Double check your federal tax return for any missed deductions and credits before you file it. Michelle Bachtel with H&R Block in Knox says deductions decrease your taxable income, which lowers the amount of money you owe. She says the IRS estimated last year over 4 million people failed to claim tax deductions to which they were entitled last year. Continue reading
National Library Week begins tomorrow and the Plymouth Public Library has a program in place to help patrons with fines.
The “Canned Food for Fines” program begins tomorrow. When library patrons bring in a can of food, library officials will take one dollar off of fines owed to the library. The deduction will be made through the patron’s account at the library. The library will only accept canned food that is not expired. Bottles, jars, or boxes will not be accepted.
The “Canned Food for Fines” program will continue through Saturday, April 18.
Marshall County is part of a pilot program for a wellness initiative.
Newly installed Wellness Community Coordinator Sandy Read told the Marshall County Commissioners this week that Purdue University received federal funding to place five coordinators in counties to develop a branch of the Nutrition Education Program. She will be employed by Purdue University.
Read said she and the Fulton County representative would be constructing the manual for the program and try to pave the way for a more widespread organization in 2016 or 2017.
If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, time is running out. Federal and state income taxes are both due Wednesday, April 15. Michelle Bachtel from H&R Block in Knox says you need to have personal information for everyone on your return handy before you start. This includes Social Security numbers, birth dates and full legal names as registered with the Social Security Administration. You will also need documentation of all of your income from wages, tips, savings, investments, retirement, rental property, self-employment or farming. Continue reading
A two-vehicle accident in Marshall County Wednesday afternoon caused minor injuries to a young passenger.
Police say Kimberly Moore, 42, of Knox was stopped at the intersection of State Road 8 and State Road 17 and was preparing to turn north onto State Road 17. Moore entered the intersection and struck a vehicle driven by Nicole Risner, 30, of Plymouth who was traveling south on State Road 17, according to a news release. Both vehicles sustained significant damage. A five-year-old boy, who was seated in the front seat of Moore’s car, suffered minor head and neck injuries after the airbag deployed.
There is a potential for severe weather in the area today. Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery says it depends on how several meteorological aspects set up today.
Avery says strong winds will most likely plague the area with a risk of tornadoes. Strong winds may break off tree limbs and create traffic hazards.
Crews are waiting for asphalt plants to open before resuming work on the 7th Road project in Marshall County.
Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said the roundabout needs to be complete, and a top coat of asphalt needs to be added to the new road leading from North Michigan Road east to the new U.S. 31 highway. Crews will also complete seeding and other aesthetic aspects before wrapping up the project.
Marshall County Treasurer Penny Lukenbill requested the extension of business hours to accommodate the payment of property taxes this spring and fall.
Lukenbill told the commissioners that the auditor delivered the tax duplicate to the treasurer’s office last week. The tax bills are now being created to be mailed out to taxpayers.
Lukenbill requested that the treasurer’s office be open on Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to noon. She also asked that hours be extended on Friday, May 8 and Monday, May 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
The Plymouth School Board may be able to better predict how students will perform on future SAT exams.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, PSAT data from the Class of 2017 was reviewed. The PSAT is designed to be given to High School Juniors. Plymouth Schools, however, have sophomores and a select group of juniors take the test. The state of Indiana helps fund the assessment.
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State legislation that caused a national uproar is receiving comments from one of Indiana’s federal representatives.
U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly appeared in Knox on Tuesday as part of a “Donnelly Day” visit. The Democrat uses the tours to learn more about important issues facing Indiana workers.
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The Maxinkuckee Players will hold open auditions for this year’s summer production on Saturday, May 2.
Those interested in a part in Hello Dolly will read from a script prepared on site and sing a song of choice. A pianist and a CD player will be available for accompaniment.
The musical surrounds the antics of Dolly Levi as she decides that she needs to find someone for herself after years of finding matches for everyone else. The musical is set in the City of New York at the turn of the century and provides some famous musical hits such as “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” and the title number, “Hello, Dolly!”.
Article provided by the Plymouth Community School Corporation
Brooke Busse has been named the new Director of Quality Programs for Plymouth Community School Corporation. Prior to this promotion Busse had been serving since 2012 as the corporation’s eLearning Coach. She has worked for PCSC since 2006; initially as a Title 1 Reading Teacher at WDA Washington Discovery Academy and from 2007 through 2012 as a 2nd grade teacher at WDA. Busse holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Specialist endorsement from Valparaiso University. She is currently pursuing an online Master of Arts in Curriculum and Educational Technology at Ball State University.
Andy Hartley is the new Assistant Superintendent for Plymouth Community School Corporation. He first started in 2008 as an assistant principal at Plymouth High School. In 2012 Hartley became the principal of Washington Elementary. He holds a B.S. degree from Manchester College in elementary education and a M.S. from Butler University. Hartley obtained a Superintendent’s License after earning his Educational Specialist License in School Administration in 2012. Prior to coming to Plymouth, he was a classroom teacher for five years. In 2010, the Indiana Association of Schools Principals named Hartley Assistant Principal of the Year in District 2.
Tippecanoe Township officials are looking to upgrade equipment and other needs and the Marshall County Commissioners agreed to help with the process.
Tippecanoe Township Trustee Matt Pitney expressed concern to the commissioners Monday morning about the township’s aging fire trucks and dilapidated building.
“The fire truck and the fire tanker are over 30-plus years old – all of our trucks are failing. Our fire station is part of the old school that has been kind of retrofitted. We’re parking fire trucks on top of a basement of the old school. We’ve spent endless hours repairing things ourselves trying to save the township some money,” said Pitney.
Despite scheduling three virtual learning days, the Plymouth Board of Education needed to take additional action.
During last night’s School Board meeting, Superintendent Dan Tyree recommended adding an extra day of class to the end of the school year. Plymouth is implementing the extra day due to the number of weather related school cancellations.
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The latest photo opportunity for U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly happened to be in Knox on Tuesday.
The Senator was touring multiple businesses in the Northern Indiana region as part of a “Donnelly Day.” The Democrat uses the visits to learn more about what’s important to workers in Indiana by performing tasks alongside various employees.
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Residents in Culver are being asked to be on the lookout for counterfeit bills.
According to officials with the Town of Culver, the bills are largely focused to $20 bills and higher. The counterfeit currency is said to look fairly realistic, but is missing a key watermark in addition to the reflective ink typically associated with real bills.
The Marshall County Clerk’s Office welcomed two voters Tuesday as they cast absentee ballots on the first day to do so in the City of Plymouth Primary.
Mayoral candidates include incumbent Republican Mark Senter, who will face the winner of the Democratic Party contest between Rex A. Crump and Anthony P. (Tony) Gamble. Republican Jeanine M. Xaver is the lone candidate for Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer.
Seven candidates have filed for the three available Plymouth Common Council At-Large seats. They include incumbent Republican Mike Delp, Republican Christopher R. Berdahl, Democrat Gary L. Cook, Democrat Jeffery R. Houin, Republican Burke L. Richeson, Democrat Joshua Walker and Republican Bill Walters.
Incumbent Republican Duane L. Culp is seeking another term as the District 1 candidate on the Plymouth Common Council. In District 2, Incumbent Republican Don Ecker, Jr. is the lone candidate. Incumbent Republican Wayne A. Smith and Democrat Shiloh Fonseca are vying for the District 3 seat and Incumbent Republican Shawn Grobe is looking to represent District 4 for another term.
The Marshall County Election Board opted to reduce absentee voting hours to Mondays and Fridays only for this primary since fewer voters are expected. The next opportunity to vote will be Monday, April 13, when polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Absentee voting is also available on Saturday, April 25 and Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET.
The final opportunity to vote absentee is May 4 from 8 a.m. to noon prior to the election on Tuesday, May 5.
A Plymouth man faces intimidation charges after he reportedly pulled a knife on two men at his Lake Street home last evening. Plymouth Police were dispatched to the residence around 5:30 p.m. for a report of domestic battery. Continue reading
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act has caused some concern for a Marshall County manufacturing company.
The Marshall County Commissioners took up the conversation on Monday morning. Commissioner Kevin Overmyer did not release the name of the company but did say that the manufacturer’s largest customer has opted to discontinue business due to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Marshall County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jerry Chavez commented that he received the same communication. He said the state moved in an aggressive matter concerning the legislation.
In-office absentee voting for the City of Plymouth Municipal Primary Election begins today and will continue until Monday, May 4. A ballot may be cast today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Voters can then cast absentee ballots on Mondays and Fridays only from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET beginning April 13 to May 1. Absentee voting is also available on Saturday, April 25 and Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ballots may be cast before the absentee voting board in the Marshall County Clerk’s office.
The final opportunity to vote absentee is May 4 from 8 a.m. to noon. The Municipal Primary Election is Tuesday, May 5.
