Local News

Here is the latest from OTT Haverstock Funeral Chapel in Michigan City regarding Dr. Wayne A. Simerlein   Dr. Wayne A. Simerlein, 80, Noblesville, IN, formerly of Chesterton, IN, passed away Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 4:05 am in Clearvista Lake Health Campus, Indianapolis, IN.   Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, November 3, 2025 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 818 Franklin St., Michigan City, IN with Pastor Mark Reshan officiating. Burial will follow in Angelcrest Cemetery, Valparaiso, Indiana. Visitation will be from 9:00 am - 11:00 am, Monday at the church. The Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, Michigan

It’s no surprise colder weather is upon us. Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department is reminding homeowners to have their fireplaces and chimneys cleaned and inspected to ensure homes are safe from chimney fires. Fireplace users and even residents who periodically use a fireplace should have their chimneys professionally inspected and cleaned annually to remove creosote buildup. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) “Heating fires peak during the winter months, with nearly half of all U.S. home heating equipment fires (46 percent) occurring between December and February.” Heating safety tips: • Heating systems and chimneys inspected by professionals annually

Story Time Wednesday, Nov 5 & 12                   10:00am Join Mr. Dave and Miss Dana for stories, activities, songs, and crafts each Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.! For children birth through age 5 and accompanied by an adult. Be sure to check out all of our previous story time videos through our YouTube channel, Facebook page, and website.   Friends of the Library Meeting Wednesday, November 5                   2:00pm The monthly meeting of the Friends of the Michigan City Public Library will be held at 2:00pm in the library

La PORTE, IN – A playground on La Porte’s east side has been given a much-needed face lift.   Hastings Park, located on the northeast corner of Boyd Blvd. and Monroe Street, was re-dedicated with a special ceremony today to showcase its newly installed playground equipment. Funds for these upgrades, totaling $60,000, were raised by Big Comedy La Porte and matched by the La Porte City Park Foundation. Foundation President Jim Magnuson said this collaborative effort could not have come at a better time.   “The wooden play structures that were formerly installed at the park were a fun and

Indiana Conservation Officers encourage Indiana hunters to donate harvested deer to help feed Hoosiers in need. “Venison harvested through hunting is an important source of nourishment for Hoosier families,” said Col. Steve Hunter, director of DNR Law Enforcement. “Through Hunt for Hunger, hunters can donate a deer and expand that generous impact to even more Hoosiers in need across the state.” Hunt for Hunger, a program administered by the DNR Division of Law Enforcement, provides grants to the division’s nonprofit partners, including Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, the Dubois County Sportsmen Club, and Hunters and Farmers Feeding the Hungry, to pay

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is moving forward with its Charging the Crossroads initiative, a statewide effort to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure along Indiana’s interstates and highways. The program is funded through the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. On August 11, 2025, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released revised guidance for the NEVI program, streamlining requirements and giving states greater flexibility to accelerate deployment. As a first step under the revised guidance, INDOT has resumed the contracting process for contingent awards announced in 2024. More information about future phases of Charging the Crossroads, including anticipated installation of charging stations

The Salvation Army of Michigan City and La Porte are now hiring paid bell ringers to help raise critical funds during their 2025 Christmas Campaign. "Every hour you ring the bell helps provide food, shelter, toys, and HOPE to families right here in La Porte County," the Salvation Army Michigan City Corps and Community Center said on their Facebook page. Apply In Person at the Location Nearest You: La Porte Corps – 3240 Monroe Street Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Michigan City Corps – 1201 S. Franklin Street Tuesdays & Thursdays | 10:00 AM –

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction will move to phase six of pavement patching work on I-65 between 93rd Ave and Central Ave this week. Overnight lane closures will occur on I-65 southbound during the hours of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. for one night to switch traffic into the next configuration. While weather dependent and subject to change, this is currently scheduled for Wednesday, October 29. Once complete, I-65 southbound will have three lanes shifted to the right with the work zone on the left, and there will no longer be a counterflow lane for southbound traffic. Northbound I-65

Mobile Food Distribution today, Wednesday, October 29th, 10am-Noon (or while supplies last) at Laporte County Fair Grounds!

The recent Amazon Web Services outage, which caused widespread disruption nationwide, highlighted the importance of virtual security. Skilled managers of computer systems and networks will continue to be in high demand in both the public and private sectors of our economy. Cadets of the Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) are receiving practical experience by participating in the first round of CyberPatriot, the national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) competition. Cadets act as security managers for an organization’s Information System Network, counterattacking a simulated cyber attack. Major Tom McGrath, the Senior Marine Instructor,

PRESS RELEASE- MICHIGAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT On October 27th at 3:14 PM, the LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call regarding a pedestrian that located a body lying in a ditch within the 700 block of Indiana State Road 212. Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 2 and the Traffic Division responded to the scene where they located a deceased adult male with fatal injuries. This male was later identified as 31-year-old Michigan City resident Gregory Wyse. Detectives from the Investigative Division responded to the scene and are assisting with this investigation. A preliminary investigation into this incident

La Porte County residents can request holiday help for food and toys The Salvation Army is now accepting applications for assistance from individuals and families in La Porte County who need help with holiday food and/or toys this Christmas. Those needing assistance are encouraged to apply online at www.saangeltree.org now through December 5. In-person applications will also be accepted on select dates. At the La Porte location (3240 Monroe Street), residents can apply on Friday, November 7 and 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and on Friday, November 14 and December 5 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. At

Nurses and staff in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Franciscan Health Crown Point and the Family Birth Center at Franciscan Health Dyer are helping babies and their families get into the Halloween spirit with costumes and photo shoots for their little ones. Infants in the NICU at Franciscan Health Crown Point dressed up as a cow, Snow White, a fairy, Captain America, Rapunzel and a boxer. The newborns in the Family Birth Center at Dyer posed for “Our Little Boo” photos in a cauldron. Staff members work with families to provide costumes and take photos to celebrate the milestone of dressing baby

Burn 'Em Brewing and That Homegrown Halloween Show — at The Back Room. Come creep time & space this Friday, October 31st, with That Homegrown Halloween Show and Janky Limo for Burn ‘Em Halloween in The Back Room! COSTUME CONTEST between sets with a crowd sourced vote!! PRIZES 1st place - $250 CASH! 2nd place - $50 Burn ‘Em Gift Card 3rd place - Burn ‘Em stein! $10 COVER - TICKETS ARE LIVE AT https://burnembrewing.com/event/halloween/ Doors at 6:30 CDT Show at 7:00 CDT Address: 1215 E 2nd St, Michigan City, IN 46360 Phone: (219) 217-2337 Menu: burnembrewing.com

The Michigan City Street Department will begin fall leaf pickup on Monday, November 3, 2025. Please see the flyer for more details!

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks the public to report sightings of Mediterranean geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus), an exotic lizard species that is not dangerous and has been observed at several locations across the state. Please email sightings, especially those backed by photographs, to HerpSurveys@dnr.IN.gov, including the photograph(s). This will help the DNR track locations of this introduced species. Mediterranean geckos are native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and northern Africa. They are 4 to 5 inches long and are tan or pink with brown blotches on their body. They can also be identified by their warty skin,

MUNSTER, Ind. -- Franciscan Health Munster is presenting a free suicide prevention course in November aimed at saving lives. The entry-level question, persuade and refer, or QPR Suicide Prevention Course, is based on a curriculum developed by the QPR Institute. The course aims to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with one suicide taking place every 11 minutes. According to the QPR Institute, just as people trained in CPR

REMINDER from the La Porte Civic Auditorium about FREE Halloween fun this Sunday November 2nd   Make plans to bring your family to the FREE Trunk or Treat from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, November 2, at the Civic Auditorium parking lot, hosted by the The City of La Porte Police Department Public Relations Committee. #Halloween #LaPorteProud

A total of 100 rural and volunteer fire departments from 54 Indiana counties have been awarded $453,386 in Volunteer Fire Assistance Capacity (VFC) awards from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The awards will be used for training, radios, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Recipients were selected based on population density, acres of public lands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, emphasis was given

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Financial aid professionals will be on site at Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Hammond and Westville campuses during the statewide College Goal Sunday programs on Nov. 9. The free event will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. CST and will help college-bound students and their families apply for financial aid. College Goal Sunday programs provide assistance to students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and federal loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide.