BREMEN — On July 1, 2026, at 8:43 am the Sheriff’s Office received a call of a single-vehicle crash in the 13,000 block of US 6.

Preliminary investigation found the deceased and sole occupant of the vehicle was westbound on US 6 when the vehicle left the roadway, striking a tree. It is believed at this time the crash occurred during the overnight hours.
Chief Deputy Coroner John Lampkins pronounced the driver deceased at the scene. An autopsy will be scheduled to assist in determining the cause of death.
Deceased is Robert M. Neiswender, Jr., 51, of Plymouth.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Indiana Governor Mike Braun is directing his administration to make local governments whole for any gas

tax revenues missed while the ongoing energy emergency is in effect.
At the Governor’s direction, Secretary Lisa Hershman and the Office of Management and Budget will coordinate with the State Budget Agency and Department of Revenue to calculate the amount necessary to reimburse local governments. State Budget Director Chad Ranney will bring the formal request to transfer funds from the State Highway Fund for April and May to the Board of Finance on July 21. Once the transfer is approved, local governments are expected to receive distributions from the Comptroller’s Office within five to seven business days.
“This is only possible because Hoosiers demand commonsense fiscal management, and we’ve delivered,” said Governor Mike Braun. “We are running government more efficiently, and as a result, we have the resources to offer tax relief while supporting local partners.”
“The Comptroller’s Office is committed to serving as a trusted partner to Indiana’s local governments by ensuring these distributions are processed accurately and without delay. We understand the importance of timely revenue distributions, and we remain focused on delivering taxpayer dollars with the transparency, accountability and fiscal stewardship Hoosiers expect,” said Comptroller Elise Nieshalla.
“As State Treasurer, affordability and lowering costs for Hoosiers while providing local units of government the tools they need to operate has been my primary focus since day one. Governor Braun’s decision to suspend the gas tax was the right thing to do,” said Daniel Elliott, State Treasurer. “This proposal adds to that decision by making local governments whole without negatively affecting Hoosiers. It’s a great example of what sound fiscal policies can accomplish. I look forward to working with the Governor, Comptroller Nieshalla and their teams to get this done.”
Similar requests will be made at the August and September Board of Finance meetings as needed. Local governments are expected to be reimbursed no later than November 1.

PLYMOUTH — On June 27, 2026, Plymouth officers were notified of an impaired or reckless driver complaint on US 30 and

Pioneer. The suspect vehicle was eventually located on Jefferson and Fifth Street, where a traffic stop was initiated.
After the car stopped, the driver and passenger were observed swapping seats as the Officer approached. The original driver was asked to exit the vehicle to be detained. Upon exiting, the driver became combative, and a brief struggle ensued before the suspect, Jesse Garcia, 43, of Crestwood, Illinois, was successfully detained without any injury.
He was taken into custody for driving with a suspended license with a prior conviction, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting law enforcement.

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

PLYMOUTH — On Sunday, June 28th,​ 2026, at approximately 9:40 PM, Marshall County Deputies were dispatched to Plymouth

Speedway for an in- progress physical altercation between two men.
Marshall County Deputies responded to the area and conducted an investigation. The two men involved were later identified as 21-year-old Jason Rodriguez​ and 23-year-old Miguel Rodriguez, both of Indianapolis​.
Both were subsequently arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail.​ Jason was booked and processed for Battery Against Public Safety Official as a Level 6 Felony,​ Resisting Law Enforcement,​ Class A Misdemeanor,​ Public Intoxication,​ Class B Misdemeanor,​ and Disorderly Conduct,​ Class B Misdemeanor.
Miguel was booked and processed for Public Intoxication as a Class B Misdemeanor.

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

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have fallen 11.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.20/g today, according to

GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 51.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 3.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 11.4 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $4.876 per gallon.
The lowest reported prices in various communities around the area:
Pulaski County
Winamac — $3.49
Francesville — $3.59
Medaryville — $3.39
Starke County
Knox — $3.39
North Judson — $3.49
Hamlet — $3.39
Grovertown — $3.39
LaPorte County
LaCrosse — $3.39
LaPorte — $2.94
Michigan City — $3.14
Wanatah — $3.17
Rolling Prairie — $3.25
Westville — $3.14
New Carlisle — $3.69
North Liberty — $3.13
Walkerton — $3.13
Marshall County
Argos — $3.39
Bourbon — $3.09
Bremen — $3.29
Culver — $3.49
LaPaz — $3.29
Plymouth — $3.13
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $2.79/g yesterday while the most expensive was $5.09/g, a difference of $2.30/g.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 6.9 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.78/g today.
“Average gasoline prices fell in 46 states over the last week, with diesel declining in 49, pushing the national average to its lowest level since mid-March,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “The declines came despite a turbulent week, as fresh attacks were traded between the U.S. and Iran before both sides agreed to halt hostilities just in time Sunday, preventing what could have been a significant spike in oil prices. For now, GasBuddy anticipates the national average will continue drifting lower this week, though the situation remains anything but predictable. A handful of price-cycling states could see prices jump ahead of the July 4 holiday, while many states that already cycled higher last week should see prices fall back down. Motorists in non-cycling states are likely to see continued relief, but the fragile nature of the U.S.-Iran situation means the outlook could shift quickly.”
GasBuddy is North America’s trusted fuel savings platform, helping consumers fuel up for less for over 25 years at GasBuddy.com

PLYMOUTH — On June 26, 2026, at 10:03 p.m., an officer with the Plymouth Police Department was working on the DUI Task

Force and was at the scene of a traffic stop involving the driver of a vehicle that left from 900 W. Harrison Street after being involved in a battery.
The caller advised that the woman driving was highly intoxicated. Officers located the vehicle, which disregarded two stop signs and didn’t stop right away for the officer. The female driver was identified as Karia Carrion Rodriguez, 39, of Plymouth.
The officer detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person. She initially said she hadn’t been drinking, then later in the interview admitted having 3 drinks. She was given a field sobriety test and a portable breath test (PBT) and blew a .105. She agreed to a certified blood draw at the hospital, which showed her blood alcohol content was .178 BAC.
Rodriguez was then booked into Marshall County Jail for Battery, OWI, OWI above .15, and OWI endangerment.

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

ARGOS — On Saturday,​ June 27, 2026, at 7:45 pm,​ Marshall County Officers attempted to serve a warrant at the residence on

Michigan Rd,​ in Argos.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect,​ Jeremy D Swank, had fled from the residence into a neighboring field. Marshall County,​ Fulton County, and Plymouth Police Officers led a manhunt to apprehend Swank,​ which led officers to the residence of 185 W Marshall St,​ Argos. Swank was arrested for his outstanding warrants and additional charges of resisting and possession of methamphetamine.
Randa L Jones and Christopher Van Lue were also taken into custody for charges that they hindered

the investigation. All were transported to the Marshall County Jail.

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

CULVER — The Culver Town Council unanimously passed a resolution at their regular meeting on Thursday night to pursue a

Community Crossings Matching Grant for paving in the town starting in the fall.

The resolution also allows Street Superintendent Bob Porter to negotiate with INDOT on behalf of the town for the grant.

In light of the heat wave sweeping across the Midwest this week, the Indiana Administration of Family and Social Services has shared a resource to help individuals find cooling centers in their local areas.

Because extreme summer heat is expected across Indiana over the next several days, cooling centers will be open throughout the state for those in need of a safe and cool place to visit to escape the extreme heat. 

The searchable list of cooling center locations and hours can be found at Indiana 211, or IN211.org. Click on “Shelter and Housing” and then “Cooling and Warming Centers”. 

Searches can be performed by zip code. A search based around Knox showed various cooling centers in the Starke County area, including multiple branches of the Starke County Public Library. Common cooling centers include libraries, county and city office buildings, and police departments. 

Businesses wishing to update, add, or report a cooling center location should contact the Indiana 211 resource team at in211database@fssa.in.gov.

Elkhart-Lagrange-Steuben-Noble-De Kalb-Starke-Pulaski-Marshall-
Fulton IN-Whitley-Allen IN-White-Cass IN-Miami-Wabash-Huntington-
Wells-Adams-Grant-Blackford-Jay-Northern La Porte-Eastern St.
Joseph IN-Northern Kosciusko-Southern La Porte-Western St. Joseph
IN-Southern Kosciusko-Cass MI-St. Joseph MI-Branch-Hillsdale-
Northern Berrien-Southern Berrien-Williams-Fulton OH-Defiance-
Henry-Paulding-Putnam-Van Wert-Allen OH-

* WHAT…Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of 100 to 
  105 expected, with isolated higher values possible. Daily high 
  temperatures in the 90s.
* WHERE…Portions of northern Indiana, southwest Michigan, and 
  northwest Ohio.
* WHEN…Until 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ Thursday.
* IMPACTS…Heat related illnesses increase significantly during 
  extreme heat and high humidity events.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Overnight lows in the mid-70s will offer 
  limited relief from the heat.

Instructions:

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car
interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

PLYMOUTH — On Sunday, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department received a call about a deceased man in the Yellow River,​ in the area

of US 31,​ north of US 30. The deceased was located by persons floating on the river.
The identity of the deceased man is pending at this time. An Autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday,​ June 30,​ 2026. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department does not believe that there are any public safety concerns. The ​ situation is still under investigation by several Agencies. It is believed that the deceased has been identified;​ however, police are waiting for confirmation of that.
If any person has any information or concerns, please contact the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and speak with the Detective Bureau.

BREMEN — On June 24, 2026, at 12:30 p.m.,​ Marshall County Central Dispatch was advised of a two-vehicle collision at U.S. 6

and Dogwood Rd.
Investigating the collision,​ ​it was found that a Kia passenger car driven by Andrew Spangler, 22, of Mishawaka, had failed to yield while attempting to cross U.S. 6. ​ Spangler drove into the path of a VW SUV driven by Sydney Nykiel, 24, of Nappanee, resulting in a right-angle collision.
Occupants of both vehicles were later seen at the Bremen Hospital for minor injuries. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by Bremen Police,​ Bremen Fire,​ Tri-County EMS,​ the Indiana State Police,​ and Newcomber’s Towing at the scene of the collision. ​

DALLAS, TX – GasBuddy, the fuel savings platform empowering drivers to choose their road to savings, today released its 2026

Independence Day gas price forecast, projecting the national average price of gas will actually fall to approximately $3.75 per gallon on July 4 – but still be the second most expensive Independence Day on record behind the all-time high of $4.80 on July 4, 2022.
The projection comes despite six consecutive weeks of national-average declines following a spring spike driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The recent U.S.-Iran framework agreement has helped ease supply fears and pull prices lower, but the accord remains fragile, and risks to the upside are significant. However, with the U.S. Department of Treasury authorizing the sale of oil by Iran, oil prices recently fell below $70/bbl, which may help consumers see lower prices faster, with global inventories benefiting from the additional oil.
“Six weeks of declines sounds like good news, and in some ways it is, but the context matters,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “At roughly $3.75, this would be the second most expensive July 4 ever recorded, roughly 65 cents higher than last year and nearly $1 above where prices started in 2026. The U.S.-Iran agreement gives markets hope, but it’s being tested, and any breakdown in those talks could reverse the recent relief quickly. Drivers should use every tool available to find the lowest prices near them before filling up.”
While the projected $3.75 per gallon average represents a dramatic improvement from May’s peak of $4.57, it still marks roughly a 65-cent increase from last July 4’s $3.10 per gallon average, and a stark reminder of how significantly the Strait of Hormuz closure reshaped the price environment for 2026. Americans will spend hundreds of millions more on gasoline this July 4 holiday weekend compared to last year. Only 2022’s record spike, driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and pandemic-era demand surges, has produced a more expensive Independence Day at the pump.
July 4 gas prices over the last 5 years:
•2021: $3.12/gal
•2022: $4.80/gal (record high)
•2023: $3.46/gal
•2024: $3.49/gal
•2025: $3.10/gal
•2026: ˜$3.75/gal (projected)
To learn more about GasBuddy, visit gasbuddy.com.

Summer cookout costs decrease for Indiana shoppers, lower than U.S. average
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana shoppers may see slightly lower prices than last year as they prepare for their Fourth of July cookout.

Indiana Farm Bureau’s annual summer cookout market basket revealed Hoosiers are paying an average of $66.73 for a cookout feeding 10 people this summer, or $6.67 per person – a 7% decrease compared to last year.
Indiana’s market basket price is approximately 10%, or $7.09, less than the U.S. average price of $7.38 per person. Additionally, the average price for the Midwest region was also slightly less than the national average, showing that neighboring states are seeing similar results.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the prices our shoppers were able to find in Indiana this year because the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food at home has increased about 2.9%,” explained INFB Chief Economist Dr. Todd Davis. “It’s important to remember, though, that this data is just a snapshot of what consumers are paying at the grocery store on any given day.”
The total market basket price of $66.73 includes ground beef, cheese, hamburger buns, pork chops, chicken breasts, pork and beans, potato salad, strawberries, chips, ice cream, cookies and lemonade.
Potato salad saw the largest decrease in price (-56%) this year compared to 2025, seemingly because the price of eggs has been cut in half from this time last year. Cookies, pork and beans, strawberries and chicken breast were the only items that were more expensive compared to last year.
“Egg prices were way above average this time last year, mostly likely due to the impacts of avian influenza, so those prices are now back to normal and even a bit lower than the national average,” noted Davis. “The protein side of the market basket is where you should shop around for deals since those make up about 54% of the total cost.”
Indiana shoppers surprisingly found cheaper prices this year for pork chops and ground beef. Davis attributes these cost improvements as the main factor for lowering the total market basket price in the state.
According to the USDA, just 11.8 cents of every retail food dollar spent goes back to farmers. The rest is for food processing, packaging, transportation, wholesale and retail distribution, and food service preparation.
“Farmers are price takers, not price makers – just like consumers,” said Randy Kron, INFB president. “Margins are still tight for farmers due to high supply costs because the amount farmers are being paid isn’t covering that increase in expenses.
But Indiana farmers are committed to streamlining their operations to decrease costs of production as best they can, all while providing safe, affordable food not just for Hoosiers, but for families all over the world.”
The INFB summer cookout market basket survey was conducted in early June by volunteer shoppers across the state who collected prices on specific food items from one of their local grocery stores. Volunteer shoppers were asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals.
Indiana’s survey was completed in conjunction with a national survey administered by the American Farm Bureau Federation. More details about AFBF’s national summer cookout market basket results can be found at fb.org.

PLYMOUTH — On the afternoon of June 23, 2026, at 3:50 pm, a Plymouth Police Officer conducted a traffic stop near the

intersection of US 30 and Pioneer Drive after observing a registration violation.
During the officer’s investigation, K9 Kyzer assisted and alerted to the presence of a narcotic odor in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was completed, and suspected methamphetamine, marijuana as well as paraphernalia were located in the vehicle.
The driver and passenger were both identified as 24-year-old Blake Slone and 22-year-old Sarah Botset, both of Walkerton. Slone and Botset were both taken into custody and lodged at the Marshall County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia.

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

BOURBON — On June 23, 2026, at 2:04 a.m., Marshall County Central Dispatch received a 911 call about a suspicious woman at

a residence on 9B Road. The 911 caller advised that the woman had entered his residence and then took off on foot.
Marshall County Deputies, along with a Bourbon Police Department Officer, responded to the residence and conducted an investigation. The woman was identified as 19-year-old Courtney L. Shepherd of Bourbon​ and was located shortly thereafter walking through a field on the property.
Shepherd was suspected of being under the influence of a controlled substance and was taken to the Plymouth Hospital for a certified chemical test. She was then transported to the Marshall County Jail, where she was booked and processed for Residential Entry,​ a Level 6 Felony,​ and Operating a Vehicle with a Controlled Substance in body,​ a Class C Misdemeanor.

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

Fewer Hoosiers are losing their jobs, as employers continue holding onto workers. Indiana logged 2,056 new unemployment

claims for the week ending June 20, a drop from the week before. The U.S. Labor Department released the numbers Thursday, saying they’re the kind of steady filings you see when employers are trying to hold onto their workers. They say this pattern points to a slow, steady adjustment in the job market, not a surge, not a slide, just an economy that isn’t booming but isn’t cooling off either.
According to the Department of Workforce Development, the state’s unemployment rate for May sits at 3.3 percent, well below the national rate of 4.3 percent. Indiana added 3,800 private-sector jobs last month, driven by gains in construction and hospitality. Right now, there are over 94,000 open job postings statewide. If you are looking for work, resources are available online at in.gov/dwd.

PLYMOUTH — On the afternoon of June 23, 2026, Plymouth Police were dispatched to a residence on Jackson Street for the

report of a woman who was refusing to leave the property. Officers arrived on the scene and located Marisa Elyn Oviedo (33) of Plymouth, along with her belongings.
While speaking with Oviedo, a strong odor of Marijuana was detected. Oviedo would resist officers and refuse to hand over her handbag. Oviedo was placed into custody and escorted to the back seat of a patrol vehicle.
A search was conducted on the handbag, and officers located a pipe that tested positive for Methamphetamine, as well as a THC product. Oviedo was transported and lodged in the Marshall County jail and charged with Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Paraphernalia.

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