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LOCAL NEWS

CHIEF OF ABINGTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT REMOVED FROM POSITION

(Abington, IN)--Abington Township’s Advisory Board voted 2-1 Tuesday night to remove James Ausmus as fire chief as the criminal investigation into the trustee who brought about Ausmus’ termination continues.  "There was a breach of contract and a misappropriation of funds," said Trustee Steve Kaiser.  The accusations stem largely from a donated fire vehicle.  Kaiser claimed Tuesday night that Ausmus refused to sign a contract stating he would not sell the vehicle.  It’s a claim that was supported by Mike Taylor, who was installed as the new chief Tuesday night.  Taylor said Ausmus was asked this:  "...if he would sign the contract stating he would not sell the truck - that it would be turned over to the department - and he refused to sign that contract."  Ausmas and another terminated firefighter flatly deny the allegations.  During Tuesday night's removal process of Chief Ausmus, Kaiser commented briefly on a document that started much of the controversy.  Ausmus claims that Kaiser posed as Ausmus when he drafted a document to a central Ohio fire department and asked for a fire vehicle to be donated to Abington.  The document was not on Abington letterhead, was not dated, and was full of spelling and punctuation errors.  When asked if he drafted the letter posing as Ausmus, Kaiser Tuesday night did not deny doing it but claimed that it was a "form letter."


EARLY FORECAST INDICATES MOTHER NATURE WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH ECLIPSE

(Whitewater Valley)--It’s way too early to know for sure.  But, as of Wednesday morning, it does not look like Mother Nature is planning on cooperating with the upcoming total solar eclipse.  The forecast for that day is calling for overcast skies with rain.  Here’s an astronomer talking about that:  "It's one of the reasons I'm calling this eclipse "The Heartbreaker."  And, that could result in a monetary effect.  If it becomes certain the Whitewater Valley will have clouds and rain that day, out-of-town spectators could choose other locations.  The odds are not in our favor.  The last 45 April 8's in Richmond have been cloudy 70% of the time.


TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO ARREST OF FELON WITH HANDGUN

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police early Wednesday morning recovered a handgun that was in the possession of a convicted felon.  It came just after midnight during a traffic stop in the 400 block of South 11th.  21-year-old Anthony Marlatt allegedly had the weapon along with drugs and paraphernalia.  Marlatt is also charged with driving despite never having obtained a license.


ABINGTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE ALLEGATIONS SENT TO STATE AGENCIES

(Abington, IN)--Abington Township Trustees are set to meet late Tuesday afternoon for the first time since allegations involving the donation of a used Ohio fire truck claim to light.  The claim by one firefighter is that a trustee falsified a document in order to obtain the donation.  That firefighter was fired and the chief has been suspended.  The allegations are now being submitted to several state agencies, including the State Board of Accounts and State Police.  A criminal investigation is also continuing in central Ohio.  Tuesday's metting is set for 5:30 p.m.  Last week's regularly scheduled meeting was abruptly postponed.


WANTED ALLEGED ARMED ROBBER CAPTURED

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond drug dealer who was also wanted for an armed robbery was taken into custody Monday.  30-year-old Cheyenne Ross was located in the 1100 block of South I Street Monday afternoon.  According to court documents, Ross entered an apartment at Genesis Apartments in January, drew a handgun, and demanded the occupant’s property.  Ross is also now being labeled a habitual offender.  She was being held Tuesday morning on a $25,000 bond.


HEARING SET IN EFFORT TO SEARCH PROPERTY FOR TEEN'S REMAINS

(Connersville, IN)--On Monday, a Fayette County judge set a hearing date on the effort to search a property for the remains of teenager Denise Pflum, who went missing back in 1986.  That hearing date is April 24.  The parents of Denise are trying to force through a court action the search of a property owned by Erika Johnson, who is the sister of a person of interest in the case.  Johnson is fighting the search by saying the statute of limitation ran out long ago.


SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENT

(Preble County, OH)--A local school resource officers remained held without bond Monday morning after having been accused of having a sexual relationship with a student at the school he was assigned to protect.  26-year-old Mason Williams is now on paid administrative leave with the Preble County Sheriff’s Department.  The alleged relationship was consensual and involved an 18-year-old student at National Trail.  Even though the student is of legal age, it’s still considered a crime due to Williams’ position of authority.  "When law enforcement investigates and arrests one of their own, it's imperative that we be transparent with what we learned and how we reponded," said Sheriff Mike Simpson.  The investigation has been turned over to Montgomery County.  Williams is being held without bond in the Butler County Jail.


WAYNE COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT SPIKES

(Wayne County, IN)--Wayne County’s unemployment rate has just jumped to its highest level in two and a half years.  According to new numbers from the state, the rate stands this morning at 4.2%.  That’s up from 2.9% in the last month and is the highest rate since September of 2021.  Other area counties have a similar spike in unemployment.  In Wayne County, the increase is due to a combination of more than 700 people falling out of the labor force in a month and 323 people becoming unemployed.


EPA CLEARS OUT FROM MY WAY FIRE SITE

(Richmond, IN)--There’s a new update from the EPA regarding the My Way Trading fire site in Richmond.  The EPA is now indicating that it has completed cleanup of potential asbestos-containing material.  On Friday, that agency removed all equipment and personnel from the site.  This week, the EPA plans to hand the site back to the city to complete its non-hazardous cleanup.  Recent testing at the site was negative for asbestos contamination.


WOMAN FOUND GUILTY OF NEGLECT CAUSING DEATH IN CASE OF TWO-YEAR-OLD

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond woman was sent to jail Thursday following a trial this week in Wayne Superior Court II in which she was found guilty of neglect of a dependent causing death.  65-year-old Pamela Barger now faces what will likely be a sentence that will keep her behind bars for the rest of her life.  Back in the summer of 2019, Barger was running a babysitting service at her home on North 19th.  A two-year-old child suffered catastrophic injuries at the hands of Barger and her accomplice, Todd Volker, and eventually died.  Volker has already been sentenced to 25 years.  Barger will likely get a similar sentence on April 19.


CATHARINE COFFIN STAMP INTRODUCED IN CEREMONY

(Fountain City, IN)--One of Fountain City’s most famous residents was honored Thursday with a new Forever stamp commemorating her efforts to help thousands of enslaved people find their way to freedom through the Underground Railroad.  The stamp features antislavery activist Catharine Coffin.  It was unveiled Thursday during a ceremony at the Coffin House and was created in partnership with the U.S. Postal Service.  Her stamp is included with 18 others who helped to end slavery, including Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.


PROPERTY OWNER FIGHTS TO PREVENT SEARCH FOR REMAINS

(Connersville, IN)--The owner of the Fayette County property that the parents of Denise Pflum would like to have searched for her remains is fighting to prevent the search.  Denise was a teenager when she went missing back in 1986.  Recently, her parents filed suit to allow for a search of the property of Erika Johnson.  Her brother, Benny Johnson, has been described as a person of interest.  Erika Johnson and her attorneys have now filed a motion to dismiss the case and prevent the search of the property.  Her claim is that the statute of limitations has run out.  A judge has yet to rule on that motion.


CHAMBER ADDRESSES NEED FOR NEW WAYNE COUNTY HOUSING

(Wayne County, IN)--Wayne County’s Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday shared updated numbers regarding Richmond’s need for new housing.  According to the study by a housing economist, Wayne County has a demand for 2250 new housing units through the end of 2028.  Part of the effort of local leaders is to give commuters a closer place to live to their employer.  The study shows more than 12,000 people live outside of Wayne County but commute here every day to work.  And, existing homes are aging.  Half of Wayne County’s 30,000 homes are at least 65 years old.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO TORNADO VICTIMS

(Winchester, IN)--The governor’s office announced Wednesday that additional state resources will be available to Randolph County residents who suffered tornado damage a week ago.  Residents can get reproductions of ID’s, permits, and other legal documents at the Winchester BMV.  Replacement birth and death certificates are now available at the Randolph County Health Departments.  The offices will be opening Thursday.


LONG-TIME ABINGTON FIRE CHIEF DIES

(Abington, IN)--The man largely credited with developing and growing the Abington Volunteer Fire Department has died.  Bill Paddock died Wednesday.  Paddock was widely known among Wayne County firefighting agencies and served as fire chief in Abington for more than 20 years.  Visitation and services are pending.  And, in some other Abington news, what was expected to be a contentious meeting of Abington Township Trustees Wednesday night was postponed.  It would have been the first meeting since a firefighter was fired and the chief was suspended after allegations surfaced about the actions of Abington Township Trustee Steve Kaiser.  The meeting now is set for this coming Tuesday.


ABINGTON FIREFIGHTER FIRED, CHIEF SUSPENDED AFTER ALLEGATIONS MADE PUBLIC

(Abington, IN)--Shortly after Abington Township Trustee Steve Kaiser learned that allegations that he fabricated a letter to obtain a donated fire vehicle would be made public, the Abington volunteer firefighter who helped bring the incident to light was promptly fired.  And, Chief James Ausmus, who said that he did not write a letter that was authored to make it look like he did, was placed on suspension.  The quick personnel actions were taken by a committee that includes Kaiser’s own adult son.  A special meeting was held Tuesday night by acting chief Mike Taylor.  The firefighter and the chief were excluded.  Abington Township Trustees meet late Wednesday afternoon.  The donated vehicle appeared Tuesday to still be sitting on property controlled by Kaiser on Lambert Road.  A criminal investigation into Kaiser's continues by a central Ohio police agency.  That agency is where in the area of the fire department that donated the vehicle to the Abington Volunteer Fire Department.  (Note:  The photo accompanying this story was taken Tuesday and is believed to depict the donated fire vehicle.  It sat Tuesday on a property on Lambert Road that is under Kaiser's control).


RPD FOCUSES ON HELP FOR HOMELESS, CLEAN-UP OF ENCAMPMENTS

(Richmond, IN)--This week, Richmond Common Council got an update on efforts to clean up Richmond’s homeless encampments and help the people who are living in them.  It’s been a focus of RPD over the last few months.  First, RPD determined whether camps around the city were occupied.  Here’s PatTudor:  "Once we identified people staying at the camps, we would bring in resources."  Then, it was a matter of getting them help.  "If we did identify someone at that camp, we - at that point - would determine what they needed.  If they were mental health issues, we would make that connection.  If they were substance abuse issues, we would make that connection," Tudor added.  Homeless camps were located in the gorge, along the Cardinal Greenway, near Walmart, and behind the Gateway Plaza.


TREE REMOVAL TO BEGIN ON EAST MAIN

(Richmond, IN)--Tree removal shifts on Wednesday from Richmond’s Depot District to the Uptown area as work on Phase II of the Loop ramps up.  Crews will begin Wednesday in the 700 block of East Main and work their way east for the remainder of this week.  Also Wednesday, Indiana American notified the city that their work on Fort Wayne Avenue has been delayed.  Crews pulled off the job to help with tornado recovery efforts in Winchester.  The new Fort Wayne Avenue completion date is the 29th.


ABINGTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE INVESTIGATED OVER FIRE EQUIPMENT DONATION

(Abington, IN and Pickaway County, OH)--An investigation is underway by a central Ohio police agency into the actions of an Abington Township trustee in Wayne County.  In public documents obtained by Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News, Scioto Township, Ohio, donated a used firefighting vehicle and some equipment to the Abington Volunteer Fire Department at the written request Abington Fire Chief James Ausmus last fall.  But, the letter -which is full of spelling and punctuation errors and written on fabricated letterhead – was actually allegedly authored by Abington Township Trustee Steve Kaiser.  As a result, Abington was awarded the vehicle and equipment.  But now, five months later, the fire company still has not received the vehicle.  It sits Tuesday morning on Kaiser’s personal property, and one Abington firefighter says that Kaiser is refusing to give it to the department.  Ausmus indicated Monday that he did not write the letter.  The investigation into Kaiser is currently being handled by the police department in Commercial Point, Ohio with cooperation from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.  Kaiser was reached for comment Monday, but indicated he did not have time to talk until Thursday, which is one day after a Board meeting of Abington Township's Board of Trustees.


EPA NEARS COMPLETION OF MY WAY TRADING FIRE CLEANUP

(Richmond, IN)--The EPA appears to be well ahead of schedule in the cleanup of the My Way Trading fire site in Richmond.  According to a recent update, all potential asbestos-containing materials have been removed from the site and taken to an appropriate facility.  Crews are continuing to rinse off the concrete pad that remains.  That’s the last step in the EPA’s cleanup.  They recently collected four samples from the site and all four came back free of asbestos.  Air samples have also been negative during cleanup and removal.  Once the EPA has left the site, it will be returned to the city of Richmond.  Numerous lawsuits continue to progress.