Bourbon Man Dies in Farm Equipment Accident

Marshall County emergency responders were called to a serious farming incident on Friday evening.

According to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, county deputies along with the fire department, EMS and officers from the Town of Bourbon were called to a farm in the 3500 block of 9B Road in Bourbon. When they arrived, they found that Lester G. Sellers died after apparent injuries sustain after a tractor slipped a gear and rolled over him as he was working on the tractor, according to the release.

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Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Agrees to Commit Funds

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission committed to providing $40,000 worth of funding two different organizations when they met last week.

According to City Attorney Sean Surrisi, commission members agreed to recommit $30,000 to the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation. The same amount of funding was committed to the Marshall County EDC last year. Continue reading

Active Shooter Training Scheduled for County Employees

The Marshall County Commissioners set a date for county employees to receive active shooter training.

The county building and courthouse will be closed on Friday, Dec. 1 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. so all employees can be a part of the training. Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery will be coordinating the effort with law enforcement and department heads.

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Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety & Plymouth City Council Meetings Tonight

The Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety and the City Council meet tonight to discuss matters impacting the community. The Board of Public Works and Safety meeting will start first at 6 p.m.

Agenda items include a request from the utility superintendent about a water main extension at State Road 17 and W. Lake Avenue as well as an executive order from the city attorney regarding 408 Pierce Street.

Other requests consist of the Chamber of Commerce seeking permission to continue with downtown trick-or-treating this year and a temporary street closing by John Montgomery. The Mayor’s Youth Council will provide a request about the “Adopt a Street” project.

The City Council will convene at 6:30 p.m. or immediately following the adjournment of the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. Continue reading

Newly Formed Culver Economic Development Commission to Meet Tonight

The Culver Economic Development Commission will meet tonight.

The three members, Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist, Marshall County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer and Don Fox, will organize and consider an ordinance for a residential tax abatement for the Sand Hill Farms workforce development housing project. The proposed format of the tax abatement will also be discussed.

The Culver Economic Development Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight at the Culver Town Hall.

Bolt for Blessings Fun Run Fundraiser

Culver Community Schools currently assist one-hundred underprivileged students by providing backpacks filled with food to take home on the weekends. This year, during Culver Fall Fest on October 7th, you have the opportunity to help out and work out with the Bolt for Blessings fundraiser.

Annually, it costs around $125,000 to purchase the food and supplies needed. This event serves as the primary source of funding for the Blessings in a Backpack program. The race registration fee costs $15 for students K-12 and general admission is $25. If you register online prior to race day, you have will receive a T-Shirt. Businesses and interested individuals have a chance to be sponsors and have their name appear on the shirts for $150. Continue reading

Travelers Take to the Roads This Fall

If you’re planning on taking a trip before winter weather hits, you’re not alone. In a recent survey, Triple-A found that more than one in four Americans plan to take a vacation in the time between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Fall season seems to be the preferred time to travel for people who prefer fewer crowds and children, more mild weather conditions and cost efficient traveling options. Continue reading

Demolition Starts at River Gate South Apartment Development Site

Demolition has begun on the River Gate South Apartment Development in Plymouth and City Attorney Sean Surrisi said construction will start soon. Surissi was one of the key players in getting this project off the ground by collaborating with members of the community and Regional Cities Initiative, which awarded $1.5 million of funding for the development. Continue reading

Marshall County Commissioners Receive Bridge Construction Updates

Marshall County Highway Administrator Laurie Baker presented the commissioners with a contract between the county and DLZ concerning the Hickory Road bridge. The contract includes the construction inspection of the bridge and the off-site wetland mitigation. The commissioners did approve a contract with DLZ Engineering not to exceed $186,360.

Laurie Johnson from DLZ provided an update on the pre-construction on the Hickory Road Bridge project.

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School Bus Safety

The new design of many school buses is causing some concerns about safety. A feature that was installed to give drivers more warning that children are in the area and the bus is about to stop is not being heeded.

In the past, when a bus would stop the arm would come out and the red lights would flash in unison. Now buses feature flashing yellow lights while the driver is coming to a stop, and once they stop completely they hit a button to put out the arm and start the red lights. Continue reading

Tread in the Shed: Environmental Education Presentations and Walking Tour at Centennial Park

If you’re interested in learning about the environment and seeing what local conservation looks like, come out to Centennial Park today for the ‘Tread in the Shed’ event hosted by Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District. The event will feature presentations about topics such as, habitats, predator birds, stream bank stabilization, water quality, the importance of watersheds and rain gardens.

The District Coordinator of Marshall County SWCD Debbie Palmer said he whole event will take about 2 hours, running from 10 a.m. to noon, and there are a few 15-20 minute presentations. She said that the walking tour will take place primarily in the shade, so the heat shouldn’t be an issue. Continue reading

Driver Injured in Single Vehicle Crash

A Mishawaka woman was injured in a single vehicle crash in Marshall County late Thursday evening.

Marshall County police say Danielle Evanoff was driving north on U.S. 31 south of 5A Road when she left the roadway for unknown reasons. She attempted to correct the action, but lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle lost control, struck a cable barrier in the grass median and began rolling, according to the report. The vehicle came to rest on its top.

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Elsea Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

Jamie Elsea

A Plymouth man was sentenced to 12 years in prison on a charge of aggravated battery of an 18-month-old child left in his care.

According to Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman, Jamie Lee Elsea, 25, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state on the Level 3 felony charge but left the sentence up to Marshall Superior Court No. 1 Judge Robert O. Bowen. Charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and attempted murder were dismissed with the acceptance the plea agreement.

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New Project Elements Revealed During Plymouth Redevelopment Commission Meeting

The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission provided a financial and structural overview of the Aquatic Center Project that will be built adjacent to the LifePlex when they met earlier this week. City Attorney Sean Surrisi explained that while 2.2 million dollars of grant money received through the Regional Cities Initiative will be used for the Aquatic Center, new funds have become available that will allow for more structures to be constructed with this project. Continue reading

Culver Superintendent’s Report Includes Proposed Programs for Students Young and Old

The report delivered by Superintendent Karen Shuman at the Culver School Board meeting Monday night contained some proposed programs for both older and younger students in the Culver community.

Shuman told the board about potential teen programs they are looking into with the assistance of a local group of community members. She said that with programs specifically targeted at teenagers, they are hoping to bridge the gap between Culver Community students, surrounding community schools’ students and students from Culver Academy. The potential program has been entitled ‘Teen Canteen’ and would provide certain activities for teen students to do on Friday and Saturday nights.

For younger community members, Shuman said the school corporation is looking into becoming an On-My-Way Pre-K school. Though they currently have some programs in place, they are looking to move those to their school corporation to help service parents more locally. Continue reading

Usher in Autumn with John Glenn’s Annual Falloween Festival

Autumn is officially upon us and that means that it is once again time for the Falloween Fest at John Glenn High School in Walkerton. This annual festival kicks off today  and runs all weekend. The festival features a variety food and crafts vendors as well as fun activities for the whole family.

The Skerbeck Carnival starts up at 4 p.m. and will stay open until 11 p.m. The craft vendors fair in the auxiliary gymnasium will run from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The grand parade, sponsored by Walkerton Chamber of Commerce, commences at 5:30 p.m. and will traverse the streets of Walkerton and end at the fairgrounds on Georgia Street. Continue reading

Funeral Services Set for Triton Student, Football Game Rescheduled

The Triton and Pioneer football game has been moved in order for the Triton school community to say goodbye to a high school student.

Cameron Scarberry, 16, died from injuries sustained from a single vehicle rollover accident on 650 North near 700 West in Kosciusko County. Scarberry’s brother was also in the vehicle and sustained multiple injuries, but he has since been released from the Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Scarberry was a junior at Triton High School where he was a member of the football and wrestling teams since his freshman year. He was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Students.

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Cowger Formally Charged after Jail Fight

Zachary Cowger

An inmate in the Marshall County Jail who allegedly hit a police officer during a fight in the jail has been formally charged.

On Sept. 13 at 8:25 p.m., Zachary Cowger, 22, allegedly hit Marshall County Jail Officer Billy Schoff in the head twice during a confrontation in the Marshall County Jail. According to the affidavit for probable cause, Jailer Schoff observed Cowger and another inmate in a pod violating jail rules and Cowger refused to comply with commands given over the intercom. Jailer Schoff left the observation room to confront Cowger when the alleged incident occurred.

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