(Whitewater Valley)--Kicks 96, 101.7 The Point, and 95.3 The Legend News has ranked the top local news stories of 2019 in a completely subjective and unscientific look back at the year that's coming to a close. Here they are:
#10 - The closure of Richmond's K-Mart after more that 40 years in business.
#9 - Phillips Drugs sues the city and other entities after water seeped into the building as a result of construction outside. That lawsuit is still pending.
#8 - RP&L announced that it will have to clean up coal ash that has accumulated for decades on the property at a cost of up to $55 million.
#7 - After years of controversy and dispute, a decision was made to treat wastewater at the Indiana Gateway Industrial Park on-site. The expanded treatment capacity will allow growth at both SugarCreek, the park's largest tenant, and will allow the EDC to market the park to future tenants.
#6 - Wayne County's EDC assumed control of the now-vacant Elder-Beerman building in downtown Richmond.
#5 - Reid Health purchased multiple large properties across the area, including office buildings in Cambridge City, the former County Market building in Richmond, and the former K-Mart building in Eaton.
#4 - In mid-June, multiple tornados touched down locally. One of those did heavy damage at the Richmond Mall. Some tenants had to remain closed for months to allow for repair.
#3 - Fayette Regional Health System in Connersville went up for auction. Reid Health was the successful bidder. Reid assumed control under the name Reid Health Connersville.
#2 - Dave Snow was reelected Richmond mayor, even after an election-night snafu left some ballots uncounted.
#1 - After years of snarled traffic and loss of revenue to downtown merchants, a ceremony was held in mid-July to formally announce the complete of a downtown Richmond road construction project.