(Richmond, IN)--Last year, Richmond city leaders, developers, and nearby residents debated what was known as the Smith Hill project that would have constructed about 175 single-family homes.  The issue went to the backburner when developers wanted to include rental units  Now, the proposal is resurfacing.  When Richmond’s Board of Works meets Thursday afternoon, they will address a resolution for the city to acquire multiple tracts of land from Reid Health near the intersection of South 37^th and Backmeyer Road.  According to the resolution, the land will be transferred to the city from Reid in lieu of payments by Reid.  Thursday afternoon’s meeting begins at 5 o’clock in council chambers at the city building.

(Richmond, IN)--Wayne County will be helping out Union County with 911 service for at least the next three months.  According to Barry Ritter, Union County has had staffing issues since Covid.  He added that it should be seamless coverage for Union County residents.  "As Wayne covers these hours for Union, someone calling 911...they're not going to know they're calling Wayne County," Ritter said.  Systems will be tested next week.  Wayne County Commissioners gave their approval to the coverage Wednesday.  Union County has already done that.

(Richmond, IN)--An alleged drug dealer was arrested in Richmond early Thursday morning.  Officers encountered 49-year-old Floyd Story near South 13^th and Q Streets at around 1 o’clock Thursday morning.  He now faces several new charges, including dealing cocaine and obstruction of justice.  Story has had three different criminal cases in the last five years, including one for burglary and two for drug possession.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police on Wednesday afternoon rounded up a man wanted for strangulation and for killing a domestic animal.  A warrant had been issued for 43-year-old Jason Mills back in January.  He was located Wednesday in the 400 block of North 16^th Street.  Mills allegedly had entered a home and was in possession of an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine.

(Richmond, IN)--The collaboration between Whitewater Community Television and Richmond Community Schools advanced at Tuesday’s meeting of the Richmond Redevelopment Commission.  The commission approved $80,000 in funding to help WCTV complete its move from IU East to Richmond High School.  Here’s Nicole Stults, who is part of the RCS Board and is a non-voting member of the commission:  "The Board has been very excited about this collaboration and the opportunity that it provides students.  They're the ones who are going to win," Stults said.  WCTV President Ken Paust said it will take about two more months to complete the buildout and that WCTV is looking to hire more staff members.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police have made an arrest in connection with a stabbing that occurred late Monday night.  Trevor Younger allegedly became involved in a fight in the 700 block of South 14th that escalated into a stabbing.  The victim was taken to Reid Health with non-life-threatening injuries.  Two years ago, Younger was charged with criminal confinement with a deadly weapon.  That case was pled down last year with Younger pleading guilty to a lesser charge, getting sentenced to two years, but serving only 30 days in jail.

(Richmond, IN)--The United Way of the Whitewater Valley has announced grant recipients for this grant year.  Community grants are fueled by employees taking part in the United Way’s annual workplace campaign.  A total of $50,000 was awarded to 19 local health and human services agencies.  Those organizations include Amigos, Birth to Five, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, and the Townsend Center.

(Cambridge City, IN)--About five years ago, ownership at what was once Cutshaw’s Market in Cambridge City changed and it became the Cambridge City Market.  The results, in general, were less than positive.  Now, ownership has changed again with one goal in mind.  "I want Cambridge City back.  I want the customers to be happy.  We're going to make it right," said new owner Scott Morrill.  Morrill said the change has been palpable since he took over nearly two months ago.  "It's been really, really positive.  Customers are noticing the change.  Employees are embracing the change," Morrill added.  The Cambridge City Market is open daily from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.

(Greenville, OH)--The man accused of killing his employer, who was also a cheerleading coach at a Darke County high school, was formally indicted Tuesday.  22-year-old Peyton Beam is charged with aggravated murder, arson, and several other crimes.  At Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors said Beam shot Ericka Kramer twice in the back of head execution style, doused her body with gasoline, and set the house on fire.  Beam then responded to the scene as an Ansonia firefighter.

(Eaton, OH)--Vandalism has affected a popular playground in Eaton.  The Preble County Board of Developmental Disabilities said in a social media post that recent vandalism has closed the restrooms at the ASK playground on Maple Street until further notice.  The estimated dollar amount of damage to the playground was not disclosed.  No arrests have been made.

(Richmond, IN)--It was a short meeting Monday night for Richmond Common Council.  But, in the 20-minute meeting, Council approved two tax abatements for Liberation Bioindustries – formerly known as Liberation Labs – in the Midwest Industrial Park.  Council member Jane Bumbalough recently toured the facility.  "We explored the facility and it is very impressive.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what the future holds," Bumbalough said.  The company expects to begin production later this year.

(Peru, IN)--A convicted Wayne County murderer has died in prison, and now an investigation is underway by the Indiana State Police.  Billy Wilson shot and killed KC Allen Simpson in November of 2020 and was sentenced to 48 years in prison.  Wilson, who is now 82 years old, was found dead at the Miami Correctional Facility in Peru.  Prison officials have requested an autopsy.  Details about why they think Wilson’s death could be from something other than natural causes have not been released.

(Brookville, IN)--While Richmond Community Schools deals with the potential reduction of 22 positions, another area school district will also be laying off teachers.  Four teaching positions will be eliminated at the end of this school year at Franklin County Schools.  The primary reason given was a drop in student enrollment.  Teachers have not been named, but the teachers at Brookville, Laurel, and Mount Carmel Elementary Schools have been notified.

(Winchester, IN)--A Randolph County man has been sentenced to time served after sexually assaulting a teen.  46-year-old George Fenton provided an 18-year-old female with alcohol and then followed her into a bedroom and assaulted her.  Fenton had originally been charged with the much more serious crime of rape, but that was pled down to a reduced charge of sexual battery.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Police Department wants everyone to know that heavy police activity this week in the area of South West 10^th near Clear Creek Park is part of training and is not any reason for concern.  Nearby schools, including Dennis, have been notified that the activity will be taking place.  Officers will be training on residential room clearing and core response skills.

(Gratis, OH)--The police chief of one Preble County village and an officer were each placed on paid administrative leave Sunday.  The allegation is that Gratis Police Chief Tonina Lamanna and Officer Jeff Baylor went to three different Cincinnati public schools unannounced and in uniform seeking to conduct what they called a “wellness check” on behalf of ICE last week.  ICE later indicated the visits did not involve any federal officers.  Officer Baylor on Sunday night downplayed his role.  "She done all the talking.  I stayed silent through the whole day because, again, that's not my job," Baylor said.  Gratis Mayor Kevin Johnson read a prepared statement after the decision.  "The village of Gratis does not condone these actions," Johnson said.  The vote to place the officers on leave was unanimous.

(Richmond, IN)--The intersection of U.S. 27, or Chester Boulevard, and I-70 is about to undergo some major modifications as part of the Revive I-70 project.  Ramps to and from 27 to the interstate are set to close on Thursday of this week.  The exit ramp from eastbound 70 to 27 is not expected to reopen until June.  Much like what’s happening at the state line, the new closure will cut interstate traffic to north-side businesses in half.  The entrance ramp from 27 onto eastbound 70 is not expected to reopen until August.

(Darke County, OH)--A Darke County man was killed Sunday in an incident on Medford Road.  A preliminary investigation found that 65-year-old Steve Kramer of Versailles had a large log on the front of a skid loader while driving east.  A spokesperson with the sheriff’s department said the log was too heavy, causing the skid loader to tip over and trap Kramer underneath.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

(Preble County, OH)--Crews from several fire departments extinguished a barn fire in Preble County Sunday.  It broke out in the 6000 block of Lexington-Salem Road at around 3:40 yesterday afternoon.  That’s just north of West Alexandria.  High winds made fighting the fire more difficult, but crews were able to prevent the fire from spreading to other nearby structures.  There’s no word yet on the cause of the fire, and there were no injuries.

(Richmond, IN)--Get ready for another long-term travel restriction.  INDOT announced Thursday that a one-mile stretch of Williamsburg Pike will be reduced to one lane beginning next week and running through at least late September.  The area in question is from Industries Road to Salisbury Road, which is essentially about a half-mile on either side of the I-70 overpass.  INDOT says the work is necessary to strengthen pavement in the area.