(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.

(Richmond, IN)--A fire at a house on East Main in Richmond drew a lot of attention yesterday afternoon, but really didn’t amount to much.  It happened next door to First English Lutheran Church.  As is always the case when a call comes in as a structure fire, there was a large response with crews blocking a part of East Main.  Here’s Battalion Chief Jerry Benjamin:  “Once we got there, we realized pretty quick that it was just part of the porch that got caught on fire by the people who were working there.”  The fire never actually entered the house and there were no injuries.

(Richmond, IN)--Here’s more on the Richmond Community School Board meeting from Tuesday night.  An announcement was made more public last month that RCS was proposing a reduction in force of 22 positions and many people expressed concern that music and the arts would be affected.  Clearly, Tuesday night, Board members expressed a desire to find other solutions.  Here are some of them:  Kristen Brunton:  "Cuts need to start at the administrative level.".  Nicole Stults:  "I am of the strong opinion that we should explore alternative solutions."  And, Aaron Stevens:  "Don't touch the arts."  No action was taken Tuesday night.  Nearly three dozen people signed up to address the Board.

(Richmond, IN)--A sexual battery investigation culminated Thursday with the arrest of 32-year-old Joseph McCalister.  The arrest stems from an incident that happened at a business in the 4300 block of National Road East in Richmond.  The specific business was not identified.  McCalister is alleged to have inappropriately touched an adult female.  McCalister was arrested on the exact same charge less than a year ago after trying to pull a woman’s pants down as she left a Dollar General in Richmond.  He was sentenced in that case to 300 days in jail.

(Richmond, IN)--Three more alleged methamphetamine dealers were arrested in Richmond on Wednesday.  The Richmond Police Department’s SAFE Unit arrived to the 900 block of North 19^th Wednesday and took Brandon Carpenter, Deanna Duncan, and Jeannette Oliver into custody.  All now face dealing and numerous other charges.  All three have at least two previous meth possession cases.  Rodney Necessary was also arrested on lesser charges.  The amount of drugs recovered was not disclosed.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Community School Board met Tuesday night and, as expected, heard from numerous teachers and students about the proposed reduction in force of 22 staff members.  Much of the concern was directed toward music and arts programs.  Here’s one RHS student addressing the Board:  "The music programs can get hurt by your decisions.  There is serious concern about about students dropping out of class because of what has happened," that student said.  In advance of those public comments, Karen Scalf gave a detailed explanation of school funding and talked about changes in taxation at the state level.  "Homeowners are going to see additional deductions.  They are going to move from a flat rate to a percentage.  They are going to see changes to abatement rates.  They are going to see changes to overall taxation," Scalf said.  The RCS Board took no action Tuesday night, but several members read prepared statements about the RIFs.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond drug dealer was taken into custody along with three other people when Richmond police executed a search warrant Tuesday in the 700 block of South 10^th.   Lance Perkins was charged with dealing cocaine.  Perkins was sentenced to ten years in prison back in 2015 for drug dealing.  Also arrested Tuesday on less serious charges were Sean Mayberry, Chelsea Reynolds, and Jessica Corner.  Perkins was still being held Wednesday on a $75,000 bond.  The amount of drugs recovered Tuesday was not disclosed.

(Richmond, IN)--Drivers on a section of I-70 will soon be getting their first taste of driving on new pavement that used to be the median.  Traffic on eastbound I-70 is set to move to the new roadway as crews begin work on a new phase of the project.  The shift extends from west of U.S. 35 to State Road 227.  The east and westbound lanes in that area are now separated by a barrier wall.  There has also been another ramp closure this week.  The ramp from westbound 70 to westbound U.S. 40 at the state line has been closed, effectively cutting interstate traffic to east-side Richmond businesses in half.

(Connersville, IN)--The man who led Connersville High School to its first-ever state boys basketball championship has died.  Coach Myron Dickerson, who coached Connersville in 1972, died on Sunday.  Dickerson is also a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.  A service will be held on Saturday in Greenwood.  Myron Dickerson was 91.

(Richmond, IN)--Here’s more on the arrest of William “Billy” Johnson of Richmond on numerous child molestation charges that Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News reported Monday.  Johnson has worked in the Starr Elementary School cafeteria for 32 years, but there is no indication in the affidavit of probable cause that any children in the school were molested at any time.  What the affidavit does state is that Johnson was originally accused of molesting family members back in 2010, but that case was never prosecuted because the father of the victim did not want to press charges.  A second family member came forward with very similar allegations in January of this year. Johnson originally spoke to investigators, but has since retained an attorney and is no longer cooperating.