New Principal Named at Washington Discovery Academy

Lauren Cooper

After reviewing 30 applicants, the Plymouth Community School Board approved the hire of Lauren Cooper as the new principal at Washington Discovery Academy.

Cooper has been with the Plymouth Community School Corporation for nine years. She previously served as a teacher and instructional coach at Menominee Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School and Washington Discovery Academy. Before her employment at Plymouth she was a first grade teacher at Queen of All Saints Catholic School in Michigan City where she began her career in education.

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Concrete Portion of Microsurface Project Nearly Complete

E&B Paving is nearly done with the concrete portion of the microsurface project in Plymouth.

The removal and replacement of concrete was done earlier this week by E&B Paving and now the pavement marking removal portion will be done today. That work is being done by Traffic Control Specialists in Knox. According to Pavement Solutions, Inc. Owner Chris Oakes, the pavement removal process will be done on Oak Street at the intersection of U.S. 30. He expects traffic delays for motorists traveling in this area.

Culver Town Council and CRC Forming Mobile Home District Committee

Even though the Sand Hill Farms project is moving forward, the Town of Culver and the Culver Redevelopment Commission (CRC) are keeping housing options open.

The Sand Hill Farms project is a workforce housing development project that will include a proposed 24-unit apartment building on Jefferson Street. The town council and the CRC are funding the infrastructure to the property. If the town wins the Stellar Communities designation, more funding could be available for a low-income based housing development.

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IRead 3 Results Presented to John Glenn School Board

This year’s IRead 3 results for the North Liberty and Walkerton Elementary students is down a little this year, according to Walkerton Elementary School Assistant Principal Rebecca Cummings.

She gave the John Glenn Community School Board the results that had been embargoed by the state. She said 81 percent of the North Liberty students passed while 89 percent of Walkerton Elementary students passed. Out of the 78 North Liberty students who took the test, 15 did not pass. Seven out of 64 students at Walkerton Elementary School did not pass.

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Marshall County Council on Aging to Apply for Two Vehicles

The Marshall County Council on Aging is looking to apply for a grant to purchase two new vehicles to update the fleet.

Executive Director Jackie Wright presented information to the Marshall County Commissioners this week asking to apply for $172,363 for two low-floor mini vans and equipment with a local match of $14,800. She noted that the grant match money will consist of donations, Older Americans Act dollars, United Way funds, local government entity budgeted dollars and Marshall County Community Foundation funds. Continue reading

Taste of Culver to Showcase Culver’s Culinary Cuisine

An opportunity to taste Culver’s finest cuisine will be offered in an elite setting on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET.

Over 10 restaurants will present their best in what the Culver Chamber of Commerce calls a “festival atmosphere” tomorrow afternoon. In addition to the many varieties of food, enjoy live music from a local musician and a wide range of spirits and other refreshments.

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Marshall County EMA Director Presents Recovery Plan

Plans to respond to a disaster are in place, but what assistance is available after the scene is cleared? Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery presented a recovery plan to the commissioners during their meeting on Monday. This will be added to the emergency plan already in place.

Avery said some residents won’t meet the required threshold for monetary assistance after an event occurs in the county. He said this plan can fix that issue.

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John Glenn School Board Approves Textbooks for Urey Middle School

The John Glenn School Board approved the purchase of textbooks for Urey Middle School students to be used in addition to the use of Chromebooks in the One-to-One initiative.

Urey Middle School Principal Mark Maudlin said textbooks have not been purchased in the past six years, but he said having the textbook and a digital textbook assists students in achieving their learning goals. Science will be the only subject that will be a digital learning tool only.

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Marshall County Commissioners Look for Shady Rest Committee Members

The Marshall County Commissioners will be putting together a committee to decide how to proceed in finding a way to occupy the Shady Rest Home in Plymouth.

Kurt Carlson from the Bowen Center announced in May that Shady Rest would be closing its doors as some of the new regulations do not fit the needs of the residents at their particular facility. He noted that efforts were being made at that time to transfer patients to family members, other nursing homes, other facilities that focus on mental health needs, or back to the community.

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Public Information Meeting Set for Proposed Intersection Improvement

Indiana Department of Transportation officials will hold a public information meeting on the proposed J-turn intersection on U.S. 31 at State Road 10 and State Road 110 in Marshall County.

According to INDOT, J-turn intersections enhance safety by preventing direct crossing and left turn movements. These types of intersections are generally limited to locations where the main road has four or more through lanes divided by a median. They are meant to improve the ability of traffic to cross a multilane divided highway from a crossroad, and reduce the number of traffic signal phases.

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Register now for Law Enforcement Youth Camp

Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel invites children to take part in the 2017 Law Enforcement Youth Camp June 23-25 at the Potowatomi Wildlife Park in Tippecanoe.

Attendees will learn what’s it’s like to be a law enforcement officer. Several officers from throughout Marshall County will engage young campers in career-oriented classes, leadership skills, obstacle courses, firearms training, marching, and educational displays during the weekend event.

The Elkhart City Police Department’s Bomb Squad will host a demonstration.

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Public Hearing to be Set Concerning Reestablishment of Cumulative Capital Development Fund

The Department of Local Government Finance will set up a public hearing soon concerning a remonstrance toward the reestablishment of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund at its maximum rate in Marshall County.

The Marshall County Commissioners approved the rate at $.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation in April. The notice was published and residents had 30 days to file an appeal. The petition had to have at least 50 signatures to be filed with the state. Auditor Julie Fox said 83 signatures on the document where verified through tax records. The paperwork was filed by the deadline and all was submitted to the Department of Local Government Finance. Fox told the commissioners on Monday that the DLGF will be the entity responsible for scheduling the public hearing in Marshall County.

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Marshall County Highway Department Saving Money with Millings

The staff at the Marshall County Highway Department is doing their best to make dollars stretch when it comes to road work.

Highway Supervisor Jason Peters, Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and the entire department worked hard to get the proper paperwork submitted for testing at the facility in order to be able to house millings from other road projects. Peters said the millings from the State Road 17 resurfacing project, U.S. 31 work and the Plymouth Community School Corporation parking lot paving project will be recycled and used for road paving within the county.

He said the millings the county has received look to be in good shape. Continue reading

Marshall County Health Department to Update Fees

The Marshall County Health Department will be holding a public hearing in July in order to amend some fees within the department.

Health Department Administrator Christine Stinson told the Marshall County Commissioners this week that the cost of birth and death certificates will double to $10 and paternity affidavits will increase to $35.00. New well permits will be $150 and well replacement or repair will be $100. That covers the cost of testing which detects bacteria, nitrates and arsenic.

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Road Paving in Downtown Plymouth to Occur All Week

The State Road 17 resurfacing project is ongoing in the downtown Plymouth area. There will be no parking on both sides of Michigan Street so crews can complete the paving process.

INDOT Media Relations Director Doug Moats told MAX 98.3 FM News that paving will continue through the week. Flaggers are directing traffic and Moats notes motorists should expect delays. He encourages drivers to avoid driving on Michigan Street to reduce hazards and further delays. Parking is available on side streets and in public parking lots in the downtown area to access downtown businesses.

Motorists may also expect delays as State Road 17 winds south of Michigan Street.

Marshall County Highway Department Working on Paving Schedule

Work should be done to reclaim roads by the end of this week. Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters told the commissioners that he anticipates work on 7th Road should be complete this week after repairs are made to some equipment.

The highway workers plan to pave Lilac Road as it’s next on the list. Peters hopes to use the new paving machine on Beech Road when it arrives later this month.

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