All posts by Lenny Dessauer

The Jefferson Street bridge in Plymouth will be closing beginning Thursday.

Michael Obergfell from USI Consultants told the Marshall County commissioners Monday morning that the concrete slabs by the bridge are not stable and the sidewalk is not reinforced. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1986 but a storm sewer line is leaking and may be causing stability issues.

Obergfell suggested that the commissioners close the bridge so crews can immediately fix the issue.

Two Arrested after Providing False Information to Police

Two Plymouth residents were arrested on Saturday morning after allegedly lying to the police after an accident.

A Marshall County sheriff’s deputy was called to the scene on Glenn-Overmyer Drive where he talked to those involved in the accident. Miranda Smith, 19, told police that she didn’t realize that the vehicle in front of her stopped and she ran into the back of the car. Smith told the officer that two women left the other car and got into another car and left the area.

National Athletic Trainers Association Honors Plymouth Schools

The Plymouth Community School Corporation has received the Face Sports School Award from the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). Continue reading →

Indiana Receives Federal Grant to Combat ongoing Methamphetamine Production

The Indiana State Police is the recipient of a $567,000 federal grant to boost efforts in the fight against methamphetamine production and distribution.

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly announced the reception of the grant on Monday afternoon which will allow the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Anti-Methamphetamine Program to investigate activities related to the ongoing methamphetamine issue in the state.

Supporting continued funding for the COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program and funding for the DEA’s Clandestine Drug Laboratory Cleanup Program was one of Donnelly’s priorities for the fiscal year 2015 federal appropriations.

Community Encouraged to Pray for Peace

October 7, 2014October 7, 2014Lenny Dessauer

Christians of all faiths are invited to the Center at Donaldson to pray for world peace. The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and the Center at Donaldson are hosting a World Day of Prayer for Peace service this afternoon at 2 p.m. EDT at the Catherine Kasper Home chapel. Continue reading →

Culver School Board Schedules Balanced Calendar Forum

October 7, 2014Lenny Dessauer

The Culver School Board members are considering the adoption of a balanced calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. On Nov. 3^rd Rochester School Corporation Superintendent Jana Vance, and a principal and a teacher will come to Culver Community High School auditorium to share the pros and cons of the schedule with the public. That forum starts at 6 p.m. ET. The board will then decide on whether or not to switch to the balanced calendar. The balanced schedule still provides the state-mandated 180 days of classroom instruction. School would start about a week or a week-and-a-half earlier than it does now and end at the beginning of June. The schedule would also feature two-week breaks for remediation and vacation in the fall and spring.

Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

October 6, 2014Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County commissioners will meet today with a host of items to discuss.

Bart Trester of USI will provide the commissioners with an update on the 7th Road project and the Metronet project. The Metronet project is ahead of schedule while the 7th Road project continues. An update on the Jefferson Street bridge will also be provided by a USI representative.

Ward Byers from Court Services will be before the board for approval of an employment contract and Stacy Richer will have a request to vacate a street on county-owned property.

Voter Registration Deadline is Today

October 6, 2014Lenny Dessauer

Today is the last day to register to vote for the Nov. 4 General Election.

Voter registration is available during the time the county clerk’s offices are open today. You must be registered by the end of the business day in order to vote in the November election.

You may go into your county clerk’s office today to review your current registration or to simply register. You will need to update your voter registration information if you have moved or if you’re a first time voter.

Plymouth Airport Receives $2.2 Million FAA Grant

The Plymouth Airport will get a wider runway and more improvements thanks to an FAA grant worth $2.2 million. Matching funds from the city and state of $126,805 each brings the total to a little over $2.5 million.

Mayor Mark Senter said the project has been in the works for many years but the current infrastructure needed to be upgraded before the runway could be restructured.

“We had buildings here in awful shape,” explained Mayor Senter. There were garage doors that would barely open, roofs that leaked, dimly lit hangers with airplanes that shivered in the cold winter, cracked sidewalks, an office area styled for the 1970s, and a pilot’s lounge that was indescribable. Let’s fix what we have first, then we can start talking about a mile-long runway.”

Property Tax Scam Reported in Marshall County

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department has received phone calls from Culver residents about a property tax scam.

Phone calls are being made to Culver residents where the caller tells the victim that a property tax payment has not been made, a lien has been placed on the property and officers are on the way with an arrest warrant. Some calls are made with a human caller and others are automated.

Beware of Charity Checks

Beware of a charity check that may come your way

Charitable organizations including those raising money for breast cancer and hospice are seeking donations by mail from area residents. They send a check to the resident made out for $2.50 with instructions to it back with an additional contribution. However, the fine print states less than 5 percent of the proceeds go to the charity.

Keep this in mind if you get a check like this in the mail.

Marshall County Economic Development Corporation Launches New Website

The Marshall County Economic Development Corporation has launched a new website.

Officials with the corporation and many volunteers spent many hours during the summer months researching ways to help promote businesses and to grow the economy.

According to Bill Davis, President of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, the home page at www.marshallcountyedc.org will now focus on key strategic business advantages that are evaluated when a company conducts a site search to determine where to locate a new facility.

Crews Work on Preventative Road Maintenance

Crews have been busy crack sealing roads to help extend the life of the pavement and to provide a smoother road surface.

Local street department workers and INDOT crews have been busy with the process to keep water from getting into the cracks to slow the deterioration process and to prevent frost heave damage and potholes. This work is typically done in the spring and fall when temperatures are not at an extreme.

Cracks are air blasted to remove dust and debris. That process is followed by the application of a material mixture which is cured with the help of sand.

Free Internship Program Set for Oct. 10

An internship-matching program to help easily connect employers with qualified interns is planned for Friday, Oct. 10 at the Lindenwood Retreat & Conference Center on the campus of Ancilla College in Donaldson.

Jennifer Fisher, a training and recruitment specialist with Group Dekko, will share experiences with interns and explain the return on investment of a quality internship. Indiana INTERNnet Executive Director Janet Boston will take program attendees through the process of using a free online searchable database that allows employers connect with an intern that can best fit the company’s workforce needs. Amanda Stanley, director of program relationships for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, will outline a program that can help employers fund paid internships with qualifying students.

Marshall County Community Foundation Distributes $66,210 in Grant Funds

October 3, 2014October 2, 2014Lenny Dessauer

Over $66,000 in grants was awarded to 10 organizations in Marshall County Thursday afternoon.

The Marshall County Community Foundation held its second round of 2014 Community Fund grants where non-profit organizations submitted proposals for specific projects. Linda Yoder, Executive Director of the Marshall County Community Foundation explained that the Community Fund is one of the most flexible and responsive of the Foundation’s 318 funds.

The Plymouth Tennis Club received the largest grant worth $25,000 for improvement of the tennis courts in Centennial Park. The Crossing Educational Center was the recipient of $9,500 for startup costs for the alternative school for at-risk students.