Local communities are learning how much money they’ll get for street projects, as part of the second round of Community Crossings grants.
Bourbon Property on Hold for Demolition
The demolition of a property in Bourbon unfit for human habitation may come down Oct. 1.
Marshall County Attorney James Clevenger told the county commissioners Monday morning that the bank placed a stay of demolition on the property that expired on Sept. 15. A motion to extend the stay another 45 days was filed in the court system, but the county quickly filed an objection stating that enough time has elapsed for work to be done. A judgment has not been filed in the case as of Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Plymouth City Building Renovations Could be Completed Sooner than Scheduled
Updates about ongoing projects were provided at the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission meeting earlier this week. According to City Attorney Sean Surrisi, construction at the Plymouth City Building could be finished sooner than the proposed completion date.
Initially, the contract called for the renovations to be complete by June 29th 2018. Due to some changes in how construction is being conducted, that date could move up to late May or early June.
Surrisi explained that when the contract was drawn up, it was understood that contractors would have to work around the mayor and clerk-treasurer who planned to stay in the building during renovations. However, since the city rented the space at 118 N Michigan Street, contractors will no longer need to work around city employees. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Adopt Ordinance for LaPaz Property Rezoning Request
A public hearing was held on Monday concerning the rezoning of a property in LaPaz for the opportunity of economic development on a property located just north of U.S. 6 in LaPaz by the new interchange. The zoning classification would go from A-1 Agriculture to a C-2 Highway Commercial District zone.
Plan Director Ralph Booker explained to the Marshall County Commissioners that the rezoning would extend the highway business district in that area for economic development. No commitments were made as part of the zoning request, but six acres is available to improve economic development in the town. The state owns several other parcels in that area.
Culver School Board Adopts Capital Project & Bus Replacement Plans
Resolutions proposing the adoption of the 2018 Budget, capital projects plan and bus replacement plan came before the Culver Community School Board following a public hearing held at their Monday evening meeting.
No public comments were provided during the hearing. The board then went on to adopt the resolutions for the 2018-2020 capital projects plan and the 2018 bus replacement plan. Continue reading
State Police to Target Commercial Vehicle Drivers in Seatbelt Enforcement Blitz Next Week
Indiana State Police will be making sure drivers of commercial vehicles are properly wearing seatbelts. Commercial motor vehicle officers and motor carriers inspectors will take part in a statewide commercial vehicle enforcement blitz next week.
Free Trees Available to NIPSCO Customers
Did you know strategic tree planting can help conserve energy and reduce energy bills? The Arbor Day Foundation program Energy-Saving Trees is offering 375 free trees to NIPSCO customers to simultaneously assist clients and the environment.
An online tool helps customers estimate the annual energy savings that will result from planting trees in the most strategic location near businesses or residences. The Energy-Saving Trees tool uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA Forest Service’s i-Tree software to calculate estimated energy savings. Additionally, the tool estimates other benefits including cleaner air and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Approve Money for Fire Monitoring System
Marshall County Maintenance Director Doug Masterson approached the commissioners Monday morning with an emergency situation with the fire monitoring system at the Marshall County Museum.
Masterson explained that the system failed on Thursday and needs to be replaced. He added that Marshall County Historical Society Museum Director Linda Rippy contacted the NoBi Corporation out of Elkhart to get a quote to replace the fire monitoring system. The company representative gave her an estimate of $5,935.
Brownfield Grant Creating Buildable Properties, Adding Jobs
Marshall County Plan Director Ralph Booker and Joel Markland with BCA Environmental Consultants out of Elkhart presented information about the county’s Brownfield Grant.
Markland said the three-year grant will be closed out at the end of this month.
Marshall County Safety Committee Receives Updates
The Marshall County Safety Committee received some updates from fellow school superintendents, probation, police, and emergency management.
Triton School Superintendent Donna Burroughs stated that her school’s response to the news of the death of a fellow student was swift. With the availability of receiving news rather immediately through social media, almost all of the students knew about the news within the hour. Superintendent Burroughs said they didn’t want to wait until Monday to offer comfort so administrators opened the school so students could be in the comfort of their peers to grieve together. She said about 150 students were at the school that day to support one another. She added that counselors were also available on Monday to assist students with any needs.
FAFSA 101: PHS Parent Workshop Tonight
Parents of senior students from Plymouth High School, Weidner School of Inquiry and surrounding schools are invited to attend an hour long FAFSA workshop at 5:30 p.m. tonight in the PHS cafeteria.
The FAFSA is an application that helps determine financial aid eligibility for students applying to college. The application must be filled out and submitted each academic year and in order to be considered for federal student aid for the 2017/18 award year, the application needs to be submitted by midnight on June 30th, 2018. Continue reading
J-Turns Not a Favorable Solution in Argos
Over 100 people attended a public hearing hosted by officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation Tuesday night at the Argos Junior/Senior High School to address the proposal of a J-turn intersection at U.S. 31 and State Road 10 in Argos.
Troyer Group Project Manager Chris Maidner presented statistics on why a J-turn would be a quicker, cheaper safety alternative at that intersection and provided an example of a J-turn intersection at State Road 114 and 41 in the Morocco area. Their statistics show a reduction in personal injury crashes anywhere from 50 to 100 percent, along with a reduction in the number of victims help after truck accident. Studies by INDOT and the Troyer Group found that the J-turn intersections can be utilized by large semi-trucks, school buses, farm equipment, horse and buggies, and large trailers without issue. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Adopt Solar Energy Systems Zoning Amendment
The Marshall County Commissioners adopted an amendment to the zoning ordinance concerning solar energy systems. According to the amendment, a solar energy system is a device that captures daylight for “interior lighting or provide for the collection, storage, or distribution of solar energy for space heating, space cooling, electricity generation, or water heating.”
Plan Director Ralph Booker explained that he and Building Commissioner Chuck DeWitt have gotten permit requests for solar energy systems in Bremen. There wasn’t much to the permitting process or the zoning requirement for the systems, but a public hearing was held Monday morning to set regulations.
J-turn Intersection Public Hearing Set for Tonight
A public hearing on the proposed J-turn intersection at U.S. 31 and State Road 10 and Dewey Street in Marshall County is tonight at 6 p.m. at the Argos Junior/High School.
This is the first of two public hearings set for two different J-turn proposals. The other intersection of this kind is proposed on U.S. 31 and State Road 110 on Wednesday, Sept 27 at 6 p.m. ET at the Argos Junior/Senior High School.
Marshall County Unemployment Up from Previous Month, but Still Close to Last Year’s Levels
Marshall County’s unemployment rate is up from the previous month, but still slightly better than the same period a year ago. According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, the county’s August unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, an increase of 0.7 percent from July.
Marshall County Safety Meeting Set for Today
Several entities will discuss emergency plans during the annual Marshall County Safety Committee meeting this morning.
Area school superintendents, highway department personnel, Emergency Management Agency, Marshall County Health Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s deputies and the Marshall County School Safety Committee will offer ways of communication with each other in case of an emergency situation.
The meeting will be at 9 a.m. today in the Plymouth Community School Corporation Board Room.
Saturday Morning Collision Resulted in Vehicle Rolling, Injuries Sustained
Marshall County Dispatch received a report of a 2 vehicle collision in the 100-block of Lincoln Highway and Fir Rd in Bourbon around 11 a.m. on Saturday. Initial information included that one vehicle had rolled over and there were injuries at the scene.
According to the police report, at the scene it was found that a 2007 Subaru driven by 19-year-old Dawson Kratzchmar, of Plymouth, was traveling north on Fir Road when at Lincoln Highway he failed to yield the right-of-way at the intersection and was struck by a 1992 Oldsmobile driven by 58-year-old Lorre Osburn, of Bourbon. Osburn was driving west on Lincoln Highway approaching Fir Road. When he struck the passenger side of the 2007 Subaru it caused the vehicle to roll and both vehicles then traveled northwest off the roadway. Continue reading
Three-County Chase on U.S. 30 Ends with Arrest of Carmel Man
A Carmel man was arrested Thursday, after he allegedly led police on a chase through three counties on U.S. 30. Police say it began around 1:45 p.m. in Marshall County, when a patrolman tried to pull over a car near Tulip Road.
Bremen Man Arrested, Following Rollover Crash
A Bremen man faces a drunk driving charge, following a rollover crash Friday morning near Lakeville. Marshall County Police were called to the area of 1st Road and Oak Road shortly after 4:30. They say they found a black 1994 Toyota SUV in the middle of the road.
Triton High School Student Dies in Kosciusko County Crash
A single-vehicle crash has claimed the life of a Triton High School student. Cameron Scarberry, 16, of Etna Green, was killed in a crash near Atwood Sunday. School officials say he died instantly. The fatality was confirmed Monday by Kosciusko County Coroner Tony Ciriello.
