(Whitewater Valley)--Two Wayne County highways have reopened.  One of them is westbound I-70.  INDOT announced late Thursday night that part of the interstate that had washed out in this week’s flooding was completely repaired in about 32 hours.  "I didn't think there would be any way you could replace that kind of gap in pavement and do it in a permanent way and not just in a temporary way," said Governor Mike Braun Thursday.  The opening relieves both Richmond city streets and county roads just north of I-70 that had been clogged with semis and other interstate traffic seeking a detour.  Also, State Road 38 has reopened on the west side of Hagerstown.  Crews on Thursday completed temporary repairs between State Road 1 and Brick Church Road.  More work may be needed next week to make permanent repairs.  The east end of 38 near U.S. 35 remained closed Friday morning.

(Cambridge City, IN)--Indiana Governor Mike Braun was in Cambridge City Thursday to survey flood damage.  Earlier Thursday, Braun had issued a statewide disaster emergency order that will pave the way for federal help.  Braun gave a timeline.  "It'll take us up to a week to give them (federal agencies) to actually give them the report for federal assistance," he said.  And, he said that state resources will remain in the area at least through Friday.  "We're going to keep a Blackhawk helicopter here in case we need it for any search, retrieval, or rescue," Braun explained.  The order states that the Indiana Department of Homeland Security will enlist the support of additional state agencies.

(Cambridge City, IN)--Cambridge City has issued an overnight curfew.  The curfew will go into effect at 8 o’clock each night and will be in effect until 7 o’clock the following morning.  During the curfew period, people will be prohibited from driving or gathering on public streets, sidewalks, parks, and other public places.  The curfew will be in effect each night and will be lifted on Thursday morning next week.

(Whitewater Valley)--Efforts to restore utilities to flood-ravaged areas continued Friday morning.  880 customers of Duke Energy remained without power at 6 a.m. Friday in western Wayne County.  Town officials said Thursday night that the hope is to have at least some power restored by the middle of the day Friday. 1100 Duke customers were out Friday morning in Brookville.  Hagerstown, Cambridge City and Dublin remain under water boil advisories until further notice.  Cambridge City is also asking that people not place flood-damaged items like furniture and bedding in the streets.  Instructions will be released Friday about disposal of large items.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Police Department was involved in a stand-off late Thursday afternoon.  According to a release from RPD, 63-year-old Charles Thomas had made threats both online and toward his neighbors in the 1100 block of South 24^th.  Officers cordoned off the area when Thomas refused to exit.  The RPD SWAT Team then responded.  Thomas eventually surrendered and is now charged with two counts of felony intimidation.

(Wayne County, IN)--Several shelters are open for residents displaced by flooding across the area.

In Wayne County, the Red Cross shelter at the Kuhlman Center is open. Western Wayne Elementary, the Cambridge City Fire Department and the Golay Community Center are also accepting evacuees.

In Henry County, the trustee center in New Castle is open. Connersville High School is also serving as an evacuation location in Fayette County.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department is assisting residents who were forced to leave animals behind during evacuations. Residents can submit an online form with their contact information so officials can work to evacuate the animals and reunite them with their owners.

Officials said animal evacuations will begin when conditions are safe.

(Wayne County, IN)--Interstate 70 and several state roads remained affected by Wednesday’s flooding on Thursday morning.  Westbound I-70 is shut down at the 146 mile marker.  That’s just east of the Centerville exit.  An INDOT photo from the scene released Wednesday night shows about 20 feet of the interstate completely washed out with water rushing underneath.  Crews have removed the damaged pavement and are filling the area with stone. INDOT hopes to pave later today and reopen the interstate sometime Friday, August 14.

Westbound interstate traffic is being diverted off of 70 onto U.S. 27.  From there, the official detour takes drivers north to U.S. 36.  But, on Thursday morning, many drivers were trying to find their own detours and were taking county roads. 

It was much the same on State Road 38 Thursday morning.  Part of the roadway washed out just west of U.S. 35. State Road 38 is also closed west of Hagerstown between Petty Street and Brick Church Road due to flood damage.

 A deputy was posted there Thursday morning and was diverting drivers onto Salisbury Road.  INDOT said it hopes to have the road repaired and reopened on Friday, Aug. 14.

(Whitewater Valley)--Floodwaters began to recede across the Whitewater Valley Thursday morning.  At 12:45 Thursday morning, the East Fork of the Whitewater River was at 16 ½ feet.  The river was expected to fall below the flood stage of 14 feet later Monday morning.  Rainfall totals from Wednesday vary greatly.  Wayne County EMA said Wednesday night that the totals ranged from between eight and ten inches, although radar estimates in very isolated areas were even higher than that.  The average rainfall total for Wayne County in June, July, and August combined is 12.1 inches.  That means that some areas got an entire summer’s worth of rain in just 24 hours.  In that amount of time, the water level at Brookville Lake – which was designed to contain floodwaters, has risen eight feet.

(Richmond, IN)--Even though Richmond Community Schools was below state average in IREAD results that were released Tuesday, the district showed significant improvement in recent years.  This year, 86.4% of third graders were rated as proficient.  Last year, that number was 80%.  And, the year before that, it was only 70%.  Here are the specific results for each RCS school:  Charles, 87.9%.  Crestdale, 92.1%.  Fairview, 86.3%.  Starr, 79.6%.  Vaile, 84.5%.  Westview, 86.3%.

(Whitewater Valley)--IREAD results were released by the state Tuesday.  Statewide, literacy rates improved for the fifth consecutive year, with nearly 89% of third graders demonstrating proficiency in reading skills.  Locally, one school did as well as it possibly could have.  Centerville scored a perfect 100%.  Other local school districts above average include Northeastern, Nettle Creek, Union County, Franklin County, Randolph Central, and Randolph Southern.  Richmond was below state average at 86.4%.  Western Wayne and Fayette County were also below average.  Here are specific school results:  Richmond, 86.4%.  Northeastern, 95.5%.  Centerville, 100%.  Western Wayne, 83.6%.  Nettle Creek, 95.6%.  Randolph Eastern, 80.3%.  Randolph Central, 91.2%.  Monroe Central, 83.5%.  Randolph Southern, 89.3%.  Franklin County, 90.1%.  Fayette County, 82%.  Union County, 94.9%.

(Richmond, IN)--The name of the Richmond High School football player who was critically injured at last weekend’s Richmond Flying Mummies game was released Monday.  He’s Dre Street.  Dre remained in critical condition Tuesday morning at a Level One trauma center after being flown there following the incident.  The specifics of the injuries he sustained when colliding head-first with another RHS player while wearing a bubble suit have not been released.  Meanwhile, a gofundme account has been established to help the family offset the expenses of staying by his bedside.

(Richmond, IN)--INDOT released an update on the Revive I-70 project to widen the interstate to three lanes through Wayne County.  The project is now in its second year of construction.  Monday’s update focused on the interchanges with U.S. 40 and U.S. 35.  Roundabouts are being incorporated into both of those interchanges.  At the U.S. 40 interchange at the state line, INDOT says the western roundabout is now 60% complete.  Ramps at both interchanges are being built to tie into the roundabouts.  INDOT now estimates that both interchanges will open in their final configuration late next year.

(Richmond, IN)--A 20-year-old Richmond man was taken into custody Monday and now faces two counts of rape.  William Hubbard was taken into custody at his home on North 9^th Street.  Hubbard was jailed after what appears to be a sealed warrant was issued for his arrest.  Details of the alleged rape have not been released.  Hubbard was being held Tuesday morning on a $45,000 bond.

(Richmond, IN)--A former U.S. Attorney General is coming to Richmond.  Earlham College announced Monday that Eric Holder, who was the Attorney General under President Barack Obama, will be speaking at Carpenter Hall on the evening of September 17.  Holder will be promoting his new book “Our Unfinished March”, which examines the history of voting rights in America.  The event is free and open to the public, but advance reservations are required.  That can be done on Earlham’s website.

(Richmond, IN)--Words of support poured in Sunday for the two Richmond High School football players who were injured during a between-innings incident at the Richmond Flying Mummies baseball game on Saturday night.  One of those injuries is described as critical.  The two players had donned bubbles suits and ran toward each other.  The intentional collision between the two left them both down while trainers and first responders rushed to help.  Both were taken to Reid Health, with one going to a Level One trauma center.  The team has indicated that counseling services will be available at school Monday for players and any student who needs support.  There has been no update this morning on either of the boys’ conditions.  The football team had been at the game as part of a fundraiser.  There was a nearly identical incident to what happened at McBride Stadium involving bubble suits in North Carolina less than two weeks ago.  A high school student was critically injured wearing a bubble suit was critically injured at a minor league baseball game.  The bubbles suits worn Saturday night leave the legs exposed, leading to higher-speed impacts. 

(Richmond, IN)--One of the two teens wanted for beating a pregnant woman surrendered over the weekend.  19-year-old Bailey Hatfield surrendered at the Wayne County Jail on Saturday and then bonded out.  Hatfield is charged with battery with serious bodily injury.  Police are still searching for 19-year-old Landon Eversole, who allegedly initiated the attack.  The 33-year-old pregnant woman was walking near North 16^th and E Street when she was beaten and choked.  The unborn child was not injured.

(Indianapolis, IN)--There were some good results at the Indiana State Fair for several Whitewater Valley Schools.  That includes Richmond High School.  The RHS cheerleaders took first place at the State Fair cheer competition.  Richmond also finished seventh in the Band Day competition.  Other area bands also fared well.  Winchester was 5^th.  Centerville was 8^th.  Hagerstown was 10^th.  Northeastern was 12^th, and Monroe Central finished in 14^th place.

(Richmond, IN)--Jera Schwer and Nick Wetzel, who are vice presidents of the Wetzel Auto Group, updated the situation with police vehicles for the city of Richmond on Thursday.  That update came with a further explanation of why recent bids for vehicles came in roughly $20,000 higher that a Detroit dealership.  While Bob Maxey in Detroit bid a more base unit, Wetzel was requested to bid vehicles with an eco-boost engine package and a spotlight kit.  The eco-boost upgrade that Wetzel bid - but Maxey did not - totalled $2850.  The spotlight kit added an additional $880.  In effect, according to Nick Wetzel, they were bidding on two different types of vehicles.  "It's a scenario that would be very similar to asking two contractors to give you a price to build a two car garage and you ask one to build it out of brick and the other to build it out of vinyl siding," Wetzel said.  Had the two elements been eliminated from the Wetzel bid, Wetzel's bid would have been lower than the Maxey bid.  As for the six vehicles that the city could not purchase at the start of this year, three have gone to other municipalities.  The other three remain on the Wetzel lot.  The city recently requested a bid for three additional vehicles.

(Richmond, IN)--Wayne County Republicans held a caucus Thursday night to elect a prosecutor for the remainder of the year.  The caucus was made necessary by the resignation of Mike Shipman, which, according to the caucus notice, becomes effective on September 1.  Ashley Green was the only Republican on the primary ballot in May.  Shipman has been the prosecuting attorney in Wayne County since 2005.  His term had been set to end at the end of this year.  Shipman announced last year that he would not seek re-election.

(Richmond, IN)--Two Richmond teens remained wanted Friday morning for allegedly beating a pregnant woman last weekend.  Arrest warrants were issued Thursday for 19-year-olds Landon Eversole and Bailey Hatfield.  According to an affidavit, the 33-year-old victim was walking on North 22^nd last weekend when Eversole approached her, punched her in the face, choked her, and tried to take her purse.  Eversole then told Hatfield to join the attack, which she did.  The victim was taken to Reid Health, where it was determined that the unborn child was not injured.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Board of Public Works approved an agreement Thursday between the city and Richmond Community Schools to provide resource officers throughout the school district.  Austin Lipps with RPD said there are a few changes from last school year.  "Most significant was it's for three officers for $300,000 instead of four for $400,000," Lipps said.  The Board on Thursday unanimously approved the contract.

(Richmond, IN)--There’s a big problem at the Wayne County Courthouse.  The elevator is out.  An electrical component has failed that allowed the elevator to stop at various floors.  Now, the search is on for replacement parts.  And, for now, the only option to get to the courts and some other offices is to climb the interior courthouse steps.  Here’s an exchange Wednesday between the county’s Steve Higginbotham and Council member Jeff Cappa:

 

Cappa:  "What are we doing for those with disabilities to try to get up?"

 

Higginbotham:  "Yeah, that's a problem.  I don't have an answer for you today."

 

Previously, the county opened bids for a new elevator, but no bids were submitted due largely to the requirement that the work be done at nights and on weekends.  Leaders are currently exploring other locations to hold court if there’s not a quick fix for the elevator.

(Richmond, IN)--Wayne County Council on Wednesday approved extending the agreement that allows Wayne County to continue to dispatch first responders in Union County.  Union County’s local dispatch center closed last Saturday afternoon after the last of three recent resignations.  The extension was made to allow the two counties to work out a more permanent agreement.  Here’s Barry Ritter on Wednesday:  "We hope to have that completed for a new interlocal agreement with new terms  within the next 30 to 60 days for council and commissioners in both counties to appove."  Staffing was cited Wednesday as one of the primary concerns created by the permanent change.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly vandalizing a cemetery.  Details of which cemetery it was and how much damage was done there have not yet been released.  29-year-old Tyshawn Cochrane was taken into custody Wednesday at Reid Health.  He was also charged with resisting arrest and battering a public safety official.  Cochrane has a criminal record that includes other battery and resisting cases.  He also survived a stabbing three years ago.

(Lynn, IN)--It was a week ago Wednesday that Lynn Town Marshal Brad Fisher was struck and killed by the driver of a stolen van.  Online court records on Wednesday morning indicated that prosecutors have not yet filed formal charges against the woman accused of driving that vehicle, 34-year-old Maci Atkinson.  Atkinson remained behind bars Wednesday morning without bond in the Wayne County Jail.  Atkinson has four other criminal cases still pending in Randolph County that include two for drug possession, one for syringe possession, and one for battery.  All of those cases have been filed since April and are unrelated to Fisher’s death.