Stellar Communities Designation Program Widens Scope to Encourage Regional Collaboration

Once geared toward individual towns and cities, the Stellar Community Designation Program will now be asking communities to come together to propose regional development plans.

The Stellar Community program, which is offered through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, will now focus on encouraging towns, cities and counties to form partnerships to develop comprehensive solutions to regional and local challenges throughout rural Indiana.

“We believe that it is extremely important that communities work together and that we utilize and combine resources.” Continue reading

Dealerships Can Begin Registering Driven to Give Charity Fundraisers Later This Month

Car finance services like Byrider Franchise and car dealerships are now high in demand. On February 14th, Lincoln car dealerships will be able to begin registering to host Driven to Give charity events for the spring season.

The event allows community members to take test drives and donate $20 to a particular charity, sometimes an extra $10 can be donated for each additional vehicles driven. Used Cars for Sale is also being encouraged by the community members too. Spring fundraisers can be held anytime between April 1st and July 31st. All Lincoln dealerships are only permitted to host four events per season.

Plymouth Band Director Bryan Ames previously mentioned that by holding these kinds of fundraisers, the local car dealership has helped raise more than $17,000 for the band program since 2010. Continue reading

Indiana State Police Report That Multiple Car Pileups on I-85/94 Were a Result of White-Out Conditions

On Sunday, whiteout conditions contributed to numerous crashes, including a 17 car pileup at the 7.2-mile marker and a 13 car pileup at the 6.2-mile marker of eastbound I-80/94.

Indiana State Police report that the road closure at the 7.2-mile marker involved 4 separate crashes with 17 vehicles. Many vehicles were relocated to a truck stop on Burr Street where the crash reports were taken in order to get the roadway open sooner.

The incident at the 6.2-mile marker involved 13 cars that were involved in 7 individual crashes, according to police. You can know more info here . Many of the crashes that Troopers responded to could have been avoided if drivers had reduced their following distances as well as their speeds. Police reported that the pileups occurred around 11:40 a.m. Continue reading

Bremen Public Schools Receive Funds to Invest in Community Learning Centers

The Bremen Public School Corporation was recently awarded $120,000 through the Indiana Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program.

The federally-funded program provides at-risk students a safe environment during non-school hours. This program includes multiple centers and sites which can be located in schools, community facilities, or faith-based facilities.

All centers much provide a range of high-quality services to support regular school-day academics and development. Continue reading

February Blood Drive with the Mayor of Plymouth

Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter is hosting a Medical Foundation Blood Drive at the Plymouth Fire Station today from 8 a.m. until noon. Community members are encouraged to come out to raise their sleeves for those in need.

Just one donation can assist three people! You can book an appointment online by visiting givebloodnow.com and using the sponsor code Plymouth. Walk-ins are also welcome. Continue reading

Marshall County Coroner Releases Name of Deceased Man Found Saturday Evening

The Marshall County Coroner has released the name of the man who was found deceased in a Plymouth home on Saturday, January 27th.

As previously reported, Plymouth Police, Paramedics and Firefighters were dispatched to a house on West LaPorte Street, Saturday evening. An unresponsive male subject, later identified as 50-year-old Joseph F. Dillard, was found in an upstairs bedroom. According to the news release, he was not breathing and had no pulse. Continue reading

That’s Not The Secretary of State Emailing You, It’s an Imposter

There are many scammers who pose as government officials in order to swindle unsuspecting individuals out of money.

In the past, we’ve warned about IRS, FTC and Social Security imposters, but in the latest reported scam, people say they are receiving emails from someone claiming to be Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

In the email, the fake Secretary of State alerts the recipient that they are owed a payment and claims that this was discovered during an FBI and CIA investigation. Continue reading

Triton Kindergarten and First Grade Students Engage in Digital Learning

Thanks to a $15,000 donation from First Source Bank, students and teachers in Bourbon are incorporating technology into the Triton learning experience.

According to Superintendent Jeremy Riffle, teachers at the kindergarten and first-grade levels received iPads for their classrooms in January. Riffle said teachers carefully selected appropriate apps to supplement their curriculum. Those classrooms are now utilizing the technology as a part of daily instruction. Continue reading

Help Combat Childhood Hunger By Sponsoring a Food Service Program This Summer

The Indiana Department of Education is seeking participants for the 2018 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Rural areas such as Starke, Marshall and Pulaski Counties, are especially in need of services to help combat childhood hunger.

This program provides funding assistance to meal service sites in low-income areas where children may lack access to good nutrition during the summer months. Continue reading

Marshall County Sheriff Announces Scholarship Opportunity

The Indiana Sheriff’s Association Scholarship Fund will be providing about $20,000 worth of assistance to Hoosier students looking to pursue a degree in criminal justice studies.

According to Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel, approximately forty $500 scholarships will be awarded to qualifying students throughout the state.

The scholarship is open to current college students or high school seniors who plan to major in a law enforcement field at an Indiana college or university as a full-time student. Continue reading

Current Healthy Indiana Plan Extended Through the End of February

The current Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) program, which was originally set to expire today, has received an extension to continue operations through February 28th.

The extension was granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Governor Eric Holcomb stated that as a result, the more than 400,000 HIP participants will see no change in service, for now. Continue reading

Factors Impacting Crude Oil Prices and Ways to Save on Fuel Provided by Senior Petroleum Analyst

Gasbuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analysts Patrick DeHaan and Dan McTeague collaborated on a fuel price outlook for 2018.

Though the men did predict an expensive year ahead when they issued the prediction on January 3rd, McTeague said conservative figures were utilized in order to avoid making any assumptions that could have been considered too high. Five weeks into the New Year even the maximum predictions have been surpassed.

McTeague explained that one factor currently contributing to dwindling crude oil inventories is a leak to a frequently used pipeline. Continue reading

Plymouth Students Collect Over $39,000 During Riley Dance Marathon Fundraisers

A number of Plymouth Community School students danced their way into setting a new record and exceeding their set goal during the Riley Dance Marathon fundraisers held in January.

PCSC Marketing Director Judi Lykowki shared that the PHS Dance Marathon committee coordinated with some of the elementary schools to hold super-hero days. Kids donated a dollar and then they were able to wear a cape or their favorite super hero shirt to school to show support for the charity.

On Friday, mini dance marathons were held at Lincoln Junior High School and Riverside Intermediate School. More than $13,500 was raised between the two schools. Continue reading

Senior Petroleum Analyst Expects High Gas Prices to Continue in 2018

For the last 10 weeks, the United States has consecutively seen a steady decline in crude oil inventories, according to Gasbuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Dan McTeague.

In January of 2017, the cost of a barrel of oil was around $52. McTeague shared that right now, we’re seeing prices closer to $66. That is a $14 difference and he said it may increase as the year goes on with high demand at the national and international levels, increased exports and stalled production continuing to impact costs. Continue reading

Bremen Public Schools Open Doors to Residents for Weekend Recreation

Bremen Schools have opened up facilities at the High School to community members during the months of January, February and March.

Superintendent Dr. Jim White stated that two gyms and the weight room are open from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. every Sunday.

Superintendent White said, “Any residents that want to come by and play basketball or learn the sport of pickleball or do weight lifting, feel free to come by and we’re taking food donations for the local food pantry as an entry fee.” Continue reading

Over $4,000 Collected for Plymouth Band Boosters at “Driven to Give” Fundraiser

Members of Oliver Ford Team Presenting Check to Plymouth Band Boosters & Staff

Last year, more than $4,000 was raised for the Plymouth Band Boosters through a “Driven to Give” fundraising event sponsored by Oliver Ford Lincoln in Plymouth.

According to a press release, about 200 people turned up on a chilly day in November to test drive vehicles in order to assist the band program. Continue reading

Project Kindness to Host First Responders Appreciation Event This Sunday

As a way to extend gratitude to the members of our community who dedicate their time to protecting and saving lives, Project Kindness will be hosting their annual first responders appreciation event this weekend.

Community members are encouraged to bring children of all ages to the Plymouth Fire Department on Sunday, January 28th from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. The event will kick-off with making some crafts and thank you cards in the first half hour. Continue reading

Blood and Platelet Shortage Has Reached a Critical Level, Donors Needed

Recent severe weather conditions have resulted in multiple blood drive cancellations, causing the Red Cross to declare that the blood and platelet shortage has reached a critical level.

According to a press release from the organization, no matter the weather is like, every day the Red Cross has to collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations to help meet the needs of patients. Due to the winter weather conditions in January, more than 550 blood drives were forced to cancel causing over 16,500 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected.

Red Cross Communications Manager Rodney Wilson said currently, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they’re coming in. Continue reading

Motorists Beware! Current Weather Conditions Ideal for Pothole Formation

As the weather continues to fluctuate between warm and cold, it unfortunately causes ideal conditions for pothole formation.

Marshall County Highway Supervisor Jason Peters explained why these damp, dynamic conditions can result in these unwanted road hazards.

Peters said, “Water gets underneath the road which freezes, then when it thaws it kind of somewhat creates a soft spot under the road so with a soft spot being underneath the roadway that starts to give, it cracks and breaks then it just start creating a bigger and bigger and bigger pothole.” Continue reading