Local News

Internationally known Project Manager Jennifer Brock is announcing her retirement after more than 21 years serving clients with sage-popovich, inc. (SPI), a Chicagoland-area aviation consulting, maintenance, and asset management firm. Her retirement date is set for November 19, 2021. Brock joined SPI in December of 2000. Since then, her role with SPI has been the nexus of numerous complex aviation goals. She is the go-to person that many aircraft owners throughout the world have relied on for their unique needs. As a project manager, Brock’s job is to manage every aspect of an aircraft, engine, or inventory project from start to finish.

INDOT has announced that the lane closures on State Road 49 north of State Road 2 in Valparaiso will remain in place through approximately July of 2022.  INDOT said during the bridge deck overlay project that was set to end this month, it was discovered that the State Road 49 bridges over Evans Ave and Grand Truck Western Railroad were “in much worse condition than originally thought.” These circumstances led to a change in the scope of the project, and INDOT will now be doing total deck replacements for both bridges. Due to the change, there was not enough time

As a high school student, Alicia Cannon never dreamed she would climb to the highest rung of the corporate ladder. But after pursuing her degree in engineering and earning her MBA, she did just that. And she’s still learning and growing. Cannon, who is Chief Executive Officer of Michigan City-based manufacturer Apex Filling Systems, delivered the keynote address during the 2021 N.E.W. (Nontraditional Employment Opportunities for Women) conference at the A. K. Smith Career Center in Michigan City. Eighth-grade girls from middle schools across LaPorte County attended the conference, which was held on October 20 and was sponsored by the

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. - Watch for overnight lane closures and lane shifts on eastbound and westbound I-94 between U.S. 20 in Burns Harbor and State Road 49 beginning Sunday, Oct. 24. From around 8 p.m. Sunday, October 24 to 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, the two left lanes of I-94 will be closed in both directions. These restrictions will be in place to implement the maintenance of traffic plan for bridge work over Norfolk Southern Railway at mile marker 23.5.  Beginning in the morning on Monday, Oct. 25, three lanes will be open in each direction but will be shifted

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating catalytic converter thefts out of Springfield Township. Photos have been released photos of two suspects.   If you recognize either subject, you are encouraged to provide your tips, and even remain anonymous if you so choose, to Detective Austin Howell. He can be reached by calling (219) 326-7700, ext. 2562 or by email at ahowell@lcso.in.gov.  

The Indiana State Department of health updated their weekly COVID county advisory level map on Wednesday. La Porte, Porter, and Lake counties remain at a score of 1.5, yellow level. St. Joseph County has moved down from a score of 2, orange level to a score of 1.5, yellow level. Starke County remains at a score of 3, red level. Jasper County remains at a score of 2.5, orange level. Newton County has moved up from a score of 1.5, yellow level to a score of 2, orange level. 

Franciscan Health hospitals in Crown Point and Michigan City have been recognized by the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA), in partnership with Governor Eric J. Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Kris Box, MD, for their commitment to infant and maternal health at the second annual INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition program. Franciscan Health Hammond also received a Center of Excellence distinction. INspire, funded by the Indiana Department of Health’s Safety PIN grant, was developed to implement the delivery of best practice care for Hoosier moms and babies and recognize hospitals for excellence in addressing key drivers of infant and maternal health.

The Annual Trunk or Treat and Dance at the YMCA Elston branch is taking place on Thursday. Join them at 4:30 for trunk or treat followed by a dance in the wolf gym at 5 p.m. If you'd like to sponsor a trunk, contact the branch at 219-221-4055 for more information.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation in Michigan City.  On Tuesday, at around 12:09 pm, the La Porte County Regional 911 Center received a 911 call that reported that there was possibly a deceased person in a home located in the 3000 block of Edgebrook in Weatherstone Village mobile home park, which is located in Coolspring Township. Deputies arrived a short while later and attempted to establish contact with anyone inside the residence. Crisis Negotiators were eventually able to contact a person who was in the home and he agreed to exit without incident. Deputies

There is a free COVID testing and vaccination clinic now through Saturday daily from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Al’s Supermarket Parking Lot, located at 3535 Franklin St. There will be no appointment necessary. Vaccines available are Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson. Rapid antigen and PCR tests are available.   

 Robotic lung surgery, a minimally invasive technique that has advantages over traditional surgical methods, is now benefiting patients at Franciscan Health Crown Point. Thoracic surgery specialist Jason Fitzgerald, MD, began performing lung procedures in June 2021 using the da Vinci Xi surgical system from Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Many of the surgeries he’s done have been on cancer patients. “You can do more complex procedures with smaller incisions, so they recover faster and have less pain,” Dr. Fitzgerald said. Traditional open surgery requires the surgeon to make a large incision in the chest and then spread the ribs to see the

On Wednesday, Oct. 6, LaPorte County Commissioner Sheila Matias kicked off the first of many business reports in the LaPorte County WORKS! segment of the LaPorte County Commission meeting.  At each commission meeting, Commissioner Sheila Matias will highlight a local company so that they can focus on jobs in LaPorte County and not only “Shop Local” but also “Work Local!” At the most recent Commission meeting, Commissioner Matias presented Sullivan-Palatek, a family-owned air compressor equipment manufacturing company founded in 1984; the company has 149 employees and is currently hiring. At future meetings, Matias will continue to honor local businesses, highlight

Franciscan Physician Network Cardiology Crown Point has welcomed board-certified cardiologist Tahir M. Khokher, MD, and board-certified nurse practitioner Julia Ross, NP, to its staff of heart specialists. Dr. Khokher received his training at Sindh Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. He had his residency at Finch University of Health Sciences, Chicago Medical Center in Chicago and his fellowship at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. His clinical interests include heart failure, coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndrome, valvular heart disease, nuclear cardiology and arrythmias. Additional languages spoken include Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi. Nurse practitioner Ross received her Master of Science in nursing