City of Plymouth approves 2026 paving bid

PLYMOUTH – The city of Plymouth Board of Works and Safety approved the bid of E&B Paving for this year’s street paving

projects.
The city received three bids for the project:
E&B $1,783,702
Milestone $2,032,643
Reith-Reilly $2,167,900
The list of proposed projects was:
Harrison Street: Plum to Michigan.
Center Street: Novelty to Parkview.
Madison Street: Fifth to Railroad.
Nutmeg Street: Discovery Lane to Oakhill Avenue.
Kenwood Avenue: Oak Road to Sycamore.
Sycamore Street: Lake Avenue to 7th.
Parkview: Dead End to Michigan.
Improvement Projects include improvements to the Price’s Pond driveway and parking area.
City Engineer Dan Sellers recommended E&B; however, the bid was over the city’s budget for the projects and he suggested the city remove the Nutmeg Street portion. He also told the board that the Prices Pond section would come out of the Park Department’s budget and not the Street Department, and added that there would be grant help for the projects.

Marshall County EMA Seeks Public Input on Outdoor Warning Sirens

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Emergency Management Agency wants to hear from you about Marshall County’s outdoor

warning sirens.
Outdoor warning sirens are one of the most well-known mass alerting methods and have been around since the mid-20th century. Sirens have traditionally been purchased by townships or municipalities, which has led to some areas receiving widespread coverage, while three townships in the county have no siren at all.
In Marshall County, the Dispatch Center controls sirens for Bourbon, Center, and Union Townships. The sirens in Argos, German Township, La Paz, and Tippecanoe are manned by fire departments. County-controlled sirens are automatically triggered when a Tornado Warning is issued for anywhere in the county.
In the digital age, other methods of mass alerting, such as smartphone and broadcast alerts, have become more reliable options for notifying the public about severe weather and other hazards. However, these systems have their own technical issues and are not perfect either.
With the uptick in severe weather in Indiana the last few years, the debate about installing new sirens has been a hot topic. Now is your chance to weigh in! Your opinions will help the EMA collect data that can be used to inform elected officials and pursue grant funding.
We have developed an anonymous survey to seek public input on sirens. Make your voice heard by filling out the form here: forms.gle/1VPN1M3t64PgNAXd8

Plymouth police make OWI arrest

PLYMOUTH — On April 26, 2026, at 8:09 p.m., Officers with the Plymouth Police Department were called to Martins on

Jefferson Street for a black Jeep Wrangler driving recklessly through the parking lot.
The caller was following the vehicle, and they went north on Columbus Dr. and then west on Baker. The caller advised that the vehicle was all over the roadway and running stop signs.
Plymouth Officers located the vehicle just before Michigan Street, and a traffic stop was conducted. The driver was identified as Joseph Nifong, 30, of Plymouth. The officer detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Nifong.
A field sobriety test was given. Nifong agreed to a certified blood draw, and his certified test showed his alcohol level was a .237 BAC.
He was transported to Marshall County Jail and booked in for OWI, OWI above .15, and OWI Endangerment.

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

Operating while intoxicated

BOURBON — On April 25, 2026,​ county officers were called to an address in the 6,​000 block of 12B Rd. west of Bourbon.


The original report was that a vehicle had become disabled due to a mechanical failure,​ and that the driver was outside of the vehicle, acting intoxicated. Officers arrived ​ at the scene a short time later and found the offender, Jamie L. Warren, 56, of Logansport, and her vehicle.
During the investigation,​ probable cause was found that Warren had operated a vehicle while intoxicated. ​ She was detained at the scene and was later transported to Saint Joseph Medical Center, Plymouth, for medical treatment and certified testing.
It was later found that the offender had a blood alcohol content of almost four times the legal limit of .08%
After medical evaluation and testing, Warren was lodged at the Marshall County Jail for Operating While Intoxicated with Prior,​ a level 6 felony.

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

Crash brings OWI arrest

PLYMOUTH — On April 25, 2026, at 3:26 p.m., Officers with the Plymouth Police Department were dispatched to the area of

116 S. Walnut Street for an unknown crash.
Officers located the vehicle in the alleyway crashed into a telephone pole. The driver was identified as Anner Duarte Amador, 21 years old, of Plymouth. During the investigation, it was determined that Amador had been drinking and had never had a license. He was given a field sobriety test and a certified blood draw, which showed his alcohol content was a .158 BAC.
Amador was taken to the hospital for jail clearance and then transported to Marshall County Jail and booked in for OWI, OWI Above .15 or higher, OWI Endangerment, and operator never licensed.

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

Possession and never licensed arrest


PLYMOUTH — On April 25,​ 2026,​ around 7:53 PM, a Marshall County officer stopped a black Ford passenger car on US 31 near

12 B Road for speeding.
The driver, who was identified as Kenneth Baptiste, 19, of Indianapolis, was found never to have obtained a license,​ and during the stop, marijuana was located on his person.
Baptiste was taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County jail, where he was charged and booked for operating without a license and possession of marijuana.

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

Board of Works approves new Memorandum of Understanding between City Police and Plymouth Schools

PLYMOUTH – Plymouth’s Board of Public Works and Safety approved a new memorandum of understanding between Plymouth

Police and Plymouth Schools for providing a School Resource Officer.
The contract had come under discussion in recent meetings as the city debates the hiring of a 26th police officer and how that salary would affect the budget for the city.
The agreement with the school was up for renegotiation this year. City Attorney Jeff Houin told the board that the only significant changes in the new agreement are an increase in the amount of the contract reflecting the salary of the officers and also an automatic 3 percent increase yearly.
Questions arose about the handling of overtime for Resource Officers attending school events.

Plymouth Chief John Weir concurred with City Treasurer Lynn Gorski telling the board that he knew of just two in the past year, the prom and a football game that was played in Indianapolis

He added that when Resource Officers were in attendance at school functions they were there on their own or compensated by the school for their time.
Councilman Don Ecker voiced approval of the new agreement.

“Welcome Weekend” free Sunday at State Parks

You can explore Indiana’s great outdoors for free this weekend. All Indiana State Parks are offering free admission this Sunday,

May 3, as part of the state’s “Welcome Weekend” to kick off the spring recreation season. Visitors can enjoy full moon hikes, scavenger hunts, and 25% discounts on camping and inn stays through mid-May. To find a park near you or to check out the full schedule of weekend activities, visit on.IN.gov/stateparks.

Slight rise in average gas prices around the state

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have risen 2.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.78/g today, according to

GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 25.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 72.9 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 9.2 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $5.408 per gallon.
The lowest reported prices in towns around the area:
Pulaski County
Winamace — $4.29
Francesville — $4.29
Medaryville — $4.29
Starke County
Knox — $4.29
North Judson — $4.29
Hamlet — $4.19
Grovertown — $3.99
LaPorte County
LaCrosse — $4.29
LaPorte — $4.22
Michigan City — $4.09
Wanatah — $4.29
Rolling Prairie — $3.99
Westville — $3.64
New Carlisle — $4.19
North Liberty — $4.19
Walkerton — $3.71
Marshall County
Argos — $3.84
Bourbon — $3.59
Bremen — $3.69
Culver — $3.99
LaPaz — $3.65
Plymouth — $3.41
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $3.12/g yesterday, while the most expensive was $4.59/g, a difference of $1.47/g.
The national average price of gasoline has risen 7.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.04/g today. The national average is up 5.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 94.3 cents per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
“Average gasoline prices rose in 39 states over the last week, with the national average moving higher, while diesel prices declined in most states, offering a brief divergence at the pump,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “However, that divergence may prove short-lived. Oil prices have been climbing again as markets react to renewed geopolitical tensions and the cancellation of talks between the U.S. and Iran. As a result, gasoline prices are set to rise further this week, with diesel expected to follow. Many inland states— including those in the Great Lakes and Plains— could see average gas prices climb to their highest levels since 2022, while price-cycling markets may also experience another round of hikes in the next few days.”
GasBuddy is North America’s trusted fuel savings platform, helping consumers fuel up for less for over 25 years at GasBuddy.com

Food Truck Mondays are back

CULVER — For a fourth year, Culver will host Food Truck Monday beginning June 1 from 5-8 p.m.


Bring your family, grab dinner from a lineup of local food trucks, and settle in with neighbors and friends. It’s all about good food, familiar faces, and community. Picnic tables and restrooms are available. Bring your appetite and enjoy the night together.
If you have a food truck and you are interested in participating, please fill out the registration form here: https://forms.gle/NUfLNXH92v5x4jQu8
This event is run as a fundraiser for different Culver Community School Corporation clubs/sports, and classes. The trucks pay an entry fee, and the students working the event are able to earn money for their respective club/sport/class. This is a free-to-attend event for the community. Some food trucks may not accept cards, so please be aware of that.

INDOT promoting Project Greenlight

INDIANAPOLIS — In February, INDOT announced a new work zone initiative to increase worker safety called Project

Greenlight, equipping workers with Guardian Angel safety lights to help bring awareness to workers in times of limited visibility.
Guardian Angel safety lights are wearable devices with flashing green patterns that improve worker visibility from all directions.
When worn with a high-visibility vest, these lights help workers become 89% more visible to motorists, according to a study from Battelle Memorial Institute. INDOT has distributed nearly 750 lights to employees statewide.
Did you know? Bright green is the most visible color to the human eye and is most visible from far distances. Green is also easily distinguishable from other standard lighting in INDOT work zones.

Employment in the state remains steady

Indiana’s unemployment rate remained steady at 3.3 percent in February, continuing to sit below the national average of 4.4

percent, according to new state data. The labor force participation rate reached 63.4 percent, meaning nearly 3.5 million Hoosiers were either working or actively seeking employment. The state also saw job growth during the month, with private sector employment increasing by about 3,400 jobs. Gains were led by the education and health services sector, along with manufacturing and smaller increases in other industries. In northern Indiana, however, unemployment rates rose slightly compared to the previous month. Elkhart County’s rate increased to 3.6 percent. Despite those month to month increases, both areas still show improvement compared to the same time last year, reflecting longer term stability in the regional job market.

Motorcyclist jailed on multiple charges

PLYMOUTH — On the evening of April 21, 2026, shortly after 4 pm, Plymouth Police observed a motorcycle riding North on

Michigan Street from Jefferson Street recklessly.
The rider was seen weaving in and out of traffic, doing a wheelie, and riding in excess of 65 MPH in a posted 35 MPH zone. The officer was able to catch up and conduct a traffic stop, identifying the rider as 28-year-old Jacob Geissler of Walkerton. The officer observed signs of impairment during the traffic stop, in addition to locating suspected psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana on his person.
Geissler was taken into custody and lodged at the Marshall County Jail. He is facing preliminary charges of Reckless Driving, Operating While Intoxicated-Endangerment, Operating While Intoxicated-Controlled Substance, Possession of Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, and Possession of Marijuana-Prior.

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

Automated Flagger Assistance Devices in use by INDOT

INDIANAPOLIS — INDOT is currently working with Purdue University on a study utilizing automated flagger assistance devices

in southern Indiana. These devices replace traditional flaggers with a changeable message board and stop/slow paddles.
This type of attenuator has been used by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), which conducted a similar study in 2017. Since the conclusion of its research, MoDOT has around 100 of these devices in its fleet.
The goal of automated flagging is to increase flagger safety by removing workers from the immediate vicinity of traffic, relocating them inside a vehicle, where the system is operated during maintenance operations.

Marshall County Drug Take Back on Saturday

PLYMOUTH — Marshall County Sheriff Matthew Hassel has announced that the Sheriff’s Department will participate in the

DEA National Drug Take Back on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Residents can drop off their expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office in the parking lot of the Walgreens Drug Store at 2014 N. Michigan Street in Plymouth.
Drug abuse costs the U.S. more than $740 billion every year in costs related to crime, lost work productivity, and health care, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020. Some experts think that more people are abusing prescription medications because there are more drugs available. Doctors report writing more prescriptions than ever before. Also, it’s easy to find online pharmacies selling these drugs. Teens may take medication from their parents’ medicine cabinets for themselves or their friends to use. Most young people have no idea what medications they’re taking, and which ones may cause serious problems — even death — if used with other drugs or alcohol.  They might also believe that the medicines are safe because they’re prescribed.
A survey indicates that there were more Americans abusing psychotherapeutics than the number of cocaine, heroin, and hallucinogen abusers combined. Expired, unused, or unwanted medications in our homes are a potential source of supply to drug abusers, making it a risk to public health and safety. Please take a few moments to clean out your medicine cabinets and bring them to the Walgreens Drug Store on Saturday, April 25th, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.

City of Plymouth meetings on Monday

PLYMOUTH — The city of Plymouth will have their regular meetings of the Board of Public Works and Safety and the Common

Council on Monday, April 27, 2026, in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the city building. Those attending should enter by the Garro Street entrance.
The Board of Works and Safety begins at 6 p.m. and on the agenda are the awarding of bids for the street repaving projects, a memorandum of understanding between the Plymouth Police and Plymouth Community Schools for the school resource officers.
The Common Council will meet directly after the conclusion of the Board of Works meeting. On that agenda are a public hearing on additional appropriations, along with several resolutions for appropriations and transfers, and reports from the city attorney.
If you need special accommodation to attend the meeting, please contact the ADA Coordinator at 574-936-2948. Both meetings will be live-streamed on YouTube @CityofPlymouth.

Injunction halted, student IDs no longer valid for voting

In an ongoing legal dispute in Indiana, a federal appeals court has temporarily halted a lower court order involving voting ID’s.


The case involves Indiana’s Senate Bill 10, or SB 10, which was enacted in 2025. Under SB 10, student IDs were not an acceptable form of identification for voting.
Last week, a preliminary injunction reinstated the use of student IDs in the state, as long as the IDs meet the criteria listed under Indiana Code 3-5-2.1-84: The ID must have a photo of the voter on it; must display the voter’s name that matches their registration record; must be current or expired since the most recent General Election on November 5th, 2024; and must be issued by the state or federal government.
Now, the appeals court has stepped in and paused that injunction. As a result, student IDs are currently not accepted as a valid voter ID.
The case is still ongoing, and judges state that a more detailed explanation of their decision will be released within the next few days.

Plymouth Redevelopment gets One Marshall County update

PLYMOUTH — Tuesday night, Plymouth City Attorney Jeff Houin gave the members of the Plymouth Redevelopment

Commission an update on One Marshall County, a nonprofit organization and regional planning team put together to enhance economic development, housing, and quality of life across Marshall County.

Houin said that the sub-committee on housing begun it’s work with another non-profit.

As their work begins, the group will work with current studies on housing needs and also begin to undertake more in-depth studies to identify areas of action.
Zoning is also a point of emphasis, with emphasis on cooperation.

Healthcare will also be a big part of the group’s work.

Houin said the the arts subcommittee was also working on grants for the county and One Marshall County will also assist the city as it begins the application process for OCRA (Office of Community and Rural Affairs) grants for the Old Firehouse renovation project.

Traffic stop brings possession arrest


PLYMOUTH — On the evening of April 19, 2026, at approximately 7:45 pm, Plymouth Police conducted a traffic stop on a

speeding vehicle on US 30 near Oak Drive.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 46-year-old Nicole Jones of Dyer, Indiana. During the officer’s investigation, he identified signs of impairment in addition to suspected cocaine and marijuana. Following the chemical test, Jones was lodged at the Marshall County Jail on preliminary charges of felony possession of cocaine, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, operating while intoxicated-endangering, and operating while intoxicated-controlled substance.

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