Local News

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra (LCSO) has announced the 2023 Hoosier Star finalists.   In the youth division - 17 and under: Molly Cooper La Porte Sophia Grubbs Elkhart Landon Mitchell Buchanan, MI Makayla Mitchell Buchanan, MI Eleanor Nohos Hobart   In the adult division - 18 and up: Kelly Bourget Griffith Jessica Johnson Michigan City Raul Palma South Bend Mary Pasyk Griffith Shania Povlock and Evan Wooding La Porte   These individuals will compete, in their respective divisions, for the title of HOOSIER STAR! First place Adult and Youth Winners will receive a $1,000 prize. Second place Adult

Press release by Purdue University Northwest: Donor participation in day-long event increases by 34% from 2022 HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Generous donors to Purdue University Northwest (PNW) lifted the university’s one-day fundraising total to a record level of nearly $2.9 million during PNW’s 10th annual Day of Giving on April 26. PNW raised more than $2.85 million from more than 1,895 donations in 24 hours. “This is the highest one-day total amount raised in the history of Purdue Northwest. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the enthusiastic response of our community,” said Lisa Goodnight, vice chancellor of Institutional Advancement.

A man has been arrested in connection to a homicide that happened over 2 years ago in Michigan City. On Jan. 23, 2021, the dispatch center received a call for an adult female suffering from multiple gunshot wounds at Crown Food Mart on East Michigan Boulevard. Officers responded to the scene and found a Michigan City woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Responding Officers immediately began providing medical aid to the victim before LaPorte County EMS transported her to Franciscan Hospital for advanced care. Her injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening. Dispatch received a second call moments after receiving the

News release by Michigan City Area Schools: The cadets of the Michigan City High School (MCHS)  Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC)  continued to support MCHS and the community in April.  Cadets assisted in MCHS track meets, helped clean-up Routes 421 and 6 in Westville, and provided the Color Guard for the opening ceremony for the Indiana Letter Carriers convention at the Blue Chip Casino. May will be a busy month for the cadets, as they will be supporting a number of community service projects, to include cleaning veterans’ headstones at Greenwood Cemetary, assisting the Humane Society at

Press release by City of Valparaiso: After more than 34 years of service to the City of Valparaiso, Valpo Parks Director John Seibert has announced his retirement, effective July 1, 2023. “Serving as Director of Valparaiso Parks has been the professional privilege of my life and I am so thankful for the relationships and the opportunities we have been given to serve our exceptional community,” said Seibert in his letter of retirement. “We are extraordinarily grateful for John Seibert and his leadership. Under his guidance, our parks and programming have been recognized nationally and become an integral part of what

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. - A Lowell man was arrested for a shooting that happened Wednesday on I-65. Just before 12:30 p.m., dispatch received a call of a road rage incident and shots fired on Interstate 65, southbound near the 180 mile marker. The victim was driving a semi-truck and was uninjured in the incident. Dispatchers determined the suspect vehicle was a black Chevrolet Tahoe. While troopers were searching for the Tahoe, dispatchers received a call of a road rage incident. Dispatchers advised the driver, who was later identified to be 53-year-old Kevin Perfetti of Lowell, to stop at a safe

A juvenile has been arrested in connection to a shooting and an incident of arson, the Michigan City Police Department said. On the morning of Jan. 26, dispatch received a call regarding gunshots being heard in the area of East Michigan Boulevard and Vail Street. The same gunshots were also heard by an officer at the police station who was able to determine a more precise location of the 200 block of Poplar Street. Officers arrived in the area and located a Poplar Street residence with a wide-open entrance door. Several bullet casings were seen behind the residence in the

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra (LCSO) announced the appointment of Jared Coller as education manager. Coller will begin the newly created position effective June 5. Coller is currently the band director of Rensselaer Middle and High Schools as well as a percussion section member of the LCSO. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University and is an endorsing artist with Artifact Percussion and Soultone Cymbals. “Jared will bring a passion for music education to this position,” stated LCSO Executive Director, Tim King. “His experience as an educator as well as his vast network of contacts in the region will

News release by Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Two of Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) graduate programs were recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 Best Graduate Programs rankings, released Tuesday, April 25. PNW’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, offered by the College of Nursing, was ranked No. 100 nationally in the Best Nursing Master’s Programs category. PNW’s MSN offers advanced nursing practices and clinical training to gain additional skills and qualifications for the healthcare field, such as its Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist concentrations. “Our position in the rankings represents the

The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced that in Lake and Porter counties, U.S. 231 will be resurfaced between I-65 and State Road 2 starting on or after Monday, May 1. U.S. 231 will be reduced to one lane with flaggers directing traffic in the area where work is occurring. The project will be ongoing through late August.

The #LCSO is investigating the theft of approximately 60 feet of guardrail from along a roadway in rural Hanna Township. During the morning of April 24th, employees from the La Porte County Highway Department discovered three sections of guardrail missing from along CR 400 West near CR 1650 South. The three sections, each 20 feet in length, have a total value of approximately $2,500. If anyone has information related to this theft investigation, please contact Detective Austin Howell (ahowell@lcso.in.gov).

On Tuesday May 2nd, most City offices, including City Hall and non-emergency City Operations will be closed for Election Day. There will be no interruption in Transit services as they will be operating their normal schedule. The Refuse Department will be closed for the day, when trash pickup will resume on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 and will be delayed one day for the remainder of the week.

The Michigan City Police Department was made aware of a telephone hoax that is currently taking place in town as well as the greater LaPorte County area. Based on what we know thus far, the caller is portraying himself to be a Michigan City Police Officer and informing the call recipient to come to the police station to obtain a subpoena that has been issued for them or to surrender themselves at the police station because a judge has ordered them held in jail. This is a complete hoax and the MCPD does not conduct business in this manner. The

April Wilson, a longtime Duneland Schools bus driver, is the 2023 Employee of the Year. The honor—which comes with a $500 stipend—is sponsored by Ellis Electric Inc. Wilson, a 1994 CHS graduate, has worked as a bus driver for the Duneland School Corporation (DSC) for 20 years. She joined DSC in 2003 as a substitute driver and in 2006 was hired as a full-time driver. In addition, Wilson has juggled several jobs outside of DSC, as a school bus driver for the Dunes Learning Center in Porter (2016-20) and as the head cook at Discovery Charter School (2010-19). April recalls

Center for Creative Solutions, Inc.® Announces A. K. Smith Career Center Scholarships and Student Innovation Awards during World Creativity and Innovation Week Keeping with tradition, the Center for Creative Solutions ushered in World Creativity and Innovation Week by honoring innovative students at the A. K. Smith Career Center in Michigan City. Last week, 15 students were recognized for their creative projects and products, academic performance, and ‘can do’ attitudes. “When we joined this international celebration 15 years ago, we wanted to highlight the places in our community where creativity was alive and well. The A. K. Smith Career Center was

During an awards ceremony held April 19, Superintendent Douglas G. Carter announced the 2022 Indiana State Police Ralph Ray Reed Motor Carrier Inspector of the Year is Motor Carrier Inspector H. Lee Wright from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. Lee Wright is a 43-year veteran of the Indiana State Police.  He began his state police career on September 14, 1979, as a motor carrier inspector (MCI) and was later appointed as a trooper on July 5, 1980.  He retired as a trooper on February 7, 2019, after 39 years, retiring as a sergeant in the aviation section.  Immediately after his

Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter announced the recipient of the 2022 Indiana State Police Dispatcher of the Year Award. Julia C. Montano was presented with the award Wednesday at the Indiana State Police annual awards ceremony in Indianapolis. Julie is a dispatcher at the Lowell Regional Dispatch Center which dispatches calls to troopers in both the Lowell and Lafayette Districts. “This award recognizes Julie’s technical expertise, calm demeanor during high-priority dispatches and non-emergency calls for service while maintaining operations support for troopers and other first responders,” ISP said. “The Dispatcher of the Year exemplifies strength of character, a

Two roadwork projects will soon begin on State Road 912 between U.S. 41/Calumet Avenue and Ridge Road resulting in alternating lane closures and changing traffic configurations through the fall. Pavement replacement will take place between U.S. 41/Calumet Avenue and U.S. 12 starting on or after Monday, April 24. Work will begin with shoulder strengthening under lane closures for future phases. Alternating lane closures and ramp closures will be needed during construction. Concrete pavement restoration and bridge deck overlay projects will take place between Ridge Road and 169th Street starting on or after Wednesday, April 26. State Road 912 will be

A 63-year-old Schererville swimming pool contractor is facing felony charges for allegedly bilking Lake County homeowners out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release on Friday..  Property owners are accusing Michael Nanay of accepting “hefty” deposits to install in-ground swimming pools; but say he left dangerous, gaping holes in their yards and never finished the work, according to police. Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. launched an investigation finding at least 5 property owners in Dyer, Crown Point and Schererville who say Nanay and his company, MAD Pools engaged in a

Merrillville based Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), has announced Orville Cocking as Senior Vice President of Gas Operations – effective May 8. “With nearly 20 years of industry experience, Orville brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the NIPSCO gas operations team,” said NIPSCO President and Chief Operating Officer, Mike Hooper. “Orville is highly respected as an energy leader and will be instrumental in shaping the future of NIPSCO in gas distribution operations, construction, regulatory policy and compliance.” Cocking most recently joins NiSource from Orange & Rockland Utilities (O&R) where he was Vice President of Operations with responsibility