INDIANAPOLIS — More than 300 volunteers are needed to support the world’s largest food sport event that will be held at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center on Thursday, October 16, through Sunday, October 19.

The World Food Championships, the largest food sport competition in the world, is seeking an additional 300 volunteers to support their global event that features more than 300 competitive cooking teams battling it out for the coveted title of World Food Champion and a share of the $450,000 prize purse. This year, the WFC event will include the 58th Annual World Championship Chili Cook-off, presented by the International Chili Society, as part of the celebration that promises to be bigger and better than ever!
Volunteer opportunities include:
Event Setup: Assist with setting up the event site
Competition Support: Assisting with judging, pantry, and competition needs
Consumer Support: Assisting with special events, merchandise, and stages
Information Support: Provide information and answer questions for attendees
World Championship Chili Cook-off: Assisting with the WCCC competition
Interested volunteers, 16 years of age and older, can register for a shift at https://worldfoodchampionships.com/volunteer2025. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt, free food while working, and two free passes (for access during a non-volunteer day).
Opening Rounds on Thursday and Friday are invitation-only. Consumer activity begins with the new IGNITE! WFC BBQ & Music Kickoff party taking place on Friday, Oct. 17 from 6 – 9 PM. Public days featuring competitive competitions, premium consumer experiences, and more will run from 8 AM – 7 PM on both Saturday, October 18, and Sunday, October 19. Awards will be presented on Sunday, October 19, from 6 – 8 PM.
Tickets to the 2025 World Food Championships can be purchased via the WFC website. For more information about the World Food Championships and how to volunteer, visit WorldFoodChampionships.com.

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have risen 7.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.10/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 20.6 cents per

gallon lower than they were a month ago and stand 12.3 cents per gallon lower than they were a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 1.3 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.652 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $2.62/g yesterday, while the most expensive was $4.11/g, a difference of $1.49/g.
The national average price of gasoline has decreased by 5.8 cents per gallon over the last week, currently averaging $ 3.08 per gallon today.
“Gas prices have seen a notable weekly drop in most states as seasonal factors ramp up their impact—namely the switch to cheaper winter gasoline and falling gasoline demand,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Price cycling markets led the way with significant declines in Ohio, Florida, and Michigan, while Indiana experienced a price cycle that resulted in the largest weekly increase of any state last week. For now, seasonal factors will remain the primary driver of relief at the pump, though we continue to monitor the tropics for any potential disruptions to seasonal trends.”
GasBuddy’s averages, graphs, maps and historical pricing data covering the U.S. and Canada is available 24/7 at http://prices.GasBuddy.com.

CULVER — The Culver Town Council heard the first reading of the proposed budget for the coming year in their meeting last week.

Culver Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim outlined the budget for the Council that totals $4,030,964 for the year.
Heim said that she expects the tax reforms passed in Indiana’s Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) to provide property tax relief, will have a direct effect on the Culver budget. Heim said that she expects at least $48,000 less in tax draw for this year.
The Bill provided tax relief primarily through a new 10% homestead property tax credit, capped at $300, and enhanced benefits for seniors and disabled veterans. The bill also includes significant reforms to local income taxes (LIT), requiring annual re-authorization by counties and cities and changing how these funds are distributed.
Heim told the board that the budgeted $3,175,377 in the General Fund would be a deficit of around $426,000, but she also told the board that traditionally, she budgets high and did not expect to spend the entire amount. In any case, she said that the Culver General Fund was healthy and would support the budgeted amount.
The Council will hear the second and possibly third reading of the budget at their meeting on Oct. 9.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Highway Department will be paving the following roads:

•Tall Oaks Subdivision
These roads will be closed, with limited access. Please use caution, slow down, and be alert when traveling near or through construction zones. Please seek an alternate route until the work is completed. Be mindful of our workers and road conditions.

FEMA’s Ready Campaign is celebrating National Preparedness Month, an annual time for everyone to take preparedness seriously.

This year’s theme is “Preparedness Starts at Home”, which focuses on getting back to the essentials of preparedness. Before there was ever emergency management, families took the lead in preparing themselves for disasters. Every individual should still be taking steps to keep themselves safe when disaster strikes.
The Marshall County Emergency Management Agency will continue to take its own large-scale preparedness and mitigation efforts to ensure our county and its communities are resilient and able to prepare, respond, and recover from all types of emergencies. But citizens can make the jobs of emergency management and first responders much easier by keeping themselves safe.
Here are a few tips from the Ready Campaign to help make you and your loved ones more prepared in case of an emergency:

• Know your risk
  Know what could happen where you and your family live. This helps you figure out what you need to do to stay safe. You can explore various disasters and emergencies on Ready.gov.  
• Make a family emergency plan
  Making a plan early helps you reduce stress and save time and money. Follow four easy steps and create a free Family Emergency Plan quickly and easily with our fillable form.
  Disasters are costly, but preparing for them doesn’t have to be. Taking time to prepare now can help save you thousands of dollars and give you peace of mind when the next disaster or emergency occurs. Visit Ready.gov’s low and no-cost tip page to see how you can be better prepared without spending a lot of money.
• Build an emergency supply kit
  Having enough food, water, and medicine can help you stay safe and comfortable until help arrives. Having what you need can also prevent injury and damage to your home.
  Build a go-bag with all the essentials you might need, so you don’t need to scramble in an evacuation situation. Find a list of supplies at Build A Kit.
• Get involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies
  Emergencies can happen fast, and emergency responders aren’t always nearby. You may be able to save a life by taking simple actions immediately. You can learn these steps when you take a first aid class through many organizations in your community.

PLYMOUTH — On Sept. 22 at 11:21 p.m., Plymouth Police were dispatched to Family Express on W Jefferson St. for a report of a theft.

Witnesses stated that a man had entered the store and left with an armful of items without paying for them.
The suspect, Jamari T. Roper, 19, of Plymouth, was located at his residence and taken into custody without incident. Roper was transported to the Marshall County Jail.

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

See all the local police reports at https://max983.net/police-reports/

On Sept. 21 at 2:21 A.M.,​ the Marshall County Central ​Dispatch advised of a man at a residence near 4B Rd and Plymouth-Laporte Trail ​claiming that he was involved in a property damage accident.

Marshall County Deputies responded, and during the course of the crash ​investigation, it was discovered that the driver,​ Logan Yeager, 23, of Monterey, was exhibiting signs of intoxication.
Yeager was taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail for Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated on a controlled substance, and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, endangering.

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

See all the local police reports at https://max983.net/police-reports/

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Historical Society is sponsoring a Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Event on Friday, Oct. 10, from Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Museum Assistant Director Sue Irwin will talk about local architecture. Marshall County is full of interesting buildings and even more interesting stories that go with them. Nearly every architectural gem has a tale – from quirky to tragic. Come hear the histories of the oldest building in the Village of Maxinkuckee, some early truck stops, a house you could build from a kit, and more.
The Brown Bag will be held at the Marshall County Historical Society & Museum, 123 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Pack a lunch and learn. For more information, please call 574-936-2306.

The Indiana State Police is accepting applications for Motor Carrier Inspectors (MCI). The MCI positions will staff permanent scale facilities in Fort Wayne, Lowell, Seymour, and West Harrison. Inspectors

enforce state and federal regulations for commercial motor vehicles operating within the State of Indiana.
Trainees must complete the 10-week Motor Carrier Inspector School scheduled to begin on March 16, 2026. The training will be conducted through a combination of in-house academy-style learning and on-the-job training. The academy-style training will be conducted Monday through Friday at the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division in Indianapolis, with housing provided. During the training, trainees will develop skills, including emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, communications, hazardous materials, first-aid, post-crash investigations, and truck inspections.
To participate in the selection process, applicants for the position of Motor Carrier Inspector must meet the following basic requirements:

1. Be a United States citizen.
2. Be at least 21 years old by September 21, 2026.
3. Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D.
4. Possess a valid driver’s license.
5. Be required to pass a physical agility test, oral interview, polygraph exam, and a background investigation.
6. Be required to complete a medical exam, a psychological exam, and a drug test.
7. Geographical proximity to the scale facility may be a factor in the selection process.
   Trainees are paid during the MCI school and are provided with all necessary equipment. The starting salary is $52,000 and will increase to $54,000 at the end of the first year of employment. Over the next ten years, with step increases in pay, a Motor Carrier Inspector will reach an annual salary of $70,000. A retirement program will be available through PERF.
   To apply for a Motor Carrier Inspector position, visit the Indiana State Police website at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/indianasp. Applications for Motor Carrier Inspector must be submitted by 11:59 PM (Indianapolis time), Sunday, October 26, 2025.
   The Indiana State Police is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer complying with all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
   Interested applicants can obtain additional information about a career as a Motor Carrier Inspector by visiting https://www.in.gov/isp/career-opportunities/motor-carrier-inspectors/.
   Contact Information:
   Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division
   317-615-7373

PLYMOUTH — On the evening of Sept. 22, at 9:30 p.m., Plymouth Officers on bike patrol and in the area of River Park Square located two men, Johnathon Gutierrez-Reyes, 19, of Plymouth, and Gerson

Martinez, 18, of Plymouth, who were smoking marijuana in the park.
Upon further investigation, it was determined that both Gutierrez-Reyes and Martinez were in possession of marijuana and were taken into custody.
They were transported to the Marshall County Jail and lodged on misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

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

Get all the area police reports at https://max983.net/police-reports/

The Marshall County Highway Department will be paving the following road:
— 4B from Sycamore to Tamarack and then Tamarack from 4B to 3B.

This road will be closed for the duration of the work. Please use caution, slow down, and be alert when traveling near or through construction zones. Please seek an alternate route until the work is completed. Be mindful of our workers and road conditions.

ARGOS — ​On Sept. 19,​ at 9:49 P.M.,​ Marshall County Central Dispatch received a 911 call from a resident in the 14,​000 block of Michigan Road telling dispatchers that a man and woman had come to their residence and were possibly under the influence of ​hallucinogenic mushrooms.

The man was later identified as Jacob Brian Keyser, 18, of Rochester. The woman was identified as a juvenile.
When Officers arrived on scene,​ the woman became very erratic and assaulted Officers and damaged property. The woman was transported by EMS for medical treatment. The man was also taken to the hospital for treatment and later booked into Marshall County Jail for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, minor possession of marijuana, and operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in the body.​

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

Get all the area police reports at https://max983.net/police-reports/

PLYMOUTH — On Sept. 22 at 7:18 p.m., Officers with the Plymouth Police Department were dispatched to the area of S. Michigan St. and Pierce St. for a woman lying on the ground.

When the officer arrived, he noticed a woman, identified as Abbie Graciliano, a 20-year-old from Warsaw, staggering across the roadway. She was with another woman identified as Grace Gardner 24-year-old of Plymouth.
Plymouth Officers had encountered both women recently for a prior disturbance on Gilmore St. Both women were trespassed from that property. Both women were on the same property on Gilmore St.
Gardner was arrested for criminal trespass, and Graciliano was arrested for criminal trespass and public intoxication. Both women were transported to Marshall County Jail.

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

See all the local police reports at https://max983.net/police-reports/

PLYMOUTH — While on routine patrol, Marshall County Deputies observed a vehicle traveling 113mph in a posted 50mph zone ​westbound on US 30 in the area of US 31.

Upon performing a traffic stop on the vehicle and ​ ​talking with the suspect, ​the driver, Corrinna F. Janda, 39, was found to be operating a vehicle with a suspended license and suspected of operating while intoxicated.
She was taken to the Marshall County Jail.

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

See all the local police reports at https://max983.net/police-reports/

PLYMOUTH — The drama of just what will happen with “The Pointe” apartments in Plymouth moved into Act II on Monday as the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety heard a proposal for a repurposing of the building rather than its demolition.

Doug and Ann Pomeroy approached Plymouth Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal, and subsequently the Board of Works and Safety, about wanting to purchase the property before demolition. The Pomeroy’s have a ministry, Shepherds Beginnings, and are currently associate chaplains at the Marshall County Jail and leaders of the Celebrate Recovery ministry at Plymouth Wesleyan Church.
The Pomeroys would like to rebuild the building for their ministry as transitional housing for those released from jail or prison, where they can receive ministry help in counseling and gaining employment and permanent housing, as they transition to life after incarceration. The Pomeroys told the Board that they were currently helping those residing in hotels in Plymouth, but would like a place to move their clients out of that housing and add the ability to help more at a fixed location.
The Pomeroys have made an offer on the property contingent on several things, including the stay of demolition, a variance of use from the Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals, and approval of a timeline for rebuilding the structure, as well as settlement of a $300,000 fine imposed by the Indiana Attorney General. They have already begun the process with inspections of the property to gain input on the scope and cost of repairs.
Manuwal was not against a stay of the demolition order but did recommend caution.

The project received the first opposition, even before the end of the hearing, with City Councilman Randy Longanecker stepping forward.

The Board gave the Pomeroys a 30-day stay of demolition during which time they are to provide Manuwal with a list of repairs to bring the property to code and an estimated timeline of repairs.

ARGOS — The Town of Argos, together with the Marshall County Historical Society, will host a special reception honoring the legacy of the Argos Boy Scout troop, whose story captured national attention in the 1950s. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 5:30 – 8:00 PM at the Gallery on West in Argos.

In the mid-20th century, scouting was an integral part of American life, instilling confidence, character, and leadership in young men. For the Argos troop, a weekend campout in Wisconsin transformed into something extraordinary when it was featured on Walter Cronkite’s CBS radio program You Are There and later profiled in Boys’ Life magazine. The small-town troop’s adventure was shared with families across the nation, making Argos a part of scouting history.
The upcoming reception will showcase video excerpts from Cronkite’s broadcast, interviews with troop members George Stults and Gene Snyder, and archival photographs and articles from the era. Together, these materials paint a vivid picture of how scouting shaped generations of Argos youth and reflected the values of teamwork, service, and community.
“This event is more than just remembering a weekend campout. It’s about honoring the role scouting played in shaping young leaders and strengthening the fabric of our town,” said Jon VanderWeele, event organizer.

The community is invited to attend the event. Light refreshments will be served.
Event Details:
What: Reception honoring the Argos Boy Scout troop’s national recognition in the 1950s
When: Saturday, September 27th, 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Where: The Gallery on West, Argos, IN
Hosted by: The Town of Argos & the Marshall County Historical Society
Additional information about the Town of Argos can be found online at http://www.townofargos.com and on social media @townofargos.

PLYMOUTH — On Thursday, Sept. 18, at 8:27 p.m., Plymouth Officers on patrol westbound on US 30 west of Pioneer Drive clocked a White Chevrolet Impala traveling eastbound on US 30 west of his location at 100 MPH in a posted 50 MPH Zone.

Officers stopped the vehicle on US 30 eastbound just west of Pioneer Drive. The driver was arrested for reckless driving, and the K-9 officer was deployed; marijuana was located in the vehicle. The back seat passenger, Diquan King, 20, of Fort Wayne, was cited for possession of marijuana. The driver, Malachi Byrd, 22, also of Fort Wayne, was then transported to the Marshall County Jail and booked into the jail for Reckless Driving.

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

PLYMOUTH — On the morning of September 20, at 1 a.m., Plymouth officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for traveling nearly 20 MPH over the posted speed limit.

The traffic stop took place on US 31 and 9A Road, where the driver was identified as Jeremiah Banks, 39 years old, of Plainfield, IN.
During the traffic stop, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department-K9 Bear assisted. With the assistance of K9 Bear, approximately 20 grams of suspected marijuana were located in the vehicle. Further investigation was completed after Banks showed signs of impairment.
Following the investigation, Banks was lodged at the Marshall County Jail on preliminary charges of Possession of Marijuana with a prior conviction, operating a vehicle while intoxicated on a controlled substance, and endangerment.

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