Local News

Valpo Parks announced that in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they will be restoring vital habitat at Rogers Lakewood Park by controlling and managing invasive woody plants that threaten the park’s ecosystem. For safety, the park will be closed Feb. 9-12 as crews remove invasive brush from approximately 30 acres of woodland. This project will enhance forest structure, diversity, and overall park health. The restoration of Rogers Lakewood Park aligns with the City of Valparaiso's commitment to environmental stewardship. The city is also a designated "Tree City" by the Arbor Day Foundation and a "Monarch City" by

Lake County Sheriff’s Department police officers launched a rescue Tuesday to save a dog that made its way to the roof of a three-story house. Sheriff Oscar Martinez says that someone in the area flagged Officer Vicari down after spotting the dog on top of a home near 18th and Malcolm X Drive in Gary sometime around 1 p.m. “The Gary Fire Department was contacted but refused to respond citing that they did not want to risk the safety of their fire personnel,” Martinez stated on the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page. “As a result, Lake County Sheriff’s Department

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from noon CST Wednesday to 6 AM CST Thursday: * WHAT...Mixed precipitation, including freezing rain expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations up to one tenth to locally two tenths of an inch are expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, north central, and northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana. * WHEN...From noon CST /1 PM EST/ Wednesday to 6 AM CST /7 AM EST/ Thursday. * IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions, including during the Wednesday

The newly created Chesterton Sustainability Board, will meet at 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at the town hall, 726 Broadway. Anyone interested in serving on the Sustainability Board or in otherwise volunteering to help make the Town of Chesterton a greener and cleaner place to live is cordially invited to attend the meeting. Information will be gathered, a board will be organized, and the process of drafting an ordinance to establish the body officially will begin.

The La Porte Civic Auditorium is pleased to introduce Gregory Pietsch as our Civic & Events Director. The central Indiana native brings experience from the baseball diamond, from playing college ball to interning with a minor league team, as well as a background in event planning and hospitality. Upon graduation in 2021 from Indiana University South Bend with a double major in Marketing and Advertising, Gregory began his career in finance before taking an internship with the Kalamazoo Growlers and Battle Creek Battle Jacks in the Northwoods League. That experience opened up an opportunity as the Hospitality Manager for The

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. -- Two drivers were hospitalized after a head-on collision Saturday in Lake County, according to Sheriff Oscar Martinez. On Saturday, at around 4:35 p.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Department patrol units were dispatched to the area of 2100 W. 169th Avenue in unincorporated Lowell for a two-vehicle crash with injuries. A preliminary investigation indicates a Ford Escape SUV was traveling eastbound on 169th Avenue and a Kia Soul SUV was traveling in the opposite direction when the vehicles were involved in a head-on collision. Both drivers were transported to an area hospital for treatment. The driver of the

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will honor five exceptional university alumni through its expanded 2025 PNW Alumni Hall of Fame awards that recognize accomplished graduates across different stages of their careers. Included in the fourth annual PNW Alumni Hall of Fame class are Nicole Kupchik, CEO of Nicole Kupchik Consulting, Inc., and Mason Macenski, vice president of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs at Miromatrix Medical Inc. In addition, the first recipient of the Pride of PNW Alumni Award is Rick Calinski, director of Public Affairs and Economic Development for Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO). Calinski is

Press release, Michigan City High School MCJROTC: The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) competed in a military drill meet at Indianapolis Ben Davis High School on Saturday, Feb. 1st. Many of the top MCJROTC programs participated, some of which have qualified for the national drill championship in the past. Mr. Luke Wright, the MCJROTC Director for MCHS’s Region, was in attendance. Purdue University ROTC midshipmen judged the meet. “We represented MCHS well at this meet,” said Major Tom McGrath, the Senior Marine Instructor. “We do not have the depth that the larger

Chesterton, IN – The Duneland Exchange Club is proud to recognize Chesterton High School senior, Kolvin Dade, as our Youth of the Month. Kolvin is an AP Scholar, a member of the Principals’ Honor Roll (2021-2023) and the CHS High Honor Roll (2022-2023). Beyond his academic achievements, Kolvin is a talented speaker and an integral member of the CHS Speech and Debate Team, where he primarily competes in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate event. His leadership extends into his roles as a National Honor Society member, AP Mentor, and Student Aide. Looking ahead, Kolvin aspires to attend the University of Michigan to

SOUTH BEND – Raymond Calvin Smith, 27 years old, and Bruce Milik Smith, 25 years old, brothers from LaPorte, Indiana, were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to federal felony charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Raymond Smith was sentenced to 70 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release. Bruce Smith was sentenced to 39 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release. The two brothers were ordered to pay $723,832.64 in restitution to the victims of their offense. Raymond Smith was also ordered to pay $162,928.62 in

Stop by AnchorPoint Insurance Solutions, LLC OPEN HOUSE/Ribbon Cutting on Thursday February 6th from 4p-7p at 425 Sand Creek Drive in Chesterton . Find out about Auto, Home, and Life Insurance. Enjoy light refreshments and beverages. Experience the excitement and enjoy exclusive offers. For more information call 219-338-2090 or visit www.anchorpointins.com. #wims #nwi #loclaradio #chesterton Chesterton Physical Therapy, Inc.

👰 Brides-to-Be, This One’s for You! 👰Looking for a Wedding Dress-we have got you covered-stunning gowns available at incredible prices-see below   The Goodwill Store in Lansing, IL (near Gary/Hammond) just received a large donation of wedding dresses! If you're planning your big day, now’s your chance to find a stunning gown at an unbeatable price. Most dresses range from $29.99-$99.99, with more detailed designs at $149.00. Not only will you save big, but every purchase supports free community programs that provide job training, education, and other resources to those in need.   Visit Goodwill at 3679 Ridge Rd in

Get Ready for the 10h Anniversary of Red Wine and Brew June 27th-29th featuring Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy along with Parmalee, Lee Greenwood Dillon Carmichael Frank Ray and Shy Carter. Tickets go on sale on February 10th, 2025. For more information visit www.redwineandbrewfest.com. #wims #nwi #localradio

Franciscan Health Trauma Services is hosting a free car seat safety event in partnership with the Griffith Fire Department on Friday, Feb. 21. The event is scheduled to take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Griffith Fire Department’s Station #1 at 130 N. Lafayette St. A nationally certified child passenger safety technician will work with participants to teach them how to properly install a car seat. The child who uses the car seat must be present at the appointment in order for the technician to provide appropriate guidance. Women in their third trimester of pregnancy may attend as

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 – LaPorte County 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT *While supplies last. Where: LaCrosse Apostolic Christian Church, 508 Mill St., LaCrosse, IN 46348 *This distribution is sponsored by Citizens Concerned for the Homeless and will serve 100 households. Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – Marshall County 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET *While supplies last. Where: Plymouth Parks, 1660 N. Michigan St. Plymouth, IN 46563 (Located by the Pool Parking Lot), Plymouth, IN 46563 *This distribution is sponsored by Kroger and will serve 200 households. Thursday, February 13, 2025 – St. Joseph County 1 p.m. – 3

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced legislation to help small business owners integrate digital tools into their businesses. The Small Business Technological Advancement Act would clarify that small businesses can utilize the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 7(a) loan program to finance technology that supports daily operations, including inventory management, product delivery, and accounting systems. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of Indiana’s economy,” said Senator Young. “Our bill will promote the adoption of digital tools so that Hoosier small businesses can better compete in today’s economy.”   “Small businesses

🏈 The Sunday Blitz Coaches Edition at 11am this morning here on WIMS with William Hatczel and Dan Levy   📅 This Sunday at 11 AM on WIMS on AM 1420, 95.1FM, 106.7FMValparaiso and we stream on wimsradio.com 🎙️ Guests: Former NFL head coaches Dave Wannstedt & Marty Mornhinweg, plus @DonKleppin 🔥 Segments: Game Balls, Clowns of the Week, You Say It, We Play It, & BARGUMENTS!   Breaking down the game with the guys who lived it—don’t miss it! #NFL

Congressman Frank J. Mrvan announced plans to move his Northwest Indiana office to 8001 Broadway, Suite 102, in Merrillville.  Congressman Mrvan’s Northwest Indiana office will be closed on Monday, February 3, and Tuesday, February 4, to accommodate the move, and will reopen at noon on Wednesday, February 5th.  The telephone, fax, and email addresses for the Northwest Indiana office will remain unchanged. Congressman Mrvan stated, “Our office’s top priority is to serve the people of Northwest Indiana, and it is my hope that this new office location will better accommodate all constituents and facilitate our services.” The contact information for

In just two years, Indiana students have improved to sixth in the nation in reading according to results from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) rankings. This is the highest Indiana has ever ranked in fourth grade reading and follows the state’s historic investments in a number of comprehensive, strategic solutions aimed at helping more students learn to read. “Over the past three years, Indiana has taken an all-hands-on-deck approach to solving our literacy crisis, and today we see that without a doubt, this work is making a difference,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “This new

SOUTH BEND – Adam Motheral, 50 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Motheral was sentenced to 228 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.   According to documents in the case, between October 2023 and February 2024, Motheral sold four firearms and over 400 grams of high purity methamphetamine to buyers in Elkhart. A search of his residence resulted in the recovery