The Marshall County Council will review the annual Convention and Visitors Bureau budget when they meet this morning. Other agenda items include various requests for transfers and appropriations in order to close the year out in the black. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. EST on the second floor of the Marshall County building.
Culver Community Middle School Wants Trip to Kings Island
The Culver Community Middle School recently raised money to help the 8th grade students go on an end of the year field trip to Kings Island. Both 7th and 8th grade students from the middle school participated in a Nov. 21 lock-in with games and food. Middle and high school Principal Brett Berndt says the evening’s activities raised about $845 toward the goal. He says additional fundraisers will be held to raise the rest of the money for the trip.
Hoosier Lottery Adds Sunday Drawings
The Hoosier Lottery is adding three new drawings. Starting tomorrow, midday drawings will take place each Sunday for the Daily 3, Daily 4 and Quick Draw games. Currently, midday drawings for all three games are conducted Monday through Saturday. The Sunday drawing schedule will match the existing schedule for Monday through Saturday drawings. The cut-off for ticket purchase will be 1:10 p.m. Eastern and the drawing will occur at or about 1:20 p.m. Continue reading
Poor Handmaids Host Culver Academies Ensembles
The Culver Academies Choir, Band and Orchestra will perform at Ancilla Domini Chapel in Donaldson tomorrow. The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ present the ensembles of Culver Academy to the public, free of charge. Continue reading
Marshall County Commissioners Discuss Pretty Lake Setback Ordinance
The Marshall County Commissioners approved the second reading of an ordinance regulating setbacks at Pretty Lake.
A public hearing on the ordinance was held on Monday, Nov. 17 where Plan Director Ralph Booker explained to the commissioners that the Pretty Lake Homeowners Association approved a change where new construction would need to be a 45-foot setback from an 789.0 elevation line. The setback shall be determined by a line drawn between the furthest extension of adjacent structures including any decks, balconies or raised patios.
Teacher Performance Grants Awarded to Several Local Schools
Educators at several local schools will receive a share of the $30 million in Teacher Performance Grants awarded by the state to more than 1,300 schools. Funds were given to schools with students earning ISTEP+ or end of course assessment passing scores of 72.5 percent or above or with a growth in graduation rates of 5 percent ore more from the previous year. Teachers who are rated effective or highly effective under Indiana’s teacher evaluation system for the 2013-2014 academic year will be paid based on student performance. Continue reading
Clemons Sentenced on Methamphetamine Charge
A ten-year prison sentence was handed down to a Knox man in Marshall Superior Court No. 1.
Tony Clemons, Jr., 36, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. He admitted that he assisted in the manufacture of methamphetamine on multiple occasions at an 8th Road address.
Clemons had been on parole from a previous conviction of burglary from another county and failed a drug test previously administered by his parole officer, according to a news release from the Marshall County Prosecutor’s office. Police went to the 8th Road address in July and found a burn pile with remnants of methamphetamine labs. Officers applied for a search warrant. Once the search warrant was executed, officers found items associated with manufacturing methamphetamine.
Judge Robert O. Bowen accepted the plea agreement which called for a ten year sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction on the charge of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. No part of the sentence was suspended.
Culver’s Holiday Hop Tonight
The annual Holiday Hop in Culver is scheduled this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET at the train station depot on Lake Shore Drive. Christmas tree lighting and caroling will be led by the Culver Youth Community Organization from Culver Community Schools and from Culver Academies. Continue reading
Investigation Clears Jefferson Elementary Principal, Teacher of Wrongdoing
A Plymouth Community School Corporation principal and teacher will return to the classroom today after an investigation into possible mismanagement of school funds cleared them of any wrongdoing. Jefferson Elementary School Principal Angie Mills and a teacher have been on paid leave since Friday, Nov. 14, according to our reporting partners at WNDU-TV. Continue reading
Culver Woman Sentenced to Probation
A Culver woman was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of possession of methamphetamine as a Class D felony that was reduced to a Class A misdemeanor.
Erin Schoberg was sentenced to 12 months in the Starke County Jail. All of the sentence was suspended to be served on probation. Schoberg told Judge Kim Hall that she was in possession of a half of a pill that was in her purse.
Schoberg will need to attend a substance abuse program recommended by the probation department.
Incoming Marshall County Prosecutor Names Chief Deputy Prosecutor
Marshall County Prosecutor-elect Nelson Chipman has appointed Tami L. Napier of Hancock County as the next chief deputy prosecuting attorney. Her appointment begins Jan. 1.
Tami Napier has been the chief deputy prosecutor in Hancock County for the last four years. Prior to that she served as a deputy prosecutor in Marion County for five years where she was assigned to major felonies, the sex crimes unit and the homicide division. She initiated programs like the Hancock County Child Fatality Review Team, the Hancock County Sexual Assualt Response Team and the Domestic and Sexual Assault Prevention Coalition.
Highway Supervisor Gives Road Plow Priority List to Commissioners
Marshall County Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters gave the commissioners a map and a list of which roads are to be opened first in the event of snow.
The commissioners had asked for a list so they know which areas would receive attention first. They also asked Peters to forward the information to the sheriff’s department, EMS, fire department, and EMA Director for emergency planning.
Peters said that the main roads, Quince Road, 4B, Queen, Oak, North Michigan, King, Plymouth-Goshen, Iris, Fir, 9th, Overmyer, Olive, Thorn, Muckshaw, South Michigan, Lincolnway and others, would be open to traffic within two hours first thing in the morning.
Weidner School of Inquiry Selected as Exemplar School
The Weidner School of Inquiry at Plymouth High School has been designated as an exemplar school for 2015 by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is the leading organization advocating for 21st century learning.
The Weidner School of Inquiry was one of 14 schools selected for this honor. The program highlights exemplary 21st century learning practices that are improving schools and student learning in classrooms and communities across the United States.
Public Hearing Held on Culver Community Schools Superintendent Contract
The Culver School Board conducted a public hearing Monday evening concerning the superintendent’s contract. No public comments or questions where given and the hearing was closed within five minutes. Continue reading
Ancilla College Students Chosen for College Acedemic Team
A pair of Ancilla College students are 2014-2015 nominees for the Phi Theta Kappa All-USA/Coca-Cola Community College Academic Team. Phi Theta Kappa is a two-year college national honor society. Continue reading
Marshall County EMA Director Receives Grant Funding
Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery presented the commissioners with a grant sub agreement for their signatures for a competitive EMPG grant that the county received in the amount of $8,485.29.
Avery explained that the grant is a reimbursable grant that will be used for a training exercise and educational material for the public. When he originally requested to apply for the grant, he wanted to purchase recording equipment for the Emergency Operations Center but he found out that could not be approved with the grant funds.
BMV Reinstatement Program Available until Dec. 31
Suspended drivers have until Dec. 31 to take advantage of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ Reinstatement Relief Program. The Reinstatement Relief Program allows suspended drivers to pay temporarily reduced reinstatement fees and earn reinstatement, as long as all other legal requirements are met.
Don Snemis, Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, said the program offers a 50 percent discount on reinstatement fees before July 1, 2013 for operating without insurance. Customers may be responsible for providing proof of insurance, completing a driver safety program, paying court fees, or successfully passing a driver’s license written knowledge exam, driving skills exam or vision screening.
Culver Community School Board Decides on Balanced Calendar
The Culver Community School Corporation adopted the balanced calendar concept last night making it the third school in the area to do so. The school board unanimously approved the plan. Superintendent Dr. Vicki McGuire says a set calendar cannot be made until test dates are released, but the concept will be put in effect.
Road Construction Project in Marshall County on Hold
The 7th Road project in Marshall County will not be completed this year.
The project supervisor overseeing the construction, Bart Trester, told the Marshall County Commissioners that the current state of the project on Michigan Road will remain through the winter.
“The traffic has been running on phase three section of the roundabout and will probably remain like this through the winter,” said Trester. “The contractors finished placing the HMA base and intermediate lifts along the main line from Seltenright Ditch to Linden Trail and the HMA base from Seltenright Ditch to the roundabout. Due to weather limitations, the contractor will more than likely shut down operations for the winter. They have opened Lilac Road and Linden Trail for thru-traffic for over the winter.”
Culver School Board to Consider Balance Calendar Tonight
The Culver School Board will be discussing the Balanced Calendar concept tonight. During the last meeting the board received balanced calendar survey responses from families, students and faculty members. A total of 780 responses were received with 75 percent of the surveys saying yes, they would like to see a balanced calendar implemented. Continue reading
