Local News

The Department of Justice announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire over 1,000 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Northern District of Indiana three cities/towns were awarded funding. The City of Crown Point received $125,000, the Town of Cedar Lake received $125,000; and The Town of LaPaz, in Marshall County received $120,369. CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public

Portage Firefighter Local 3151 is teaming up with the Portage Kiwanis Club. Both are collecting new unwrapped toys now until Dec. 4. The toys will be separated and delivered via the Toys for Tots Program Porter County. Drop off Box Locations include: Portage City Hall Main Lobby 6070 Central Ave. Portage Fire Station 1 3401 Swanson Rd. Portage Fire Station 2 6275 Old Porter Rd. Portage Fire Station 3 6300 Central Ave.

Wednesday afternoon, Mayor of La Porte Tom Dermody along with Director of Code Jeff Batchelor announced in a Facebook live video that over 25 abandoned vehicles have been removed from an abandoned property at corner of Brighton Street and Heinz Street. There were about 50 abandoned cars in total according to Batchelor. As of Wednesday about 20 more vehicles were still needed to be removed. 

The Indiana State Department of health updated their weekly COVID county advisory level map on Wednesday.  LaPorte and Porter counties have a score of 2.5, in the orange level.  Lake County has a score of 1.5, in the yellow level.  St. Joseph, Starke, Jasper and Newton counties have a score of 2, in the orange level. Positivity has risen in LaPorte, Porter, Lake, and St. Joseph counties and has declined in Starke, Jasper, and Newton counties. 

Valparaiso Police tended to a serious bodily injury crash involving one motor vehicle and a pedestrian Wednesday. Police say the crash occurred at around 5:45 p.m., at the intersection of State Road 130 and Morgan Boulevard. The pedestrian, a 76-year-old male, was transported to an area trauma center by helicopter. WIMS will continue to follow this story.

If Stove Top stuffing makes an appearance at your Thanksgiving dinner, you can thank a Purdue University alumna. The late Ruth Siems, a 1953 home economics graduate, is credited with the invention of Stove Top stuffing. The product hit shelves in 1971 as a dish appropriate for Thanksgiving but also for everyday meals. The secret behind the dish is the dimensions of the bread crumbs, which General Foods patented in 1975. Siems is listed first among the inventors, followed by Anthony Capossela Jr., John Halligan and C. Robert Wyss. Siems’ invention came at a time when there was a high demand in

The South Shore Line will operate a weekend/holiday schedule on Thursday, Nov. 25. Free eastbound weekday rides will be in effect on this day.  On Wednesday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov 26, the SSL will operate regular weekday train schedules. See holiday schedule information on the South Shore Line website.  

The Indiana State Police held an awards and recognition ceremony in Indianapolis this past Friday.  The ceremony publicly recognized the achievements and accomplishments that often go without the proper recognition. Four troopers from the Lowell Post were honored for their efforts in serving the citizens of Indiana. The 2020 Trooper of the District Award for the Lowell Post was presented to Trooper John Landowski.  This award is given annually to a trooper at each district that personifies integrity, professionalism, and a well-rounded work ethic.  Trooper Landowski was selected by his command staff for his dedication, traffic and criminal enforcement, community

The Porter County Health Department “COVID Strike Team” Wednesday through Saturday will be giving out vannices and tests at the Lowe’s parking lot in Portage. The distributions will run from noon to 8 p.m. on those days and vaccines will consist of Pfizer (5 years and up), Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Binax rapid tests and PCR tests will be available. 

The Porter County Government Administration Center will be displaying purple now through Friday night to raise awareness of pulmonary hypertension (PH), a chronic, life-threatening lung disease marked by elevated blood pressure in the lungs. Without treatment, PH patients live an average of 2.8 years past diagnosis. Multiple treatments are available for PH but it takes patients an average of nearly 3 years to be accurately diagnosed. This delay in diagnosis has not changed in the past twenty years. PH patients who are diagnosed earlier have a longer life-expectancy. Education can help with early diagnosis and funding for research can help

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on 27-year-old Tyler Quentin Allen Redd. Redd is described as 6'01", 180 lbs, has brown hair and brown eyes and has multiple tattoos on his face and body. Redd is wanted for domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, theft, and intimidation. He also has additional warrants for intimidation and failure to appear for possession of meth.  Police say Redd is known to frequent the hotels in both Lake and Porter County, and he has ties to several addresses in both counties as well, namely

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has been accepted as an associate member of the University Sales Center Alliance (USCA), one of only 62 universities in the United States and Europe to be part of the organization. PNW launched the sales minor program in 2016. The curriculum is designed to develop skills that students need in a 21st century workplace through exposure to real world selling situations. The program trains students in relationship building, sales planning, needs assessment, customized product presentations, handling objections, effectively listening and closing, as well as other sales-focused skill sets.  Also part of the sales program is the

Purdue University’s Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Agriculture will provide a home and care for the National Thanksgiving Turkey and alternate following this week’s National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation at the White House. The turkeys will live at Purdue’s Animal Science Research and Education Center, where they will reside in a separate enclosed indoor setting with access to a shaded grassy area. Purdue Agriculture’s Department of Animal Sciences includes a nationally recognized poultry program, with experts in nutrition, health, education, behavioral neuroendocrinology, management, behavior and animal welfare. The turkeys were raised under the supervision of Phil Seger, 2021

Formal dress is optional, and you won’t have to worry about traffic or parking, as the Franciscan Health Foundations of Northern Indiana and South Suburban Chicago invite the public to participate in the “Make History and Make A Difference Virtual Gala.” The virtual fundraiser will broadcast from The Field Museum in Chicago on Thursday, Dec. 9. The pre-show begins at 6:30PM and the 45-minute broadcast follows at 7PM. You can watch from your computer, tablet or mobile device. “We have an exciting evening planned for this year’s Virtual Gala, which will allow us to reach a much broader audience than

Initial phase begins this fall, calls for 14 new faculty in public health Purdue University is launching one of the largest faculty hiring initiatives in its history as a key part of a $75 million Equity Task Force effort to diversify the racial makeup of its faculty ranks. Over the next five years, 40 full-time faculty will be added through several academic clusters as part of this initiative. The plan’s initial phase, begun this fall, will focus on hiring 14 faculty in public health, including areas such as policy, equity, communications, nursing, pharmacy and nutrition. The goal is to expand Purdue’s

A juvenile has been arrested in connection with school threats displayed on social media, Michigan City Police announced Monday.   Police arrested the 14-year-old on Monday afternoon. The Investigative Division along with School Resource Officer Cpl. Combs were contacted and immediately responded to start processing this investigation. Interviews were conducted and information was gathered by Detectives regarding the social media post. MCPD Detectives were able to identify the source of the messages and probable cause was established to warrant an arrest. Police said Monday that detectives are continuing to investigate the incident and witnesses continue to be interviewed. Michigan City Police

Michigan City Wolves junior Andrew Oleksiuk hit an 18-yard field goal in double overtime to give Michigan City the 31-28 victory over Valparaiso Friday night at Ames Field in the 5A Regional 5 Championship. Racion Anderson scored a pair of touchdowns for the Wolves and sophomore Tyler Bush threw for a pair of touchdowns, one to Treylen Simmons and the other to Omarion Hatch. City (9-3) advances to the Class 5A Semi State where they will host Zionsville, a 35-14 winner over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger on Friday night. This marks the Wolves’ third trip to Semi State in five