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Wayne County announces 10th COVID-related death; cases now at 334

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Wayne County has had its 10th death related to COVID-19, according to the county’s health department. The victim, who was in his early 80s, had lived in a long-term care facility before being taken to Reid Health, where he died after a brief stay, according to the health department. His death was the fourth local fatality from COVID complications since July 19. “We should all remember these numbers represent people and not just statistics,” said Wayne County Health Officer Dr. David Jetmore. “It is a reminder we must redouble our efforts to keep one another safe.”
Wayne County has seen a significant rise in cases since the beginning of July.

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Boy in critical condition after U.S. 40 crash

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A 4-year-old Wayne County boy received life-threatening injuries after a Thursday evening crash near the intersection of Round Barn Road and U.S. 40 West. The crash took place shortly before 7:45 p.m. on Richmond’s far-west side. Sheriff Randy Retter said a white 2002 Pontiac van driven by David Kirkendall-Hollingsworth, 23, of Richmond, was westbound on U.S.40 approaching Round Barn. A black 2021 Ford truck driven by Christopher Justice, 28, of Cambridge City, was eastbound on U.S. 40 in the left lane. The vehicle driven by Kirkendall-Hollingsworth began a left turn across the eastbound lanes in an effort to enter the lot of a corner convenience store.

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Wayne County surpasses 300 COVID cases day after 9th death announced

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As of Friday, July 31, Wayne County has had 304 lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, a day after the county health department announced the county’s ninth death related to the virus. After its number of hospitalizations recently dipped into the teens, Reid Health currently has 30 patients isolated in containment areas for COVID-19 cases or those suspected to have the virus and need medical care at Reid. Numbers are on the rise in neighboring counties as well. Henry County leads the counties touching Wayne with 356, and Henry’s northern neighbor, Delaware County, has 614. Franklin County is at 191 cases, Fayette County is at 149, Randolph County now has 101 cases, and Union County has 28.

armed robbery

Sheriff releases photo of armed robbery suspect at Cambridge City store

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Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter has shared a photo of an armed robbery suspect at a Cambridge City convenience store. The sheriff’s office investigated an armed robbery at Village Pantry, 1375 South Indiana 1 shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 29. An unknown white male entered the store at approximately 11:02 p.m. demanding cash and cartons of cigarettes, Retter said, and brandished what was described as a large kitchen-style knife. Retter said the suspect left with approximately $200 in cash and numerous cartons of cigarettes. The cigarettes were carried away in a trash bag.

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UPDATE: All of Centerville now needs to boil water

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On Wednesday, July 29, Centerville officials announced a water boil advisory. The town originally announced a smaller area, but around 3:30 p.m., expanded that order to the entire town. Because of an emergency repair of a water main that services that area, it will be necessary for customers to be under a boil advisory until further notice. Boiling water is needed to ensure that residents’ water for consumption is pure and free of any bacteria. In order to achieve a good result, residents are urged to boil any water to be used for drinking or cooking, washing vegetables, etc.

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Wayne County man dies after crash in Henry County

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A Greens Fork man has died from his injuries in a Wednesday morning (July 29) two-vehicle crash in Henry County. Kyle Beckman, 34, of Greens Fork, had been airlifted to a hospital in Indianapolis after his Honda Accord was hit head-on by a Ford Explorer. About 8:42 a.m., Henry County Dispatch received a call of a head-on collision on County Road 300 West, north of County Road 50 North. They arrived on the scene along with emergency medical personnel and requested Indiana State Police’s District 51 Crash Reconstruction Investigators. The preliminary investigation by ISP Master Trooper Scott Keegan indicates that a silver Ford Explorer, driven by Stacie Boykin, 46, of New Castle, was northbound on County Road 300 West when her vehicle crested a hill left of center, according to a news release from Sgt.

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BREAKING NEWS: Sugar Creek, sewage district sign deal!

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After hours upon hours of discussions and document review, Western Wayne Regional Sewage District and its largest customer, Sugar Creek Packing Co., have come to terms for the food processing company to continue their relationship. That decision will help keep rate increases much lower than they would have otherwise been for all residential and commercial customers in Cambridge City, Mount Auburn and Dublin. Learning Sugar Creek had agreed to stay with the district prompted cheers during Monday night’s meeting. Sugar Creek’s financial commitment leads the way for the sewage district to begin work on a new treatment plant that should be operational by the summer of 2023. Wayne County Attorney Ron Cross will review the agreement before the county follows through with its plans to contribute $1 million to the sewage district’s recent lift station project.

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Sheriff seeking photos, videos from fatal I-70 crash for evidence

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As Wayne County Sheriff’s Office concludes its investigation into the multiple fatality motor vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 5:07 p.m. July 9 on Interstate 70 near Indiana 1 (137-mile marker), officers are reaching out to the public for assistance. Sheriff Randy Retter said that in the department’s efforts to acquire all possible evidence in this case, those who have a photo or video of the motor vehicle crash are asked to provide it to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Photos or videos can be conveniently uploaded using the following link on cell phones, tablets, laptops, or other electronic devices at https://waynesheriffin.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/70fatalcrash

“We appreciate the public’s assistance with this matter,” Retter said.

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Update: Police release names of 4 kids who died in burning car at I-70 crash site

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Drugs used by a semi driver were a contributing factor in a fatal accident that killed four children in a car that became fully engulfed in flames Thursday evening after a crash on Interstate 70, police said. Wayne County deputies responded to a three-vehicle crash shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, July 9, a little west of the I-70 Cambridge City exit, just west of a construction zone. Deputies arrived to find a Chevrolet car and semi pulling a box trailer off the left side of eastbound I-70 fully engulfed, according to a news release from Indiana State Police Sgt. John Bowling. A passerby was able to pull the car’s driver out of the vehicle, but none of his passengers, Bowling said.

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Arrest made in local woman’s 1986 disappearance

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Fayette County Sheriff’s Department announced an arrest Thursday, July 9, in the 1986 disappearance of Denise Pflum from eastern Indiana. Pflum, then 18, disappeared from Connersville on March 28, 1986, but her case remained unsolved. On Thursday, Shawn M. McClung was charged with voluntary manslaughter, a Class B felony, after an investigation led by Sheriff Joey Laughlin and Detective Chad Blaes. The information and probable cause alleges that McClung previously claimed that Pflum was still alive, but has recently admitted that he killed her in March 1986, the sheriff’s department statement said. “No further comments will be made at this time, as the investigation is ongoing regarding the involvement of other parties,” the statement concluded.