Local News

An Indiana organization, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, is asking Hoosiers for hunters and farmers to help feed those in need this deer season. Farmers, hunters, and 4-H members donate deer and livestock to their “Meat” The Need program.  Donations are then processed at local participating meat processors and the meat is distributed to hunger-relief agencies within the community it was donated in. The organization pays 100% of the processing fees so there is no charge to donors or agencies receiving meat. According to Feeding America, an estimated 47% of the over 726,000 Indiana residents struggling with food insecurity make above

What better way to kick off the holiday season than with the beloved Santa Parade?! This well-attended family event is a fan-favorite and completely free for all to participate! NEW THIS YEAR: The Santa Parade will start at 3 p.m. at the corner of State & Tipton. The route will proceed west down State Street to Michigan Ave; south on Michigan to Lincolnway; then east on Lincolnway to Plaza 618 for the City of La Porte’s inaugural Tree Lighting Ceremony! Stick around to get your photo with Santa at his chalet. Then, head across the street to La Stitch for

The Indiana DNR announced that #OptOutsideIN2022 is Friday, Nov. 25.  The DNR says entrance to all properties will be free.  Check out all state properties by visiting on.IN.gov/recfinder.  There will be chances to win all kinds of prizes, from annual passes to hunting/fishing/camping gear. 

The City of Michigan City, earlier this week provided a forecast for city street closures involving the Double Track NWI Project by NICTD.  Ohio Street is now open.  Tennessee Street is now permanently closed Wabash will be open effective starting Friday, Nov. 4.  Sheridan Avenue will open Friday Nov. 11  Franklin Street will be closed Friday Nov. 4 through Nov. 19  Washington Street will then close from Nov. 19 through Dec. 2. 

The Indiana Toll Road gave an update on Tuesday for work going on in Lake County. There is a lane Shift During Construction between mile markers 3.4- 4.6. Traffic will be shifted to alternate lanes. Work is scheduled through Dec. 9. The on-ramp at Calumet Avenue for east-bound traffic is closed through Nov. 24. The on-ramp was originally set to be closed through Dec. 6.

The Indiana Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced the roundabout at State Road 2 and U.S. 6 in La Porte County is now open. Image source: Indiana Department of Transportation: Northwest   INDOT is asking motorists to be careful when navigating the new traffic pattern. The department noted that due to supply chain issues, the lighting at the roundabout is temporary and will be replaced with permanent lighting next year. Image source: Indiana Department of Transportation: Northwest INDOT also stated on its Facebook comments under a diagram of how oversize/overweight vehicles will navigate the roundabout on

MarCom Awards announced Visit Indiana/Indiana Destination Development Corporation as a 2022 winner in the international creative competition for marketing and communication professionals. MarCom Awards recognizes outstanding achievement by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of marketing and communication materials and programs. Visit Indiana received two Platinum (highest) awards, one in the Advertising Campaign category of Print Media/Marketing/Ads and another in the Branding category of Strategic Communications/Marketing/Promotion Campaign for IN Indiana open-source campaign. Visit Indiana also took home a Gold (second highest) award in the Marketing category of Digital Media/Web Video for the 'There is More to Discover IN

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. announced Friday the department has a new way to help save the lives of some of the most vulnerable residents if they should wander away or become lost.  Project Lifesaver uses radio technology to track missing loved ones who have cognitive challenges including autism, Alzheimer’s and dementia or other medical conditions that may cause them to wander.  Participants wear a bracelet around their wrist or ankle, which allows their location to be tracked with special search equipment.  People enrolling in the program must meet the eligibility requirements.  They must have a medically-diagnosed impairment that

Michigan City Area Schools have announced they are a proud award winner of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus program.  MCAS was awarded $180,000 to offset the increased cost of purchasing six propane buses for 2023 instead of diesel, bringing their fleet of propane buses at MCAS to 29.  This is part of nearly $1 billion from the Clean School Bus program — a rebate competition for school districts — that will improve air quality in and around schools and communities, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and better protect children's health.  For more information, visit epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.

The City of La Porte will be making two rounds of leaf pickups over the next 6-8 weeks, according to Mayor Tom Dermody. The city is asking residents to make sure they push leaves next to the curb. See more information in the video update on Mayor Tom Dermody’s Facebook page.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office has identified the deceased person involved in  a shooting investigation following an incident Thursday morning.  Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division worked throughout the day Thursday and again Friday to gather facts and evidence associated with the incident. Police said on Friday that there appears to be no prior association between the occupants of the residence and the deceased.     None of the occupants of the residence were injured during the incident.   The deceased was identified as 42-year-old Jacob J. Borders.   The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office stated on Friday, “Over the next several days,

Police say a pedestrian was killed after being struck by a vehicle in La Porte County on Thursday night. At 6:41 p.m., deputies were called to the area of U.S. 421 and County Road 375 South for a crash involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. The initial crash investigation determined that a Chevrolet Silverado was traveling northbound on U.S. 421, north of County Road 375 South, in the driving lane. Police say the driver of the vehicle stated he had suddenly observed a pedestrian standing in the driving lane in front of his vehicle and collided with the pedestrian.

Franciscan Health Michigan City is hosting two COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Michigan City in partnership with Beacon Health. The clinics will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 at the Franciscan Health Legacy Campus, 301 W. Homer St. and from 1-3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7 at the Michigan City Public Library, 100 E. 4th St. Pfizer first and second vaccines will be available for ages 5 to 11. Those 12 or older may receive a first or second Pfizer vaccine or Pfizer bivalent booster vaccine. Anyone receiving a bivalent booster or second shot from the primary series

The Michigan City High School Robotics Team held an Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 19, to celebrate the successes of past alumni and introduce employers and university officials to current team members. Several Robotics Team alumni were on hand for this community event, including Scott Kreighbaum, a 2018 graduate of MCHS. “From when I joined the elementary school team in 2012, to when I graduated Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering this past May, the Michigan City Robotics program has helped me greatly in my professional growth,” Kreighbaum said. “Being on the Robotics Team taught and

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is calling for nominations of impactful alumni to be honored in its PNW Alumni Hall of Fame. The PNW Alumni Hall of Fame honors distinguished graduates from any time in the 76-year history of the university’s Hammond and Westville campuses. PNW says it is seeking nominations of alumni who are high-achieving leaders in their fields, involved members of their community, and those who have engaged with PNW well beyond their time as students. The first inductee, David A. Roberts, BS ’74, was recognized in 2022. Roberts is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Carlisle Companies

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal shooting that happened early Thursday at a home on State Road 4. Just after 3:30 a.m., deputies were called to a residence located in the 2000 east block of State Road 4 regarding a burglary in progress. Moments after the first deputy arrived, a gunshot was heard coming from the area of the residence, police said. The occupants of the residence were removed, and deputies cleared the interior of it. While doing so, deputies found a dead male. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division responded and took control of the

In an update to a story WIMS is following, nobody was injured in the building collapse that occurred in the 700 block of Lincolnway of downtown La Porte Wednesday night, according to a Thursday video update from Mayor Tom Dermody. Additional statements from Dermody can be found in video updates on his Facebook page. The investigation is ongoing.   Original story: A building collapsed in downtown La Porte on Wednesday according to the La Porte Government Facebook page and Mayor Tom Dermody. The La Porte County Government alerted residents on its Facebook page at 9:53 p.m. that Lincolnway was closed

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office has announced the hiring of two new merit deputies.    Deputy Margarita M. Velazquez, 46, was born in Mexico City, Mexico. She is a 1995 graduate of Gage Park High School, located in Chicago, Illinois. Velazquez is married, has three children, and resides in Schererville, Indiana.     Deputy Jared P. Buford, 23, was born in Mishawaka. He is a 2017 graduate of New Prairie High School.Buford is engaged and resides in La Porte.   Velazquez and Buford are enrolled in an upcoming Indiana Law Enforcement Academy approved South Bend Police Department Regional Academy that begins later this

A La Porte man has been convicted by a jury on drug and gun offenses, according to the United States Department of Justice. It was announced Wednesday that 38-year-old Donta Bridges of La Porte was found guilty following a three-day jury trial. Bridges was found guilty of two counts of distributing heroin; possessing with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine; an attempted distribution of heroin; and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to documents in this case, the charges stemmed from events occurring in September and November of 2019. Bridges sentencing hearing is scheduled for

SELLERSBURG, Ind.-- Detectives with the Indiana State Police (ISP) in Sellersburg have arrested a suspect in connection with the death of the unidentified boy found inside a suitcase in rural Washington County, Indiana, in April of this year.  When ISP detectives originally began the case, there was little information available to assist in the investigation. A local mushroom hunter located the child in a distinctive Las Vegas-themed hard-shell suitcase approximately 80 feet off Holder Road. Holder Road is a dead-end road situated in an isolated area of southeast Washington County in southern Indiana. No family members, witnesses, or acquaintances came