INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecast an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for today, July 31, 2025.

Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in the following areas:
North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac and all other cities within the area.
Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities within the area.
A shift to northeasterly winds this morning is driving Canadian wildfire smoke southward across the Great Lakes region. As a result, fine particulate monitor readings in Northwest and North Central Indiana are beginning to rise, with elevated levels expected to persist throughout the day.
IDEM forecasted Air Quality Action Days indicate anticipated higher levels of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter only. Other factors may affect overall air quality.
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.
Note: IDEM forecasts are based, solely or in part, on data from air quality monitors located throughout the state. IDEM encourages residents of counties within or bordering the affected region(s) to heed the forecast. Air quality information for all Indiana counties can be found at SmogWatch.IN.gov.

CULVER — On Monday, the Culver Town Council will meet for a work session to discuss budget requests for the Street, Police, and Clerk Departments as well as Motor Vehicle Highway, Local Roads and Streets, Cumulative Capital Development, and Riverboat funds.

They also may hear requests from Marshall County Council on Aging, Culver Youth Club, Culver and Lake Maxinkuckee Visitor Center, the Tree Commission, and others who might request funding from the Town of Culver.
On Tuesday, the Council will meet for a work session to review the budgets for the Park, EMS, and Fire Departments.

The meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.

PLYMOUTH — Plymouth families can now take advantage of one-on-one therapy for children with autism.

Golden Steps ABA is now available in Plymouth with a focus on keeping your child happy, relaxed, and engaged while teaching them communication skills and social skills. You can communicate with the Golden Steps team at any time through their messaging system, so you always have access to knowing what your child is doing and how they are feeling.
Golden Steps ABA in Plymouth by calling 317-669-1232, or click on the link below.
https://www.goldenstepsaba.com/indiana/plymouth?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExMDR5Zm5lWWNZcHA3VjFnMwEeHhH08o4DdQUlBe–oAZGWVOl37UF1wwpoM92QAoDzBp5bIlswE3FnDzpEvw_aem_TBZ3osNf0RmfOnCHpnSrzw

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana summer tradition is around the corner. Opening day of the Indiana State Fair is Friday, Aug. 1 at 8 a.m.

Fairgoers can still take advantage of early deals and major savings to kick off the celebration right:
•Advance discounted tickets are available online now (20% off Gate Prices)
•Discounted parking passes are still available at http://www.indianastatefair.com (20% off Gate Prices)
•$5 Menu options at all fair vendors
•$2 Tuesday is back
Visit http://www.IndianaStateFair.com for tickets, hours, and the full lineup.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Milestone Contractors will close the ramp from U.S. 20 westbound to State Road 331/Bremen Highway beginning on or after Monday, August 4.

The ramp will be closed through early October for a small structure replacement. Motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will be to continue westbound and utilize the ramps at U.S. 31/Michigan St to turn around.

At 424 PM EDT/324 PM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Winamac, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD…

Wind gusts up to 40 mph. SOURCE…Radar indicated. IMPACT…Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include… Culver, Ripley, Monterey, Beardstown, Ora, and Bass Lake.

Showers and storms are slowly moving through Illinois and northwest Indiana and will enter Marshall County soon. Some of these storms may be strong to severe, with damaging winds as the main severe threat.

Perhaps the biggest concern is torrential rainfall. Flash flooding and road ponding are possible over the next several hours as this system moves through.
You are remined if you encounter flooded roads, turn around.

PLYMOUTH — On Saturday,​ July 26,​ at 2:21 p.m.,​ Marshall County Dispatch broadcast a report of a two-vehicle personal injury crash on US 31 near Michigan Rd.

Marshall County Deputies,​ Indiana State Police, along with Plymouth Fire and EMS, responded.
The two people involved in the crash, Drake Spurgeon, 17, and Richard Vanover, 73, were taken to the hospital for immediate evaluations. Alcohol or drugs due not appear to be a factor at this time.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Highway Department will be chip and sealing the following road on Wednesday:

•Ply-Goshen- King to SR106
This road will be closed during that work. Please use caution, slow down, and be alert when traveling near or through construction zones. Be mindful of our workers and road conditions.

PLYMOUTH — The fix-up continues at Red Rock Inn in Plymouth, but not fast enough for the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety, which voted unanimously to impose a fine on the owners in their meeting on Monday.

In early June, the second floor of the building was condemned as unsafe by Plymouth Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal, who determined the balconies, guardrails, and stairways posed a danger to residents and emergency responders. The order to vacate was issued due to the building’s unsafe condition under Indiana code.
A local consortium of agencies and individuals was able to help the residents of the second floor relocate, and owners Nilesh and Deepka Patel were given a 30-day window to hire a contractor to begin the work to repair the structure or face further fines or other action. Manuwal reported to the Board on Monday that the time had expired without the requirements being met and asked the board to impose a fine of $2500.
The Patels, who reside in New Jersey, were present at the meeting online and told the Board that they felt they had met those requirements, saying that they had a signed contract with their contractor almost as soon as the process started in early June.
Manuwal told the board that the contractor didn’t apply for a permit until July 2 and, at that time, provided no insurance, putting the work on hold again. He said that the proper insurance wasn’t acquired until July 22, well beyond the 30-days allowed.
Patel told the board that work had begun on the structure this week, starting with the north side stairway. He said that the contractor planned to start with the ironwork necessary and would seek Manuwal’s approval before moving on.

PLYMOUTH — The saga of The Pointe Apartments in Plymouth may be grinding to a close.

On Monday, the Board of Public Works and Safety gave their go-ahead to Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal to seek bids to demolish the structure. In July of last year, Plymouth Building Inspector Dennis Manuwal found the facility dangerous and gave the owner, Bob Richards, 30 days to resolve the roof and electrical issues as part of his emergency order to vacate.
Since then, Richards and his representatives have made numerous appearances before the Board to ask for more time to complete that work.
On June 10, two more weeks were allowed for the building to pass inspection, or there would be a demolition order issued. Manuwal said that he has not heard from the owners and asked the Board to allow him to see the bids for that demolition that would be carried out at Richard’s expense.
Manuwal said that he would like to see the bids opened and awarded at the Boards next meeting on Aug. 11.
Mayor Robert Listenberger raised budget concerns, saying it would be a costly process, and suggested holding off on the actual demolition until it could be planned and paid for in next year’s budget.
The Board voted to move ahead with soliciting of quotes for the project but any action beyond that would be discussed at the Aug. 11 meeting.

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have fallen 10.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.05/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 21.0 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 56.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 1.6 cents in the last week and stands at $3.709 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $2.61/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.69/g, a difference of $1.08/g.
The national average price of gasoline has risen 0.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.10/g today.
“It’s been another relatively quiet week for average gas prices, with most states seeing modest or slight declines, while a handful of price cycling states experienced the most noticeable fluctuations,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Oil prices continue to hover in the mid-to-upper $60s, and with gasoline demand starting to ease as we head into August, we could see prices gradually decline as we approach Labor Day. That said, this is also the time of year when the tropics begin to stir, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on hurricane activity that could disrupt supply and shift the outlook.”
GasBuddy’s averages, graphs, maps, and historical pricing data covering the U.S. and Canada are available 24/7 at http://prices.GasBuddy.com.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Regional Sewer District will hold an executive session at 9 A.M. on Wednesday, July 30.

The executive session will be followed by a special public meeting at 9:45 A.M. on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The session will be held at the City of Plymouth’s Council Chambers located at 124 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, IN 46563, entrance off East Garro Street.
There will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide comments during this meeting. Your participation is welcome.
Both meetings will be held at the City of Plymouth’s Council Chambers located at 124 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, entrance off East Garro Street.
For questions and additional information, please contact the Marshall County Regional Sewer District at questions@marshallcountyrsd.com or call (574) 200-0049.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Council will hold a Special meeting to discuss the purchase of equipment for the Highway Department on Wednesday, July 30, at 2 p.m.

The meeting will be held in Room 203 of the Marshall County Building 112 W. Jefferson Street, Plymouth.

MARSHALL COUNTY – The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced a road closure for State Road 331 between 18B Rd and 19th Rd beginning on or after Wednesday, July 30.

State Road 331 will be closed for approximately one week while railroad crossing work is conducted in this location. Motorists should seek alternate routes. The official detour will follow State Road 10, State Road 19, and State Road 25.

CULVER — On Friday, July 25,​ at approximately 1:36 A.M. EST,​ the Marshall County Central Dispatch received a call from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department requesting assistance investigating an incident that had allegedly taken place at a residence on S.R. 10,​ west of Culver in Starke County.

​
Officers were advised of an alleged incident between a 10-year-old juvenile and a man,​ later identified as David P. Howard,​ age 42 of Culver. During the investigation, evidence was found that Howard had performed a sex act in the presence of the child. Preliminary information gathered at the scene also indicated that Howard is believed to have attempted to destroy evidence involved in the incident.
Howard was detained at the scene and later transported to the Starke County Jail. He was then lodged in jail for vicarious sexual gratification and obstruction of justice.

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

*To see all the area police reports go to the home page and hit the “Police Reports” tab at the top.*

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Highway Department will be chip and sealing the following roads on Tuesday:

•Hawthorn from 5C to the Plymouth-Goshen Trail
•Plymouth-Goshen Trail from King to SR106
These roads will be closed while work is being done. Please use caution, slow down, and be alert when traveling near or through construction zones. Be mindful of our workers and road conditions.

A Heat Advisory remains in effect for today with forecasted heat indexes reaching approximately 100 degrees or higher. 

Isolated storms are anticipated over the next few days prior to the arrival of cooler weather later this week.

Take steps to stay cool today and tomorrow!

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Plan Commission took a step towards creating an ordinance on carbon capture systems in the county.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a set of technologies designed to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources and power plants. It involves capturing CO2, transporting it, and then storing it underground, typically in deep geological formations.
The process would involve the transport of captured CO2 by truck, rail, or pipeline to the site where it would be injected into deep underground geological formations, such as saline aquifers, depleted oil and gas reservoirs, or unmineable coal seams.
The main concern locally from such a site would be groundwater contamination.
The Commission began discussion on the topic at their previous meeting. Marshall County Plan Director Nicholas Witwer told the board members that no such companies were “knocking on the door” in Marshall County, but felt the ordinance would be prudent in case of such in the future.
The Commission had discussed a ban on such operations in the county, and Witwer said that if at some point in the future the county wished to allow such operations, the ban could be lifted.
The members of the Commission voted to continue the process by producing an ordinance for review at their next meeting to ban the practice in the county. If passed, the proposed ordinance would then move on to the Marshall County Commissioners for their approval.