PLYMOUTH — On the morning of August 1, at 12:01 am, Plymouth Police conducted a traffic stop on Pioneer near Gary Drive for an equipment and registration violation.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as 31 year 31-year-old Chandler Shiflette of Anderson. Shiflette was found to have a suspended driver’s license, was in possession of marijuana, and showed signs of impairment. During the officer’s investigation, Shiflette was found to be under the influence and was taken into custody for operating a vehicle while intoxicated on a controlled substance, endangerment, as well as for possession of marijuana.
She was transported to the Marshall County Jail.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

*To see all the area police reports go to the home page and hit the “Police Reports” tab at the top.*

PLYMOUTH — On Aug. 3 at 8:28 p.m., Officers with the Plymouth Police Department were dispatched to the area of US 30 and Oak Dr. for a vehicle traveling West on US 30 that was all over the roadway.

Officers arrived at the scene, and a Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop at Love’s Truck Stop. During the investigation, the driver was identified as Salleigh Torpy, 28 years old, of Warsaw. It was also determined during the stop that Torpy had been drinking.
Torpy was given a field sobriety test and then offered a certified breath test, with certified test results showing a .251 BAC. She was arrested and taken to Marshall County Jail for OWI, OWI Above .15, and OWI Endangerment.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

*To see all the area police reports go to the home page and hit the “Police Reports” tab at the top.*

PLYMOUTH — The City of Plymouth is actively seeking proposals for the redevelopment and future use of its historic firehouse and city hall property.

This initiative presents a unique opportunity for developers, businesses, community organizations, and preservationists to contribute to the revitalization of downtown Plymouth by reimagining this significant local landmark.
Interested parties are encouraged to review the comprehensive details and submission requirements outlined in the Request for Proposals (RFP) that you can see at our website at max983.net.
Any other questions or to discuss this opportunity further, please feel free to contact the Mayor’s Office directly at 574-936-6717.

REQUEST FOR SOFT PROPOSALS REGARDING THE USE OF PLYMOUTH’S HISTORIC FIRE HOUSE & CITY HALL

The Historic Fire House & City Hall Advisory Committee to Plymouth Mayor Listenberger is seeking soft proposals from parties interested in the long-term use and operation of the former fire house and city hall building located at 220 North Center Street. The proposals are not binding, and the Committee can accept any or reject all proposals. Those submitting proposals deemed by the Committee to demonstrate logical planning, the ability to sustain operations, and offer substantial public benefit, whether for-profit or non-profit entities, shall be invited to submit and present more detailed proposals to the Committee at a later date. It is the intent of the City of Plymouth to retain ownership of the building.

The Old Fire House & City Hall property is located at 220 North Center Street, a block west of the historic commercial district, across from the Plymouth Library, next to the Plymouth Post Office, and two blocks south of the Marshall County Courthouse. The property includes off-street public parking on its north side that may also be considered for program development. The building was constructed in 1875-1876 as the original combination Plymouth Fire House-City Hall and appears to be the oldest of its kind in the state of Indiana. The building has approximately 1,500 square feet on the first floor and 1,500 square feet on the second floor. The first story has modern offices and toilet rooms; the second story has the original city hall chamber and fire pole, as well as modern toilet rooms and elevator. It is currently being used as a daycare facility. Exterior and interior photographs of the building accompany this request for proposals. Plan drawings of its current configuration is at the end of this document. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is within the Plymouth Downtown Historic District, which may provide rehabilitation tax credit or grant assistance for qualifying work.

The soft proposals should not exceed four pages and indicate use, ownership structure, ability to sustain operations and maintenance, and approximate number of individuals, employees, or market, that would benefit from the proposed use. Please include name and contact information and forward the proposal to the City of Plymouth, Mayor’s Office, 124 North Michigan Street, Plymouth, IN 46563. All proposals must be received by 4:00 p.m. August 29, 2025.

PLYMOUTH — The road plan for Marshall County continues to make progress.

Highway Superintendent Jason Peters told the Marshall County Commissioners that in the 10 days from July 21-31, his crews had completed 18.5 miles of chip and seal at a cost of just over $232,000.
Completed in that time frame were:
•Jarrah from US 6 to the Railroad crossing.
•6th from Juniper to Kenilworth.
•Hawthorne from 6th Road to the Plymouth/Goshen Trail.
•Plymouth/Goshen Trail from King to CR 106
So far, crews have completed 56 miles of road in the County.
Community Crossings fund paving projects are also completed on 3rd Road, 16 C Road, and 9th Road, with crews still needing to complete shoulder work and striping. He said the contractor, Milestone, had not yet given him a time when they would begin work on Nutmeg Meadows.

CULVER — Michael’s Asphalt Company is moving quickly through the project and is currently ahead of schedule.

The fog coating will be added on Thursday, not Friday as originally announced.

While this is being applied to the road, there will be temporary closures to sections of the road. Each section will be closed for roughly 1-2 hours while the coating dries. There is a plan to make it possible for vehicles to maneuver around, but they might be forced to take a longer route to avoid the wet fog coat. There will be multiple people out helping with traffic.

If you live on Academy Road, please pay attention to the road situation before pulling out of your driveway. The black fog coat will get on your car (or anything else) and will be nearly impossible to remove. If you would like to park on North Terrace Drive, please feel free to do so. The plan will allow for one of the two main intersections to always be open.

It is expected that the road project will be finished and dry by the end of the day on Thursday.

PLYMOUTH — Marshall County Highway Superintendent Jason Peters updated the Marshall County Commissioners on progress at the Randolph Street bridge reconstruction in Plymouth.

Peters told the board that the contractors for the project, LaPorte Construction, anticipated having most of the bridge passable on Aug. 22.
Workers have poured concrete for the bridge deck and were at work on the approaches to the bridge. They anticipate pouring the concrete for the sidewalks and curbs soon and once the sidewalks and bridge deck are poured and solid, the bridge will be passable.
Peters said that the company may have some finishing work to do to complete all aspects of the bridge and would undertake those after the Blueberry Festival was completed on Labor Day weekend.

PLYMOUTH — On Aug. 1, at 2:44 a.m., Plymouth Police were dispatched to the area of Wendy’s for the report of a man who was taking items from a Goodwill donation bin.

During the course of the investigation, the man was identified as Steven Norton, 45, of Bristol Virginia. Norton was transported to Marshall County Jail without incident and lodged for theft and public intoxication.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

*To see all the area police reports go to the home page and hit the “Police Reports” tab at the top.*

PLYMOUTH — ​On July 31 at 12:44 p.m., Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an accident at Hillcrest Ave. and Oak Ct.

Cheryl Scarberry, 72, was backing out of her driveway onto Hillcrest Ave, and she did not see Richard Avery on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle,​ who was traveling south on Hillcrest Ave. Avery was unable to avoid Scarberry’s vehicle.
Avery was flown to Memorial Hospital in South Bend to be treated for leg and head injuries. Scarberry was not injured. ​
​Agencies Involved were Plymouth PD,​ Plymouth Fire & EMS,​ Lutheran Air,​ Lyon’s Wrecker Service.​

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have risen 18.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.23/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 10.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 37.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

The national average price of diesel has decreased 0.1 cents in the last week and stands at $3.708 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $2.61/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.99/g, a difference of $1.38/g.
The national average price of gasoline has increased by 1.2 cents per gallon over the last week, now averaging $3.11 per gallon today.
“It was another relatively tame week at the pump, with the national average inching up for the second straight week as oil prices briefly touched the $70 per barrel mark before sliding late in the week on news that OPEC+ will raise oil production again in September,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “While price cycling led gas prices in some states to see double-digit increases or decreases, most saw only modest fluctuations. With OPEC+ now fully restoring production to 2023 levels— and fresh economic concerns arising from a weak jobs report and renewed tariff threats—oil prices may continue to face headwinds, potentially paving the way for a decline in gas prices in the weeks ahead.”
GasBuddy’s averages, graphs, maps and historical pricing data covering the U.S. and Canada is available 24/7 at http://prices.GasBuddy.com.

PLYMOUTH — On the morning of Aug. 4, at 2:02 a.m., Plymouth Police were dispatched to a residence on North Walnut Street for the report of an unwanted guest and a possible domestic battery.

Arriving on the scene, officers identified Hector Cerrato-Mendoza, 37, of Plymouth. Through the investigation, officers learned that Cerrato-Mendoza tried to forcibly enter the residence.
He was transported and lodged into the Marshall County Jail for residential entry, domestic battery, and public intoxication.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

*To see all the area police reports go to the home page and hit the “Police Reports” tab at the top.*

PLYMOUTH — On Saturday, Aug. 2,​ at 9:17 p.m., Marshall County Deputies were dispatched to Jellystone Yogi Bear Campground at 7719 Redwood Road in Plymouth,​ for a domestic dispute.

Ernesto Sanchez, ​40, was identified as one of the parties involved in the fight. Sanchez confronted another individual at the campground about stealing marijuana from his vehicle,​ then causing a fight to break out between he and the other party.
The other party was located with what appeared to be a broken leg or dislocated knee. Sanchez was arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail where he was booked and lodged for domestic battery causing moderate ​bodily injury,​ a level 6 felony.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

*To see all the area police reports go to the home page and hit the “Police Reports” tab at the top.*

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Commissioners responded to action taken last week by the Marshall County Sewer District Board in an ongoing action they have filed against Thomas McFadden in the battle over a seat on that board.

The Sewer District sent a response to the Commissioner’s complaint filed against McFadden for refusing to surrender his seat, which they declared vacant, appointing Bill Woodward to replace him.
Their response stated their contention that state statute does not allow the Commissioners to file suit, only a county prosecutor or a private citizen that feels they have a right to the seat can file a “declaratory action” and/or a “quo waranto” action, which is a process used to challenge a person’s right to hold a public office or to exercise a power derived from the government. It essentially means “by what warrant” or “by what authority,” and it’s used to determine if someone is legitimately entitled to the position they hold or the authority they are exercising.
The Sewer District approved the board’s legal counsel to represent McFadden in the ongoing legal wrangling, as well as calling for a dismissal of the case brought by the Commissioners.
On Monday, the Commissioners amended their case, naming Woodward personally as part of the action, and also gave permission for County Attorney Sean Surrisi to also act as counsel for him in the proceedings.
Later in Monday’s meeting, President of the Marshall County Council, Tim Harmon, came forward and requested that they and the Commissioners have a joint meeting in the near future so that the Council “could weigh in” on the matter.

Low-interest disaster loans are now available

ATLANTA – In response to a Presidential disaster declaration for public assistance issued July 22, 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans for certain private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Indiana affected by the severe storms, straight line winds, tornadoes and flooding occurring March 30-April 9, 2025.

The disaster declaration covers Marshall County.
Under this declaration, PNPs providing non-critical services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for both Physical Disaster Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges.
PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
“SBA loans help eligible PNPs cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help PNPs get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”
Interest rates are as low as 3.625%, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Sept. 22, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 22, 2026.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecast an air quality action day (AQAD) across the northern section of the state for Tuesday, August 5.

Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in the following areas:
North Central Indiana, including the cities of:
Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac, and all other cities within the area.
Northwest Indiana, including the cities of:
Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso, and all other cities within the area.
Northeast Indiana, including the cities of:
Angola, Auburn, Decatur, Fort Wayne, Hartford, Huntington City, LaGrange, Marion, Portland, Wabash, and all other cities within the area.
Canadian wildfire smoke circulating in the region will be pulled into northern Indiana on Tuesday. Fine Particulate monitor readings will increase as the plume of smoke moves across the region.
IDEM forecasted Air Quality Action Days indicate anticipated higher levels of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter only. Other factors may affect overall air quality.
Hoosiers can visit SmogWatch.IN.gov to:
•View Air quality information for all Indiana counties, including a state map of affected counties.
•Learn more about Air Quality Action Days and recommended actions.
•Learn more about ozone and fine particulate matter; and
•Sign up for air quality alerts.
Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. (24 hours) on the specified date. Some municipalities have additional open burning restrictions on AQADs. For more information, go to idem.IN.gov/openburning/laws-and-rules.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Highway Department will be chip and sealing the following road on Monday:

•6B from the West County Line to Ply-LaPorte Trail
Also, on Monday the Marshall County Culvert Crew will be replacing a tile on:
•Pond Street (Kenilworth), the road will be closed from 17th (Dewey St) to the railroad tracks to the north.
This road will be closed. Please use caution, slow down, and be alert when traveling near or through construction zones. Be mindful of workers and road conditions.

CULVER — The Culver Academies began the final two phases of the Academy Road replacing project from the Town limits to SR 10 on Sunday. There will be very limited parking on Academy Road for the duration of the final phases, Monday through Friday, Aug. 8.

The roadway will remain open to traffic flow during the entire process, apart from the final phase on Friday, Aug. 8, when traffic will be limited on Academy Road so the final coating can dry. Driving on this coating will damage both the new road surface and your vehicle.
Plans are in place to ensure that North Terrace always has one entry/exit point available; however, those who live on N. Shore Ln. will need to utilize the Employee Clinic parking lot to be able to get to the available roadway. Again, this traffic restriction only applies to a portion of the day on Friday, Aug. 8.
There will be staff in place to help direct traffic on Friday, August 8th, to ensure we limit damage/risk for everyone, and to help everyone find their way in and out safely.

BREMEN — Thursday night, the Bremen Public Schools Board of Education unanimously appointed Hope Amor as the district’s new Superintendent of Schools.

Amor succeeds Dr. Jim White, who retired after 11 years at Bremen.
Hope most recently served as a principal for Plymouth Community School Corporation and LaVille Community Schools.
Her background spans teaching and leadership positions in rural, urban, public, and private settings. She is currently completing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Purdue University.
As part of the selection process, Hope presented a 30-60-90 day transition plan to the Board, which includes a listening tour and strategies to strengthen connections across the district. Her vision emphasizes honoring Bremen’s traditions while advancing its role as a beacon of educational excellence in Marshall County and beyond.
A graduate of Bremen High School, Hope resides in Bremen with her husband, Nick. Nick is a local insurance agent and serves as the varsity girls basketball coach at LaVille.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is extending an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) across the northern section of the state for today, August 1, 2025. The forecast includes two regions in yesterday’s forecast and adds areas around Fort Wayne.

Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in the following areas:

North Central Indiana, including the cities of: Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac and all other cities within the area.
Northwest Indiana, including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and all other cities within the area.
Northeast Indiana, including the cities of: Angola, Auburn, Decatur, Fort Wayne, Hartford, Huntington City, LaGrange, Marion, Portland, Wabash and all other cities within the area.
With northeasterly flow at the surface Friday morning, we are continuing to be impacted by Canadian wildfire smoke moving south across the Great Lakes. Fine Particulate monitor readings in Northwest, North Central and Northeast Indiana have remained elevated overnight and we expect this to persist for most of today.

IDEM forecasted Air Quality Action Days indicate anticipated higher levels of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter only. Other factors may affect overall air quality.

Hoosiers can visit SmogWatch.IN.gov to:

View Air quality information for all Indiana counties, including a state map of affected counties;
Learn more about Air Quality Action Days and recommended actions;
Learn more about ozone and fine particulate matter; and
Sign up for air quality alerts.
Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. (24-hours) on the specified date. Some municipalities have additional open burning restrictions on AQADs. For more information, go to idem.IN.gov/openburning/laws-and-rules.

PLYMOUTH — In a special meeting held in the Plymouth Common Council chambers, the Marshall County Regional Sewer District passed a motion to authorize their legal counsel to proceed with litigation in a case filed by the Marshall County Commissioners against board member Thomas McFadden.

The board voted unanimously, with McFadden abstaining.
At their last meeting, the Commissioners declared the seat on the board held by McFadden to be vacant and appointed Bill Woodward to fill that seat.
The board gave attorney Chris Nusbaum the authorization to file a motion to dismiss the suit as well as draft a letter to the Commissioners stating that they did not recognize the seat to be empty and therefore Woodward’s appointment is not valid.
The letter went on to state that the board would continue its ordinary course of business and that Woodward would be welcome to attend the district’s public meetings in the capacity of a citizen of Marshall County.
At the heart of the issue is the Commissioner’s interpretation of Indiana statute that appointees to the board serve “at the will” of the body that appointed them and can be removed at any time. The Sewer Board contention is that appointed members cannot be removed before their term “without cause”.
The dispute began with concerns by the Commissioners over the board’s fiscal expenditures since its formation.

PLYMOUTH — On July 26, a man reported that he had misplaced his wallet and debit card.
When he contacted the bank, there was an unauthorized transaction in Plymouth. With the help of the Plymouth Police Department’s Facebook page the man subject using the debit card was identifed as Joshua McCarty, 43.

A Crimestoppers tip revealed that McCarty was living under US 30 at the Michigan Road overpass. Detective Derek Workman located McCarty under the overpass on July 29. He was interviewed and then lodged at the Marshall County Jail.

Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

*To see all the area police reports go to the home page and hit the “Police Reports” tab at the top.*