PLYMOUTH — On April 28,​ at 8:07 p.m., Marshall County Deputies conducted a traffic stop in the area of Oak Dr. and Markley Dr. in Plymouth.

The license plate of the vehicle was shown to be suspended and the registered owner of the vehicle was shown to have a suspended license.
The driver was found to also be the owner of the vehicle, Kalyn M. Gentry, 33. Police also uncovered a small baggie of suspected Methamphetamine. ​

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

BREMEN — Marshall County Sheriff’s deputies investigated an accident on Monday on the Plymouth-Goshen Trail.

Osman Chincilla Bustillo, 39, was traveling west on US 6 west of Plymouth-Goshen Trail behind a long line of slow-moving traffic and was struck from behind by Isaiah Leach, 21. ​
Leach was traveling west on US 6 and looked down for a moment, and did not realize traffic was slowed and struck the rear of Bustillo’s vehicle. Leach was transported to the Bremen Hospital for treatment for minor cuts. ​The front seat passenger of Bustillo’s vehicle was treated at the scene for chest pain.
​
Agencies Involved: ​Marshall County Sheriff’s Department,​ Bremen PD,​ Bremen Fire,​ Bremen EMS ​

PLYMOUTH — This year’s Día del Niño celebration and Marshall County Kids Expo will be combined into one event celebrating children, culture, and community resources. The event will take place Saturday, May 3 from Noon to 5 p.m. at Lincoln Jr. High in Plymouth, enter by door 12.

Día del Niño, or “Children’s Day,” is a cherished tradition celebrated in many Latin American countries. This special day honors children and promotes their well-being through fun, learning, and cultural appreciation. Plymouth Community School Corporation is proud to bring this tradition to the community, providing a space where families can gather and celebrate our students in a meaningful way.
The Marshall County Kids Expo is an annual event designed to connect families with information about local activities, camps, and services available for children throughout the summer and year-round. Attendees can explore opportunities in sports, arts, and education by over 40 vendors, ensuring parents are informed about enriching experiences for their kids.
There will be games, prizes, and fun activities for the whole family, along with information on camps, activities, and services available in Marshall County, free health services provided by the Marshall County Health Department, including physicals, hearing, vision, dental, and lead screenings
Local food trucks will provide refreshments including Chagos Tacos, Bohemian Beverage Co., Alegria Campestre, Pa’L Antojo, Scoops & Sweet Bubbles, and Apex Ice
This event is sponsored by the PCSC ENL team, the Marshall County Kids Expo, and the Marshall County Health Department.

PLYMOUTH — On April 29, Plymouth Police responded to a report of child solicitation.

It was determined that the suspect, David McCrosky, 33 of Curtice, OH, was sending sexually explicit messages and photos to what he believed to be a 13-year-old male. McCrosky was taken into custody and booked into the Marshall County Jail for Child Solicitation and inappropriate communication with a minor.

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

By Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council unanimously appointed a new police chief during their meeting Thursday, April 24.

Chad Becker, who has been an officer with the Culver Police Department for over 25 years, was approved as the new police chief upon the retirement of Wayne Bean in May.  Bean has served the Town of Culver as police chief for many years.  He will retire after having been in law enforcement for over 40 years.  

The council members congratulated Becker on his new role with the Culver Police Department and thanked Wayne Bean for his dedicated service to the residents of Culver.  

BOURBON — ​On Saturday,​ April 26,​ at approximately 8:24 p.m.,​ Marshall County deputies and Bourbon Police performed a traffic stop on US 30 near SR 331 after witnessing a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed.

The driver,​ Leonel Alejandro Bermudez-Contreras, 28, did not have a valid drivers license. ​
Bermudez-Contreras was transported ​to the Marshall County Jail for reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license.

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

BREMEN — On Saturday,​ April 26,​ at 3:17 p.m.,​ Marshall County Dispatch broadcast a report of a single vehicle accident into a utility pole on Plymouth Goshen Trail near Miami Trail.

Marshall County Officers,​ Bremen Officers, and Bremen EMS and Fire responded. During the crash investigation, it was discovered that the driver,​ Jose Abarca, 25, was exhibiting signs of alcohol intoxication. Abarca also had active warrants in another county in Indiana.
Abarca was transported to the Marshall County Jail for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. ​

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

By Anita Goodan

CULVER — The Culver Town Council members took action last week to approve a certified proposal from the Culver Plan Commission that would amend the Culver Zoning Ordinance regarding solar energy systems and energy storage systems. 

The Plan Commission has been working on this document since a moratorium was put in place on large industrial solar in June 2023. The moratorium was for two years, but at the time the council was hoping for a timely solution. 

No changes were made from the proposal from the Culver Plan Commission.

Councilwoman Ginny Munroe made a note that the Plan Commission president should be the authority in lieu of a building commissioner on these matters.  The council members unanimously approved that note and adopted the amended Culver Plan Commission’s certified proposal to amend the Culver zoning ordinance regarding solar energy systems and energy storage systems.  The proposed notes will be considered by the plan commission during a meeting in May.  

Additionally, the Culver Town Council members adopted a proclamation that celebrated April 25 as Arbor Day.  The council also adopted a proclamation that honored the memory of Ed Pinder who served many years on the Culver Town Council. He also owned a restaurant in Culver for 30 years, taught mathematics to students at the Culver Academy and at the Culver Community School Corporation, and was active in his church and other community endeavors.  The proclamation pointed to his legacy of public service, the sense of family, community involvement, educator, and a great citizen of the Town of Culver.  The proclamation noted that the flags in the Town of Culver would be at half-staff from April 25 to April 29 in his memory.   

PLYMOUTH – Dustin’s Place and United Way of Marshall County have announced that Dustin’s Place has received a $316,000 capital grant from Indiana United Way in support of turn-key improvements and build out of 6,000 sq ft of new space for Dustin’s Place within the LifePlex Building in Plymouth.

Once complete, the new home for Dustin’s Place will allow the expansion of peer-to-peer grief support for children and families who are navigating the loss of loved ones. This infusion of funding enables Dustin’s Place to meet an ever-growing need to support grieving children and families in Marshall County and the surrounding region.
Funding for this project was made possible due to United Way of Marshall County’s membership in Indiana United Ways, the state membership association for local United Ways serving Indiana counties.
“We recommended this project to the Indiana United Ways Statewide Capital Projects Committee because it addresses urgent local and regional needs, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of families as they navigate the difficult time following the loss of a loved one,” said Linda Yoder, Executive Director of United Way of Marshall County.“ This grant from Indiana United Ways enabled the project team to close a critical gap in funding and will make it possible to provide more children and families access to mental health services when they need them most,” added Yoder. “This project aligns with United Way’s goal of building stronger communities where people work together to create a better life for all.”
“1 in every 10 children in our community will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they turn 18, making childhood bereavement the most prevalent adverse childhood experience,” said Viki Brown, Executive Director of Dustin’s Place. “Our new home will allow Dustin’s Place to expand our mission of ensuring that no one grieves alone. Through this new space, we will be able to provide more groups, individual counseling, and unique grief expression rooms while maintaining our core values at no cost and with no waitlist. We expect to serve 100% more people in 2026.”
On Monday, April 28, Dustin’s Place will begin the work to renovate the 6500 square foot space located within the LifePlex Building in Plymouth. This renovation will take approximately 5 months, and the hope is to be done by the holidays.
You can follow along on our website, http://www.dustinsplace.org, and Facebook for updates and ways to get involved.
For more information about Dustin’s Place and its programs, visit dustinsplace.org.

PLYMOUTH — The Marshall County Plan Commission hired a new Plan Director during their meeting last week, hiring Nicholas Witwer, a Bremen native, to take the position.

Witwer takes over the vacancy that was left when Ty Adley resigned to take a similar position with the city of Plymouth.
Witwer has a background in government, having graduated from Ball State in 2004 with a degree in Urban Planning, and did his internship in 2003 in Marshall County under the then-plan director Troy Kiefer. He went on to work for the city of Noblesville and then for the city of South Bend.
Most recently, Witwer worked as a quality control manager in manufacturing and is happy to return to the work where he began his career.
“I feel like this is a good fit and the right opportunity for me,” he said. “A lot of doors opened for me to be here today.”
Witwer began work on Monday and knows the challenges ahead for he and his department.
“There are some new uses coming to the county and regional area that haven’t existed in the past,” he said. “Writing ordinances that fit the needs of the county and these different businesses and zoning for them is going to be one of the biggest needs and challenges.”
“Updating our comprehensive plan is not necessarily a challenge but it’s something that we haven’t done since 2013 and that’s something that’s due.”

PLYMOUTH — On April 27, at 1:11 a.m., Plymouth Police responded to the Red Rock Inn for a report of a possible overdose.

Police found an unresponsive woman and determined she had overdosed on a narcotic drug. Inside the room, police found trace amounts of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, along with various paraphernalia.
Officers arrested Ernest J. Westerhoff and Alyssa K. Kring for possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, possession of paraphernalia, maintaining a common nuisance, and possession of a hypodermic needle.
Both were transported to the Marshall County Jail.

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

PLYMOUTH — On the evening of April 26, at 8:20 p.m., Plymouth Police conducted a traffic stop for a moving and licensing violation near the entrance of the Northgate Mobil Home Park.

The driver was identified as 37-year-old Wayne L. Upchurch Jr, of Plymouth. Plymouth Police K9 officer Castor assisted on the traffic stop and indicated the presence of narcotics. A loaded firearm was removed from Upchurch’s person, and approximately 33 grams of suspected methamphetamine were located in the vehicle.
Upchurch was taken into custody and lodged at the Marshall County Jail on charges of dealing methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance, and possession of paraphernalia.

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

PLYMOUTH — On April 27, at 10:32 a.m., Plymouth Officers were dispatched to the Comfort Suites about a person yelling in one of the rooms.

Ricky McFarland was the occupant inside the room and had broken out the room window. Police also located methamphetamine and cocaine inside the room. He was transported to the hospital for jail clearance and then transported to the Marshall County Jail, where he was lodged for level 4 felony possession and criminal mischief.

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

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have risen 3.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.05/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 5.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 50.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 2.0 cents in the last week and stands at $3.499 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $2.59/g yesterday while the most expensive was $3.56/g, a difference of 97.0 cents per gallon.
“Average gasoline prices in the U.S. have been volatile over the past week, with roughly half of the 50 states seeing prices decline while the other half experienced increases,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Oil prices, which had fallen into the $50 per barrel range at the height of Trump’s trade war, have since rallied and are now holding in the low $60s, leading to rising gas prices in some states. For now, I expect the national average to bounce around in the $3.10 to $3.20 per gallon range over the coming week, with a continued mixed bag for consumers—about half of the states may see prices inch lower, while the other half could experience increases. We’ll be watching for any market developments, but for now, the market appears to be in a holding pattern.”
GasBuddy’s averages, graphs, maps, and historical pricing data covering the U.S. and Canada are available 24/7 at http://prices.GasBuddy.com.

PLYMOUTH — On April 26, an officer with the Plymouth Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling east on Adams St.

The driver of the vehicle, Terencio De Jesus Jarquin Herrera, 25, was found to be operating the vehicle while intoxicated as well as never obtaining a driver’s license. He was arrested and transported to the Marshall County Jail.

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

PLYMOUTH — On April 22 at 11:22 p.m., Plymouth Police responded to a report of a property damage accident in the alleyway between Walnut St. and Plum St.

Callers advised that the vehicle fled the scene.
Officers located the vehicle in the driveway of a residence on Walnut St. The driver of the vehicle, Larry Arroyo, 39, was found to be operating the vehicle while intoxicated. He was taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail.

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

CULVER — A production crew from “Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid” will be in Culver Sunday, May 4, to film an educational documentary TV series surrounding “Discover America: Great Places Live, Visit and Start a Business.”

“Viewpoint” is an educational documentary-style TV program that runs on public television and is also broadcast as commercial news breaks on CNBC, FOX Business, CNN Headline News, and the Discovery Channel. It is also distributed on the Internet via narrowcasting. You can view current and previous episodes here: https://www.viewpointproject.com/.

MUNCIE — LaVille High School Freshman Caden Christy is the 2025 eSports Network state champion, retaining his number one ranking and taking wins over both his opponents over the weekend on the campus of Ball State University.

Christy defeated his opening round opponent from Knightstown High School 3-0 and took the final over his opponent from Michigan City 3-0-1.
Christy lost just one match in the fall and spring season, playing the Swiss format that pairs competitors based on previous performance.

Courtesy Scot Shearer https://www.lavillelancers.com/

MUNCIE – This weekend LaVille freshman Caden Christy will participate in the Indiana eSports Network state championships Chess Tournament at Ball State University.

He started the 30-person field as the No. 1 seed, and after three rounds, the tournament is down to the Final Four contenders.
Caden, a freshman at LaVille Jr-Sr High School, has his eyes set on his upcoming round, with a chance to bring the state title back to Lakeville, IN.
“This weekend, the 4 people left in the bracket are going down to Muncie to play. The 4 people are seeded 1, 2, 6, and 12. Unfortunately, I only know their username on chess.com and their school,” said Christy. “Saturday’s games will be decided by a best out of 5 match, with a 10|3 time control—which means each side has 10 minutes plus 3 seconds per move to make all of their moves. The winners of the matches will play to decide the 1st and 2nd places, and the losers will play to decide the 3rd and 4th places. I hope to take it all this weekend for LaVille, and I think I have a great shot at it, based on my opponents’ ratings.”
According to Caden, players can earn rating points from chess.com based on whether they win a game or lose a game.
“All the opponents that I will be facing on Saturday are rated below 1300,” noted Christy. “As I am writing this, I am rated 2054 in the specific time control we are playing, praise God! The opportunity to play this weekend in a state tournament for LaVille means a lot to me. I see this as an opportunity to show that God can work through those who follow His will to do anything that He wants to do. I have faith that God will help me win this weekend for LaVille and for His glory.”
The final four chess players are from Knightstown, Michigan City, and Kankakee Valley, along with LaVille. Caden opens against Knightstown in a best-of-five series beginning at 9 am ET at Ball State University. Winners advance to the state championship match, while the consolation round will also be played. Both those matches are scheduled for 11 am ET.
Early on, when he was just learning, his older sibling Colin would get the best of him.
Caden got away from the game because he didn’t like to lose.
Then, after a short hiatus, Caden returned to chess in middle school.
He was able to find a website that allowed him to work on his craft and continue to advance in his rating via IEN (Indiana eSports Network).
“I have been playing chess for a long time, starting when I was young,” Caden recalled when asked about how long he has been playing. “Back then, I wasn’t great at it. Unfortunately, my brother Colin beat me every time, and I did not enjoy the game. This was before I was in 2nd grade, if I am remembering correctly. I then didn’t play chess for a long time, because I would rather win than be defeated all the time.
“In 6th grade, I found a website that was unblocked, and it had chess on it. I decided to play some people in school, and I started winning. That was when I got back into chess. Later, in my 7th grade year, I asked the head of the technology department, Mr. (Brandon) Shafer, if he could unblock chess.com. For some reason, he did. I don’t remember why. Aside from that, I have been playing chess almost daily on chess.com since the day they unblocked it. Fast forward to high school, and I am still playing it today.”
Going into Saturday’s IEN state Final Four, the roller coaster continues its way up for Caden.
It could end up going to the top of the ride as he competes for an Indiana state title.