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The Marshall County Commissioners received some good news this week.

County Attorney Jim Clevenger told the board members that the prospective sale of the jail bonds to refinance the previous bonds went really well. Lower rates and hard work by Umbaugh and Associates and County Auditor Penny Lukenbill helped save the county $639,000.

Clevenger reminded the commissioners that they weren’t going to go through with refinancing unless the county realized a savings of at least $350,000.

Mother and Son Sentenced in Methamphetamine Case

A mother and son were sentenced in Marshall County Superior Court No. 1 on Thursday for their involvement in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Denise Dalton, 49, of Akron and her son, Keith Dalton, 22, admitted in open court that they conspired with each other and two other suspects to purchase methamphetamine precursors for a meth lab.

They were arrested in October of 2013 after purchasing pseuoephedrine and other items including Drano, ammonium nitrate in cold pack form at Walgreens and at Dollar General in Plymouth and being unwanted guests at a local hotel. Keith Dalton attempted to purchase syringes but the clerk at the pharmacy told him that syringes were only available for patients who need insulin. He then inquired about the price of insulin. He was denied the purchase as he did not have a valid prescription.

The pair pleaded guilty in identical plea agreements with the state to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Their plea agreements called for a 10 year prison sentence with four years of the sentence suspended. Both Denise Dalton and Keith Dalton were given the opportunity to participate in intensive drug rehabilitation through the purposeful incarceration program while incarcerated. Upon their release from prison, they will be on reporting probation for one year.

Ancilla College Offers Basic Nurse Aid Course

The next basic nurse aid class at Ancilla College starts Monday. Director of Nursing Ann Fitzgerald says students will learn to work with people and take care of their daily activities, including bathing, eating and dressing. She adds a high school diploma or GED is recommended but not required. Students should be at least 18. Even though there’s no state minimum age to work as a nurse aid, Fitzgerald says many employers will not hire anyone under 18. The ability to read and write in English and basic math skills are also required. The course wraps up Nov. 22. From there Fitzgerald says students can take their certified nurse aid test. Once they pass, they can work in home health, a long-term care facility or elsewhere. Find more information online at www.ancilla.edu.

BMV Branches Will be Closed for Columbus Day Holiday

All Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches in the state will be closed on Saturday, Oct. 11 and Monday, Oct. 13 for the Columbus Day holiday.

All license branches will resume business hours on Tuesday, Oct. 14, according to Don Snemis, Commissioner of the BMV.

For a complete list of branch locations and hours, visit mybmv.com.

Marshall County Police Investigating Vehicle Theft

October 9, 2014Lenny Dessauer

Authorities in Marshall County are searching for a stolen vehicle. It was taken just after 5 p.m. last night from a home in the 500 block of Thorn Road. The red 1998 Chevrolet Suburban bears the registration VPR565. It has some rusting on the back end and underneath the rear doors and a white fish symbol on the rear window. Additionally a hole in the floorboard is covered with a piece of wood. Anyone with information about the vehicle’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Marshall County Police Department at 574-936-3187.

Marshall County Commissioners Receive Update on Projects

October 9, 2014October 8, 2014Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County commissioners received an update on the 7th Road project and the Metronet project Monday morning.

USI Consultant’s Bart Trester is the project manager and said the 7th Road project is moving along.

“The contractor has begun the soil stabilization of the sub-grade and should finish from Linden Trail to Seltenright Ditch by the end of the week. This will actually allow them to put in under drains and hopefully begin paving toward the end of the week. They won’t put surface down this year. Traffic has been running on a temporary lane allowing the contractor to construct phase two of the roundabout on Michigan Road. Traffic will be switched to phase three at the end of this week or early next week. They will be running through the center of the roundabout at this time allowing them to construct phase three which is the east side up to Zimmer Ditch,” said Trester.

BMV Mails Excise Tax Refund Notices

October 9, 2014October 8, 2014Lenny Dessauer

Some Hoosiers who have registered vehicles with the state will be getting excise tax refund notices in the mail from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles within the next 30 days. The refunds date back to 2004 and are estimated at $29 million plus interest. Continue reading →

Early Morning Traffic Stop Leads to Four Arrests

October 8, 2014Lenny Dessauer

An early morning traffic stop at the intersection of U.S. 31 and U.S. 30 in Marshall County landed four people in jail on drug charges. An officer with the Marshall County Police Department pulled a vehicle driven by Jerald Standifer of Bremen over for an equipment violation around 1:45 a.m. A news release indicates he was driving on a suspended ID card only. Officers also found items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine inside the vehicle, according to the news release, and arrested Standifer and three passengers. Standifer, Caleb Z. Hollett, Ethan S. Hollett and Samantha E. Personette, all of Argos, face charges of dealing/delivering/manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of precursors. Bond is pending judicial review.

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Culver Town Council Accepts Town Manager’s Resignation

The Culver Town Council met in a special session on Monday to accept the resignation of the town manager. Dave Schoeff resigned last week and will finish his duties as manager on Oct. 17th. The council is going to advertise the position in hopes of getting someone to start at the beginning of 2015.

In other business, the Lions Club wants to lease the Vandalia Railroad Station next to the town park. The lease is up next year and the club wanted to discuss that with the board.

Speed Limit Changes Approved for Two Roads in Marshall County

The Marshall County Commissioners approved two speed limit ordinance amendments on second and final readings Monday morning.

Lincoln Highway West in Plymouth from the city limits to Pioneer Drive will be reduced to 45 mph. Safety was the driving force behind the change. The same idea was behind the reduction of the speed limit on 3B Road between Birch and Beech Roads.

The commissioners suspended the rules and adopted those ordinances. The highway department was notified to change the signs as soon as possible.

Marshall County Community Foundation Receives Lilly Endowment, Inc. Grant

October 8, 2014October 8, 2014Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Community Foundation has received a substantial grant for the sixth phase of the Endowment’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative.

Lilly Endowment, Inc. awarded the community foundation with a $500,000 grant that can be used for endowment building, operating support, college scholarships, special charitable and educational projects and programs, fundraising capacity building, and convening and technical assistance.

NIPSCO Projects Lower Winter Heating Bills

NIPSCO gas customers can expect to pay less to heat their homes this winter, according to the utility company’s forecast for home heating bills. Projections indicate they will be four percent lower than last year. That means an average savings of $22 over the winter heating season for residential customers. Continue reading →

Absentee Voting Now Open for General Election

Voters can now vote absentee in a county clerk’s office for the November General Election.

Absentee voting in Marshall County will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. until Friday, Oct. 31. The clerk’s office will be open on Saturday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.

The last opportunity to vote absentee is Monday, Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to noon local time.

Semi Driver Treated After Single Vehicle Wreck

October 7, 2014Lenny Dessauer

A semi driver from Harvey, Ill. was taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth for evaluation after his truck jackknifed Monday afternoon. The wreck occurred at the intersection of King Road and U.S. 30 at 1:16 p.m., according to a Marshall County Sheriff’s Department news release. Edward Tripp Jr., was turning onto King Road from 30 when the crash occurred. The fuel tank of his 2007 International semi was damaged, and fuel leaked onto the roadway. The Plymouth Fire Department assisted with the cleanup.

Jefferson Street Bridge in Plymouth to Close Thursday

The Jefferson Street bridge in Plymouth will be closing beginning Thursday.

Michael Obergfell from USI Consultants told the Marshall County commissioners Monday morning that the concrete slabs by the bridge are not stable and the sidewalk is not reinforced. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1986 but a storm sewer line is leaking and may be causing stability issues.

Obergfell suggested that the commissioners close the bridge so crews can immediately fix the issue.

Two Arrested after Providing False Information to Police

Two Plymouth residents were arrested on Saturday morning after allegedly lying to the police after an accident.

A Marshall County sheriff’s deputy was called to the scene on Glenn-Overmyer Drive where he talked to those involved in the accident. Miranda Smith, 19, told police that she didn’t realize that the vehicle in front of her stopped and she ran into the back of the car. Smith told the officer that two women left the other car and got into another car and left the area.

National Athletic Trainers Association Honors Plymouth Schools

The Plymouth Community School Corporation has received the Face Sports School Award from the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). Continue reading →

Indiana Receives Federal Grant to Combat ongoing Methamphetamine Production

The Indiana State Police is the recipient of a $567,000 federal grant to boost efforts in the fight against methamphetamine production and distribution.

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly announced the reception of the grant on Monday afternoon which will allow the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Anti-Methamphetamine Program to investigate activities related to the ongoing methamphetamine issue in the state.

Supporting continued funding for the COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program and funding for the DEA’s Clandestine Drug Laboratory Cleanup Program was one of Donnelly’s priorities for the fiscal year 2015 federal appropriations.