By Jamie Fleury, Pilot News Staff Writer

PLYMOUTH — The Commissioners and Council both approved requests for the Marshall County Health Department and are researching the possible acquisition of one of the Bowen Center buildings to house the department.

The Council approved Marshall County Health Department Administrator Sandy Dunfee’s request to apply for the Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Grant in the amount of $25,000. The Indiana Department of Health offers this funding through its Emergency Preparedness Division. Dunfee confirmed that this money reduces the amount she requests from the General Fund which can be used by others across the County. Though the application process can be time-consuming, she considers fiscal responsibility a priority in her work.
The Commissioners also approved the pre-payment purchase of washer and dryer sets from Lowe’s with grant funding for school nurse’s offices in schools that want to participate.
Both government bodies discussed the possible purchase of one of the Bowen Center’s buildings to accommodate the Health Department. Rent at the Community Resource Center is costly, needed expansion of the department would result in a substantial increase. The Commissioners made a motion to allow Attorney Jim Clevenger to determine if the current appraisal is sufficient; and to pursue a second if necessary. It will be up to the Council to explore funding.

ARGOS — The Argos School Board made some personnel moves and was updated on various projects and events happening around the school in their regular meeting this week.

First on the agenda were personnel moves and they were athletics-heavy as the Board named Damon Binkley the new Athletic Director at the high school and hired Nick Kindig as the new boy’s basketball coach and business teacher.
As part of that the board accepted the resignation of Jason Breden who had filled both those positions before leaving the corporation to become the new head boys basketball coach at Knox.
“He’s about all things Argos so it makes a lot of sense to keep him here and keep him going,” said Superintendant Ned Speicher of Binkley’s hire as AD.
Speicher was also happy with the hire of Kindig.
“He’s a fine young man and we are glad to have him,” he said.
Binkley will continue to teach science at Argos and also remain an assistant soccer coach.
Kindig comes to Argos after a successful playing career at Tippecanoe Valley and Bethel College and was assistant to Jason Groves at Triton a year ago.
The board also hired Elizabeth Swango as a grade one teacher, Beth Schmeltz as a temporary guidance counselor for the summer, and approved Angel Balsley’s transfer from the Business department to the guidance counselor position. Rachel Mabee will be the school psychologist.
Along with Breden’s resignation, the board accepted the resignation of Joe Kindig as the high school baseball coach, volleyball coach Andrea Perez is leaving to take a new job, Rob McMillen in the maintenance department, and Deb Thompson will leave her guidance counselor position to take the same job at Mishawaka.
Speicher told the board that the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will be having a public meeting on June 27 from 6-8 p.m. regarding the US 31 overpass and projected work on SR 110 and looking at SR 10 changes.
The school corporation is redoing the parking lots and perimeter fencing around the schools. Currently, the south and west sides of the building are torn up for the purpose of putting in new drainage and a parking lot solving those issues done before school starts
While textbook rental is paid for by the state of Indiana the board approved fees for educational materials so that they can be reimbursed by the state.
Prairie Farms was awarded the milk bid for the corporation and Gordon food supply will have the food contract.
In accordance with recently enacted state statutes there is a new cell phone policy at the school. Phones are restricted in the classroom and will have to be left in a storage compartment at the classroom door and collect them again when they get out of class.
Argos Schools will have “Back to School Night” with the Marshall County Health Department mobile immunization clinic on Aug. 6 from 5-7 p.m.
The board’s next meeting will be July 22.

INDIANAPOLIS — Beginning July 1, families who provide a home through adoption or eligible guardianships to a child in Indiana’s foster care system will receive financial support equal to 100 percent of the amount the child received while in foster care.

The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) provides these subsidies through its Indiana Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) and Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP). Financial supports help ensure caretakers who adopt or take guardianship of children in DCS care are best positioned to meet the needs of those children. Finding the right, safe and permanent home in a timely manner is a top priority for DCS, and these supports play vital roles in accomplishing that.
Currently, families receive at least 50 percent of the amount the child was entitled to while in foster care and may negotiate higher amounts based on the individual circumstances of the child and family. With the change to 100 percent, caretakers across the state will be equipped to provide for the needs of Hoosier children. This step will also eliminate the need for most financial negotiations and help remove a barrier that can delay permanency for children.
DCS Director Eric Miller, MPA, MBA, noted that nearly 2,000 Indiana children find permanent homes through adoption and more than 1,000 others find permanency through guardianship each year.
“We often hear from families who are interested in adoption or guardianship, but they worry they might not be able to afford the additional costs that are necessary to meet a child’s needs,” Miller said. “By making assistance more readily available, we are creating more opportunities for Hoosier children to find their forever home and better supporting the families who make that happen.”
This change is the latest move by DCS to remove barriers to permanency for Indiana children. In July 2023, with approval from the Indiana General Assembly, DCS implemented a kinship stipend program to support unlicensed kinship caregivers. These individuals can be a relative, godparent, stepparent or another person with whom the child has a close personal connection. More than half of all Indiana children in foster care are currently placed in kinship care. As of the end of May, DCS has issued more than $10.1 million in stipends, benefiting more than 4,000 children in unlicensed kinship placements.
Information on the Indiana Adoption Assistance Program can be found here. Details about the Guardianship Assistance Program are available here. To learn more about Indiana’s adoption program, visit https://www.indianaadoptionprogram.org/.

By Jamie Fleury, Staff Writer, The Pilot News

MARSHALL COUNTY — Culver Town Union Township Trustee Marlene Mahler expressed disappointment with the County Council for their failure to keep a promise to address the Emergency Management Services (EMS) funding crisis in Culver and throughout the County.

Mahler reminded the Council that she had appeared before them in April and she stated she spoke to President Jesse Bohannon privately before the election regarding anything that the Council could do to help with EMS services in the County. She indicated that she was told they would check in to issues and see if there was anything that could be done. “Has anything been done? Have you checked in to anything?”
Bohannon responded, “We are getting back on to that topic. Obviously the last month heading up to the election was extremely busy for everybody. But, that’s definitely on my list. Mr. Klotz (Commissioner) and I have had conversations about that. It’s definitely something that we need to get moving forward I guess. I thank you for bringing that back to public attention.”
Mahler responded, “So two months and we haven’t done anything yet is what you’re saying?”
Vice President Tim Harman interjected, “Well, in a moment – you beat us to the punch – but I was going to remind Mr. Bohannon about the commitment to form a group to look at this stuff.”
Mahler said, “That’s what you did two months ago.”
Harman said, “I definitely want to get moving on it myself.”
Bohannon said, “As you can see we’ve had a lot of other very serious topics going on this month so – “
Mahler emphasized, “And you’ve got a lot of serious topics but only one is being addressed.”
During the April meeting, Mahler informed the Council that Union Township had recently purchased 16 new radios that cost $73,000; all had been past their lifetime. She informed the Council that the Fire Department is mostly volunteer who receive minimal payment for runs and training but EMS went from volunteer to full paid paramedic service. The budget has increased almost three times the amount it was in 2018. The expenses for full paid service exceeds what can be funded through increased levy; the levy is dependent on population and Culver’s has decreased in the last 15 years. She indicated that without funding relief they will have to consider a Fire Territory. Bohannon did commit to forming a committee to address the issue and ensured that some of that representation would consist of trustees.
As previously reported in the Pilot News and Culver Citizen John Grolich had approached the Council during the April meeting regarding a .05% tax for public safety to be used for Fire and EMS. Previously the Commissioners had sent a non-binding recommendation of support. Grolich prefaced his request by stating he is not approaching the Council as the Coroner’s Office and expressed gratitude for the support he has in his role. He addressed HB 1454 which was passed this year that provides for the creation of a public safety tax supporting Fire and EMS. “God knows that our Fire Departments and EMS agencies in our county need that support.” He added that the bill was buried in a DLGF bill that is more than 250 pages. If implemented, the tax would generate over $730,000 to use for Fire and EMS in Marshall County. He noted that legislators have gradually decreased income tax across the state which would offset the public safety Local Income Tax if implemented. Technology continues to create a burden of expense for Fire and EMS; the money could also be used for a recruitment and retention program.
Councilman Tim Harman noted that the Jail Tax will expire in 2027 once the bond is paid off; the current .25% rate generates a much needed revenue to fund Jail Operations. Harman recommended a review of all these fiscal issues and assess possible solutions.
Councilwoman Nicole Cox recommended that an exploratory committee be formed to make an informed decision.
Councilman Jim Masterson emphasized a need to review the current LIT, the current and continued needs at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, and consider the additional needs of Fire and EMS noting that all are important.
President Jesse Bohannon stated he will approach Commissioner Stan Klotz to collaborate a Committee to conduct a study to identify the challenges that the departments face, to set priorities among those challenges, to create a strategic and organizational plan, identify the costs, and identify the appropriate funding and distribution mechanisms because those are the questions that need answered before taxing people. Bohannon also wants to explore any assistance that can be provided by Redevelopment Commissions.
Grolich agreed to sit on the committee. Cox and Harman agreed to participate.
On Monday April 15th, during the Commissioners meeting, Klotz was approved to sit on the Committee.
The Council agreed that all emergency services are important to support; they want to find a way to accomplish that goal in a way that is fiscally responsible for all involved including the taxpayers.

INDIANAPOLIS — Many probation officers were recognized by Chief Justice Loretta Rush for their commitment to the profession of probation and their long-time service at the annual justice services conference. One probation officer was named to the Order of Augustus. Twenty-one were honored for years of service as probation officers.

The Order of Augustus award is presented to a probation officer that has been nominated by members of their community, then selected by the Probation Officers Advisory Board as an individual who demonstrates outstanding commitment and personal dedication to the profession of probation.
Marshall County’s Chief Probation Officer James Bendy was honored by runs for his years of service.

PLYMOUTH — On the evening of June 17 at approximately 9 p.m., a Plymouth Police officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on US 30 at Oak.

The vehicle was pulled over for going 70 mph in a 50 mph zone. During the stop, the Plymouth K9 unit conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and alerted for the odor of narcotics. A vehicle search was conducted, and a plant-like substance believed to be marijuana was located. The driver, Isaac Tamilio, 22, of New Jersey was taken into custody and booked into the Marshall County Jail for Possession of Marijuana.

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

PLYMOUTH — On June 16 at 7:10 p.m. Marshall County Deputy Matt Geiger stopped a vehicle for speeding on US 30 east of King Road.

The driver,​ Jaelynn ​J. Coleman of Crown Point had a suspended driver’s license. Coleman was placed into custody and when gathering items for Coleman Deputy Geiger located green pills that were identified as a schedule 2 controlled substance,​ which Coleman.
He was taken to the Marshall County Jail for processing and charged with possession of a Schedule 2 controlled substance and driving while suspended ​prior.

LaPAZ — On June 15 at 9 p.m. a Marshall County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Deputy conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle in the area of US 31 and US 6.

The driver of the vehicle,​ identified as 33-year-old Ruben Ramos Jr. of South Bend,​ was found to be operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license and had an active warrant for his arrest through Kosciusko County.
The passenger of the vehicle was identified as 25-year-old Titana Riley of South Bend.
During the traffic stop,​ suspected drugs were located inside the vehicle and on Ramos and Riley.
While conducting the traffic stop,​ another vehicle arrived on scene. The driver of the other vehicle was identified as 42 year old Meloney Rangel of South Bend.

Rangel was found to be driving with a suspended license with a prior. All three were taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail. RAmos was booked for his active warrant,​ operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license,​ and possession of marijuana. Riley was booked for possession of marijuana. Rangel was booked for driving while suspended with a prior conviction.
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by Indiana State Police.

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