(Darke County, OH)--Details of a fatal dog attack in Darke County were released Thursday.  Investigators say it happened earlier this week on Clapp Road, which is just off of U.S. 36 near the state line.  83-year-old Mildred Malott had walked next door when she was attacked by a group of three dogs that had been let outside by that home’s owners, Scott and Pennie Royer.  Malott was pronounced dead at the scene.  All three dogs, which were described as mixed-breed, were handed over to the Darke County dog warden.  Under a new Ohio law, dog owners are responsible for the behavior of their dogs – even if it’s on their own property.

(Connersville, IN)--The former treasurer of the Fayette County Free Fair Association has escaped jail time despite stealing more than $6000 from that organization last year.  Makinsey Price was arrested following a state police investigation revealed that she wrote checks for herself, transferred money to herself, and kept cash that had come in through rodeo collections.  A plea deal resulted in a year’s worth of probation to Price and an order to pay more than $6500 in restitution.

(Richmond, IN)--It was nowhere near as bad as it was last month, but heavy rain Wednesday night created street flooding that forced some of those streets to be closed in Richmond.  Most areas in and around Richmond received around three inches of rain in less than two hours.  The Spring Grove area of Richmond received the most at 3 ¼ inches.  Street flooding resulted on North E in the Depot District, on National Road East near Industrial Parkway, and at the entrance to Ravina Park, where firefighters responded for a water rescue.  All streets were open Thursday morning.

(Richmond, IN)--Wayne County leaders Wednesday night approved an interlocal agreement to permanently dispatch first responders in the town of Liberty and Union County.  Barry Ritter talked about the benefits Wednesday night.  "This interlocal agreement is a win-win for all three parties.  It saves Union County and Liberty money annually, but it also compensates Wayne County above and beyond for the services that they're buying.  Most importantly, it's going to enhance public safety in Union County," Ritter said.  The agreement will be in place through at least the end of next year.  Union County will pay $200,000.  Liberty will pay $50,000.

(Richmond, IN)--There was a large police response during a standoff in the 100 block of North 17^th in Richmond Wednesday afternoon.  Officers had gone to that area to arrest 30-year-old Dylan Spencer.  Spencer had failed to show up for a hearing in a strangulation and domestic battery case.  RPD took to social media to ask nearby residents to stay inside and for others to avoid the area.  Spencer was eventually taken into custody.  Because he failed to show up in court, he is now being held without bond.

(Richmond, IN)--Wednesday night, Wayne County elected officials got on update on the construction and reopening of the Richmond Avenue bridge.  That bridge, which is a key connector of many parts of Richmond to the city’s northwest side, closed to traffic in early March.  It was supposed to have reopened by now, but that’s not the case.  The delay exists largely due to efforts to level out both sides of the bridge, and that’s been complicated by a gas main that runs through part of the bridge.  County Engineer Brandon Sanders has the timeline.  "We are looking at probably end of October / first of November for a completion date," Sanders said.  The Bridge Avenue bridge is expected to open around the same time.

(Connersville, IN)--Beginning Thursday and running through Saturday, FEMA representatives will be back at the Baptist Temple in Connersville to assist flood victims.  Meanwhile, Mayor Chad Frank continues to address the financial implications of major repairs that are needed at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.  "I can't afford the $5 million bill we have right now.  So we have to figure out how we have to do long-term planning to pay for all of this," Frank said.  That plant is currently operational.  The latest estimates in Connersville show that 280 residents were impacted by last month’s flooding.

(Wayne County, IN)--The Indiana State Police recently conducted a traffic enforcement initiative targeting semis traveling through the construction zone of I-70 in Wayne and Henry County.  And, according to the numbers they released Tuesday, it’s paid off big time.  Before the enforcement effort, the area was averaging eight crashes per week.  During the operation, there were three crashes total.  The effort included 159 citations for semi drivers and 16 arrests.

(Richmond, IN)--Vacant and deteriorating houses have long been a problem in some Richmond neighborhoods.  They’re a magnet for squatting and drug activity.  on Tuesday, an emergency order was issued to have one of those homes demolished.  That property is near 11^th and South B.  This discussion about the duplex’s owner and the activities on the property is from Tuesday’s meeting of the Unsafe Building Committee:  "I don't know for sure, but I believe Mr. Anderson knew that some of those people were in there.  I don't know if they were supposed to be trading work for staying there, but there was no water or electric at one point."  The committee voted unanimously for demolition.

(Note:  The photo accompanying this story is not of the specific duplex.  It is a photo of a home demolition that is in the public domain.)

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man accused of molesting an elementary-school age family member was returned to the Wayne County Jail from north central Indiana on Tuesday.  Antonio Cosner is now being held on a $35,000 bond.  So far, Cosner refused to speak with investigators about the allegations, but he has confirmed that he is HIV positive.  An initial hearing for Cosner is pending.

(Preble County, OH)--One semi crash Wednesday morning affected two highways in Preble County.  It happened at the State Route 726 overpass of I-70.  The crash occurred at 4 o’clock Wednesday morning on 726, but part of the wreckage ended up on the interstate.  There’s no word yet on what caused the crash or the extent of the injuries suffered by the driver.

(Connersville, IN)--There’s some sad news from Fayette County.  Zeno, who was a K9 deputy with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, has died.  The department said that Zeno had recently retired and fallen into poor health but had assisted in multiple apprehensions over the years.  Zeno was handled by Sergeant McMurry.  A formal service for Zeno is pending.

(Winchester, IN)--The woman charged with striking and killing Lynn Town Marshal Brad Fisher in July made her first appearance in court Monday.  Maci Atkinson answered several basic questions from the judge.  Then came a plea through her public defender to the judge of not guilty.  No specifics of the case were addressed in the hearing, which lasted only five minutes.  Atkinson was ordered to continue to be held without bond until a bond hearing, which will take place on the 28^th.  A trial date was set for late January of next year, although that will almost certainly be pushed back.

(Richmond, IN)--Beginning Wednesday, it will be a lot easier to head west on I-70 from many parts of Richmond.  That’s because the ramp from northbound Williamsburg Pike to westbound I-70 is due to reopen.   But, the opening comes with another closure.  INDOT said Monday that the ramp from northbound Williamsburg Pike to eastbound 70 will close Wednesday and is expected to remain closed until mid-November.

(Fountain City, IN)--Levi Coffin Days are coming up this weekend.  It’s an annual event.  But, this year, there’s a special element.  "For 2026, the reason why it's special is because it will be the month that will recognize the 200th anniversary of Levi and Catherine Coffin's arrival from North Carolina and settling here in Fountain City."  That’s from a video posted by the Levi and Catherine Coffin House State Historic Site.  This is also the 60-year anniversary of the house becoming the first Indiana property to land on the National Register of Historic Places.

(Richmond, IN)--A plastics recycling company and its owner have agreed to pay just over $2 million to the city of Richmond as a settlement that resolves part of the litigation stemming from the massive My Way Trading fire in April of 2023.  Seth Smith has agreed to pay the city $20,000; the rest falls to Cornerstone Trading.  That settlement resolves part of a class-action suit set to start Monday in the U.S. District Court for Southern Indiana.  Legal filings describe Cornerstone as an inadequately capitalized company with severe financial distress.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man with HIV allegedly bribed a child with Takis chips before molesting that child.  Antonio Cosner faces two counts of child molesting.  According to court documents, police were called to a home on South 17^th to investigate two separate sex offenses.  Although the relationship with the child was not specified, Cosner would often be alone with the child in a locked bedroom.  Cosner refused to speak with investigators on the advice of his attorney.  He was taken into custody over the weekend in the Kokomo area.  There’s no indication yet of when he’s due in a Wayne County courtroom.

(Richmond, IN)--The EDC of Wayne County is putting out the call for developers and contractors who can help revitalize historic homes in the Starr District.  The EDC issued a statement saying that they want to develop a pool of qualified people with skills and experience in home construction, rehabilitation, and historic preservation.  The Starr District is currently listed on Indiana Landmark’s list of most endangered places.  Contractors have until two weeks from today to contact the EDC and provide a statement of qualifications.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond man who was already wanted for a probation violation now faces numerous new felony charges.  29-year-old Robert White was taken into custody Friday following a chase that ended in the 300 block of North 9^th.  Investigators say White had a large quantity of methamphetamine in his possession when he was arrested.  That led to a dealing charge.  More meth was allegedly found in White’s possession as he was being booked into jail, and that led to a trafficking with an inmate charge.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond’s food and beverage tax, which went into effect earlier this year, is now generating roughly $90,000 monthly.  That’s according to Park Superintendent Denise Retz at Thursday’s Park Board meeting.  Retz also said that one of the projects that tax is helping to fund, which is a large-scale renovation of the Glen Miller Park playground, begins on Monday.  "I just want to make sure that the community realizes that, while the playground will be under construction - there will be a construction fence going up on Monday - that it is for a good reason," Retz said.  The playground project is expected to be complete by spring.