Local News

Andrew Smith, a mechatronics engineering technology student at Purdue University Northwest (PNW), was part of a three student team that won the 2021 Amazing Packaging Race at the annual Pack Expo trade show in Las Vegas. Smith, a fourth-year student at PNW, along with teammates Anna Troutt of Virginia Tech and Serena Pu of California Polytechnic State University, were able to complete a series of challenges across four exhibit halls to win the $3,000 prize. The competition required competing teams to search the exhibit halls to find the ten booths that had specific tasks to be completed by each team.

Michigan City High School (MCHS) conducted a ceremony honoring veterans on November 10th in the high school gym. It was done the day before Veterans Day because November 11th was a scheduled E Learning Day for the school. The ceremony was a modified military parade, featuring the MCHS band, choir and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCROTC). The guest speaker was Northwest Indiana’s US Congressman Frank Mrvan. Congressman Mrvan recognized the sacrifices of veterans, of how they put “service over self.” He also noted the performance of the band, choir and MCJROTC students as an example of the outstanding young men and women being

The body of a 1-year-old child was recovered from a pond in Hammond on Thursday. Indiana State Police were dispatched to the area of I-80 and the Kennedy Avenue ramp Thursday afternoon for a report of a person in a retention pond. The pond is located on the south side of the ramp from I-80 eastbound to northbound Kennedy Avenue. When troopers arrived at the scene, they spoke to a construction worker who showed them what appeared to be a body in the retention pond. The Hammond Fire Department also arrived on scene and immediately entered the water, removing the

Marquette Catholic High School has officially opened its Veterans Day fundraiser. This year, we’re selling fleece jackets and stocking caps with all proceeds again to benefit Folds of Honor, a not-for-profit that distributes scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled members. Fleece jackets are $35 each and available in men's and women’s sizes from XS-4XL. One-size-fits-all stocking caps cost $20 apiece. Marquette is offering a fleece and hat combination special for $50. Interested parties can pay via cash or check payable to Marquette Catholic High School. Current families can also charge their FACTS account. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSce1oLqNSK1rJMrhqRiMcklttr9YuUCjZVwDqR7SyE7_NBcxw/viewform to place your

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Northwest Indiana Chapter celebrated the spirit of giving by awarding National Philanthropy Day® honors to local philanthropists at outdoor events in Lake and Porter counties. Awards were presented to Carol Smith for Outstanding Individual Philanthropy; Suncrest Christian Church for Outstanding Organization; Willow Wilson for Young Philanthropist; and Flora Richardson Foundation for Outstanding Foundation. Each award presentation was filmed, in order to be shared via social media. Carol Smith was nominated by the Legacy Foundation to receive the award for Outstanding Individual Philanthropy. Smith was one of the founding members of Friends of Marquette Park, which

During the investigation of a serious violent felony, the Brown County Sheriff’s Department had a possible location of where a rifle was discarded along a 2-mile stretch of roadway. Indiana Conservation Officer K-9 moose and Bohbrink searched and cleared a good portion of the area. K-9 Moose, after cutting his ear, gave ICO K-9 Libby a chance on the second half of the suspected location. K-9 Libby, along with law enforcement personnel, located the firearm a short distance later, in an area that had not yet been searched. A great example of collaboration between agencies with some extra 4-legged help,

HealthLinc has started providing COVID-19 vaccinations to children ages 5-11. Earlier this month, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) granted approval of the Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is one-third of the dose given to adolescents, teens and adults and is given in a two-dose series, three weeks apart.   Over six million children in the United States have tested positive for coronavirus, 20,000 have been hospitalized and 500 have died, according to the most recent data from American Academy of Pediatrics.   “This is a big step in our efforts to stop COVID-19,” states Beth Wrobel, HealthLinc CEO.

Valparaiso City Utilities once again earned state and national recognition for operational excellence by industry leaders in water management. Valparaiso’s Utility has been recognized with a Peak Performance Award for continued operational excellence by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and awarded distinctions for laboratory excellence, safety and groundwater protection by the Indiana Water Environment Association (IWEA). Presented in Washington, D.C., the NACWA Peak Performance Award was Valparaiso’s second consecutive Gold Award, a recognition for having zero permit violations for the entire calendar year. The award was Valparaiso’s eleventh recognition from NACWA, the nation’s recognized leader on clean

The Westville Police Department announced their partnership with the Unity Foundation of La Porte County, creating the Westville Police Department Scholarship fund. This is an endowment fund, generated through generous donations to provide a local student with an interest in public service, especially law enforcement, another scholarship opportunity. A link with more information can be found on the Westville Indiana Police Department Facebook page.    

Dates: Sunday, December 5, & Monday, December 6, 2021 Times: 7:00–10:00 pm Optional Callback: Tuesday, December 7 at 8pm Location: Memorial Opera House Auditorium, 104 Indiana Ave, Valparaiso IN 46383 Directed by: Michael Glorioso Show Synopsis: The story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Inspired by his twisted genius, the Tony® Award - winning Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is the captivating masterpiece that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel

Michigan City Police Chief Dion Campbell has requested the Indiana State Police to investigate a crash a crash that occurred as the result of a vehicle pursuit in Michigan City. Preliminary investigation shows that Monday afternoon at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Michigan City Police Department was dispatched to an auto theft in progress at the Victory Lane Car Wash on Franklin Street. An officer located the vehicle, a 1996 Oldsmobile Aurora as it was fleeing the scene and initiated a pursuit. The pursuit continued in the city and eventually went northbound on Hoyt St from Coolspring Ave.  Police say the

Michigan City Area Schools is asking City businesses with a marquee to show their support for the Wolves football team this week.The team is headed to Regionals this Friday, as they take on Valpo at Ames Field at 7 p.m. MCAS asks businesses to change your sign and let the team know the entire city is behind them at Regionals.

Valparaiso Police Chief Jeff Balon has announced the hiring of Samantha Burgett, MSW, as the first Police Social Worker at the Valparaiso Police Department. Burgett obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from Valparaiso University and her master’s in social work (MSW) from IUPUI.  She has a background in non-profit work, case management, program development and facilitation within the criminal justice system. The Police Social Worker position grew out of a partnership that started in late 2017 when Chief Balon and Caroline Ban, Program Director and Assistant Professor in the Valparaiso University Social Work Department, joined forces to begin