Local News

Michigan City Fire Department responded to a call for a structure fire this past Thursday in the 4000 block of Michigan Boulevard with possible entrapment. Engine 3 was first to arrive on the scene with smoke coming from the two-story structure. Engine 3 went to work assessing the scene and making entry from the front of the structure. The fire was discovered on the main level of the structure and quickly put out by the engine crews on scene. The fire department says it was discovered that there were no working smoke detectors in the structure to help with early

La Porte County Health Department updated COVID-19 testing and vaccine clinic Thanksgiving week hours are as follows: COVID-19 testing clinic located at 302 Wabash ST in Michigan City  Monday Nov. 22          9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 23          9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 24    9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday Nov. 25        closed Friday Nov. 26             closed Saturday Nov. 27        closed COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Located At 1007 Lincolnway In La Porte   Monday Nov. 22         8 a.m.-6 p.m.  Tuesday

Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) recently awarded 10 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to seven La Porte County organizations at a celebration held in HFL’s new Conference & Learning Center in La Porte. The AED grants, which total $18,451, will provide the opportunity for community members at the following organizations to offer life-saving measures in the event a person suffers sudden cardiac arrest. Notre Dame Catholic School, Door Prairie Christian Preschool and Daycare, LaCrosse Public Library, Hanna United Methodist Church, Sacred Heart Food Pantry at St. Mary’s will all receive one AED. Holy Family Parish - St. Peter Church will

Earlier this year, American Banker asked executives at 90 banks that earned a spot in the annual Best Banks to Work For ranking how they’re handling challenges associated with hiring and retaining talent. Horizon says it believes one of the ways they are staying abreast of hiring and retainment challenges is because they have a better understanding of their company’s culture and have taken a progressive approach to their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Horizon says it has recently established affinity resource groups that are open to all of their employees, the first of which was focused on LGBTQ+ issues

The Winter Lights Drive-Through at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Porter County will open for the season on Saturday, and run through New Year’s Day. The lights display is free to the public each night, with the lights and holiday music beginning around 4:30 p.m. and continuing through 10 p.m. The lights displays and holiday music come on around 4:30pm each day and goes until around 10pm. Enter through the main park entrance at Sunset Hill Farm County Park (775 Meridian Rd., Valparaiso) There will be a Toys for Tots donation box on the first night of the drive-through,

A pedestrian was struck and killed Thursday morning when they were hit by a semi on I-94 in LaPorte County, Indiana State Police are reporting. At around 7:16 a.m. Indiana State Police received a call from a trucking company advising that they believed one of their drivers had struck a pedestrian on I-94 in LaPorte County. The trucking company called initially, at approximately 6:28 a.m., reporting the driver had struck a deer and was waiting at a rest park in Michigan at the one-mile marker for a report. Responding troopers located a pedestrian that was deceased near mile marker 45.5,

The Better Business Bureau serving Northern Indiana has issued a warning after several Northern Indiana consumers report receiving letters from Vanguard though they’ve never opened an account with the investment company. One Fort Wayne resident claimed to have received a letter stating they had an open brokerage account, but the consumer has never done business with the company. Other consumers have reported incorrect personal information on letters they have received. Some consumers have received up to five letters with incorrect information. BBB says that they reached out to Vanguard about the letters and the investment firm advises consumers to email

Michigan City police are searching for a suspect in an armed robbery. Just before 6 a.m. Thursday morning, officers responded to 509 E US Hwy 20, for an unknown robbery in progress. Officers learned that an unknown subject, wearing a black coat, was armed with a handgun and approached an employee demanding money. The subject then fled the store on foot and headed south towards Pahs Road. An immediate search of the area was conducted, but officers were unable to locate the suspect. A witness was interviewed to gather more information about this incident and evidence was also collected during

The Department of Justice announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire over 1,000 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Northern District of Indiana three cities/towns were awarded funding. The City of Crown Point received $125,000, the Town of Cedar Lake received $125,000; and The Town of LaPaz, in Marshall County received $120,369. CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public

Portage Firefighter Local 3151 is teaming up with the Portage Kiwanis Club. Both are collecting new unwrapped toys now until Dec. 4. The toys will be separated and delivered via the Toys for Tots Program Porter County. Drop off Box Locations include: Portage City Hall Main Lobby 6070 Central Ave. Portage Fire Station 1 3401 Swanson Rd. Portage Fire Station 2 6275 Old Porter Rd. Portage Fire Station 3 6300 Central Ave.

Wednesday afternoon, Mayor of La Porte Tom Dermody along with Director of Code Jeff Batchelor announced in a Facebook live video that over 25 abandoned vehicles have been removed from an abandoned property at corner of Brighton Street and Heinz Street. There were about 50 abandoned cars in total according to Batchelor. As of Wednesday about 20 more vehicles were still needed to be removed. 

The Indiana State Department of health updated their weekly COVID county advisory level map on Wednesday.  LaPorte and Porter counties have a score of 2.5, in the orange level.  Lake County has a score of 1.5, in the yellow level.  St. Joseph, Starke, Jasper and Newton counties have a score of 2, in the orange level. Positivity has risen in LaPorte, Porter, Lake, and St. Joseph counties and has declined in Starke, Jasper, and Newton counties. 

Valparaiso Police tended to a serious bodily injury crash involving one motor vehicle and a pedestrian Wednesday. Police say the crash occurred at around 5:45 p.m., at the intersection of State Road 130 and Morgan Boulevard. The pedestrian, a 76-year-old male, was transported to an area trauma center by helicopter. WIMS will continue to follow this story.

If Stove Top stuffing makes an appearance at your Thanksgiving dinner, you can thank a Purdue University alumna. The late Ruth Siems, a 1953 home economics graduate, is credited with the invention of Stove Top stuffing. The product hit shelves in 1971 as a dish appropriate for Thanksgiving but also for everyday meals. The secret behind the dish is the dimensions of the bread crumbs, which General Foods patented in 1975. Siems is listed first among the inventors, followed by Anthony Capossela Jr., John Halligan and C. Robert Wyss. Siems’ invention came at a time when there was a high demand in

The South Shore Line will operate a weekend/holiday schedule on Thursday, Nov. 25. Free eastbound weekday rides will be in effect on this day.  On Wednesday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov 26, the SSL will operate regular weekday train schedules. See holiday schedule information on the South Shore Line website.  

The Indiana State Police held an awards and recognition ceremony in Indianapolis this past Friday.  The ceremony publicly recognized the achievements and accomplishments that often go without the proper recognition. Four troopers from the Lowell Post were honored for their efforts in serving the citizens of Indiana. The 2020 Trooper of the District Award for the Lowell Post was presented to Trooper John Landowski.  This award is given annually to a trooper at each district that personifies integrity, professionalism, and a well-rounded work ethic.  Trooper Landowski was selected by his command staff for his dedication, traffic and criminal enforcement, community

The Porter County Health Department “COVID Strike Team” Wednesday through Saturday will be giving out vannices and tests at the Lowe’s parking lot in Portage. The distributions will run from noon to 8 p.m. on those days and vaccines will consist of Pfizer (5 years and up), Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Binax rapid tests and PCR tests will be available.