Local News

The City of Valparaiso is celebrating trees with upcoming tree planting events and inviting the community to get involved. “As we look ahead to both Arbor Day and Earth Day, we wanted to mark these special days with tree plantings that gather neighbors and add to Valparaiso’s urban forest,” said Matt McBain, certified arborist for the City of Valparaiso. “We look forward to seeing the community come out and learn more about how to add value to their spaces and improve the environment by planting trees,” he said. At each event, McBain will offer information about how to plant trees

News release by Franciscan Health: MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana – Franciscan Health Michigan City will provide free blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index screenings at two Michigan City barbershops on April 22 as part of the 11th Annual Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative. The events, which are free and open to the public, will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sharper’s Image inside Meijer at 5150 Franklin St. (https://www.loc8nearme.com/indiana/michigan-city/meijer/412743/) and Platinum Designs at 1801 Franklin St. Health education and giveaways will also be part of the events. The Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black

On April 7, most Michigan City offices including City Hall and all non-emergency city operations will be closed to the public in observance of Good Friday. The Refuse Department will maintain normal pickup. The Transit Department will operate their normal bus schedule on Friday. The City of Michigan City is also reminding the public to attend their Children’s Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday beginning at noon sharp in Washington Park.

Severe weather this past Friday kept Liberty firefighters busy answering calls from the start of the storm to early Saturday morning, the Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department said in a news release. Warnings from the National Weather Service for a Tornado Warning were prompted for the area (Porter County) that were capable of producing a tornado. High winds expected at 65 mph had impacted much of the area with tree damage, flying debris, and power poles becoming damaged. A motorist driving along U.S. Highway 6 found themselves trapped for over an hour waiting for the power company to deactivate the

Michigan City police are investigating a shooting that occurred on Friday. At around 6:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Main and Elm Streets regarding a single vehicle crash. While enroute to the call, additional information was received which indicated several gunshots were heard just prior to the vehicle crashing. The first responding units arrived on scene within two minutes of the dispatch. It was determined that a 35-year-old man had been operating a vehicle East on Main Street when the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a residence in the 200 block of Elm. The residence

The South Shore Line (SSL) announced that the Bikes on Trains program has resumed at bike stations between East Chicago and Millennium Station. “Due to ongoing long-term busing in relation to the Double Track NWI project, bikes are prohibited from boarding at the South Bend International Airport and Dune Park Station throughout the duration of busing. Bikes are permitted as regularly scheduled from East Chicago Station and west,” the South Shore Line announced. “Bike cars are bike rack-equipped in addition to regular seating so that passengers can ride in the car near their bicycles,” the SSL said. “Bike icons can

Lane closures are scheduled for U.S. 41 in Lake County. The resurfacing project is between north of Main Street and south of Hart Farm Road and is taking place on or after Monday, April 3 through mid-July. Work will be conducted using overnight lane closures between the hours of approximately 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and daytime lane restrictions between the hours of approximately 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lane closures are scheduled for Grant Street in Lake County. The Indiana Department of Transportation announced that the street will be reduced to one lane in each direction, just south of I-94 over the Little Calumet River, on or after Monday, April 3 through late June. Lane restrictions will be in place for bridge preventative maintenance and deck overlay work.  

The Michigan City Department of Water Works will begin the semi-annual fire hydrant flushing on Monday April 10. This is done to ensure the hydrants are in proper working order for the spring and summer months, and also to find any hydrants that may have been damaged over the winter. The department says the program should take around eight weeks to complete. If anyone should experience any discoloration in their water, they should let the water run for a short time and the water will clear.

The La Porte Water Department will begin its regularly scheduled water system flushing in the coming weeks, according to Water Superintendent Tim Werner. Starting Sunday, April 9 and continuing for the next three to four weeks, crews will be out to flush fire hydrants throughout the community Sunday through Thursday between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. “Though some may see it as a nuisance, hydrant flushing plays a crucial role in maintaining our water system,” Werner said. “This process allows us to make notes on existing infrastructure and improve the overall quality of our city’s water, and

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) says a theft ring was “dismantled” after two men were recently arrested for several thefts. Police say that beginning several weeks ago, citizens throughout northern La Porte County began to report various items of property being stolen.  As the victims continued to contact the LCSO to make incident reports to patrol deputies, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division began to investigate further.  Eventually, evidence and leads developed that linked the thefts to 29-year-old Dustin D. Bush and 50-year-old Jeffrey S. Glancy Sr. Detectives quickly worked to establish probable cause to arrest Bush and

Sheriff Ronald Heeg of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced the recent hiring of three merit deputies. Deputy Joseph A. Walker, 44, began his employment with the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) on Feb. 6. He was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana and is a 1997 graduate of Southmont High School. Deputy Walker is a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy – Basic Recruit Class 14-202. He is also an Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board Certified Instructor. Deputy Walker is married, has two children, and resides in rural Scipio Township. Deputy Pablo J. Pesa, 31, began his employment

News release by Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) recently honored several standout students, faculty and staff members, nominated by their peers, for their exemplary accomplishments. Awards were presented during PNW’s seventh annual Founders Day celebration, hosted on the Westville campus. PNW’s Founders Day event celebrates the anniversary of the university’s founding and its mission as a metropolitan university to provide transformational and impactful change for Northwest Indiana. In doing so, the event also recognizes a new set of nominees each year who have advanced PNW’s mission through academics, scholarship, and service to the

The Michigan City Police Department is investigating after a home and three vehicles were struck by bullets Wednesday. At around 10:04 a.m., officers were called to the 400 block of Hayes Avenue in reference to gunshots being fired. The initial investigation determined numerous gunshots had been fired from a vehicle that had been traveling on Hayes Avenue. An occupied home and three vehicles were struck by bullets. Police say there were no injuries to any of the people inside the home. The crime scene was processed and multiple evidentiary items were collected. The investigation is still ongoing and no arrests

News release by NIPSCO: April is National Safe Digging Month Merrillville, Ind. — In observance of National Safe Digging Month in April, NIPSCO today shared results from the Common Ground Alliance national survey revealing that 74% of U.S. homeowners plan to dig on their property this year. Of those who are planning projects, more than 49.3 million Americans will put themselves and their communities at risk by not contacting 811 before digging. Thousands of buried utilities are damaged each year due to digging activities. Safe Digging Month serves as a reminder to homeowners and contractors that digging without knowing the

The Indiana Department of Transportation has provided an update regarding concrete restoration work on I-94 eastbound in Lake County. Starting this (Thursday) morning, traffic is shifting to the left, using the left shoulder as a fourth lane of travel. This configuration and the closure of the ramps from Calumet Avenue to Eastbound I-94 will remain in place through mid-April.  

News release by Franciscan Health: CROWN POINT, Indiana – Centier Bank recently donated $3,000 to the Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program to benefit the Diaper Pantry at the Franciscan Physician Network St. Clare Health Center in Crown Point. The Diaper Pantry provides free diapers, wipes, formula and other essentials for parents in financial need. “This year, it felt important to support the Prenatal Assistance Program, especially with inflation and the cost of raising a family,” said Centier Bank Special Events Coordinator Melissa Contrucci, who also serves on the board of directors for the Franciscan Health Foundation. “I have two children

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office says it arrested a “serious violent felon” after a traffic stop Tuesday morning on the Indiana Toll Road. At around 8:10 a.m., a deputy was stopped in the median of the Indiana Toll Road monitoring eastbound traffic near the 48-mile marker. A passenger vehicle passed by and gained the attention of the deputy. The deputy caught up to the vehicle near the 51-mile marker and saw it to be traveling less than one car length behind another vehicle. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near the 53-mile marker for following too

News release by Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. – Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has selected three impactful alumni to honor as its second annual PNW Alumni Hall of Fame class. PNW’s 2023 honorees include Robert Johnson III, Stewart “Stu” McMillan and Alfredo “Al” Sori. “These distinguished honorees embody the qualities of PNW alumni: people who built upon their PNW degrees to provide transformational change for the region and the world and who continue to devote attention to the university so that others may be inspired to pursue their own dreams,” Purdue Northwest Chancellor Thomas L. Keon said. “Each

La Porte County Sheriff’s deputy Deputy Michael J. Walker retired on Monday, Sheriff Ronald Heeg announced. Deputy Walker was hired by the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office as a Jail Deputy on September 21, 2000.  He was promoted to the merit division on January 1, 2002. Deputy Walker attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy later that year and was a graduate of Basic Recruit Class 02-150. Over the course of his career, Walker was a patrol deputy, an investigator assigned to the La Porte County Drug Task Force and was a member of the agency’s Hostage Crisis Negotiation Team. “I