An additional appropriation worth $36,907 was discussed by the John Glenn School Board last week.
Business Manager Tom Bendy told the board that this was a loan taken out a year ago. The budget was prepared in October and all of the items were purchased by November and a final payment reimbursement was sent.
The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety will open bids for two separate projects when they meet tonight. Bids will be opened for the 2017 microsurface spring projects and for the 2017 street and sidewalk spring projects.
The board will also award a quote for the 2017 Ledyard plant filter building roof replacement project.
The popcorn was hot and the memories were flowing at the Rees Theater this weekend. The Wythougan Preservation Council opened the doors to the iconic downtown fixture in Plymouth so residents could see the “scene”ery before renovations are complete.
Curiosity seekers both young and old enjoyed touring the facility. Lifelong Plymouth resident Wilson Gerrard knew the Rees Theater before it was the Rees Theater. He said it was Dan Manns’ Print Shop with a grocery store next door along with an Optometrist in the back of the building. He said when the theater opened it was the place to be.
The Argos Town Council awarded a bid to Jackson Services out of Rochester for $35,000 to tear down the structure that served the community for several uses.
The building at 119 W. Walnut once housed generators used for electric services and it also served as the clerk-treasurer’s office. The most recent use of the structure was for the town’s library.
Memory tours will be offered this weekend at the Rees Theater in downtown Plymouth.
This will be the only opportunity to tour the inside the structure before renovations begin. The theater was opened by the Stewart Rees family in 1940. The theater has been an icon of the Plymouth downtown area since that time.
All but one of the school buses within the John Glenn School Corporation passed inspection during a two-day process last week.
Superintendent Richard Reese said overall it was a good report.
“All of our buses, but one, passed and that one was taken out of service just because the parts didn’t come in on time,” said Reese. “The 35 buses we have all passed except one. Hamilton Service Center, they were here along with bus drivers were driving through. If there is something minor wrong with a light out or something like that they fix it on the spot and run it back through. There was one that had brake issues.”
With the investigation of two separate vehicle accidents that ejected multiple people out of vehicles, Indiana State Police troopers urge drivers and passengers to use seat belts.
Indiana law requires all passengers to be restrained while in a moving vehicle. Children and adults need to be properly restrained while the vehicle is in operation. If anyone is observed not wearing a seat belt, law enforcement can write a ticket for the law violation.
The town of Argos is making plans for the future as the town council adopted a comprehensive plan this week.
According to Clerk-Treasurer Lisa Mullaney, the plan includes a road map for the town for future development and growth. Plans include industrial, residential and housing developments through the year 2030.
Culver School Interim Superintendent Chuck Kitchell presented the Culver Community School Board with a quote for a proposed expansion project at the pole barn north of the bus garage.
Kitchell said that he sent out five proposals to companies and only two quotes were returned.
The extension will allow for more storage, especially for equipment acquired from the former Monterey Elementary School building.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department will be getting their last new squad vehicle.
Sheriff Matt Hassel presented the commissioners Monday morning with a pre-pay request to get the last vehicle. Hassel didn’t have numbers at the time of the presentation, but the commissioners approved the request as long as Auditor Julie Fox had the price for the record.
A new superintendent of Argos Community Schools should be announced May 1.
The school board held a public hearing on the superintendent’s contract in March. Interviews have been conducted since that time.
Three new staff members were introduced to the John Glenn School Board on Tuesday night.
Austin Foust is the new head football coach while Angela Kramer will be new at the high school teaching math and computer science.
Leslie Stec will be the new teacher at Urey Middle School. Her position was created at the middle school to help teach English/Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies to students in the seventh grade. The board anticipates an increase of 30 students in the upcoming seventh grade class and Mrs. Stec’s employment will alleviate the potential of class overcrowding.
The Marshall County Highway Department began work on roads this week and the action has already caused a stir on social media.
Many residents are complaining about the quality of the product being installed and the fact that some roads are going back to a gravel state.
The Argos Community School Board reviewed a strategic plan for building projects this summer.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Robert Boyd said the board is looking to do some updating to the facilities.
The Culver Community School Board will consider the purchase of a vehicle for use by members of the administration and faculty when going to training or conferences.
Interim Superintendent Chuck Kitchell said that some teachers won’t go to some conferences because the corporation does not reimburse for mileage. He also noted that he’s put on a lot of miles on his personal vehicle going to required meetings and conferences and it would be more convenient to have a vehicle for corporation use.
The football field at the John Glenn High School will be getting a new irrigation system.
Superintendent Richard Reese brought information to the John Glenn School Board from Maintenance Supervisor Brad Schmeltz. Reese said the current system is outdated and needs replaced.
People posing as agents from the Internal Revenue Service are continuing in efforts to scam people out of money.
IRS imposter scams continue to be among the most commonly received complaints at the Office of the Indiana Attorney General Consumer Protection Division even after the tax season has ended.
Indiana counties have done their best to help clear voter registration lists of any outdated voter information.
Thanks to funding from the General Assembly in 2014, postcards were sent to voters throughout Indiana that year to be returned correcting any information as needed. A second forwardable postcard was sent to each of the voters whose first postcard was returned. Voters who did not update outdated voter registration information had their record at the address marked as “inactive”. If the inactive records were not updated or the voter did not vote from that address at any election held in 2014, 2015 or 2016, that registration record was canceled after the November 2016 election.
The Marshall County Highway Department is beginning road work for the season where roads are scheduled for reconditioning. This work on county roads could lead to hazardous driving conditions caused by loose material on roadways.
The highway department requested the issuance of an advisory travel alert through the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency. This affects roads in the northern part of the county.
A petition was brought before the Argos Community School Board Monday night requests that the school board members be chosen by an election and not by appointment.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Robert Boyd said the petition was submitted by a group of citizens in town and more discussions are in the planning stages in the matter.
