Local News

The LaPorte County Drug Task Force, an Indiana HIDTA Initiative, Michigan City Police Department’s Crime Suppression Unit, and the Indiana State Police Illicit Hazardous Environment Team (IHE), announced the successful dismantling of an illegal drug manufacturing operation, marking a significant blow to underground narcotics production in the area. Following an extensive investigation, police executed a residential search warrant at 109 Earl Rd, Michigan City, IN on December 5th, 2024, uncovering a fully operational drug lab. “This operation was a sophisticated setup designed to produce and distribute dangerous substances,” said LaPorte County Drug Task Force Commander Sgt. Kyle Shiparski. “Thanks to

Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO) has announced that 16 organizations across northern Indiana will be able to further their public safety initiatives as a result of support from the 2024 NIPSCO Public Safety Education and Training Action Grant program. Over the past seven years, NIPSCO’s Public Safety Education and Training Action Grant has funded a total of 110 projects geared toward community and youth public safety education projects, as well as training for first responders, police and fire departments. Some of these include lithium-ion battery response training, carbon monoxide training and CPR and AED training for residents and

Jack Arnett, CEO of the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau said, “Last month Linda made it official – she announced her retirement effective at the end of the year.” Linda is going out on top, having led the Bureau’s Marketing Department for the last 17 years. During that time, she spearheaded the efforts behind the award-winning Great Lakes Grand Prix Marketing Campaign – having won the prestigious Best Event in the State of Indiana Award twice during her tenure. Linda has been involved in numerous boards and commissions locally and at the state level. She currently is finishing her

This past week, Jail Division Deputies Mathew Ballman, Richard Doperalski, and Andrew Anderson attended and successfully completed an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy certified Basic Jail Officer Course. The state mandated web-based course consisted of 40-hours of instruction, a final exam, and was hosted by the Indiana Sheriffs' Association. The course was taught by instructors from throughout the State of Indiana, including one from the La Porte County Sheriff's Office. Approximately 150 students from across the state were enrolled in the course. Congratulations to all who participated!

The South Shore Line announces it will extend its “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” monthly ticket promotion for January 2025. All monthly tickets purchased for the month of January 2025 will remain valid for February 2025.

  Attorney General Todd Rokita is alerting Hoosiers to important consumer protection concerns for products recalled in November. The office is encouraging consumers to take advantage of opportunities available to them to return, fix, dispose, return or replace a purchased recalled item that could be harmful to their families.   “The holidays should be a time of togetherness, not a time to worry about defected products,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Hoosiers need to know if purchased items are flawed or have the potential to hurt them or their families.”  According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following consumer products were recalled in November:      

Lake County Sheriff’s Department detectives are investigating a fatal shooting in unincorporated Crown Point. It happened just after 9 in the morning on Friday at a home in the 8300 block of Webster Court.  A 37-year-old woman suffered an apparent gunshot wound. Paramedics attempted to save her life, but she succumbed to her injuries. The investigation is still ongoing and no further details will be released at this time.  -Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr.

Orthopedic spine surgeon Wajeeh Bakhsh, MD, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Chesterton and Michigan City. Dr. Bakhsh is board-certified in orthopedics. He attended medical school at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and completed his residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y. Dr. Bakhsh completed his fellowship training in complex orthopedic spine surgery at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center in Chicago. His clinical interests include disc herniations; neck, low and mid back pain; spinal stenosis; spinal cord compression and injury; nerve compression; scoliosis and sacroiliitis.

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – The original Michigan City Public Library turns a page as the ribbon is cut on the three-year renovation project. The refreshed Casa del Libri features five new, luxury apartments at Eighth and Spring Streets in the Elston Grove Historic Neighborhood. The building highlights its historic roots, including a 12-foot-high Tiffany-style-stained glass window depicting the Shakespearean figures Rosalind, Portia and Ophelia. “I think the biggest impact of the project is the fact that the library was opened to the public in 1897 as a pillar in the rich history of Michigan City. It has sat effectively vacant since

Unity Foundation of La Porte County announced that its founding president, Maggi Spartz, will retire at the end of 2025.   Under Spartz’s visionary leadership and tireless efforts, the Unity Foundation has grown from nothing to over $50 million in assets, benefiting thousands of people and hundreds of LaPorte County organizations. “In 1992, an opportunity presented by the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. to start a community foundation grew into a thriving and impactful organization. Building the Unity Foundation from scratch and transforming La Porte County and the region has been the honor of my lifetime,” said Spartz. “I am so

The Michigan City High School Student Council is once again coordinating a city-wide “drive-through” food drive. Students and staff throughout Michigan City Area Schools are collecting food, and the community is invited to participate. Donations of non-perishable food items will be collected at The Salvation Army of Michigan City (1201 Franklin Street) on Saturday, December 21 from 9:00 am to Noon, and all items collected will benefit The Salvation Army of Michigan City food pantry. The food drive has become a tradition for MCAS, held before the holidays each year to benefit those in need. Last year it generated more

Dickens FOR KIDS Christmas Carol Show at Theatre at the Center in Munster-FINAL WEEK NEXT WEEK Monday, Dec. 9 - Friday, Dec. 13 All shows offered at 9:15 and 11:15 am All tickets are $10   Newspaper columnist Philip Potempa and artist Cara Schmitt take the stage in this fast-paced, 50-minute abridged salute to Charles Dickens’ holiday classic “A Christmas Carol.” Young audiences, church and school groups will see and hear everything unfold before them. In addition to the two performers using their range of ever-changing and entertaining vocals to portray more than two dozen characters, radio personality Tony Panek

 Internal and Pediatric Medicine Nurse Practitioner Arshia Mohiuddin, NP, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Munster. Mohiuddin is board-certified and earned her Master of Science degree from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond. In addition to internal medicine and pediatrics, her clinical interests include diabetes management, annual checkups and screenings, general health maintenance with education, balanced diet, nutritional counseling and weight management and chronic disease management with a focus on high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition to English, NP Mohiuddin speaks Hindi and is accepting new patients at Franciscan Physician

🏈🔥 The Sunday Blitz is BACK for Week 14! 🔥🏈Join Dan Levy along with William Hatczel today at 11am for an action packed show   Join us at 11 AM on wimsradio.com for the BEST NFL pregame show anywhere!   🎙️ Special guest: Dan McNeil, Chicago sports radio legend & author of I Bear Witness. 🎯 Fantasy picks with Don Kleppin. 🏆 DJ’s Weekly Picks by 10-year-old analyst DJ Levy! 🎧 "You Say It, We Play It," Clowns of the Week, Game Balls & more!   Don’t miss the action before kickoff! #NFL #SundayBlitz

Shipshewana on the Road December 14th and 15th at Porter County Expo & Fairgrounds Porter County Expo & Fairgrounds 215 E Division Rd, Valparaiso, IN, United States Check out Shipshewana on the Road at the Porter County Expo & Fairgrounds in December. Listen for your chance to win tickets or send/email your information to win@wimsradio.com-please include your name, address, phone number. Porter County Expo & Fairgrounds December 14-15, 2024 215 E Division Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46383 Sat: 9:00AM - 6:00PM Sun: 10:00AM - 3:00PM Tickets sold at door or online at www.shipshewanaontheroad.com

On Monday, December 2nd, at approximately 10:45 p.m., Trooper Kay Galvan observed a black Ford Bronco traveling eastbound on I-80 from the Illinois state line at an extremely high rate of speed. Trooper Galvan attempted to catch up to the vehicle as it was traveling over 100 mph. While Trooper Galvan attempted to make a traffic stop near Cline Ave., the driver of the Bronco turned off the headlights of the vehicle and continued to accelerate away at over 100+ mph.  The Bronco exited the interstate at Broadway and drove north where it turned down an alley near Connecticut St and

On Wednesday, The City of La Porte Police Department swore in their newest officer, Nelson Lopez-Diaz. Nelson is a Lateral Transfer with many years of experience to bring with him. Congratulations!

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest’s College of Technology earned a 2024 Academia Circle of Excellence Award from the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consults (EC-Council) in recognition of high-quality teaching that prepares and qualifies students and professionals to enter the cybersecurity workforce. PNW’s College of Technology has partnered with the EC-Council since 2019 by incorporating two of the council’s accredited certifications, Certified Ethical Hacker and Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator, into program curricula. Working professionals, including military members, law enforcement and other first responders, have benefitted from PNW’s Cybersecurity Workforce Certification Training by earning both certifications. The certifications qualify students and professionals

Michigan City Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison For Drug Offense  SOUTH BEND – Gregory Morrison, 54 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Morrison was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by 6 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in the summer of 2023, on 8 separate occasions, Morrison distributed, a total of 122 grams of cocaine.  A search of Morrison’s house in September 2023 resulted

On Tuesday December 3rd, 2024, at approximately 12:15am, Officers responded to the 6300 block of East Main Street in reference to multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired in the area. Upon arrival, officers located spent 9mm shell casings in the parking lot behind the apartment complex. In another area of the parking lot several spent .40 caliber shell casing were located along with a plastic baggie containing approximately one ounce of marijuana. Officers spoke with residents in the area who offered witness statements and video surveillance footage which provided a suspect and suspect vehicle description. Utilizing the Flock Safety license