While on routine patrol, Friday, September 18^th, at 3:40 in the morning, a deputy with the Marshall County Department stopped a car for traffic infractions.

It was determined that the driver, Antonio Eubanks, 38, of Indianapolis, was operating on a suspended license. Deputies also smelled an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle found other illegal narcotics, including suspected cocaine.

After being placed into custody, suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl were found on one of the occupants of the vehicle, Donovan Blow, 33. Another occupant, Deonta L. Gordon, 37, provided a false name and date of birth to one of the deputies, and the final occupant of the vehicle, Gregory S. Flynn, 33, was also arrested.

The four were lodged in the Marshall County Jail and charged with possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl; identity deception; false informing; and driving while suspended prior.

$1500 cash bonds were set for Donovan Blow, Gregory Flynn, and Antonio Eubanks, while Gordan’s cash bond was set at $3000.

Marshall County Relay for Life is hosting a Chicken and Noodle Dinner fundraiser on Thursday, October 1st, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Bob’s Cafeteria, 610 East Jefferson Street in Plymouth.

The event is a drive-through pickup with pre-sale tickets only. Tickets are $13 and include chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, a roll, and a cookie. All proceeds go to Relay for Life of Marshall County.

Tickets are available from Mary Beth Listenberger by calling 574-930-0546 or from Relay committee members. Tickets will also be available during this Saturday’s Relay for Life event in River Park Square from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Organizers encourage the community to purchase tickets in advance, as no tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the dinner.

The City of Plymouth is providing an update following a safety inspection of the Plymouth Fire Station conducted by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration — IOSHA — back in June.

An IOSHA representative toured the station and met privately with several firefighters. Two items were identified: annual fit-testing for breathing apparatus was overdue, and the building had no formal asbestos survey on file. Both were corrected on the spot while the inspector was still on site. Because the violations were fixed immediately, no fine resulted.

IOSHA also conducted air monitoring for carbon monoxide. Readings for the three firefighters tested came back at zero parts per million — well below exposure limits.

Mayor Robert Listenberger says nothing matters more to him than the safety of the men and women who serve the community. He says the city is working with architects at American Structurepoint on a long-term plan for the fire station — which is over 100 years old. Listenberger says the process is slow, but he wants to get it right for current and future first responders.

While Flock cameras were not on the County Commissioner’s agenda for Monday’s meeting, several citizens took the opportunity to speak out during the public input session.

Robin Myers of Plymouth told the commissioners, “Anything we can give law enforcement as far as technology is a good thing.”  While understanding the concerns, she suggested keeping the license plate readers for another year and bringing to the forefront the number of cases in Marshall County that the cameras have helped solve, like the baby that was kidnapped in our county and found within a short time.  She said, “Now we have to determine if the good outweighs the bad and implement regular audit searches and establish consequences for misuse.” 

Laura Brockway asked the commissioners to officially cancel the Flock contract after 4 of the 7 County Council members voted to defund the cameras in the Prosecutor’s budget for 2027. She said, “We the People decide how we want to live in Marshall County, and we do not want government cameras watching us.”

Thor (Paul) Hebner said that while he backs the blue and brown of the Sheriff’s Department and appreciates the work law enforcement does to keep our communities safe, he’s against the surveillance state and believes that privacy matters. Hebner also addressed the accusations made against people who oppose Flock as being communists or supporting communist China.  He said it’s laughable because China is a surveillance state. As a veteran, he said it is insulting to be accused of being a communist.

Dusitn Peltz of Bremen said it is time to end the surveillance state in our country because they don’t have control over who uses them, with over hundreds of thousands of looks using the country’s cameras.     

Mark Vogt asked about the constitutional authority and said the overwhelming majority of people in the county don’t want to be surveilled.  He said, “We the People of Marshall County are requesting the commissioners to cancel the Flock contract.” 

Kayla Krathwohl spoke in favor of the Flock cameras and said if anything happened to her child and she couldn’t find them, she believes you are taking away a service they need and handcuffing them.  She suggested working with the vendor on the contract to make it something the county can approve of. 

Calab Croy, who lives in rural Plymouth and is opposed to the Flock cameras, told the commissioners he has 6 children, and he doesn’t believe the Flock cameras protect his children any better than he can.      

Joshua Croy of Argos, and owner of a cybersecurity company, told the commissioners there should always be auditing of systems being accessed and how they could be accessed in a manner they should be accessed.   

Before the meeting closed, Commissioner Jessie Bonannon said that with all the people who showed up at their meeting, they deserve a vote on the Flock cameras.  He said the people who are opposed are much greater than those who are for it.  He wants to see the sheriff and prosecutor step up like in Kosciusko county did. 

Bohannon went on to make a motion to terminate the contract with Flock immediately, but the motion didn’t receive a second.

Commissioner Adam Faulstich asked to have Flock put on an official agenda since it hasn’t been on one.  He went on to say there are a lot of people on the fence.  While they might not like it, they see the benefit of it. 

Commissioner Stan Klotz asked where the incoming prosecutor and sheriff fit into the issue because they are the ones who will be dealing with it. 

Faulstich then asked, since the prosecutor is a state employee and signed the contract, do we have the authority to terminate the contract? 

County Attorney Sean Surrisi told them, “Not directly.” He continued, “If doors are being closed by county officials the prosecutor is dependent on to do business, then in practicality you can force his hand.” The attorney said there needs to be a discussion with him. 

The Marshall County Commissioners set a tentative public meeting for October 6^th at 6 p.m. in the second-floor meeting room of the County Building. 

State Representative Jack Jordan (R-Bremen) is encouraging Hoosiers to use National Voter Registration Month as a reminder to check their voter registration status and prepare to make their voices heard at the ballot box this November.

“If you’ve moved, changed your name, or need to register for the first time, take a few minutes this month to check your registration and make sure your information is accurate and up to date,” Jordan said.

Residents can register to vote or update their registration online at www.indianavoters.com.

The Indiana deadline to register to vote in the November General Election is October 5. Early voting begins on October 6, and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Jordan also reminded citizens that they can request an absentee ballot if they are unable to vote in person at their polling location. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 22.

“I encourage you to participate in our political process and do your part to be civically engaged, informed, and make your voice heard,” Jordan said. He encouraged citizens to share this information with their friends, family, and neighbors.

The Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is hosting a job fair for Marshall County businesses next Thursday, September 24th, at the Plymouth Webster Center.

The job fair will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Plymouth Webster Center, located at 110 Webster Avenue in Plymouth. Job seekers are encouraged to come dressed to impress, with resumes in hand.

Set-up time for vendors begins at 8:00 a.m.

For more information, contact Lorna Shively with MCEDC at 574-935-8499 or email Lorna@marshallcountyedc.org.

Marshall County Auditor Angie Birchmeier was among a select group of county and municipal leaders from across Indiana who gathered for the Comptroller’s Roundtable, a twice-yearly meeting convened by Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla to support the partnership between state and local officials.

The roundtable focuses on the distribution of tax revenues, process improvements, and technology-driven efficiencies that benefit both state and local governments. As a former local official herself, Comptroller Nieshalla underscored the value of direct dialogue with those administering financial operations at the county and municipal level.

“Open dialogue and engagement with our local partners is essential to continuous improvement and enhanced collaboration,” Nieshalla said. “The insights shared help us strengthen processes, streamline distributions and deliver tools that make our shared cycle of work more efficient.”

Birchmeier, who represents Marshall County on the roundtable, told GIANT FM WTCA the gathering is valuable for local officials.

“It is a very informative meeting and a great group with whom to work,” Birchmeier said.

Discussion at the roundtable centered on core responsibilities such as tax revenue disbursements, excise and settlement procedures, accounting guidance, and fund structure alignment. The meeting also featured the debut of a training video series designed in response to feedback from local officials. The series provides quick, practical demonstrations of key processes, and participants offered recommendations for future installments as the Comptroller’s Office expands its library of on-demand training resources.

Additional updates were provided during the meeting, including Gas Tax Holiday reimbursements, payments issued from the State Disaster Relief Fund, and a preview of the Comptroller’s 2027 legislative priorities.

Roundtable participants are association officers or are recommended by their respective statewide associations, which represent County Auditors, Treasurers, Commissioners, Councilors, and Municipal Clerk-Treasurers affiliated with the Association of Indiana Counties and Accelerate Indiana Municipalities.

The roundtable brings together officials from counties and municipalities across the state, including representatives from Adams, Allen, Brown, Clay, Daviess, DeKalb, Elkhart, Hancock, Marshall, Noble, Perry, and Vigo counties, as well as the cities of Greenfield and others.

For Birchmeier, the roundtable represents an opportunity to ensure Marshall County’s voice is heard at the state level as officials work together to improve financial processes and deliver tools that make local government more efficient.

PLYMOUTH — Plymouth City Council has held a public hearing on its 2027 proposed budget — a $14.4 million General Fund spending plan.

City Clerk-Treasurer Lynn Gorski walked council members through each department’s budget last week, highlighting the big-ticket items.

Public safety accounts for the largest share. The Plymouth Police Department’s budget is just over $4.8 million — including four new police cars, eight radios, five body cameras, and funding for a potential new officer.

The Fire Department’s budget stands at nearly $4 million. That includes moving the Assistant Fire Chief to daytime hours and $162,000 dollars in new equipment — from radios and air packs to turnout gear and a response vehicle.

On the infrastructure side, the Engineering Department’s budget includes more than one-hundred-fifteen thousand dollars for streetscape projects on Oak Drive and Jefferson Street. City Properties sets aside $300,000 to pave the Water Street parking lot, plus funding for median flowers along North Michigan Street.

The Mayor and Council budget includes a $100,000 debt reduction for the REES Theatre.

With no suggestions for reductions at the hearing, the budget is expected to pass at the council’s next meeting on Monday, September 28th. From there, it heads to the Department of Local Government Finance, which will review it — and either approve it or make cuts.

The Plymouth Police Department and Plymouth Community School Corporation are partnering to apply for a federal COPS (Community Oriented Policing Service) Grant to fund two school safety training exercises.

Assistant Police Chief Matt Emenhiser presented the plan Monday evening, outlining two separate training programs the grant would support.

The first is a table-top training exercise involving approximately 20 participants, including emergency services and school personnel, at a cost of $3,000.

The second is a larger-scale, two-day reunification exercise at a cost of $23,500, with approximately 60 participants. Emenhiser explained that reunification is the process of getting children safely back to their parents and guardians following a catastrophic or critical event at a school, such as an active shooter, fire, or weather incident.

The grant application is a joint effort between the police department, the school corporation, and Director of Safety Ward Byers.

PLYMOUTH – Wednesday Marshall County had a first meeting of a new mandated body the Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce.

County Council President Tim Harman chaired the meeting.
Indiana’s local income tax structure was governed by a system in which county income tax rates and their distribution were largely determined by county councils, with limited formal input from municipal entities. Significant reforms have been introduced to increase local flexibility and formalize the negotiation process. Beginning March 1, 2026, counties may establish a Municipal Unit Strategic Taskforce (MUST) comprising representatives from county councils and fiscal officers (Clerk-Treasurers for the most part) from all cities and towns within the county. Other taxing units such as fire, EMS, library and school corporations are also encouraged to be part of the process.
This task force creates a formal forum for local governments to collaboratively address income tax distribution decisions.
The various taxing units voiced their concerns, Plymouth Mayor Robert Listenberger.

Bremen School Corporation Business Manager Stephanie Pittman said that while schools aren’t directly affected by the new legislation, they would like to be part of the discussions since decisions regarding tax distribution affect them as well.

Time is running out to grab presale tickets for the Special Olympics Indiana Marshall-Starke County Chicken & Pulled Pork Dinner and Silent Auction. With only about a week left to take advantage of discounted presale pricing, organizers are encouraging the community to get tickets early.

The event will be held next Saturday, September 26th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 901 East Jefferson Street, Plymouth. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door, with carryouts available.

In addition to a delicious meal, the event will feature an exciting silent auction with items donated by generous supporters. Highlights include three Indianapolis Colts game tickets, local gift baskets, experiences, and more.

All proceeds directly support local Special Olympics Indiana athletes in Marshall and Starke Counties, helping provide sports training, equipment, and competition opportunities throughout the year.

To purchase presale tickets or for questions about the event, contact organizers by phone at 574-935-0513 or by email at MarshallStarkeSO@gmail.com. Additional information is available on the Facebook event page.

Two men were arrested early Thursday morning after allegedly stealing used cooking oil from a local restaurant — and then coming back for more.

The incident began at 2:46 a.m. on Thursday, September 17th, when the Marshall County Central Dispatch Center received a call from the owner of King Gyros at 1827 1/2 N. Michigan Street. The owner told dispatch he had video footage of a truck stealing used cooking oil from his business, but the vehicle had already left the area.
The same truck returned at 3:37 a.m. Plymouth Police were dispatched to King Gyros again and arrived while the two suspects were still on the property. The pair — 26-year-old Eliodanys C. Plutin of Indianapolis and 38-year-old Omar P. Cutino of Louisville, Kentucky were detained.
Both men were arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail. Plutin and Cutino were each booked for theft, a Class A misdemeanor, and organized theft, as a level 6 felony.

Used cooking oil can be recycled into biodiesel fuel, animal feed, and other products, making it a target for thieves who sell it to rendering companies for profit. The restaurant recycling industry estimates that stolen grease costs businesses millions of dollars nationwide each year.

Plymouth Police are encouraging other business owners who may have been victims of cooking oil theft to come forward.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,

The Culver Historical Society and the Culver-Union Township Public Library would like to invite you to attend the Stories and Stones Cemetery Walk Program.

There will be a lineup of familiar faces who have passed on, including The Culver Marina’s Jack Campbell, The Lightning Dude Ranch’s Ced White, and Culver Fire Chief Lance Overmyer.

The walk will be held in the Culver Masonic Cemetery on Sept. 19, at 1 P.M. In the event of rain, the location will be moved to the Culver-Union Township Public Library North Meeting Room. There will be free doughnuts and apple cider provided.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is reminding Hoosiers to place political campaign and other signs outside the state right-of-way as campaign season picks up across the state.

Under Indiana Code campaign and other advertising is prohibited on state-owned or state-maintained property year-round. Areas that should remain sign-free include intersections, interchanges, and rights-of-way that run parallel to highways — including medians, shoulders, and roadside areas.

When the right-of-way is not clearly marked, INDOT says boundaries may be estimated by looking for a fence line, the back of a ditch, or the area behind utility poles.

INDOT personnel may remove campaign and other unpermitted signs from the right-of-way during routine highway maintenance. Crews may also remove specific signs that pose an immediate safety risk, such as those placed too close to the roadway or obstructing a driver’s line of sight.

Removed signs will be taken to the nearest INDOT facility and may be claimed during regular business hours.

To report issues or concerns, or to ask questions about signs within the state right-of-way, contact INDOT Customer Service at indot4u.com or by calling 855-463-6848.8.

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety heard updates Monday evening on the upcoming Drive and Shine utility hookup project, fire department staffing, and the city’s 2026 milling and paving schedule.

The traffic plan submitted for the utility hookup on Oak Drive by Drive and Shine was approved by the City of Plymouth last week. City Engineer Dan Sellers said work will start very soon, as Drive and Shine is just waiting for its INDOT permit. Sellers cautioned that there will be congestion during the work and some severe lane restrictions for about three weeks.

Board member Don Ecker expressed concern about allowing traffic to make a left turn when exiting the Drive and Shine driveway. Mayor Listenberger explained that about 18 months ago, during the initial planning stage, the city had it drawn one way, but the plan was changed because the two property owners couldn’t get along. He indicated that while the city isn’t in favor of left turns from the business, drivers will be able to access U.S. 30 from there.

It was noted that the city has no authority to restrict traffic at the intersection.

Board member Duane Culp asked whether the easement road immediately to the north of the new buildings will continue to allow access to the businesses west of Drive and Shine. Sellers confirmed that it will.

“Even from that drive, you can turn left,” the mayor added.

Fire Chief Steve Holm updated board members on the department’s hiring process. He said the lateral transfer employee has completed training and is working on his own. The second hire has been through the medical and psychological evaluations and has been approved by the pension board. That employee will start work on September 28th.

The third and final hire has completed the evaluations, and the chief is waiting on the results to send them down to the pension office for approval.

“We are stair-stepping their way in, but hopefully within another three to four weeks, we’ll be fully staffed,” Holm said.

City Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt told board members that he spoke to E&B Paving on Monday, and the city projects are not on their schedule for the next two weeks. Marquardt noted that all the concrete work is complete.

The 2026 city milling and paving projects include:

Parkview Street from the dead end to Michigan Street; Center Street from Novelty Street to Parkview Street; Adams Street from Plum Street to Michigan Street; Madison Street from 5th Street to the railroad; Kenwood Avenue from Oak Drive to Sycamore Street; and Harrison Street from Oak Drive to Michigan Street.

The Marshall County Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday, September 8th, to apply for the 2027 Community Crossings Matching Grant, seeking $1 million in state funding for three road improvement projects across the county.

The deadline to submit projects for next year’s Community Crossings Matching Grant program is September 30th. A financial commitment letter is required with the application, and the county’s local share would be $250,000 when applying for the full funding of $1 million.

Superintendent Peters recommended three projects for submittal, all of which the commissioners approved:

Donnybrook Subdivision
3rd Road, from State Road 331 to Elm Road
Elm Road, from 3B Road to the town limits

Plymouth Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson updated the Board of Public Works and Safety Monday evening on two upcoming projects aimed at improving the city’s wastewater and water infrastructure.

The first project involves slip-lining a sewer line on Western Avenue in the industrial park, in the area of U.S. Granules and Topp Industries. Weather permitting, Davidson said wastewater employees hope to begin the work next Monday.

The project calls for 350 feet of sewer line to be slip-lined at a depth of approximately 10 feet. As a precaution, Western Avenue will be closed to through traffic during the process, which is estimated to take 3 to 5 days. However, both industries will maintain access to their businesses while the work is being completed.

The second project Davidson discussed is the extension of a water main on State Road 17 and Hillcrest Avenue. Currently, the city’s water main ends at Autumn Trace, west of the hospital.

Davidson said the city has secured the necessary easements for the project. The new main will head west on SR 17 along the farm field to Hillcrest, then go north to meet up with Crimson Lane, where it will connect to an existing water main — completing a loop system.

The project will provide better fire protection and water quality, Davidson explained, since the water will circulate throughout the entire loop rather than dead-ending at the current terminus.

Davidson said he hopes to start on the project by the end of this month. While they will have to wait until the beans are harvested and cleared from the field before running the main west, crews can begin work on the Hillcrest section in the meantime.

Calling all chocolate lovers. The 8th Annual Chocolate Walk, sponsored by Discover Plymouth, returns to Downtown Plymouth on Saturday, October 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This limited-ticketed event offers participants a sweet day of strolling, shopping, and chocolates. More than 25 participating businesses will open their doors for the event, inviting guests to visit local shops and collect chocolate and chocolate-themed treats along the way.

Tickets are now on sale for $20 per person. Only 150 tickets will be sold, so organizers encourage those interested to purchase early.

Tickets can be purchased at the Marshall County Museum, Simplee Stated Gifts, or online through Eventbrite.

Participants will want to make the museum their first stop, where they will receive their passport card and a container to hold their chocolates as they make their way through Downtown Plymouth.

Grab your friends and spend the day strolling Downtown Plymouth, visiting local businesses, and collecting sweet treats — one sweet Saturday in Downtown Plymouth.

9-16-26 Wednesday News 10 P.M. E-1

Calling all chocolate lovers. The 8th Annual Chocolate Walk, sponsored by Discover Plymouth, returns to Downtown Plymouth on Saturday, October 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This limited-ticketed event offers participants a sweet day of strolling, shopping, and chocolates. More than 25 participating businesses will open their doors for the event, inviting guests to visit local shops and collect chocolate and chocolate-themed treats along the way.

Tickets are now on sale for $20 per person. Only 150 tickets will be sold, so organizers encourage those interested to purchase early.

Tickets can be purchased at the Marshall County Museum, Simplee Stated Gifts, or online through Eventbrite.

Participants will want to make the museum their first stop, where they will receive their passport card and a container to hold their chocolates as they make their way through Downtown Plymouth.

Grab your friends and spend the day strolling Downtown Plymouth, visiting local businesses, and collecting sweet treats — one sweet Saturday in Downtown Plymouth.

BOURBON –

With that Triton Superintendent Jeremy Riffle went on to point out some highlights already in the school year including the iRead scores by the corporations students.

Kindergarteners in the corporation are on target….with 99 percent hitting their benchmark numbers.RIFFLE kindergarteners

The high school science department also got high marks….with the corporation’s biology students getting the highest scores in the region.

Graduation numbers also continue to be over 95 percent each year for the past four years.

County Council members unanimously approved a series of staffing recommendations Monday morning to address immediate patrol coverage needs and long-term operational improvements within the Sheriff’s Department.

The recommendations came from Nicole Cox, chairman of the Job Classification and Compensation Subcommittee, who presented them during the council’s regular meeting at the County Building.

Cox told the council that Sheriff Hassel approached the subcommittee with a need for additional part-time patrol officers, as the department currently has three merit officers out.

The sheriff requested 40 hours per week at $45.00 per hour for part-time coverage. However, the subcommittee recommended — and the council approved — 40 hours per week for 12 weeks at $38.00 per hour, which aligns with the rate paid to part-time lake patrol officers.

Cox noted that the part-time patrol officers cannot start until the council’s next meeting on October 13, as an additional appropriation will be needed to cover the added expense. She said the 12-week arrangement should get the Sheriff’s Department through the end of the year, and if the need persists, the sheriff can return with another request.

Cox also informed the council that the current department administrator has stated they will be leaving. The sheriff has advertised the position and received several applications but is waiting for the official notice of resignation before making a hire. Additional funds will be needed to cover training for the replacement.

A new IT Technician position is included in the 2027 budget, Cox said. The subcommittee will bring a recommendation to amend the Salary Ordinance at the January meeting so the position can be filled.

Cox explained that adding the IT Technician will free up two patrol officers who are currently assisting in the IT Department, allowing them to return to patrol coverage duties — providing additional relief to the Sheriff’s Department’s staffing challenges.

Additionally, a civil processor in the Sheriff’s Department is retiring. The sheriff requested moving that position to an additional turnkey/dispatcher position, a move the council approved.