Local News

Press Release, Porter County Community Foundation: VALPARAISO, IN — The Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Porter County: Arieanna Brown of Washington Township High School, Miles O’Shea of Valparaiso High School, and Olivia Pierce of Portage High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character and leadership. “This year’s recipients impressed the committee with their academic achievements and leadership skills,” said Bill Higbie, President & CEO, of the Porter County Community Foundation. Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition,

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor  will close State Road 2 between U.S. 41 and Parrish Ave on or after Monday, June 3. State Road 2 will be closed through early July for a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project over John Bruce Ditch. INDOT says motorists should seek alternate routes. The official detour will follow U.S. 41, State Road 10 and I-65.

Memorial Day is the traditional start of the summer vacation,  a time for  barbecues and going to the beach.  The cadets of the Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) recognized the true meaning of the holiday, which is to remember those who gave their lives in the service of their country.  They did this by placing flags on veterans graves at the Greenwood Cemetery, saluting the veterans groups as they traversed the Washington Park Bridge for their memorial service, marched in the Michigan City Memorial Day parade, and participated in the Michigan City

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will close State Road 49 between Daumer Road and County Road 900 South on or after Monday, June 3. State Road 49 will be closed through mid-July for a small structure replacement at Martin Ditch. Motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow State Road 8, U.S. 421, and State Road 10.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate after a fatal crash claimed the lives of two children. On May 25 just after 12:40 p.m., deputies responded to the intersection of Joliet Road and County Road 900 West, reference a two-vehicle crash with injuries. The initial on-scene investigation determined a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by a 41-year-old from Justice, Illinois, was pulling a U-Haul trailer was traveling south on County Road 900 West. A 2011 Ford F250 pickup truck, driven by a 47-year-old from La Porte was traveling east on Joliet Road. The southbound Chevrolet disregarded the stop

Beginning Wednesday, May 29, Barker Road between Woodland and Cleveland avenues, and Garretson Avenue between Cleveland Avenue and Franklin Street, will be milled (surface removed) to prepare the roads for pavement. The City of Michigan City stated on their Facebook page that updates will be provided as they become available. To opt in for text message alerts about updates or changes in activity, please text MC2024 (no spaces) to 833-236-7421.

Press Release, City of Valparaiso: The City of Valparaiso has been named a Tree City USA for 2023 by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. “As a city, we all win when our community makes smart investments in urban forests, because trees provide so many benefits -- shade, beauty, air purifying, and soil stabilizing to name just a few,” said Mayor Jon Costas. Valparaiso joins more than 3,400 communities nationwide to earn this recognition, based on meeting tree-enhancing criteria, including having a tree management team, maintaining a tree and landscaping guideline in

MICHIGAN CITY – Beginning Tuesday, May 28, Wabash Street between Barker Avenue and 10th Street will become a one-way, northbound-only road to allow for the shuttling of large precast concrete to a construction site downtown. This will remain the case from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday through mid-August. Follow WIMS on Facebook and check out wimsradio.com for the latest roadwork updates.

Michigan City Area Schools has announced plans to participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Free meals will be made available to all children 18 years of age and under and to persons over 18 years who are enrolled in a state-approved educational program for the mentally or physically disabled. Free meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children. Children must be present to receive their meals. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Free meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows:

Franciscan Health Michigan City is partnering with the La Porte Fire Department to provide home visits to high-risk prenatal and postpartum patients under the care of LaPorte County Franciscan Health providers. The program, dubbed Project Swaddle, sends community paramedics to qualifying patients’ home for vital checks, emotional support, connections to community resources and education on safe sleep, home safety, car seat safety, breastfeeding and other parenting topics. Factors that lead to a patient being classified as high-risk can include diabetes, hypertension, maternal age (younger than 17 or older than 35), a pregnancy with multiple babies, previous pre-term labor, a previous

In observance of Memorial Day, the South Shore Line will operate a weekend/holiday train schedule on Monday, May 27. Alcohol will be prohibited on SSL trains all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 25-27. The South Shore Line is reminding passengers that glass bottles are always prohibited. NICTD administrative offices in Chesterton and Michigan City will be closed Monday, May 27.

Statement from United Way of LaPorte County: POWER OF THE PURSE takes place September 12 at the Uptown Social in Michigan City. Tickets and sponsorships available soon! Deciding whether to give and which charity to support can be overwhelming. Giving to United Way through donations and events like POWER OF THE PURSE is different because with one gift, you’re actually giving to dozens of local agencies that address the conditions entangled with poverty, financial instability, and food constraints. United Way of LaPorte County is dedicated to help those in need....but we can't do it alone.

Phase 2 of bridge deck overlay work on I-94 eastbound in Lake County is now in place. There are 2 lanes to the left of the work zone and 2 lanes to the right after U.S. 41/Calumet Avenue. Previous ramp closures at the U.S. 41/Indy Boulevard and Kennedy Avenue interchanges remain in place through late June.

News Release, Franciscan Health: The Franciscan Health Foundation of Northern Indiana welcomed four new board members in May. Joining the 16-member board are Denise Fithian, RN, of the Franciscan Health Woodland Outpatient Surgery Center Michigan City; Anthony Geisen, operations manager/funeral director for Geisen Funeral Homes in Crown Point; Chase Lowden, financial advisor for Airey Financial Group/One America in Merrillville and Jolanta Moore, DBA, CPA, CGMA, audit partner for McMahon & Associates, Certified Public Accountants, P.C. in Munster. “I am incredibly excited about the Foundation Board Class of 2024,” Franciscan Health Foundation of Northern Indiana Executive Director Rick Peltier said. “Denise,

In Ogden Dunes on Memorial Day at 7:50 a.m., the intersections at Hillcrest Road and Diana Road, and Ogden Road and Hillcrest Road will be closed to through traffic due to the Ogden Dunes race. Both children and adults are participating in the race. Police say this race will last for approximately 1 hour, and are asking the public to use caution. Police are also reminding the public that parking restrictions are in place and fines will be issued for those illegally parked.

The Michigan City Human Rights Commission has selected Melvin Meriweather, Jr. as the 2024 Humanitarian of the Year. Meriweather was nominated by Paul and Bunny Dimke, stating, “We nominated Melvin for the Humanitarian of the Year because he is a prime example of a person who is fully committed to the well-being and betterment of all the people in his community.” Meriweather graduated from Elston High School in 1957, and was named Mr. Indiana in 1966 (a bodybuilding recognition). He has been married to his wife, Juliet, for more than 65 years, and has three children, Kristel, Doug, and Dana.

There are shoulder closures on U.S. 30 eastbound and westbound between Hayes Leonard Road and State Road 49 and on northbound State Road 49 between Barley Road and U.S. 30 through October. This is a local project that will include landscaping and wayfinding sign installation. Lane closures may be utilized as needed.

The La Porte County is teaming up with law enforcement agencies from across the state urging motorists to buckle up ahead of a national Click It or Ticket high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort. The national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, is in effect through June 2, 2024. The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). “We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said ICJI the Traffic Safety Director. “Buckling up is the

STARKE COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will close State Road 10 between County Road South 50 East and County Road South 100 East on or after Tuesday, May 28. State Road 10 will be closed through late June for a small structure replacement at Maciolek Ditch. INDOT says motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow State Road 39, State Road 8 and U.S. 35.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Office would like the public’s assistance to locate a missing person. On Friday May 24 at approximately 7:33 a.m., deputies responded to the 1000 East block of 200 North in reference to a missing person. It was reported that Phillip Wireman’s employer became concerned when he did not report to work. Police are asking the public to contact the Starke County Sheriff’s dispatch center at 574-772-3771 if you see or come in contact with Mr. Wireman.