PLYMOUTH — On the morning of April 7, at 1:40 a.m., Plymouth Police conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle on US 30 near Plymouth Goshen Trail.

It was found that the driver, 27-year-old Santiago Andrade Jr of Hammond, had an outstanding nationwide federal felony warrant for his arrest that had been issued through the US Postal Inspection Service. Andrade was taken into custody and transported to the Marshall County Jail to await extradition.

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

PLYMOUTH — On Sunday,​ April 6,​ at 2:23 p.m.,​ Marshall County Dispatch broadcast a
report of an unwanted guest at a residence on 11th Rd. in Plymouth.

When Deputies arrived they found Janell R Geren, 49, was in possession of marijuana. Additional evidence collected during the investigation led Officers to discover an altered license plate and items indicative of credit card fraud.
Geren was transported to the Marshall County Jail for ​Possession of Marijuana,​ Operating a vehicle with an altered license plate,​ and Credit card fraud.

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

Average gasoline prices in Indiana have risen 13.3 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.25/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations in Indiana. Prices in Indiana are 39.0 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 44.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Indiana was priced at $2.62/g yesterday, while the most expensive was $3.59/g, a difference of 97.0 cents per gallon.
“While the national average price of gasoline saw its largest weekly gain of the year, it likely won’t last long, as oil prices have plummeted amid growing concerns about the global economy following the U.S. announcement of some of the most significant tariffs in over a century, along with OPEC+ restoring oil production faster than anticipated,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “In addition to falling oil prices, the stock market has dropped sharply, and the risk of a recession has increased— raising the likelihood of reduced global energy and oil demand, which is sending prices lower. As a result, motorists can expect gas prices to begin falling nearly coast-to-coast, with oil now at its lowest level since the early days of the pandemic in 2021. If tariffs aren’t scaled back soon, the national average could fall below $3 per gallon in the weeks ahead, with no clear indication of how long it might stay there as market volatility persists.”
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 — Marshall County Commissioner Jesse Bohannon asked the board to add an item to their agenda for their next meeting to look at the division of powers between the Commissioners and the County Council.

Saying, “This will be a long-term discussion’, Bohannon asked the Commissioners to look at an option that he stated was created by the state of Indiana (Indiana Code 36-2-3.5-1 (2)) to offer “a better” division of powers between the two bodies that would give more authority to the Council.
County Attorney Sean Surrisi said that the change would be more like the federal government in that the Commissioners would serve as the executive body and the Council would be the fiscal and legislative body.
The legislative body has the ability to enact ordinances in the county. Only Lake and St. Joseph counties currently operate under this system.
Bohannon said he felt that the legislature passed the option at that time and had wanted all counties to operate under that system. He said that he “was guessing” that the Commissioners had not wanted to give up their legislative authority and so it was made optional.
Bohannon said he felt it was a matter worthy of discussion to see if the Council would be willing to take on the additional responsibility. Joint resolutions by both bodies would be necessary to initiate any change.
He said the questions to consider would be whether or not it was a good idea and when that transition should take place.
The item will be on the Commissioner’s agenda for their April 21 meeting.

PLYMOUTH — Pending the approval of the Marshall County Council in their next meeting, Marshall County will honor former Congresswoman Jackie Walorski by naming the section of Michigan Road (Old US 31) in the county’s jurisdiction after her.

Walorski died in a tragic car accident in August of 2022, along with two staff members, Zachery Potts and Emma Thomson, while on a visit to the district on government business.
Commissioner Jesse Bohannon, citing Walorski as a “personal friend and mentor” and saying she was largely responsible for his running for office, brought the resolution to the Marshall County Commissioners during their Monday morning meeting.
The resolution would not officially change the name of Michigan Road, so no official addresses would change on the route. Signs would be placed along the road with the designation to honor Walorski.
The resolution will now be presented to the Marshall County Council for their consideration.

PLYMOUTH — On April 1, Plymouth Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling south on N Michigan St.

The driver, Zachary J. Hunter, 38, of Plymouth was found to be operating the vehicle while under the influence of a narcotic. Suspected marijuana was also found inside the vehicle.
Hunter 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 2 at 3:30 p.m., Officers with the Plymouth Police Department went to 112 S. Michigan Street in Plymouth to serve a warrant on Abimael Gonzalez 47 years old of Plymouth.
Gonzalez had a $6,000 dollar cash bond for contempt of court.

Gonzalez was transported to Marshall County Jail and booked in for his warrant.

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

PLYMOUTH — On April 4 at 8:13 a.m., Plymouth police made a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Patti J. Churchill, 54 of Ft. Wayne for a traffic infraction.

She was found to have a license status of suspended-prior. She was transported to the Marshall County Jail.

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

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance for the development of a residential housing project of 30-40 units off of SR 17.

Representatives for Mike and Joyce Relos, who own a property off of SR 17 on Glenn Overmyer Drive asked for the variance to develop the project that with current zoning would not be allowed.
Developer Kevin Berger told the board he would like to build approximately eight residential buildings with one, two, and three-bedroom units.
Plymouth Plan Director Ty Adley, along with Linda Yoder of the Marshall County Community Foundation and United Way, gave a favorable recommendation to the board that addressed a section of the city comprehensive plan that noted a significant need for housing and addressing a lack of housing diversity in Plymouth. Two recent studies by the Michiana Council of Governments (MACOG) and the United Way had cited a need in Plymouth for such housing.
The development would mirror another development by Berger, The Paddocks in Culver and would employ a professional management company to maintain the property.
Adley told the board that the property sits at the edge of the Plymouth city limits but stated the owners were willing to pursue annexation into the city limits to take advantage of city utilities that currently serve the adjacent properties.
Berger also asked for an extension of the variance for longer than the normal one year since the funding requests for the project would not be announced until November. If funding is successful it would be the fall of 2026 before actual construction could take place.
An extension of the Greenways Trail system that has long been on the books would also fall within the area of the project, but any such plans would be far in the future, and if that extension moved through it would not be at the developer’s expense.
The Plymouth BZA voted to allow the variance and the extension.

PLYMOUTH — At the Marshall County Community Corrections board of directors meeting on Wednesday, a new Chief Officer of the Marshall County Probation Department was discussed.

The current Chief Officer, James Bendy, submitted his resignation recently after 23 years of service. In June of last year, Bendy was recognized by Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush for his commitment to the profession of probation and long-time service at the annual justice services conference.
The county has received three applications for the position so far, and Judge Janette Surrisi told the MCC board that they would wait a while longer to see if there will be more applications. She said the department has two assistant chiefs who have been filling in in the interim as the county considers the candidates for that position.
Beau Holcomb, Director of Marshall County Community Corrections, also gave a quick update to the board on his office that currently had 16 pre-trial home detention, along with 96 total clients in the home detention program who all pay a fee to the county for that service as part of their sentence. He said two clients had been terminated from the program due to violations of their probation terms.
Holcomb also told the board that he was “looking forward” to his meeting with the state on the “Cincinnati Report”.
Recently, the Indiana Department of Corrections contracted with the University of Cincinnati to audit programs around the state and then provide a report on those programs. Holcomb said he is anxious to have the meeting to get input on what Marshall County is doing right and what may need improvement.

PLYMOUTH — Attic Theatrics and the Wild Rose Moon in Plymouth will stage a reading of Jan Probst’s play, The Prophecy of the Crows on April 19 at 7 p.m.

The reading will be recorded live for radio and television. Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/attic-theatrics-presents-the-prophecy-of-the-crows-at-wild-rose-moon-tickets-1121024437269?aff=ebdsshios

PLYMOUTH — Plymouth’s Plan Commission approved a resolution in support of a contribution by the city to the Life Long Learning Network.

Earlier in the year the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission had added a contribution to the city’s TIF district #3 that included an agreement for consulting services from Enfocus for the city. The Plymouth City Council passed the Redevelopment’s plan for funding consulting services but rejected the contribution of equipment and tools to the Lifelong Learning Network.
The Redevelopment Commission has decided to try again to make a contribution for equipment to the LLC’s automotive program. Part of that involves the Plan Commission passing the resolution that the contribution from a TIF district would fit in with the city of Plymouth’s comprehensive plan.
City Attorney Jeff Houin told the commission that the three basic points of the resolution regarding the comprehensive plan were collaboration with other partnerships in the community, access to quality education, and supporting local businesses. The programs for the LLN are not limited to students but adults seeking training and continuing education. The Plan Commission resolution addresses whether or not the proposed expenditure supports the overall comprehensive plan for the city.
The City Council’s decision against the contribution was based on the idea of contributing money to the school corporation after the city had already made a contribution to the Life Long Learning Center. Houin told the Plan Commission that the contribution was not intended for the school corporation but for the LLN, including adult continuing education.

ARGOS — A property that was cited for clean-up in 2016 will see the county carry out that order.
A property on Maple Street in Argos owned by Debra Mersch was cited in April 2016 for being in violation of the county’s ordinance for maintaining the property.

Subsequent violations with a request for clean-up were filed in August of 2023, in October of 2024, the owners were no-shows for a court date on the matter, and again in January 2025, after which the county requested bids to undertake the clean-up at the owners expense.
In the Plan Commission meeting on March 27 members opened the only quote submitted for the proposed cleanup of trash and debris coming from Chain of Lakes in Plymouth for $19,740.
Discussion centered on the number of inoperable vehicles that would need to be taken from the property that there appeared to be no title for and therefore scrap owners would be unable to take them.
Payment of the bill was also discussed with the remedy of non-payment by the owners of the property being a lien on the property that would need to be paid on any subsequent sale of the property.

PLYMOUTH — On the morning of April 1, at 1:47 a.m., Plymouth Police were dispatched to Baker Street for a report of an active domestic altercation.

Officers were advised that there might have been a gun fired. Arriving officers heard an active altercation inside the home. Police gained entry into the home after an apparently battered woman answered the door. A police search of the residence, found Brandyn S. Ross, 31 of Lakeville, hiding in an upstairs bedroom. After a brief struggle, Ross was taken into custody.
It was believed that Ross had battered the woman. Suspected cocaine was also found in Ross’ possession.
Ross was lodged at the Marshall County Jail on preliminary charges of felony- domestic battery, possession of cocaine, criminal confinement, and misdemeanor-resisting law enforcement.

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

PLYMOUTH — Heartland Art Center is calling for submissions for this year’s Small Wonders exhibit at the Heartland Art Center on North Michigan Street in Plymouth.

This year’s exhibit will be held April 30 to May 30. The deadline for submissions is April 20. The Center will hold a Closing Reception on Friday, May 30 from 6 — 8pm. Awards will be presented at 7:30 pm.
The exhibit is open to artists in all media. Each submission must be the original concept and work of the artist and must not previously have been shown in a Heartland Art Center Small Wonders Show. Final determination of what constitutes eligible work or inappropriate subject matter will rest with the judge and/or Heartland Art Center, Inc. Submission of an entry to this exhibit constitutes agreement by the entrant to all conditions outlined in the prospectus.
Questions? Call Mary at 574-339-7459 or Anna at 574-316-0264 or email heartlandartcenter@gmail.com
Accepted artists will be notified on Monday, April 28 via email.

PLYMOUTH — During their regular monthly meeting last Thursday, the Marshall County Plan Commission reviewed the options for filling the role of Plan Director for the county.

Earlier in the year, Ty Adley resigned from that position to accept a similar role with the city of Plymouth and the position remains vacant.
The County briefly hired Lydia Dutton, who left the job after a month.
Since then, Plan Commission Administrative Assistant Lori Lowry, along with County Attorney Sean Surrissi, Plan Commission Attorney Derek Jones, and Code Enforcement Plan specialist Philip Smith, have collaborated to perform the day-to-day activities of the office.
The Plan Commission discussed the possibility of contracting plan services out to an outside engineering firm for at least a short period to have the services of a consultant with the special training necessary for some of the duties of the office.
One engineering firm that performs such consulting services had been contacted and a contract proposal was discussed for a length of three months. Much of the work would be by phone or email with a larger fee charged for a consultant to be present in the particular county office day to day.
Plan and County Commissioners President Stan Klotz brought up the contract stating that the county had also received an application for the job but had not yet reached out to interview the prospective candidate. A subcommittee was formed earlier in the year to sort through candidates for the job.
Klotz asked the board their wishes moving forward, and after discussion, the Commission decided that before agreeing to a consulting contract, the subcommittee should vet the current applicant before the Plan Commission’s April meeting and move on from there.
Klotz did tell the board that if the applicant proved worthy of pursuing a special meeting of the Plan Commission would likely be advertised to interview them before the next meeting.