Engineer Addresses Drainage Issue at Jellystone Park

Bob Aloi from Territorial Engineering brought forward information to the Marshall County Commissioners about a drainage issue at Jellystone Park.

Aloi said that the park has suffered flooding issues due to poor drainage for several years, mainly by Avalanche Avenue. According to Aloi, at the entrance of the park, on the Plymouth-LaPorte Trail, there is an issue with an overflow of ditches as well as on Redwood Road. Aloi isn’t exactly sure where the water inflow is occurring but he’s wondering what the county can do to help in the process.

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John Glenn School Board Recognizes Retirees

The John Glenn Community School Board approved the retirement of several long-time staff members at the school corporation this week.

Judy Schmidt will be retiring after 43.5 years as a school bus driver while Director of Transportation Cindy King will be leaving after 33 years of service. She served 22 years of her tenure as the director. Linda Parker will be retiring after 47 years as a math teacher.

High school Spanish teacher Gina Jackson also submitted her request for retirement as did first grade teacher Kymberly Groves.

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Valedictorian and Salutatorian Introduced to Culver Community School Board

Josh Krsek
Brandon Havron

It’s become a tradition that the Valedictorian and Salutatorian be introduced to the Culver Community School Board before they walk the stage on graduation night.

During Monday’s meeting, Middle/High School Principal Brett Berndt presented Valedictorian Josh Krsek and Salutatorian Brandon Havron as the top two graduates of the Class of 2017.

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State Health Officials Offer Tick Disease Prevention Tips

Hoosiers are urged to protect themselves against ticks when taking part in outdoor activities. The small, insect-like creatures are found in grassy, wooded areas throughout the state. Ticks tend to be most active during the late spring and early summer.

State health officials warn they can transmit a variety of diseases, including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Last year more than 200 cases of tick-borne illness were reported in Indiana. Continue reading

Donnelly Weighs in on Russia Investigation

U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly

Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly is pleased with the Justice Department’s appointment of a special counsel to investigate alleged ties between President Trump’s campaign and the Russians. During an interview on WKVI’s “Grossman in the Morning” Thursday, Donnelly said it’s important to find out what the facts are. Continue reading

Marshall County Sheriff’s Department to Host Youth Camp

Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel invites area youth to attend the 2017 Law Enforcement Camp on Friday, June 23 through Sunday, June 25.

Counselors from law enforcement agencies throughout the county will host a variety of activities for the area’s children to experience. Camp activities include law enforcement displays, career-oriented classes, leadership skills, obstacle courses, firearms training, and other activities during the three-day event at Potowatomi Wildlife Park in Tippecanoe.You can also click here now to know more.

Deputy and Camp Counselor Travis O’Neal from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department said the Elkhart City Police Department’s Bomb Squad will host a demonstration.

“The campers will get to see all of the equipment they’re using and they will set of some explosives,” said O’Neal.

Deputy and Camp Counselor Ryan Hollopeter added the officers will teach campers integrity, discipline and respect when attending this camp.

“All of that comes together at the academy,” said Hollopeter. “As chiefs and sheriffs hire new deputies, that’s what they look for. We work that into this camp. It’s not like a boot camp, but they are going to be exposed to that organization and held accountable.”

Sheriff Hassel invites adults to attend just to get in on all of the fun.

There is no fee to attend the camp. Food for the event is being donated and the hands to prepare it will come from volunteers. There is an insurance cost for the camp and any donations toward that fee can be made by contacting Sheriff Hassel at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.

Applications are available at the sheriff’s department and on the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook page.

John Glenn School Corporation to Get Two New Buses

The John Glenn School Board discussed the purchase of two 78-passenger school buses with Transportation Director Cindy King.

King said that the buses she chose for the proposal come equipped with the necessary features that the school corporation requires on the buses. Extra seats with seat belts for younger children, two-way radios and cameras are part of the proposal.

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Culver Community School Board Approves Cafeteria Prices

Prices for lunch will increase for all schools next year at the Culver Community School Corporation.

Food Services Director Carin Clifton said the lunch price variables were put into a calculator as part of the Indiana Department of Education paid equity requirements. It was determined this year that the price will go up another 10 cents. The statistic is based on students who are not on free and reduced lunch.

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Tyler Road Culvert Work to Create Detour

A culvert replacement will cause detoured traffic between St. Joseph County and Marshall County beginning on Monday.

Marshall County Highway Administrator Laurie Baker told the commissioners this week that St. Joseph County highway workers would like to use three roads in Marshall County as a detour while the culvert issues are addressed. Lilac Road, King Road, and First Road will be utilized as a route around the construction.

Commissioner Kurt Garner noted that the area doesn’t carry much traffic so the proposed detour should not be an issue.

The commissioners unanimously approved the request. The culvert work is expected to be complete on Friday, May 26.

BMV Branches to Close During Memorial Day Observance

All branches of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be closed Saturday, May 27 through Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day.

Branches will reopen with regular business hours on Tuesday, May 30. The Plymouth branch is open on Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the work week. Saturday’s hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Walkerton Branch is open Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For online assistance, visit www.myBMV.com.

Milling and Paving Project to Impact Michigan Road in Plymouth

Traffic on Michigan Street in Plymouth will slow as road crews from Walsh and Kelly, Inc. will mill and pave the road for two weeks beginning Monday, May 22.

According to Doug Moats from the Indiana Department of Transportation, crews are finishing ADA sidewalk ramps and will start the road paving project on Monday. The project will begin on 7C Road and work south on Michigan Street.

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John Glenn School Board Approved Technology Proposal

The John Glenn School Board approved the bid for Chromebooks for the students in the One-to-One computer initiative.

In the corporation’s program, freshmen get their computer and it is theirs through the duration of their high school career. Seniors turn in their Chromebook at the end of the school year, or they can purchase them at a discounted rate and you could try here get your computers repaired at cheap rate. Seventh grade students use their computer for two years.

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Culver School Board Receives Update on Stellar Communities Project

Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist presented an update on the Stellar Communities application to the Culver Community School Board that involves school grounds.

Improvements on a field behind the corporation office and improvements at the baseball fields are included in this year’s application. Leist said site control and which entity would be in charge of funding was brought up in last year’s process. Leist said he thinks he has found a solution and brought the idea to Interim Superintendent Chuck Kitchell.

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Argos School Board Approves Administration Hires

The Argos Community School Board approved the appointments and hires of several staff members this week.

Rebecca Vamos was appointed as the elementary principal after serving in the interim position since the start of the second semester this year. The contracts of Nick Medich as the junior/senior high school principal and Dean of Students/Athletic Director Jon Alcorn were renewed for one year. Charles Nettrouer was also appointed as the director of maintenance, building and grounds on a one-year contract.

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Marshall County Commissioners Approve Quit Claim Deed

Marshall County Commissioners (L to R) Mike Delp, Kevin Overmyer, Kurt Garner

James and Jean Klinedinst can now stop paying taxes on lake water now that all of the legal paperwork is complete.

County Attorney James Clevenger explained that the pair appeared before the commissioners a few years ago asking the commissioners to take back part of the property that they’ve been paying taxes on that is deeded in Kreighbaum Lake. It was found that they had been paying property taxes on 18 acres of the lake. Traditionally, all bodies of water in the county are owned by the local governing body, but somehow a mistake occurred and the Klinedinsts have been paying taxes on that portion of the lake for years.

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