STARKE AND MARSHALL COUNTIES, Ind. – Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction

Co Inc will change the traffic configuration on U.S. 30 between U.S. 35 and Union Rd as early as the evening of Wednesday, July 22.
Construction operations are wrapping up on the eastbound lanes, which are currently closed for paving. Crews are working on guardrails, shoulder corrugations, and temporary striping. Once complete, changes will be made to facilitate traffic switching to one lane in each direction on the eastbound side of U.S. 30.
Due to the setup of two-way traffic on the same side of the roadway, motorists are reminded to exercise caution and follow all traffic directions, especially the speed limit, carefully through this work zone. No left turns from U.S. 30 are permitted, and drivers crossing or turning onto U.S. 30 should exercise caution. When the westbound lanes are closed, traffic approaching U.S. 30 on intersecting roads from the north going southbound should stop in the median to check for traffic before completing their movement.
This project includes full and partial depth patching, milling and resurfacing, pipe work, and pavement markings. Construction is ongoing through the end of November. The U.S. 35 ramp to U.S. 30 westbound will close for three weeks near the end of this phase of work due to the location where work is occurring.
INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when traveling through this area and follow traffic directions carefully. Motorists should slow down, exercise caution, and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

PLYMOUTH — On the afternoon of July 17, 2026, at 2:45 p.m., Plymouth Police received a notification from an outside

agency, stating that two men had just conducted a high-dollar theft from a retail store.
The description of the vehicle and the men matched that of a previous theft from a retail store in Plymouth just days before.
Marshall County Central Dispatch was able to locate that vehicle entering Marshall County by utilizing Flock Cameras, ultimately allowing officers to stage and prepare for the vehicle. Plymouth Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop, and the vehicle began to weave through traffic and attempt to flee at a high rate of speed.
The vehicle would eventually be boxed in and come to a stop near the Marshall and St. Joseph county line. Donnell D. Austin (29) and Jason L. Reynolds Jr. (30) would be placed into custody. Multiple unopened retail items would be located inside the vehicle. Reynolds and Austin would be transported to the Marshall County Jail and charged with Theft, Resisting Law Enforcement (Fleeing With Vehicle).

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

WALKERTON — On Monday, July 13,​ 2026, at approximately 11:52 PM, Marshall County Central Dispatch received a 911

call in reference to an unknown disturbance at a residence on Tamarack Road.
Marshall County Deputies and Walkerton Police Department Officers arrived on scene and conducted an investigation. It was determined that three male subjects identified as 40-year-old Joseph E. Richard,​ 20 year-old Payton P. Richard,​ and 19-year-old William R. Manns had been involved in a physical altercation.

The three men were subsequently arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail, where they were booked and processed for Battery – Class A Misdemeanor and Disorderly Conduct – Class B Misdemeanor.

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

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have risen 11.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.34/g today, according to

GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 1.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 18.9 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 22.3 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $5.077 per gallon.
The lowest reported prices in some local communities:
Pulaski County
Winamac — $3.49
Francesville — $3.49
Medaryville — $3.39
Starke County
Knox — $3.39
North Judson — $3.49
Grovertown — $3.29
LaPorte County
LaCrosse — $3.49
LaPorte — $3.24
Michigan City — $3.40
Wanatah — $3.40
Rolling Prairie — $3.49
Westville — $3.30
New Carlisle — $3.49
North Liberty — $3.35
Walkerton — $3.23
Marshall County
Argos — $3.29
Bourbon — $3.29
Bremen — $3.29
Culver — $3.29
LaPaz — $3.34
Plymouth — $3.23
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $2.83/g yesterday while the most expensive was $5.09/g, a difference of $2.26/g.
The national average price of gasoline has risen 13.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.95/g today.
“Average gasoline and diesel prices rose in nearly every state for the second straight week, with the national average price of gasoline likely to reach $4 per gallon within the next 48 hours and diesel already back above $5 per gallon nationally,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “While the ongoing U.S.-Iran situation continues to weigh on markets, the story is increasingly less about crude oil and more about global refining capacity — the Strait of Hormuz remains closed while continued Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries further squeeze an already strained supply picture. With WTI crude approaching $85 per barrel in Sunday night trading, price-cycling markets are likely to see another jolt higher in the coming days, and motorists should brace for a rougher stretch ahead.”
GasBuddy is North America’s trusted fuel savings platform, helping consumers fuel up for less for over 25 years at GasBuddy.com.

PLYMOUTH — Marshall County Coroner Dean Byers has confirmed the body discovered in the Yellow River northeast of

Plymouth on June 26, 2026, has been identified as Nicholas D. Creighbaum, age 46, of Plymouth, IN. 
DNA testing through the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division provided the identification of Creighbaum. 
Cause and Manner of death are still pending laboratory and Pathology Testing.
Creighbaum’s family has been notified. 

Note: Today’s forecast has been updated.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecast an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for Monday, July 20.

Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy range (Red) in the following areas:

Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities within the area.
North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac and all other cities within the area.
Northeast Indiana, including the cities of: Angola, Auburn, Decatur, Fort Wayne, Hartford, Huntington City, LaGrange, Marion, Portland, Wabash and all other cities within the area.
Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in the following areas:

Western/West Central Indiana, including the cities of: Crawfordsville, Covington, Delphi, Fowler, Greencastle, Lafayette, Newport, Monticello, Spencer, Sullivan, Terre Haute and all other cities within the area.
Central/East Central Indiana, including the cities of: Bloomington, Brookville, Columbus, Frankfort, Indianapolis, Greensburg, Kokomo, Lebanon, Martinsville, Muncie, Richmond and all other cities within the area.
Southwest Indiana, including the cities of: Bedford, Bloomfield, Evansville, Huntingburg, Mount Vernon, Paoli, Princeton, Rockport, Tell City, Vincennes and all other cities within the area.
Southeast Indiana, including the cities of: Brownstown, Corydon, Jeffersonville, Madison, New Albany, Salem, Versailles and all other cities within the area.
High pressure Monday will recirculate the smoke over most of the state with the primary concern remaining the northern half of Indiana. This smoke, in addition to the other meteorological factors such as light winds and predicted flow, will produce high PM2.5 readings.

This will produce high PM2.5 readings into the Unhealthy range for Northwest, North Central and Northeast Indiana.

This will produce high PM2.5 readings into the
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) for West Central, Central/East Central, Southwest and Southeast Indiana.

Hoosiers can visit SmogWatch.IN.gov to:

View air quality information for all Indiana counties, including a state map of affected counties;
Learn more about Air Quality Action Days and recommended actions;
Learn more about ozone and fine particulate matter; and
Sign up for air quality alerts.
Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. (24-hours) on the specified date. Some municipalities have additional open burning restrictions on AQADs. For more information, go to idem.IN.gov/openburning/laws-and-rules.

PLYMOUTH — On Friday,​ July 17,​ 2026,​ at approximately 8:20 AM, deputies with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department

responded to Tulip Road for a trespassing complaint.
Upon arriving on scene,​ deputies contacted the property owner and the suspected trespasser,​ Kassidy Phipps of Leesburg. After an investigation, it was found that a vehicle in Phipps’s possession had been reported stolen in Michigan. Phipps was also found to have an active warrant through Fulton County.
MCSD was assisted by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Phipps was lodged in the Marshall County Jail for theft.

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

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Commissioners will have their regular Monday meeting on July 20, 2026, starting at 9:30 a.m., in the second-floor meeting room of the Marshall County Building.

Some items on the agenda include reports from Highway Superintendent Jason Peters, County Auditor Angie Birchmeier, County Attorney Sean Surrisi, and a quarterly report from Marshall County Economic Development Corporation CEO Greg Hildebrand.
The Commissioners will also hear requests from Director of Buildings and Grounds Billy Schoff, Prosecuting Attorney Nelson Chipman, and EMA Director Jack Garner.
The meeting will also be live-streamed on YouTube @MarshallCountyIN.

Baseball Lives Here | August 7 through August 23. Closed Mondays
INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 Indiana State Fair is knocking it out of the park with an exciting lineup of brand-new attractions,

immersive exhibits, live entertainment, and family experiences that make this year’s Fair one of the biggest yet. Each year, the State Fair brings in new, exciting attractions to enhance the overall experience and adding value, while continuing to deliver lifelong traditions. Celebrating Indiana’s rich baseball tradition in partnership with the Indianapolis Indians, this year’s Fair offers new ways for guests of every age to play, explore, laugh, and create lasting memories.
New for 2026:
REWIND: A VHS Revival
Travel back to the video store era while experiencing this new featured exhibit: REWIND. A VHS Revival. This world-renowned, traveling exhibit makes its debut in Indiana this summer at the State Fair. The experience includes celebrating iconic movie poster artwork from the 1980s through the early 2000s while adding new surprises around every corner. Guests can enjoy a baseball movie theater, the Moulin Rouge Speakeasy, an official Indianapolis Indians gift shop, and the return of the popular Indy CD & Vinyl pop-up store. REWIND is open daily and free with paid fair admission.

The State Fair Train – NEW Ride
All aboard! One of the largest additions to this year’s Fair is the brand-new ride called the State Fair Train. This new experience pays a nod to the historic transportation bringing generations of guests to the fair annually. Don’t miss this narrated ride throughout the north side of the Fairgrounds, offering a relaxing way to experience the sights, sounds, and history of the Indiana State Fair. This new family attraction operates daily for just $5 per ride.

Schumacher Stadium (Wiffle Ball Field)

Baseball fans of all ages can take the field inside Meijer Family Fun Park at Schumacher Stadium. Named in honor of longtime Indianapolis Indians executive Max Schumacher, this interactive attraction invites guests to swing for the fences, play with family and friends, and celebrate Indiana’s baseball tradition every day of the Fair. Enjoy free play time, take in a tournament or two, meet celebrity players and more… all part of the State Fair baseball theme in partnership with the Indianapolis Indians!

An All-New Big Top Circus
The Big Top Circus returns with an entirely new lineup of thrilling performances inside a world-renowned air-conditioned tent. From breathtaking acrobatics to laugh-out-loud comedy, each show lasts 45 minutes and offers FREE family entertainment three times daily, with premium seating upgrades available.

More NEW Entertainment Around Every Corner:
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Tortoise Feeding. Daily near Goat Mountain.
Don’t miss the opportunity to cuddle a calf in the Meijer Family Fun Park. Open daily.
Break A Boyz brings an energetic mix of breakdancing, comedy, and street performance to Main Street with multiple daily shows.
Marc Dobson’s One Man Band turns one performer into a full musical experience while entertaining guests throughout the Fairgrounds.
PBS KIDS favorites Daniel Tiger and Dinosaur Train characters make special appearances for family photos in Meijer Family Fun Park on Saturdays at the fair.
Guests can also enjoy an up-close tortoise feeding experience at Goat Mountain.
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile visits Meijer Family Fun Park August 15 and 16 with photo opportunities and fun hot dog-themed games and activities.
Fans of the reality show stars Amy Slaton as well as Chris and Brittany Combs can meet them during a special appearance on August 22.
A youth category in the popular Mullet Competition, making its Indiana State Fair debut as young contestants compete for the title of best mullet
Take in the new exhibit part of the Indiana History Train The Electric Railway: Indiana’s Interurbans. Free with paid fair admission and open daily in the Mejier Family Fun Park.
Taste your way around the Fair with nearly 50 new food items featured this year. Part of the Taste of the Fair, presented by Pepsi, food competition taking place throughout the Fair.
“The Indiana State Fair has always been a place where generations come together to make memories,” said LeRoy Lewis III, Director of Community and Media Engagement for the Indiana State Fair. “This year we’re adding even more reasons not to miss out. We’ve invested in experiences that families can only find here, from an all-new train ride and immersive exhibits to exciting entertainment and interactive attractions. Every visit offers something new to see, do, and share, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back this August.”
The 2026 Indiana State Fair runs August 7 through August 23, closed Mondays. Advance discount tickets, schedules, and complete attraction information are available at IndianaStateFair.com.

PLYMOUTH — On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 10:37 p.m., the Starke County Sheriff’s Department requested that the Plymouth

Police Department attempt to locate Christopher C. Sanchez, 51, of North Judson, at an address on N. Oak Drive in Plymouth for an active warrant through their department.
Units from the Plymouth Police Department arrived and took Sanchez into custody. Sanchez was then transported to meet with a Starke Co. officer, where he was taken into Custody by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department for the warrant.

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

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Community Foundation (MCCF) awarded a record $543,899.18 in scholarships for the

2025–2026 academic year, continuing its commitment to expanding educational opportunities for local students.
The scholarships were awarded through more than 203 unique scholarship funds established by generous individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who have chosen to invest in the next generation through the Marshall County Community Foundation.
“Every scholarship is an investment in the potential of a young person,” said Linda Yoder, President of the Marshall County Community Foundation. “By investing in students today, our donors are helping develop the future educators, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, skilled tradespeople, and community leaders who will shape Marshall County for generations to come.”
Scholarship support has continued to grow in recent years, with MCCF awarding:
• 2025–2026: $543,899.18
• 2024–2025: $526,114.92
• 2023–2024: $497,214.37
• 2022–2023: $399,974.00
This continued growth reflects both the generosity of local donors and the Foundation’s commitment to making scholarship opportunities more accessible through its streamlined online application process.

INDIANAPOLIS — Today, Gov. Mike Braun announced that the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) and the

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin conducting joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA) following the June 6 through June 30, 2026, flooding, tornadic activity, severe storms and derecho.
The joint PDA is a critical step in gathering information needed to determine whether a federal disaster declaration should be requested. They will be conducted by local, state and federal officials (FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration) to evaluate the impact and magnitude of the disaster.
“Hoosiers experienced historic severe weather in June, with record-setting tornadic activity that damaged thousands of homes,” said Gov. Braun. “Local and state damage assessment teams have already assessed significant damage to our communities, and that’s why I have requested FEMA to take this next step in the process so we can collect more information to better support Hoosier families and help our communities rebuild. I want to thank all of our first responders, emergency responders and volunteers who continue to assist in our state’s recovery.”
The assessment includes visiting affected areas, documenting damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure, and gathering information that will be analyzed to determine whether federal assistance may be needed.
Individual Assistance assessments will be conducted in person by officials going door-to-door to individual homes in the following counties:
Elkhart
Gibson
Harrison
Jefferson
Lake
Monroe
Ohio
Porter
Warrick
Public Assistance assessments will be conducted by officials virtually and in person with impacted state, territory, tribe, local government or private nonprofit organization in the following counties:
Benton
Carroll
Cass
Clark
Crawford
Dearborn
Decatur
Delaware
Elkhart
Floyd
Fountain
Franklin
Gibson
Grant
Harrison
Jackson
Jefferson
LaGrange
Lake
LaPorte
Marshall
Martin
Miami
Monroe
Morgan
Ohio
Perry
Pike
Porter
Putnam
Scott
Steuben
Wabash
Warrick
White
Additional counties may be added as damage information continues to be collected.

PLYMOUTH — On July 13, 2026, at 8:13 p.m., Officers with the Plymouth Police Department were dispatched to the area of

Laporte and Fifth St. for a 911 hang-up.
Dispatchers advised they could hear people talking, and while officers were en route, they were advised they had received another call about a domestic dispute, possibly a fight, out in a yard in that same area.
Plymouth Officers arrived and located a man walking from the area wearing no shirt and no shoes. When the Officer turned around, the man took off and ran into the parking lot at CC Hair, on Lake Ave. When the officer pulled into the parking lot, the man couldn’t be found, but the officer later located him hiding next to the building.
According to the report, the officer asked the man what was going on. He said he got into an argument with his wife, but then told officers to figure it out on their own and stopped talking. The officer could tell the man, identified as Michael Loftus, 43, of Plymouth, was slurring his words and had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his person.
He was placed under arrest for Public Intoxication and blew a PBT of 0.261 and was booked into Marshall County Jail.

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

ARGOS — The Board of Education of Argos Community Schools will meet for a Special Board meeting on July 16, 2026, in the Dragon Center conference room.

This meeting is a public School Board meeting for the purpose of conducting the School Corporation’s business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. There will be time for public participation as indicated on the agenda.
DRAGON CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 4:30 P.M.
● Call to order
● Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence
● Communication from patrons
● Approval of revision to student handbooks for 26/27 school year
● Closing comments
● Adjournment

CULVER — The Culver Redevelopment Commission will meet on Thursday, July 17, 2026, at 5 p.m.
The meeting will take place at Town Hall.
Agenda

1. Roll Call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of the Minutes from May 21st and June 19th meetings
4. Financial Report
   a. June financial report
   b. Approval of claims
5. Old Business
   a. Main Street renovation project
   b. Plein Air event
6. New Business
   a. Façade grant 202 S. Main Street
   b. Lake Shore Drive and Park master planning study
   c. Small business support – Culver retail cohort with MCEDC/SBA
7. Town Manager Update – Kevin Danti
8. Public Input
9. Member Input
   Next meeting: August 20, 2026
   Culver Town Hall

PLYMOUTH – The Marshall County Council held a discussion with county financial advisor Steve Dalton regarding a proposal to

restructure the Local Income Tax currently paying the debt on the construction of the Marshall County Jail.
The Council will have the option to continue that tax, once the bonds are paid in full in 2027. The bond was initially issued in 2008 and refinanced in 2014. It currently takes in $20 million per year, 80 percent goes to other taxing units in the county with $4 million or 20 percent available for special purposes involving the jail and the courts.
Dalton had good news regarding the effect on the county’s tax rate.

He said that further work will need to be done on the proposal to determine exactly what expenses are allowed by statute to be paid for the courts and county 911.
The Council will consider the final proposal in their August 10 meeting with the final vote set in September.