Local News

A pioneering collaboration among Unity Foundation of La Porte County, Legacy Foundation, Crown Point Community Foundation, Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center and the Center of Workforce Innovations has culminated in the development of NWI BizHub (nwibizhub.com), a new network to advance economic growth in Northwest Indiana.Indiana is home to over 500,000 small businesses that support over 1 million jobs. Outside of Indianapolis, Northwest Indiana is the second largest business population. This new online platform builds upon previous research conducted by the NWI Forum as part of the Ignite the Region: A Regional Strategy for Economic Transformation.“The Ignite the Region

This crazy year is winding down and all of us at Nature's Cupboard Michigan City/ Chesterton are reflecting and focusing on the wonderful things for which we are grateful. Family is always first. We are all grateful for our families who support us and that includes our faithful and loyal customers who make up our Nature's Cupboard family. Our gratitude for you is endless! We have been able to remain open this entire year. Thankfully, we've all remained healthy and our customers have continued to support us by shopping locally and taking advantage of the extra services we have provided

Visit Michigan City LaPorte is happy to welcome visitors and locals alike to our hotels, attractions, shops, and restaurants but nothing is more important than everyone’s safety. Businesses throughout LaPorte County are following state guidelines in accordance with the governor’s five-part plan. Holiday Happenings It's a festive time of year...Celebrate in LaPorte County with holiday events, lighting displays, outdoor markets, Santa Parade, Winterfest and more local traditions. Tis the Shopping Season Lift holiday spirits with a great gift from our local stores. Choose from Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets boasting the best brands at bargain prices to a special find at our quaint

Mayor Duane Parry assisted in the Turkey Giveaway at the Advanced Christ Missionary Church here in Michigan City, and to the Social Learning Institute (Photo Attached) and included the Share Foundation for the Handicapped and Paladin for their Christmas dinner events. 250 Turkeys were picked in Valparaiso and delivered to Michigan City!

Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) College of Business is pleased to host the second annual Digital Marketing Competition (DMC). The international student competition challenges collegiate teams of two to four students to create and present a digital marketing campaign based on a case study supplied by the competition sponsor. This year’s final presentations will be held virtually on Dec. 12. The DMC was created by Matthew Hanson, clinical assistant professor of marketing at PNW, in response to the rapidly growing field of digital marketing. Working with corporate sponsors from across the country, Hanson, who facilitates the competition, explains the goal of

On Monday afternoon, Officer Matthew Babcock and Steven Kolarczyk were in the area of St. John Road and Franklin Street when they observed a white Ford Fusion travel left of center. A traffic stop was conducted on the driver of this vehicle near Barker Road and Franklin Street.The driver was identified as Joseph Martell VAUGHN, 35, of Michigan City. While being issued a citation for the traffic infraction, La Porte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jon Samuelson arrived with his K9 partner Bosco.Bosco alerted on the vehicle. The vehicle was searched, and a firearm was located. VAUGHN was placed under arrest

Several members of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s security detail have tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box has advised Governor Holcomb and First Lady Janet Holcomb to quarantine beginning today. Governor and First Lady Holcomb are considered close contacts and will be tested later this week. The Indiana State Department of Health will perform the contact tracing for the Governor, First Lady and the security detail. Dr. Box and Dr. Lindsay Weaver will lead Wednesday’s weekly COVID briefing and the Governor will join by phone. A media advisory with details will be

Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed Executive Order 20-48 to implement pandemic requirements for all Hoosiers and targeted restrictions for counties that have high levels of COVID-19. Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines.The Indiana Department of Health has established a color-coded county map that measures weekly cases per 100,000 residents and the seven-day positivity rate for all tests completed. Each county is assigned a color based on the average of scores for the two metrics. Restrictions are assigned based on the map, which is updated each Wednesday at www.coronavirus.in.gov.Among the requirements are:Blue: The county has low community spread.Social gatherings of

From Sheila Matias, President of Laporte County Commission.As the COVID positive data continue to trend in the wrong direction, our employees remain front and center of our concern. Because of that and to help reduce the potential of workplace spread while also protecting the public, I have conferred with my fellow commissioners and I am exercising my authority as Commission President to return county operations to the hybrid model we used in late March through the end of June where county building doors (other than the Courthouses ) are locked and visits were by appointment only. Both Michigan City and

In accordance with a State of Indiana Executive Order mandating the usage of masks effective Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, the South Shore Line will continue to require masks or face coverings for all passengers and employees in stations and onboard our trains. If a passenger is in need of a mask, the SSL will continue to provide masks free of charge. Passengers are reminded to continue to maintain 6-feet of social distance from other individuals onboard all trains and at stations.  All businesses in the state are required to enforce the mask mandate, or face possible closure. The SSL will

Find the press release on the WIMS Facebook page.

You can find this order also on the WIMS Facebook page.

Please see the below press release regarding La Porte County COVID Action. All questions should be directed to La Porte County Health Department at lphealth@laporteco.in.gov. LAPORTE COUNTY COMMISSION PRESIDENT SHEILA MATIAS RELEASES LAPORTE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER’S ORDER TO ADDRESS FALL, 2020 SURGE IN COVID-19 CASES – CITES INPUT FROM MAYORS, COUNTY OFFICIALS AND LOCAL LEGISLATORS (LaPorte, IN)  -- LaPorte County Commission President Sheila Matias today released a copy of LaPorte County Health Officer Dr. Sandra Deausy’s order – which goes into effect Monday – to address what she called “an alarming spike in cases, deaths and hospitalizations in the past few days.”Matias

This morning at the Sheriff’s November Merit Board meeting, Carey Garwood and Dennis Meyer Pastor of Bethany Church were recognized and presented with a plaque. Pastor Meyer and Carey are staunch supporters of the LCSO and the K9 Division. For several years, they have coordinated fundraisers for various programs, provided spiritual support, delivered healthy snacks (the Garwood Orchards items go fast) and conducted a congregational wide drive for hand sanitizer at the beginning of the pandemic.

The City of La Porte Police recently promoted two officers, according to Chief Paul Brettin. Officer Matt Drangmeister was promoted to Corporal following the retirement of Corporal Dan Reed. He is assigned to the detective bureau as an evidence tech. Drangmeister has served on the department for nearly 13 years and was also formerly the handler for the late K9 Rambo. Officer Chae Uhlemann was also promoted to Corporal upon the retirement of Captain Dennis Behenna. He is currently assigned as an investigator in the detective bureau and has been with the department for close to 13 years. Uhlemann is also the department

The Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department, and Michigan City Area Schools will once again be “United for the United Way” as they hold their traditional Car Wash fundraiser on Monday, November 16, 2020.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the car wash will be “waterless” this year. The organizations are instead encouraging donors to donate online -- or to drop off a donation at Ames Field on Monday, November 16. Representatives from the three entities will be stationed at Ames from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm on the 16th to accept donations of any amount. Those wishing to donate

The Michigan City Fighting Chance Fund aims to assist businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The City of Michigan City along with the Michigan City Common Council are working together to ensure that our business community stands strong in the face of continued COVID challenges,” said Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry. “We remain focused on avenues to keep our city and community moving forward, and this grant program really hits at the core of what business owners are needing today – ways to continue to operate and pay employees.” Eligible businesses will be awarded a grant of up to $5,000 to

The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce has recently launched a Support Local campaign to encourage individuals to shop, spend, and give locally this holiday season. The Michigan City community’s small retail, restaurants, and nonprofit organizations have all suffered revenue losses this year due to COVID-19 and they need local support as they head into the end of the year. The Michigan City Chamber kicked off the campaign on November 6th with a live WIMS radio broadcast in front of the Artisan CO-OP at 622 Franklin Street which houses three of the chamber’s members. Local businesses and organizations were interviewed to

Today, November 12, 2020, Mayor Duane Parry appointed Michigan City Firefighter Captain Douglas Legault to the position of Fire Chief of the Michigan City Fire Department. Chief Legault assumed his duties as Fire Chief at 8:00 a.m. this morning.

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is introducing its newest exhibition,  New Views , which opens tomorrow November 13th. This show celebrates the 13th year of creative achievements by artists from LCA’s Health Promotion Through the Arts program, which is designed to provide high quality arts instruction to adults living with cognitive and developmental disabilities. Health Promotion Through the Arts (HPA) is offered in partnership with The Social & Learning Institute and Paladin, Inc. with generous funding provided by Duneland Health Council and Horizon Bank. New Views is curated to include some of the best artwork by nearly 40