A local high school ranks among the top-performing in the state, according to a national magazine. The 2015 U.S. News & World Report Best High School rankings evaluate students on college readiness. Plymouth High School ranks 15th in the state on the list and earns a silver medal. Visit http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/indiana/districts/plymouth-community-school-corp/plymouth-high-school-7361 for details. Continue reading
The Marshall County Council has decided to step back and gather more information before moving forward with a Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT).
The LOHUT contains a surtax of the vehicle excise tax as well as a wheel tax. That money can be used to reconstruct, construct, repair or maintain streets under county, city or town jurisdiction.
Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters Monday morning spoke to the council about the funding they currently have for road projects this year. Of the $1.2 million available, the county plans to pug 13.5 miles of road and pave at least five miles of road that totals just over $500,000. The rest of the funds will be used for materials, dust control, and other actions conducted by the highway department.
At least one elected official in Marshall County believes the controversial topic of vehicle excise and wheel taxes to pay for road repairs will return. Plymouth Common Councilman Mike Delp says taxpayers need to keep the proposed user fees in perspective. He told his fellow council members last night people are concerned about paying $25 per vehicle but are willing to pay an average of $71 per month for cell phone service or $86 per month for cable TV and Internet service. Continue reading
The Culver Town Council will be considering an item that has been discussed for several months, this evening.
Prior to the regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 p.m. EDT, Culver Town Council members will review an ordinance that will establish a new brand of EMS service in the town.
The Marshall County Council members will review a recommendation by the commissioners to implement a Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT) to gather revenue for the county for local roads.
State revenue for motor vehicle highway budgets has flatlined. Expenses continue to rise which has left Marshall County with an option to implement a LOHUT. A LOHUT contains a vehicle excise tax and a wheel tax that is payable at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when registrations are due. The revenue generated, which will double what the county highway department currently has available, can be used to construct, reconstruct, repair or maintain streets under county, city or town jurisdiction.
The spring installment of property taxes is due today. The Marshall County Treasurer’s office will be open until 6 p.m. to accept payments. They can also be dropped off at all branches of The Teacher’s Credit Union or at the IAB Bank in Bourbon. Payments not made by the close of the business day will be subject to late fees and interest.
The Plymouth Board of Works and Common Council will discuss a conflict of interest disclosure for a government officials during their respective meetings this evening. Counclman Mike Delp owns Plymouth-based Michiana Contracting, Inc., which was awarded the bid for the storage building at the Ledyard Water Treatment Plant. State law requires a conflict of interest disclosure be filed within 15 days. The complete text of the law can be found at http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/archive/2013/ic/2013/title36/ar1/ch21.pdf Continue reading
Ancilla College graduated its 48th class in school history on Saturday, with 65 students awarded degrees. “This is an excellent graduating class,” said Ancilla College President Dr. Ken Zirkle. “I am very proud of the graduates; a number of whom are already accepted and enrolled in four-year programs or are already placed in jobs that came as a result of their education here at Ancilla.” Continue reading
Marshall County Attorney James Clevenger has drafted an agreement between the County and the City of Plymouth concerning the maintenance of the roundabout. Further discussion by the Commissioners has prompted its return to a meeting for approval.
The agreement calls for all expenses and improvement of the roundabout be the sole obligation of the City of Plymouth. The city has plans for signs as well as landscaping. Whatever improvements are planned would be approved by the Commissioners before any action is taken. Any planned landscaping would also need to comply with the proper navigation of vehicles around the roundabout. The city must also comply with all federal, state and local regulations.
Another academic year is in the books at Ancilla College. President Ken Zirkle took over leadership of the two-year, private, Catholic school last fall and has accomplished quite a bit in a short amount of time. During his tenure, school officials broke ground on Ancilla’s first residence hall. It’s on schedule to be finished Aug. 1 and will provide housing for about 100 first-year students. Continue reading
Students participating in an extracurricular at Culver High School were able to raise a considerable amount of cash in a short amount of time.
It was announced during Monday night’s Culver School Board meeting that Business Professionals of America students will be able to attend a national competition this month.
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A Warsaw church considering an expansion for two months has seen plans come to fruition.
Members of the Warsaw Community Church were donated the land from Plymouth’s Sunrise Chapel in mid-December. The church that resulted from the donation will be holding its first service on Sunday.
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A pair of bald eagles have produced offspring at Potato Creek State Park. The birds hatched three eaglets in a remote area, according to park officials. They say this is the fourth straight spring a bald eagle pair has nested at the park and the first time they have produced offspring. Park officials suspect they are the same pair that has nested unsuccessfully but can’t confirm it. They were ousted by osprey in 2012 and 2013. Last year they built a nest but did not hatch any eggs. Continue reading
The funding for the construction of a proposed firearms training facility in Marshall County may have hit a snag.
Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Hollopeter along with fellow deputy and president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #130 Travis O’Neal presented plans to the commissioners in April for a firing range and classroom facility on the FOP’s property on Hawthorne Road and State Road 10. The plan was to pay for the facility out of the firearms training line item in the sheriff’s department budget. However, Marshall County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said during a meeting this week that the funding may need to come from another line item. Overmyer mentioned that Auditor Julie Fox contacted the State Board of Accounts. It was determined that the firearms training fund is limited to training and firearms training or training for other law enforcement duties. She found that the particular fund was not appropriate for this construction project. Fox told MAX 98.3 FM News yesterday that this issue has not been resolved. Phone calls to Sheriff Tom Chamberlin were not returned.
The deadline to pay the spring installment of property taxes is looming.
The Marshall County Treasurer’s office will be open until 6 p.m. ET tonight to accommodate taxpayers in making that payment on time. The office will be open tomorrow from 9 a.m. to noon. Hours will also be extended on Monday, May 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET for timely payments.
The Plymouth Community School Board gathered information from Plymouth High School Principal Jim Condon about a change in the schedule for professional development times for teachers.
Currently, students are released early on Fridays so teachers can collaborate to analyze data and discuss improvements in education in a collective setting. Condon proposed, with the support of the teacher’s association and a study committee, that students arrive an hour late to school on Tuesdays each week beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.
It will cost you a little bit more to enter an Indiana state park or state forest this season.
Operating costs have increased which has caused the increase in gate fees. The entrance to most state parks and three state forest recreation areas will increase from $5.00 per in-state vehicle to $7.00. Many activities offered are free after paying the gate fee.
The 11th annual Plymouth Farmer’s Market opens for the season tomorrow at the new River Park Square downtown. Manager Tom Keb says the 40 or so local vendors will have a selection of plants, flowers and in-season vegetables. He encourages people to stop by between 7:30 and 11:30 a.m. Continue reading
Culver residents can dispose of items that are too large for their weekly trash pickup during a special Saturday community event. Dumpsters will be placed in the large lot behind the Inn by the Lake from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. for drop-off. Volunteers from the CAVS Club and Culver Academies Community Services Council will be available to help with unloading. The street department is also available to pick up items people can’t bring to the lot themselves. Continue reading
The Plymouth Community School Corporation may offer transportation to other districts in the county in order to gain student enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year.
Superintendent Dan Tyree told the school board Tuesday night that over the course of two years, under the state’s new budget, the corporation will lose $30,000. He explained that the state anticipates the loss of 14 students in 2016 and keep status quo for 2017. That is the reason why the school will be cut $80,000 in 2016. Tyree said the school may pick up $50,000 in 2017. He noted that the corporation has a history of gaining students rather than losing students.
