(Cambridge City, IN)--The Western Wayne School Board breezed through a meeting in 25 minutes on Wednesday night with barely any mention at all of the situation with Superintendent Kelly Plank.  Plank was charged this week with battery resulting in serious bodily injury as a result of an altercation last month.  Board President Kris Bex did not mention Plank or the incident specifically Wednesday night, but it was clear that’s what he was talking about.  "We are dealing with things right now.  We do not take them lightly.  You all understand that if you approach any of us, that we will not be commenting on those things because it's ongoing and I can guarantee you that everyone at this table - and, I believe, everyone in this room - has the best interest of the students and the corporation in their heads and in their hearts," Bex said.  A cash bond for Plank was entered in Henry County on Wednesday.

(Hagerstown, IN)--Wayne County leaders took steps Wednesday to collaborate with an organization called Go Rail to improve railroad safety across the county, with one crossing garnering the most attention.  That crossing is on State Road 1 near Hagerstown.  Discussion Wednesday included how modifying crossings could help ambulance service.  Here’s Commissioner Jeff Plasterer talking about some potential modifications:  "There are opportunities to either lower the rail line below the level of the road or to raise the road to go over the rail line that would prevent ambulances from being caught at that crossing."  County leaders Wednesday discussed seeking federal funding for the potential change.

(Whiteland, IN)--State Senator Jeff Raatz of Richmond joined Governor Mike Braun Wednesday for a ceremonial signing of a bill that Raatz authored which limits cell phone usage in school by students.  The law requires all public schools to adopt either a “no device” or “secure storage” policy where students would get their phones back at the end of the school day.  Raatz talked about emergency situations.  "In an emergency situation, the administration needs to be in charge of the situation," Raatz said.  The new law will be in effect by the start of the new school year in August.

(Connersville, IN)--Connersville utility officials on Wednesday afternoon issued an update on four water main breaks that closed streets and delayed schools.  By 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, crews had repaired all water leaks.  Work will continue Thursday to patch streets that were impacted.  The goal is to have some of those streets opened by 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon.  Residents who had their water cut off Wednesday are being advised to boil it for five minutes before usage until further notice.

(New Castle, IN)--An attorney for Western Wayne School Superintendent Kelly Plank appeared in a Henry County courtroom Tuesday afternoon to enter a plea of not guilty on Plank’s behalf.  Plank is accused of battering another female at the Elks in New Castle last month.  According to an affidavit, Plank had been drinking with friends and became upset after a woman spilled a drink on her boyfriend.  Plank had been bad-mouthing that man throughout the night.  The boyfriend’s mother then intervened and tried to calm Plank down.  Plank then grabbed the woman and swept her legs out from underneath her, causing that woman to fall and break both bones in her lower leg.  Plank now faces between one and six years in prison.  Plank’s attorney on Tuesday waived an initial hearing.

(Richmond, IN)--On Tuesday, Reid Health became just the second health system across the country to launch an AI personal assistant called Emmie.  Reid said that Emmie gives patients a secure, conversational way to get answers about their health information and guidance about certain actions.  With Emmie, a patient can ask questions like “What did my doctor say about my blood pressure at my last visit?” or “What does this test result mean?”  Patients can access Emmie through their MyReid and MyChart accounts.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Community School Board had a lengthy policy discussion Tuesday on whether or not kids being homeschooled or otherwise not enrolled at RCS should be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities like sports and band in the RCS system.  Here’s Nicole Stults:  "I see it both ways.  But, it's kind of hard to say 'sure, use all of our facilities and we're going to pay for all of that and provide all of that and yet not have any of those tax dollars coming."  The Board indicated Tuesday it would seek feedback from coaches, while Superintendent Dr. Curtis Wright said that he would address the topic with the public in the first of two community meetings set for Thursday night.

(Shelbyville, IN)--More filings were made Tuesday in a recent lawsuit against Wernle Youth and Family Treatment Center and its former CEO, Darrell Gordon.  The plaintiff in the case, who legally changed his name and now goes by Bartholomew Blunt, is asking for $15 million in damages.  Blunt claims in the lawsuit that he was subjected to repeated sexual battery while housed at Wernle and that the staff was not trained to respond to warning signs.  A summons was issued Tuesday to Gordon, who now has 20 days to respond.  Blunt has an incredible record of filing lawsuits.  He’s filed eight of them so far this year against various people and organizations.  One of those eight is against his own adoptive mother.

(Connersville, IN)--State Route 44 in part of Connersville remained closed Wednesday morning after one of several water main breaks that occurred Tuesday.  The closure of 44 runs from Gray Road to Grand Avenue.  There were four breaks Tuesday, leaving many residents with low water pressure or no water at all.  The most recent statement from the city said that crews were working to restore normal service as quickly as possible, but did not put a timeline on when that may happen.  They’re also asking that residents not drive around barricades.

(Cambridge City, IN)--The Western Wayne School Board has placed Superintendent Kelly Plank on paid administrative leave following an incident over the weekend.  Plank has been charged in Henry County with battery resulting in serious bodily injury.  In a prepared statement, Western Wayne’s attorney indicated Monday that Plank was not acting in her official capacity as superintendent when the incident occurred.  The statement also indicated that the Board is finalizing an interim leadership plan.  Plank’s charge and details of the alleged crime were not included in the statement.  A judge in Henry Circuit Court 2 found probable cause Monday and issued a $7500 bond.  An affidavit will become available Tuesday the will detail the allegations that led to the charge.  Plank started her role as the superintendent of Western Wayne last summer.

(Richmond, IN)--About 20 Wayne County residents have been summoned to Wayne Circuit Court on Wednesday to explain why they didn’t show up for jury duty.  Back in February, those people all failed to report for the jury selection process in a drug-dealing trial.  On Wednesday, they will have to explain why they failed to attend.  Judge April Drake will have the option of finding them in contempt of court and sending them to jail.  If those people fail to attend again Wednesday, a warrant could be issued for their arrest.

(Richmond, IN)--On Friday afternoon, the Richmond Police Department announced the resignation of Major Adam Blanton.  Blanton has been at the center of three different local law enforcement issues, including the disposal of a police canine’s remains, the issuance of false information in a Richmond murder case, and, most recently, the as-yet uncompleted purchase of police vehicles from a local dealer.  A prepared statement from RPD Chief Kyle Weatherly said that Blanton has been a committed member of the agency and has served with dedication through his tenure.

(Preble County, OH)--Two people were seriously hurt when a semi ran an SUV off of I-70 Sunday night.  It happened at around 8:15 in the westbound lanes in Preble County.  The semi driver forced the SUV off the road.  The SUV then rolled over multiple times and ended up in a ditch.  The semi driver kept going and was eventually stopped in Wayne County.  The injuries were described as serious, but non-life-threatening.  Westbound 70 was backed up for more than an hour Sunday night.

(Richmond, IN)--A wanted Richmond woman was taken into custody after an officer spotted her at the local Walmart Sunday night.  That officer knew that 25-year-old Faith Holbert had warrants for burglary and breaking and entering.  Holbert allegedly ran and was caught after a short chase.  Three years ago, Holbert was arrested for attacking another woman with a piece of broken glass because she wasn’t invited to go horseback riding.  (Note:  mugshot not posted because Holbert was combative during the book-in process and could not be photographed.)

(West College Corner, IN)--There’s been another drug bust in the West College Corner area.  Details were released Sunday of the arrest of Dana Buttery.  A Union County deputy initiated a traffic stop on Brookville Pike.  A canine was brought to the scene and gave a positive indication.   Inside Buttery’s vehicle, deputies found an unspecified amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  It’s the second time in two weeks that a routine traffic stop led to a meth arrest in West College Corner.

(Union County, IN)--Indiana continues to catch up on its county-by-county unemployment reports.  Thursday, it released numbers for March.  And, for the Whitewater Valley, unemployment rates have dropped.  Wayne County is down to 3.6% unemployment after being at 3.9% the month before with 80 more people now working.  Other area counties saw similar drops.  Once again, Union County has Indiana’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.6%.

(Eaton, OH)--A former Preble County township trustee accused of making video recordings of a juvenile in a bathroom has pled guilty to some of the charges he originally faced.  Wade Guthrie, who was a Gasper Township Trustee, pled guilty to voyeurism and tampering with evidence.  Other charges were dropped as part of a plea deal.  Guthrie now faces up ten years in prison when he’s sentenced next month.  He’ll also have to register as a sex offender for the next 15 years.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Avenue Bridge project has hit an expensive snag that was discussed Wednesday when Wayne County Council met.  Crews have run into unexpected difficulty removing an overlay, and now it will have to be chipped away by hand.  The work won’t come cheap.  "There is going to be a change order of about $200,000 coming for this project," said Brandon Sanders.  The extra work is not expected to push back the reopening of the bridge, which should happen sometime in late August.

(Richmond, IN)--Changes are coming to a Richmond financial institution.  First Bank Richmond and The Farmers Bank announced this week that the combined organization will operate under the name First Bank Midwest.  The new brand also will encompass Mutual Federal, including its six offices in Ohio.  The organizations also unveiled a new logo and brand identity that will begin on the first of July.  First Bank has operated in Richmond for 140 years.

(New Westville, OH)--A 30-year-old Preble County man is facing multiple drug-related charges after deputies searched his home.  That search took place in the 5000 block of State Route 320.  That’s just outside of New Westville.  Investigators say they found 38 grams of suspected cocaine, over 600 vapes and cigars, and 25 pounds of marijuana.  Elisha McCracken now faces numerous trafficking and possession charges.  McCracken has already bonded out of jail.