Marshall County Sheriff’s Department Prepares for OPO Blitz

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

police-lightsThe Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is one of several law enforcement agencies across Indiana are taking part in an Operation Pull Over blitz through the end of the month. Patrol officers will be looking for drunk drivers and seatbelt violators.

Last November 490 alcohol-related crashes occurred in Indiana, resulting in 224 injuries and 13 fatalities. A total of 735 drivers were arrested statewide for driving under the influence, and 9.504 seatbelt citations were issued to drivers and passengers who were not buckled up.

Jefferson Street Bridge to Open Today

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Jefferson Street bridge in Plymouth will open to traffic today.

Marshall County Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told WKVI News that the bridge will open at 6:30 a.m. ET. Crews from Beer and Slabaugh will continue to work on the northeast corner of the bridge but traffic will be allowed to pass.

The bridge closed as emergency was declared for repairs. The Marshall County Commissioners approved the closure on Oct. 9 after it was determined that the concrete slabs by the bridge were not stable and the sidewalk was not reinforced. A majority of those repairs are complete with only a few minor issues to finish.

Culver Council Votes to Raise Water and Sewer Rates

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council approved two-tiered increases to the town’s water and sewer rates last night after no comments or questions were received during a public hearing.

The increases will occur in two phases. The first will take effect in December. Average and will increase the average residential water bill by $4.20 per month, and sewer bills will go up by $2. Water bills will go up again on May 1 by $5.04, while sewer bills will increase by $2 next December. Continue reading →

Check for Excise Tax Eligibility on the BMV Website

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

You can check to see if you are eligible for an Excise Tax refund on the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle’s website.

BMV Commissioner Don Snemis said letters have been sent to those who are eligible but in case you didn’t receive a claim form, access the refund eligibility page at www.myBMV.com. A “Check Your Excise Tax Refund Eligibility” icon can be found on the right side of the page and users will be asked for a Social Security Number or Driver’s License Number in order to check eligibility.

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Two Arrested in Alleged Armed Robbery in Plymouth

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Two Illinois men were arrested on Sunday after reportedly being involved in an armed robbery incident in Plymouth.

An employee at the Cellular Connection told Plymouth officers that two men entered the store and ordered him to open the safe. A knife was reportedly brandished when the demand was made. He said the suspects took high value phones from the safe, according to the news release from the Plymouth Police Department. Before the suspects left the store, the employee told police that he was restrained. The victim was able to get free and call 911.

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Weather Delays Jefferson Bridge Opening

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

It will take a couple of more days to open the Jefferson Street bridge in Plymouth.

Marshall County Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told WKVI News that weather has delayed the completion of bridge work. The projected reopening date is now Wednesday.

Bart Trester from USI Consultants told the Marshall County Commissioners last week that the remaining items on the checklist include sidewalks and curbs. Crews also want to reseal the bridge deck to complete the project.

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Marshall County Council to Meet Tonight

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Council will meet tonight where several additional appropriation requests are on the table for approval.

A representative from the Argos Community School Corporation will request money from the rainy day fund for stipends, health insurance and utilities totaling $140,000. A request will also be made for a reduction in General Fund appropriation for health insurance and utilities in the amount of $120,360.

The Superior Court 1 judge will request addition appropriations in the amount of $13,000 while the highway department will request $175,000 will be requested from the Cumulative Bridge fund for the 7th Road project.

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Marshall County Community Foundation Offers Special Grant to Celebrate Indiana Bicentennial

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Community Foundation has set aside up to $10,000 to assist organizations with programs and projects specifically related to the bicentennial celebration in 2016.

This special grant round will help recognize this milestone in the state’s history and to encourage local participation in the celebration.

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INDOT Worker Assaulted

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

A man assaulted an INDOT worker after being confronted about driving around a barricade on Friday morning.

The INDOT worker was sitting in his truck on a lunch break when he saw a man in a maroon pickup drive around barricades that were blocking the road in the southbound lane of State Road 331 just south of Bourbon in a construction zone.

According to a report from the Indiana State Police, the worker got out of his vehicle and attempted to stop the driver. The worker told police that the driver struck him with the driver’s side mirror and then exited the truck and yelled profanities at him. The driver then proceeded to punch him several times in the face, according to police.

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Marshall County Judge Sentences Man to 20 Years on Burglary Charge

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

A Fort Wayne area man was sentenced to 20 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to a charge of burglary.

Jeffrey Lusch, 58, admitted to Marshall County Superior Court No. 1 Judge Robert O. Bowen that broke into and entered a home on Baker Street in Plymouth on June 28, 2013 and was discovered by the homeowner. Lusch had entered the home through a window and the homeowner was in the basement at the time. The homeowner emerged from the basement and found Lusch inside the home. He then fled from the residence with the homeowner in pursuit and on the phone to police. Plymouth police officers were able to respond quickly and apprehended Lusch.

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Mediacom To Remove Analog Signal Reception, Add HD Channels

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

logo_mediacom_mainStarting Tuesday, Mediacom Communications customers will no longer have access to most analog television channels. As part of its digital upgrade,  Mediacom will not use the analog frequencies for channels 22-78. This leaves digital-only reception for the company’s Family Cable channel series, which includes cable news, sports and entertainment networks. Customers will need a digital adapter in order to maintain reception for those channels. Mediacom is providing them free of charge through Oct. 31, 2015. Mediacom officials say 10 popular cable channels have already switched to digital reception in the past two weeks. But if you’re looking for Amazon fire tv developers, contact us now to enjoy the digital upgrade at its fullest level. Continue reading →

Oversize Load to Travel Through Northern Indiana

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

INDOT-logo-150x131An oversize load traveling through northern Indiana the next five nights may snarl traffic in Porter, LaPorte, Starke and Marshall Counties as it passes through. The slow-moving, oversize, overweight load will have a police escort from the Port of Indiana to the Ohio border. INDOT advises short-term road closures will be necessary as it moves through the area. Motorists are urged to avoid the routes during the scheduled travel times. Continue reading →

Marshall County Commissioners, Attorney to Review Jail Healthcare Contract

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners and the county attorney will be reviewing the contract with jail’s health care service provider when they meet again on Monday, Nov. 17.

Quality Correctional Care sent Sheriff Tom Chamberlin an agreement and it was then forwarded to County Attorney Jim Clevenger for a four year term. The current one-year contract expires on Dec. 31 of this year. The contract calls for a $153,000 contract price which will be good during each of the four years. That price would be reassessed if the county agrees to renew this agreement in 2019, although the county would review services annually.

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Indiana DOE Releases School Grades

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Indiana Department of Education released the A-F grades for all schools in the state on Wednesday. The release of the grades was delayed after the State Board of Education had received appeals from several schools.

Locally, Plymouth High School received an A, along with Argos High School and Argos Elementary School, Bremen High School, Riverside Intermediate School, Jefferson Elementary School, and Laville Elementary School.

The Washington Discovery Academy received a grade of C, Triton Jr./Sr. High School and the elementary school got a B, Lincoln Jr. High School got a C, Bremen Elementary/Middle School received a C, and Laville Jr./Sr. High School got a C.

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Chamberlin Returns as Marshall County Sheriff

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Republican Tom Chamberlin will be returning as the Marshall County Sheriff for another four year term. He handily won the race over Independent Tisha Jacobson-Maher. The vote count was 7009-1205.

The Marshall County Council will have a new member in Republican Bill Githens. He ran unopposed in the District 2 race. The other council candidates were unopposed and they will be returning to the council: current council president Republican Matthew Hassel in District 1, Republican Don Morrison in District 3 and Republican Judith Stone in District 4.

Jack Roose opted not to run for another term in the County Commissioner District 1 seat so that position will be going to Republican Kurt West Garner for the next four years. He will join current commissioners Kevin Overmyer and Deb Griewank.

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Marshall County Commissioners Approve Vehicle Purchase for Sheriff’s Department

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Marshall County Sheriff Tom Chamberlin requested the purchase of four new vehicles for the department with delivery after the first of the year.

“I would like to get an okay to start ordering the vehicles for delivery. One would be delivered in January and the other three in February. Right now they’re about six weeks out if you start ordering and as Fall comes of course the orders will continue to build and delivery dates will be shoved back. We are hoping to get the vehicles out on the road by April or May. We have to schedule the vehicles with our vendor that puts in all of the equipment,” said Chamberlin.

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Polls are Open for General Election

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Today is Election Day! The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

You need to have a legal ID in order to cast your important vote at the polls. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will be open during the time the polls are open. License branches will only process new, amended or replacement ID cards, and renewed, amended or replacement driver’s licenses, learner permits, and CDLs. Aside from disability placards, the branches will not perform any other BMV services today only.

The Marshall County Clerk’s office reported 1,635 total absentee votes.

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Vocational Program’s Fate Hinges on Balanced Calendar Adoption

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

CalendarAt least one of the popular trade programs offered through the North Central Vocational Educational Cooperative could be in jeopardy as participating corporations weigh the pros and cons of a balanced school calendar. Kyle Elliott is instructor for the building trades program based at Culver Community High School. He says students from Knox and North Judson-San Pierre are also enrolled in the program. If the three schools are on different schedules, Elliott says it will put kids and parents in a really tough situation. Continue reading →