(Richmond, IN)--Fire did heavy damage to a building at Pardo’s Towing on U.S. 35 just north of I-70 Tuesday morning.  It was a little before 8 o’clock when firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the office building and were able to get the fire out in about 20 minutes.  There was extensive water and smoke damage.  Pardo’s indicated later in the day Tuesday that it would operate temporarily from a location at North West 5^th and Progress Drive.  There were no injuries.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(Richmond, IN)--Indiana’s Department of Child Services issued more information on Wernle Youth and Family Services Tuesday.  Wernle on Sunday indicated that it would discontinue its residential services for at-risk youth.  Tuesday, a representative of DCS indicated that it had notified Wernle last Friday that it intends to revoke Wernle’s licenses in 30 days.  DCS also said Tuesday that Wernle has the right to pursue an administrative appeal that could impact the timeline.  Wernle made no mention of filing any appeal.  Wernle had been under the scrutiny of DCS for the last five years based on numerous calls for police service, runaways, and other issues.

(Richmond, IN)--An employee of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department is now accused of trafficking with an inmate.  According to court documents, 24-year-old Adrian Blanton became involved in a deal to bring one hundred suboxone strips into the jail and deliver them to inmate Shawn Farrow for $2000.  Jail phone calls from Farrow were confirmed to set up a drop of cash at Blanton’s home.  The incidents happened last summer, but charges were filed last week.  An initial hearing has not been set.

(Wayne County, IN)--There was a serious accident late Monday afternoon involving an Amish buggy.  It happened at around 4 o’clock on U.S. 35 at Ora Pitts Road between Webster and Williamsburg.  Scanner traffic indicated a vehicle struck the buggy.  One person was unconscious at the scene.  Careflight was contacted but was unable to fly.  Two people were sent to Reid Health.  There was no word Tuesday morning on their identities or conditions.

(Richmond, IN)--Wayne Bank’s new Richmond location is now open.  Monday was the first day of operations in Wayne Bank’s new location on Garwood Road near Galo’s Italian Grill.  The bank had operated at its previous location just to the north of the new building for more than four decades.  The Chamber of Commerce will recognize the opening in an event late Tuesday.

(Wayne County, IN)--A child died as the result of a Wayne County house fire that broke out Sunday afternoon.  It happened at around 3 o’clock in the 4700 block of South Centerville Road.  Numerous first responders from multiple agencies responded and made rescue efforts, but the fire had become too widespread and intense.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office will be on the scene Monday to try to determine the cause of the fire as the investigation continues.  Although the family’s identity has not yet been released by Wayne County officials, a gofundme account that has been established identify two of the surviving children as Natalie and Mattias Hemlin. In addition to the gofundme account, clothing donations are being requested.

(Richmond, IN)--After five years of sanctions from the state’s Department of Child Services, Wernle Youth and Family Treatment Center announced over the weekend that it will cease to have residential placements next month.  In the statement, Wernle blames the post-pandemic labor market for an inability to maintain required ratios between staff and residents.  In reality, though, Wernle’s issues began before Covid.  The state had requested a corrective plan of action based on numerous fights, calls for police service, and runaways in the fall of 2019.  The following spring, DCS cited what it called "a serious lack of administrative intervention” and a “failure to comply” when it restricted the number of youth referrals.  Wernle was again placed on probation this past November as the number of juvenile residents continued to decline.  That number was down to either one or two Monday morning.  Wernle’s weekend statement said that it will continue to provide outpatient service while evaluating its workforce and determining how many employees it can retain.

(Eaton, OH)--A 40-year-old man was critically injured when he was hit by a train in Eaton on Saturday.  Eaton Police Chief Steve Hurd said that first responders were sent at around 3:45 Saturday afternoon to the area of Wadsworth and Vine Streets on the report that a pedestrian was struck by a train.  The man was walking on the tracks and investigators believe the incident was accidental.  He is currently listed in critical but stable condition.  His identity has not been released.

(Wayne County, IN)--Statistics were released Thursday that highlight just how critical the role is that Wayne County dispatchers play.  On average last year, there was a call to 911 every five minutes around the clock.  Almost 99% of those calls were answered in ten seconds or less.  That’s well above the industry average of 90%.  On average, there were 153 calls every day for police service and 45 calls daily for fire and EMS.

(Wayne County, IN)--There’s been an across-the-board drop in unemployment rates for Indiana counties in the Whitewater Valley.  According to new numbers from the state Thursday, Wayne County’s unemployment rate has dropped to 2.9%. This marks the first time Wayne County has been under three percent unemployment since last April.  Much of the reason for the drop, though, is that Wayne County has had more than 350 people drop out of the labor force in the last month.  Union County now has our area’s lowest unemployment at 2.4%.

(Winchester, IN)--Two Winchester residents were hospitalized after a house fire early Thursday morning.  It broke out in the pre-dawn hours at a house on West Franklin Street.  First responders cut a hole in a bedroom wall to get the two residents out of the burning house.  The female resident was sent to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.  The male resident was admitted for smoke inhalation.  There’s no word yet on the cause of the fire.

(Richmond, IN)--Multiple people close to the situation at Wernle Youth and Family Services in Richmond have indicated this week that the downward spiral at that organization is continuing.  Recently, according to an Indiana Department of Child Services spokesperson, Wernle was formally placed on probation by the state.  That probation meant that operations would be closely monitored with surprise inspections as often as once a week.   This week, DCS returned to Wernle and removed more children.  Earlier this month, DCS indicated Wernle was down to just nine children.  DCS has not yet indicated how many more were removed this week or exactly why the removal took place.  Wernle has not responded to contacts regarding the probationary status.

(Richmond, IN)--There was a lengthy meeting of Richmond’s Board of Zoning Appeals Wednesday, and much of the discussion centered on the proposed development of an area near South 37^th and Backmeyer Road.   The development would include 178 new homes and up to 250 apartments.  There would be four different types and sizes of single-family homes.  The land was purchased by an LLC formed by Reid Health due to what Reid said was a need for mid-range housing.  After Wednesday's public comment, the issue goes back to Richmond Common Council.

(Wayne County, IN)--A house in a rural area between Abington and Milton was destroyed by fire Wednesday.  It broke out at around 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon at a home in the 9900 block of Chapel Road.  Multiple western Wayne County agencies responded, but the house had become fully involved.  No injuries were reported.  Family members of the residents are indicating that the home and its contents are a total loss.  There’s no word yet on what started the fire.  (Photo:  Speak Out Scanners)

(Eaton, OH)--The city of Eaton has passed an emergency ordinance that places a nine-month moratorium on cannabis operators inside the city limits.  Last November, a statewide issue passed that allows for the recreational use of marijuana.  Council members indicated that the reason for the moratorium was to allow the city time to determine if usage can be regulated.  Council also declared the ordinance an emergency measure.  Many other Ohio communities have issued marijuana moratoriums similar to what has now been issued in Eaton.

(Laurel, IN)--An escapee from the Fayette County Community Corrections program was captured Tuesday.  Investigators say that early Tuesday morning, 35-year-old Vincent Brown cut off his ankle monitoring device.  They received information that Brown had gone to a house on Little Duck Creek Road in Laurel.  SWAT responded and took Brown into custody after a 90-minute standoff.  Brown has a lengthy criminal record that includes seven different felony cases in the last ten years.

Greenville, OH)--Roads reopened at around 2 o’clock Wednesday morning in the area of Tuesday’s train derailment in Greenville.   At around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon, a train derailed near the junction of Highways 49 and 571.  The train included three tanker fully loaded with ethanol.  No one was hurt and there was no evacuation.  Here’s a Greenville firefighter:  "There were no leaks.  This is a low-hazard incident." Crews will be back in the area Wednesday to make repairs to the track.  The EPA will also be arriving Wednesday to conduct an investigation.

(Hagerstown, IN)--You may remember back in 2019, when longtime Hagerstown football coach and teacher Tom Drake was arrested for sexual misconduct with a minor.  Drake, who was 68 at the time, was accused of inappropriately touching a female student who was 14 at the time in a classroom.  Four and a half years later, Drake was supposed to have finally gone on trial yesterday.  That trial was delayed again…not for the first time or the fifth or even the tenth.  According online court records, this was the 22^nd time Drake’s trial has been delayed.  Prosecutors objected to the delay.  Now, the new trial date is in September.

(Centerville, IN)--A long-time member of Centerville Fire and Rescue was recognized Monday for his decades of service.  After 44 years with the department, Chief Dennis Spears entered retirement.   In a radio transmission to fellow first responders, Spears was recognized for his dedication and commitment to the community.  Spears began his career at the age of 22 and rose up the ranks, serving as chief for 23 years.

(Wayne County, IN)--There was a lot of concern Monday and Monday night about the conditions of area roadways Tuesday morning with the possibility of freezing rain in the forecast.  Mike Sharp with the Wayne County Highway Department was out monitoring conditions early Tuesday morning.  And, he said, it was not nearly as bad as it could’ve been.  "For the most part, it's just kind of wet roads.  The farther north you go, there's a little bit of slushiness on the bridges.  But, it's very driveable," Sharp said.  By 6 o’clock Tuesday morning, there had been no weather-related crashes anywhere in the Whitewater Valley.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man celebrated his 95^th birthday on Saturday, but that might not have been the case had it not been for an alert newspaper carrier last week.  Last Monday night at around 7:30, when the temperature was 2 degrees, Bill Denny slipped in his driveway, hit his head, and lay unconscious.  The then-94-year-old laid on his back in the cold until 2 o’clock the next morning – about six and a half hours – until carrier Heidi Lipscomb noticed him and called for help.  Denny was taken to Reid Health to be treated for frostbite.  Doctors said that if Denny had been exposed to the cold for another hour, he likely would not have survived.

(Brookville, IN)--A Brookville man is accused of operating a type of Ponzi scheme through the growing sport of pickleball.  The alleged victims of Rodney Grubbs are from not only the Whitewater Valley, but across the country.  According to the Indiana Secretary of State’s office, Grubbs operated pickleball tournaments through a company called Pickleball Rocks and solicited people to invest $10,000 into his operation with promised of a 12% return.  Rather than pay the return, Grubbs convinced many of them to invest more money.  He has been issued a cease and desist order.

(Richmond, IN)--Ivy Tech in Richmond is collaborating with a new employer as that company works toward getting its operation off the ground.  Liberation Labs announced about a year ago that it would set up shop in the Midwest Industrial Park and produce bio-based proteins.  Ivy Tech is now developing a new bionmanufacturing workforce training program specifically to equip Liberation Labs with future employees.  The company expects to begin hiring in a couple of months.  Those new employees will then be brought on-site in late summer.

(Whitewater Valley)--Road crews were out Friday morning dealing with snow that continues to fall overnight.  "It's slick, but very driveable," said Mike Sharp with the Wayne County Highway Department at 6 a.m. Friday.  There were numerous school closings and delays.  Numerous crashes occurred across the area beginning late Thursday night.  A car went into a tree on Reservoir Road.  Two vehicles collided on South 13^th.  And, at about 4:30 Friday morning, a vehicle went off a bridge at Neuman Lake and Whitaker Roads near Milton.  In that crash, one person was sent to Reid Health.  And, at 5:45 Friday morning, there was an accident with injury on Pottershop Road just west of Abington.

(Eaton, OH)--A Richmond man was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison for causing a fatal mobile home fire on New Paris Pike last September.  Anthony Luker ignited fireworks that sparked a fire that killed 57-year-old Kenneth Doolin.  At sentencing, Preble County Assistant Prosecutor Eric Marit said that Luker could have tried to save Doolin.  Instead, he stole his car and fled.  Luker’s attorney claimed that Luker was remorseful and tried to take his own life shortly after the fire.

(Franklin County, IN)--A coroner Thursday positively identified human remains found earlier this week along the Whitewater River in Dearborn County as those of the woman who was swept away in floodwaters near Brookville last July.  53-year-old Virginia Pennington was staying in a cabin along Wolf Creek in Franklin County when flash flooding struck.  The remains were found about 20 miles downstream from where Pennington had been staying.  Hardy Harris was with Pennington and was also killed.

(Richmond, IN)--Here’s more on the development of a new residential neighborhood that’s planned for what is now a vacant area just south of the intersection of Backmeyer Road and South 37^th.  The development would include 178 new homes and up to 250 apartments.  That property was purchased and then resold by an LLC formed by Reid Health.  Reid issued a statement Wednesday saying that it "established the LLC and purchased land to be a conduit to help develop market-rate housing for our region, which is desperately needed."  Reid did not specifically answer a question about whether or not the previous city administration had declined to bond the project and what role the new administration has played.

(Wayne County, IN)--Richmond’s SWAT Team responded with Wayne and Randolph County deputies yesterday during a standoff on Helm Road near Williamsburg.  It began with the report that a man, who was later identified as 46-year-old Shaun Fields, had barricaded himself inside a home after firing shots.  SWAT converged on the home and took Fields into custody without incident.  He’s charged with domestic battery with a deadly weapon.  There’s no word on what led to the incident.

(Richmond, IN)--Wayne Superior Court I Judge Charles Todd has announced that he will not seek re-election.  Wednesday, a Richmond attorney and former Common Council member announced that he wants to fill that seat.  J. Clayton Miller, who most people know as Clay, indicated yesterday that his name will appear on the May primary ballot.  Miller’s entire legal career has been centered in Richmond.  He was a three-term member of council and served as its president.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council met Tuesday night with an introduction to an ordinance that would pave the way for a major new housing development.  It would be called Smith Hill and is planned for what is now a vacant area just south of the intersection of Backmeyer Road and South 37^th.  The development would include 178 new homes and up to 250 apartments.  There would be four different types and sizes of single-family homes.  The issue now goes to the Richmond Advisory Plan Commission next week and will then come back to Common Council, which will have the final say on zoning.

(Richmond, IN)--Fire did heavy damage to a home on Grand Boulevard in Richmond Tuesday.  Firefighters were called to the 2200 block of Grand Boulevard at around noon and encountered smoke coming from the upstairs.  "It quickly escalated into heavy brown smoke coming from the entire structure," said a Richmond battalion chief.  It took about an hour and a half to get it under control.  There were no injuries.  The cause remains under investigation.  The house is considered a total loss.

(Wayne County, IN)--A massive upgrade is coming to the Centerville Welcome Center on I-70.  That facility is now almost 50 years old.  The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced that it will close the welcome center for up to two years and invest $42 million into the project.  It will be a complete remodel.  When complete, it will feature interactive exhibits, a children’s play area, and a dog park – among other things.  The entire facility will have a basketball theme.  Groundbreaking is expected to take place sometime this fall.

(Richmond, IN)--Tuesday afternoon is when the Richmond Education Association – or teachers’ union – hosts a community forum in which a push will be made to establish an equity policy in Richmond Community Schools.  Here’s Debbie Carter from the REA’s Racial Equity Commission at a recent RCS Board meeting:  "We're ready to move on this.".  Equity policies, in general, push for equality of outcome over equality of opportunity.  She talked at the same recent Board meeting about where the policy would be applied.  "Things like curriculum selection, disciplinary and social justice practices, inclusion practices, and encourage diversity in every area," Carter said.  Tuesday afternoon’s meeting begins at 5:30 at Morrisson-Reeves Library.  It is open to the public.

(Hagerstown, IN)--Hagerstown has been picked to host the Little League state tournament coming up this summer.  Winning teams from ten districts across Indiana will be coming to Hagerstown in late July.  Two summers ago, the Hagerstown team made headlines when it advanced to the Little League World Series.  This was Coach Patrick Vinson then:  "Hagerstown is the best small-town community, but the communities around Hagerstown are so supportive."  The event will bring tens of thousands of dollars to the local economy with hotel and restaurant visits and more.  It’s the first time Hagerstown has held the event in 28 years.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond firefighters battled a garage fire overnight Monday night into Tuesday morning.  It broke out at around midnight near South 15^th and A.  Scanner traffic indicated that a camper and a power line had also become involved.  Here’s Battalion Chief Chris Chappell talking about the outbuilding:  "When the crews arrived, it was fully involved.  There was a small camper next to it.  It was also a complete loss.".  Crews had it under control in less than half an hour. The cause of the fire is under investigation.  No injuries were reported.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council meets Tuesday night and will deal with a few new ordinances.  One would change the zoning at 1300 Rose City Boulevard, which is the area that was once home to Wayne Works, to allow for a concrete production plant that is directly tied to the project to widen I-70 to three lanes in each direction.  Another ordinance on the agenda would also change zoning for multiple homes to be constructed in what’s now a vacant area of South 37^th just south of Backmeyer Road.  Tuesday night’s meeting begins at 7 and can be seen live on WCTV.

(Centerville, IN)--With the temperature hovering just above zero Sunday morning, Centerville dealt with widespread power outages.  At around 10 o’clock Sunday morning, Centerville Fire and Rescue issued a statement that the outages were in multiple parts of the town and that Fire Station #1 had been opened as a warming center.  An hour later, they issued a statement saying that power had been restored.  There’s no word on what caused the outage.

(Richmond, IN)--A man who committed an armed robbery in Richmond a few years ago was returned to the Wayne County Jail over the weekend and faces having his probation revoked.  Aidan McVicker held a 17-year-old girl at knifepoint at a home on South 4^th.  Also jailed in Richmond over the weekend was Kenneth Rogers, who is wanted in Decatur County on multiple drug charges and was wanted locally for failing to pay child support.

(Richmond, IN)--A major new development is coming to U.S. 40 at the state line.  The Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store has announced on its social media page that it is finalizing the purchase of property at the state line.  More specifically, Uranus is purchasing some of the New Creations buildings, including the large church building.  By the end of the year, Uranus is expected to employ a hundred people.  Plans call for a 15,000 square foot building and ten fuels stations.  Uranus has also purchased the large cross, which they say will remain in place.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond is getting a second Chipotle.  Tax filings and other documentation indicate that Chipotle will locate on Chester Boulevard next to the Meijer gas station.  There is no word yet on a projected opening date.  Richmond’s other Chipotle is on East Main near Elks Road.  There are also Chipotles in Greenville and Oxford.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Community Schools has delayed the launch of its new student ID program that will allow parents to track the exact location of their student as they travel to and from school on the bus.  Parent Patrol was supposed to have launched on Monday, but a notification to parents Wednesday said a delay will provide additional time for parents to update accounts.  There was no indication of when the program will now be launched.

(Connersville, IN)--There was a report of shots fired during a road rage incident in Connersville early Thursday morning.  According to scanner traffic, the occupants of one vehicle fired at another.  The complainant was able to relay the location of the vehicle to dispatchers, and it was stopped in the area of the 500 block of Eastern Avenue at around 12:30 Thursday morning.  Multiple juveniles were involved and there was no report of any injury.  There’s no word yet on what led to the incident.

(Wayne County, IN)--Wednesday night, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department released surveillance images of three people who are persons of interest in a burglary with the hope the public can help identify them.  Two of the people are male.  One is female.  They all appear to be in their 50’s or 60’s.  There was no mention of exactly where or when the burglary took place.

(Connersville, IN)--A Connersville man has pled guilty and been sentenced for attempted murder.  42-year-old Daniel Brack was sentenced to 25 years, but only half of that – at most – will be spent in state prison.  A year and a half ago, Brack broke into the home of a former girlfriend and attacked her with a knife.  She survived the attack.  Brack had initially denied his role but later admitted to his involvement.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Community School Board meets for the first time in 2024 Wednesday afternoon.  There are executive sessions before and after the public part of the meeting to discuss personnel issues and potential lawsuits.  The Board is also expected to approve a contract to replace the field turf at Lyboult Field.  Meanwhile, the REA – or teachers union – still has a public meeting scheduled for next week where they will make a push for an equity policy in Richmond schools.

(Richmond, IN)--More sanctions have come againstWernle Youth and Family Services in Richmond.

Recently, according to an Indiana Department of Child Services spokesperson, Wernle was formally placed on probation by the state. That probation is the latest in a recent series of incidents that has affected virtually every aspect of Wernle.

Wernle began as an orphanage 145 years ago. In the 1950’s, it morphed into a facility for children with emotional and behavioral problems. In the last five years, Wernle began to experience its own problems.

In 2019, a Wernle counselor was caught going behind an on-campus dumpster to have sexual relations with a 14-year-old resident.

Also in 2019, the parents of a 13-year-old filed suit against Wernle, alleging their child had been repeatedly beaten and attacked and that Wernle was not taking steps to prevent it.

In 2022, a 15-year-old female Wernle escapee went into a Richmond neighborhood where she broke into a home at night, robbed, and nearly stabbed an elderly female resident to death.

Throughout the last five years, while those events were occurring, the Richmond Police Department was responding to hundreds of calls for service at Wernle. Generally, those calls involved either fights or runaways.

It prompted the state, in 2020, to place all four of Wernle’s licenses on referral hold for all DCS and probation placements. That referral hold meant that Wernle’s number of residents began dropping.

Now, according to tax documents and a state spokesperson, Wernle’s occupancy has dropped from a recent high-water mark of 59 in 2019 to just nine today.

Those same documents are available to the public on propublica.com. They indicate that, despite the dwindling number of residents, the state sanctions, and the recent criminal events, CEO Darrell Gordon receives a salary that is far and away higher than most other non-profits in Wayne County and one that is higher than many other similar organizations across the country. Again, according to Wernle’s most recent tax statements, Gordon received $255,827 in salary and deferred compensation in 2021, which is the most recent year statements are available. By comparison, for that same year and excluding Gordon’s salary, the average salary of a CEO of a Wayne County non-profit was $77,000. In a four-year stretch between 2015 and 2018, tax documents indicate Gordon was paid just over $1.8 million in salary and deferred compensation. Gordon’s salary alone in 2018 was listed at just under $700,000. The Wernle Board of Directors is responsible for establishing Gordon’s compensation package.

Monday night, the state indicated that Wernle’s probation means that its operations will be closely monitored with surprise inspections as often as once a week while the hold continues.  Wernle has not responded to contacts regarding the probationary status.

(New Paris, OH)--Five years to the day after opening, an iconic New Paris restaurant announced its closure.  The Lampost was founded back in 1945 and operated in the same New Paris spot until 2006, when it became Baumbach’s Pit Barbeque.  After sitting empty for a few years in 2019, the building was refurbished and reopened as the Lampost.  In a social media post, the current owners cited the cost of food and utilities as primary reasons for the closure.  They also encouraged support of small business, calling it the backbone of our country.

(Lynn, IN)--Counselors will be on hand at Randolph Southern schools following the loss of a beloved elementary teacher.  Stacey Woodbury was a first-grade teacher who died Monday morning at her home.  "We are grateful for her service to our elemenary and to the community," said Superintendent Donnie Bowsman.  Stacey had been a part of Randolph Southern for 27 years.  Services are pending.

(Whitewater Valley)--Graduation rates have been released for Indiana public schools for the class of 2023, and most in our area fared very well.  Four of the five public Wayne County schools graduated their seniors last year at rates both above the state average and above 90%.  Northeastern had the highest Wayne County graduation rate at 97.9%.  Richmond’s was 95.5%.  Nettle Creek was the only county school not to reach the state average of 89%.  It’s rate was significantly lower at 84.4%.  Franklin County had our area’s highest graduation rate at 98.2%.

(Richmond, IN)--A man was found dead in a vehicle that had been involved in a relatively minor crash in Richmond Sunday morning.  First responders were sent to the 300 block of North 20^th Street at around 8:40 and found 45-year-old Phillip Bailey unresponsive behind the wheel of a van that had struck the guy wires of a utility pole.  Bailey was later pronounced dead at Reid Health.  Investigators say there was no immediate indication that weather, drugs, or alcohol were factors and that Bailey had likely suffered a medical incident before losing control.

(Richmond, IN)--After taking an extended break for the holidays, crews are scheduled to return Monday to the site of the My Way trading fire to resume cleanup and debris removal.  So far, those crews have removed in excess of 220 tons of steel, 430 tons of scrap metal, and more than 650 tons of non-hazardous waste debris.  The cleanup is still on track to be completed sometime this summer.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond’s 60-year-old Laura Turner already had four different felony drug cases – all from last year - pending from last year when she showed up Thursday at the Wayne County Courthouse for a hearing in one of those cases.  Now, make it five.  As Turner was emptying her pockets to walk through the courthouse’s metal detector, she allegedly pulled out cocaine or other narcotic drugs.  Courthouse officers took Turner into custody and took her across the street to the jail.  She now has in excess of 30 different mug shots on file.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Community Schools on Thursday released more information about its Parent Patrol program.  It details how parents can download an app that allows them to do several things, including seeing where their child’s bus is and providing an ETA for their child’s bus stop.  It will go into effect when students return Monday.  That’s when students will get an ID card that will be scanned.  RCS said there may be delays while the new system is implemented.  You can get more information on the RCS Facebook page.

(Richmond, IN)--One of the two victims in the shooting incident on North West 17^th in Richmond that Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News was first to tell report about earlier this week does not want to pursue charges against the suspect.  That detail and others became available in an affidavit of probable cause in the case against 33-year-old Travis Quisenberry.  It claims Quisenberry had noticed a strange vehicle in front of his ex-girlfriend’s home, retrieved a gun, entered the house, and pistol-whipped his ex-girlfriend and a male victim.  Quisenberry then fired a shot at the man’s vehicle when he fled.  A pre-trial hearing has been set for the 18^th.

(Wayne County, IN)--Wayne County is getting a new judge.  At the end of this month, long-time Wayne Superior Court III Judge Darrin Dolehanty will be stepping down.  Wednesday, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that Richmond attorney Mark Cox will replace Dolehanty.  Cox is currently a public defender who works cases in Wayne, Randolph, Fayette, and Henry County.  Cox is a graduate of Ball State.

(Richmond, IN)--Wednesday, Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News reported that new numbers show that Wayne County’s unemployment rate had risen slightly.  Now, here’s a look specifically at the city of Richmond.  While Richmond’s unemployment rate also increased slightly and stands today at 4.2%, there are some positive numbers.  Just shy of a hundred people have been newly employed in the last month, and 130 more people have joined the labor force.

(Centerville, IN)--The Centerville Police Department Wednesday released surveillance images of a truck and its driver that struck the Americana Pizza building and then fled the scene a few days ago.  There was some damage to the Americana building, but nothing close to what happened when semi struck it last year.  The driver in last Saturday’s incident is an older white male who was driving a newer black Dodge Ram pickup.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council met Tuesday night in the first meeting for some new council members and new mayor Ron Oler.  Oler, though, had already talked about the next four years in his inaugural address.  "This is a new opportunity - a new day," Oler said.  He added that much of his term will focus on Richmond’s downtown.  "Within the next four years, it looks like we'll have about $150 million invested in our downtown."  And, he hopes for a smooth transition from the Snow administration to his.  "We'll just keep this ball rolling.  A lot of good things are coming in Richmond's future," Oler added.  Council Tuesday night dealt with three tax abatement requests.

(Preble County, OH)--The man who is charged with setting a deadly mobile home fire on New Paris Pike near the state line last September has pled no contest.  24-year-old Anthony Luker appeared Tuesday in Preble County Common Pleas Court.  He entered the no contest plea on a reckless homicide charge.  It means Luker is waiving a jury trial and will have three other felony charges dismissed.  Kenneth Doolin died in the fire late last summer.  Luker now faces a maximum three-year prison term when he’s sentenced in two weeks.

(Wayne County, IN)--Wayne County’s unemployment rate is up slightly.  New numbers from the state put Wayne County’s unemployment rate at 3.6%.  The most eye-opening number in Tuesday’s report is that 239 people have joined Wayne County’s labor force in the last month.  The total number is now just 78 people short of 30,000.  Other Whitewater Valley counties saw similar small increases in their unemployment rates.  That includes Fayette County, which rose to 4.6% and now has the third highest rate in Indiana.

(Richmond, IN)--A shot was fired during a domestic incident in Richmond eary Tuesday morning.  It happened at around 1:15 Tuesday morning at a home on North West 17^th.  A man now identified as 33-year-old Travis Quisenberry allegedly encountered another male and female inside the home and fired at least one shot.  There is no indication that either person was struck by the shot, but charges would indicate that at least one person was otherwise injured.  Quisenberry then allegedly fled and was taken into custody at a home on Arbor Drive.  He faces charges that include criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, domestic battery with serious bodily injury, and confinement.

(Richmond, IN)--Now-former Richmond Mayor Dave Snow made a final address to the community on a social media page just before the calendar flipped on Sunday night.  In it, Snow thanked members of the community and professional associates for their support through the ups and downs of his eight-year tenure.  Snow also addressed his future, although not specifically.  Snow said the answer to the question “What now?” is that nothing will change about him except his job title.  He added that he intends to "run toward challenges that make Richmond even better."

(Randolph County, IN)--Another east/west Randolph County highway is about to close for an extended period of time.  As early as Wednesday, crews will close State Road 32 between County Roads 400 and 500 East for a complete bridge replacement over the White River.  That closure is expected to last until late June.  U.S. 36 just west of Lynn is also closing for another bridge replacement.  That closure is also expected to last through late spring or early summer.