Indy News Tram

last WEEK'S STORIes, September 11, 2026

Pictured: An empty swing set; Insets: top, left to right, Friends of Community Parks Board Member Vidal Pena, attendee Christine White, FCP Board Member Susan Graham; bottom left to right, City Councilors Evan Sorce, Dawn Roden, Bill Boisvert.

The city will begin exploring a volunteer program to lower the cost of park maintenance but there's still no breakdown on actual savings from closing the city parks, according to information presented at Tuesday night's city council meeting. ...Continued

Pictured: Riverview Park shortly after its reopening; inset: City Councilor Dawn Roden.

To her critics, including at times the Independence city manager and mayor, City Councilor Dawn Roden may not be perceived as the most important voice on the council. ...Continued

Pictured: Downtown Independence; Inset: Director Gabby Walton, who has grown the MICC to 221 members, and announcement for candidate forums.

The Monmouth-Independence Area Chamber of Commerce is expanding its role in local affairs by hosting forums for mayoral and city ...Continued