Local News

The Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF), Porter County Public Library System and Westchester Public Library System have brought Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) to Porter County. Registered children ages zero to five will be mailed a free book monthly. “The Porter County Community Foundation, along with First Things First Porter County, is pleased to partner with our library systems to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to our community.” said Bill Higbie, PCCF's President and CEO. “The earlier we get books into the hands of kids, the better off we all will be.” Families can now register eligible children, Porter County

The Michigan City Police Department has announced the recent passing of retired Master Patrolman Anthony Pishkur.  Officer Pishkur served the community for 28 years as an officer with Michigan City Police Department. “We want to thank the Pishkur family for his dedicated service to the Michigan City Police Department. We would also like to send our deepest condolences to the Pishkur family during this difficult time. Rest in peace, you will be missed…,” MCPD said in a Facebook post. Memorial services will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, in the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., in Michigan

One person was airlifted and two others were transported to the hospital late Monday afternoon, following a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Ardendale Avenue in Pine Township, the Porter County Sheriff’s Police is reporting. The Town of Chesterton said on a Facebook post that according to the PCSP, at 5:45 p.m. the driver of a 2017 Nissan SUV was northbound on Ardendale Avenue when he pulled in front of a 2009 Dodge Ram westbound on U.S. 20. “The impact of the collision caused both vehicles to go off the roadway into a ditch on the

Crown Point, Ind. -- Gastroenterologist Rida Aslam, DO, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Crown Point. Dr. Aslam completed her training at the New York Institute of Technology – College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, N.Y. Her residency in internal medicine and fellowship in gastroenterology were both completed at what is now Franciscan Health Olympia Fields in Olympia Fields, Ill. Her clinical interests include chronic liver disease, colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Aslam is accepting new patients at 1205 S. Main St., Suite 201 in Crown Point. To make

The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce announced that in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the third annual National Civics Bee is officially underway. This school year, the Michigan City Chamber is partnering in Northwest Indiana. Top local winners will advance to a state competition, and state champions will compete in the national round in Washington, D.C., for a chance to win the national title and more than $50,000 in prizes. This contest is open to any 6th, 7th, and 8th grade student in Indiana. The application closes on January 8, 2024. Learn more at: https://mcachamber.com/community/national-civics-bee/.

Tuesday, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) presented statewide data showing that thousands of Indiana students are advancing to fourth grade each year "without foundational reading skills." The data is the focus of a new data visualization tool, which was previewed to the State Board of Education (SBOE) on Tuesday and will soon be available to the public. “First students learn to read, and then they read to learn,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Today data show that one in five Indiana students have not mastered foundational reading skills by the end of third grade, and most

LA PORTE, IN — Megan Lambert and Stephanie Leon are recipients of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for La Porte County. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Both recipients are seniors at La Porte High School. Lambert has demonstrated outstanding leadership in several volunteer, extracurricular and athletic activities. She has participated in mission trips, Leadership La Porte County, newspaper, cross country, track and field, National Honor Society and more. She has excelled academically, including in advanced placement, dual credit and honors courses, and is ranked at the top of her

City of La Porte firefighters will once again be teaching a free courses on CPR. The classes, instructed by the department's very own firefighters at Fire Station #1, are approximately four hours long and offered on December 17 @ 8 a.m. and noon. The program is made possible in part by the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte. Those interested can learn more and sign up by contacting lpfdcpr@gmail.com or 219-362-3456.

News release by Indiana DNR: Registration is open until March 1 for the return of the Happy Little (Virtual) 5K, which the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF) welcome back after last year’s Indiana debut. Race participation is open to everyone, and registrants can complete their 5K anywhere outdoors – on foot, or by bike, skate, paddle or using a mobility device – anytime between Earth Day and Arbor Day, April 22 and 26, respectively. For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and

The City of La Porte in conjunction with residential developer Park Street Community, LLC, has announced plans for a $12 million capital investment in townhomes and single-family homes on the City’s east side. Based out of Indiana, Park Street Community LLC will develop 34 acres adjacent to the Thomas Rose Industrial Park that were recently annexed into the city limits of La Porte. Park Street Community LLC plans to build 118 townhomes and 19 single family homes on the property. The cost of said homes will be in the $340,000-405,000 range. La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody said this project will

Board-certified family nurse practitioner Tana Kish is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Winfield. Tana Kish, NP, earned her master of science degree in nursing at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Ind. and her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. In addition to family medicine, her clinical interests include acute and chronic conditions, collaborative patient care, patient education and preventive care. Kish is accepting new patients at the Winfield Health Center, 11161 Randolph St. in Winfield. In person and virtual visits are available. To make an

Income-eligible customers, seniors, active military and veterans experiencing financial difficulty paying their gas utility bill may apply for additional NIPSCO energy assistance programs. Available programs include NIPSCO Hardship, SERV (Supply Energy Resources to Veterans) and SILVER (Seniors in Indiana Low-Income and Vulnerable Energy Resource) that will allow customers to receive a one-time benefit of up to $400 per year if they qualify. The programs are open now through May 31, 2024. “We recognize that NIPSCO natural gas residential customers may see an estimated 24 percent decline in their winter heating bills this season in contrast to last year due to

In Chesterton, the northbound lane of South Calumet Road, in the 700 block, will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today (Tuesday, Dec. 5) according to Chesterton Assistant Street Commissioner Dan Moy. A NIPSCO contractor will be doing restoration work in the area, following the relocation of a NIPSCO pole earlier this fall. The southbound lane of South Calumet Road will remain open and flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.  

The South Shore Line (SSL) announced it will host a multi-team emergency preparedness drill today (Tuesday, Dec. 5) on its tracks just west of Sheridan Avenue in Michigan City. The South Shore Line says the federally mandated drill is a key component in the SSL’s continuing efforts to familiarize first responders with railroad crisis response procedures. It is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and expected to last until approximately 12 p.m. The event will not impact any scheduled train service, although train passengers and passers-by may notice multiple emergency vehicles and personnel in the area of the drill. The

Indiana State Troopers are investigating a single-vehicle crash on the Indiana Toll Road that left one person dead early Sunday morning. At about 5:58 a.m. deputies with the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to reports of a vehicle that crashed into a wooded area near the County Road 10 overpass for the Toll Road.  When deputies arrived, they discovered a 2021 Dodge Ram in the trees that appeared to have come from the Toll Road, prompting a response from Indiana State Troopers. Preliminary investigation indicates that the Dodge was traveling westbound on the Toll Road when it ran off

Indiana State Police K9 Koda has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Koda’s vest was embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Falco, Gary, IN- EOW 7/13/23”. In July, K9 Falco was shot and killed during a canine apprehension of a subject wanted for aggravated battery and reckless endangerment. K9 Falco had served with the Gary Police Department for eight years. Koda and her partner, Trooper Hunter McCord, are assigned to the Indianapolis District and typically patrol in Marion County on the evening shift.

The South Shore Line announced it will be extending its “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” monthly ticket promotion. Due to the ongoing busing and construction related to Double Track, the BOGO monthly ticket will be extended through June 2024, when full train service is expected to be up and running. All monthly tickets purchased for the month of January 2024 will remain valid for February 2024. Passengers purchasing a paper January monthly ticket should plan to keep that ticket and use it through February, and passengers purchasing a digital January monthly ticket via the mobile app will see a February

One person was injured in a T-bone crash at the intersection of southbound Ind. 49 and Voyage Boulevard in Chesterton on Thursday afternoon, the Chesterton Fire Department is reporting. The Town of Chesterton said on its Facebook page Friday that the Chesterton Police Department had not yet completed its investigation of the accident. According to the CFD it occurred at 2:38 p.m., while the crew of Engine 510 was on its way to a scheduled walk-through of the new Chipotle at Coffee Creek Center. Firefighters arrived at the scene almost immediately after impact. They found one patient in a Jeep

The Indiana DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife is informing hunters of an error in their Hunting & Trapping Guide and season dates. They informed that fall turkey season runs from Dec. 9, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024. Their Hunting & Trapping Guide inaccurately lists the season as Dec. 2, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024. Those with any any questions can email DFW@dnr.IN.gov.