Former Plymouth Mayor Jack Greenlee will be laid to rest tomorrow. He died Monday at his Rex Street home. Greenlee was 85. He served as mayor from 1992-2000. He’s credited with establishing the Annual Prayer Breakfast and Christmas Parade. He also served on the county board and city council. Mayor Mark Senter recently presented Greenlee a Key to the City. Many regard him as Plymouth’s biggest cheerleader. Continue reading
Charges Filed in Runaway Case
Formal charges were filed Thursday in Marshall Superior Court 1 against a man suspected of participating in sexual misconduct with a minor and helping a minor run away from home.
Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman filed felony charges against Rigoberto Calix Reyes, 21, that include sexual misconduct with a minor and forgery, as well as a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. Bail is set at $100,000 cash.
Right to Try Bill Advances in State Senate
A local lawmaker’s bill to potentially give terminally ill patients access to medications that might save their lives is headed to the full Senate. The measure sponsored by Sen. Ed Charbonneau of Valparaiso passed the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services by a vote of 10-0. Continue reading
Check for Unclaimed Property
Indiana residents are encouraged to see if they are eligible to claim unclaimed property totaling $66 million.
Unclaimed property includes investment earnings, insurance proceeds and benefits, wages, and money from savings and checking accounts. Attorney General Greg Zoeller said making a claim with the Attorney General’s Unclaimed Property Division is free. Visit www.IndianaUnclaimed.gov search for your name, relatives, neighbors and friends names. Business owners and charitable organizations should also check annually for unclaimed property.
The state holds these assets for 25 years after they are reported.
In Marshall County, $1,370,156 is claimable while in Fulton County $596,995 is claimable.
In 2014, the Attorney General’s Office returned a record 95,000 properties totaling more than $66 million in unclaimed property.
Plymouth Woman Injured in Two-Vehicle Wreck
A Plymouth woman was injured Wednesday night when the vehicle she was riding in was rear-ended by another motorist. Mary Holtrop, 58, was riding in a 2009 Chevrolet that was eastbound on State Road 17 at Carriage Drive and stopped to for westbound emergency vehicles with lights and sirens on. A 2007 Kia driven by Alberta Huff, 77, of Plymouth, struck the Chevy, according to a report from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. Huff told the investigating officer she was slowing for the passing vehicles and did not realize the other car, driven by Joseph Holtrop, 77, of Burbank, Ill. had stopped.
Missing Plymouth Teen Found in Another State
A Plymouth teen who ran away has been found in Texas along with the man who reportedly took her with him.
Alyssa Tapia was reported missing on March 6 and was believed to be with Rigoberto Calix-Reyes. It is alleged that Reyes falsified his identity to get into Plymouth High School two years ago, according to a WSBT-TV report.
The report also states that Alyssa Tapia is pregnant. Arrangements are being made to have the pair transported back to Indiana.
Plymouth Mayor Requests Flags Be Lowered in Honor of Greenlee
Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter respectfully requests American flags flown within the city limits be lowered to half-staff for the next few days to honor the man regarded as the city’s biggest cheerleader. Former Mayor Jack Greenlee died Monday at his Rex Street home. He was 85. Continue reading
Marshall County Commission President to Ask for Appropriation for MCEDC Contract
The Marshall County Council will consider an additional appropriation request made by Commission President Kevin Overmyer in an upcoming meeting.
He explained to the council members this week that the council cut $20,000 from the budget and that is needed to satisfy a contract with the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation. Overmyer said the contract is for $150,000 and the additional appropriation is needed for the rest of the year.
Overmyer said Executive Director Jerry Chavez has been working with the towns in Marshall County to improve economic development, which is a vision with both the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation and the county.
Ancilla Officials Break Ground on New Residence Hall
Ancilla College officials broke ground on the new residence hall Tuesday afternoon.
The three-story facility and student life dining center is expected to open on Aug. 1, just in time for the fall semester. The residence hall will be home for nearly 100 new students. The project includes a separate dining facility, fitness area, media center, two-story lobby with fireplace and prayer rooms.
Ancilla College President Dr. Ken Zirkle told those in attendance yesterday that this is just the beginning of great things to come at Ancilla.
Culver Begins Drafting Ordinance for EMS Changes
The Culver Town Council will be taking another step when it comes to reforming their EMS Department.
Discussions continued during a work session meeting, yesterday. The EMS Department has experienced difficulty attracting and retaining volunteers.
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Old Firehouse Renovation Discussed by Plymouth Board of Public Works
The Plymouth Board of Public Works received an update on what is needed to preserve the historic firehouse on Center Street.
Brent Martin from SRKM said the building was built in 1875 and renovated in 1993. When the contractors renovated the building, they sealed the brick in such a way that the condensation could not expel from the interior part of the structure that caused them to deteriorate. The trapped water also froze and expanded that caused even further damage.
Plymouth City Council Considers Tax Abatement Change
Marshall County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jerry Chavez presented a proposal for a change in tax abatement guidelines to the Plymouth City Council Monday night.
Chavez explained that the bedrock of tax abatement remains. Companies can fill out an application form to discuss what type of economic development will be occurring at the facility. Real property and personal property is evaluated for capital investment. An annual report is required as to the progress of the business.
Highway Department to Get New Pug Mill
The Marshall County Council discussed several additional appropriation requests at their meeting Monday morning.
The highway department had a request for a $310,000 additional appropriation for a new pug mill. Highway Superintendent Jason Peters discussed looking into a used pug mill in Missouri but decided against the purchase. Peters previously said the pug mill had been used for a different need. It was decided to go with a new pug mill for the requested amount that the council approved.
LaPorte Woman a Victim of Tax Fraud
A 75-year-old LaPorte woman was unable to file her taxes because someone else used her personal information to file a claim.
LaPorte City Police Department officers were made aware of the fraud incident this week. The victim told police that her nephew attempted to file her taxes, and the filing was rejected. She added that she was an Anthem Health Care customer, and her information was among those stolen in a recent massive hacking incident.
Walorski Talks Agriculture At Farm Bureau Luncheon
2nd District Congresswoman Jackie Walorski is looking for ways to enhance agricultural industries.
The South Bend Republican appeared in Plymouth yesterday as part of an agriculture tour. The congresswoman is visiting nearly a dozen businesses, farms, and venues in two days in an effort to learn more about the industry and perhaps garner sufficient information to influence policy.
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Sen. Donnelly Participates In Bloody Sunday Commemoration
Indiana’s Democratic U.S. Senator recently participated in what some are calling a civil rights pilgrimage.
Senator Joe Donnelly traveled to Selma, Alabama on Sunday with other state residents to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
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Get a Free NOAA Weather Radio Next Week
There’s a chance for you to get a free NOAA Weather/All Hazard Alert Radio next week.
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery says the effort is part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week next week.
“We’re going to be giving away a limited number of all hazard emergency alert radios that were provided to us by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, as well as some that I was able to purchase through some grant funds that were available,” said Avery.
These radios allow residents to get immediate weather information.
Watch for Rising Water Levels
Rapid melting of snow could lead to minor flooding issues as temperatures warm up this week.
Snow melt and frozen ground will prevent the water from being absorbed. The National Weather Service says this combination will result in flooding of low lying areas, ponding on roads, and a rise in water levels in ditches, creeks and retention ponds.
Weather officials believe that river flooding will not be a concern at this time.
Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery said that no flood watches or warnings have been issued. He does encourage those who live in flood-prone areas to take precautions to prevent flooding. Never allow children to play near flooded areas. Do not drive around barricades that are blocking roads that are flooded. Road beds may be washed out by flood waters.
Marshall County residents can pick up sand and sandbags at the old EMA office located just north of the Marshall County Highway garage at 9515 King Road. For more information, contact the Marshall County Management Agency at (574) 936-3740.
Culver Town Council Plans Additional Work To EMS Department
The Culver Town Council will continue discussions for reshaping its EMS Department this evening.
At their previous work session, the Town Council considered adequate salaries for possibly hiring a full-time director for the department. Currently, the EMS Department is reliant on volunteers, but discussions have centered on reshaping the department to possibly pay staff wages commensurate with their experience.
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Marshall County Clerk Requests Money for E-Poll Books
The Marshall County Council members held a lengthy discussion about the purchase of e-poll books for the November election.
Clerk Deb Vandemark explained that 15 iPads would be purchased to be placed at all of the voting sites for the purpose of signing in voters at the polls. There are 14 poll sites for the county’s 29 precincts. One extra iPad would be on hand as a backup.