Local News

A beach hazards statement remains in effect from 4 a.m. CDT Friday through late Friday night for LaPorte and Berrien counties.  This is for high wave action, strong currents, and dangerous swimming conditions expected. Piers will be heavily swamped by waves. North winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Waves will be 3 to 5 feet Friday, subsiding late Friday night. Strong currents can pull swimmers into deeper water and high waves can sweep people off piers. The National Weather Service says to remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions and do not venture out on piers.

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra’s (LCSO) Hoosier STAR is taking place Sept. 17 and will have three celebrity guest judges. Dr. Carolyn Watson of the LCSO will be at the helm leading the orchestra as they accompany the contestants. Grammy nominated Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Alastair Willis, will still be there again for Hoosier STAR 2022, though with a bit of a twist: Willis is returning as a celebrity judge. Willis has guest conducted many orchestras around the world in addition to his position in South Bend, including the Chicago Symphony, Orquestra Sinfonica de Rio

Franciscan Health Michigan City’s Midwest Bariatric Institute is hosting a series of free, surgeon-led seminars for those interested in learning more about surgical weight loss options. The seminars will take place at 5 p.m. on select Wednesdays in the Mother Maria Theresia Conference Room at Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way. The seminars are scheduled for Sept. 7 and 21, Oct. 5 and 26, Nov. 2 and 9 and Dec. 7. Bariatric surgeons Dr. Thomas Shin, MD, FACS, and Dr. Sandra Wischmeyer, DO, will lead the seminars. The Midwest Bariatric Institute received accreditation earlier this year as a Comprehensive

Governor Eric Holcomb concluded an economic development trip to Taipei Wednesday, fostering economic and academic ties between Indiana and Taiwan. During the trip, the Holcomb-led delegation including Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers and Purdue University officials discussed opportunities for collaboration across industry, academia and government, and established four new partnerships. In Taipei, Holcomb met with Taiwanese government officials, including Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen; Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Wu; and Minister of Economic Affairs Mei-hua Wang; to strengthen innovation-driven cooperation between Indiana and Taiwan. On Monday, Gov. Holcomb solidified this commitment in a memorandum of understanding between the state

The Indiana Department of Health detected two pools of mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile Virus from samples collected on Aug 18. The Porter County Health Department says residents should take precautions when going outside. Precautions such as eliminating standing water around, practicing bit prevention using EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long sleeves, and avoid going outside during peak feeding at dusk and dawn. Lists with preventative measures and more information can be found on the press release from the Porter County Health Department.  

In 2022, Shirley Heinze Land Trust launched a new initiative “Activating Green Spaces,” which is aimed at connecting traditionally underserved Black and Latinx communities in Gary, Indiana with environmental education and experiences with local nature. This initiative was made possible through the generous financial support from NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation.  By connecting communities directly with the work of habitat conservation, we hope to foster a deep love and appreciation towards local green spaces in order to forward their continued care and preservation. Guided hikes, community service workdays, stewardship workdays, student science projects, and trail building are among the

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) Wednesday announced the launch of Indiana Learns, a statewide grant program that will provide qualifying families with up to $1,000 to spend on math and English/language arts high-dosage tutoring and approved out-of-school academic programs for their students. The initiative’s goal is to increase access to effective, out-of-school academic support to help students recover from learning disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, Governor Holcomb signed House Enrolled Act 1251 to create a microgrant program for families that could provide additional learning support for students most impacted academically by the COVID-19 pandemic. IDOE

Road projects are getting ready to take place in North Judson. On or after Aug. 29, crews will begin working on curb ramps and sidewalks on State Road 10/39 between Mint Road and Oakwood Avenue. Work is expected to wrap up by early November. During construction, traffic will be maintained by flaggers when needed, but most of the work will be taking place outside of the roadway. On or after September 6, S.R. 10/39 will be closed for utility work between Schricker Avenue and Oakwood Avenue. That work is expected to wrap up by the end of October. During construction,

The City of Valparaiso announced the candidates for the 2022-2023 Mayor’s Youth Council and swore in the new class during the City Council meeting on Aug. 22. The Mayor’s Youth Council was introduced last year with support from Valparaiso High School, inviting 11th graders to apply to participate. The Council meets monthly, learning from elected and appointed officials, participating in volunteer opportunities, and cultivating leadership skills, beginning with a Youth Retreat on Aug. 27. The inaugural Mayor’s Youth Council completed their year in May 2022, culminating with a fundraiser they created to benefit Valpo Parks.  See a list of the

Franciscan Health and BroadStreet recently launched a new collaboration with the hope of leveraging data into action using nationally available dashboards for promoting violence prevention across communities. The dashboards present evidence-based interventions specific to a community's demographics and socioeconomic factors. To create the dashboards, Stacey Quick, Franciscan Health community health improvement coordinator, worked alongside BroadStreet CEO and Cofounder Tracy Flood and her team. Together, they envisioned a data-driven, solution-focused framework for preventing violence at both the individual and community levels. The dashboard is designed to showcase what prevention-based interventions are available along with resources for different populations.  The Violence Prevention

The City of Portage is reminding drivers that Mulberry Avenue between Eleanor and Vivian streets is closed to all traffic during construction hours, through Friday, Sept. 9 for a water main replacement project. The road will be open to all traffic when the contractor is not working on-site during nights, weekends, and “foul weather days”. Dates are weather dependent and detour routes will be marked.

Eight Probationary Officers were sworn in Monday at the Michigan City Police Department. The officers have undergone an extensive hiring process which began with over 20 potential candidates, MCPD said. These Probationary Officers will endure 6 weeks of in-house training with the Division of Professional Standards. Upon completion of the training, they will begin the Field Training Officer Program where they will be working within the community with their respective training officers until spaces are available for them to attend the 16-week Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Basic Course. Sworn-In during the service at City Hall were: -Officer Katherine Doperalski -Officer

There will be lane restrictions on State Road 51 starting next week in Hobart. The northbound right turn lane from S.R. 51 to U.S. 6 will be closed for crews to install a water main. Work is scheduled to start on or after August 29, with construction expected to wrap up in early September. During construction, traffic will still be able to turn right but will need to utilize the center through lane to do so. The Indiana Department of Transportation urges drivers to consider worker safety by slowing down, using extra caution and driving distraction-free when traveling in and

Captain Derek Allen, a La Porte County Bolt for the Heart committee member, presented the South Central High School-Union Mills Cross Country program with an AED Friday afternoon. South Central team members registered and participated as a group at last year’s La Porte County Bolt for the Heart event. In recognition of their participation and the need for an AED, the device was donated to the school corporation on behalf of Bolt and the county’s committee. The mobile AED will accompany the South Central cross country team to their meets and be a resource in the event of an emergency

One person suffered life-threatening injuries after a shooting in Michigan City Thursday night, police said. Officers were called at around 9:10 p.m. to the area of Michigan Boulevard and Grace Street. Officers responded to the area and had learned that one subject had been shot. Officers secured the scene and immediately began life-saving measures on the individual. EMS and Michigan City Fire Department arrived on scene and continued medical care. The person was transported to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Prior to this incident, at around 7:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to the area of 11th Street

The La Porte County Drive is gearing up for the ‘Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over’ impaired driving enforcement campaign. Now through Labor Day, deputies are increasing patrols designed to target those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). “We’re asking everyone to have a plan in place if they know they’ll be drinking,” said Captain Derek J. Allen. “Our goal isn’t to take people to jail. It’s to make people think about the choices

Children served by Sandcastle Shelter and Stepping Stones Shelter received backpacks last week full of school supplies donated by Franciscan Health Michigan City staff members. Each gender-neutral backpack was filled with pencils, filler paper, pens, crayons, markers, a ruler, glue sticks, erasers, scissors, a pencil case and folders. “Today we delivered more than 50 backpacks filled with school supplies to Sandcastle Shelter and Stepping Stones Shelter,” Franciscan Health Michigan City Vice President of Mission Integration Sister Petra Nielsen said on Monday. “These were made possible through the generosity of our staff, who collected backpacks and supplies.” Twenty five of the

Erin Parker, La Porte High School Teacher, has been selected as a Top 25 Finalist in the 2023 Indiana Teacher of the Year (INTOY) Program. This Spring, Erin was peer-nominated and then selected as the 2022 La Porte Community School Corporation Secondary Teacher of the Year. Kicking off her thirteenth year as an educator at La Porte High School, Erin has spent the last eight years as the Yearbook, Journalism, Public Relations, and Newspaper teacher. La Porte Community Schools stated the following: “Establishing the Public Relations course has allowed Erin to work with her students on being heralds of the

One person is dead after a shooting that occurred in La Porte on Thursday evening.  Officers with the La Porte Police were dispatched to the 900 block of Ridge St. in reference to a shooting.  Upon arrival at the residence, officers found a single female victim that had suffered a gunshot wound.  The victim was transported to Northwest Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A few hours later, a male suspect was located and taken into custody.  Police said after further investigation, the incident appears to be isolated and there is no threat to the general public.  

The City of Valparaiso’s original water tower – located at Tower Park on Franklin Street – is getting a fresh new finish, inside and out this summer, preserving its surfaces into the future. Built in 1936, the tower’s interior and exterior will be sandblasted and resurfaced, with the exterior featuring a fresh new brand for the City of Valparaiso. The project kicked off at the end of June and contractors will work seven days a week to complete by the end of August. The tower is out of service during the project, including time for the surfaces to cure, followed