Local News

Today, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb issued a proclamation declaring April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Indiana. Now in its 11th year, the national observance is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers and consequences of distracted driving, as well as reminding motorists about the importance of paying attention to the road. “There’s only one task we should be focused on when behind the wheel and that’s safe driving – everything else can wait,” Gov. Holcomb said. “By making a commitment to always pay attention to the road, we all work together to save lives.” Distracted driving is considered any activity

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a resurfacing project for State Road 2/Lincolnway in Downtown LaPorte starting Monday, April 12 with ADA ramp and pedestrian work activities. Night time paving operations will begin on or around May 21 and will take place between approximately 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Lane closures or moving flagging operations will occur while resurfacing is taking place. INDOT urges drivers to stay alert near crews and follow traffic directions carefully. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra time when driving through this area. Drivers should slow down and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane closures for the State Road 149 bridge over I-80/94 starting Tuesday, April 6.   During phase one, the inside left lanes northbound and southbound will be closed, and the outside right lanes will be closed during phase two. Lane closures will be in place through late-May, 2021 for a bridge deck overlay and painting. These preventative maintenance activities prolong the life of the bridge deck.   INDOT urges drivers to stay alert near crews and follow traffic directions carefully. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra time when driving through this area. Drivers should slow

On April 3, 2021, at 4:02 PM, deputies were summoned to the intersection of CR 400 West and CR 1000 South, rural Noble Township, reference a crash involving two motorcycles.  At 4:04 PM, Deputy Ryan Doperalski arrived at the scene and determined two subjects were injured.  The initial crash investigation completed by Deputy Jacob Payne and the other deputies determined the following had occurred.   A group of approximately 60 motorcyclists were traveling south on CR 400 West, slowing down and preparing to turn right (west) onto CR 1000 South.  Nicholas F. KOLOSCI (61 YOA) of Hobart was operating a white

If you’ve put off seeing your doctor for fear of catching or spreading the COVID-19 virus, Northwest Medical Group wants you to know it’s safe and important to come in. Precautions for your safety include masking of all patients and providers, checking temperature of all clinic visitors, screening clinic staff, socially distanced seating in the reception area, and enhanced cleaning of commonly touched surfaces. “It’s important for members of our community to put their health first and to feel comfortable getting the care they need,” said Vinay Tumuluri M.D., internal medicine physician with Northwest Medical Group. “We know it’s been

 INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK:  While working on the Tolleston East Prescribed Fire yesterday, the National Park Service (NPS), was notified of a wildfire in the Miller section of Gary. Engine 5673, a Type 3 wildland interface fire engine, responded and determined the fire was in fact on NPS property. As resources became free from the prescribed fire, they were shifted to the Miller Woods wildfire. As of 6:00 pm last evening, the Miller Woods wildfire was approximately 300 acres burning on NPS property in Gary, Indiana.  Two fire engines and approximately 14 personnel assisted by US Steel Fire and Security

ON OUR WAY TO BE A GIG CITY!!!   Thank you Surf Broadband Solutions...Announcing today an additional $5,000,000 investment of fiber optic infrastructure.   Local Company providing gigabit service to The City of La Porte that puts us in the company of the most elite broadband cities in the U.S. Surf and the City are honored to be able to bring fiber connectivity to the residents and expand service to every home with affordable gigabit internet.

Lifeguards are needed for the summer season at Brown County, Clifty Falls, Indiana Dunes, McCormick’s Creek, O’Bannon Woods, Prophetstown, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Turkey Run, and Versailles state parks and Cagles Mill Lake (Lieber State Recreation Area). Apply by calling the property you are interested. Find Indiana State Parks phone numbers at dnr.IN.gov/state-parks/parks-lakes.

Earlier this week, happy-go-lucky Milo was diagnosed with bilateral luxating patellas. Both knees needed surgery. Dr Bailey at Michigan City Animal Hospital offered to donate 2/3 of the cost of repair, but we had to act fast because there was only one opening in the schedule for the next month.   Thanks to the people who responded quickly to our Facebook plea, we were able to authorize surgery without tapping Petey's Fund! Milo had a four hour surgery very early Thursday morning. He's an all-star patient and doing well! He will be on restrictions for a while but should be

 The Indiana Department of Health announced today that appointments are now open for the mass vaccination clinic being opened at Gary’s Roosevelt Park next week in partnership with FEMA. Appointments for the first mobile sites across northern Indiana are now available as well. Hoosiers can go to ourshot.in.gov or call 211 to schedule. The clinic will operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT beginning April 7 through June 2. The first three weeks will provide first doses of Pfizer vaccine. The second three weeks will provide second doses of Pfizer. The single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be offered

ROAD CLOSURE - Bailey Rd will be closed between US 421 and CR 900 W in LaPorte County (near Wanatah) beginning Monday, April 5 for approx 4 weeks. The road will be closed to paint the US 421 bridge over Bailey Rd. Traffic on US 421 will not be impacted.

United Way of Porter County has awarded up to $100,000 to Valparaiso Schools’ Backpacks and Snacks program to help meet the growing need to feed hungry students on the weekends. The program provides weekend meals to students and their younger siblings in an effort to combat food insecurity and the impact it has on physical, social, emotional and academic growth. “Since the onset of the COVID pandemic, we found that we were helping more students than ever before,” said Erin Hawkins, Valparaiso Community Schools Director of Social Emotional Learning. “We needed an extra boost to help sustain the program and meet

An informational event exclusively for undocumented and DACA students “Keeping the Dream Alive,” part of the Indiana University Northwest Office of Admissions Spring Forward series of virtual information sessions about college, will take place on Friday, April 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This special event will provide an opportunity for prospective undocumented and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students, to learn more about the DACA program, the application process at IU Northwest, and how to apply for financial aid as an undocumented or DACA student. Attendees will hear from Karina Garduño, the assistant director for Multicultural Programming at

Lisa Whitty Bradley, MD, FACS, and Mark Grevious, MD, both board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, are welcoming new patients at Franciscan Physician Network Hammond Clinic. Dr. Whitty Bradley received her training at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and did her residency in general surgery at University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, Ill. She has a fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Dr. Witty Bradley’s clinical interests include implant-based breast reconstruction, breast reduction, benign and malignant skin lesion management and scar revision management. Dr. Grevious received his training and

Dr. Sandra Deausy, La Porte County Health Officer, has renewed the mask mandate for La Porte County for the month of April. The current health order will be reviewed at the end of the month. Please see the attached Second Amended Health Order for specifics.

 School of Engineering at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has opened the PNW Design Studio, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and offering a new level of experience in design and innovation for engineering students. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to recognize the generous support of PNW alumnus Stewart McMillan, BS ’77, and his wife, Kathryn, whose visionary gifts made it possible to establish the PNW Design Studio – Where Ideas Flow. “Purdue Northwest was there for me at a critical time in my life,” stated McMillan, who will serve as PNW’s Commencement keynote speaker in May. He wanted to impact the

The Michigan City Police Department in partnership with the Michigan City Fire Department recently announced their Easter outreach program. MCPD says this year’s Easter Egg Hunt will be a little different when compared to those held years ago due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic along with guidelines currently set in place by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Two designated locations have been set up for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt which will take place tomorrow (April 1st) between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Those two locations include the Garden Estates apartment complex (909 Pinetree Court) and Lakeland Estates apartment

According to the town of Chesterton Officers Wednesday responded to an addiction treatment center on Indiana Boundary Road after a 30-year-old Chesterton man there began to crash following his use of heroin. According to the CPD, officers responded to the scene at 7:11 p.m., where they found the man “close to passing out.” When asked whether he had “taken anything recently,” the man advised that he’d snorted heroin about an hour earlier. When the man’s “physical condition appeared to be getting worse,” he was transported by the CPD to the Franciscan Emergency Center on Indian Boundary Road, where he “appeared

It’s that time of year again!   Riding your bike to work, exploring the bike trails of the Indiana Dunes State Park or cycling Chicago’s lakefront bike path just got easier with the South Shore Line’s Bikes on Trains program.   Bikes on Trains has expanded to now include 18 total weekday trains. The new bike trains were added to the schedule in summer 2020 to accommodate increased demand for more weekday bike service. SSL continues to offer bike accommodations on 14 weekend trains. Bike cars will be available on these select trains beginning tomorrow through Oct. 31.   For

White County -  With the assistance of the White County Coroner, a previously unidentified driver from yesterday’s fatal crash has been positively identified as Jayaraj Narayanan, 48, Des Plaines, IL. Narayanan was the driver of a 2017 Freightliner. The family has been notified. *Original news release is included below* Multi-Vehicle Crash on I-65 Claims a Life   White County – This morning at 11:00 a.m., Indiana State Police responded to a large fire that involved multiple vehicles on Interstate 65, southbound at the 187 mile-marker. Preliminary investigation by Trooper Devin Farmer revealed that a red 2017 Freightliner, pulling a tanker trailer