WKVI Information Center

Marshall

Autopsy Reveals Marshall County Inmate’s Cause of Death

By: Anita Goodan
Published: May 21st, 2013

An investigation into the death of an inmate at the Marshall County Jail found that Kerry Alan Pinder, 44, died of natural causes.

Pinder was arrested April 6 on a charge Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and was awaiting his release from jail when the jail staff found him unresponsive in his cell the next morning.

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Bremen Police Find Meth Lab, Two Arrested

Published: May 21st, 2013

Meth BustBremen Police Officers responding to a call about trespassers found an apparent meth lab inside a residence in the 400 block of South East Street. The incident occurred yesterday around 3:30 p.m. according to WNDU-TV. Brandon Shackelford and Raymond Van Blaricom are being held in the Marshall County Jail.

 

Marshall County Commissioners Approve WECS Ordinance

By: Anita Goodan
Published: May 20th, 2013

This sign was held up at a previous meeting of the Marshall County Commissioners

In a unanimous vote, the Marshall County Commissioners voted to approve ordinance 2013-04 which refers to amendments proposed for Wind Energy Conversion Systems.

Marshall County Plan Director, Ralph Booker, reminded the Commissioners of the proposed amendments and noted that the phrase “large wind systems” and “wind farms” were deleted from the Agriculture and Industrial zoning and “small wind farms” was added. The ordinance calls for a 2,640 foot setback of any wind turbine farm and basically disallows a Wind Energy Conversion System in Marshall County.

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Sarah Tabor Sentenced in Marshall County Superior Court 1

By: Anita Goodan
Published: May 20th, 2013

A former Plymouth resident was sentenced in Marshall County Superior Court 1 to 10 years in prison with four years suspended Friday after she pleaded guilty in a plea agreement to a charge of Manufacturing Methamphetamine.

The charge stems from an incident on Dec. 28, 2011 where Sarah Tabor, 21, was arrested in Starke County and told detectives that an active methamphetamine lab was in her apartment on Washington Street in Plymouth. Plymouth officers arrived at the scene and noticed a strong chemical coming from that apartment. They were concerned for the safety of the neighbors and gained entry into the apartment to locate and secure the source of the chemical smell. When inside, the officers found a backpack with items that are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. After securing those items, officers exited the apartment to await arrival of the landlord who gave consent to search the apartment more thoroughly.

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Heart Cart Screenings Available Tuesday

By: WKVI Information Center
Published: May 20th, 2013

The Heart Cart will make a stop in Plymouth on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET at IU Health Primary Care at Lifeplex.

Those wishing to be tested for abnormal heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysm, blood pressure, fasting cholesterol and glucose levels, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, poor leg circulation, stroke and weight should pre-register for these screenings by calling 1-800-235-6204 ext. 2626. The screenings are provided in part by the Starke Health Fund of the IU Health Foundation.

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Memorial Day Events Planned for May 27

By: Ben Haut
Published: May 20th, 2013

Memorial Day is just seven days away and a number of area VFWs and American Legions are preparing for ceremonies and other events to commemorate the holiday dedicating to remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

In Starke County, the Knox VFW will be holding their parade march on Memorial Day, May 27, at 9 a.m. beginning at the county courthouse where a short ceremony will be held. Following that, the group will march to Oak Hill Cemetery where they will hold another short ceremony to reflect on the fallen soldiers who fought to uphold our way of life.

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Bourbon Woman Sentenced to 10 Years for Manufacturing Meth

By: Anita Goodan
Published: May 18th, 2013

A Bourbon woman was sentenced in Marshall County Superior Court 1 on Thursday on a charge of Manufacturing Methamphetamine.

Amy Dawn Banks, 37 pleaded guilty to the charge in a plea agreement with the state. Judge Robert O. Bowen sentenced Banks to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with no part of the sentence suspended.

Banks admitted that she was manufacturing methamphetamine in a home she shared with others on Main Street in Bourbon. An Indiana State Police officer arrived at the residence with a search warrant and found an active methamphetamine lab in the home, plus a loaded handgun, meth, drug paraphernalia and precursors.

Local McDonald’s Offering Free Meal to Armed Forces Members

By: Ben Haut
Published: May 18th, 2013

McDonald’s restaurants in eight Indiana counties and two counties in Michigan will be offering a free Extra Value Meal to active-duty and former military personnel today in honor of Armed Forces Day. The free meal will be offered from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. to any man or woman who is currently serving or has served in any branch of the military.

To receive a meal, the service member must be in uniform or present a military ID. A representative with McDonald’s stated that this is just a small way for McDonald’s to say “thank you” to the men and women who serve our country.

The offer is valid at participating McDonald’s restaurants in Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Marshall, Pulaski, Starke, and St. Joseph counties in Indiana, as well as Cass and Berrien counties in Michigan.

John “Bill” Morris

Published: May 17th, 2013

No services are visitation are planned for John “Bill” Morris, 84, of Plymouth. He passed away Monday. Rannells Funeral Home Koontz Lake Chapel is handing arrangements.

Plymouth Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

By: Anita Goodan
Published: May 17th, 2013

Michael Scott Weaver was sentenced to 12 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections in a hearing in Marshall County Superior Court 1 Thursday. He pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine.

Judge Robert O. Bowen handed down the maximum sentence outlined in the plea agreement.

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Cocaine Dealer Sentenced in Marshall County Superior Court 1

By: Anita Goodan
Published: May 17th, 2013

An Illinois man was sentenced in Marshall County Superior Court 1 to 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Jerome Williams, 39 of Dixmoor, Ill., pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of Dealing Cocaine. Judge Robert O. Bowen ordered him to serve 10 years on that count and suspended no part of the sentence.

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Plymouth Police Investigating Alleged Battery Incident

By: Anita Goodan
Published: May 17th, 2013

Plymouth police are looking for suspects involved in an alleged battery incident in Centennial Park Wednesday morning.

The female victim told police that she was walking along Greenways Trail in the park and was approached by four Caucasian men in their 20s. They had walked up behind her and one suspect battered her. When she fell to the ground, the suspects then attempted to steal items from her pockets. They then left and the victim was able to escape and call police.

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Earl Gaerte Classic This Saturday at Plymouth Speedway

By: Anita Goodan
Published: May 17th, 2013
Shane Stewart will be driving his sprint car in the Earl Gaerte Classic at Plymouth Speedway Saturday night

Shane Stewart will be driving his sprint car in the Earl Gaerte Classic at Plymouth Speedway Saturday night

It’s one of the biggest races of the season at Plymouth Speedway and it’s happening on Saturday night.

The Engine Pro presented by Fel-Pro Gaskets Earl Gaerte Classic will feature the Sprints on Dirt Saturday night.

Earl Gaerte was an innovator in short track engines and he designed engines that have been in Indianapolis 500 cars and in the cars that are raced on racetracks each Saturday night across America. He passed away in August 2011, but his memory and innovations live on.

Plymouth Speedway Director of Racing, Matthew Schwartz, indicated that it will be an exciting night of racing.

“The Sprints on Dirt, which we call SOD sprints, are a touring series and they race all over Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and even into Canada,” said Schwartz. “The cars from all of those states plus Illinois and maybe some from Tennessee will come race with the sprint cars. These are the fastest things on dirt! They have big wings, 900 hp and they’ll hit over 100 mph every lap.”

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Sprint car driver, Shane Stewart, was at Plymouth Speedway Wednesday night for a media event and had a chance to look things over for this weekend’s race.

Stewart is a native of Oklahoma but has since moved to Indiana to continue his career in the sprint car series. He’s quite accomplished having many feature wins under his belt as well as a American Sprint Car Association Championship.

Stewart doesn’t run with a particular sprint car series full-time but he does occasionally race in the esteemed World of Outlaws series. He will be driving a brand new sprint car this weekend under the ownership of Joe Gaerte. Stewart said it was fitting that he participate in the Earl Gaerte Classic with Gaerte Engines out of Rochester as a sponsor. Watch for the number 3G as it makes circuits around the track.

Stewart is pretty impressed with Plymouth Speedway’s new dirt surface.

‘They’ve done a great job with the dirt. They’re working hard. I know and I’ve seen the amount of work that actually goes into preparing a racetrack for a Saturday night,” said Stewart.

He expects to be part of some great racing Saturday night.

“If the track’s right, it’s wide enough to see two or three-wide racing. The best thing that you could hope for as a dirt track guy is if you can get two grooves. That’s the most important thing. If they can make that happen, I think you’re going to see a really good race!”

Modifieds and the USAC 600 sprints will also be racing to round out the exciting night of racing.

The gates will open at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m. ET. For ticket and pit pass information, visit www.plymouthspeedway.net.

High School Graduations Approaching; Celebrate Safely

By: Ben Haut
Published: May 17th, 2013

Area high schools are preparing for graduation ceremonies across the Kankakee Valley as soon-to-be-graduates prepare for life after high school. West Central High School students will be the first to graduate while South Central High School students will undergo their graduation ceremonies last, but police will be on high-alert, searching for intoxicated and unrestrained drivers, so adults are strongly encouraged not to provide alcohol for graduation parties and to keep tabs on graduates attending parties to ensure they are being responsible.

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