Local News

John Nuppnau has been named to the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission, Mayor Matt Murphy announced. “John is a lifelong Valparaiso resident with excellent leadership skills and a background in public service. We look forward to his expertise on this important commission,” said Mayor Murphy. Nuppnau is co-owner of Nuppnau Lawn & Snow and served for seven years with the Valparaiso Police Department where he was a patrol officer, director of the bicycle program and a field training officer. He also served as a baseball coach at Valparaiso High School for six years. He is a graduate of Valparaiso High School and

The Indiana State Police announced Master Trooper Floyd Archie has retired after 25 years of service to the citizens of Indiana. After graduating from Fayetteville Terry Sanford High School (North Carolina) in 1982, Floyd attended Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. In 1987, Floyd joined the United States Army Reserves where he served until 2005, retiring with the rank of Captain. In 1997, he was selected to attend the 55th Indiana State Police Academy.  M/Trp. Archie worked at the Lowell Post (1997-1999) and the Indiana Gaming Commission (1999-2006). When the

City of La Porte firefighters will once again be teaching free courses on CPR, according to Firefighter and CPR instructor Michael Mulcrone. Classes began this month and will continue once a month through the rest of this year. Mulcrone said he hopes many residents throughout the city and county will take advantage of this free, potentially lifesaving resource. "Recent events in the news have shed some much-needed light on the importance of knowing CPR," Mulcrone said. "Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's life-threatening cardiac arrest on the field has served as a lesson to parents, teachers, coaches and many others, and

The third annual Decamp Band of Brothers Ice Fishing Derby scheduled for Jan. 28 has been canceled, according to the City of La Porte Park and Recreation Department. The park department stated the reason for the cancelation is that “Mother Nature has not cooperated this winter and it seems highly unlikely safe ice will form on the lakes any time soon.” The department says plenty of other WinterFest2023 events are scheduled for that weekend. For more information, visit www.laportparkandrec.com/winterfest.

A state fishing record that was held for 32 years has been broken twice in two weeks, the Indiana DNR is reporting. On Dec. 30 of 2022, Scott Skafar broke the state burbot record that had been set in 1990 with a 10.2-pound fish he caught from Lake Michigan. On Jan. 10, Phillip Duracz caught a new state record burbot weighing 11.4 pounds, also from Lake Michigan. Duracz also holds the lake whitefish state record, 9.34 pounds, which he caught from Lake Michigan in 2021. Cold water temperatures from November to April bring Lake Michigan burbot closer to shore to

January is National Radon Action Month and The La Porte County Health Department has free radon test kits for La Porte County residents. The La Porte County Health Department says kits are not recommended for real estate transactions due to transactions requiring two kits and the health department is only issuing one kit per resident.  Kits expire Sept. 30, 2023. Kits can be picked up at either of the locations in the Michigan City courthouse at 300 Washington Street in Michigan City, or 302 W. 8th St in Michigan City. Call 219-326-6808 ext 2200 for questions.

Johnson Road has been reopened Johnson Road, was closed between US 20 and Pahs Road, for utility line repairs due to a motor vehicle crash that occurred Tuesday afternoon.  Thank you La Porte County Sheriff's Office and Mobile Al for the updates.

Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, announced that Maura Mundell, IOM, President, of the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the program and has received the recognition of IOM. Awarded to all graduates of the Institute program, the IOM Graduate Recognition signifies the individual’s completion of 96 credit hours of course instruction in non-profit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours towards the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE), certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend Institute annually. “Institute graduates are recognized across the country as leaders in their

President of Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, Katie Eaton, Graduates from Institute for Organization Management- Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, announced that Katie Eaton, IOM, MBA, President of the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the program and has received the recognition of IOM. Awarded to all graduates of the Institute program, the IOM Graduate Recognition signifies the individual’s completion of ninety-six credit hours of course instruction in non-profit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours towards the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE), certifications.

The Salvation Army of Michigan City says that it is at 90% of the campaign goal set for the 2022 holiday season. The Salvation Army of Michigan City sets a campaign goal every Christmas season, which raises money through red kettles, online/mail-in donations and sponsorship dollars. These funds help serve local families during the holidays, but also help The Salvation Army operate throughout the year, according to Simmons. This year, over 650 families received holiday assistance with food and toys, including more than 1,400 children. In addition, approximately 450 meals were distributed on Thanksgiving Day. Also supported by donations through

The Town of Chesterton is reminding the public that Monday, Jan. 16—Martin Luther King Jr. Day—is a municipal holiday in the town and all government offices will be closed. The municipal holiday will not affect Monday’s regularly scheduled garbage collection. Government offices will re-open for business as usual at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Jasper County Sheriff Patrick M. Williamson Sr., announced Friday that the Indiana Sheriffs' Association will again be awarding college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies. There will be approximately 40 - $750 scholarships awarded to qualifying students throughout the state. The Indiana Sheriffs' Association Scholarship Fund was established for the purpose of receiving, investing and dispensing of funds to provide college scholarships to qualified students who are committed to pursuing an education and career in the law enforcement field. To qualify for one of these scholarships, the applicant

Three teenagers are facing criminal charges after a video of a "brutal attack" of another teen surfaced on social media, according to the Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. According to a press release from the Sheriff Martinez Jr., an assistant principal at Crown Point High School became aware of the video being circulated among students at the school and contacted the sheriff’s department. Police said it’s believed the incident occurred Sunday, Jan. 8 in a restroom at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point. The press release went on to say the following: “The would-be victim was apparently lured

Enjoy the Downtown La Porte Ice Rink, located at Monroe and State streets, with open skate times over the weekend. Skate rentals available (both figure and hockey style). Reserve your skate times on-line at www.laporteparkandrec.com (or use QR code on flyer). For information on group skating, call 219-326-9600 or e-mail Mark Schreiber at mschreiber@cityoflaportein.gov.

The Office of Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry announced that in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday Jan. 16, all city offices will be closed. The Refuse Department will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 17, and all pickups will be delayed one day the remainder of the week. Michigan City Transit will also resume their regular schedule on Tuesday with the exception of the Complementary Paratransit Service (Dial a Ride) for passengers with scheduled medical treatment appointments for Monday.

The Indiana State Police Lowell Post shared some statistics from 2022 that it says are concerning to the safety of the motoring public and to troopers working on roadways. Troopers arrested 508 people for impaired driving in 2022.  Police say that’s on par with 2021 which was 526. “While this number decreased by 18, that number should not be celebrated,” Indiana State Police stated.  “Rather, it should be cause for concern.” A second statistic that the ISP wanted to highlight from 2022 is that the Lowell Post had 12 troopers struck either in their cars or while standing outside of

The Michigan City Police Department is still collecting winter items for those in need. They are in need of hats, scarfs, gloves, socks, backpacks etc. This is for new items only. Any items can be dropped off in the lobby at MCPD. The collection date ends on Sunday, Jan. 15.

A South Bend man was sentenced to four years and nine months for a firearms offense, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Eric Blackmon, 25, of South Bend, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Blackmon was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in September 2022, Blackmon brokered the sale of a handgun to another individual in Michigan City.  Blackmon

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