Local News

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is calling for nominations of impactful alumni to be honored in its PNW Alumni Hall of Fame. The PNW Alumni Hall of Fame honors distinguished graduates from any time in the 76-year history of the university’s Hammond and Westville campuses. PNW says it is seeking nominations of alumni who are high-achieving leaders in their fields, involved members of their community, and those who have engaged with PNW well beyond their time as students. The first inductee, David A. Roberts, BS ’74, was recognized in 2022. Roberts is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Carlisle Companies

Franciscan Health Michigan City is hosting multiple COVID-19 vaccine clinics in LaPorte County in partnership with Beacon Health through year’s end. From 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29 at the Franciscan Health Legacy Campus, 301 W. Homer St. in Michigan City From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 at the Coolspring Branch of the LaPorte County Public Library, 6925 W 500 N in Michigan City; From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 at the LaPorte County Main Library, 904 Indiana Ave. in LaPorte; From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 at Dunebrook, 7451 W.

“I don’t design clothes. I design dreams,” fashion icon, Ralph Lauren, once said. On December 7th, Northwest Indiana’s Innovation Forum 2022 will explore those dreams that propel creativity and everyday fashion. “Fashion: The Language of Creativity” will look at fashion history, its social and commercial value, and its individual expression of innovation. The Emerson House, 3634 North 700 West, La Porte, will host the free, networking event at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited. The Center for Creative Solutions annually sponsors the Innovation Forum. Area resident, Dale Cooper, will kick off the program with a commentary about the fashion industry of

Kankakee Valley REMC is partnering again this year with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Help them assist local families in need by donating a new toy in the collection box located in the cooperative’s lobby.  Donations will be accepted until Dec. 9. This program is just one more way to give a little back to the community and help children have a joyous holiday season.

Michigan City High School Athletics is supporting The Salvation Army Michigan City Corps and Community Center food pantry this holiday season. Now through Dec. 9, you can get $1 off admission to any athletic event when you bring a nonperishable food item. In addition, don't forget the big "Drive Through Food Drive" at Ames Field on Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Unity Foundation of La Porte County is supporting area nonprofit and community service agencies with its most recent round of ‘Power for Good’ Community Grants, totaling over $265,000 for 91 local projects throughout La Porte County. This surpasses past grant amounts made by Unity. These grants will help local organizations provide vital access to education, literacy, prevention and supportive services for local residents. “Community organizations are doing incredible work throughout La Porte County, and Unity is proud to support their efforts.” said Shannon Walker, Unity Foundation Vice President. This year, Unity Foundation increased the amount of funding available for projects

Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Broadband Office announced that the City of Gary is now designated as an official Broadband Ready Community. The Broadband Ready Communities Program was created as a tool to encourage broadband development throughout Indiana. The Broadband Ready Community certification sends a signal to the telecommunication industry that a community has taken steps to reduce barriers to broadband infrastructure investment. “It is communities like Gary that are trailblazing and making a difference within the connectivity space,” Crouch said. “The many cities, counties and towns throughout the state that are collaborating on behalf of their

There will be overnight lane closures tonight into Wednesday from approximately 7 p.m.-6 a.m. on I-94 between Burr Street and the Illinois State Line, according to INDOT. The closures will be to switch traffic back to the normal configuration as construction wraps up for the year. Work in this area on I-80/94 will continue in early Spring to finish out the contract. Construction has also wrapped up for the year on I-65 in Lake County, with contractors continuing that work next Spring as well.

The Salvation Army of Michigan City  is in need of volunteer bell ringers to stand at each of their locations. Many of the locations will remain vacant because they have no one to fill them. Go to registertoring.com and sign up for one, two hours or the whole day. The Salvation Army says for questions, call 219-874-6885 and say, "I want to volunteer to ring bells and we will make that happen."

Indiana State Police are ramping up patrols during peak Thanksgiving travel. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. AAA is predicting 54.6 million people will be heading out for the holiday. Of those, nearly 49 million will be traveling by car, a rebound to almost pre-pandemic levels. This time of year is also associated with higher drinking rates, which combined with the sheer number of drivers on the road, makes it an especially dangerous time for motorists. To prevent crashes, the Indiana State Police Lowell Post will be ramping up enforcement as part of the Safe

A Michigan City man was sentenced to over 7 years after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Santana Miller, 37, was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in April 2022, Miller possessed a handgun and a rifle while in Michigan City. At that time, he was on federal supervised release for a controlled substance conviction. Miller’s criminal history revealed he has four prior felony convictions and is therefore prohibited from possessing these firearms, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In Michigan City, crews are closing 300 North Just west of 950 West from 7:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. today for water main installation. The intersection will be open to the East of 950 West and North & South of 300 North. A detour for 300 North will be set up 421 South to 200 North, East to 950 West, North to 300 North.

One person died in a two-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon on Johnson Road at County Road 500 West, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. At 4:16 p.m., an off-duty deputy, came upon a two-vehicle crash on Johnson Road at CR 500 West. The crash investigation determined a 2009 Hyundai, driven by 65-year-old Dwayne Nash of Michigan City, was traveling north on County Road 500 West.  Nash disregarded the stop sign on County Road 500 West at Johnson Road.  The vehicle traveled onto Johnson Road and collided with an eastbound vehicle. The vehicle traveling eastbound on Johnson Road, a 2021

In Valparaiso, Evans Avenue will be closed again on Monday, Nov. 21 (between Calumet Avenue and Roosevelt Road) for one final time, according to the city. This closure is for final safety and surface upgrades. Follow WIMS on Facebook for more local roadwork updates.

Citizens Concerned for the Homeless will be distributing 1,000 turkeys on Monday, Nov. 21 provided through the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. The first 500 turkeys will be distributed at Marquette Mall in Michigan City from 9-11 a.m. The second 500 will be distributed at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds in La Porte from 12:30-2 p.m. There will be one offering per household.

Deputies from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office participated in a traffic safety project this past Tuesday along U.S. 20 in La Porte County. Deputies Alex Clemons, Jon Sikorski and Justin Gorny joined forces with law enforcement officers from the six states of Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio for the one-day project aimed at improving traffic safety along 1,300 miles of U.S. 20. Deputies worked the project during peak travel and commuter times on Tuesday. Their combined enforcement efforts produced 13 citations and 17 warnings for various traffic infractions. This was the third U.S. 20 enforcement project since