Local News

The DNR Division of Law Enforcement held graduation ceremonies Thursday at the Indiana Government Center South in Indianapolis. Twenty-five new Indiana Conservation Officers officially joined the division during the event. Conservation Officer Andrew Harmon, the 2021 James D. Pitzer Officer of the Year, administered the oath of office to the recruits, who will fill positions in various locations around the state. The new officers represent the 39th recruit class of conservation officers: The officers and assignment locations (by county in parentheses) are Thomas Adams (Marion), Bradley Barker (Brown), Jarrett Batliner (Ripley), Jacob Bolt (Starke), Draven Browning (Howard), Tyler Burton (Wayne),

A Portage woman died as a result of a Monday crash on I-94. A Lake Station man was charged with several O.W.I offenses, including O.W.I. resulting in serious bodily injury in connection with the crash. At around 4:45 a.m., troopers were dispatched to a crash on I-80 eastbound lanes at exit 15B. This is the ramp to Ripley Street. Preliminary investigation showed that a 2016 Subaru rapidly reduced speed to merge to the Toll Road exit ramp when a 2016 Buick rear-ended it. Both vehicles sustained severe damage. A female passenger in the Subaru was transported from the scene with

There is a beach hazards statement that remains in effect for LaPorte and Berrien counties until 4 a.m. central time Friday. High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous swimming conditions expected. Piers will be heavily swamped by waves. North winds will be 15 to 25 mph. Waves will build to 3 to 5 feet this afternoon and continuing into tonight. 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. Another

The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced several I-65 on-ramp closures for concrete restoration projects in Merrillville. Construction is scheduled to begin on or after August 13, with work expected to wrap up by the beginning of September. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change. The closures include: -Eastbound and westbound 61st Street ramps to southbound I-65 -Ridge Road to southbound I-65 Drivers needing to access southbound I-65 from these locations should use the approved detour of State Road 53 south to U.S. 231, to I-65. INDOT encourages motorists to consider worker safety by slowing down, using

The Criminal Investigations Division of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the disappearance and whereabouts of 38 year-old Brett A. Lawson. Lawson was last seen on July 31 at a rural Center Township residence located in the 3100 west block of Small Road between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Lawson is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 225 pounds, has red hair and blue eyes. Lawson has a large tattoo on his right forearm. Anyone with information related to Lawson is encouraged to contact Chief of Detectives Captain Andrew Hahn (219-326-7700, ext. 2340 / ahahn@lcso.in.gov) or

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) Wednesday released results from the 2021-2022 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD-3) assessment. The Indiana Department of Education says the assessment shows, “that nearly one in five Hoosier students have not mastered foundational reading skills by the end of third grade.” “We know that students first learn to read, and then they read to learn,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Data shows a direct link between reading by the end of third grade and future learning. As many students continue to recover from the academic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, specific

Update: The Silver Alert 093-2022 issued on Thursday, July 21, 2022, on Michelle Delane has been canceled as of Tuesday, Aug. 9. For more information on this cancellation, please contact the Hammond Police Department at 219-660-0000.   Original story: A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared for a missing Hammond woman. The Hammond Police Department is investigating the disappearance of 52-year-old Michelle Delane. Delane is described as a white female, 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 130 pounds, and has blonde hair with blue eyes. Delane was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with the word “Levi’s” on the front,

LaPorte County businesses and non-profits have partnered to provide local, 4-H-raised protein to more than 20 local food pantries and soup kitchens as part of Operation Feed LaPorte County – a mission that has been dedicated to distributing local meat to the hungry for nearly 10 years. This year’s distribution took place on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds in the Community Building. Ten businesses and non-profits partnered at the LaPorte County 4-H Livestock Auction on July 15 to purchase animals, which were processed by Sims Meat Processing in Kingsbury, IN to produce approximately 3,000 pounds of beef,

Indiana State Troopers are investigating after someone apparently shot at a semi truck Monday on I-80.  At around 2:52 p.m., troopers were dispatched to a shots being fired call on I-80 eastbound at the 0.1 mile-marker, just east of the Illinois/Indiana state line. The caller, a truck driver, reported a small gray passenger car with Illinois license plates had shot at his truck for no apparent reason. A trooper arrived at the scene and discovered that there were two bullet holes in the truck. Further investigation showed that one of the bullets entered the cab of the truck near the

The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is available on the Unity Foundation website from August 10 to September 9, 2022. Through support of Independent Colleges of Indiana and Lilly Endowment Inc., two LaPorte County students will receive four-year, full tuition scholarships to an accredited public or private Indiana college or university of their choice and an annual $900 stipend for required books and equipment. A selection committee, comprised of volunteers from throughout the county, will seek to recommend the two most outstanding LaPorte County students among those who apply. To be eligible, students must: be a resident of LaPorte County,

Governor Eric Holcomb on Tuesday signed Executive Order 22-12 calling a special election in the Second Congressional District. The special election will be held to fill the vacancy in the office of United States Representative for the Second Congressional District due to the death of Rep. Jackie Walorski. The special election will be held concurrently with the general election on Nov. 8, 2022. Click HERE to view the executive order. Click HERE for more information on the special election.

More than 350 seniors attended Senior Day Monday at the Lake County Fair, sponsored by Franciscan Health. The event took place in the Showcase Tent at the Lake County Fair. Senior Day featured free admission for seniors 62 and older with free health screenings and information on a variety of Franciscan Health programs and services. Snacks, entertainment, giveaways and the annual apple peeling contest were also included. Free health screenings provided for attendees included balance and fall risk, pulmonary function, body mass index, glucose testing, blood pressure testing and skin cancer spot checks. Seniors also received information about Franciscan Health’s

In Portage, the southbound lane of Willowcreek Road between Houston Avenue and Portage Avenue is closed through Friday, Aug. 12, weather permitting. Crews are adjusting manhole heights. A detour route will be marked.

On Monday Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy and the City Council honored Aidan Gutierrez of Valparaiso High School for winning the Indiana High School Athletic Association Golf Championship. They also honored the VHS Boys Golf Team for placing 6th in the State tournament. Aidan is only the second VHS golfer in the history of the school to be named state champion.

The City of Portage has given an update on a $2.6 million 2022 paving project. Last week, a contractor removed existing non-compliant sidewalk ramps and started to replace them with code compliant ones. They started on Aspen, Debra, and Belmont. Then moved to Orchard and are now in Brookview and Arvilla Acres. Monday, they started milling Aspen Avenue. Contractors will be back on Wednesday to continue to mill Debra, Belmont, and Orchard. Wednesday they will also start paving Aspen Avenue and then move to Debra, Belmont, and Orchard. Concrete crews will continue to replace sidewalk ramps and curbs in Arvilla

The City of La Porte announced that The City Hall drive-thru will be closed Tuesday for necessary repairs. The City says if you would like to drop off a payment, you can do so at the drop box located on the sidewalk in front of City Hall. The Utility Billing Office will also be open for residents who need further assistance.  

A beach hazards statement remains in effect through Tuesday afternoon for La Porte County in Indiana and Berrien County in Michigan. High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous swimming conditions expected. Piers will be heavily swamped by waves. North winds 10 to 15 mph Tuesday. Waves are building to 3 to 6 feet overnight. Waves 3 to 6 feet Tuesday, gradually subsiding in the afternoon. 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

At its annual banquet on Wednesday, July 20, the Duneland Chamber of Commerce presented its Putting Duneland on the Map Award to the Chesterton High School basketball team for going 28-1 on the season and being runner-up to Cathedral in the state final in March. Accepting the award on behalf of his team was CHS boys head basketball coach Marc Urban. Presenting the award was Duneland School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Chip Pettit. See more on this story on the Town of Chesterton Facebook page.  

Indiana Dunes National Park announced a temporary closure to a portion of the Little Calumet River Trail for the replacement of an existing boardwalk. Indiana Dunes National Park says, “The closure is necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety.”  The closure will remain in effect from August 7 through August 14 or until further notice.  Please note: The map pinpoint is only for approximate location purposes. The whole trail is not closed.

The South Shore Line has revised information on long-term busing between Carroll Avenue and Gary Metro Center Stations. In order to accommodate construction for the Double Track NWI project, the South Shore Line announced a long-term busing schedule for passengers between Gary Metro Center and Carroll Avenue stations. Train service between Gary Metro and Millennium and between Carroll Avenue and South Bend Airport will operate as normal. Now through spring 2023, busing between Carroll Avenue and Gary Metro stations will be ongoing for all weekday and weekend trains. Bus service will make all intermediate scheduled station stops, and passengers will