THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT /8 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 23 COUNTIES IN NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA KOSCIUSKO ST. JOSEPH IN NORTHERN INDIANA ADAMS

ALLEN IN BLACKFORD CASS IN DE KALB ELKHART FULTON IN GRANT HUNTINGTON JAY LAGRANGE MARSHALL MIAMI NOBLE PULASKI STARKE STEUBEN WABASH WELLS WHITE WHITLEY IN MICHIGAN THIS WATCH INCLUDES 4 COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN BRANCH CASS MI HILLSDALE ST. JOSEPH MI
THIS INCLUDES THE LOCAL CITIES OF BASS LAKE, BREMEN, CULVER, FRANCESVILLE, KNOX, MEDARYVILLE, MONTICELLO, NORTH JUDSON, PLYMOUTH, ROCHESTER, ROYAL CENTER, AND WINAMAC.

PLYMOUTH — On the afternoon of June 19, Plymouth Police were at the intersection of Hillcrest Ave. and State Road 17 when a car being driven by Edward Ruiz, 55, of Plymouth, nearly hit the patrol car.

The Officer caught up to the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Standardized Field Sobriety Tests were done on Ruiz, and it was determined that Ruiz had a Blood Alcohol Content of .453.
He was transported and lodged into the Marshall County Jail, and charged with Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated, Operating A Vehicle While Intoxicated-Endangerment, and Operating A Vehicle With a BAC of Greater than .15.

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

PLYMOUTH — On June 24 at 6:07 p.m., Officers with the Plymouth Police Department and Marshall County Officers were dispatched to the area of Michigan Road and 4A Road for a possible impaired driver.

The caller reported that the vehicle was swerving all over the roadway, had damaged some signs, was dragging objects, and had a busted windshield. The caller advised that it was a silver-colored Lincoln traveling South on Michigan Road. Plymouth Police Officer located the vehicle traveling South on Michigan Road south of Veterans Parkway.
A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle, and the vehicle pulled into the Key Bank Parking lot. It was determined that the driver was under the influence of a controlled substance. The driver was identified as a 38-year-old Joshua Rodriguez of Knox. Rodriquez was arrested for OWI and transported to Plymouth Hospital for Jail clearance and then to Marshall County Jail and booked in for OWI.
The Plymouth Police were assisted by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, which took the crash report, and Lyons Towing, which towed the vehicle.

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

PLYMOUTH — On the morning of June 22, at approximately 1:31 a.m., Plymouth Police Officers were at the Economy Inn investigating a disturbance.

During the investigation, it was determined that one of the involved individuals, Thomas Quinn Jr, 44, of Plymouth, had a Body Attachment for his arrest. Quinn was lodged in the Marshall County Jail.

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

PLYMOUTH — On June 25 at 11:56 p.m.,​ Marshall County Deputies were on routine patrol and ​performed a traffic stop on a moped driving erratically on Michigan Rd. near Custer Drive,​ north of Plymouth.

During the investigation,​ probable cause was found ​that the driver, Preston A. Hensley, 49, of Plymouth, was intoxicated on a suspected controlled substance.
Hensley was ​detained at the scene,​ and a ​probable cause search yielded suspected methamphetamine,​ drug paraphernalia,​ and other controlled substances. ​
Hensley was later transported to the Plymouth Hospital for jail clearance and a certified chemical test. ​Certified test results are pending. ​
Hensley was later lodged at the Marshall County jail for ​operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator,​ operating ​while intoxicated,​ possession of methamphetamine,​ possession of a hypodermic syringe,​ and possession of a controlled substance. ​Formal charges are pending with the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office. ​ ​

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

PLYMOUTH — Weather permitting, on June 30, the Marshall County Highway Department will be performing a preservation road treatment or chip and seal on Pioneer Drive and Lincoln Highway. Expect Road closures during this time, and plan to take alternative routes ahead of time to help promote traffic and workers’ safety during this process.

Roads involved are:
•Pioneer Drive from SR17 to the Jail Entrance
•Lincoln Hwy west from the City Limits to Donaldson
Road closed signs will be posted to help warn motorists ahead of time, and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department most likely will be assisting the Marshall County Highway Department with the traffic control.
Emergency vehicles will be able to access if needed during the process.
Please use caution when approaching these areas and be mindful of workers. Slow down and drive safely down these roads after they are completed, in case there is any loose gravel.

PLYMOUTH — On June 19, around 7:25 p.m., Plymouth Police were made aware of a man in the parking lot of Wings Etc. who was possibly intoxicated.

Plymouth Police conducted a DUI investigation on twenty-seven-year-old Seth M. Joseph of Plymouth. Joseph was then transported to the Marshall County Correctional Facility, where he was offered a chemical test. Results indicated that Joseph was found to be over two times the legal limit and was then booked and lodged for, Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated .15% or higher.

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

PLYMOUTH — On the morning of June 23 at 5:45 a.m., Plymouth Police were dispatched to 611 E Laporte St. for a domestic battery. The caller stated that Ricardo Luva, 33, of Plymouth had physically struck his wife, then taken their 5-year-old child in a vehicle, and was headed toward Argos.

It was reported that Luva had been drinking and was intoxicated. Officers investigated the scene, and Luva’s vehicle was located with the assistance of the Argos Police Department and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputies. The juvenile was recovered and returned home. Luva was taken into custody, and transported to the Marshall County Jail where he was booked on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangering a person less Than 18 Years old, domestic battery in the presence of a child, domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, and interfering with the reporting of a crime.

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

INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Indiana’s Commerce Office awarded $925,107 in grant awards to accelerate entrepreneurial activity and resources statewide through its Community Collaboration Fund (CCF), including the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation in cooperation with Heartland Art Center.

The awards will help fuel 28 community-led projects focused on entrepreneurial education, connection, and acceleration across Indiana.
Locally, it will kick off the Marshall County Arts Entrepreneurship Program. MCEDC will kick off a program for local artists who wish to establish their own businesses and generate revenue from their work. Through collaboration with Heartland Art Center and the Indiana Small Business Development Center, this group-based initiative will include workshops, peer groups, and an exhibition to showcase the work of program participants.

CCF provides matching grants to support new community collaborations, services, and programming that will serve Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on education, connection, and acceleration.
After receiving a large number of applications, the state’s Commerce Office selected 28 projects for matching grants based on their potential to fill critical gaps across the entrepreneurial ecosystem, support underserved markets, and collaborate across boundaries.

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Common Council approved a Personal Property tax abatement for Hoosier Racing Tire in their meeting on Monday.

Hoosier announced it will be making an estimated $16.8M investment in new equipment as part of an ongoing expansion at the Plymouth facility.
This investment consists of a new radial tire building machine and tooling, a new hydraulic press, a semi-automatic lube booth, molds, and other general manufacturing and material handling equipment. Currently, there are 447 employees at Hoosier Racing Tire. This investment will be retaining these employees and the $27M annual payroll as the company continues to improve efficiency and productivity.
The tax abatement consists of a seven-year phased-in schedule. As the additional value of the personal property is added to the assessed valuation of the company, it will generate an estimated $512,749 in tax revenue for the City of Plymouth.
Hoosier Racing Tire is constantly making plans for meeting the ever-changing market demands for high-performance tires for all levels and types of racing. Hoosier has worked with Marshall County Economic Development Corporation locally and Indiana Economic Development Corporation at the state level to help secure this investment and keep the Plymouth location as efficient and productive as possible.
Work is expected to begin soon on these important additions to the facilities. Mark Spence, VP of Manufacturing, was joined by Scott Barry, Controller, at the meeting on Monday. Spence said that while it will take several quarters to get everything installed and productive, work on the project will begin immediately.
Greg Hildebrand, President and CEO of MCEDC, remarked, “Hoosier Racing Tire has been and continues to be a model corporate partner for Marshall County. Their team members and associates are engaged in the community, working with charities and events throughout the county.”
The abatement request was approved unanimously, with several on the council remarking what an excellent community partner the organization continues to be. Hoosier Racing Tire was purchased by Continental Tire in 2016. Hoosier is the largest race tire manufacturer in the world, producing over 1000 different types of racing tires.

PLYMOUTH — In a special meeting on Wednesday morning, the Marshall County Sewer District rejected a declaration by the Marshall County Commissioners.

In their meeting on June 16, the Commissioners declared the seat on the Sewer District Board held by Thomas McFadden vacant and began the process of choosing a replacement. Wednesday, the Sewer District board passed a resolution affirming McFadden and rejecting the Commissioner’s declaration of vacancy.
Lawyer Andy Boxberger presented the resolution to the Board on Wednesday, stating that sewer districts in the state were specifically set up as a completely independent body, separate from any county, city, or town, so that they have the ability to act in matters of public health, independent from political pressures.
The Board voted unanimously to accept the resolution rejecting the Commissioners declaration of vacancy with McFadden abstaining.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from noon EDT/11 AM CDT/today to 8 PM EDT/7 PM CDT/ this evening. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.

PLYMOUTH — The cleanup at Northgate Mobile Home Park continues to move forward.

Monday night, the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety heard from Building Commissioner Dennis Manuwal about the ongoing cleanup, saying that progress had been made in the past two weeks, but “not at the speed I was looking for.”
The Board gave the new group owning the facility a two-week extension on the deadline to clean up sewer, electric, and landscaping issues on the property. Abraham Anderson, one of the new owners, was in attendance at the meeting online and agreed that there was still significant work to be done, but also felt a significant amount of work had been accomplished on the site.
As part of the sewer issues, 62 of the risers had been capped as ordered, with some still in the process of being completed.
Manuwall noted, however, that there were two lots that were emitting “grey water” (wastewater that comes from sources other than toilets). He also felt that there was still a lot of underground work to be done in the system.
Anderson said that he anticipated that portions of the sewer line would need to be replaced, and based on the report he received from crews hired to perform the work, he felt that it could be completed in the next two weeks.
He said workers have completed 23 electric service disconnects, and were bogged down on the removal of one burned home since the owner could not be found to obtain the title that was necessary to do the work.
Anderson asked the Board to allow him and a contractor, along with Manuwal, to inspect several other homes to see if they could be salvaged and resold. He told the board he plans to bring new homes, in the range of $70,000, to the park in the future to increase the amount of affordable housing available.
He asked the Board to continue to work with him on cleaning up the property.
Manuwal told the Board and Anderson that in the next two weeks, he would like to see two unlivable homes demolished, the entire sewer line repaired and a back corner lot on the property cleaned up of a large amount of debris.
The Board offered the extension and will re-address the matter in their next meeting on July 14.

INDIANAPOLIS – Summer is here, and so the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) is reminding Hoosiers to enjoy the sun and fun while staying safe and healthy.

“As we embrace summer activities with family and friends, it’s crucial to prioritize preventing illness and injury, specifically around water safety,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “I encourage Hoosiers to follow these simple steps to stay safe.”
Water Safety
For many Hoosier families, warm weather means spending time together at pools, lakes, and other bodies of water. Unfortunately, deaths due to drownings have increased in the United States since 2019. In Indiana, drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged 1-4 years.
When Hoosier families are in or around water this summer:

• Designate a responsible adult to supervise children closely and constantly.
• Wear a life jacket while boating and be aware of local conditions.
• Avoid distracting activities like reading, using the phone, and consuming alcohol or drugs while watching kids in or near water, because drowning happens quickly and quietly.
  Sun Safety
  When spending time outdoors, prevent sunburn, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
  •Keep water on hand to stay hydrated.
  •Wear sunscreen with at least 30 SPF, reapplying it at least every two hours if swimming.
  •Take advantage of shade and wear protective clothing when possible.
  Signs of heat exhaustion include fatigue, weakness, headaches, nausea, sweating, dizziness, and a decrease in urine production.
  Heat stroke is a more serious and potentially life-threatening condition with symptoms that include confusion, inability to sweat, loss of consciousness, seizures, and an internal body temperature that can reach 104°F or higher. It is critical to cool the body of any person suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke as quickly as possible, and if a person shows signs of heat stroke, emergency medical services should be contacted. If sunburn occurs, treat it with topical moisturizers, cool compresses, and pain relievers. Contact your healthcare provider if extensive blisters or signs of infection are present.
  Mosquito-borne illness
  With summer comes mosquitoes, and their bites can sometimes transmit illnesses like West Nile virus (WNV). While 80 percent of those infected will not develop any symptoms, about 20 percent of people infected with WNV will develop an illness accompanied by fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. People older than 60 years and those receiving immunosuppressive medications or treatments are at greatest risk of severe WNV disease.
  Ways to prevent mosquito bites that potentially carry WNV include:
  •Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are active (especially during evening hours, from dusk to dawn, and in the early morning)
  •Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-methane-diol to clothes and exposed skin
  •Cover exposed skin by wearing long sleeves and long pants in places where mosquitoes are especially active, such as wooded and shady areas
  •Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of the home
  Mosquitoes can breed in as little water as in a bottlecap, so be sure to dump all standing water around the house, including a garden hose, old tires, and gutters
  People who think they may have contracted WNV should contact their healthcare provider.
  Grill Safety
  Cookouts and BBQs are a summertime staple. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has the following recommendations for grilling safely:
  •Pick up raw meat, poultry, and seafood last on your grocery store, and keep them separate from other food in your shopping cart and bags
  •Keep meat, seafood, and poultry refrigerated until ready to cook, and keep cool at 40°F or lower in an insulating cooler when transporting.
  •Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling raw meat, poultry, and seafood, and wash work areas, cooking utensils, and the grill before and after cooking
  •Use a food thermometer to make sure the meat is cooked hot enough to kill harmful germs.
  Learn more about safe summer grilling at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
  Visit the Indiana Department of Health at http://www.health.in.gov for important health and safety information or follow us on X at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/StateHealthIN.

PLYMOUTH — On Sunday,​ June 22,​ Marshall County Officers,​ Plymouth Fire, and EMS were dispatched to a single vehicle crash with injury on US 31 near the south junction of Michigan Rd.

The driver of the vehicle, Key-Asha T Rowe, 29, of Muskegon,​ MI,​ along with passengers, Nissa E Hales age 49 of Muskegon Heights,​ MI, and ​Nekeela M Mathis, age 48 of Muskegon,​ MI, also sustained minor injuries in the accident and were transported for immediate examination.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation. ​

WALKERTON — On June 20 at 11:05 a.m.,​ Marshall County Officers responded to the report of an unwanted guest in the Walkerton area.

During the investigation, Officers discovered criminal acts taking place.
Jay Watson, 32, was arrested for domestic battery(presence of a minor) and transported to the Marshall County Jail.
As the investigation continued,​ Winter Watson, 34, and Victoria Willis, 56 were taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail for ​possession of a controlled substance,​ obstruction of justice,​ possession of synthetic urine,​ possession of marijuana,​ and neglect of a dependent.

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

ARGOS — On Tuesday,​ ​June 24,​ at 12:50 a.m., Marshall County Central Dispatch received a 911 call about an unwanted guest at a residence on 17th Road in Argos.

Marshall County Deputies, assisted by the Argos Police Department, responded to the scene and ​found that a physical domestic altercation had occurred resulting in a ​woman being battered.
Andrew D. Hayn, 41, of Argos,​ was subsequently arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail, where he was booked for Domestic Battery.

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

The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Marshall County and Eastern Starke County in northwestern Indiana until 10:15 PM EDT/915 PM CDT.

At 708 PM EDT /608 PM CDT/, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area.
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas. Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Plymouth, Bremen, Bourbon, Argos, Culver, Koontz Lake, Oak Grove, La Paz, Twin Lakes, Rutland, Hibbard, Burr Oak, Donaldson, Tyner, Maxinkuckee, Linkville, Inwood, Lake Of The Woods, Grovertown and Ober.

At 225 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Plymouth, moving east at 15 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny-sized hail are possible. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include Plymouth, Bremen, Bourbon, Twin Lakes, and Inwood.