Local News

POLICE IMPERSONATOR ALERT / INVESTIGATION The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is warning and alerting motorists of a police impersonator.  Yesterday morning (08/13/20), a female reported to Deputy Austin Epple that she had been stopped by a male subject operating what was thought to be a policevehicle while traveling along US 20.  The female advised she observed a light-colored Ford Focus or Toyota Prius traveling behind her with red and blue flashing lights.  She turned onto Range Road and stopped her vehicle.  A white male, approximately 6’0”- 6’02” tall, wearing a black T-shirt, black pants, a plain black baseball cap

Yesterday Portage Police stated they received two reports from residents stating that they received suspicious phone calls. In each of these calls residents were advised that their social security number was used in the commission of a fraud in another state and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. The caller goes on to demand bank account information, credit card information, or pre-paid gift cards in order to satisfy the bail amount listed on the arrest warrant. Legitimate law enforcement will never demand pre-paid gift cards or your banking or credit card information in order to avoid arrest.

The Valparaiso Police Department is accepting applications for Probationary Police Officer. Applications are available at the Valparaiso Police Department, 355 Washington St., or at the department website, www.valparaisopolice.org. The applications may be completed on-line, mailed back to the department or returned in person. The minimum requirements to be considered for this opportunity are that the applicant must: be 21 years of age or older, hold a high school diploma or GED, be a United States Citizen, possess a valid driver’s license and have no prior felony convictions. For more information about employment as a Valparaiso Police Officer,log onto the Recruitment

The Porter County Health Department has developed requirements for gatherings and events in Porter County. For any gathering over 100 people, the host or organizer is required to contact the Porter County Health Department to discuss your COVID-19 Safety Plan. Examples of events include, but are not limited to, festivals, trade shows, musical performances (including bars), weddings, reunions, birthday parties, religious gatherings, vendor markets, business meetings, etc. Failure to notify Porter County Health Department in advance may result in closure of your event. For questions and to review your Safety Plan,call the Health Department 219-707-8158 or by email to Sheila.Paul@porterco.org

The City of La Porte is encouraging individuals behind on city utility payments to set up a payment plan, according to Clerk-Treasurer Courtney Parthun. Parthun said the City suspended shut offs, penalties for late payments, and delinquency notices at the start of the pandemic in March. As people are getting back to work, she said procedures in the billing office will be shifting back to normal. The Utility Billing office will send delinquency notices by mail this Friday and resume shut offs for nonpayment on Aug. 21. “The global pandemic has inflicted financial hardship on many families throughout the nation,”

Monday evening in Michigan City, some citizens contacted the police department because they found a kitten in a storm drain near Tryon Street and E. Michigan Blvd. Corporal Greg Miller and Officers Brian Wright and Adam Brinkman were able to find and rescue the kitten. The kitten is currently being cared for by Julie and Natalie, Michigan City’s Animal Control Officers, but will likely be taken to one of the local shelters for adoption very soon. If you would like to follow what animals are located by Animal Control Officers, follow their Facebook page- Michigan City Animal Control Services.

A man was killed by Gunfire in Michigan City on Tuesday. At around 8:45 P.M dispatch received a 911 call indicating that several shots were fired, and a subject had been shot in the area of Garden Estates West. Officers Matthew Babcock and Dalton Pflughaupt were first to arrive and encountered a group of people estimated to be 50+ in the area of Building 13 of the complex. Officers Babcock and Pflughaupt were able to locate a victim who was lying motionless on the ground. Officer Pflughaupt immediately began life saving measures until La Porte County EMS arrived and found

The La Porte County Historical Society Museum is proud to announce its recent donation, a 9-foot copper sculpture of Icarus created by artist, sculptor, and former LaPortean Roland Hockett. Hockett grew up in La Porte, graduated from La Porte High School, and returned and taught art at La Porte High School upon graduation from college. Hockett, whose work is known internationally, now lives in Panama City, Florida, where he maintains his studio. The statue, entitled “Icarus,” is a representation of the young man from Greek mythology who used wings crafted of feathers and wax in an attempt to fly. He

 Last night at approximately 10:20 p.m., Troopers were dispatched to a wrong-way driver on I-65 that was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes from the 260 mile-marker. Troopers Davidson, Payonk, Grant and Joyner were able to locate the vehicle near the 259 mile-marker driving in reverse on the left shoulder.  The vehicle was a black 2011 Dodge Charger.  As the vehicle was backing up, it was scraping against the concrete barrier wall and the tires were deflated.  Troopers attempted to get the driver to stop, but he continued to drive in reverse from the scene.  The Charger started moving forward

Michigan City Area Schools stated on their Facebook page that their online learning program will be different from the eLearning that students experienced last spring. One significant difference is that students will be required to log on for instruction during the school day.The elementary school day will still be 8:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., while the middle and high school day will be adjusted slightly to 7:45 am - 2:15 pm. Specific schedules for online work will be shared with each family by your child’s school. Throughout the school day, students will receive instruction through a combination of “live” and

The City of La Porte’s first ever Friday Night Live at La Stitch event has been postponed, according to Mayor Tom Dermody and Director of Development Tom Casey. Casey said the event was created to provide more outdoor dining space downtown amid the pandemic. However, after four straight days of Indiana COVID-19 cases topping 1,000, Casey said city officials do not feel it is safe to launch the event at this time. Dermody said they hope to launch the event on Oct. 16. For more information on the event or updates on the postponement, follow the City of La Porte

Monday morning in Lake County, Indiana State Trooper Griffin was patrolling near the intersection of Broadway and 48th St.  A silver Nissan Altima disregarded a stop light and as a result Trooper Griffin initiated a traffic stop.  The vehicle failed to stop and a brief pursuit took place.  The vehicle stopped at 45th and Maryland where both male occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody.  One of the occupants was a juvenile and the driver has been identified as 20 year old Jelani D. Long, from Gary.  Mr. Long was transported to the Lake County Jail and is being

On Sunday August 9th, 2020 at approximately 11:00 P.M., the La Porte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call stating that a female was unconscious at 315 N Ashland Avenue in Michigan City’s Eastport Neighborhood. Shift 3 Patrol Officers arrived on scene to find a female who had suspected stab and laceration wounds to her chest and neck. Emergency lifesaving measures were attempted but proved to be unsuccessful as the female had succumbed to her injuries. The victim was identified as 68-year-old Doris Hull of 315 N Ashland Avenue. The Michigan City Police Department’s Detective Bureau was called out

To help lower Indiana's high maternal and infant mortality rates, State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) said there are new resources available for Hoosier moms and their newborns. With the seventh-highest infant mortality rate in the nation, more than 600 Hoosier babies died before their first birthday in 2017, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Indiana also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates. Pressel said engaging more at-risk expectant mothers in early prenatal care is key to lowering these numbers.   According to Pressel, the recently launched Maternal and Child Health MOMS Helpline connects pregnant women to

The South Shore Line will be busing passengers between Carroll Ave. and the South Bend International Airport while we upgrade our track and segments of overhead wire between Michigan City and South Bend.   The temporary busing period is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10, through Friday, Aug. 14, 2020.  During this time, train service between Carroll Ave. and South Bend will be canceled, with buses arriving and departing with passengers to match our weekday train schedule between Carroll Ave. and South Bend.   Please note that bus service to and from Hudson Lake Station will not be available during this time.

During the evening of Thursday, Aug. 6, approximately 40 NIPSCO employees travveled east to assist with the Hurricane Isaias restoration efforts. An estimated 3.7 million customers across the east coast remain without power since Tuesday evening. Check out the full release on WIMS FACEBOOK

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 1,253 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 72,254 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s dashboard. A total of 2,821 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 10 over the previous day. Another 202 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported

La Porte Community School Corporation is reminding everyone to register your student by today for one of the three options available for the 2020-2021 school year. These options are “Traditional LPCSC Programing”, “Distance Learning”, and “LPCSC Homeschool Academy”. More details on these options can be found on the La Porte Community School Corporation Facebook page and www.lpcsc.k12.in.us .

South Central Schools announced Chromebook pickup will take place on Monday, August 10th from 8:00am - 6:00pm and Tuesday, August 11th from 8:00am - 3:00pm. Pull up to the cafeteria doors (door #15) in the back of the building and a staff member will come to your vehicle to assist. You may come any time during those hours. If you have not returned a Chromebook from last year, you will not receive a new Chromebook until the original Chromebook is returned. They will also take any remaining textbooks or library books that students still have in their possession from last

Alastair Willis , Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, will be returning to the podium to lead an ensemble of musicians from the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra in the 15th annual Hoosier Star. For the first time the event will be held virtually on Saturday, September 12 at 7:00 PM CDT .