Local News

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is offering student apprenticeships. The organization says that one of the best ways to inspire and to teach young talented musicians is to give them the chance to perform side-by-side with seasoned musicians – both in rehearsals and at actual performance. The Student Apprentice Program offers just such an opportunity. Young students from the area may audition for a seat in the orchestra; those selected will be paid a small stipend. 2022 - 23 Season Student Apprentice Auditions The LCSO is inviting advanced high school musicians to audition for the opportunity to play side-by-side

La Porte LakeFest weekend starts tonight with the Downtown Market on Monroe Street (between Lincolnway and Washington Street). The event kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday with vendors, food trucks and beverage options. Then there will be a street dance, featuring Middle of the Road. There will also be a Country concert performed by Clayton Anderson at Stone Lake Beach. The free concert begins with opening act, Jasmine Tabor, at 7 p.m. There will be a comedy show performed by Brent Terhune at 7:30 p.m. in Fox Park. For more information and the complete schedule, visit www.laportelakefest.com.

A woman who was seconds from collapsing while holding her 4-month-old on Wednesday was kept from falling by a quick-thinking Lake County Sheriff’s Department police officer. The potentially dangerous situation unfolded  after members of the warrant unit had lunch on Wicker Avenue in St. John. Police said the woman was apparently feeling lightheaded and confused but managed to mumble that she needed help holding the infant in her child seat carrier and that it was too heavy for her. Lieutenant Michael Hamady immediately recognized the signs of distress and was able to grab the baby carrier and keep the woman

Thursday, the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced it has awarded $2,904,102 to 413 nonprofits to fund arts projects and organizations around the state through the Arts Organization Support and Arts Project Support grant programs. During its June 10 Quarterly Business Meeting, the Commission approved the funding recommendations for the two grant programs. Applications were reviewed by 85 Hoosiers from around the state with expertise in arts, community development, and finance. One example of an arts organization receiving support is Beachfront Dance School located in Lake County receiving Arts Organization Support Funding. Beachfront Dance School is a not for profit organization

Chairman and CEO of Horizon Bank, Craig M Dwight, received the Michigan City Economic Development Lifetime Achievement Award at the EDCMC Silver Anniversary Gala on July 21. The award celebrates the outstanding leadership Dwight has demonstrated to LaPorte County over the course of his career. Horizon says he has been a visionary and mentor to many in the community and has left his imprint on Michigan City economic growth forever. Dwight became President of Horizon in 1998 and Chairman and CEO in 2003. He has since worked to enhance the economic development and prosperity of the Michigan City community. Throughout

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will move into phase two of the bridge replacement project on the U.S. 20/31 bypass (referred to as U.S. 20) over U.S. 31 on or after Wednesday, August 3. During phase two, the westbound U.S. 20 bridge will be completely closed to traffic for bridge demolition and reconstruction work. The newly constructed bridge on eastbound U.S. 20 will be converted to two-way traffic, and westbound traffic will use the crossovers to cross the median and utilize the eastbound inside lane through the work zone. Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns in this

The Valparaiso Police Department, in conjunction with the Valparaiso Community Schools and the Valparaiso Fire Department, has informed the public of training that continues to take place at Heavilin Elementary School (2450 Heavilin Road) on Thursday and Friday. The safety drills will be conducted on each of these days from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Valparaiso Police Department says there will be an abundance of police vehicles and fire apparatus in the area throughout the day, with police and fire training activities occurring within the school. Police are telling the public to not be alarmed, as emergency services are

The City of Valparaiso is sharing an aggressive schedule of infrastructure projects this season, working strategically to maximize the miles and lifespan for surfaces citywide. Paving Projects: Following up on last year’s projects which resurfaced some of the city’s most traveled roadways of Calumet Avenue, Roosevelt Road and Morgan Boulevard, this year’s program will enhance the surfaces of nearly seven miles throughout the city and neighborhoods. This work, on 14 roadways, will provide structural resurfacing, which extends the life of a roadway. Roads are selected for resurfacing based on a combination of factors, including overall wear, safety and traffic level

Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO) received a decision from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to adjust its natural gas rates, effective Sept. 1, 2022. The utility, which has been Indiana’s lowest cost natural gas provider on average over the last ten years, will phase in the newly approved rates over a two-step process expected in Sept. 2022 and March 2023 – with the majority of the increase occurring in Sept.*  “Customers expect service that is dependable and rates at the lowest cost possible,” said Mike Hooper, NIPSCO’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “This balanced outcome demonstrates a

Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality in the greater Michigan City area. Thomas Shin, MD, FACS, medical director of the Bariatric Program at Franciscan Health Michigan City, announced Wednesday that its bariatric surgery center has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

LAKE, JASPER, PORTER & LAPORTE COUNTIES, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation announces overnight rolling lane closures on I-94 and I-65 for approximately three weeks beginning on or after Sunday, July 31 for pavement marking and crack sealing operations. INDOT contractor Traffic Control Specialists Inc will conduct overnight mobile operations on I-65 in Lake and Jasper Counties. Slow moving maintenance vehicles will be refurbishing raised pavement markings on several sections of I-65 from mile marker 201 (near U.S. 24/Remington) north to 262 (north of I-94 near the Indiana Toll Road). Work will be conducted during the overnight hours of

The La Porte Park and Recreation Department announced closures or restrictions at Soldiers Memorial Park for this weekend's La Porte LakeFest.  Stone Lake and the adjoining launches and docks will be closed from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for the running of the La Porte LakeFest AquaX Grand Prix. Watercraft leaving the launches or docks must do so before 9 a.m. and will not regain access to the lake until after 5 p.m. While still accessible to the public, Stone Lake Beach will be limited to LakeFest events from 6 p.m. Friday until 4 p.m. Sunday. Grangemouth Road

For the second year, Franciscan Health Michigan City is partnering with local churches to educate their parishioners on diabetes prevention and detection, targeting a health issue more likely to impact those in the African American and Hispanic communities. The free “Fan Out Diabetes” program is offered in two companion sessions following Sunday church services. At the first session, diabetes educators will provide a presentation on diabetes with information on healthy eating and exercise tips. Free screenings will be offered, along with insurance enrollment assistance and healthy snacks and giveaways. Guests are asked to also attend a second session where the

The Michigan City Police Department announced Tuesday that a second arrest has been made in connection to a shooting that resulted in the death of 34-year-old Michigan City resident Leland Collins. Police said 40-year-old Clarence Sims of Michigan City was arrested on July 20 as a result of the homicide investigation. On July 21, probable cause was found to charge Sims with one count of aiding, inducing or causing murder.  On August 9th, 2021, just after 7:30 p.m. officers were called to a parking lot in the 1500 block of East Michigan Boulevard regarding a person who was shot. Officers

The Ogden Dunes Police announced that U.S. 12 Westbound will be closed through Thursday July 28, for NIPSCO work related to the double track project. Police say that drivers will be able to take U.S. 12 east out of town. However, when returning to town drivers will need to take the frontage road.  

Update: Silver Alert 098-2022 issued on Monday, July 25, 2022 on Rachel Deboard has been canceled as of Tuesday, July 26, 2022. For more information on this cancellation, please contact the Warsaw Police Department at 574-372-9511.   Original: A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared for a woman missing from Warsaw. The Warsaw Police Department is investigating the disappearance of 50 year-old Rachael Deboard, described as a white female, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, with brown hair with and brown eyes. Deboard was last seen wearing a white/green tie dye shirt, grey sweatpants and black slides. Rachael

The Indiana State Police have issued a scam alert involving a text message claiming to be the Department of Workforce Development.  Indiana State Police issued the following: "Detectives from the Indiana State Police Indianapolis District have recently received complaints about a potential scam in the form of a text message. The messenger claims to be from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and indicates the recipient has unclaimed money from the state. The message gives instructions to click a link, that link will take them to a webpage asking for personal / confidential information. "Detectives have communicated the Indiana Department

Hoosiers can help the Department of Natural Resources estimate Indiana’s wild turkey population by counting turkeys for our 2022 Wild Turkey Brood Survey. The DNR says if you see a female turkey (hen) with and without poults (young turkeys) now through Aug. 31, report them online. Observations help the DNR better understand Indiana’s wild turkey populations and guide future management decisions. Report your sighting online at on.IN.gov/turkeybrood.

The South Shore Line has published information about service this weekend for Lollapalooza.  The SSL published the following:  The following South Shore Line service updates will be in effect to accommodate passengers attending Lollapalooza, taking place Thursday, July 28, through Sunday, July 31, 2022, in Grant Park.   TEMPORARY SOUTH BEND-DUNE PARK BUSING:  Due to the anticipated large ridership for Lollapalooza, passengers will be bused between the South Bend International Airport and Dune Park stations from July 28-31. There will be no train service to and from Hudson Lake during this time. There will be no bikes transported via bus. The

A pair of Lake County Sheriff’s Department officers helped put a fire out in Gary after encountering a firefighter who needed help. Just before 1 p.m. Monday, Lake County Sheriff’s Department officers responded to assist at a call for a home engulfed in flames in the 2000 block of West 48th Place in Gary. Two officers with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department arrived and encountered a firefighter with the Lake Ridge Fire Department who police say was somewhat fatigued and overcome by smoke. Two Lake County Sheriff’s Department police officers offered to help and extinguished the flames. Preliminary information suggests