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.

A Plymouth robotics team is celebrating its first high school tournament win. Top Tier Robotics took home the title at the Zionsville “Carb Day” Pre-Speedway VEX V5 Scrimmage this weekend.

The team’s veteran squad, “Mechannibalism,” struggled in qualifying rounds but battled back from the bottom of the bracket to win it all, teaming up with an ally from Park Tudor.

Head coach Jed Wandland says the kids put in over 150 hours building their robots this summer — and it paid off.

The scrimmage was a warmup for this weekend’s Speedway Signature Event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where winners qualify for the VEX Robotics World Championships.

Top Tier will also host two free, open-to-the-public tournaments at St. Michael’s Catholic School in Plymouth — November 14th and February 6th.

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.

PLYMOUTH – The Marshall County Commissioners began the debate over whether Flock cameras should be allowed in Marshall County, and the Marshall County Council has ended it for the time being.

Voting on the budget for the coming year, the Council decided to defund the cameras by a 4-3 margin, with Councilman Brandon Schadek, Jim Masterson, and Greg Compton voting against.
The debate began with an exchange between President of the Council Tim Harmon and Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman.

Harmon responded.

After a discussion, a motion was made by Council Person Nicole Cox for continuing funding, with a reduction from $20,000 to $3000 for the system. Commissioner Jesse Bohannon and Harmon weighed in before the final vote.

In a written statement to GIANT FM news after the meeting, Chipman stated that “Flock is an important subject to be publicly debated and thoughtfully considered on facts, not hyperbole and intentional misinformation.”
He called defunding an “…existing lawful contract…” in a county budget ordinance “irresponsible government” and thanked the three councilmen who “voted with common sense.”

PLYMOUTH – Finishing the final two road projects for this year’s county road plan became a question of to pave or not to pave, with the final vote going to honoring the bid for outsourcing the projects by a 5-2 margin.

County Highway Superintendant Jason Peters had asked for an additional appropriation to pave 7th Road and 12B Road this year to complete the road plan from last year.
Just how that should be paid for became the contention.
President of the Commissioners Stan Klotz proposed a compromise on contracting out the project at just under $533,000 with the county highway taking on the work for 7th Road, with 12B going to Phend and Brown for close to $290,000.
The debate became whether to keep the original Phend and Brown bid for both projects. While Peters was willing he also said it would cut into his resources to complete the projects by winter.

Council person Jim Masterson stated that he deferred to Peters expertise in the matter

Council person Brandon Schadek voted against the motion for approval.

Council President Tim Harmon was the other no vote.

PLYMOUTH — The Mayor’s Summer of Music Concert Series rolls into its grand finale this Friday night, Sept. 11,

at River Park Square in downtown Plymouth. Fort Wayne’s premier nine-piece R&B powerhouse, the Sweetwater All Stars, will take the Senter Stage. Food trucks begin serving at 5:30 p.m., and the music starts at 7 p.m.
The Sweetwater All Stars were originally scheduled to appear on Friday, July 17th, but Canadian wildfire smoke and the threat of severe weather forced the cancellation of that show. After a slight schedule adjustment, the band was rebooked to close out the 10-concert series on September 11th.
Founded by Sweetwater founder Chuck Surack, the Sweetwater All Stars are made up of Sweetwater sales engineers, studio personnel, and local session musicians. The group has built a devoted following across Indiana and beyond with their high-energy performances and deep catalog of crowd-favorite classics.
Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and a cooler with their favorite beverages and settle in for a free night of live music in downtown Plymouth.
The September 11th concert will serve as the grand finale of the 2026 Mayor’s Summer of Music series.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office announced today that a jury trial against Plymouth resident Aaron Joseph Seibold has concluded with a guilty verdict.

Seibold was charged with two counts of dealing methamphetamine as Level 2 felonies in 2024 after an investigation led by Detective Sergeant Jonathan Bryant of the Marshall County Police Department.
The investigation began in January 2024 when a confidential informant (CI) indicated they could purchase methamphetamine from Seibold. Bryant then utilized the informant to conduct a controlled purchase of methamphetamine on January 30, 2024. The CI successfully purchased $100 worth of methamphetamine from the defendant, which weighed over 5 grams. A second buy was arranged this time for over 13 grams of methamphetamine.
After a two-day jury trial conducted in Marshall Superior Court 1 a 12-person jury convicted Seibold of dealing methamphetamine as a Level 2 Felony, in an amount over 10 grams, and dealing methamphetamine, a Level 3 Felony, in an amount between 5 and 10 grams.
A secondary phase of trial was conducted before the Judge with regard to an enhancement of Count 2, due to Seibold having a prior conviction for a dealing offense. He was found guilty of that as well, enhancing Count 2 to also be a Level 2 Felony.
Level 2 felonies carry a sentencing range of 10 to 30 years in the Department of Correction.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 15, 2026, at 10 a.m. in Marshall Superior Court 1.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Board of Zoning Appeals approved several variance requests for residential properties around the county at its September 8th meeting.

A request by Everett and Patricia Feece at 14945 12th Road in Plymouth to reconfigure lot sizes was approved. The variance will allow the property to be split to add a second home on the site.

A request for a density reduction by Savannah Oak Homes LLC was approved, allowing the property lines to reflect the two homes already on the property and helping in the eventual transfer of the estate for 20893 and 20925 9th Road in West Twp.

A variance request by Joanne Ullery of 9113 Tyler Road in Bremen was approved to allow a split of a 5-acre parcel into two 2½-acre parcels.

Weston Brugh received a variance from the County BZA to allow him and his wife to live in an RV on a property at 8481 Bell Street in Bremen for longer than eight weeks, enabling them to serve as caregivers for his mother, who is in hospice care.

Knight Wennertstrom received a variance to allow the addition of a 10×30 lean-to on an existing building at 5165 Michigan Road north of Plymouth.

David and Alison Veuyrink were also granted setback variances to facilitate the rebuilding of the residence at 3608 W. Shore Drive in Bremen.

Three men were arrested on drug charges Friday afternoon after deputies responded to a report of a vehicle fire in rural Marshall County.

According to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Central Dispatch received a report at 2:33 on Friday afternoon, September 4, of a vehicle on fire near 15B Road and Peach Road. Detective Sergeant Jonathan Bryant responded to the scene and began an investigation.
Marshall County Deputies Truty and Smith also responded, along with K9 Bear. Through the investigation, officers located suspected methamphetamine, leading to the arrests of three individuals.
Glenn Manns, 41, Ricky McFarland, 68, and Eddie Spence, 62, were each arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine. All three were held on a $1,500 cash bonds.

This October, the Marshall County Historical Society and Museum invites you to an evening of chilling tales drawn straight from

the darker corners of Marshall County’s history.
The Ghost Walk will take place on Friday, October 30, at 7:00 PM — because nothing says “the night before Halloween” like wandering through a museum after dark while knowledgeable storytellers recount tales of untimely deaths, tragic accidents, and other unsettling moments from the county’s past.
As participants make their way through the Museum, storytellers will share the stories of local residents whose lives ended unexpectedly, along with details about events that left their mark on the community. Following the Ghost Walk, guests can enjoy a special screening of the classic Mel Brooks comedy Young Frankenstein at The REES.
Tickets are on sale now for the Ghost Walk ($15 for museum members, $20 for non-members) and for the screening of Young Frankenstein at The REES. Info: 574-936-2306 or mchistoricalsociety.org

A multi-agency response was triggered on Friday, September 4th, after a driver suffering an active medical event struck another

vehicle on U.S. 31 and fled the scene before crashing into a ditch several miles north.
At approximately 3:10 p.m., Marshall County Central Dispatch received several 911 calls reporting a red Toyota SUV driving erratically northbound on U.S. 31 near 11th Road. Near that intersection, the SUV struck a black pickup truck and failed to stop at the scene.
Officers from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, the Plymouth Police Department, and the Indiana State Police responded to the area; however, heavy holiday traffic hindered their efforts to catch up to the SUV.
A Plymouth Police officer eventually located the red SUV continuing north on U.S. 31 near U.S. 6. The officer observed the vehicle drive into the grass median, cross over U.S. 31 South, and travel down a steep embankment on the west side of the highway. The vehicle then crashed into a ditch along the west side of U.S. 31, south of the railroad tracks.
LaPaz Fire and EMS were dispatched to the scene, where officers located the driver. The driver was non-compliant and was still attempting to operate the vehicle after the collision. He was briefly detained at the scene, but officers ultimately determined he was experiencing an active medical event that had caused the collision.
The driver, 42-year-old Daniel Lehman of New Paris, was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where he was treated and released.
The driver of the pickup truck, 84-year-old Salvadore Plaia of Plymouth, was operating a 2000 Chevy pickup at the time of the crash.
Agencies involved in the response included the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Plymouth Police Department, Indiana State Police, LaPaz Fire, LaPaz EMS, and Tim’s Towing.

The United Way of Marshall County has wrapped up its fourth annual Marshall County Blueberry Half Pot, and organizers are

waiting to hear from one lucky ticket holder.
This year’s Half Pot reached a grand total of twenty-two thousand, nine hundred sixty-three dollars — meaning the winning ticket is worth an estimated eleven thousand, four hundred eighty-one dollars.
The winning ticket number is one-seven-two-zero-five-one-four-two-zero-zero-one.
The winner must contact the United Way of Marshall County at 574-936-3366 or email blueberryhalfpot at marshallcountyuw dot org by close of business on Wednesday, October 7th, 2026, to claim the prize.
The remaining proceeds benefit the United Way and a network of local nonprofits working to improve education, health, and financial stability across Marshall County.
The 2026 Blueberry Half Pot was supported by Diamond Level Sponsor Paladin Legacy Advisory Group, Gold Level Sponsors AK Industries and Coca-Cola, and Silver Level Sponsor Masterson and Associates.
For more information and official rules, visit bit dot ly slash MC Blueberry Half Pot.

The American Red Cross is urging people not to wait to make a lifesaving impact this fall by scheduling a blood donation

appointment in September. The blood supply remains vulnerable after recovering from critically low levels during a summer blood shortage, and now is the time for donors of all blood types to help patients who count on blood products for care.
The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to reserve a spot by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or using the Red Cross Blood Donor App to schedule an appointment.
Those who come to give between September 1 and 20 will receive an exclusive Red Cross x Hello Kitty® plush mascot clip and surprise sticker pack, while supplies last.
Several blood donation opportunities are scheduled throughout Marshall County during September: on Wednesday, September 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Marian University on South Union Road in Plymouth.
On Thursday, September 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Plymouth Columbus Club on East Jefferson Street in Plymouth. On Wednesday, September 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Triton High School on Triton Drive in Bourbon, and also from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Culver High School on School Street in Culver.
To schedule an appointment or find additional donation opportunities, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

PLYMOUTH — Captain Snyder with the Marshall County Police, in collaboration with the United States Marshals Service, conducted a Sex and Violent Offender compliance operation throughout Marshall County from Monday, August 31st through Wednesday, September 2nd.

Those on the Sex and Violent Offender registry are required to report information including their primary residence, employment, vehicles, telephone numbers, and social media accounts being used. Any change of information must be reported in person to the managing agency within 72 hours of making a change.
The primary objective of the operation was to ensure that all offenders currently registered as residing in Marshall County were checked for accuracy in their reporting details.

Officers with various police agencies checked the registered physical residences and employment locations of 74 active registered offenders in Marshall County. The enforcement of violations resulted in the arrests of four individuals:

Randy Tener, age 61, of Bremen — arrested by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department for failure to register as a sex offender.
Kenneth Mattern, age 52, of Plymouth — arrested by the Plymouth Police Department for failure to register as a sex offender.
Robert Rumback, age 36, of Plymouth — arrested by Parole officers for parole violations.
Tyler Southwell, age 33, of Plymouth — arrested by Parole officers for parole violations.
Criminal cases were drawn for violations on an additional five registered offenders, with the information forwarded to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office for review pending criminal charges. The offenses included:
Failure to register as a sex offender and failure of a sex offender to possess identification, investigated by the Plymouth Police.
Two additional investigations for failure to register as a sex offender, investigated by the Marshall County Police.
One for possession of marijuana, investigated by the Indiana State Police.

PLYMOUTH — On Friday, September 4, Det. Sgt. Jonathan Bryant with the Marshall County Police Department conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Pioneer Drive and U.S. 30.

During the stop, Marshall County Police K9 Bear was utilized. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in locating suspected methamphetamine. Officers also located items that had been stolen the previous day in Walkerton.

Dakota Elder, 30, was arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail. He was booked in on a charge of Possession of Methamphetamine as a level 5 felony and held on a $5,000 cash bond.

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

PLYMOUTH — On Saturday, September 5, at approximately 7:32 p.m., Marshall County Central Dispatch was advised of a man

at the Plymouth Speedway with a head injury. Marshall County Officers and Plymouth EMS responded to the scene.
As police arrived, a fight broke out. A man, later identified as Toby Dillian Watson of Ft. Wayne, was pointed out by staff as the one who started the fight. Officers attempted to stop Watson when he took off on foot. Officers apprehended him shortly after and found him to be in possession of a firearm.
Watson was booked into the Marshall County Jail on two level 5 felonies for felon in possession of a firearm and resisting law enforcement causing injury, along with a level 6 felony charge of obstruction of justice.

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