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LOCAL NEWS

WOMAN WHO STARVED INFANT TO DEATH WANTS SENTENCE REDUCED

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond woman who starved her own infant son to death a decade ago now wants out of jail early.  Amy Hockett was found guilty of murder in 2013 and was sentenced to 60 years in prison.  But now, Hockett has filed a motion claiming the trial and sentencing were unfair.  Investigators found the house in complete disarray and Hockett had admitted to using heroin after the baby was born.  In the new document, she blames her attorney and the media.  She also blames Judge Gregory Horn, who she claims is biased against drug addicts.  A hearing has been set for May 1.


REID URGENT CARE TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL SPOT NEXT WEEK

(Richmond, IN)--Reid Urgent Care is nearly ready to reopen at its original location.  The building at 1501 Chester Boulevard has been closed for three months after a winter storm caused broken water lines.  Clean-up has been ongoing ever since while the urgent care operated temporarily a few blocks away.   The original location is set to reopen this coming Wednesday.


SKATE SHOOTER SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS

(Richmond, IN)--11 years is the prison sentence that’s been handed down to a Richmond man who was a teenager when he shot someone outside of The Skate.  The sentence for Javon Moore, who is now 20 years old, was the result of a plea deal in which he pled guilty to aggravated battery in exchange for the dropping of an attempted murder charge.  Moore emptied out a seven-round magazine and shot Christopher Lambert in The Skate’s parking lot after the two had gotten into a dispute inside.  That shooting happened two and a half years ago.


RPD WARNS OF COUNTERFEIT BILLS

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Police Department is warning citizens and businesses about an increase in counterfeit money.  RPD indicated Wednesday that there have been 14 counterfeit reports so far this year.  Many of the bills look real at a casual glance but are easy to spot as fake upon closer inspection.  Those bills have writing on them that say things like “Motion Picture Use Only” or “Play Money.”  Businesses are being asked to look carefully at larger denominations.


COURTHOUSE RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY

(Richmond, IN)--You may have noticed the lifts and other heavy equipment outside the Wayne County Courthouse recently.  Work has gotten underway to repair damaged limestone and other cracks on the exterior as part of a $1.8 million project.  On the inside, restrooms are being renovated and becoming ADA compliant.  Both projects will continue throughout the year.  The Wayne County Courthouse turns 130 years old this year.


ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT ELDER-BEERMAN BUILDING APPEARS IMMINENT

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond appears to be moving closer to a major announcement regarding the former Elder-Beerman building downtown.  The plan is to construct 150 apartments in the building, which has been vacant since August of 2018.  Mayor Dave Snow recently said that a combination of tax credits and economic grants have helped to bring the city closer to finalizing what would be a $38 million investment.  If it comes to fruition and when it’s complete, there would be an estimated 300 people moving into the downtown area.


MAN CAUGHT WITH ENOUGH FENTANYL TO KILL ALL OF UNION COUNTY

(Union County, IN)--A chase ended with the recovery of enough fentanyl to kill the entire population of Union County.  According to the Union County Sheriff’s Department, a man later identified as Jason Hardon drove a stolen vehicle into West College Corner.  Hardon was chased onto a dead-end road off of Nine Mile Road.  A canine gave a positive hit and the fentanyl was located.  Hardin went to the Union County Jail.


INVESTIGATORS SAY MAN BUSTED FOR CHILD PORN MAY HAVE TALKED TO LOCAL KIDS ONLINE

(Cambridge City, IN)--The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday issued some more information on a child pornography arrest that Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News reported on Monday.  27-year-old Dakota Moster of Cambridge City was arrested after investigators allegedly found numerous image and videos of obviously underage children.  On Tuesday, investigators said they believe Moster may have been communicating with children through online accounts.  They want parents who believe their child may have communicated with Moster to contact them at the Sheriff’s Department.


FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE EARLY-MORNING HOUSE FIRE IN FAIRVIEW AREA

(Richmond, IN)--Fire broke out at a house at North West J and Ridge Street in Richmond at 4 o’clock Tuesday morning.  Heavy smoke was in the area when the first crews arrived.  According to scanner traffic, nearby homes were quickly evacuated as the roof collapsed.   Meanwhile, firefighters were battling the fire on multiple levels.  Here’s one of them:  "Looks like I've got fire on this single story in the back that's eating into the second story and getting up into the roof."  The fire was declared under control in half an hour.  There was no immediate word on the cause, the extent of the damage, or whether or not there were any injuries.


LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES ON SLOW BUT STEADY UPWARD TREND

(Wayne County, IN)--Unemployment continues to inch upward in Wayne County.  New numbers released by the state Monday put Wayne County’s unemployment rate at 3.7%.  It makes the fourth straight month unemployment has increased and is also the highest rate in a year and a half.  There are also now 261 fewer people in Wayne County’s workforce than there were at this point last year.  Other Indiana counties in the Whitewater Valley are seeing the same slow but steady increases in unemployment rates.


YEAR-LONG CONSTRUCTION TO START ON PREBLE COUNTY INTERSECTION

(Camden, OH)--The intersection of two highways in Preble County is about to undergo a major reconfiguration.  Beginning Wednesday, a year-long construction project gets underway at U.S. 127 and State Road 725 in Camden.  Alterations include a turn lane to be added.  That intersection was the site of a 2017 crash that killed three members of a family when a Centerville trucker blew through the stoplight.  Both highways will remain passable through the construction process.


OVERPASS CLOSURE DATE SET FOR APRIL 3

(Richmond, IN)--The official U.S. 27 Depot District overpass closure date has been set, and it’s one week fromMonday.  Once it closes for complete reconstruction, it won’t open again for a year and a half.  Over the weekend, the city released an interactive map with multiple routes around the bridge.  12th Street is the recommended detour for both north and southbound local traffic.  The official detour will take traffic to U.S. 40.  Police will monitor traffic patterns once the closure goes into effect.


MAN JAILED FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORN

(Wayne County, IN)--A Wayne County man who had been jailed on Friday for possessing child pornography was released Sunday night.  27-year-old Dakota Moster now faces two counts of possessing child porn following an investigation.  Details of exactly what led to Moster’s arrest have not yet become available.  Moster has no previous criminal record.


HOLCOMB HELPS BREAK GROUND ON BLUE BUFFALO EXPANSION

(Richmond, IN)--Ground was broken Thursday on an expansion project at Blue Buffalo in Richmond’s Midwest Industrial Park.  Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers were on hand for the event.  $200 million will be invested over the next two years, which will include a 169,000 square-foot addition to expand processing operations and warehouse capacity.  Between 50 and 60 new jobs will be created.  Holcomb said that as a pet parent himself, he’s thrilled that Blue Buffalo continues to put its trust in Richmond to deliver pet products across the nation.


THREE MORE EMPLOYEES OF WESTERN WAYNE SCHOOLS RESIGN

(Cambridge City, IN)--Three more employees of the Western Wayne School District have resigned, and those resignations continue a mass exodus that has occurred since the school year started.  According to some employees who have already left the district, nearly two dozen staffers have left.  One of the employees had filed and settled a complaint through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  Another case with the EEOC is pending.  Many of the staffers who have left blame the culture at the administrative level.


RICHMOND MAN ARRESTED FOR DRUG DEALER FOR 3rd TIME IN TWO YEARS

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man who already has had two drug-dealing cases in the last year and a half now has a third.  30-year-old Shawn Farrow was taken into custody in the 400 block of North 19th Street Thursday afternoon.  Farrow is now charged with dealing cocaine, dealing meth, and dealing other controlled substances.  As is often the case with accused drug dealers, Farrow bonded out of jail in only seven hours and was free again Friday morning.  The Wayne County Jail was bombarded with calls from people wondering when Farrow would be released.


RCS TEACHER TO BOARD: "NOT IN THE BUSINESS" OF OUTING STUDENTS TO PARENTS

(Richmond, IN)--One Richmond Community School teacher addressed the RCS Board Wednesday night about several bills working their way through the Indiana Statehouse.  That includes a bill that would require teachers to notify parents if children use names or pronouns that don’t match their biological sex.  Ti Washington is a teacher at Hibberd.  Here she is Wednesday night:  "I would then have to call their parents and basically out them.  I'm not in the business of doing that.  Our students trust us with so many things."  Washington also took issue with a bill that addresses concerns over books that could contain graphic depictions of sex.  "A parent can say 'well, I don't think that book is appropriate' and then they can turn me in.  I can get a felony for that.  Since when are we in the business of putting librarians and teachers in jail simply for educating our students?"  The comments came during the public comment portion of Wednesday night’s meeting, which does not draw a response from the Board.


CITY TO MONITOR TRAFFIC PATTERNS AFTER DEPOT OVERPASS CLOSURE

(Richmond, IN)--Shortly after the Depot District overpass closes next month, Richmond police and other officials will closely monitor traffic patterns and paying attention to how emergency vehicles are affected.  An INDOT project talked this week about one concern as it pertains to getting from one part of the city to another.  "A messier part will be north to west.  The only good roads for that are Waterfall and Sim Hodgin.  If I was trying to set things up, I'd probably try to coordinate to try to push things down Industries Road and NW 5th Street."  The closure of the overpass is set to begin in a couple of weeks and last at least a year and a half.


RCS BOARD APPROVES CALENDAR WITH ECLIPSE DAY IN QUESTION

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Community School Board on Wednesday night approved the calendar for the next school year, with one day still somewhat up in the air due to a once-in-a-lifetime event.  Here’s Dawn Sonsini:  "I've received a few different emails about eye safety regarding the total solar eclipse and how some schools are closing on April 8."  She’s talking about April 8 of next year.  The approval of the calendar last night means that school will start on August 7.  Wednesday night’s passage does not set the start time for school each morning.


GOVERNOR TO VISIT RICHMOND THURSDAY

(Richmond, IN)--Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb will be in Richmond on Thursday.  Holcomb is coming to take part in ceremonies related to the expansion of the Blue Buffalo plant.  Back in June of 2019, Blue Buffalo opened a $200 million, 400,000 square-foot facility in the Midwest Industrial Park on Salisbury Road.  Richmond Mayor Dave Snow said the Governor’s visit is an opportunity to do this:  "showcase some of the very positive projects that are happening now as a direct result of our state partnership, so (I'm) looking forward to hosting Governor Holcomb."  According to the EDC, Blue Buffalo now employs 187 people.  Thursday’s events get underway at 11 o’clock.  Indiana’s Secretary of Commerce will also be on hand.