Local News

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce is seeking community nominations for eight awards given during the Duneland Chamber Community Awards Luncheon, to be held on Wednesday, July 20. Nomination forms are available on the Chamber website or can be emailed to you upon request. All nominations are due by Wednesday, July 6. Putting Duneland on the Map Award honors an individual or organization whose achievements have brought state and/or national recognition to the Duneland area. Business Renovation Award honors a business owner who has made a significant improvement to his or her businesses. Construction Award honors those business entrepreneurs who have

The Ogden Dunes Police Department is reminding residents that summer parking restrictions are currently in effect. Police say all vehicles parked within the restricted area must display a valid 2022 beach area parking permit. All parking permits are available at Town Hall Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Police say if you are unable to stop into town hall during these hours, call 219-762-4125 to make arrangements to get your permits. Police noted that the restricted parking area has been expanded. You now need a parking permit to park on Diana Road from Sunset Trail to Valerie

Police have made an arrest stemming from the shooting that occurred Memorial Day at Stop 2 beach in Michigan City, which left one person shot with life-threatening injuries.  During the incident officers responding to the area located a vehicle matching the description given by dispatch, driving east on Lakeshore Drive. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but it continued to flee from police east on Lakeshore Drive. The vehicle came to a stop in the 1600 Block of Lakeshore Drive and the suspect, later identified as 18-year old Julius Bowen of Michigan City, fled the vehicle north on foot. Police

Michigan City Police Officer Zanda Chavez was recently commended for her actions and received a Life Saving Award from the MCPD. The incident took place on Sunday February 27, at around 6 a.m. Officers responded to the 200 Block of Pleasant Avenue for a report of someone attempting to break into the residence. Officers spoke with the caller near the rear of the residence while others continued to canvas the area for the suspect. Then, officers learned from witnesses that the subject was wanted out of Illinois for a parole violation. As the officers continued their search, they observed a

Franciscan Health Senior Promise says it will provide “fresh air and celebrations” at its Strawberry Festivals to the public throughout Indiana in June. The festivals provide strawberry shortcake, ice cream and the opportunity for fellowship. In Northwest Indiana, Franciscan Health Crown Point will present the festival from 12:30 to 2:30PM, Thursday, June 16, at Bulldog Park, 183 S. West St. The event is free, and all are invited to attend. Senior Promise members also will be able to sign up for summer road trips in coordination with Imperial Travel of Lafayette. Upcoming bus trips will take travelers to: June 28

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department and Lake County Metro Homicide Unit are asking for the public’s help in finding a vehicle believed to be connected with a homicide. 20-year-old Derrick Davis was shot and killed near W. 21st Avenue & Clark Road in Gary Friday morning.  Investigators believe Davis was in a silver Hyundai Sonata when a suspect opened fire, fatally wounding him.  The vehicle police are looking for is a gold-colored Chevy Suburban with aftermarket tail lights similar to those found on a Cadillac. The windows of the Suburban are tinted, including the front windshield. A photo of the

Indiana residents can no longer receive emergency enhanced SNAP benefits, as May was the final month of the service, according to the Family and Social Services Administration. The FSSA says that now, the SNAP benefit amount a household receives will again, as it was before the pandemic, be based on eligibility factors – household size, income and allowable deductions. More information on how the benefit amount changes during and after the pandemic can be found here. For more information on the SNAP program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply, visit https://www.in.gov/fssa. Additionally, Michigan City Area Schools has a summer meal

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has selected David A. Roberts as the first honoree to the university’s new PNW Alumni Hall of Fame. Roberts, a 1974 graduate, will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame during PNW’s Roaring Ahead Scholarship Gala on June 10. The gala event for nearly 600 people at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is the culmination of PNW’s yearlong 5-75 Roaring Ahead anniversary celebration of the fifth year of Purdue Northwest, and the 75th year of its legacy institutions, Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central. Proceeds from the gala will go toward scholarships for PNW

The cadets of the Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) recently participated in numerous events honoring those who have served our nation and have passed away.  Activities included placing flags on veterans’ graves at the Greenwood Cemetery, manning the Washington Park Bridge for “Rolling Thunder,” (veterans motorcyclists), and marching in the Michigan City Memorial Day parade.  The culminating event was the memorial ceremony at the Greenwood Cemetery. The cadets also assisted other Michigan City organizations in May.  These included the Lake Hills Elementary School’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math day, the Soul Steppers performance

La Porte residents looking to enjoy recreational activities in the city next Saturday can get a free ride, according to TransPorte Manager Beth West. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, residents can call to schedule a free ride to certain events and attractions within the city. West said their goal is to help promote activities and amenities around the city, as well as to remind residents of what TransPorte has to offer. Residents can receive free rides to The Market at La Stitch, The La Porte Small Business Coalition’s Second Saturday event, any city parks, and

Unity Foundation of La Porte County is celebrating its 30th Anniversary by hosting La Porte County Gives, a 30 hour fundraising event between September 30 and October 1, at laportecountygives.net. Funds raised will be matched in proportion to dollars raised, and participants can compete for additional prizes. Unity’s 25th Anniversary La Porte County Gives fundraising event raised over $360,000 for 60 funds. Permanent, endowed funds held at Unity are eligible to participate. Participants will raise greater awareness for their mission and expand their network. La Porte County Gives provides opportunities to engage volunteers, donors and board members and reach new

On April 15th, 2022, at approximately 5:00pm, three juveniles came into the Michigan City Police Department indicating that they had just been shot with a BB Gun at the park behind the police station. The juveniles stated that they were playing basketball at the park, when they approached by another group of juveniles. One member of the second group proceeded to take the groups basketball and refused to return it. When the group asked about getting the basketball back, another juvenile pulled out what appeared to be a handgun and started shooting towards the group, striking two of them with

On Memorial Day, Mayor Parry announced during the Veteran Memorial Ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery that he will use the proceeds of his upcoming Golf Outing on August 26 to dedicate this statue to the memory of “ALL THAT HAVE SERVED”. In choosing this statue Mayor Parry feels it is a fitting and dignified tribute to our troops and a memorial that will keep their memory alive in a permanent way. The dedication will take place at Greenwood Cemetery on Veteran’s Day Friday, 11-11-22.

The following is an update from NICTD on the South Shore Line (NICTD) Double Track NWI Project construction that is ongoing: Double Track NWI - Construction Next Steps INFORMATION UPDATED 5/31/2022Emergency Contact List GARY- MILLER STATION AREA All buildings have been demolished for the construction of the station and parking lots in Miller. New sewer work is underway in both the west and east parking lots. Parking is available but temporarily restricted while work near Miller Station progresses. Vehicular and pedestrian access from Melton Road (US 20) will be closed, and the driveway from Old US 12/Dunes Hwy will remain

The Town of Chesterton announced on their Facebook page that two men were being held at the Porter County Jail Tuesday night, in connection with an incident earlier in the day at the Eagle Crossing apartment complex in Coffee Creek Center. Neither man was identified and charges against both are pending. Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson, said at 3:25 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to Eagle Crossing after a male subject was alleged to have pointed a long gun at apartment employees checking on a report of a disturbance. On their arrival at the scene, officers located the suspect, who was

The Northwest Regional Indiana Regional Development Authority Consideration of Establishing Transit Development Districts The City of Michigan City has given notice that the Regional Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) will hold two public hearings, both of which commence at 10:00 a.m. on June 9 and July 14 at the Purdue Technology Center, 9800 Connecticut Drive, Crown Point, Indiana. Both hearings will convene to provide information and seek comments related to the proposed establishment of seven Transit Development Districts which are: -Hammond Gateway - Gary Miller -Munster Ridge Road -Dyer / Munster Main Street -Portage / Ogden Dunes -East Chicago -Michigan

The LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received several 911 calls on May 30th at approximately 4:10pm regarding shots being fired on the beach near Stop 2. Additional information indicated that one person had been shot. Multiple officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 2 quickly responded to Washington Park Stop 2 and learned that one subject had been shot. LaPorte County EMS arrived on scene and immediately transported the subject to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Officers canvased the area and began to look for evidence and witnesses. Witnesses were interviewed by officers at the scene to gather

The South Shore Line has announced that due to ongoing construction and road closures associated with the Double Track NWI project, busing to Beverly Shores Station will be temporarily suspended, effective Monday, June 6. The busing suspension is due to the closure of Broadway, and is expected to last approximately 14 days. During this time, there will be no service to Beverly Shores, and passengers are encouraged to board at Dune Park Station.  

HAMLET- Roadwork will begin on or after Tuesday at the U.S. 30 and U.S. 35 interchange in Starke County. Both U.S. 30 and U.S. 35 will have alternating lane closures, with changing traffic patterns in the area through late July. One lane will remain open in each direction at all times. Work will include a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project on U.S. 30 over U.S. 35, as well as repairs on U.S. 35 under U.S. 30.  

Friday morning the public and city officials gathered for a ribbon cutting to officially open improvements  to the Founders Square and Founders Plaza area in Portage.  The project removed a public street between the park and amphitheater, turning it into a food court with electrical hookups for food trucks; added landscaping and lighting; created Founders Plaza between the fire and police stations and added 67 parking spots to the area.  Interim Park Superintendent Paul Ciesielski said the park has plenty of programs and events which will  be held from Market/Music/Movies on the Square to Monday's Memorial Day Service, 4th of