Local News

The Valparaiso Police Department announced the hiring of Natalie Kasberger, MSW, as the new Police Social Worker. Kasberger obtained her BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) from Valparaiso University in 2021 and her MSW (Master of Social Work) from the University of Kentucky in 2023.  Kasberger also serves in the U.S Navy, as a 2nd Class Petty Officer, assigned as an Intelligence Specialist.  Prior to arriving at VPD, Kasberger worked as a social worker for Northwest Health in LaPorte (IN). Kasberger will continue the work started in 2021, when the first social worker in Porter County was hired by the Valparaiso

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth Riley Construction will have overnight lane and ramp closures on I-65 between U.S. 30 and I-80/94 beginning on or after Tuesday, August 29. These closures will be for final pavement markings on the ramps, and are currently scheduled to take place the evenings of August 29, 30 and 31 along northbound I-65 and September 6, 7 and 8 along southbound I-65. Two to three ramps will be closed each evening, as well as the right two lanes of I-65 in the area of the closed ramps. The closures will be

The Salvation Army of Michigan City announced that to provide relief to those in need during the heat wave expected in our area this week, they are extending their lobby hours. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week, their lobby will be open until 6 p.m. to anyone who needs to stop in and cool off. They also have cold water available. Other Michigan City Cooling Centers: Cooling stations are available at: *Michigan City Fire and Training Center 2510 E. Michigan Blvd. 8:00am to 4:00pm *Michigan City Police Department 1201 E. Michigan Blvd. 8:00am to 4:00pm *City Hall 100 E.

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — The spirit and pride of Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will flourish anew with a reimagined approach to its annual Homecoming activities for the university community and general public. Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 9, annual campus traditions will showcase PNW’s communal energy and competitiveness of Pride Athletics. Events will draw on Student Life, philanthropy, career-building and networking, recreation and sporting events. “PNW and the alumni engagement team are looking forward to celebrating Homecoming,” said Katie Holderby, director of Alumni Engagement at PNW. “This will be the first year Homecoming is in the fall compared to

More than 20 LaPorte County businesses and non-profits partnered to provide local, 4-H-raised protein to 29 local food pantries and soup kitchens as part of Operation Feed LaPorte County – a mission that has been dedicated to distributing local meat to the hungry for 10 years. This year’s distribution took place Tuesday, Aug. 22 at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds in the Community Building. Operation Feed LaPorte County donated just north of 5,000 pounds of fresh protein that was purchased from the LaPorte County 4H Livestock Auction on July 14 – 2,000 pounds more than in 2022. Seven hogs, seven steers,

An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect Thursday in all of northern Indiana. ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT EDT THURSDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 110 expected Thursday afternoon. * WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana and northwest Ohio. * WHEN...From 11 AM Thursday to midnight EDT Thursday night. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. * ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...Heat indices in excess of 100 degrees expected Wednesday afternoon into early Wednesday evening. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS

The LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call on August 22nd at 11:42 AM regarding an unconscious person located inside an apartment in the 2300 block of Normandy Drive at the Normandy Village apartment complex. Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 1 arrived on scene and located two deceased adults inside the apartment who had been shot. Detectives from the Investigative Division were summoned to the scene and took over the investigation. A preliminary investigation revealed multiple gunshots were fired inside the apartment before the two victims were found. Multiple items of evidence related to this shooting investigation

An Excessive Heat Warning and Heat Advisories are in effect for the WIMS Listening area: Excessive Heat Warning: ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT /11 AM CDT/ TODAY TO MIDNIGHT EDT /11 PM CDT/ THURSDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 110 expected. * WHERE...Starke, Pulaski, White, Cass IN, Northern La Porte and Southern La Porte Counties. * WHEN...From noon EDT /11 AM CDT/ today to midnight EDT /11 PM CDT/ Thursday night. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - Board-certified infectious disease and internal medicine doctor Annette Abraham, MD, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Michigan City. Dr. Abraham completed her training at Government Medical College in Kottayam, Kerala, India. She completed her residency in internal medicine at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago. Dr. Abraham’s fellowship training was in infectious diseases at RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago. Her clinical interests are HIV, bone, joint and cardiovascular infections, travel medicine and tropical infections and central nervous system infections. Dr. Abraham is fluent in

A combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will likely result in the heat index reaching between 95 and 100 degrees in the next few days. Mayor Parry would like to remind citizens If you must be outdoors, please use necessary precautions to protect yourself from heat related illnesses and drink plenty of fluids. Please check up on at risk friends, family, and neighbors. Pay close attention to your children’s outdoor activities. And as a final reminder, remember your pets as they feel the heat too! You should never leave pets unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Cooling stations are available at: Michigan City Fire and Training Center 2510 E. Michigan Blvd. 8:00am to 4:00pm Michigan

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced a road closure in Lake and Porter counties  on U.S. 12 between Hobart Road and County Line Road on or after Monday, August 28. U.S. 12 will be closed in this area for approximately five days while Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) sets bridge supports for the NICTD Double Track project. Motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour for this closure will follow U.S. 20 and State Road 149.  

The Ogden Dunes Police Department released the following information for residents regarding the presence of a sales and marketing team in the area: “The Ogden Dunes Police Dept and Clerk Treasurer want to alert you to the temporary presence in Town, of a sales and marketing team - (National Telecom Services) contracted by Frontier Communications. They will be canvassing the area for a couple of weeks promoting Frontier’s fiber optic internet service and they have obtained a peddler’s permit, (OD Town Code 111.01) to go door to door. “If you do not wish to have them knock on your door,

In St. Joseph County, an Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will close State Road 23 between Tyler Street and Tyler Road on or after Monday, Aug. 28. The start date for this project is dependent on the reopening of U.S. 6 to the east of Walkerton (between State Road 23 and U.S. 31). State Road 23 will be closed through early September for a bridge deck overlay project. INDOT says motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow U.S. 6, State Road 104, and State Road 4.

The Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department, and Michigan City Area Schools will once again be “United for the United Way” as they hold their traditional Car Wash fundraiser on Friday, August 25. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the car wash is back this year. Representatives from the three entities will be stationed at the MCAS Plant Planning parking lot across from Ames Field from 11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Again this year, a “waterless wash” option is available for those who prefer to donate but do not want to have a vehicle washed.

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) received approval from the Indiana Higher Learning Commission (ICHE) to offer advanced degrees in Psychology, pending further approval by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). PNW plans to offer a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), which is an applied doctoral program intended to prepare students as both practitioners and scholars to address local needs for mental health resources in Northwest Indiana. A Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology will also be added to the PNW curriculum. “The Doctor of Psychology will be a major addition to PNW’s high-quality academics,” said Kenneth C. Holford,

EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerously hot and humid conditions with heat index values up to around 110 possible. * WHERE...In Illinois, McHenry, Lake IL, DuPage, Northern Cook, Central Cook and Southern Cook Counties. In Indiana, Lake IN, Porter and Jasper Counties. * WHEN...From late Wednesday morning through Thursday evening. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... An Excessive Heat Watch means that a prolonged period of hot temperatures is expected. The combination of hot

The Portage Department of Parks and Recreation announced that portions of the trails are closed to all traffic between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily, through Tuesday, Aug. 22 for crack sealing work. Prairie Duneland Trail, Ironhorse Trail and pathways leading to trails at Countryside Park, Olsen Park and Imagination Glen will all be affected for short periods of time. The dates are weather dependent, as the work cannot be performed on wet pavement. For more information, contact the Park Office at (219)762-1675 or parks@portage-in.com

Sheriff Ronald C. Heeg announced the promotion of Deputy Wade A. Wallace to the rank of sergeant, where he fills an opening within the rank. Sergeant Wallace was hired by the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office as a Jail Deputy on November 20th, 2015.  In August of 2016, he was promoted to the Merit Division.  Sergeant Wallace attended the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy later that year and was a graduate of Class 16-36. In January of 2021, Sergeant Wallace was assigned to a newly created highway interdiction position.  The Sheriff’s Office says that since then, he has been highly

Portage Police department is congratulating Detective Dennis Meyers on his retirement from the Portage Police Department after forty-one years of service to the citizens of Portage. Detective Meyers began his career with the Portage Police Department on April 1st, 1982.  Throughout his career Detective Meyers distinguished himself by earning twelve letters of commendation and twice being elected as Officer of the Year by his peers. Meyers was assigned to the Detective Bureau for twenty-six years where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant.  In 1999 Detective Meyers accepted an appointment to the rank of Captain, where he oversaw the Patrol

News release by Franciscan Health: Franciscan Health Michigan City is collaborating with The Milk Bank to provide access to breast milk for infants in need both in and out of the hospital. Patty DeStefano, manager of the Franciscan Health Michigan City Family Birth Center, said the hospital began the process with Indianapolis-based The Milk Bank in October 2022. The program launched on August 1, 2023 of this year at the beginning of World Breastfeeding Month. "Franciscan Health Michigan City is thrilled to be one of just two Milk Bank partnership sites available in LaPorte County," said Franciscan Health Michigan City