Fuel Analyst Says Gas Prices Have Fallen From Last Month But Risen From Last Year

You may have noticed that gas prices have recently gone down. Though that is partially due to certain areas finally regaining stability after the recent natural disasters, it also has to do with the annual switch from summer fuel to winter fuel. Senior Petroleum Analyst Dan McTeague said that prices in Indiana have dropped on average around 15 cents from last month, when there was still speculation and concern over the amount of refineries damaged.

Though we may be experiencing lower gas prices than a month ago, compared to this time of year in 2016, we’re paying approximately twenty more cents. McTeague said there a few factors responsible for that difference. Continue reading

Local Woman’s Legacy Still Helping Spread Breast Cancer Awareness

IBCAT Founder Nancy Jaynes

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer found in women. They say 1 in 8 American women will have breast cancer at some point in their life. The good news is that when the cancer is detected early, it can be treated and the survival rate goes up substantially. In order to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and to promote mammograms and self-examinations, we recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust (IBCAT) is a not-for-profit organization that improves access to breast cancer screenings and diagnosis and support services while also increasing awareness. They accomplish all that by selling Breast Cancer Awareness specialty license plates through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. A $25 donation is generated through every license plate sold. Continue reading

Town of Culver Awarded All Requested Community Crossings Funding

Culver Town Manger Jonathan Leist informed the board last week that the town is one of the few communities in the area who received all the Community Crossings grant funds they requested this year. He said the $206,000 received will go a long way to assist with projects they have in the works.

Leist mentioned that work on College Avenue, parts of Jefferson Street and the entrance at the Sand Hill Farm are the three priority projects. He told council members that in their grant proposal they utilized estimates that came from E&B paving. However, since those numbers were calculated several months ago, Utility Superintendent Bob Porter is looking into quotes. Leist said he is expected to present those quotes at the next town council meeting. Continue reading

Cars and Coffee Coming Back for One Final Show in 2017, Weather Permitting


On Saturday, October 7th Cars and Coffee will be returning to the old Mobilgas filling station on Jefferson Street in Plymouth one final time from 9 a.m. until noon.

Owner of Coffee Lodge and Bakery, John Montgomery came before the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety asking for permission to have a temporary street closure for the second and last Cars and Coffee in September. You can also taste Brew Espresso Coffee who are providing yummy coffee at affordable price.However, after receiving such great feedback and requests for another, he came before the board once again during their meeting last Monday, asking for one final street closure. Continue reading

Marshall County Humane Society’s Bark in the Park Fundraiser

The Marshall County Humane Society is encouraging community members to bring their furry, four legged friends down to Centennial Park on October 1st for Bark in the Park. This annual event for dogs and their owners is an afternoon full of activities and contests where funds are raised to assist MCHS with operational costs.

Marshall County Humane Society Director Nancy Cox said that money raised by events like Bark in the Park assist the Humane Society in some major ways.  Continue reading

Culver Town Council Held Public Hearing and First Reading over 2018 Budget

A public hearing was held over the proposed 2018 Budget at a Culver Town Council meeting on Wednesday. Council President Ginny Bess Munroe acknowledged that the council held a number of work sessions and departmental meetings over the budget. She handed things over to Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim who provided a basic synopsis of the budget to the public.

Heim said the proposed general fund is at $1,840,530 and the expected income is set at $1,815,437. She continued that with the proposed tax caps coming in at $29,135 that leaves a deficit of $54,228. She advised that she low-balled the income and the difference will not be as substantial. Continue reading

Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety Receives Community Crossings Update

Plymouth City Engineer Rick Gaul addressed the Board of Public Works and Safety during a meeting earlier this week. He provided board members with some information about the recently received INDOT Community Crossings grant.

Gaul said the City of Plymouth received half of the million dollars they were requesting. Initially seven projects were counted as contracts but since they weren’t awarded all of the funds requested they will be removing some projects. Gaul said he hopes to apply for the removed projects at a later date. Continue reading

Culver Town Council Receives Stellar Update as Site Visit Approaches

Town administrators and community members in Culver have been preparing for the upcoming Stellar Communities Designation Program site visit. On Wednesday evening, the Culver Town Council received an update about what has happened so far and what is yet to come.

Culver is one of three finalists in District 2 of the program, competing to be designated as a Stellar Community. In an effort to ensure they are aptly prepared, the Stellar Committee has been meeting on Tuesdays during the month of September. The night before the town council meeting, the committee met and did a practice run for the site visit. Continue reading

City of Plymouth Amends Zoning Ordinance to Include Solar Energy Systems

A proposal to amend the zoning ordinance regarding solar energy systems for the City of Plymouth was considered by the Plymouth City Council in a meeting earlier this week. Plymouth Plan Director Ralph Booker provided a presentation, explaining what amendments would need to be completed in order for solar energy systems to be a possibility for members of the Plymouth community.

First off, a definition had to be added to the ordinance. It described a solar energy system to be any device or structural design feature whose primary purpose is to provide daylight for interior lighting or provide for the collection, storage or distribution of solar energy for space heating and cooling, electricity generation and water heating. Continue reading

Water Main Extension Project Along State Road 17 Considered by Plymouth BOW

On Tuesday evening, Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson came before the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety with a request. He presented a proposal from Midwest Engineering Services that provided the design, bidding, construction and engineering plans and easement services for a water main extension project proposed along U.S. 17.

Davidson explained that recently there has been some interest in constructing an assisted living facility on a piece of property on the north side of SR 17. The piece of property was annexed several years ago and though a sewage system already exists in the area, Davidson said the main line will need to be extended approximately 900 feet from its current location. Continue reading

Economic Growth Anticipated As a Result of Resolution Approval from Culver Town Council

An area in Culver known commonly as “Sand Hill Farms” located at 540 W Jefferson Street received economic revitalization area and economic target area status as a result of a resolution passed by the Culver City Council Wednesday night.

Town Manager Jonathan Leist explained that the recently created Culver Economic Development Commission is permitted to grant tax abatement for residential property under state law. Earlier this week, the Culver EDC met for the first time and passed a resolution recommending that the city council classify this entire parcel on Jefferson Street as both an economic revitalization area and an economic target area to allow for future residential tax abatement.

Leist added that the approval of this resolution would only grant abatement on phase one, on the personal property investment of approximately $2.7 million that is listed in section one of the resolution. He said if they receive any applications for future tax abatements, the whole process would need to be completed again. Continue reading

Plymouth City Council Acts on Ordinance to Vacate Allen Street

An ordinance to vacate Allen Street came before the Plymouth City Council on second and third reading when they met Monday evening. City Attorney Sean Surrisi told council members that some changes were made to the ordinance since the first reading.

Surrisi said one revision was cleaning up a street referenced from the last vacation they did that was used as a starting point for this ordinance. He said the memorandum of understanding that will be signed by all involved parties was also revised.

The request to vacate Allen Street first arose during a city council meeting in October of last year. According to meeting minutes, owners of Milten Properties LLC, Dr. Tod Stillson and James Stone came before the council, requesting that Allen Street, which runs from Jefferson Street behind Dr. Stillson’s current office, be vacated and have ownership passed over to them since they were putting their own money into maintenance. Continue reading

Indiana Office of Energy Development Now Accepting School Bus Grant Applications

The Indiana Office of Energy Development recently announced that they are accepting applications from public school corporations for the Indiana Propane School Bus grant program. Their announcement marks the third round of grant funding made available by the OED dedicated to propane school buses.

According to OED Director Tristan Vance, propane school buses offer a variety of benefits such as increasing fuel diversity, lowering maintenance costs through the use of a cleaner burning fuel and most importantly, decreasing student exposure to harmful emissions. Continue reading

Revisions to 2018 Salary Ordinance Result in Plymouth City Council Approval

The ordinance fixing the 2018 salaries of appointed officers and employees, as well as fire and police personnel of the City of Plymouth, was recently up for approval by the Plymouth City Council.

The salary ordinance has been a topic of concern since the end of August, when the initial proposal was rejected. A committee was formed in order to review and work on the ordinance to come up with a more suitable solution. The revisions were presented at the City Council meeting Monday evening.

The committee consisted of Council members Shiloh Fonseca, Bill Walters and Don Ecker Jr. They worked with Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver and Emyle Kruyer-Collins from Human Resources discussing alternative options and looking into the survey that was provided by the city’s consultants Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele and Associates. Continue reading

Culver Town Council to Hold Public Hearing at Meeting Tonight

The Culver Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and the first reading for their proposed 2018 budget. Council members will also receive an update on the Stellar Communities Designation Program plan when they meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. EDT in Culver Town Hall.

Council members will address an ordinance that will amend and restate a past ordinance which establishes fees or costs for the Town of Culver Park and Recreation Department. Continue reading

Mayor’s Youth Council of Plymouth Sees Fruition after Years of Planning

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety provided their support to a local group of students looking to impact the community in a positive way. The Mayor’s Youth Council presented their Adopt-a-Street Project to board members when they met Monday night.

According to the presenters, Vice President Nicole Keller and member Griffin Nate, the council has been trying for more than six years to establish the Adopt-a-Street Project and they now have a concrete proposal in place. The mission statement they provided stated that their main focus is to improve Plymouth for current and future generations by connecting local youth with local government. Continue reading

Upcoming Local Red Cross Blood Drives

The Red Cross is always in need of blood donations. However, in the aftermath of the recent natural disasters that have impacted different portions of the country, it is vital to have a wide variety of blood types from a plethora of donors.

Some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups, so having an assorted blood supply is important to meet the medical needs of an increasingly diverse patient population. Red Cross reports that patients are less likely to experience complications from blood donated by someone of a similar ethnicity. Some local blood donation opportunities are coming up during the month of October. Continue reading

Plymouth City Council Approves Tax Abatement for American Containers

When the Plymouth City Council met last night, they held a public hearing over the American Containers, Inc tax abatement. No public comments were provided so the hearing was adjourned.

During a previous meeting, the council acted on the resolution approving the location in which American Containers, Inc is positioned to be within an area designated as a Economic Revitalization Area making the company eligible for potential tax abatement.

Last night the council took the second step in the expansion process by holding the public hearing and approving the seven-year, phase in, real and personal property tax abatement.
Continue reading

Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Agrees to Commit Funds

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission committed to providing $40,000 worth of funding two different organizations when they met last week.

According to City Attorney Sean Surrisi, commission members agreed to recommit $30,000 to the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation. The same amount of funding was committed to the Marshall County EDC last year. Continue reading