Local News

“Computer Science Education Week” is being marked around the country this week (Dec. 6 through 10), and one way Michigan City Area Schools students are celebrating is through an “Hour of Code.” With the help of experts from the Michigan City Public Library, students at Lake Hills Elementary School are spending at least one hour this week during the school day to practice what Dave Fink calls “creative coding.” He described this as an opportunity for kids to explore their own ideas in relation to technology. Fink, an employee of the public library, works often with MCAS students throughout the year on a variety of STEM projects

Michigan City High School (MCHS) hosted and competed in a military drill meet held at the high school on Saturday, December 4th.  Schools from throughout Indiana and Illinois attended the meet.  It was sponsored by the Michigan City chapter of the Marine Corps League and the MCHS Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) Booster Club. Judges were provided by the University of Notre Dame Navy/Marine Corps ROTC.  Portage edged out Indianapolis Ben Davis and  Romeoville, Illinois to win the meet. “Hosting a drill meet is much work,” said MCHS Senior Marine Instructor Major Tom McGrath.  “Since it requires

Governor Eric Holcomb is directing flags to be flown at half-staff to honor the life of Senator Bob Dole. Flags should be flown at half-staff at the Indiana Statehouse immediately until sunset on Thursday, Dec. 9.   Holcomb also asks businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff.

The City of Valparaiso says they will extend leaf pickup until Dec. 10. The city says that due to the warmer temperatures, there was a delay in leaves falling this year compared to 2020. To offset the delay, the city asks residents to “be mindful of the short time frame remaining, especially if snowfall is on the horizon which will complicate collection.” They also ask that residents make a strong effort in taking advantage of the weather and to move their leaves to the right of way (not the street) as leaf crews work additional hours to complete the collection

Schererville Police have reported that the body of a missing Dyer man was recovered from a retention pond in Schererville this past Thursday.  At approximately 7:48 p.m. Thursday, a Schererville Patrol Officer located a parked and unoccupied light blue vehicle behind a business in the 700 block of US 41 (Indianapolis Boulevard). After running a license plate check of that vehicle, the officer learned it was registered to a missing person from Dyer, indiana.  The Schererville Police Department with assistance from other agencies and multiple K9's began a search of the area and located a deceased male in a retention

The LaPorte County Health Department gave a COVID update on Friday and provided resources and information on testing and vaccines. "The FDA has issued an extension of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allowing the use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 5 years of age and older. The La Porte County Health Department is offering the Pfizer pediatric vaccine at our COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic located at 1007 Lincolnway, La Porte, IN. No appointment is necessary. La Porte County is again designated as ORANGE this week. Total positive cases for La Porte County: 17,749 Total La Porte County COVID Deaths: 265

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) gained approval from the Purdue University Board of Trustees to offer a Doctor of Technology degree. PNW plans to welcome its first students in the program beginning in 2022-2023, pending approval by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The program will be the second doctoral degree offered by PNW, joining the Doctorate of Nursing Practice that has graduated nine students since 2015. All of the DNP graduates are employed as leaders in nursing, with some practicing in primary care or specialty care settings and others engaged in nursing education. The professional

Economic Development Corporation Michigan City (EDCMC) Executive Director Clarence Hulse recently joined other industry leaders to learn about the latest in economic development strategies. He completed the Advanced Economic Development Leadership executive education program and was awarded the Master Economic Development Practitioner certificate. “It is vital to stay on top of best practices and the latest trends in the economic development arena while connecting with economic development leaders from across the country,” Hulse said. “The program really delved into the future of leading a successful economic development strategy, and I am honored to bring this back to Michigan City as

The Porter County Health Department will conduct COVID testing from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays at the Porter County Expo in Valparaiso. Walk-ins are welcome. If you are in Portage, COVID testing will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at the Old Trustees Office on Airport Road, just north of Route 6. Walk-ins are also welcome at that location.

Mayor Duane Parry Thursday announced that he has finalized the structure of a committee that will review proposed uses of the ARPA funds Michigan City has been awarded. The mayor’s office says the ARPA Committee will be comprised of nine voting members and one non-voting member. The breakdown of the committee members will be three representing the Administration, three representing the City Council, one representing Michigan City Economic Development Corporation (EDCMC), one representing the Redevelopment Commission (RDC), one representing Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, small business, and non-profit organizations, and one representing the Controller’s Office (Non-voting). Specifically, the ARPA Committee

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development is hosting a virtual job fair featuring four long-term care providers that are hiring statewide. Select long-term care providers will be participating in the job fair that will run from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. CST on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Human resources professionals from each company will discuss the qualifications needed, pay and benefits, and how to apply for current job openings. They are actively hiring administrators, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, personal care attendants, certified nursing assistants, dietary managers and more. Individuals who are interested in the virtual job fair but unable to

The Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is encouraging all Hoosiers who purchased consumer products that were recalled in October and November to take advantage of the remedies available to them. “With the holiday season approaching, Hoosiers want to ensure that their hard-earned money is being spent on gifts that are safe and work correctly,” Scott Barnhart, director and chief counsel for consumer protection, said. “If you purchased a faulty good or item in October and November that has been recalled, then you should immediately see what forms of reimbursement the company that sold or manufactured the product is

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana will have several upcoming mobile food distributions. They are: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 – LaPorte County 10 a.m. – Noon CT or while supplies last WHERE: First Church of God, 2020 E. Lincolnway, LaPorte, IN 46350 This distribution will provide assorted frozen food items. website: https://www.lpchurchofgod.com/ Friday, December 17, 2021 – LaPorte County 10 a.m. – Noon CT or while supplies last WHERE: Marquette Mall, 201 S. U.S. 20, Michigan City, IN 46360 This distribution is provided by United Way of LaPorte County and will serve up to 300 households.  

The Dyer Police Department is investigating the disappearance of 72-year-old Raul Hernandez. He is described as a Hispanic male, 6 foot tall, 176 pounds, gray hair with brown eyes last seen driving a light blue 2005 Suzuki Verona with an Indiana license plate of 460REW. Raul is missing from Dyer, Indiana and was last seen on Tuesday November 30, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. If you have any information on Raul Hernandez, contact the Dyer Police Department at 219-660-0000 or 911.  

The Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday updated their weekly COVID county advisory level map. La Porte, Porter, St. Joseph, Starke and Jasper counties remain with a score of 2.5, in the orange level.  Lake County has moved up from a score of 2, in the orange level to a score of 2.5, in the orange level. Newton County has moved up from a score of 2.5, in the orange level to a score of 3 out of 3 in the red level.  In the past week positivity has risen in all of the counties mentioned, other than Jasper

Wednesday, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed Executive Orders 21-31 and 21-32 to continue the public health emergency and the executive order for provisions that address the impact of COVID-19. Extending the executive orders allows “key items to remain in place that protect Hoosiers.” Holcomb outlined three provisions that “necessitate the extension of a public health emergency and executive order.” First, Indiana is eligible to receive enhanced federal funding for Medicaid programs to help cover the increased costs of 500,000 Hoosiers who have enrolled in the programs because of the pandemic. Holcomb’s office stated “So far, the state has received $972

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration today announced that its Be Well Crisis Helpline has surpassed 25,000 calls, a milestone in its ongoing efforts to provide Hoosiers with free, confidential mental health counseling and resources. The support line is available through Indiana 211 and enables Indiana residents to speak with trained, compassionate counselors 24/7. Approximately 59% of callers have received a referral for additional mental health or substance use services or requested additional crisis counseling. FSSA also announced that federal funding will allow the agency to operate the Be Well Crisis Helpline through at least March of 2023. “FSSA