to the north and west of Hagerstown.  Town representatives plan to meet with Wayne County officials on December 5 to encourage a similar county-wide ban.

(Richmond, IN)--There was a report of an armed robbery in the parking lot of Chuck’s Sports Bar in Richmond early Thursday morning.  A suspect described as a white male wearing camouflage pulled a gun on a female victim and took her purse and phone.  The man then fled to the east on foot.  Police stopped a couple of people who loosely matched the description but did not make an arrest.  The victim was not hurt.

(Wayne County, IN)--Wayne County had modest decreases in the last month in both the number of people who are working and the number of people who are unemployed.  The number for both is about 120.  From a year ago, though, increases are notable.  Wayne County’s workforce has increased by 996 people.  And, 1185 more people are working than were at this time last year.  Unemployment rates have taken a dramatic drop in the Whitewater Valley.  Wayne County’s rate is down to 4%.  That’s more than a full percentage point down from where it was two months ago.  Other area counties are even lower.  Randolph, Franklin, and Darke County are down to 3.7%.  Union County is lower still…3.4%.  Even Fayette County, which traditionally has one of the highest rates in Indiana, is down to 5.1%.

A strike by pilots for a cargo airline could impact your holiday gift delivery if it continues. Pilots for A-B-X Air went on strike Tuesday in Wilmington, Ohio, just south of Dayton. The airline carries packages for Amazon and D-H-L. The pilots are represented by the Teamsters Union, which says the airline is understaffed. The union also says pilots are not given comp time off when they are forced to work extra days.

(RICHMOND)- Richmond High School students will now get a P-E credit for participating in summer band. The Richmond Community School Board approved the updated physical education policy unanimously this week. Students have to earn two P-E credits to graduate, and under the new policy, they can earn them through summer marching band as well as a full season of sports or cheerleading.

(Richmond, IN)--At Monday night’s meeting of Richmond Common Council, a committee was formed to look into trash rates.  Council member Jamie Lopeman, who had expressed his concern that rates are based on assessed home values, will head the committee.  Also, Mayor Dave Snow provided a recap of the trip he took to Japan with EDC CEO Valerie Shaffer.  Snow called the trip both busy and productive, with visits to 11 different businesses and a university.  Snow also told council there was a lot of talk about future investments.

(Richmond, IN)--There was a robbery with an injury outside of Suncall America in Richmond late Monday night.  Police were called to the 500 block of Industrial Parkway.  There, they found a large amount of blood and later located the victim, who had gone back inside.  When that person was taken to Reid Health, doctors were working to see if the victim had been shot or pistol-whipped in the head.  Police were searching for the female driver of a newer red Dodge Ram that was occupied by one other person.  There are people of interest in the case.  The victim was recovering Tuesday morning.

(Brookville, IN)--The town of Brookville is looking for Christmas decorations to put on the lawn of the Franklin County Courthouse.  There’s been a long battle over whether or not a Nativity scene can be displayed.  It can.  But, to satisfy a federal agreement, a group of atheists from Wisconsin, and the politically correct, other non-religious Christmas displays must also appear…things like reindeer, snowmen, candy canes, and lights.  Donations of those items can be dropped off at the Franklin County government center.

(Winchester, IN)--69 members of the Winchester High School marching band were waking up on the east coast Tuesday morning.  They’re touring New York Tuesday and will arrive in Philadelphia Wednesday as they get set to march in that city’s Thanksgiving Day parade.  It’s the oldest Thanksgiving parade in the country.  Winchester will be the 8^th of 24 bands in the line-up.  You can watch it online on the website of Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate beginning at 8:30 Thursday morning.

(Richmond, IN)--One Richmond Common Council member is making a push for the city to examine its solid waste disposal system as a possible solution to the old Reid problem.  On social media this weekend, Jamie Lopeman pointed to the $5 million that is currently sitting in a fund that holds fees for waste collection.  Lopeman is suggesting that the city examine privatizing the service.  He said advantages include a large upfront cash payment and reduced expenses to the city.  Lopeman pointed to another city that received $23 million when it privatized and wants to explore the possibility of using a similar payment to demolish and remove old Reid.  That cost is estimated at between $6 and $12 million.

(Richmond, IN)--Some Richmond business leaders and other concerned citizens are today offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible for a horrible case of animal cruelty.  A dog was left tied to a tree in the Whitewater Gorge in Richmond.  The dog had died by the time it was discovered.  The reward for information is now approaching $2000.  Call RPD if you can help.

(Richmond, IN)--On Tuesday, an Earlham College graduate will receive one of the nation’s highest honors.  Margaret Hamilton will be one of 21 people to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom award from President Barack Obama.  Hamilton graduated from Earlham in 1958 and went on to create the on-board flight software for NASA’s Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs.  Other recipients this year include Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Ellen DeGeneres, and Bruce Springsteen.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond woman was jailed Sunday night after a traffic stop turned up drugs, needles, and other drug paraphernalia.  30-year-old Amy Wiley was taken into custody in the first block of South 18^th Street.  Wiley was taken to the Wayne County Jail but has since been bonded out by a bondsman.  She has a history of drug-related arrests.

(Winchester, IN)--The young Winchester man who was struck by a train on Wednesday was continuing to recover at a Fort Wayne hospital Friday morning.  On Friday, the community will rally in support.  A bucket drive will take place Friday for Rony Warner at the town square in Winchester.  Rony had special needs before this week’s accident.  He’s undergone multiple surgeries to repair injuries to his extremities.  Proceeds from Friday’s drive will be used to build a wheelchair ramp at his home.

(New Paris, OH)--There was a shooting Friday morning just outside of New Paris.  Deputies were called to a home on School Lane Road, which is about a mile east of New Paris, at around 2 o’clock Friday morning.  The victim was found inside a truck.  He was alert and talking to investigators before being taken for medical treatment.  Deputies searched the exterior of a nearby home and found a suspect.  That person was taken to the Preble County Jail.  Names and other details about the shooting have not been released.

(Carmel, IN)--On Thursday, one of our own at Kicks 96 and 101.7 the Point was honored for his decades of service not only to the radio industry, but also to the local community.  Long-time General Manager Dave Strycker received the Tom Severino Leadership Award from the Indiana Broadcasters Association.  Community service is a large factor in determining the award’s recipient each year.

(Eaton, OH)--A suspected armed robber is back in the Whitewater Valley.  51-year-old Francis Sumner allegedly broke into a home on U.S. 35 between Eaton and New Hope in August and held an elderly man at gunpoint.  Sumner was captured in Connecticut and has just been extradited back to Preble County.  Sumner has also admitted to committing a second theft.  The elderly man was not hurt.

(Preble County, OH)--A Gasper Township firefighter was slightly injured while battling a fire that destroyed a Preble County home yesterday.  It broke out in the 4000 block of Silver Hart Road, which is just west of Lakengren.  The firefighter was injured while trying to jump back from a collapsing wall.  Two people were home when the fire broke out and made it out safely.  Fuel and ammunition in the basement made fighting the fire more difficult.  So did this..."We've got a lack of manpower.  Water resource is a big issue out here, so we had to do a defensive attack," said Gasper Township Fire Chief Larry Taylor.  The cause remains under investigation.

(Winchester, IN)--A pedestrian was struck by a train in Winchester Wednesday.  It happened at around 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon near North East Street and Railroad Avenue.  A person identified by his pastor as Rony Warner was flown by medical helicopter to Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital with a serious leg and other injuries.  A Lutheran Hospital spokesperson said Thursday morning that she had no information on Warner’s condition.

(Darke County, IN)--A West Alexandria woman was seriously injured in an overnight crash.  It happened on U.S. 127 just north of Castine in Darke County.  37-year-old Jena Garland was headed south on 127 when she drifted off the road and hit a utility pole.  Garland was Careflighted to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.  She was listed in stable condition Thursday morning.  Investigators are looking into what caused her to drift off the road.

(Richmond, IN)--Investigators in Richmond are working on a reported incident involving someone posing as a Child Protective Services agent.  According to police reports, a woman identified herself as a CPS agent, said she was there to investigate a complaint, and entered the home.  The home’s occupant became suspicious because the woman wandered around without checking the children’s rooms and left.  The home’s occupant claims she was informed that there had been similar incidents recently.  The phony CPS agent was described as an older black woman.

(Richmond, IN)--Three people were still in jail Wednesday morning after a brawl outside the Marsh supermarket on National Road West in Richmond Tuesday.  It began with a man attacking a female in a car in the parking lot.  Employees and bystanders jumped in to try to break it up and sustained minor injuries.  The three people involved were arrested a short distance away.  They were identified as 20-year-old Morgan Cavanaugh of Atlanta, 22-year-old Chance Duarte of Richmond, and 20-year-old Ronnie White of Richmond.  Cavanaugh is also charged with battery on a police officer.

(Preble County, OH)--There was a suspected mountain lion roaming in Preble County.  But, when the Ohio DNR investigated, they determined it was a different kind of cat.  The DNR looked at images captured on hunting cameras and determined that there are several bobcats living in an area off Bantas Creek Road between Eaton and West Alexandria.  And, while you don’t hear much about bobcats in this area, they’re here.  The DNR said that bobcats live in all 88 Ohio counties.

(Eaton, OH)--There will be no early release from prison for former Preble County Historical Director Jane Lightner.  Lightner stole more than $75,000 over several years from the society and was sentenced to a year and a half in prison.  Lightner’s attorney filed a motion for her early release.  Judge David Abruzzo has denied that motion.  Lightner has roughly another year to serve at the Dayton Correctional Institution.

(Richmond, IN)--The man who held police at bay for about three hours and forced a delay of all Richmond Community Schools Monday remained in the Wayne County Jail Monday morning.  22-year-old Anthony Smith fired shots inside his own home in the 200 block of South 14^th with his sister and her infant inside.  Smith initially refused to cooperate with officers, but eventually surrendered without incident.  He’s currently due in court in January on an unrelated battery charge and has previous drug and alcohol convictions.

(Richmond, IN)--The two Richmond teenagers who were spotted inside Richmond High School Monday – where they did not belong – remained in the Wayne County Jail Tuesday morning.  19-year-olds Isaiah Peyton and Dereck Hogg allegedly showed up to confront a student as part of an ongoing dispute.  School officials thought they may have been armed, although no weapons were found.  In a completely unrelated case, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department last week investigated a complaint of a student possessing child pornography at Community Youth Services, which is the former Baxter Elementary building.

(Richmond, IN)--A 95-year-old woman was leaving a church near Uptown Richmond when her purse was snatched and she was knocked to the ground Sunday.  Another parishioner saw it happened and chased the assailant down.  Richmond police were able to arrest 26-year-old Damien Carter.  Carter was in the Wayne County Jail Monday morning.  The 95-year-old woman was taken to Reid Health to be checked out.  She had some bruises and was sore, but was otherwise okay.  Her purse was recovered.

Jeff Lane is reporting from the scene of the police situation on Richmond's East Side. Jeff reports that the suspect has been lead out of the home after the SWAT Team entered. Hear his report below

(Winchester, IN)--The funeral home director in Winchester who admitted to sexually assaulting a female client was formally charged Thursday.  An initial hearing has now been set for next Thursday for Thomas Oswalt.  New information in court documents Thursday indicated that Oswalt was working with a 22-year-old woman whose mother had just died.  While she was in one room of the funeral home, he went to another room and texted her the words “you’re so freakin' hot.”  He then returned and, as he stated in a later text, "put his hands on the merchandize."  Oswalt faces up to two years behind bars.

(Richmond, IN)--Getting across Richmond’s east side has been anything but easy for the last couple of days.  The construction that has delayed traffic on East Main Street and National Road East will continue Friday.  It’s part of an INDOT project that will repave that road from 11^th Street to the state line.  There will be lane closures again Friday.  The entire project, according to INDOT’s website, won’t be totally complete until August of next year.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond teenager was taken into custody Thursday after he was found to be in possession of a stolen handgun.  18-year-old Tyshaun Ogle was in the Wayne County Jail Friay morning after officers found Ogle and the stolen gun in an alley in the 400 block betwee South 10^th and 11^th Thursday afternoon.  Ogle also allegedly resisted arrest.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police are searching for someone who robbed a taxi driver early Wednesday morning.  The suspect had contacted the cab company for a ride.  When they were in the area of North West 1^st and Lincoln Street, the cab driver was robbed.  He was not injured.  A description of the suspect has not been released.  The cab driver declined to speak about the incident Thursday morning.

(Randolph County, IN)--A Randolph County home was destroyed by fire late Wednesday night.  It broke out at a home near State Road 28 in the Ridgeville area of northern Randolph County.  The house was fully involved when the first companies arrived.  Some of those crews were on the scene for several hours.  There was no initial report of any injuries, and there’s no word yet on what started the fire.

(Whitewater Valley)--How did local residents vote presidentially?  It was overwhelmingly in support of Trump.  In Wayne County, twice as many people voted for Trump as did for Clinton.  Preble County supported Trump with 75% of the vote.  Trump had more than four times as many votes as Clinton in Franklin County.  Results were similar in Union, Fayette, Randolph, and Darke County.  Interestingly, many people voted yesterday but decided not to cast a ballot for any presidential candidate.  That happened 850 times in Wayne County.

(Whitewater Valley)--Wayne County’s voter turnout was the best it’s been in the last 20 years.  60% of registered voters cast ballots.  The majority of those people voted early.  Just shy of 10,000 Wayne County residents voted Tuesday, but 16,000 voted before that.  Voter turnout in Ohio counties was significantly better.  Preble and Darke County turned out 75%.  Butler County had 70%.  In Indiana, Randolph County had a 59% turnout, Union County had 56%.

(Whitewater Vallety)--

WAYNE:  Wayne County Clerk Debbie Berry easily won one of just a handful of contested local races.   In local school board races, Todd Duke won a seat in Centerville.  Sarah Potter won a seat over Alan Bertsch at Western Wayne 57-43%.   And, at Northeastern, Chris Dingwerth defeated Carey Martin 65-35%.

UNION:  There were only a couple of contested races in Union County.  In a race for county commissioner, David Woeste won over Jim Hensley by a 55-45% margin.  And, for county council at large, Jeff Adams was the top vote-getter followed by Chris Rosenberger and Bonnie Adams.  Only one vote separated those two.

PREBLE:  Here are some results from Preble County.  Chris Day won in a race for county commissioner over Joseph Renner 63-37%.  A levy to construct a new Preble Shawnee school went down to defeat 53-47%.  Levies passed in Eaton, West Alexandria, and Lewisburg but went down to defeat in Camden.

RANDOLPH:  In Randolph County, county council at large winners included Gary Friend, David Lenkensdofer, and Ted Martin.  Randolph Central school board winners were Dallas Osting and Jay Harris.  Randolph Eastern school board winners were Wendy Smith and Linda Puccini.

(Wayne County, IN)--At least a third of Wayne County’s 43,000 registered voters will not be going to the polls Tuesday.  That’s because those 15,000 people have already cast their ballots.  Here’s a number that shows just how enthusiastic Wayne County has been.  As many people have already voted in this general election in Wayne County as voted in the primary in May – including on Election Day.  Only seven other Indiana counties can make that claim.  But, the number of registered voters is dropping rapidly.  Wayne County has 8000 less registered voters than it did in 2008.

(Richmond, IN)--IU East has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.  It’s the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.  IU East had just shy of 1600 students last year who engaged in almost 64,000 hours of community service.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police investigated prostitution incidents in two locations Monday and ultimately arrested two people.  There was an initial complaint in the problem area of 13^th and East Main.  Then, Monday night at Freeman Park, RPD arrested 22-year-old Sinsara Tevis for prostitution.  49-year-old Edward Gray of Richmond was charged with solicitation.  He has bonded out of jail.  Tevis was still there Tuesday morning.

(Union County, IN)--Details were released Monday of a tragic accident in Union County that claimed the life of a four-year-old girl.  Two children were playing in a grain wagon at a farm on Still House Hollow Road near Brookville Lake when they became trapped.  Ayla Wollyung was Aircared to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.  The other child was not seriously hurt.  A family member has started a gofundme account to help offset Ayla’s funeral expenses.

(Richmond, IN)--A wanted Richmond drug dealer turned himself into police Tuesday morning.  50-year-old Robert Vansickle walked into the Wayne County Jail at 3 o’clock Tuesday morning and indicated that he knew there was a warrant for his arrest.  Vansickle now lists a Centerville address.  It’s the same address as 21-year-old Zach Vansickle, who is also being held on charges that include auto theft, residential entry, and domestic battery.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Mayor Dave Snow and EDC CEO Valerie Shaffer are headed to Japan later this week.  They’ll join a group of other East Central Indiana leaders on a trip that will take them to five Japanese companies that are currently operating in Wayne County, including TBK and Suncall America.  It’s been seven years since Richmond leaders have visited Japan, and this trip is a goodwill mission.  The cost of the trip was budgeted by the EDC at $15,000.  Snow and Shaffer will head out Thursday and will be gone for a week.

(West College Corner, IN)--A tragic accident in Union County Sunday has claimed the life of a juvenile.  Details have not yet been released by the sheriff’s department, but initial reports indicate the juvenile died in a farming accident in a silo in the West College Corner area.  That juvenile’s name and the circumstances surrounding the incident are expected to be released later in the day Monday.

(Spiceland, IN)--Law enforcement officers in Henry County have still released very few details of a fatal shooting that happened near Spiceland Sunday morning.  One person was shot and killed.  Two others were injured.  Shortly after that shooting was reported, scanner traffic indicated that someone was taken to Reid Health with multiple gunshot wounds.  Investigators have not said whether or not the two incidents are connected.  The Henry County coroner said Sunday night he was not involved in the investigation of any fatal shooting.  Names have not been released.

(Richmond, IN)--Shots were fired into a car in Richmond over the weekend.  It happened in the 2200 block of Glen Court early Saturday morning.  Officers found multiple shell casings and a vehicle with multiple bullet holes.  It’s not the first time it’s happened to the same victim.  It also happened in the same block where a wanted cocaine dealer lives.  50-year-old Robert Vansickle, who lives in the 2200 block of Glen Court, is now being sought after failing to show up for a plea and sentencing hearing last week.  Vansickle was originally arrested for dealing cocaine last year.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police were called to the west-side Family Video store Thursday night on the report of a woman in her pajamas who was described as very high.  Although she was not found, police did find a man who had allegedly just stolen multiple videos.  Police also found prescription medication on 36-year-old Brian Petitt of Richmond.  He was in the Wayne County Jail Friday morning.  RPD recovered videos that included Tarzan and Captain America.

(Connersville, IN)--If you’d like to work for one of our area’s largest employers, mark Wednesday the 16^th on your calendar.  Miami University will be holding a job fair that day at the John H. Miller Community Center at Roberts Park in Connersville.  A large variety of both full and part-time jobs will be available.  About 2600 people work at the main Miami campus in Oxford.  2200 of those work full time.

(Eaton, OH)--There’s plenty of confusion over cameras that are located above traffic lights in Eaton.  On Thursday, Eaton police issued a statement to clarify that those cameras are not red light or speeding cameras.  They’re only there to help regulate traffic flow.  No photos are taken and no images are stored.  That’s not the case in the town of New Miami in Butler County about ten miles south of the Preble County line.  If you speed there, you will not be pulled over.  But, you will get a ticket in the mail for $95.

(Richmond, IN)--Officials at Reid Health say that Rex Bell was no longer a patient Thursday morning.  Bell is the Hagerstown resident who is also Indiana’s Libertarian candidate for governor.  He was rushed to Reid Wednesday night when he became ill during an interview in Richmond.  Bell’s campaign issued a statement saying that he was undergoing testing, but did not discuss the nature of his medical issue.

(Richmond, IN)--Two Richmond men were brought to police headquarters Wednesday night and subsequently arrested for robbery and theft.  20-year-old Dustin Dunaway and 18-year-old Dylan Stevens were both in the Wayne County Jail Thursday morning.  Details of their alleged robbery have not been released.  Dunaway had just posted on his Facebook page Wednesday “Headed to court.  Wish me luck.”

(Connersville, IN)--There is another mistake on Fayette County ballots.  Recently, a spelling error was discovered on a county council candidate’s name.  Now, officials have learned that voters from Waterloo Township in State Senate District 27 have actually been casting votes for District 42.  The error was discovered when County Clerk Melinda Sudhoff was casting her own ballot.  The company that operates the software for voting machines has taken responsibility for the mistake.

(Connersville, IN)--The fight over wind farms is far from over, despite Fayette County Council’s passage this week of a two-year extension of Nextera Energy Resource’s tax abatement.  40 turbines are proposed for northern Fayette County.  A growing number of concerned citizens are calling West Fork Wind Energy a shadow LLC that folds in response to any legal injunction so that they don’t have to fight in court.  West Fork is the third LLC that Nextera has formed in Fayette County.

(Fayette County, IN)--A body was found in a Fayette County farm field Tuesday.  A farmer who was harvesting corn found the body in extreme southwestern Fayette County.  The body is believed to be that of 34-year-old Danielle Holt of Connersville.  Holt has been missing for nearly two weeks.  She voluntarily left her home after being involved in a domestic dispute.  A deputy, at the time of that investigation, said that she did not appear to be suicidal or under the influence of drugs.  An autopsy will take place Wednesday to determine the cause of death.

(Richmond, IN)--The website Wallethub has released its list of Best Small Cities in America in each state.  How did Richmond rank?  In a word, horribly.  The website considered 30 metrics, including economic health, affordability, and quality of life.  According to the rankings, the only Indiana city worse than Richmond is Gary.  Richmond ranked in the 5^th percentile, meaning that 95% of small cities nationally are better.

(Richmond, IN)--The Wayne County Drug Task Force made two prostitution arrests at two different Richmond hotels Tuesday.  27-year-old April Sims of Fountain City, who’s also known as Tuesday, was arrested first Tuesday at the Richmond Inn and Suites on East Main.  Then, officers arrested 29-year-old Sara Whitehead at the Econo Lodge on Commerce Drive.  Both arrests were the result of investigations by officers posing as johns.  Sims was still in jail Wednesday morning.  Whitehead had bonded out.

(Richmond, IN)--A South Carolina man was in the Wayne County Jail Wednesday morning after having been arrested Tuesday night for dealing drugs at a Richmond hotel.  41-year-old Terrence “Alshaun” Jones was found at the Days Inn on National Road East in Richmond.  Investigators also found heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and a large amount of cash.  The arrest was the result of an investigation by the Wayne County Drug Task Force.

(Whitewater Valley)--Figures have been released showing how much and to which presidential candidate Whitewater Valley residents have donated.  Richmond residents have donated just over $17,000 to the campaigns.  54% of that money has gone to Donald Trump.  Winchester was the strongest area Trump supporter with 59% of its $1200 going to Trump.  The strongest area Hillary Clinton town is Brookville.  She’s gotten 72% of Brookville’s $1300.  Connersville and Liberty residents were essentially split down the middle.

(Wayne County, IN)--Monday was the first day that vote centers were open in Wayne County.  A total of 2273 people cast ballots at one of four locations.  That’s a seven percent increase from the last presidential election of 2012.  The four vote centers are the Kuhlman Center and First English Lutheran Church in Richmond, the Golay Center in Cambridge City, and the New Testament Church in Hagerstown.  All four are open from 10 until 7 each day this week.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond armed robber is now wanted again.  27-year-old John Wilkie Junior failed to show up at a plea and sentencing hearing Monday.  In April, Wilkie pointed a handgun at an employee of La Mexicana Mini Mart and demanded cash.  He also robbed Hornak’s Liquor, a Village Pantry, and an employee of Lee’s Famous Recipe.  He was supposed to plead guilty to file felonies Monday, but is now on the loose.  A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

(Winchester, IN)--Formal charges are pending against a Randolph County funeral home director.  42-year-old Tommy Oswalt was booked into the Randolph County Jail ten days ago and charged with sexual battery.  Details of the case were released Monday.  Oswalt allegedly improperly touched a 22-year-old woman who was trying to make funeral arrangements for her mother.  He then sent the victim several text messages that were described as lewd and inappropriate.   Oswalt is the owner and operator of the Oswalt Family Funeral Home in Winchester.