Local News

VALPARAISO, Ind. – Shirley Heinze Land Trust (SHLT) has announced a 73-acre addition to Meadowbrook Nature Preserve and Conservation Center, located north of Valparaiso. The property contains SHLT’s organizational headquarters and serves as a regional conservation destination with over 300 protected acres, more than four miles of trails for passive recreation, and exceptional facilities that support educational programming. “Meadowbrook is part of the greater Moraine Forest Conservation Area, an area that has long been a conservation priority for us,” said Executive Director Kristopher Krouse. “The 73-acre addition has been a part of a family farm for over 100 years and

Chesterton, IN – August 6, 2024 – The Duneland Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce our upcoming State of the Schools event on Thursday, September 5, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM at the Hilton Garden Inn. Attendees will enjoy a light breakfast and refreshments while Dr. Chip Pettit, Superintendent of the Duneland School Corporation, provides an insightful update on various aspects of our local schools. Key topics will include the new strategic plan, student performance metrics, staffing updates, facilities, and financial status. This event offers a valuable opportunity for community members to stay informed about the progress and future

The following is a letter from South Shore Line President Mike Noland: August 9, 2024, Dear South Shore Line Riders, On July 29th, at the meeting of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Board, we provided an update on the rollout of the new service that started in May. The Board heard from several riders and from members of our front-line staff that the schedule needs to be revised and that our service delivery needs to be improved. As I have stated since we started this correspondence and the end of May, we whole heartedly agree with this assessment and

ITR Concession Co. LLC (ITRCC), the concessionaire and operator of the Indiana Toll Road, is announcing that construction work from mile marker 10 (Exit 10 Gary/Chicago International Airport) to mile marker 20 (just west of the Indiana Toll Road Lake Station Exit 21 Toll Plaza) will commence September 9, 2024, weather permitting. The work will consist of eastbound (EB) and westbound (WB) mainline milling and paving operations, which will include intermittent and short-term lane and shoulder closures. This comprehensive project will also include the resurfacing of the Gary West Exit 14A interchange, which will necessitate its temporary closure. ITRCC will

THC in the workplace among the topics to be addressed Franciscan WorkingWell is hosting a free, day-long symposium at Avalon Manor on Sept. 12 aimed at helping employers find healthcare solutions. “Today’s Healthcare Solutions for Employers” will showcase expert speakers from WorkingWell addressing a variety of diverse topics, including THC (the primary intoxicant in marijuana) in the workplace. Broker and employer panels will discuss trends and strategies in employer-sponsored clinics, detail the benefits of corporate wellness programs and share local success stories. The symposium will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central at Avalon Manor, 3550 E. Lincoln

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth Riley Construction has moved to phase one of bridge work on I-65 between State Road 2 and State Road 10. Southbound traffic remains shifted to the right in the current configuration, and northbound traffic is split with one lane as a counterflow lane on the southbound side and one lane remaining on the northbound side. The location of the lane on the northbound side will shift during different phases of construction through the fall. Work on the northbound side will be ongoing through early November. Traffic will go back to

VALPARAISO – On August 25th from 2-5pm, Don Quijote Restaurante will be hosting a dinner to benefit VNA Hospice NWI’s Meals on Wheels of Porter County program. Don Quijote owners Carlos Rivero and Elena Jambrina are generously donating all of the food, wine, staffing, and venue so that 100% of all funds raised will go directly to feed seniors in need. Tickets for the event are $125, which provides nearly 1 month of hot lunches, and include a four-course meal of Manchego cheese and Spanish Olives, Campiñones, Albondigas, and Patatas Bravas, Blackened Red Fish with Sautéed Shrimp and Salad, homemade

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will close U.S. 231 between Bell Street and Fathke Road on or after Monday, August 12. U.S. 231 will be closed through mid-September for a small structure replacement project. This closure was originally announced earlier this year to follow a pipe lining project to the east on U.S. 231 but was delayed due to utility relocations. Motorists should seek alternate routes. The official detour will follow U.S. 41, U.S. 30 and State Road 55.

The Michigan City Police Department and the Michigan City Fire Department will be participating in a Battle of the Badges Blood Drive that is open to the public on Tuesday, August 13 and Wednesday, August 14. The Michigan City Police Department will be hosting the blood drive on Wednesday, August 14 at the Michigan City Police Department from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are preferred by scanning the code on the attached flyer, but walk-ins are always welcome. You can also call 800-632-4722 to make an appointment.

The Indiana Department of Transportation has given an update on US 30 in Dyer. The Lincoln Highway markings are being placed on the U.S. 30 bridge over Dyer Ditch. INDOT also announced that traffic will switch on or around Wednesday, August 14 to move to the next phase of the project, with the eastbound lanes closed for bridge construction and the westbound lanes converted to two-way traffic. Lane closures will continue through late October for this bridge replacement project.

La Porte, IN — As students head back to the classroom, the La Porte Police Department is reminding motorists to be on the lookout for school buses in the community. Although school buses are one of the safest modes of transportation, injuries and fatalities do occur outside of or near the buses. Most often, these tragedies occur because a motorist has failed to slow down and obey the bus’s stop sign, or to follow local traffic laws. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the overhead lights on a school bus are flashing yellow. Once the lights turn

The National Park Service (NPS) is announcing plans to burn a large debris pile at Indiana Dunes National Park’s Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk site over the next three weeks. The debris pile is located next to the beach. “Over the last several years storms have deposited large tree size pieces of driftwood along the beach,” NPS said  “The material is planned to be burned when weather conditions allow in the next three weeks. Fire staff will burn the wood debris, spreading the cooled ashes so as not to create a hazard to the public. Firefighters will use the same planning

Indiana will expand its Pregnancy Promise Program to support more expectant and new mothers with substance use disorders. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) received a three-year, up to $2.7 million federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which will allow it to support an additional 300 pregnant Hoosiers over the next three years, with a focus on those living in rural and under-resourced communities. “The program’s multigeneration approach supports pregnant women and infants from the prenatal period through 12 months postpartum,” FSSA Secretary Dr. Dan Rusyniak said. “Not only are we helping

Mid-City Supply Company, Inc., a wholesale distributor of plumbing and HVAC products based in Elkhart, Indiana, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the company’s newly renovated Michigan City, Indiana location on Thursday, August 8th at 9:30 am, at 1501 E 2nd Street, Michigan City, Indiana. The event included representatives from the City Council of Michigan City, the Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City, and the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce. “We are excited about Mid-City Supply’s re-investment in Michigan City and their commitment to our community. This is a family-owned business that has grown exponentially and sees a great economic future

Burns Harbor police officers encountered a possible suspect who was entering unlocked vehicles and stealing items from them. Police saw the suspect Thursday at about 3:30 a.m. The suspect fled from officers in a silver SUV into the Gary area. Police say you live in the area between Salt Creek Road and Carol and have any camera footage of the suspect(s) please reach out to the police department. “Again, please lock your vehicles at night and remove any valuables, BHPD said on social media. “If you see someone or something suspicious please contact the police department, and please do not

Franciscan Health Michigan City and Franciscan Health Munster are presenting free, one-day courses this fall aimed at helping anyone who regularly interacts with young people to better understand and help them when they are struggling. The intensive, free workshops introduce common mental health challenges of youth, review typical adolescent development and teach a five-step action plan to help young people in crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD) and eating disorders. The program provides essential information and training for adults who interact with children aged

To accommodate passengers attending the Metallica concert taking place at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 11 South Shore Line Service Advisory – Metallica at Soldier Field Aug. 9 and 11g. 11, 2024, at Soldier Field, the South Shore Line plans to stop select trains at Metra’s 18th Street Station, which connects passengers directly to the Soldier Field entrance via a pedestrian walkway. As 18th St. Station is not a regularly scheduled stop, SSL passengers utilizing 18th St. for this event should purchase tickets for Museum Campus/11th Street. The following trains will serve 18th St. Station on Aug.

CROWN POINT, Ind. – Casimira Bilinski of Calumet City, Ill. won Monday’s 2024 apple peeling contest at the Lake County Indiana Fair’s Senior Day, sponsored by Franciscan Health. Bilinski, 75, beat out eight competitors with the longest continuous peel, measuring 44 inches. Bilinski is a former winner, winning first place in the 2022 contest. Franciscan Health Senior Day at the Lake County Indiana fair featured free admission for seniors 62 and older with free health screenings such as blood pressure, glucose testing, body mass index and pulmonary function and information on a variety of Franciscan Health programs and services for

The City of Valparaiso has released the following statement regarding flooding that occurred on Monday. “As part of the construction of The Linc Apartments and Lincoln Highway Garage, the City of Valparaiso developed plans for streetscape enhancements and upgrades to existing utility infrastructure. The City’s contractor commenced work on July 8, 2024. As part of the sewer improvements, appropriate bypass pumping was installed to ensure the current sewer system was operational during construction. During the rain event on the morning of August 5, the bypass pumping system failed to operate correctly, causing certain manholes to overflow and the flooding of

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is partnering with local artist Bernard Williams and the H.O.P.E. Community Center on the west side of Michigan City to complete another mural, this time on the back side of H.O.P.E. facing Grant Avenue. LCA had three public meetings at the H.O.P.E. Center, giving the community an opportunity to decide on the mural's content. "This mural depicts a vision for the future of the west side. It reflects the optimism that people are feeling about this neighborhood and the hope for a connected and vibrant community," said Janet Bloch, LCA's