Hometown Media Group (https://hmgccity.com/category/news/)
We have learned that some Richmond subscribers did not receive their paper last week and have not yet received their July 29 edition. We are investigating what has happened and sincerely apologize for the delay. Our records indicate they were mailed as they usually are sent. We definitely want you to get your news in a timely manner! Please call (765) 478-5448 if you have questions about your paper delivery or email us at customerservice@hmgccity.com.
Four Western Wayne Schools students were taken to Reid Health after a car collided into their school bus. The auto’s driver told investigators that her windshield was frosted over, and she didn’t see the bus, said Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter. The crash occurred the morning of Jan. 11 at the intersection of North Graham and Delaware streets in Cambridge City. Tonya Mills, 55, of New Castle, was driving southbound from the parking lot at Stone Gate Apartments, 301 N. Graham St., when she struck the center of the westbound bus with her 2013 Chrysler 200, a news release said.
A rural Wayne County man has been arrested on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder after allegedly poisoning his wife. Alfred Ruf, 69, has been lodged in Wayne County Jail on the Level 2 felony charge. Ruf’s arrest was announced Friday by Sheriff Randy Retter. Wayne Circuit Court Judge April Drake issued a probable cause order on Jan. 5 for the felony charge and set Ruf’s bail at $75,000 with 10 percent cash authorized.
Richmond Police Department has shared a security camera image of the suspect in a convenience store robbery in hopes of finding the suspect. At about 7:03 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, first-shift patrol officers responded to a reported robbery in the 1200 block of South Ninth Street. Capt. Curt Leverton said the suspect is reported as a white male approximately 6’0” tall. He was wearing black pants, a black jacket with a gray hood, and light-colored shoes.
Three local organizations announced Thursday, Jan. 6, that they are postponing their large-scale fundraising events in January and early February because of the current COVID-19 conditions. A press release said that in consideration of the health and safety of the community and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Indiana University East, Richmond Art Museum (RAM) and the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce mutually determined the best course of action is to postpone their respective upcoming public events, Palate to Palette and the Chamber annual dinner, until a later time. IU East, RAM and the Chamber considered the size of the events, with regular attendance of hundreds of guests, and that the events are held in indoor venues. Additionally, Wayne County is experiencing a rise in coronavirus cases, putting a strain on the health care system.
National Guard members and Indiana Department of Health staff have begun arriving in Wayne County to aid with a surge of COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths as hospitals struggle to treat patients for other urgent health needs. Henry Community Health officials say the “never-ending COVID nightmare continues to worsen” as Indiana hospitals set records for their numbers of patients. In addition, some patients who delayed primary care for other health issues as the pandemic lingers are now critically ill, HCH officials said. National Guard members are being stationed at Reid Health to assist with staffing shortages, and what the state calls a strike team will bring a free mobile testing and vaccination site starting Wednesday, Jan. 5 to Richmond’s west side for any area resident.
Richmond Police Department says a teen was found safe after a statewide Silver Alert was issued. RPD announced an investigation into the disappearance of David Burton, a 16-year-old white male, on Dec. 29. He had been last seen in Richmond at approximately 10:40 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 25.
A Richmond scooter operator died after colliding with a sport utility vehicle on U.S. 27, police said. Just before 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash in the 3700 block of Chester Boulevard in Richmond. Deputies were initially told that the crash involved a motorcycle, and a person was laying in the middle of the roadway, Sheriff Randy Retter said in a news release. The preliminary investigation determined that Charles Stephenson, 46, of Richmond, was operating a Tao scooter southbound on U.S. 27 in the driving lane.
NEW CASTLE – Fred Edward Thurman Jr., 56, passed away Tuesday morning November 30, 2021, at his home in New Castle, Indiana. Fred was born in Muncie, Indiana on December 4, 1964. He graduated from Chrysler High School in 1983 and participated in several varsity sports which included track and field, basketball and football. Fred honorably served his country in the United States Army then joined the New Castle Fire Department and retired after 31 years of service as a fireman. He was a “family man” and he loved his family dearly. Fred was a member of the Southside Church of Christ in New Castle. Survivors include his wife of 15 years, April (Blake) Thurman. They were married in New Castle on February 3, 2006; 3 sons, Quinn, Noah and Abraham Thurman; 7 siblings, Mary Johnson, James Madding, Tina Roberzine, Willa Simonson, Frida Dawson, Willie Joe Madding and Vanessa Sanford. Fred was preceded in death by the parents who raised him, Clyde and Virginia Pickle; his biological father, Fred E. Thurman Sr. and his twin brother who died at birth, Joseph Thurman. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday December 3, 2021 at Southside Church of Christ- 2805 State Road 103/ New Castle, IN 47362. Funeral services will follow there at 2 p.m. with Rev. Pat McDaniel officiating. Burial will be at Lewisville Cemetery in Lewisville.
With COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, Reid Health has run out of space for patients and declared the situation an emergency on Sunday. Reid had paused all elective inpatient surgeries early last week and Henry Community Health in New Castle said it was deciding on a daily basis whether it will be able to do them. Officials at both are asking people who have not been vaccinated against the virus to do so. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have jumped to their highest level in 11 months, according to figures released last Wednesday by the Indiana State Department of Health. Reid Health took the rare step of issuing a public statement Sunday, Dec.
Wayne County Foundation has announced which two area high school seniors will receive the full-tuition Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. From seventy-nine applicants, Emily Cox of Lincoln High School and
Garrett Walther of Centerville High School were chosen as Wayne County’s 2022 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. The announcement was made Tuesday, Dec. 14, after the students submitted an application earlier this year. Five finalists were interviewed this fall. They also included Esther Etherington of Richmond High School; Devin Frazier of Centerville Senior High School; and Shayna Morris of Lincoln High School.
