News

Who won contested elections in the May 3 primary?

By |

Wayne County’s current auditor and one of its longtime commissioners lost the May 3 primary election, meaning their terms will come to an end in December. However, voters chose to continue with their current Republican Indiana state representative and a county council member representing western Wayne County. At this time, none of the four face a Democratic opponent in the fall. Results at a glance

In contested Republican races:

*A former Wayne County auditor and business manager of Northeastern Wayne Schools, Mark Holescher, defeated current auditor Kimberly Whipple Walton with 51.52 percent of the vote.  Hoelscher had 2,295 votes compared to Walton’s 2,160.

Featured in Category

LHS senior tackles lead role in ‘Newsies’

By |

Before convenience stores were scattered around communities, there were “newsies” – young boys who sold single copies of newspapers. Local students and adults have learned more about their experience while preparing for Richmond Civic Theatre’s presentation of Disney’s “Newsies.”

The musical opens Friday and ends May 15. Lincoln High School senior Jarrin Ervin plays Jack Kelly, described as a charismatic newsboy who leads a band of teenage newsies in turn-of-the-century New York City. Read more of this story and see a full cast and crew list in the May 4 print edition of Western Wayne News

 

News

Q&A with Wayne County commissioner candidates

By |

Indiana counties have three commissioners, one from each district in the county, who are elected for four years. Ken Paust of Richmond is the incumbent commissioner whose seat is on the ballot in this election cycle. He faces a Republican challenger, Brad Dwenger, also of Richmond. Questions
1. Help voters understand what motivated you to run for office, and particularly this position.

Homepage Featured

Q&A with State Rep. District 56 candidates

By |

Questions
1. Help voters understand what motivated you to run for office, and particularly this position. 2. The economic region Wayne County is part of did not fare as well in the statewide competition for READI dollars as many others when divided by the number of participating counties. What actions would you take in order to draw more of state officials’ potential attention, funding and economic development opportunities to Wayne County?

News

Q&A with Wayne County Council District III candidates

By |

Wayne County Council’s District 3 incumbent Beth Leisure of Milton faces a challenge in the Republican primary from Carol Study of Cambridge City. Both want to represent the western section of the county. Only one GOP candidate filed in each of the other four council districts. County council has the ultimate decision-making power regarding fiscal affairs, according to indianacounties.org. Members set priorities for the allocation and expenditure of county funds and have authority to view or review fiscal matters and determine proper policy.

Homepage Featured

Q&A with Wayne County auditor candidates

By |

The current Wayne County auditor (Kimberly Walton) and a former county auditor (Mark Hoelscher) are both seeking votes in the Republican primary. Questions

1) In your opinion, what are the top three priorities of the office you’re seeking? 2) What is working well now in that office and what would you change? 3) What technology is currently being used in the auditor’s office (we’re curious more about its functions than brand names)? Would you use it if elected?

News

Man arrested after U.S. 27 crash kills 1, injures couple

By |

A man has been arrested after a Richmond couple was injured and a Liberty man died when the trio’s vehicle was struck and went off the road into a wooden embankment. Just after 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Indiana State Police troopers were dispatched to a serious crash on U.S. 27 just north of Liberty. First responders located a gray 2013 Subaru BRZ with heavy front-end damage and an inverted gray Lexus RX350 off the roadway, down the embankment. When medical personnel made their way down to the Lexus, they located its driver, Anthony J. Talbert, 61, and his wife, Donna M. Talbert, 66, both of Richmond. Donna Talbert was flown to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, by Care Flight for medical treatment, and Anthony Talbert was transported by ambulance to Reid Health in Richmond.

Featured in Category

Bank donates $1M to secure naming rights for 2 buildings

By |

County officials began courting potential sponsors for naming rights at Wayne County Fairgrounds in 2019, but the pandemic put that pursuit on hold. However, conversations recently resumed, and at the April 20 workshop of county commissioners and council members, they learned a commitment of $1 million has been pledged toward ongoing improvements of the facilities and grounds. Lawyers for both sides are still finalizing details, and no agreement has been approved, but plenty of handshakes and smiles were visible at the meeting as Commissioner Ken Paust introduced First Bank Richmond’s Don Benziger, executive vice president/CFO and Paul Witte, executive vice president/chief lending officer, to receive the group’s thanks. The county would continue to own and operate the facilities, but by committing to give $100,000 per year for 10 years, First Bank Richmond seeks to assume the naming rights of both Kuhlman Center and Tom Raper Center. Bank officials said the proposed new names of the facilities are First Bank Kuhlman Center and First Bank Expo Hall.

News

Teen accused of murder after downtown shooting

By |

Even after one 18-year-old man was arrested two days after two other 18-year-olds were shot in downtown Richmond, police say the case remains an active investigation. Rickey Porter of Richmond was arrested at about 3 p.m. April 21 on preliminary charges of murder and attempted murder, according to Captain Curt Leverton of Richmond Police Department’s Investigative Services Division. Jail records show Porter also was charged at the same time with possession of marijuana/hash oil/hashish/salvia, a B misdemeanor, and possession of paraphernalia, an A misdemeanor. The shooting was reported just after 2 p.m. April 19 near the intersection of South Eighth and A streets. Officers found two wounded men there: Nathaniel Reed and Adolfo Armenta.

News

1 killed, 1 injured in downtown Richmond shooting

By |

One 18-year-old man has died and another was injured in a shooting in downtown Richmond. No arrests have been made as of Tuesday evening, and an investigation is continuing, according to a news release from Sgt. Zach Taylor of Richmond Police Department’s Investigative Services Division. The shooting was reported just after 2 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of South Eighth and A streets. Officers found two wounded men there: Nathaniel Reed and Adolfo Armenta.