Local News

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra (LCSO) and Interim Music Director, Charles Steck, announce auditions for the 2020-2021 season. Auditions will take place October 6th from 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM at Bethany Lutheran Church located at 102 G St. The Orchestra is seeking qualified musicians to fill the vacancies in the following positions: Principal Bass Percussion Section Violin Section Cello Season Student Apprentices (2020-21 School Year) All instruments are available to audition for subbing and/or future LCSO opportunities. The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra has a unique apprentice program, which places highly skilled high school students alongside seasoned professionals.

During the evenings now through Thursday, South Shore Line passengers utilizing Millennium Station in the evenings will temporarily board/detrain at the Metra Depot (Tracks 5 and 6), located northwest of the SSL platform. During this time, work will be ongoing in the SSL depot overnight beginning at 7pm. The depot switch will not impact daytime trains, and those passengers should continue to use the SSL platform. Trains impacted by the depot switch include EB Tr 19, 121, 123 & 101, and WB Tr 20, 222 & 22.

A Michigan City Man and two others were arrested after a high-speed police pursuit in Whitley and Kosciusko counties. At around 7:00am Sunday morning, several troopers from the Fort Wayne Post became involved in a high speed vehicle pursuit.  The pursuit began after a trooper Reed had attempted to stop a Nissan Sentra passenger car traveling at over 90 mph westbound on US30, just west of Columbia City, in Whitley County.  The driver, later identified as 37 year old Devonte Devon Perkins, of Michigan City, chose to speed off rather than pullover, and then attempted to evade officers from multiple

A hit and run crash occurred on I-80/94 near the 18 mile-marker Sunday morning.  At around 7:30 a.m., a Mitsubishi was reported to have side swiped a Kia and failed to stop.  Master Trooper Lawrence McFarrin located the Mitsubishi and observed the vehicle traveling at 116 m.p.h.  The vehicle was also weaving and almost struck a semi.  M/Trp. McFarrin was able to make a traffic stop on the Mitsubishi near the 22 mile-marker.  As the vehicle pulled over, the driver and a passenger attempted to change positions in the vehicle. The driver went to the back seat and the front

The Valparaiso Police Department is again participating in National Night, which is scheduled for October 6th.  National Night out is a national event, bringing communities and police together under positive conditions, creating an exchange of ideas, and developing a partnership with citizens. This year’s event will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will look slightly different as all CDC and Porter County Health Department Guidelines are followed.  All events will be completed by 9:00 p.m.  The wearing of masks will be encouraged and all events must take place outside.  Social distancing will be practiced, as officer groups will be smaller as

Porter County Firefighters were called to a residential fire in rural Jackson Township, with automatic aid units late Friday morning. The fire occurred in the 200 East block off County Road 650 North. Liberty Fire Chief Brian Duncan arrived on scene with heavy smoke showing from the roof line and ultimately called for a First Alarm and Tanker Plan One. Residents were safely evacuated with many thanks to working smoking detectors; which alerted the occupants. Fire crews remained on scene for more than three hours with the fire being struck within the first hour. It was later learned Emergency Services

The Indiana Department of Health announced plans to conduct the aerial application of pesticide to control Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus in northern Indiana. The state Department of Health has reported a lab-confirmed case of EEE virus disease in a LaPorte County resident. The state Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has recorded probable EEE cases in two horses in LaGrange County, one horse in LaPorte County and one horse in Kosciusko County. BOAH suspects EEE in three additional horses in LaGrange County. Health officials plan targeted mosquito control to help protect residents from EEE beginning Tuesday evening and continuing Wednesday

Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags across to be flown at half-staff to honor U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset until the day of her interment. Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff to honor Justice Ginsburg and her service. -30-

With the upcoming fall elections we wanted to take this opportunity to explain to the Michigan City community the upcoming process for voting. Registration Register to vote by Oct. 5th. In Indiana, you do not declare a party affiliation when you register. No other person may register for you. Voting early in Michigan City will be at the County Offices 302 W. 8thSt. located at 8th and Wabash Streets. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 through Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 (8am-4pm)Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 through Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 (8am-4pm)Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 through Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 (8am-4pm)Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb today announced the state will not move forward with plans to purchase land near Lawrenceburg that was under consideration as a potential site for a fourth port. The Ports of Indiana entered into an agreement in September 2017 to reserve the option to purchase up to 725 acres of land that were formerly the American Electric Power plant. The Ports of Indiana engaged in an extensive evaluation of the site to determine its suitability as a port, including its environmental condition and plans for remediation. The Ports of Indiana concluded that the remediation work would take years

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office is reminding drivers that barricades with signage reading “ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC”, are not to be disregarded and driven around. LCSO says this specifically pertains to the US 6/35 closure/road improvement project between the North Junction and South Junction.  The LCSO has received information that there is a fair amount of motorists who are disregarding the signage and barricades around the area of the closure.  The closure/road improvement project is expected to last several weeks (weather dependent).  In the meantime, deputies will be saturating the area of the work zone to protect the safety

To some, he was a humanitarian. To others, he was an educator. To all, he was a legend. Timm was born in Michigan City on March 2nd, 1923. He attended St. Mary's Grade School and then St. Mary's High School. Taught by Holy Cross Sisters, he served our local parish as an altar boy. Timm was ordained a priest in June of 1949 before earning his doctorate degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.. In 1952, he followed God's calling to Bangladesh where he served the local community for the vast majority of his adult life.  Upon his arrival in Bangladesh,

Craig M. Dwight, chairman and CEO of Horizon Bank, Michigan City, is being honored by the Indiana Bankers Association with the IBA Leaders in Banking Excellence award, to be presented at a private ceremony in December in Indianapolis. This award, the Association’s highest honor, celebrates exceptional leaders who have positively impacted Indiana banks and the communities they serve. At the upcoming awards event, Indiana dignitaries from private and public sectors will be making presentations, and honorees will have the opportunity to offer comments. Additionally, participants will be invited to visit the IBA offices to view the Leaders in Banking Excellence

State health officials are urging Indiana residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites following reports of a probable case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in a LaPorte County resident and the detection of the virus in horses in northern Indiana. As of Sept. 14, two horses in LaGrange County and one horse in Kosciusko County have tested positive for EEE virus. Because there is suitable habitat for mosquitoes throughout the area, residents of all northern Indiana counties should take precautions. In 2019, northern Indiana experienced a significant outbreak of EEE virus activity, resulting in 14 horse cases, one fatal human

Annual cancer screenings save people’s lives every day, but the battle against cancer doesn’t end there. Join Franciscan Health Cancer Center for a free virtual seminar to better understand hereditary cancers and the role of genetic testing and counseling. The online seminar will be 6-7PM CST on Monday, Sept. 28. Franciscan Health Cancer Center Genetic Counselor Malavika Praseed McGrail, MS, CGC, LGC, will provide the latest information on the role of genetic testing to fight cancer. Among the questions that will be covered are: ·        * What types of cancers are hereditary? ·        * What is genetic counseling and testing? ·        * Am

Yesterday, the Indiana Department of Education announced income eligibility guidelines, including household size, for the free and reduced-price school meals and milk programs. The National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk programs were created to support students unable to pay the full price for meals or milk. For more information regarding the free and reduced-price school meals and milk programs, or to view appropriate forms, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/nutrition/snp-free-and-reduced-price-forms.

The Center of Workforce Innovations and the Northwest Indiana Forum are excited to share that our seven-county region has been recognized and will receive the state’s designation as a 21st Century Talent Region. See attached Save the Date with guest speakers. The special designation presentation will take place on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 11:00am (CST) via Zoom. The State of Indiana identifies 21st Century Talent Regions as areas that commit to using a systems approach to attract, develop, and connect Hoosier talent. In addition, they recognize regions that are working toward building and implementing a plan to increase educational attainment, raise household income, and

In January, the Michigan City Police Department and the Indiana State Board of Accounts began a joint investigation into an overpayment from the Michigan City Police Department’s pension fund. It was reported thatpension funds were being deposited into an account belonging to a deceased beneficiary. Through the course of the joint investigation, it was determined that the beneficiary passed away in 2015, however; the pension board was not notified of their passing. The deposited funds were being managed by the executor of the deceased beneficiary’s estate. Detective/Sergeant Anna Painter was assigned to investigate this overpayment along with an Indiana State

On Saturday September 12th at approximately 11:45 P.M., MCPD Shift 3 Patrol Officers were dispatched to the area of East Michigan Blvd. and Warnke Road for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. Officers arrived and found a 46-year-old female unresponsive in the roadway being tended to by civilians that were in the area when the accident occurred. Officers began assisting with life saving measures until La Porte County EMS arrived. MedFlight was then summoned and transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment. Read the entire release on WIMS FACEBOOK page

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) once again has been recognized among the best regional universities in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, released today (Sept. 14, 2020). PNW ranks 60th nationally among the Best Engineering Programs, of engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s degree. For the first time, PNW is included in the ranking of top performers on social mobility, among regional universities. The social mobility indicator measures how well universities graduated students who received federal Pell Grants. “Purdue Northwest is committed to helping our students with the greatest financial need achieve their academic goals. Many of