The Storm Prediction Center has placed Marshall County under a “Slight Risk” (level 2/5) for severe weather on Saturday, July 19th. A line of storms is expected to pass through in the afternoon/early evening, although the forecast is still subject to change.

ESTIMATED TIMING: 1-7 PM
HAZARDS: Damaging winds and flash flooding
CONFIDENCE: Medium

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office announced Thursday the completion of the prosecution of 43-year-old Brandon Meisner, of Bremen.

In July of 2024, Officers conducted a controlled buy of approximately 7.9 grams of methamphetamine from Meisner, in Lapaz. In August of 2024, Officers conducted a controlled buy of approximately 14.2 grams of methamphetamine from Meisner; this time, the transaction occurred in Plymouth.
A subsequent warrant was issued for his arrest, and in September of 2024, he was taken into custody after an operation in downtown Plymouth.
On June 25 of this year, Meisner pled guilty to the highest charged offense, Dealing Methamphetamine as a Level 2 Felony, and was sentenced in Marshall County Superior Court 1 to seventeen and a half years in the Department of Corrections.
The investigation was led by Detective Sergeant Jonathan Bryant of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Patrolman Richard Ayala of the Plymouth Police Department, and successfully prosecuted by Deputy Liz Boehm of the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office.

INDIANAPOLIS – The annual Indiana State Fair returns Friday, August 1 through Sunday, August 17 (closed Mondays), bringing 15 days of summer fun entertainment, food, and family-friendly activities. From advance-ticket savings to themed discount days and daily food bargains, the Fair is built to be affordable without sacrificing experience.

Advance Savings You Can’t Miss
•20% off admission and parking when purchased before July 31 at 11:59 PM ET
•Midway wristbands are discounted by 38% pre‑sale (valid only on select days)
•Family Four Pack: Includes four admissions and a parking pass, with 30% off gate value when purchased in advance
•Foodie Family Four Pack: Same as above, plus $50 Fair Bucks to spend on concessions (excluding midway vendors), also 30% off

A lineup of special days makes the Fair accessible to all
•$2 Tuesdays presented by the Indiana Secretary of State (Aug 5 & 12): Admission, Midway rides, and select concession items are all just $2 each
•Military and First Responders Day pres. by Ivy Tech Community College (Aug 6): Free admission for service members and families with valid ID
•BMV Discount Day (Aug 7): Admission for $8 with a printed/digital IN.gov voucher, about 50% off
•IndyStar Free Ticket Day (Farmers’ Day, pres. by Corteva Agriscience, Aug 13): Redeemable with a voucher from the IndyStar Aug. 11 print edition
•AAA Day (Aug 14): Complimentary admission for AAA cardholders with valid card at the gate

Other budget-friendly perks:
•Bike to the Fair: Save $1 off admission per person + free secure bike parking
•Free tractor shuttle rides around the grounds for easy mobility

Daily Food Discounts and $5 Value Meals
The Fair brings back a $5 Value Menu, where select food items are priced at $5 or less, perfect for sampling favorites without overspending. On $2 Tuesdays, every food stand offers a $2 concession option, making even indulgent treats budget-conscious
Visit http://www.indianastatefair.com for full details, deal expiration dates, and ticketing information.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Highway Department has announced that a contractor will be milling 9th Rd from Union Rd to Lincoln Highway on Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19.

The Marshall County Highway Department plans to begin paving this stretch of road on Monday, July 21, weather pending.
Please find an alternate route while road work is ongoing.

ARGOS — The Argos Community School Board will have its regular meeting on Monday, July 21, at 7 p.m., in the Dragon Conference Room.

Included on the agenda is a report on projects and construction from Kevin McCurdy and Greg Drennen, approval of the school’s food service bids for the coming year, and first reading of a NEOLA polices update for July.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Board of Finance will meet on Monday, July 21, at 1 p.m. in the second-floor meeting room of the Marshall County Building.

On the agenda is a discussion of interest-bearing accounts.

PLYMOUTH — Work to restore the second floor of the Red Rock Inn in Plymouth hit another snag this week as Plymouth Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal reported on an incident that elicited a $2500 fine from the Board of Works and Safety.

Manuwal told the Board he was on business at the city airport and observed maintenance workers on the condemned second floor of the structure clearing out the rooms. The second floor of the structure is still condemned, with no structural engineering plan having been approved to bring it to standards.
Manuwal reminded the Board that the 30 days given to make the needed repairs had also passed with no work having been done on remedying the second-floor issues.
The Board invoked the fine and issued an order that a contractor to fix the problems must be hired in 30 days or the City would do so at the owner’s expense.

PLYMOUTH — The City of Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety will continue to work with the owners of the Northgate Mobile Home Park in town to clean up the property.

Plymouth Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal addressed the Board on the progress made at the facility since their last meeting on June 30. He requested an order of demolition for one of the trailers that had been ruled uninhabitable. No action has been taken since the unit’s owner is currently incarcerated.
Abraham Anderson, owner of the property, was in attendance online, saying that other issues addressed previously were taken care of, with most sewer and water lines being traced, and problems fixed, and said that work was underway to place water meters at all of the lots to trace where other water leaks in the system may need attention.
Anderson will also begin work on several units that he would like to rehab to make them available to buyers, and has taken action to board up the properties to minimize safety issues before they can be fixed.
Two properties came under scrutiny, with Manuwal doubting that they could be brought up to HUD standards. Both homes were constructed in the early 1970s. Anderson was given time to thoroughly examine the homes for a final decision before a demolition order would be issued.

PLYMOUTH — On July 13 at 2:05 a.m., Plymouth Police were dispatched to the Red Rock Inn for a report of a possible domestic disturbance.

During an investigation at the scene, it was found that Robert Powell, 35, of Plymouth, violated an active No Contact Order. Powell was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Marshall County Jail. He was lodged for the pending charge of Invasion of Privacy.

On the afternoon of July 7, at 12:25 p.m., Plymouth Police were dispatched to the Super 8 for a welfare check.
Officers spoke with Michael Egan and determined that he was violating an active protection order, which was to prevent him from having contact with the individual he was found with. Egan was transported and lodged into the Marshall County Jail for Invasion of Privacy.

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

PLYMOUTH — On July 13 at 5:17 p.m., Officers with the Plymouth Police Department ran the plate on a white 2009 Escalade.

It showed that the registered owner, identified as Gabrielle Vires, 43 years old of Lapaz, had a warrant in Saint Joseph County, Indiana. The vehicle pulled into the Taco Bell Parking lot, and the officer turned around and located the vehicle in the drive-thru line of. The officer was able to confirm from a BMV photo that the wanted person was the driver of the vehicle.
Vires was taken into custody and transported to Marshall County Jail and booked in for the out-of-county warrant.

On July 15, at 7:48 a.m., a call about a suspicious person at Oak and W. Harrison St. resulted in Michael Howard of Plymouth being found to have an outstanding warrant in Noble County. Howard was transported to MCJ for that warrant.

On July 10 at 9:50 a.m., Plymouth Police were dispatched to the Marshall County Probation Department in reference to Madison Woods, 29, of Culver, who had an active warrant in Elkhart County.
Woods was taken in to custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail to await transport to the Elkhart County Jail.

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

By Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council members unanimously approved an ordinance that authorizes additional appropriations in the amount of $5,700 in the CCI Fund for three new computers for three police cars.  It was explained that the computers to be replaced are about 10 years old and they are not operating at a optimum level. A public hearing was opened on the related ordinance which yielded no public comments.  

In other business during the July 10 meeting, Culver-Union Township EMS Director Michael Hasselfeldt updated the Culver Town Council members during their recent meeting that paramedics are getting harder to find which is a state-wide issue.  He stated that the department has shifts covered in July and August with at least one paramedic on each shift, but many part-time paramedics are experiencing burnout and no free time attempting to cover other shifts in neighboring communities.  He did note that Culver has three full-time paramedics and 10 part-time paramedics.  

Hasselfeldt added that the department received a donation of two power chair stairs, and virtual reality training software and goggles.    

Town Manager Kevin Danti asked the council for a work session before the next meeting Thursday, July 24 at 5 p.m. ET to discuss ongoing and future projects.  He also announced that a hotel feasibility study is planned, and the theatre restoration project is moving forward.  

The Culver Town Council also approved the initiation of the TextMyGov service.  When it becomes available Culver residents can sign up for the program with a cell phone number where informational texts can be sent by town officials when there is immediate information to be distributed, or upcoming events.  There may also be a feature where residents can report certain issues to town officials.  Those reports may include a sinkhole, pothole, or water leak, as examples.  The cost is $3,500 a year which was unanimously approved.  

On July 12, at 7:44 pm, a Marshall County Deputy stopped a white Toyota Highlander for driving 100 mph in a posted 60 mph zone ​on US30 near Hawthorn Road.

The driver was identified as Jason A. Erne of Warsaw. It was found that Mr. Erne ​had been drinking. He was given field sobriety tests and a certified test and registered a .12% BAC and was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and reckless driving.
He was taken to the Marshall County Jail where he was booked on the charges.

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

PLYMOUTH — On July 10 at 11:48 a.m., Plymouth officers were dispatched to Walmart located at 2505 N Oak Drive for management stating that they had an employee who had been caught shoplifting on several separate dates and times.

Abigail Sullivan, 20, of Rochester, was taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail where she was lodged for the theft.

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

PLYMOUTH — On July 9, at approximately 1:48 p.m., Plymouth Police were called to 1628 W. Jefferson St. (Family Express) regarding a man who was shoplifting.

After speaking with the man, Dallas Sheets, of Knox, he stated that he did take an item without paying for it. He was then transported to MCJ and lodged for theft.

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

PLYMOUTH — Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a motorcycle accident on July 12, at 1:18 p.m. at US 31 and US 30.

The rider, Zachary Graham, 31, was traveling south bound on U.S. 31 approaching the interchange with U.S. 30. ​As he entered a curve in the southbound lanes of the highway,​ the motorcycle traveled off the roadway into the center median.
Graham lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected from it. ​He sustained injuries that included abrasions,​ lacerations, and a possible broken hand. ​Plymouth EMS transported Graham to Memorial Hospital. ​ ​ ​
Agencies involved were the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department,​ Plymouth Fire/EMS, and Reichert Knepp Wrecker Service.

PLYMOUTH — On July 14 at approximately 1:11 a.m., Plymouth Police observed a black sedan recklessly conducting “donuts” at the Centennial Park soccer fields.

During a traffic stop of the vehicle, it was discovered that the driver, Jose Julian Ortiz Vera, 23, of Plymouth, was operating the vehicle without ever having obtained a valid driver’s license.
Ortiz Vera was arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail and charged with reckless driving, criminal mischief, and operating a vehicle without ever obtaining a License.

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

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Revelopment Commission will meet Tuesday evening in the Council Chambers at the City of Plymouth building. Attendees should enter by the Garro Street entrance.

On the Agenda are a resolution accepting and interest in the Plymouth RDC Center LLC and updates on the Centennial Crossings and Water Street Townhomes projects and a request for monetary support from the REES Theatre.
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. and can be streamed live at https://www.youtube.com/@CityofPlymouth

By Anita Goodan

CULVER — The Culver Town Council members will open a public hearing during their meeting Thursday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Culver Town Hall to take comments on a proposed increase in water rates.

Information provided by Clerk-Treasuer Karen Heim indicated that the proposed increase follows an updated rate study conducted by Baker Tilly officials.  The study evaluates whether or not the town’s current water and sewer rates can support the costs of maintaining and operating the systems.

Heim further explained that the original rate study was completed in 2021, and at that time, Baker Tilly recommended a rate increase. However, the council opted to delay any changes as the community was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the study was updated again, but no action was taken. Earlier this year, Heim requested another update to reflect new revenue projections, including the impact of additional housing developments at the Dunes. The study showed that an increase is necessary, but revenue from the Dunes reduced the recommended rate increase by approximately 50 percent. No increase in sewer rates is recommended. 

Customers who have a standard 5/8” meter and use 1,000 or 2,000 gallons of water a month will experience an increase of $26.91, if an ordinance reflecting these changes is eventually approved in three readings by the council.  Those who use 3,000 gallons a month will see an increase of $33.32 a month, while those who use 4,000 gallons a month will see an increase of $39.70 and those who use 5,000 gallons a month will see an increase of $46.08 a month.  

Members of the public are encouraged to voice comments during the town council’s meeting July 24.