The Marshall County Community Foundation is inching closer to receiving some major grant funds.
The Lilly Endowment announced a matching funds grant challenge in 2014. The Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) grant is designed to give charitable organizations a bit of flexibility in how their funds are used. According to a press release, local communities have raised around $130-million for communities in the state.
Area schools are recognizing the work of their teachers over the next several days.
National Teacher Appreciation Week is being celebrated across the country, and the Indiana State Teachers Association says the recognition will remind teachers their efforts are being noticed.
The Plymouth Community School Board will consider selection for curriculum content adoption when they meet tonight. They’re making plans for summer school as well as for the 2015-16 academic year.
Board members will also review professional development and have items presented by the Weidner School of Inquiry. The advance agenda also indicates handbooks and a transportation proposal will be reviewed.
The school board will meet at 7 p.m. ET in the school corporation’s central office.
A Bremen man faces murder and other felony charges in the beating death of a 15-year-old Bremen girl.
Desi Jones’ body was found on Friday, Dec. 19 by a man walking his dog a just off of 5th Road in rural Marshall County, according to court documents. Fabian Roman Rubio, 20, also of Bremen, is charged with murder, sexual misconduct with a minor and abuse of a corpse in connection with Jones’ death. During a news conference, Marshall County Prosecutor Nelson Chipman said investigators needed to determine the cause of death.
Today is the last chance to vote absentee in the City of Plymouth Primary Municipal Election.
An absentee ballot may be cast in the Marshall County Clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to noon today. As of Friday, 155 in-office, mail-in and travel board absentee ballots have been cast.
The polls will be open tomorrow from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the National Guard Armory for Center 1 and Center 2 precinct voters in Plymouth. The Knights of Columbus will be the polling site for Center 3 and Center 4 precinct voters in Plymouth. To check eligibility, call the clerk’s office at 935-8713.
Most establishments plan to operate as normal, but a few offices are closed on Tuesday.
The Municipal Primary Election in Starke and Marshall Counties is being held on May 5th. The Starke County Courthouse plans to be open during the primary, but City Hall in Knox will be closed for the day.
The Culver School Corporation will be considering RIF notices in the near future.
During tonight’s school board meeting, members will consider a resolution for the Reduction in Force. Removing positions from the books is often an annual process that allows the school corporation to bridge gaps in funding from the state or property tax levy.
A local resident will be giving her opinion about a wheel tax to the Marshall County Commissioners when they meet this morning.
The Culver Town Council and the Plymouth Common Council have approved letters of support to the Marshall County Commissioners and the council for a proposed Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT). A LOHUT includes a vehicle excise tax and wheel tax that is payable at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when vehicle registration is due. Those fees will be distributed to the county for use to construct, reconstruct, repair or maintain streets under county, city or town jurisdiction.
Ancilla College is adding a new two-year degree program in agriculture. President Dr. Ken Zirkle says classes will be offered this fall. Students who complete the program can either transfer to Purdue and get a bachelor’s degree or enter the workforce.
Zirkle says the head of a regional agriculture-related corporation recently told him they need workers with training beyond high school but not a bachelor’s degree. He says that’s a perfect fit for what Ancilla has to offer. School officials will be working with local corporations to develop classes to meet their needs. Continue reading
Voters in the City of Plymouth Primary Municipal Election have a chance to vote absentee today in the Marshall County Clerk’s office.
The Marshall County Courthouse is open to absentee voters today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. One more opportunity remains to vote absentee. The last chance to submit a ballot before Election Day is Monday, May 4 from 8 a.m. to noon.
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be changing their hours slightly, next week.
According to BMV Commissioner Kent Abernathy, branches located in counties with elections in May will extend their hours on Monday and Tuesday. The extended hours will allow the BMV to issue driver’s licenses and state ID cards that can be used for identification at polling sites.
The Department of Natural Resources has issued grant money to local counties to fight invasive aquatic vegetation. Lake and River Enhancement program grants from the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife allow for the completion of projects that would be difficult for local organizations to fund on their own.
Lake users will benefit from efforts to control non-native species, including Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, and starry stonewort. The grants can provide economic benefits to lake communities by improving and increasing public access opportunities for those who fish or pleasure-boat.
Starke County has been granted $18,800 for work at Bass Lake, Pulaski County will receive $5,000 for Bruce Lake projects, $8,800 is set for Koontz Lake in Marshall County and a grant for $12,400 was approved for Lake of the Woods in Marshall County.
A total of $447,009 was granted to 55 counties in the state.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources may be providing easier access to information.
A mobile “app” that the DNR oversees for mobile devices has been redesigned for both Apple and Android operating systems. The remake comes after the previous “app” was launched in 2011. According to the DNR, the previous application was downloaded almost 33-thousand times.
Plymouth Police made three arrests last night at a local hotel after responding to a report of suspicious activity. Officers were called to the Holiday Inn around 4:15 p.m. and found several items used to manufacture methamphetamine. They also located precursors and hypodermic needles, according to a news release. Continue reading
Legislation approved at the statehouse on Wednesday will be reforming how land is annexed in the Hoosier State.
The Indiana Farm Bureau – which has been involved for the past three legislative sessions in reform efforts – believes municipalities have absorbed thousands of acres of farmland in recent years.
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A bit of infrastructure is now in place for what could be the future of motor vehicle transportation.
NIPSCO, Pine Creek Plaza, and Mancino’s Pizza and Grinder’s have been working to install Plymouth’s first charging station for electric cars. The charging station allows owner’s of electric vehicles to receive the energy necessary for the car to continue traveling, and provides a stop along U.S. 30 for long-distance travelers.
The Argos Volunteer Fire Department and EMS responders will now have the ability to better care for pets in emergency fire situations.
Oxygen masks designed for house pets were recommended for emergency responders to carry after a structure fire more than a week ago. A grant application made the purchase of the masks possible.
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The Town of Culver has, for now, delayed further discussing water fluoridation.
Design and development plans for a new Water Treatment Plant are at the stage where the Town can make a decision regarding the use of fluoride in the water system. The chemical is commonly used in the prevention of tooth decay.
Continue reading
Now that the calendar has turned to May, the Culver-Union Township Public Library is celebrating historic preservation.
The library, located on North Main Street in Culver, was partially constructed as a Carnegie Library. They were built around the country using funds from the businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
The Mayor’s Youth Council plans to show Mother Earth some love tomorrow. Volunteers ages 11 and older are needed for their third annual Earth Day celebration. It gets under way at 9 a.m. at River Park Square on Garro Street and continues until 1 p.m. Participants are asked to wear long pants and shoes with closed toes. Work gloves are required, and safety vests will be provided. Continue reading
