INDIANAPOLIS – Summer is here, and so the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) is reminding Hoosiers to enjoy the sun and fun while staying safe and healthy.

“As we embrace summer activities with family and friends, it’s crucial to prioritize preventing illness and injury, specifically around water safety,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “I encourage Hoosiers to follow these simple steps to stay safe.”
Water Safety
For many Hoosier families, warm weather means spending time together at pools, lakes, and other bodies of water. Unfortunately, deaths due to drownings have increased in the United States since 2019. In Indiana, drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged 1-4 years.
When Hoosier families are in or around water this summer:

• Designate a responsible adult to supervise children closely and constantly.
• Wear a life jacket while boating and be aware of local conditions.
• Avoid distracting activities like reading, using the phone, and consuming alcohol or drugs while watching kids in or near water, because drowning happens quickly and quietly.
  Sun Safety
  When spending time outdoors, prevent sunburn, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
  •Keep water on hand to stay hydrated.
  •Wear sunscreen with at least 30 SPF, reapplying it at least every two hours if swimming.
  •Take advantage of shade and wear protective clothing when possible.
  Signs of heat exhaustion include fatigue, weakness, headaches, nausea, sweating, dizziness, and a decrease in urine production.
  Heat stroke is a more serious and potentially life-threatening condition with symptoms that include confusion, inability to sweat, loss of consciousness, seizures, and an internal body temperature that can reach 104°F or higher. It is critical to cool the body of any person suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke as quickly as possible, and if a person shows signs of heat stroke, emergency medical services should be contacted. If sunburn occurs, treat it with topical moisturizers, cool compresses, and pain relievers. Contact your healthcare provider if extensive blisters or signs of infection are present.
  Mosquito-borne illness
  With summer comes mosquitoes, and their bites can sometimes transmit illnesses like West Nile virus (WNV). While 80 percent of those infected will not develop any symptoms, about 20 percent of people infected with WNV will develop an illness accompanied by fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. People older than 60 years and those receiving immunosuppressive medications or treatments are at greatest risk of severe WNV disease.
  Ways to prevent mosquito bites that potentially carry WNV include:
  •Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are active (especially during evening hours, from dusk to dawn, and in the early morning)
  •Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-methane-diol to clothes and exposed skin
  •Cover exposed skin by wearing long sleeves and long pants in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as wooded and shady areas
  •Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of the home
  Mosquitoes can breed in as little water as in a bottlecap, so be sure to dump all standing water around the house, including a garden hose, old tires, and gutters
  People who think they may have contracted WNV should contact their healthcare provider.
  Grill Safety
  Cookouts and BBQs are a summertime staple. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has the following recommendations for grilling safely:
  •Pick up raw meat, poultry, and seafood last on your grocery store, and keep them separate from other food in your shopping cart and bags
  •Keep meat, seafood, and poultry refrigerated until ready to cook, and keep cool at 40°F or lower in an insulating cooler when transporting.
  •Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling raw meat, poultry, and seafood, and wash work areas, cooking utensils, and the grill before and after cooking
  •Use a food thermometer to make sure the meat is cooked hot enough to kill harmful germs.
  Learn more about safe summer grilling at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
  Visit the Indiana Department of Health at http://www.health.in.gov for important health and safety information or follow us on X at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/StateHealthIN.

PLYMOUTH — The cleanup at Northgate Mobile Home Park continues to move forward.

Monday night, the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety heard from Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal about the ongoing cleanup, saying that progress had been made in the past two weeks, but “not at the speed I was looking for.”
The Board gave the new group owning the facility a two-week extension on the deadline to clean up sewer, electric, and landscaping issues on the property. Abraham Anderson, one of the new owners, was in attendance at the meeting online and agreed that there was still significant work to be done, but also felt a significant amount of work had been accomplished on the site.
As part of the sewer issues, 62 of the risers had been capped as ordered, with some still in the process of being completed.
Manuwall noted, however, that there were two lots that were emitting “grey water” (wastewater that comes from sources other than toilets). He also felt that there was still a lot of underground work to be done in the system.
Anderson said that he anticipated that portions of the sewer line would need to be replaced, and based on the report he received from crews hired to perform the work, he felt that it could be completed in the next two weeks.
He said workers have completed 23 electric service disconnects, and were bogged down on the removal of one burned home since the owner could not be found to obtain the title that was necessary to do the work.
Anderson asked the Board to allow him and a contractor, along with Manuwal, to inspect several other homes to see if they could be salvaged and resold. He told the board he plans to bring new homes, in the range of $70,000, to the park in the future to increase the amount of affordable housing available.
He asked the Board to continue to work with him on cleaning up the property.
Manuwal told the Board and Anderson that in the next two weeks, he would like to see two unlivable homes demolished, the entire sewer line repaired and a back corner lot on the property cleaned up of a large amount of debris.
The Board offered the extension and will re-address the matter in their next meeting on July 14.

The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Marshall County and Eastern Starke County in northwestern Indiana until 10:15 PM EDT/915 PM CDT.

At 708 PM EDT /608 PM CDT/, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area.
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Plymouth, Bremen, Bourbon, Argos, Culver, Koontz Lake, Oak Grove, La Paz, Twin Lakes, Rutland, Hibbard, Burr Oak, Donaldson, Tyner, Maxinkuckee, Linkville, Inwood, Lake Of The Woods, Grovertown and Ober.

At 225 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Plymouth, moving east at 15 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny-sized hail are possible. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include Plymouth, Bremen, Bourbon, Twin Lakes, and Inwood.

At 1:01 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Walkerton, or 12 miles northeast of Knox, moving northeast at 10 mph.

Radar indicated wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel-sized hail. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.
Locations impacted include Walkerton, North Liberty, Koontz Lake, La Paz, and Teegarden.

DENHAM — The search for Ronald “Bub” McDaniel came to a tragic end last night.

McDaniel had been reported missing and last night it was believed that he had been seen in the Culver area.
Later in the evening, Pulaski County deputies were dispatched to a wooded area near Denham, IN, regarding an unresponsive man located by a search and rescue party searching for McDaniel. Deputies determined that the man found was McDaniel and that he was deceased.
In a press release, Pulaski County Sheriff Chris Schramm said that an investigation is ongoing.

Today, the Highway Department will be chip-sealing Juniper Road from 12B to US6.

Please use caution when approaching the area and be mindful of our workers. Slow down and drive safely on the road for a few days after it’s completed in case there is any loose gravel.

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have fallen 6.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.09/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 15.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 41.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 16.1 cents in the last week and stands at $3.649 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $2.64/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.64/g, a difference of 100.0 cents per gallon.
The national average price of gasoline has risen 9.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.18/g today. The national average is unchanged from a month ago and stands 23.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
“With Israel and Iran trading attacks over the past week, oil prices have continued to climb—and gasoline prices are following suit, rising at a pace we haven’t seen since last summer,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Few pumps have been immune, with nearly all states seeing gas prices rise over the last week. Additionally, average diesel prices recorded their largest weekly jump since August 2023. Now, with the U.S. launching attacks on Iran, oil prices are likely to continue trending higher. That said, I do not expect the apocalyptic spikes being circulated by some so-called influencers on social media, many of which are wildly inaccurate. For now, motorists should anticipate a continued steady climb in prices, with the national average likely to increase another 7 to 15 cents this week, while diesel could rise by 10 to 20 cents. These forecasts remain fluid and could shift quickly depending on global developments, so we encourage motorists to stay tuned to GasBuddy for the latest updates and insights.”
GasBuddy’s averages, graphs, maps and historical pricing data covering the U.S. and Canada is available 24/7 at http://prices.GasBuddy.com.

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PLYMOUTH — The Visit Marshall County Board is seeking to fill the position of Marshall County Tourism Executive Director.

The board had listed the job description on various websites and job boards. There was one applicant who submitted a resume, but the board is looking for more candidates who are interested in applying. Since there is no meeting in July, the board will collect and review more applications during the Aug. 11 meeting.
The Executive Director will serve as the primary liaison between Marshall County Tourism and other organizations, including local government, business associations, and community groups. They will also be in charge of developing and managing public awareness campaigns to promote Marshall County as a premier tourist destination.
At June’s meeting, Board President Lizziey Sherk reminded the board that they were looking at a salary of $50,000-$65,000 range.
Sherk said that she had reached out to Carrie Lambert, Indiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Executive Director, about a bonus compensation structure for the position who informed her that there was not a bonus compensation structure that she knew of for tourism.
“Not that it’s not possible, just that there isn’t one out there,” said Sherk. “It was not forbidden. It just hasn’t been done.”
For more information or if you’re interested in the position, candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their background, skills, and experience, and explaining why they are interested in this position to VisitMarshallCo@gmail.com. A portfolio of relevant advertising and marketing work is encouraged but not required.

PLYMOUTH — On June 20, at 12:37 am, Plymouth Police Officers learned of an active felony warrant for Miles P. Warner, 33.

Officers located Warner at his apartment, and he was taken into custody. Warner was transported to Marshall County Jail, where he was booked and lodged for domestic battery in the presence of a minor and invasion of privacy.

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

CULVER — Culver Town Marshall Wayne Bean will be retiring from the Culver Police Department this month after more than 43 years of service.

The town of Culver would like to allow the public to share their well wishes with him by hosting an open house from 1—7 p.m., Wednesday, June 25, at the Culver Beach Lodge, 819 E Lakeshore Drive.

An Extreme Heat Warning was issued June 23 at 4:15 AM EDT until June 24 at 8:00 PM EDT by the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana.

Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of around 100, with a maximum of around 105, are predicted in portions of northern Indiana.

A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent, or likely.

A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, or timing is still uncertain.

If you need a cooling center:

•The Argos Police Department lobby is open 24 hours.

•The Bremen Town Hall is available during business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and after hours, the Bremen Police Department will be open.

•The Plymouth Police Department lobby will be open 24 hours.

If a significant need arises, a larger cooling center may be opened up.

PLYMOUTH — Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel has released the county jail and activity report for the month of May.

The jail population on June 13 was 137 of a total number of beds at the facility of 233. The average daily population was 148. Of those inmates, 99 were awaiting pre-trial, 20 were sentenced, and 19 were serving felony charges.
The most frequent arrest offenses in May were:
•Operating while intoxicated — 28
•Failure to appear — 24
•Possession of marijuana — 23
•Operator never licensed — 21
•Driving while suspended — 19
Local agency arrests:
•Sheriff’s Department — 78
•Plymouth Police — 61
•Indiana State Police — 12
•Bremen Police — 11

PLYMOUTH — Marshall County Sheriff Matthew Hassel has recognized and congratulated two 911 dispatchers this month.

James Budd and Luke Laidig, two Marshall County 911 Dispatchers, have received National recognition for their Excellence in Dispatching certifications through the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).
This achievement is awarded to Dispatchers who have completed at least three advanced dispatch courses within two years. Receiving this recognition speaks to Dispatchers who are highly trained and will strive to provide exceptional emergency services to the communities we serve.
“Training is a top priority for our 911 Dispatchers, and we take great pride in recognizing these individuals for their hard work and dedication,” said Hassel.
Budd and Laidig received a certificate from NENA and were provided a Marshall County Dispatch challenge coin for their achievement.

PLYMOUTH — On June 17 at 3:06 p.m., Officers with the Plymouth Police Department were dispatched to 1229 W. Washington St. for a physical domestic battery.

When the Officer arrived on the scene, they spoke to a man and a woman. The woman advised that her husband, later identified as Isaac Sosa, 28 years old of Plymouth, had hit her in the face. Officers could see marks, and Sosa told officers that he had slapped her in the face. Sosa was taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail for domestic battery.

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

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Common Council will hold a special meeting on June 30 to hear a presentation from financial consultants Baker-Tilly of a city-wide economic analysis.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. on June 30 in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the City Building. Those attending should use the Garro Street entrance.
The meeting will also be available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/@CityofPlymouth

BOURBON — The Triton Jr.-Sr. High School office will reopen on Monday, July 21.
High school office hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Student registration dates are Wednesday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday, July 24, from Noon to 6 p.m.

Online registration will not be available for the high school. New students entering Triton Jr. Sr. High must call 574-342-6505 to make an appointment to register.
The Triton Elementary School office will reopen on Monday, July 21.
Elementary office hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Student registration dates for Triton Elementary are Wednesday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday, July 24, from Noon to 6 p.m. Parents may update contact information, confirm transportation, pick up free school supplies, apply for meal assistance, deposit money in lunch accounts, and receive classroom assignments. New students entering Triton Elementary are welcome at any time.
Marshall County Health Department Mobile Clinic will be on site on July 24 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
There will not be student textbook rental fees for the 2025-2026 school year.
Seventh grade orientation is on Tuesday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
Triton Elementary School Open House is Monday, August 4, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The first day of school for students is Wednesday, August 6.
The Triton athletic meeting for students going into grades 5-12 (athletes/parents/coaches) is on Thursday, August 7, at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

PLYMOUTH — On June 19 at Midnight,​ Marshall County deputies, along with Plymouth Police,​ Plymouth Fire, and EMS,​ responded to a single-vehicle accident in the 10,000 block of Muckshaw Road.

It was found that a man and a woman in the truck that went off the road had both been drinking. The man, identified as Jason Kennedy of Plymouth, stated he was driving the vehicle. The woman identified as Stacy Neff of Bourbon​ was found to have methamphetamine​ and paraphernalia. She later fought and argued with officers and was also charged with resisting arrest and public intoxication.
Both were taken to Plymouth Hospital for jail clearance and a certified blood test for Kennedy, who tested ​over four times the legal limit. ​
Both Kennedy and Neff were transported to the Marshall County Jail, where Kennedy was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Neff ​was charged with possession of methamphetamine,​ possession of paraphernalia,​ resisting arrest, and public intoxication.

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

PLYMOUTH — On the morning of June 20, Plymouth Police became aware of a threat of bodily harm to another individual posted on social media by Justin Lentz, 41, of Plymouth.

Lentz was located and taken into custody. Lentz was booked into the Marshall County Jail for Level 5 Felony Intimidation.

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