(Richmond, IN)--Local leaders in Richmond observed Earth Day Monday by cutting the ribbon on the solar park that’s situated on former New Creations property along I-70.  Nearly 27,000 solar panels have the capacity of generating about seven megawatts of energy.  The panels generate enough electricity to power about a thousand homes daily.  Generated electricity will be used in Richmond and not distributed elsewhere.

(Metamora, IN)--A 31-year-old Franklin County woman could spend most of the rest of her life in prison after she was charged under a new Indiana law that holds drug dealers responsible for the overdose deaths of others.  Kelly Neville is accused of selling heroin laced with deadly Fentanyl to Jeffrey Shultz.  Shultz died from an overdose in the Metamora Family Dollar restroom.  The charge is a Level 1 Felony, which is the highest level of felony in Indiana.

(Winchester, IN)--A former Richmond resident is now facing multiple counts of child molesting in Randolph County.  41-year-old Kevin Retter faces decades in prison after the parents of a girl in her early teens allegedly found messages about Retter that she had shared with friends.  The girl claims Retter abused her multiple times during a four-month period ending late last month.  She also claims Retter told her not to tell anyone because he would get into big trouble.

(Kingman, AZ)--A man described so far as only a “person of interest” in connection with the death of a Winchester man has been captured in Arizona.  59-year-old Monty Cook had been sought since death last December of David Brumley, whose body was found at his home on West South Street in Winchester.  Cook had allegedly taken Brumley’s unique car and dumped it in Memphis.  Cook now faces charges in both Randolph County and in Arizona.

(Preble County, OH)--Investigators in Preble County are still searching for a weekend robber.  It happened at the Pilot Travel Center on U.S. 127 near the junction of I-70.  The suspect escaped with cash, but no injuries were being reported.  A description of the robber and the getaway vehicle has not been released.  Officials are unsure if other people were involved.

(Richmond, IN)--What started as a breaking and entering call late Sunday night ended with the arrest of an alleged drug dealer.  Police were called at just before midnight to the 200 block of North 14^th in Richmond.  A canine gave a positive indication on 26-year-old Dustin Alvey.  Alvey was jailed at midnight and charged with dealing cocaine or other narcotic drug.  The amount of drugs recovered has not been released.

(Richmond, IN)--What was arguably downtown Richmond’s last truly iconic business is closing for good on Saturday.  "It was too  much," said Cindy Scheele, who is the owner of Joy Ann Cake Shop.  Joy Ann had existed downtown for 80 years, but that ends Saturday.  Scheele cited a variety of factors for the decision, including increased cost from suppliers, increased payroll, and lengthy street construction around the building.  "I just don't have it in me.  I'm very tired," Scheele added.  Efforts to sell the business and the building have failed.  As for now, the building will be empty.  "I own the building.  I'm losing it to the bank.  I'm loosing everything," Scheele explained.  Joy Ann had operated at the same location on East Main Street for more than 80 years.  Scheele said she’s making one last large batch of Joy Ann’s famous thumbprint cookies to sell Friday and Saturday.

(Centerville, IN)--A zoning request to turn a house on Stevens Road just south of Centerville into a sober living transitional home has been withdrawn.  The petition was withdrawn this week after numerous nearby residents spoke against the proposal, which would have provided transitional housing for up to six people battling various addictions.  Opponents feared decreased property value and increased criminal activity.  The withdrawal means the plan is off the table for at least six months.

(Wayne County, IN)--A Wayne County police canine was struck by a car during the apprehension of a suspect Thursday morning.  It happened on Frontage Road in western Wayne County when deputies were attempting to arrest 38-year-old Travis Lee of Lynn.  The dog was not seriously injured.  Charges against Lee include felony criminal recklessness with a vehicle and battery on a police canine.  He’s also charged with felony neglect of a dependent.

(Cambridge City, IN)--A police standoff that prompted lockdowns Thursday afternoon at Western Wayne Elementary and Lincoln High School in Cambridge City ended peacefully.  A man described as suicidal barricaded himself inside a home in the 100 block of East Main Street and refused to come out for about an hour and a half.  Schools were placed on lockdown strictly as a precautionary measure.  Sheriff Randy Retter said there was never any direct threat to the schools.  The man eventually surrendered without incident and was taken to Reid Health for evaluation.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Roosters are returning.  That’s according to a social media post by John Cate.  Cate was instrumental in the founding and operation of the original Roosters, which played baseball at McBride Stadium from 1995 until 2005.  According to the Wednesday post, the Roosters will be a college wooden bat league that will play in the Midwest Prospect Baseball League.  John and Cindy Cate and Allen Brady are the owners.  The first league game is set for June 29.  There’s no word on where the Roosters will play and, if that location is McBride, how the Roosters will co-exist with the Richmond Jazz, which also plays at McBride.  Cate said more information will be released in a couple of weeks.

(Cambridge City, IN)--There’s been yet another delay in the effort to find a permanent solution to treating wastewater at the Gateway Industrial Park near Cambridge City.  Although the option of sending the wastewater to Connersville appears to be off the table, numbers presented to SugarCreek last month appear to be inaccurate.  Instead of an 18% increase in rates, it now appears there would be an increase of 37%.  A third party firm is now in the process of analyzing data.  In addition to that issue, there are 300,000 gallons of clear water flowing daily into the wastewater system.  The source of that water must be located.

(Richmond, IN)--The resident of an alleged Richmond drug house has bonded out of jail and was free Thursday morning.  47-year-old Betty Johnson was one of three people arrested during a SWAT Team raid of a home in the 800 block of South 6^th in Richmond.  Officers executed a search warrant after an investigation that included complaints from neighbors and recovered a variety of drugs.  Johnson was charged with dealing cocaine but has posted ten percent of a $15,000 bond and was released.  A Dayton man and Jason Branham of Richmond remained behind bars Thursday.

(Preble County, OH)--A female driver in her 20’s was killed in a crash on State Route 503 just north of West Alexandria Tuesday.  "It was a huge metal-on-metal crash.".  That’s how Sarah Cupit described the crash just outside her house near Pyrmont (PEER-mont) Road.  The victim had been driving erratically according to a witness who was driving behind her.  "Kind of all over the roadway.  In fact, the witness was just about to give us a call because of the erratic driving when the crash occurred," said Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson.  She hit an oncoming pickup head-on, causing minor injuries to that driver.  The victim’s name will be released Wednesday.

(Richmond, IN)--Some new signage went up in downtown Richmond yesterday that geared toward helping merchants and businesses deal with ongoing street closures.  The signs encourage people to park in the former Elder-Beerman parking lot as an alternative to the loss parking and accessibility due to construction.  Main Street is currently closed between 6^th and 7^th Streets.  That closure will shift a block west next month.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond police on Tuesday made another drug arrest in the problem area of the 100 block of Richmond Avenue.  Officers recovered narcotic drugs, marijuana, and syringes when they took 24-year-old Heaven Ford into custody.  Ford now faces three felony counts.  The quantity of drugs recovered has not been released.  Ford has a criminal history that includes numerous book-ins last year.

(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council Monday night heard a request for the issuance of a four-year, three-quarters-of-a-million bond for upgrades throughout the Park Department.  "We're still completely, 100% committed to making our park system the best it can be," said Superintendent Denise Retz to council.  The bond would fund multiple elements.  "Priorities are focusing on maintenance and beautification, compliance, and the parks' future," Retz added.  Some council members suggested that a lengthier bond would be more appropriate.  Others questioned why the needs were not addressed during the budget process.  Council will vote on the request next month.

(Richmond, IN)--A man wanted in multiple counties, including Wayne, was located and then taken into custody in Richmond Tuesday morning.  Officers located 29-year-old Kyle King near 15^th and East Main.  King allegedly was in possession of methamphetamine this morning and also faces a resisting law enforcement charge.  King has been jailed multiple times in recent years, including as recently as this January.

(Wayne County, IN)--New numbers are out for child abuse and neglect in Wayne County.  The Department of Child Services says the number of confirmed case of child abuse and neglect has exploded from 14 in February to 41 last month.  The huge jump also puts Wayne County well ahead of where it was at this point last year.  By this point in 2018, there were 62 local cases.  This year, there are 82 cases.  That’s an increase of 32%.

(Preble County, OH)--The two victims in a double-fatal weekend crash in Preble County have now been identified.  37-year-old Brian Logan of Camden was headed north on State Road 122 near Shul Road when he crossed the center line and hit 69-year-old Steven Fore of New Paris head-on.  Both drivers were killed.  70-year-old Shirley Fore was Careflighted to Miami Valley Hospital.  Her condition has not been released.  Investigators don’t know why Logan crossed the center line, but it did not appear drugs or alcohol were factors.