The Indiana Department of Revenue says greater security measures will be in place once again to prevent identity theft.
According to a press release, the alleged criminal perpetrators attempted to steal more than $88-million from taxpayers through ID theft and fraudulent tax returns last year.
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Culver Community Schools may soon be advertising for buses.
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The Marshall County Commissioners will not meet today as the county employees will observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
When they meet tomorrow, the highway department heads will have updates on the wetland mitigation issue and the mill pond dam. Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters will also have pug mill estimates and bid specifications for a loader.
Bart Trester from USI Consultants will present a fiber-optic conduit certification of completion for Glen Overmyer Drive in connection with the Metronet project. Curt Fey from Legal Shield will have a presentation and the commissioners will discuss the 2015 covered bridge certification.
The Culver Town Council will have a very similar look after being reorganized on Tuesday night.
The council is required to select leaders under state statute. Ginny Bess Munroe was re-elected as the Culver Town Council’s President for another term. Munroe has served on the board for the last seven years.
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Another competition is being put on by the Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission and, this time, it involves pizza.
The NITDC held a similar competition last year to declare the top burger restaurant in the Northern Indiana region. This spring 56 of the top locally owned pizza restaurants will be squaring off to determine the areas’ best pies.
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Starke County Townships could be affected if another attempt to transfer their duties to the county level is successful.
House Bill 1309 was recently filed and looks to dissolve township governments. The transition would take place by 2019. Starke County has nine townships with hundreds more in the state of Indiana.
The Marshall County Council approved an additional appropriation of $39,000 in order to spend the funds for equipment for the Emergency Management Agency.
EMA Director Clyde Avery was recently approved for a grant worth $39,000 to purchase transportable computer system equipment for the Emergency Operations Center and recording equipment. The items have to be purchased first and then the state will reimburse the county after an invoice is submitted.
The council members unanimously approved the appropriation.
Thousands of movies, television shows, music albums and audiobooks are now available for online access and for mobile devices through the Plymouth Public Library.
A new partnership with hoopla digital allows Plymouth Library card holders to download the free app and instantly stream content on smart phones, tablets or computer. All that is needed is a valid library card.
Only 23 libraries in the state offer this type of access to materials. Fulton County and the Plymouth Public Library are the area library systems to partner with hoopla digital.
Accessible content is available by visiting www.hoopladigital.com.
The Marshall County Community Foundation is accepting applications until Monday, Feb. 2 for the first of two 2015 Community Fund grant rounds.
Grants are awarded from this fund twice a year with money going to nonprofit organizations. The funds support projects or programs in Marshall County focusing on the arts, education, health and human services, recreation and the environment.
January is considered an optimal time to conduct radon tests in your home or business.
The Environmental Protection Agency has decided to designate January as national Radon Action Month. Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that can lead to numerous health problems.
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An early morning traffic stop Wednesday at the intersection of Michigan and 4A Roads in Marshall County ended with a trip to jail for a South Bend woman. Continue reading
A convicted sex offender who lives in Plymouth faces new charges in Marshall County. Continue reading
The Director of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation gave the county council an update on the shell building in Plymouth.
Jerry Chavez explained that construction on the building began last year, but activity ceased as winter settled in.
“There are some items that still need to be completed but for the most part, it’s at a status where we won’t see any more work this coming winter. We’re doing what we can in terms of marketing it to prospective clients that may have an interest in expanding to Marshall County and setting up shop in Plymouth’s backyard,” said Chavez.
Plymouth City police officers have arrested a suspect after investigating additional information received from a case in 2011.
The additional information was received on Nov. 4, 2014 regarding a house fire at 707 Pearl Street in Plymouth on March 3, 2011. According to a previous report, an explosion occurred at the residence where a victim was severely burned and another injured. A meth lab was discovered at the residence.
Detectives followed up on the additional information received and requested the reports be reviewed by the Marshall County Prosecutor.
Starke County organizations are being asked to help provide more students and adults access to higher education
The College Success Coalition is newly formed and is sending a steering committee to attend workshops in Plymouth. Starke County will join about 20 other Indiana counties for the sessions as they develop the coalition.
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Months of research has still left questions for a few Culver residents.
The Culver Town Council held a public hearing last night to amend the zoning ordinance to allow for Wind Energy Conversion Systems. The Town’s Plan Commission has been researching the matter for some time.
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A design team from a local company has been honored for their innovation in high efficiency oil-fired furnaces.
According to a release from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, engineers from Thermo Products were recently inducted into the Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana.
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The Marshall County Council members approved some money movement within the sheriff’s budget Monday morning.
Sheriff Tom Chamberlin requested an additional appropriation for $30,000 for prisoner care. Council President Matt Hassel commented that the money was “inadvertently overlooked” from the 2015 budget. The request was approved by a vote of 6-1 with Judy Stone opposed. She said the certified shares line item would be healthy enough to afford to pay that expense by the third or fourth quarter.
An additional appropriation request for funds to be placed into the sheriff’s pension line item in the budget was approved in the amount of $216,859.
If you made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking, you will soon have a program to help you stay smoke-free, presented by IU Health Starke Hospital, Moving Starke County Forward and Porter-Starke Services.
Cindy Reister, who is an American Lung Association-trained facilitator, will lead eight small group sessions to help participants get personalized attention to quit smoking. Evaluation studies show that individuals, who participate in small group sessions like this Freedom from Smoking Clinic, are more likely to stay smoke-free one year later than those who try to quit on their own.
The Marshall County Council discussed an additional appropriation for Superior Court where Judge Dean Colvin asked for money to add to the court services director’s salary and to the substance abuse counselor’s salary.
Judge Colvin explained that the salaries were reduced in 2011 to accommodate cuts that needed to be done due to a lack of revenue and income the programs were receiving. According to Judge Colvin, the programs were turned around, thanks to the addition of Ward Byers to the office in 2013 and personnel in the office.
