The Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) initiated a criminal investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an online account had been used for child exploitation. The investigation revealed the owner of the online account to be 29 year-old Thomas Back, from Walkerton. When these crimes occurred, he was a resident of Westville. After reviewing the results of the investigation, the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office requested a warrant for Mr. Back’s arrest. Back was arrested on Monday, March 21, and is being held at the LaPorte County

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department has provided a new photo of missing Gary man, Stanley Steele. The Gary Police Department is still seeking the community's assistance in locating Stanley Steele. Stanley has been missing since March 4 of this year, and detectives have exhausted all leads in attempting to locate him.  Stanley Steele is a 57-year-old black male, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 155 pounds He is bald, has brown eyes and wears glasses.  Police say Stanley Steele requires medication for medical conditions and is known to frequent 5th Avenue between Jackson Street and Garfield Street in

Michigan City native, Naomi Anderson, was a creative visionary of her day. However, she probably could never have imagined the accolades her hometown bestowed on her over a hundred years after her death in 1899. On Saturday, Californians Alicia Guererro and Betty Austin accepted the CREO! on behalf of their great-grandmother from the Center for Creative Solutions. Pat Lain, President of the Center’s Board of Directors, presented the award for Anderson’s creativity. Lain noted her accomplishments as a poet, advocate for women’s rights and racial equality, humanitarian, and entrepreneur. The CREO! recognizes a citizen or organization that encourages a culture

The La Porte County Health Department has announced there are new hours for the La Porte County Health Department COVID testing site at 302 W. 8th St. in Michigan City. No appointment is necessary. Hours are: Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 7  p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. It is closed Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Diagnostic rapid and lab testing is available. Any child under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian with proper documentation in order to be administered a test.  

The following is an update from NICTD on the South Shore Line Double Track Project: Gary- Miller Station Area: All of the buildings have been demolished for the construction of the station and parking lots in Miller. The removal of underground obstructions will continue into Mid-March. New sewer work has begun in the west parking lot. NICTD’s Double Track Contract 3, Hasse Construction, is working on the new east parking lot site (east of McDonald’s), which has been fenced. Construction of the new east lot will begin in March. Parking is available but temporarily restricted while work near Miller Station

The first annual LEAP Olympics will be held May 16-20. Companies can register to secure their spot in this exciting new event beginning April 1. Company pride, corporate wellness and team building are all benefits for companies participating in the LEAP Olympics. "The Pandemic challenged a lot of us to stay active and our staff is thrilled to finally introduce this new event to our business community!", said Mike Riehle, President of Chamber Services. “We are also excited to partner with some great community members including the Civic Auditorium, City of La Porte Parks Dept., LaPorte Community School Corporation, Beechwood

The Tenebrae Choir at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church will again be presenting an annual Contemporary Tenebrae Service entitled “Hope in the Shadows”, composed by Joel Raney and Lloyd Larson, on Palm Sunday, April 10 at 3PM in the Church. Queen of All Saints is located on the corner of Barker Avenue and Woodland Avenue in Michigan City. A Tenebrae service is defined as “a church service observed during the final part of Holy Week commemorating the sufferings and death of Christ.” During this 35-minute musical journey, seven candles are lit while the opening narration is presented, and the

That cherry flavor you enjoy in candy and soda is likely a combination of aromatic and flavor compounds discovered through the study of plants in laboratories far from cherry trees. It and the sweet scent of your almond extract may actually be courtesy of a petunia flower. Some flavors and aromas are more elusive than others, and a team of Purdue University researchers recently found the molecular recipe for one of the most coveted compounds by the flavor industry: benzaldehyde. It may not sound tasty, but it is key to some of the most popular flavors including cherry, almond and

The Duneland Chamber has announced its annual meeting was rescheduled for April 26 at The Allure on The Lake. Meet the Duneland Chamber 2022 Board of Directors. Learn about the future plans of the Duneland Chamber. Network with fellow Chamber members. Any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at info@dunelandchamber.org or (219) 926-5513.      

Mayor Duane Parry announced the return of the Michigan City Easter Egg Hunt, to be held on Saturday, April, 16 in Fedder’s Alley at Washington Park. Michigan City Police Chief Dion Campbell siad, “This is truly a City-wide event and collaborative effort between community business businesses, Police, Fire, Park & Recreations, Emergency Management, Special Events and numerous volunteers,” said. “Each of these entities pulled together and sacrificed to make this event happen because we recognize how important this community is to our City” The Easter Egg Hunt will take place in Fedder’s Alley, and children will be divided into various

Governor Eric J. Holcomb, Adjutant General R. Dale Lyles and Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers will lead an economic development trip to Slovakia and Israel beginning March 27, building on the governor's focus of “increasing Indiana’s international engagement and cultivating new business relationships and people-to-people ties in central Europe and the Middle East.”  The Governor’s Office says that “While encouraging collaborative opportunities to advance innovation, investment and bolster strategic relationships, the delegation will show humanitarian support during a critical time for the geopolitical situation in the region.”  "Secretary Chambers and I are energized to strengthen relationships with global leaders and

Michigan City Area Schools, in partnership with Neo Network Development, has entered Phase 2 of a comprehensive project providing free wireless broadband internet access to a growing number of its students. Funding for the wireless broadband project has been made possible by a $600,000 grant from the Indiana Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER). A 60-foot pole and wireless equipment recently erected at Knapp Elementary School will provide free wireless internet service to all MCAS-owned devices at approximately 300 homes with up to a one-mile radius of the school. In order to access the service, families in the area will

Bridge work will begin on U.S. 41 between State Road 2 and State Road 10 in Lake County on or after Monday, March 21. The contract includes superstructure replacements for the bridges over Singleton Ditch and Brown Ditch and will result in alternating lane closures in the area through late September.  Restrictions will begin with one lane and shoulder closed in both the northbound and southbound directions for the construction of temporary median crossovers and to widen the shoulders, which will take approximately four weeks.  When the crossovers are complete, the bridge replacements will be conducted in two phases. During

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance in identifying a person and vehicle of interest, in an ongoing . The burglary occurred at a business on US Highway 20. Police say If you have information, please contact Detective Sgt. Spicer at 219-477-3138.

The Rotary Club of Michigan City announced Thursday that Angie Nelson-Deuitch will be honored with this year’s Paul J. Alinsky Excellence Award. The award is presented in honor of Paul Alinksy who was a past Rotary Club President, past Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Board, and founder of Sentinel Alarm Company.  Paul passed away in 1997 and this award was created to keep his memory alive.  The Paul J. Alinsky Award is given annually to a person from the Michigan City community who exhibits dedication to community service and excellence, passion, and innovation in their vocation/career, as these are