Local News

UPDATE from the Town of Chesterton-original post below this update-check out WIMS FACEBOOK as well and the Town of Chesterton FACEBOOK page. CPD officer wounded and male subject dead in exchange of gunfire outside Hilton Garden Inn A Chesterton Police Officer transported to an Illinois hospital is expected to make a full recovery after being wounded in an exchange of gunfire outside the Hilton Garden Inn this morning, Wednesday, June 18. A white male subject—not yet identified—was pronounced deceased at the scene, at the intersection of Gateway Blvd. and Matson Drive. At CPD Chief Tim Richardson’s request, the Indiana State

MICHIGAN CITY – Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch urges the citizens of Michigan City to check on family, friends, neighbors, pets, and especially the elderly during extreme weather to ensure everyone stays healthy and safe. If you or someone you know in Michigan City needs a cool place to stay during the excessively hot temperatures this season, these are COOLING CENTER locations open to the public: Michigan City City Hall 100 E. Michigan Blvd. (219) 873-1400 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Michigan City Police Department 1201 E. Michigan Blvd. (219) 874-3221 Seven days weekly 8 a.m. – 4

Two new sculptures have recently been placed in Michigan City, the Michigan City Public Art Committee announced on its Facebook page. 'Flight' is located in the grassy triangle behind City Hall and 'Tree of Life' is at Krueger Memorial Hall, 801 Liberty Trail. Both pieces are by Hildegard DeBruyne.

To accommodate passengers attending the Chicago Fire FC game taking place at 7:30 p.m. on June 28, 2025, 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 June 28 (Please cross-reference the SSL train schedule to find all station stop times for your selected train):  

The Town of Chesterton recently announced that the Porter County Health Department (PCHD) will provide a fully equipped automated external defibrillator (AED) to the Chesterton Park Department, under a memorandum of understanding unanimously approved by the Park Board at its meeting on Tuesday, June 3. According to the Town of Chesterton, Superintendent Tyler McLead told the Park Board, the PCHD has taken point on Porter County’s certification as a Heart Safe Community—a “nationally recognized program to improve cardiac arrest results and increase AED usage among the public”—and has identified Thomas Centennial Park as a “potential location” for the installation of

INDOT is reminding the public that seal coating operations are underway in La Porte County with a road closure on State Road 39 between U.S. 20 and the Michigan State Line through today. Through traffic should seek alternate routes, and local traffic should exercise caution in the area. While the roadway is swept at the end of this process to remove loose stones, please slow down and increase distance from other vehicles when driving through recent seal coat work areas to prevent vehicle damage.

In an effort to accommodate an expected increase in ridership for the Chicago Pride Parade, the South Shore Line will offer extra passenger trains on Sunday, June 29, 2025. Extra WESTBOUND service Sunday, 6/29/25: In the morning, two westbound passenger extras will operate ahead of existing trains. These Extra trains will NOT SERVE South Bend, Hudson Lake, Beverly Shores, Gary Metro Center, or Gary/Chicago Airport: WB Extra will depart Carroll Ave. just prior to Tr 502 at 7:24 a.m. (Millennium Station arrival @ 8:51 a.m.). WB Extra will depart Carroll Ave. just prior to Tr 504 at 8:27 a.m. (Millennium

In Lake County, an Indiana Department of Transportation contractor is replacing the 153rd Avenue bridge over I-65. 153rd Ave is now closed between Mississippi Street and Iowa Street/Grove Road while bridge replacement work is ongoing through mid-November. Motorists should seek alternate routes. The official detour will follow Clay Sreett, State Road 2 and State Road 55. During this project, there are daytime lane shifts and overnight lane closures as needed on I-65 in this location. The first overnight lane closures will occur during the hours of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 18 through Friday, June 20. INDOT says

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing regarding an intersection improvement project at U.S. 231 and Iowa St on Tuesday, June 24 at 5 p.m. at Crown Point High School (1500 S Main Street, Crown Point, Indiana, 46307). The need for this project is based on the higher-than-expected crash rate at the intersection of U.S. 231 and Iowa St. The primary type of incidents that occur at the intersection consist of right-angle crashes attributed to northbound and southbound traffic from Iowa St failing to yield the right-of-way to U.S. 231 traffic. The preferred alternative

This past Friday, the Porter Police Department hosted its annual Inspection and Awards Ceremony at Hawthorne Park. Following the ceremony, an appreciation dinner was held to honor staff and their families. Awarded were the following: -Appreciation Award- Custodian Shelia Manning Former IT Coordinator Rav Singh Reserve Officer Jeremy Bogue Part-Time Officers Jamie Copollo, John Ryan, Charlie Mathewson, Tim Lucas -Letter of Commendation- Dispatcher Jen Jolley -Outstanding Performance- Dispatcher Kaylee Nugent -Years of Service and Dedication- Chief Todd Allen Assistant Chief Jason Casbon -Officer of the Year- Officer Austin Haynes

On August 16, the La Porte Police Department, Michigan City Police Department and the La Porte County Sheriff's Office are going head to head at the 1st Annual Police Youth Field Day. The event is free to attend, and lunch will be provided. Ages 10-17 are welcome to register. Registration closes July 5, sign up here: https://forms.gle/DdWsxXpvzYyDCzbr9 Contact ckalisik@lpcitypd.com or (219) 362-9446 x2016 with any questions.

The Portage Police Department says over the weekend officers took a report regarding a telephone scam. The victim received a phone call claiming their NIPSCO services were about to be turned off unless an immediate payment was made. The caller then sent the victim pictures of barcodes to her cellphone and had the victim scan the barcodes at self-service checkout at local store to make payment. PPD says NIPSCO has publicly stated previously that they do not make phone calls to customers demanding immediate payment.

Michigan City, IN – June 2025 – The Barker Mansion invites guests of all ages to step into a summer season of elegance, exploration, and enchantment. With the launch of a brand-new exhibit and an exciting lineup of programs, the historic mansion continues its mission to bring the Gilded Age to life and engage visitors in fresh and meaningful ways.  Now Open:  From Parlor to Heirloom: Silver Traditions of a Gilded Age Family Visitors can now experience The Barker Mansion’s newest exhibition, From Parlor to Heirloom: Silver Traditions of a Gilded Age Family. This captivating display showcases a remarkable selection of silver from

La PORTE, IN – La Porte residents will once again be able join in on the Independence Day fun a little early, according to Park Superintendent Mark Schreiber. As the Exclusive Presenting Sponsor, the LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau will partner with the City of La Porte to host the Independence Celebration Fireworks Show over Clear Lake on Thursday, July 3. This free show will take place at dusk, immediately following the Arts in the Park concert at the Dennis F. Smith Amphitheater. Schreiber said this event will be the perfect kick-start to the holiday weekend. "The 4th of July celebrations

The Town of Chesterton on Friday gave an update on work taking place on Westchester Liberty Trail. F.H. Paschen, is the general contractor on Phase III(A) of the Westchester Liberty Trail, has been staging and preparing the site. The Town of Chesterton reported Friday that Chesterton Town Engineer Mark O’Dell estimated that it will still be another two or three weeks at the earliest before F.H. Paschen begins pouring the sidewalk itself. 1100N will remain closed to all but local traffic for approximately 90 days. The post detour: South Fifth Street (C.R. 50E) to C.R. 1050N to C.R. 100E.

LAKE AND NEWTON COUNTIES, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction will conduct lane closures on U.S. 41 between 241st Ave and C.R. 1150 N starting today. U.S. 41 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project over the Kankakee River. Motorists should expect alternating lane closures while the project is ongoing through mid-September. INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when driving through this area and follow traffic directions carefully. Motorists should slow down, exercise caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

Wheeler, IN – In partnership with the Northwest Indiana District 1 Firefighter Training Council, the MAAC Foundation announced the graduation of the newest Volunteer Fire Academy class. The graduation ceremony took place at Friday evening at Wheeler High School, honoring the hard work, dedication, and commitment of 40 new volunteer firefighters representing departments across Northwest Indiana. This milestone marks the culmination of intensive hands-on and classroom training designed to prepare recruits for service in their local fire departments. Each graduate has demonstrated the knowledge, skill, and heart required to serve their communities with courage and professionalism. “Every one of these

An INDOT contractor will have lane closures on U.S. 30 between Mississippi St and Colorado St beginning on or after Wednesday, June 18. Alternating lane closures will be conducted at Ring Rd/Mall Entrance B for a culvert replacement. Motorists should expect changing traffic patterns while this work is occurring through mid-September. Access to Southlake Mall at Mall Entrance B will be impacted so plan alternate routes. INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when driving through this area and follow traffic directions carefully.  

La PORTE COUNTY – With a message of “Need knows no season,” La Porte County sites of The Salvation Army will host an annual “Christmas in June” event again this summer in hopes of raising funds to support programs and services offered to residents of La Porte County. Red kettles will be stationed at all Al’s Supermarkets stores in La Porte County – including the Franklin Street and Karwick Plaza locations in Michigan City, and the Lincolnway location in La Porte. Volunteers will be ringing a bell at red kettles on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28 from 10

The Michigan City Human Rights Commission recognized Chief of Operations Steve Forker and Chief of Services Dave Cooney with the prestigious 2025 Unsung Hero Award. The award was presented by Chief Marty Corley, who also serves as a Commissioner on the Human Rights Commission, during a ceremony surrounded by family, friends, and community leaders. "This honor reflects the unwavering dedication and tireless service that Chiefs Forker and Cooney have shown—not only to the men and women of the Michigan City Police Department but also to the broader Michigan City community," MCPD said on its Facebook page. "These two leaders are