Area Schools Could Benefit From Community College Proposal

Ivy Tech Community College says they may become more accessible if one of President Barack Obama’s proposals makes it through Congress.

The President announced last week his intent to significantly reduce the cost of attending community college. The multi-billion dollar program intends to largely pay for the cost of the first two years of tuition for students maintaining a certain grade point average. This could have implications locally.
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Marshall County Initiates Travel Advisory

Marshall County officials have initiated an advisory level travel restriction due to blowing and drifting snow.

Marshall County EMA Director Clyde Avery said that roads remain snow covered and slick. North winds are causing drifting issues on east/west roads in the county. Temperatures are expected to be below zero tonight which will turn slush into ice. This will create a hazardous travel condition. Wind chills are also expected to be below zero.

An advisory level travel restriction means that routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation and drivers should use caution or avoid those areas.

Marshall County Council to Meet Today

The Marshall County Council will meet in regular session today where several additional appropriations are already set on the agenda. Some of the appropriations are necessary to put into the 2015 budget that were held over from last year’s budget. Other line items were omitted from budget discussions.

The council members will reorganize and entertain employee replacement requests for the Soil and Water District, clerk’s office and the sheriff’s department. The council members will also review a salary amendment for the court services director and substance abuse counselor along with lake patrol.

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Candidates Begin Filing for Municipal Election

The first week of filing for candidacy in this year’s Municipal Election is in the books.

In Marshall County, Republican Mark Senter is looking to continue as the Mayor of Plymouth while Rex A. Crump has filed for mayor as a Democrat candidate.

Other incumbents have filed for re-election who include Republicans Janet Anglemyer for Bremen Clerk-Treasurer, James Leeper for Bremen Town Board, Jeanine M. Xaver for Plymouth Clerk-Treasurer, Mike Delp for Plymouth City Council District 1, Duane Culp for Plymouth City Council District 2, Don Ecker for Plymouth City Council District 3, and Shawn Grobe for Plymouth City Council District 4.

Republican Christopher Berdahl has filed for one of three at-large seats available on the Plymouth City Council.

Indiana AARP Hoping to Influence Retirement Savings, Caregivers

Two bills are being pushed by the AARP in Indiana during this session of the General Assembly and they look to help two different issues.

About half of Americans aged 50-years and older have less than 25-thousand dollars in retirement savings. To help solve this problem, the AARP is proposing the Hoosier Employee Retirement Option, otherwise known as the “HERO Plan.”
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Dogs at the Library Program Scheduled in Plymouth

The Plymouth Public Library is sponsoring a special program for children on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

The “Dogs at the Library” program is planned where children can read books to dogs. The members of the Marshall County 4-H Dog Club will have their dogs at the library for this event. The gentle, trained dogs will sit and listen to any story that a child would like to read aloud.

Parents can take pictures during the event and children of all ages are welcome to attend.

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Analyst Explains Gas Price Spike

The lower price of unleaded gasoline has relieved a pinch from consumer pocketbooks, but some retailers have dropped the price too low for a profit margin. GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan said that has caused prices to spike.

“What you’re seeing with the big spike is essentially gas stations losing 20 or 25 cents a gallon and raising their price back up to where they’re making about 15 or 20 cents a gallon. Obviously, you have a 40 cent a gallon difference between a station losing 20 cents and making 20 cents and that’s where these big spikes come from. The good news is that prices are already coming back down,” said DeHaan.

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Dermody Weighing Many Sides in Sunday Alcohol Debate

20th District State Representative Tom Dermody says he is still evaluating a bill that could affect consumers in Indiana.

House Bill 1026 would allow for those with a proper permit to sell alcoholic beverages for carryout on Sundays in the state. The bill, filed this week in Indianapolis, has not been presented to Representative Dermody – who chairs the often controversial Public Policy Committee.
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Marshall County Commissioners Sign Grant, Get Update from Highway Department

The Marshall County Commissioners signed grant paperwork so EMA Director Clyde Avery can order equipment. The commissioners previously approved the 2014 Department of Homeland Security grant worth $20,000 to order newer 800 MHz radios to have on hand.

Highway Administrator Laurie Baker informed the commissioners that bridge inspections are ongoing. The department has gotten a bill for $78,967 for work already completed on the first phase. The inspections are about 60 percent complete. INDOT will reimburse the county for 80 percent of the cost.

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