Local News

The Indiana State Police Lowell District announced Trooper Justin A. Hansen to the rank of Sergeant in the Laboratory Division. Sgt. Hansen will serve as a Crime Scene Investigator (C.S.I.) in the Lowell District. Hansen earned this promotion through written testing and a competitive interview process. Hansen is a native of Valparaiso, IN, graduating from Boone Grove High School in 2009 before joining the Indiana National Guard. In 2013, he was selected to attend and graduated from the 73rd Indiana State Police Recruit Academy located in Plainfield. After graduating, Hansen was assigned to the Lowell Post.  In 2019, Hansen received

INDIANAPOLIS —The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) is making $7.5 million in grants available as part of a second round of funding through the Health Issues and Challenges Grant program, which was established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2021 with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Entities are eligible to apply for funding for programs to help improve health outcomes related to one or more of the following priority areas: tobacco cessation, food insecurity/obesity, lead exposure, chronic disease and public health prevention programs, including community paramedicine and community health workers. Priority will be given to organizations that can

The DNR is stocking channel catfish at several locations this fall. The DNR says it will stock 147 locations with approximately 63,742. To provide additional angling opportunities, the DNR annually stocks channel catfish statewide in publicly accessible waters. All locations should be stocked by the end of October or early November. The channel catfish range in size from 8-10 inches. Once stocked, these fish acclimate to their new environment quickly and don’t take long to start biting. Anglers are encouraged to harvest the catfish, as they make great table fare. Anglers interested in harvesting channel catfish need to follow bag

The City of La Porte Fire Department will kick off Fire Prevention Week with its annual open house this Saturday. According to Assistant Fire Chief Kelly Burke, the open house event is an opportunity for the public to meet their local firefighters and learn about fire prevention and safety. He said this is especially important as Fire Prevention Week begins on Sunday, Oct. 9. "Our department open house is a great way for our residents to get to know us a little bit better and understand more about what we do," Burke said. "The topic of fire prevention and safety

INDIANAPOLIS — State public health and animal health officials are urging northern Indiana residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to monitor their horses for illness in response to the detection of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus activity in multiple northern Indiana counties. “EEE (‘triple E’) virus is a serious threat to both horses and people in northern Indiana,” said Dr. Bret Marsh, DVM, state veterinarian at the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. “While this risk is currently decreasing due to cooler weather, it will persist until the first hard freeze of the year.” As of October 4,

The City of Valparaiso has announced temporary roundabout restrictions starting next week. Portions of the roundabout at Vale Park Road and State Road 49 will be closed next week to allow for stormwater upgrades and road resurfacing. “This is a well-traveled roadway, and the necessary maintenance will address historical drainage issues and result in a smoother roadway surface for the long term,” said Valparaiso’s Engineering Director Mike Jabo. The closure will begin On Monday at 9:00 am and is anticipated to reopen by Friday, Oct. 14 at 4:00 pm, weather permitting. Once complete, the project will improve roadway drainage, prolonging

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced on-ramp closures that will take place next week on I-80/94 in Lake County. The eastbound on-ramps to the interstate will close at Calumet Avenue, Indianapolis Boulevard and Kennedy Avenue. Work is scheduled to start on Oct. 10 and last until Oct. 16. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change. During the closures, drivers needing to access eastbound I-80/94 will need to seek another route. An additional travel lane of eastbound I-80/94 will be closed during this time period as well. INDOT encourages drivers to consider worker safety by slowing down, using

To show appreciation for personnel who work to keep us safe and healthy, South Shore Line (SSL) is inviting all doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, other medical personnel, and law enforcement to ride free Oct. 17-23. To ride free, medical and law enforcement personnel must only present a valid work ID to SSL train personnel that shows they are employed at a hospital, doctor’s office, medical facility, fire department, police station, prison, or aforementioned related agency. Law enforcement encompasses police officers, correctional officers, TSA agents, and other security personnel. As a reminder, long-term busing is in effect for passengers between

Several fire area fire departments responded to a building fire early Wednesday, on Brighton Street in La Porte, according to several video updates from Mayor Tom Dermody. Mayor Dermody said the building was the old American Rubber plant. Fire Chief Andy Snyder said the fire came in at about 12:30 a.m. Firefighters worked on the fire overnight into Wednesday morning. Synder said there were multiple collapses and the building was storing hand sanitizers. As of Wednesday afternoon some parts of the building were still burning in isolated areas and firefighters continued fighting the blaze. Chief Snyder said Wednesday afternoon of

A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared. The South Bend Police Department is investigating the disappearance of 28-year-old Stefan Thurmand. Thurman is described as a black male, 6 feet tall, weighing 175 pounds, and has black hair with brown eyes. Thurmand is missing from South Bend and was last seen on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 3:45 pm. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance.  If you have any information on Stefan Thurmand, contact the South Bend Police Department at 574-235-9201 or 911. Check the Indiana State Police - Public Information Office and South

Two Michigan City High School Students were arrested on Wednesday after an alleged bomb threat prank was posted to social media. Wednesday morning, a 14-year-old student and 15-year-old posted to social media and created a scare at Michigan City High School. School Resource Officer Sgt. Steve Forker worked quickly and efficiently with the Michigan City Area Schools administration to make an arrest for intimidation against both suspects. Police said that because of the nature of the hoax, a bomb threat, the matter had to be taken seriously. The Michigan City Police Department “wanted to assure the public that threats of

The City of New Buffalo will hold a ribbon-cutting event for the community’s new dune walk on Oct. 8 at 11:00 a.m.  The project was managed by Abonmarche Consultants and made possible through funding commitments from the City of New Buffalo, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and The Pokagon Fund. The City of New Buffalo says the original Dune Walk had become unsafe and in 2018 they began the process of planning, funding, designing and construction of a new Dune Walk.  Cider and donuts will be served after the ribbon cutting and people will be able to explore the

An arrest has been made in connection to an officer involved shooting that occurred in South Bend last Thursday. Indiana State Police say a warrant was served by the Indiana State Police E.R.T. at 4540 Hickory Road Apartment 3C in Mishawaka at around 7:12 p.m. Tuesday evening. As a result of the warrant, 20-year-old Ian Steven McDonald Austin of South Bend was arrested for attempted murder. According to police, an Indiana State Excise Officer had been in the area working a special detail around local convenience stores when he began to follow a vehicle northeast on Rockne Drive. Near the

In recognition of the 7th annual National Energy Efficiency Day (#EEDay2022) on Wednesday, Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) is joining regional and national organizations, businesses, utilities, universities, and individuals in promoting energy efficiency to the public and its customers – "the most immediate affordable way to meet our energy needs, save on energy bills, and reduce their carbon footprint." NIPSCO says it is “proud to have made significant, forward-thinking investments in energy savings with the NIPSCO Energy Efficiency Programs that provide incentive opportunities to both residential and business customers looking to save energy.” The company went on to say,

Two people are dead after a crash on U.S. 30 in La Porte County. At 7:49 a.m., deputies were summoned to the 6300 west block of US 30 for a crash involving a semi and a passenger vehicle. Starke County EMS personnel arrived and advised that two occupants of the passenger vehicle were deceased. The initial crash investigation completed by deputies determined a 2019 Mack semi-tractor was pulling a 2015 Hyundai trailer. The truck had just exited the Plaza 30 Truck Stop and was beginning to travel eastbound on US 30. While doing so, the trailer separated from the semi-tractor

On the Indiana Toll Road (I-90) traffic will be shifted to alternate lanes between milemarkers 3.4- 4.6. Work is scheduled through Dec. 6. In addition to the lane shift the on-ramp at Calumet Avenue for east-bound traffic will close Oct. 31 - Dec. 6. Follow WIMS on Facebook and for more roadwork project announcements. 

In Portage now through Thursday, there will be rolling closures on Mulberry Avenue between Willowcreek Road and Vivian Street. The city's paving contractor is milling out existing asphalt and is placing a new asphalt surface as part of the city's 2022 street paving and repair project. The dates are weather dependent. A flag person will be on-site directing traffic.

Indiana State Police have identified three people who died and two others who were injured in a crash on the Indiana Toll Road Sunday evening in St. Joseph County. The driver of the white SUV, a 2017 Ford, has been identified as 31 year-old Mark Pelini, of Canfield, OH. The front seat passenger has been identified as 31 year-old Jillian Marian, of Youngstown, OH. The driver of the black 2017 Ford pickup has been identified as 56-year-old David Taylor, of Harrisburg, PA. The deceased front seat passenger has been identified as 57-year-old Jane Beecher, of Harrisburg, PA. The injured backseat

A body that was recovered from Lake Michigan in Berrien County last week has been identified. The Grand Beach/Michiana Police Department along with the Berrien County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau were able to positively identify the body found in Lake Michigan in the Village of Michiana last week. The South Bend Police Department Crime Lab was instrumental in helping with this case and were able to use a fingerprint to make a positive ID. The victim was identified as 48-year-old Jason A. Ryno from Joliet, IL. The investigation is ongoing, but there is no suspicion of foul play.  

The Michigan City Sanitary District will host a ribbon cutting for the official opening of the Cheney Run Wetland Preserve at Karwick Nature Park on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Sanitary District General Manager, Milorad “Mike” Milatovic, is pleased to announce the official opening of the Cheney Run Wetland Preserve at Karwick Nature Park, over 10 years in the making. All who wish to attend are invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 10:00 a.m. The park has no mailbox, but the address for the driveway and parking area is 804 S. Karwick Road. A walking