Bob Ratchford at Muncie Free Press - Delaware County Indiana | News and Information
River Road trail in Yorktown IN a go despite property owner objections
By Rick Yencer
YORKTOWN, IN - A controversial walking trail along a narrow stretch of River Road got a green light from Yorktown Town Council that ignored property owner concerns and objections.
The trail in the name of health and fitness will now take many front yards on the south side of the road between Morrison and Nebo roads.
Yorktown looks at $60 million freeway along County Road 600W
By Rick Yencer
YORKTOWN, IN - A grand design for a four lane roadway connecting Daleville, Yorktown and Cammack using County Road 600-W was revealed by the Yorktown Town Council on Monday.
The rich and powerful of Yorktown IN development
By Rick Yencer
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YORKTOWN, IN - Big money development interests clashed this week over utility rights on a lucrative piece of land at Ind. 332 and Nebo Road where some Muncie auto dealerships will soon call home.
Nebo Land Partners that is developing the southwest corner of the highway and Nebo for American and Kia auto dealerships wanted out of the Yorktown utility to get a faster and possibly more costly service from the Muncie Sanitary District.
Steve Lowry, representing Nebo development interests, explained there had been no agreement on easements to get to the Yorktown sewer system so developers wanted to bore under the highway and connect with a MSD sewer and lift station next to Wall's Furniture. The relocated car dealerships want to start site work next month and need to tie down utility service quickly, said Lowry, a former town council member.
Steve Maines, representing neighboring Greenview Land Partners, said he would make an easement to the Yorktown sewer available to Nebo, but insisted on a gravity fed sewer to serve the rest of Greenview's land near First Merchants Bank that was built at Jackson Street and Nebo several years ago. And Maines, accompanied by home builder Brian Durham of neighboring Wellington Noll, said his partners wanted as much as $200,000 for easement rights.
Yorktown consolidation comes under scrutiny
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - Delaware County government has been cash poor in recent years and officials decided during recent budget hearings to find out why Yorktown and its new government is so cash rich.
Verizon lights up 4G LTE in Muncie, IN, Mayor impressed with technology economy
By Rick Yencer
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MUNCIE, IN - That big launch of Verizon Wireless 4G Long Term Evolution wireless network played on Willy Wonka and his golden ticket giveaway except the prize was Android cell phones instead of a trip to the chocolate factory.
That giveaway besides the news that Muncie joins the largest worldwide wireless network attracted Mayor Dennis Tyler, Bob Ratchford, president of Yorktown Town Council, and even some representatives of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.
But the best spokesman was young Chris Draper, who loves his Verizon phone and network, but works on iPhone problems for Apple at the IBM call center in Daleville.
Draper, wearing a Google tee shirt, did not want to miss Thursday's promotion and lauded the 4G network and Verizon hardware as he was working out problems with his phone. He likes the innovation, speed and worldwide access with Verizon that made him the best spokesman next to Ted Wendling, district sales manager who was on hand.
And the young Draper is the son of Vernon Draper, who is the assistant director of network communications at Ball State University, and Yorktown resident, like Ratchford who use Verizon for communication, information and technology.
Costs of Yorktown consolidation grows
By Rick Yencer
YORKTOWN, IN - The cost of that new consolidated government in Yorktown continues to go up despite supporters who insisted eliminating township government would actually save money.
The new Yorktown
YORKTOWN, IN - Those growing pains of the new consolidated community of Yorktown erupted this week as the one party Republican rule that created it seemed to be divided.
A transition committee made up of elected Yorktown and Mount Pleasant Township officials actually believed Wednesday that they were not subject to state law requiring open meetings and open records, The committee functions as a government advisory group created by law to advise and recommend policy and budgets to the Yorktown Town Council regarding consolidation of the town and township.
The tax man is a Republican
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - They stood in line all day Thursday to pay their taxes in the Delaware County treasurer's office with Treasurer John Dorer working one of the front windows.
And it was Republicans who run the Muncie Sanitary District and Yorktown Town Council that raised your taxes more than any school or other local government.
Yorktown moves forward
YORKTOWN, IN - Look for a spring of flower pots, iPads, concerts and even a destination sign in the progressive, growing town with a big Fourth of July weekend later this summer.
The Yorktown Town Council moved on Monday after fighting over a $61,000 sign on McGalliard Road, a $1 million sewer to Park One, and concerns about the members only Yorktown Sports Park by doing some feel good projects that will actually benefit the community.
The signs of Yorktown
By Rick Yencer
YORKTOWN, IN - The Yorktown Town Council on Monday wisely dropped plans to install a $61,833 sign built by the brother-in-law of council President Bob Ratchford amid community outrage about the spending.
