PLYMOUTH — Heartland Art Center in downtown Plymouth will host a fundraising event where art, music, and community come together. The Black & White Gala will be held on Friday, November 7, from

6–9:30 PM at the Heartland Art Center in downtown Plymouth. The evening includes:
— Silent & live auctions with one-of-a-kind art, creative items, and unique experiences.
— Heavy hors d’oeuvres, decadent desserts, and two drink tickets with your admission.
— Live jazz, caricatures by Mark Daniels, and live art created before your eyes.
— The inspiring Black & White Exhibit, featuring works by Heartland’s member artists.
Your presence supports something bigger than one evening. All proceeds benefit the Heartland Art Center renovation of the historic Montgomery Ward building into a regional hub for the arts. This project will expand access and opportunity, making the arts more inclusive, more vibrant, and more available to Marshall County and beyond.
Tickets are $45 – reserve yours today: http://bit.ly/3VB0eQt
Attire: Creative Cocktail in Black & White — Have fun with it!
If you cannot attend, you can still make an impact. Donations to Heartland’s Fund at the Marshall County Community Foundation are eligible for a 20% match, strengthening our endowment and ensuring long-term sustainability.

INDIANAPOLIS — From breakfast in the blind to celebrating a limit with your fellow hunters, waterfowl hunting is one of the most social and fun-filled outdoor activities. But do you have your ducks in a row for the season?

DNR has a new license system, the Activity Hub. Setting up your account early and ensuring you have the required hunting licenses, stamps, and HIP registration number will give you ample time to troubleshoot, ask for help, or visit a retailer if needed.
To log in:
Go to GoOutdoorsIN.com and click the Login button. You’ll be directed to Access Indiana, where you’ll log in or create an account.
Once logged in, you’ll be returned to the Hub to verify your personal info, purchase licenses, and apply for reserved hunts.
Need help or have questions? Call: 317-232-4200 or 877-463-6367 or email INHuntFish@dnr.IN.gov.
For a full list of waterfowl hunting dates, regulations, and an outline of which stamps each age group needs, take a gander at the Indiana Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Average gasoline prices in Indiana are unchanged in the last week, averaging $2.83/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 20.3 cents per gallon lower than a

month ago and stand 22.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 3.7 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.591 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $2.28/g yesterday while the most expensive was $9.99/g, a difference of $7.71/g.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 4.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.98/g today.
“Gas prices have finally fallen below $3 per gallon nationally — the earliest date we’ve seen a $2.99 national average since 2020, when COVID was the primary driver of low prices,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “OPEC+ deserves much of the credit for this trend, having steadily raised oil production for much of 2025. Currently, 35 states have average gas prices below $2.99/gal, and GasBuddy even recorded the first $1.99 cash price at a station in Evans, Colorado, with stations in Oklahoma and Texas not far behind. Barring any major disruptions, gas prices are likely to remain slightly below year-ago levels and could stay under $3 for much of the next few months.”
GasBuddy’s averages, graphs, maps and historical pricing data covering the U.S. and Canada is available 24/7 at http://prices.GasBuddy.com.

PLYMOUTH — On Oct. 20 at 2:08 a.m., Plymouth Police conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Escape at the intersection of N Michigan St. and Plymouth-Goshen Trail.

The driver of the vehicle, Grace Gardner, 24, of Plymouth, was found to be operating the vehicle with a suspended license. After further investigation, it was discovered that she had taken the vehicle without permission from a residence in which she had been trespassed. During a search of the vehicle, police located a suspected marijuana vape pen.
Gardner was arrested and transported to the Marshall County jail. She is charged with Theft of A Motor Vehicle, Driving While Suspended, Possession of Marijuana, and Criminal Trespassing.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

PLYMOUTH — On Oct. 18, at 1:55 a.m., Plymouth Police were patrolling the area of Liberty St. and Jefferson St. The officer observed a scooter disregard two stop signs and fail to use a turn signal.

After the traffic stop was initiated, the driver, identified as Ely Vasquez-Reyes, 35, of Plymouth, was found to have an active arrest warrant for Failure to Appear. While an inventory of the vehicle was being conducted, a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine was located.
Vasquez-Reyes was transported to the Marshall County Jail, where he was lodged for his arrest warrant and Possession of Cocaine, a Level 6 felony.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

CULVER — The Republican Party will hold a caucus for the appointment to the Culver Town Council created by the resignation of Justin Croy.

The caucus will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29, at the Marshall County Republican Headquarters, 117 Water Street, Plymouth, Indiana.
Any person interested should file a Declaration of Candidacy no later than 72 hours in advance of the meeting with:
Deborah VanDeMark, Chairman
Marshall County Republican Party
PO Box 102
Plymouth, IN 46563
574.274.8325
Deb0831@outlook.com

PLYMOUTH — On the morning of Oct. 12, at 4:15 a.m., Plymouth Police attempted to stop a speeding vehicle on Oak Drive traveling south from Harrison Street.

The vehicle refused to stop, accelerating as the vehicle disregarded the red traffic light at Jefferson Street. The vehicle would enter the bus parking area of Washington Discover Academy and proceed to drive through the grass towards LaPorte Street. The vehicle proceeded to drive through someones yard before continuing east on Laporte Street, south on Cromer, and back east on Lake Avenue. The vehicle turned south on Sixth Street and east through an alley before going north on Fifth Street.
The vehicle and the occupants parked the vehicle and ran to the front porch of 901 E. Lake Avenue. During the officers investigation it was determined that the driver was 18 year old Yecnuar Hernandez-Zelaya of Plymouth and two juvenile passengers were ultimately released to guardians.
Hernandez-Zelaya was taken into custody and lodged at the Marshall County Jail on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief to school property, aggressive driving, reckless driving, and operator never licensed.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

CULVER — Culver Union Township Fire Department Auxiliary and the Kiwanis Club of Culver invite you to join the fun at our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat during the Culver Fall Fest.

The event is Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Decorate your car, truck, SUV, golf cart, or even a tractor in your spookiest, funniest, or most creative theme and then simply hand out candy to all the Trick-or-Treaters as they wander through.
Vote for your favorite trunks and compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Prizes.
Set-up begins at 10:30 a.m. For safety, all vehicles must remain until the event ends at 1 p.m.
Questions? Contact Barb Johnson at 574-356-6210.

PLYMOUTH — On the evening of Oct. 15 at 11:45 p.m., Plymouth Police responded to the Red Rock Inn after receiving reports of a fight in progress.

One man was combative with police and highly intoxicated. He was taken into custody and identified at Justus Shotts, 21 of Plymouth. Shotts reported that he was robbed by a neighbor who was armed with a knife.
Search warrants were obtained for two rooms after suspected drugs were seen and believed to be present.
The robbery suspect was identified as Thomas Wall, 32, of Plymouth.
As a result of the search warrants, multiple suspected drugs and paraphernailia was located.
Shotts was lodged at the Marshall County Jail on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, publid intoxication, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of a legend drug and paraphernalia.
Wall is held on no bond for preliminary charges of robbery, dealing a controlled substance, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of meth, a legend drug a narcotic drug, and paraphernalia.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission will meet on Tuesday Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. in

the Council Chambers on the second floor of the City Building. Those attending should enter through the Garro Street entrance.
The meeting will also be streamed on YouTube @CityofPlymouth

BREMEN — The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department obtained information of a sexual relationship between the suspect Jorge Luis Lara,​ 27, of Bremen and 13-year old victim.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department,​ ​ Bremen Police Department,​ and ​Department of Child Services then started investigating the information. Officer Trent Miles with the Bremen Police Department, along with Lt. Detective Les McFarland of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, then started conducting interviews along with collecting evidence regarding the information obtained.
On Friday,​ October 17,​ Lara was arrested and booked into the Marshall County Jail for Child Molesting,​ a level 1 Felony.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
​

PLYMOUTH — It is our pleasure to share details about an upcoming education opportunity for local arts entrepreneurs: The Marshall County Artrepreneurship Program.

MCAP is an eight-week educational program for local artists who wish to establish their own businesses and generate revenue from their work. As a collaboration between Marshall County Economic Development Center, Heartland Art Center, and the North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center, this cohort-based initiative will include workshops, peer groups, and an exhibition to showcase the work of program participants.
To be eligible for MCAP, applicants must reside in one of the following counties: Marshall, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Starke, Pulaski, Fulton, or Kosciusko.
This program is designed for individuals who are seeking to (or already) pursue revenue from their original (visual) creative work. No prior business knowledge is needed to apply.
The application will open on Nov. 1, and the program will run from February – April 2026 at Heartland Art Center.
To learn more, sign up for the info session on Thursday, October 23rd at 6 PM EST on Zoom. If you have questions, please reach out to Hannah Ollen, hollen@isbdc.org or 574-520-5236.

PLYMOUTH — The City of Plymouth has issued an emergency order to vacate the property located at 2550 N. Michigan Street, known as the Red Rock Inn, effective Friday, October 17, 2025. This action

follows a comprehensive inspection conducted by the City Building Commissioner, in coordination with the Marshall County Health Department and in consultation with the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The inspection identified multiple serious violations, including:

• Fire safety hazards requiring immediate attention
• Structural maintenance deficiencies
• A confirmed infestation of insects
  Due to the imminent risk posed by the fire safety violations, occupants are required to vacate the premises unless a Fire Watch plan is implemented and approved by the Plymouth Fire Department. This plan would allow temporary occupancy under strict supervision while fire hazards are addressed.
  In addition, the building’s maintenance issues and pest infestation have triggered a formal 14-day vacate order. All tenants must relocate within this timeframe unless otherwise directed.
  The City of Plymouth and community volunteers are actively working with affected parties to provide relocation assistance and other necessary support.

STATEWIDE – Indiana is the 3rd least affected state by the government shutdown, according to a study done by the personal finance company Wallethub.

Wallethub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of five key metrics, ranging from each state’s share of federal jobs to federal contract dollars per capita to the share of families receiving food stamps.
“The latest government shutdown makes life stressful for people across the U.S., but places like D.C. and Hawaii, where a high percentage of residents work directly for the government or have government contracts, are getting hit the hardest. States with a lot of residents who receive SNAP benefits, such as New Mexico, also could be in a dire situation if money for this vital program runs out before the gridlock ends. Plus, states with real-estate-dependent economies are suffering from federal delays in mortgage processing, and states with a lot of national parks may hurt their tourism and revenue by not being able to offer certain park services,” said Wallethub financial analyst Chip Lupo.
The shutdown is costing the economy an estimated $400 million per day.
In the study, they tallied scores based on those factors. 1 equals most affected while 25 equals average and 51 means least affected.
These were Indiana’s rankings:
Overall Rank: 49th
44th – Share of Federal Jobs
43rd – Federal Contract Dollars Per Capita
42nd – Real Estate as a Percentage of GSP
49th – Access to National Parks
37th – % of Families Receiving SNAP (Food Stamps)
WalletHub says the District of Columbia is most affected by the shutdown, while Minnesota is the least affected.

PLYMOUTH — NIPSCO will be CLOSING sections of N. Redwood Rd between 4th & 6th road to replace 36 utility poles from Oct. 21 to Oct. 24.

You should seek an alternate route during these dates. Use CAUTION when approaching this area and plan accordingly.

Indiana private colleges join forces to offer a 30-credit block in high school that automatically transfers to any participating institution

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana high school students will have an additional opportunity to earn a tangible credential of value before graduation. The new Professional Pathway credential – announced Tuesday by leaders from the Independent Colleges of Indiana and Indiana Secretary of Education, Dr. Katie Jenner – expands early college opportunities and provides students with additional options to complete their first year of college while still in high school.
“This announcement adds to our state’s growing list of partners who want to ensure Hoosier students have a more seamless path to their future, whether that includes continuing their education, going straight into the workforce, or serving in our Nation’s military,” said Dr. Jenner. “As we seek to maximize the four years of high school, this is yet another option for students to earn guaranteed currency before ever leaving high school and get a jumpstart on their future.”
Similar to the Indiana College Core, through the new Professional Pathway credential, students can complete a minimum of 30 credits of specified general education courses, with all credits fully transferable as a “block” among the six participating private institutions.
The credits are specifically designed to support students in building essential knowledge and skills, ranging from communication and civic literacy skills that will benefit students regardless of their chosen career, to specific technical and industry skills. Completing this credential of value also puts students one step closer to earning the new Enrollment Honors Plus and the Employment Honors Plus diploma seals.
“Indiana’s commitment to diverse and rigorous educational pathways reflects a shared conviction that education is key to our collective future,” said Taylor University President Michael Lindsay. “The Professional Pathway credential ensures that students who desire faith-based options are well served while meeting the highest academic standards. It’s a wonderful example of preparing young people for meaningful futures in college, in career, and in life.”
The Professional Pathway credential was created in partnership with six Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) institutions, including Anderson University, Bethel University, Grace College, Huntington University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Taylor University. Indiana high schools can partner with any of the six institutions to offer the credential, which will then seamlessly transfer to all. It is anticipated that this credential will be primarily offered through Indiana’s faith-based high schools as they expand their existing partnerships with faith-based higher education institutions, thus increasing access to the new honors plus seals, regardless of where a student attends school.
“As the instructional leader of Heritage Christian School, it is my responsibility to make sure that our students never sacrifice academic excellence in order to receive a first-class, college-preparatory, Christian education,” said Head of Heritage Christian School Dr. Brian Dougherty. “This new credential allows me to fulfill my promise to my families. In the end, this pathway with faith-based colleges allows our students to receive an education at the highest level within a biblical worldview framework, which is foundational to a Christian education.”
If a student completes any portion of the 30 credits, all six institutions will also accept the individual course credits as equivalencies or elective credit, to be determined on a course-by-course basis. AP credits earned in courses equivalent to the courses making up the credential can also be counted in the 30-credit block, with a maximum of 15 credits from AP.
A list of courses that are part of the new credential can be found at https://www.taylor.edu/academics/programs/online/professional-pathway-credential.