Local News

The public is invited to attend an Opioid Solutions Forum, hosted by the Valparaiso City Council, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Jan. 17 at City Hall, 166 Lincolnway in Valparaiso. Designed as an educational session, the forum will provide an overview of the local opioid situation and gather information for the use of funding provided as part of a national settlement with Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson. Indiana’s share of the settlement is approximately $507 million, to be divided among all communities over a period of years. The forum agenda includes a panel of speakers, along

Scott Skafar of Valparaiso caught a 10.2-pound burbot on Lake Michigan in Porter County Dec. 30, besting the previous record set in 1990 by 2.5 pounds. He also caught a second burbot the same day that bested the old state record by nearly 2 pounds. Burbot are a unique species native to Lake Michigan because they are the only freshwater fish in the Gadidae, or cod, family. Adult burbot primarily feed on other fish species such as round goby, sculpin, and yellow perch. Burbot are also sometimes called eelpout, lawyer, or poor man’s lobster and have a single chin-barbel or

A fire that started in the rear of a trailer at Liberty Farms Mobile Home Park is under investigation by the Liberty Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office. At around 2:30 p.m. Jan. 11, firefighters were sent to 76 East U.S. Highway 6 for a manufactured home on fire in the complex. A first alarm was activated while fire units were enroute to the fire as a precaution due to nearby exposures of other residences. The Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department (LTVFD) says manufactured homes in the complex are tightly spaced, not providing for much protection. Liberty Fire

A Wanatah man has been arrested for residential entry, according to the La Porte COunty Sheriff’s Office. Wednesday morning at around 11:30 a.m., a deputy was dispatched to a residence located in rural Noble Township regarding a burglary in progress. The deputy, along with other responding deputies, were advised a male subject had been observed on video surveillance entering the bedroom of the homeowner.  The homeowner identified the man as 62-year-old John P. Sullivan of Wanatah.  Police say as deputies continued to respond, information was relayed that Sullivan was observed on the video surveillance footage performing a sexual act. Kingsford

Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) announces the opening of its grant portal for 2023 Cycle 1 grants. To advance its mission and vision, HFL invites grant proposals for health and wellness projects and programs starting Jan. 13, 2023, to March 3, 2023. HFL’s mission is to empower La Porte County residents to live healthy and well to achieve the vision of La Porte County becoming one of the 10 healthiest communities in Indiana by 2030. HFL welcomes grant proposals that impact HFL’s strategic priorities of Healthy Children, Healthy Living, and Healthy Minds. Grant proposals must demonstrate a commitment to

Denice Shipp, President of the Michigan City Black Business Association (MCBBA), is proud to announce a “Day of Service and Reflection in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” to be held at the Salvation Army of Michigan City on Monday, January 16th. This is in partnership with The Salvation Army, MCBBA, Diversity Squared, the HOPE Community Center and sponsored by the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau (LCCVB).

“The MCCBA is excited to support programs that uplift the community and showcase the diversity of cultures in Michigan City that reflect Dr. King’s Dream,” said Shipp.  “This is only the beginning

Newly appointed Valparaiso Chief of Police, Andrew McIntyre, was officially sworn-in during Monday night’s city council meeting. Image source: Valparaiso Now / Facebook Chief McIntyre is a 13-year veteran of the Valparaiso Police Department, having served as a Patrolman, Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, and the Captain of Investigations prior to his appointment. He is a 2009 graduate of Indiana University and attended Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command in 2019. Chief McIntyre has further announced his administrative team, with over 100 years of law enforcement experience with the Valparaiso Police Department. Assistant Chief, Mike DeHaven, is a

The westbound lane of Wabash Avenue in Chesterton will remain closed between North Eighth Street and Locust Street 24/7 and until further notice, according to the Town of Chesterton. The eastbound lane of Wabash Avenue remains open to traffic. Chesterton Assistant Street Commissioner Dan Moy told the Town of Chesterton that residents on the north side of Wabash Ave. will be able to access their homes and driveways.

A California woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office said. Just after 2:05 p.m. on Monday, a deputy was working the Domestic Highway Enforcement (DHE) project / initiative along the Indiana Toll Road (I80/90).  The deputy was parked in the median near the 48-mile marker monitoring eastbound traffic.  A passenger vehicle traveling eastbound in the passing lane caught the attention of the deputy as it began to merge into the driving lane before realizing a commercial motor vehicle was occupying the driving lane.  The vehicle remained in the driving lane and passed by the

A new program offered by Franciscan Health Michigan City provides a multidisciplinary approach with faster diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. “We want to streamline the workup and get data quickly so we can treat the patient appropriately,” said Kevin Burke, DO, a gastroenterologist at the Franciscan Physician Network Woodland Health Center in Michigan City. “We’re really focused on giving them quick and accurate care.” Patients with heartburn, difficulty swallowing, regurgitation or stomach contents coming into the throat or mouth, persistent vomiting, nausea, chronic cough or hoarseness all could be suffering from GERD. According

The PNW community is invited to come together on Thursday, Jan. 12 to discuss, learn, and reflect on topics related to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy: From 2-3:15pm at the  Westville Campus, there will be community conversations around a variety of topics related to MLK’s legacy At 3:45pm, gather in the Dworkin Center to hear a live broadcast from keynote speaker Carol Anderson Carol Anderson is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and author of “White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide,” a New York Times Bestseller, Washington Post Notable Book

The Town of Chesterton released statistics for recent traffic enforcement blitzes that occurred on State Road 49. The Chesterton Police Department saturated the State Road 49 corridor between I-94 and the Indiana Toll Road in December, as part of the Click It To Live It enforcement campaign and Blitz No. 120 Holiday Season Travel, according to the Town of Chesterton. Officers worked a total of 35 overtime hours from Dec. 1-31, and executed a total of 109 traffic stops. There were 49 citations, 87 warnings and six arrests. Four of the arrests were on charges of operating while intoxicated, one

The City of Valparaiso is reminding residents that this week is a trash-only collection week. Effective January 1, 2023 recycling services moved to a bi-weekly schedule. View the 2023 schedule at https://tinyurl.com/valpo2023. Weeks highlighted in green indicate recycling collection weeks for all trash and recycling customers. Trash will remain on a weekly schedule and will not be affected by this change. Visit https://tinyurl.com/CityServicesFAQ for additional information.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office officially announced the recent promotions of two deputies within the Courthouse Security Division. Major Patrick G. Cicero announced that Mike Raymer was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and Jon Keene was promoted to the rank of Corporal. The opening within the rank of Sergeant came available as the result of Vern Hohnke’s recent retirement. The rank of Corporal was recently created as the Courthouse Security Division has expanded by adding personnel. Sergeant Raymer is a 31-year veteran of the LCSO. He is a 1988 graduate of Peru High School and holds an Associate’s

Unity Foundation of La Porte County is now accepting applications for the 2023 cycle of scholarships and awards. The deadline for submission is Friday, March 24, 2023. Scholarship awards average over $2,000 each. For the 2022-2023 school year, Unity reduced tuition bills worth more than $330,000 for 150 students. Adults looking to gain more education can apply too. “We know that getting certificates and degrees past high school means a happier and healthier life. Thanks to our forward-thinking and caring donors, students can get help, year after year.” said Maggi Spartz, Unity Foundation President. The Unity Foundation General Scholarship Application

In order to accommodate construction for the Double Track NWI project, the South Shore Line announces the temporary relocation of the Portage/Ogden Dunes parking lot and bus stop, effective Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, until the project’s completion in spring 2024. As passengers continue to be bused between Carroll Ave. and Gary Metro Center stations, the Portage/Ogden Dunes parking lot and bus stop will be located in the recently completed south parking lot (entrance located on Stagecoach Road. Please see attached map). The existing Portage/Ogden Dunes parking lot will be temporarily inaccessible beginning Jan. 9. See a map on MySouthShoreLine.com.

This morning (1/8) at approximately 3:15 AM, deputies were summoned to CR 500 East, south of CR 650 North, reference a single vehicle crash. At 3:23 AM, Captain Jeff Wright, Sergeant Gabe Struss and Deputy Shayne Landry located the crash scene in the 6400 north block of CR 500 East. The initial on scene investigation completed by Deputy Landry and assisting deputies determined the following had occurred. A silver 2005 SAAB was traveling northbound on CR 500 East. The vehicle left the northbound lane, traveled off the east side of the roadway and continued traveling northbound. The vehicle reentered the

On January 4th, 2023 at 11:14 P.M. is when the LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center was notified of a glass breakage burglar alarm from Polo Ralph Lauren located at 1400 Lighthouse Place in the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets. Several Michigan City Police Department Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 3 quickly responded to the scene and noticed the glass in one of the front doors to this store was shattered. Officers then discovered articles of merchandise from Polo Ralph Lauren and Adidas in the parking lot of Lighthouse Place Premium Outlet Mall. Some officers recovered the merchandise while others searched

The final results are in from the Michigan City Area Schools Food Drive for the The Salvation Army Michigan City Corps and Community Center. AWESOME JOB everyone. We are proud of you. The students, staff, and community members collected a total of 4.1 TONS of food for the Salvation Army of Michigan City from the MCAS Food Drive last month. The coveted traveling trophy remains at Knapp Elementary School, which collected 2,621 pounds of food (a whopping 6.92 pounds per student). Pine Elementary finished in second place, followed by Marsh Elementary. MCHS Student Council Vice President Ashley Sparks and Student

Mayor Parry urges the citizens of Michigan City and visitors to our community, to stay clear of shelf ice at Washington Park. Although shelf ice at our lakefront can provide breathtaking views it can also become deadly. As the ice appears to be tall and thick there can be cracks or holes under the formations that can’t be seen, and you may break through. According to the Michigan City Coast Guard they have a rule known as the 1-10-1 Rule. “If you break through you have one minute of getting your breath under control, and getting that shock out of