Local News

La PORTE, IN – City of La Porte Police Chief Dick Buell Tuesday announced his resignation from the department, according to La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody. Buell, who was sworn in in February of 2024, will step down effective immediately, stating in his resignation letter that he feels “it is now time for new leadership.” Dermody said Buell’s direction helped to guide the department following the retirement of former Chief Paul Brettin. "Dick was a fantastic leader and my kind of guy,” Dermody said. “His old school mentality and no-nonsense approach earned him the respect of the officers as well

Michigan City Police are investigating the death of a 5 year-old child, the department announced Monday night. On Sunday, March 2, at approximately 7:16 a.m., the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call reference an unresponsive five year old male child inside a residence in the 2200 block of Normandy Drive. Two officers responded to the scene as did the Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS. The child was transported from the residence to Franciscan Hospital and from there, flown to the University of Chicago Children’s Comer Hospital for advanced medical treatment. Despite all efforts, the

News Release, Indiana Department of Natural Resources: The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues to detect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds throughout Indiana and has currently detected the H5NI virus in 30 counties. HPAI is also suspected in an additional 32 counties based on reports involving the deaths of raptors, cranes, and waterfowl. Counties where avian influenza has been detected in wild birds currently are Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Benton, Boone, Clinton, Decatur, Gibson, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Huntington, Jackson, Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Marion, Newton, Pike, Porter, Randolph, Ripley, Shelby, Starke, Tippecanoe, Union, Vanderburgh, and Vermillion.

The Portage Police Department introduced the four newest members of the Portage Police Department to be sworn in this year on Friday. Officer John Patston comes to the department from a neighboring jurisdiction with seventeen years of full-time law enforcement experience.  Thanks to this, Officer Patston was able to quickly complete his field training program, and he has been released for solo-patrol. Officer Anthony Mako is a 2019 graduate of Highland High School.  Prior to joining PPD Officer Mako served in the U.S. Navy and has a sales background. Officer Tiaan Coetzee is originally from South Africa but immigrated to

News Release, Franciscan Health: Board-certified family medicine physician Ted George Ody Achufusi, DO, MD, is now part of Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Michigan City. Dr. Ted Achufusi attended medical school at the Medical University of Lublin in Lublin, Poland and New York Institute of Technology’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, N.Y. Dr. Ted Achufusi’s clinical interests include alternative medicine; minor procedures such as joint injections and skin tag removal; osteopathic manipulative medicine; preventative health and women’s health. In addition to English, Dr. Ted Achufusi is fluent in Polish and Igbo. He is accepting new

National Consumer Protection Week is March 2 to March 8   To kick off National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Todd Rokita is reiterating his commitment to protecting Hoosier consumers, urging them to protect themselves from robocalls and report scams and fraudulent activities to his office’s Consumer Protection Division.   "Quite often, these robocalls are part of criminal schemes aimed at stealing Hoosiers' identities and taking your hard-earned money,” Attorney General Rokita said. “These annoying and illegal calls are the work of professional scammers looking to prey on unsuspecting victims. Make sure you take the necessary steps to protect yourself

ATTENTION: Lynyrd Skynyrd fans!  The Artimus Pyle Band comes to the Civic Auditorium on Friday, March 7! Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to experience this legendary performance live. Grab your tickets now and join us for a night of Southern Rock magic. Led by former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Artimus Pyle, the band puts on a show that is high energy, true to the music and true to the era. Since his departure from Skynyrd in 1991, Pyle’s career has led him down an amazing path of solo records and projects culminating into one the

Center for Creative Solutions, Inc.® Announces Northwest Indiana’s Poetry Showcase for World Creativity and Innovation Week Northwest Indiana poets, April is your time to shine! Throughout the month, the Center for Creative Solutions will celebrate both World Creativity & Innovation Week, April 15-21, and National Poetry Month. All poets residing in La Porte, Porter, Lake, Starke, Jasper, Newton and Pulaski Counties are invited to share their work in the 9th annual “Juried Showcase of Poetry.” Indiana University professor, writer and poetry contest judge, Dr. William Allegrezza, is back again to share his expertise. For students K-12, the Center for Creative

Northwest Indiana Green Drinks  “Ready, Set, Go Native!" Katie Hobgood & Em Racine, Program Director & Engagement Manager, Save the Dunes THURSDAY, March 6, 2025, 6:30 pm CT / 7:30 pm ET Facebook Live or Zoom Meeting | Your Space | BYOB Do you have a pollinator garden or desire to start one? Are you concerned about our declining population of butterflies, birds, bees, and bugs? How would you register your yard, business, school, place of worship, or park with the National Wildlife Federation for community credit? Every spring for four consecutive years, Northwest Indiana Green Drinks welcomes experts in

U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-1st, will host a Virtual Community Forum at 5:30 p.m. (CT) Wednesday, March 5, on his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@RepMrvan The Town of Chesterton shared on it's Facebook page the following information: Information on a series of in-person Community Forums to be held in April at select locations in the 1st Congressional District will be released in the near future. “My office is here to serve the residents of Indiana’s First Congressional District and I look forward to hearing directly from individuals about any issues of concern at this Virtual Community Forum,” Mrvan said. Constituents

Complete the pre-reading and donation questions online at home, at your desk, or even on your phone - saving you 10-15 minutes when you get to the drive. Here is the link to get started: English: https://www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass Spanish: https://www.redcrossblood.org/espanol/rapidpass.html And remember to prepare for your donation... *Drink extra water *Eat well *Bring your government-issued ID First time donating? Click on this link for some Common Questions about Donating Blood: https://www.portagein.gov/.../Common-Questions-about...

Stop by the today SUNDAY from 9a-3p for the last day of the Family Friendly FREE Builders Assn of LaPorte County Home & Lifestyle at the Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa in Michigan City. Free Admission. Free Parking. Bring your ideas and pics. Family friendly. Thank you to all of the sponsors this weekend We appreciate our WIMS Broadcast Partners including the Builders Association of La Porte County, Arnett Construction & Roofing and NIPSCO #wims #nwi #localradio

The Community comes together for the 2025 La Porte County Family YMCA State of the Y at Purdue Northwest. The La Porte County Family YMCA recently reflected on the State of the Y at Purdue Northwest with a number of Community leaders. CEO, Scott Helmkamp and Board Chair Jessica Romaine focused on the Y being " The Center of Community". The Event forcused on the growth across all programs, youth initiatives, wellness programs, community engagement and so much more. The program included the La Porte County Family YMCA 2024 Award Winners including the SHIRLEY HERMSEN Community Partner of the Year

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Prospective graduate students interested in going into the social work field and earning an advanced license-eligible degree can submit their applications to Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Master of Social Work (MSW) program through April 1, 2025. PNW’s MSW program, which will enroll its first cohort in fall 2025, will prepare advanced generalist social workers who can make impactful change through social services needs in the Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland region. MSW graduates will be well-qualified to enter dynamic careers in numerous settings, such as hospitals, advocacy agencies, government, police departments, mental health and addiction centers,

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and partners throughout the state have worked with the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) to develop a no-cost program with a focus on increasing the knowledge and use of soil sampling as a nutrient management practice to benefit farm operations. The program, titled Indiana’s Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program, is open now for applicants. “Indiana is a leader in soil conservation and that is thanks to programs like this one,” said Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture. “This funding will support our Hoosier farmers and landowners l ooking to increase soil

Press release, American Red Cross: People can also donate financially on Red Cross Giving Day, March 26, to deliver relief and care in the face of intensifying disasters INDIANA —The American Red Cross Indiana Region is helping to bridge access to health care for blood donors by providing free A1C testing, commonly used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes, on all successful blood, platelet and plasma donations in March. One-third of people lack access to regular primary care in the U.S., where diabetes affects 1 in 10 people and nearly a quarter of those living with it have been undiagnosed,

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction Co., Inc. will close State Road 104 between County Road 525 South and County Road 700 South on or after Monday, March 3. State Road 104 will be closed for bridge work at the Kankakee River through mid-June. Motorists should seek alternate routes. The official detour will follow State Road 4 and State Road 23.

The City of La Porte is seeking feedback on a new plan that outlines the future of the community, according to Community Development & Planning Director Craig Phillips. In less than two weeks, City will host two public open house events to engage residents in the development of a comprehensive plan. During these times, the public is invited to review material, comment and ask questions about the plan as it currently stands. Phillips said these insights will help ensure the city creates a plan that reflects the community’s needs and desires. “The comprehensive plan is a valuable tool that will

In Michigan City, a local contractor has completed emergency repairs to the sanitary sewer system on White Oak Drive, south of Greenwood Avenue.  The emergency repairs were needed to fix a failing manhole that contributed to a severe dip in the White Oak Drive roadway. The City anticipates the asphalt plants will reopen in early April. In the interim, with the option of repaving the roadway cut with asphalt currently not available to the city, in consultation with the City Engineer’s Office the Sanitary District of Michigan City has instructed that the roadway repair be temporarily completed with compacted aggregate

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch’s highly anticipated Second Annual Charitable Gala is set for Friday, April 11, 2025, at the Stardust Event Center at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa (777 Blue Chip Drive). Following the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural gala—which raised more than $100,000 in grant funding for Michigan City youth initiatives—the 2025 event will expand its impact. This year, Mayor Angie’s fundraising focus will center on neighborhood revitalization initiatives while continuing to incorporate youth engagement. “Our neighborhoods are the foundation of Michigan City, and we want to ensure each one is thriving,” said