Local News

Franciscan Health and Gift of Hope remind the community that the need for organ donors can’t wait for the pandemic to end   With 100,000-plus people waiting for life-saving organ transplants, the need for donors didn’t stop with the pandemic.   During National Donate Life Month in April, Franciscan Health is working with Gift of Hope to encourage people to register as eye, tissue and organ donors and to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.   “Organ and tissue donation is a wonderful way to honor a loved one – by giving the gift of

Beginning tomorrow, Saturday, Apr. 24, 2021, everyone in northern Indiana’s 219 and 574 telephone area codes is encouraged to start using 10 digits, rather than seven, to make local phone calls. (For example, callers should start dialing “219-555-5555” or “574-555-5555” instead of “555-5555.”) This will help ease into the upcoming transition to mandatory 10-digit dialing for local calls within the 219 and 574 area codes.   Local calls made with seven digits will still work until Oct. 24, 2021, to allow everyone ample time to adjust to the new dialing pattern and to make any required system changes before 10-digit

On Thursday, April 22nd, Indiana State Police stopped a vehicle traveling on Interstate 94 westbound near the 28 mile marker for a traffic violation. That traffic stop eventually led to felony drug and weapons charges being filed against an Indiana man. Devante West, 28, of Howe, Indiana was stopped for a traffic violation while driving a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The traffic stop occurred just east of the Chesterton exit. A search of the vehicle using an Indiana State Police K-9 indicated the presence of drugs and a subsequent search of the vehicle and driver turned up suspected heroine, prescription drug

The LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received multiple 911 calls on April 22nd, 2021 at 10:53 A.M. regarding several gun shots being fired in the 1000 block of Franklin Street. One of those 911 calls reported a person was struck by gun fire in the 1000 block of Franklin Street. Numerous officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 1 and detectives from the Investigative Division quickly responded to the scene. Responding officers and detectives learned upon their arrival that no one was struck by gun fire. One witness reportedly observed two black males between the approximate ages of 18-20 years old,

Innovate WithIN™, a statewide high school pitch competition is highlighting the youngest innovators around the state. The competition, which offers up to $100,000 in cash prizes, mentorship opportunities and in-state college tuition assistance, has added over $19 Million in potential scholarships from eleven Indiana schools to the 2021 prize package. Over 800 students from 128 high schools, participated in Round 1 of the pitch competition. The Northwest Indiana, Region 6 finals were held virtually by Purdue University Northwest and the Society of Innovators on Tuesday. Participants made their pitch for the Regional prize of $1,000 and secured their spot in

Horizon Bank celebrated the completion of its remodeled office with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3599 Grant Street. Now through May 31st, the branch will be celebrating with special offers and giveaways. To show support for their new neighbors, Horizon Bank made four check presentations during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Donations were made to Your Block Program, Brother’s Keeper Homeless Shelter, Gary Literacy Coalition and The Baptist Ministers Conference of Gary and Vicinity. A donation was also accepted by Vanessa McCloud, President and CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana. In appreciation, and to celebrate the Bank’s opening, McCloud

The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office and La Porte County DUI Task Force are announcing that it will be increasing enforcement and patrols around prom and post-prom sites this spring. The goal is to deter alcohol use and eliminate alcohol related crashes among La Porte County High School Prom attendees. Proms in La Porte County will begin May 1 and conclude June 4. Between these dates, Westville, La Porte, La Lumiere, Michigan City, Marquette, New Prairie, La Crosse and South Central High Schools will all conduct prom events. The Sheriff’s Office and DUI Task Force will saturate the areas around each

Portage Police say that last week they were presented with a donation of child care bags from the Exchange Club of Portage. The bags contain various comfort items to be handed out to children involved in stressful situations requiring a police response such as domestic disturbances, vehicle collisions, or crimes committed against children. The Exchange Club has made this donation for the past several years but this year they enhanced it by providing care items for infants such as diapers, wipes, blankets, and bottles. Portage police say they identified a need that officers were facing when they sometimes had to

A new garden at the Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest is dedicated to departed loved ones and fallen heroes. The Gabis Arboretum worked in collaboration with Purdue Northwestt student organizations; Students Helping Ignite Needed Esteem (S.H.I.N.E.) and Actively Moving Forward (A.M.F.) and the PNW Honors College to debut the Remembrance Garden! PNW student and S.H.I.N.E.'s president, Kayla Vasilko, said that the groups envisioned a place where the community can go to pause and reflect on those they have lost. Some of the students involved experienced a loss and found solace within the PNW community. This garden gives them a peaceful

The Rotary Club of Michigan City is seeking applicants for its 2021 scholarship.  This scholarship is presented by the Rotary Club of Michigan City Foundation in honor of J.M. Ruby, Robert Schwartz and A.K. Smith. Two graduating high school seniors will be awarded $2,000 each, payable directly to their post-secondary college account.  Awards will be announced on May 7, 2021.  Dependents of a member of the Rotary Club of Michigan City are not eligible for this scholarship. Applications are available online at www.mcrotary.org and must be returned to Rotary Club of Michigan City Scholarship Committee, PO Box 9372, Michigan City,

The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest (PNW) has partnered with Samuel Love, a social and civic practice artist, and South Shore Arts to offer entrepreneurship training for Northwest Indiana artists through the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) On-Ramp program. The Northwest Indiana organizing team is accepting interest forms from artists that may want to participate in the On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator. “As a Regional Arts Partner of the Indiana Arts Commission, South Shore Arts is dedicated to promoting the arts and supporting development in Northwest Indiana. We are excited about IAC's decision to expand their On-Ramp program so that it

La Porte County Sheriff John T. Boyd announces the division transfer of Deputy Jonathon K. Sikorski. Deputy Sikorski has been transferred from the Jail Division to the Merit (Patrol) Division. The transfer fills the only open vacancy within the ranks of the Merit Division. Deputy Sikorski (33 YOA) was born in Dearborn, Michigan. He is a 2006 graduate of Hobart High School. Following graduation, he continued his education and earned a degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management through Ashford University. On February 4, 2015, Deputy Sikorski began his employment with the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office as a Jail

How does Franciscan Health measure success in combatting the pandemic? By delivering more than 100,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of Hoosiers. The healthcare system recently surpassed that number at its specialized clinics. As of April 19, Franciscan vaccine teams had administered 115,293 doses.   “This achievement is a tribute to our COVID-19 vaccine clinic operations team and the many different departments across the system who provided much needed support,” said Albert Tomchaney, MD, chief medical officer for Franciscan Health. “We are thankful for the hours, flexibility, motivation and dedication our associates have displayed to demonstrate our

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced a new grant program available to support Hoosier hotels, entertainment venues and promoters by reimbursing certain expenses incurred during and related to the global pandemic. The Indiana Hospitality & Entertainment Grant program makes available $30 million in federal funding to accelerate the speed of recovery for these businesses that have been significantly impacted over the last year and largely excluded from other government assistance programs. “I continue to be encouraged and inspired by the resilience of Indiana’s business communities,” said Gov. Holcomb. “This new grant program is yet another resource that will help Hoosier

With the onset of the Double Track Project, The Northern Indiana Public Service Company, (NIPSCO) is removing circuits from 11th Street to 8th Street. While conducting this project they will also be installing new electric poles. The only way to execute this work safely is to close of the street. NIPSCO and the sub-contractors, will be working from Wabash Street to Michigan Blvd. on 8th Street and expect to take approximately three months to complete. This work is led by NIPSCO to ensure their utilities are moved out of NICTD’s path for Double Track infrastructure. They intend to work systematically

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Dr. Carolyn Watson as the LCSO’s 10th Music Director. Watson takes the helm of the Orchestra on August 1. A native Australian who came to the United States to lead the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra, Watson’s conducting credits include Austin Symphony, Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. In 2017 Watson was a Dallas Opera Hart Institute Fellow and in the forthcoming season will lead productions at Des Moines Metro Opera and Amarillo Opera. A committed music educator, Watson

Police Chief Paul Brettin (far right) and members of the Police Merit Commission honor five City of La Porte Police officers for their lifesaving work in the field Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at the police station in La Porte. Brettin said the officers recently went above and beyond to save the lives of residents in danger on several separate occasions. Pictured, from left: Det. Sgt. Victor Aguilar, Commissioner Brian Chalik, Commissioner Wally Brath, Officer Marcos Loza, Officer Jared Schaefer, Cpl. Joe Toth, Officer Joshua Leonhardt, Commissioner Terry Scherer and Brettin.

Local campuses of Ivy Tech Community College are having their second annual online auction benefiting students in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. The Ivy Tech Foundation’s “Impacting Student Needs” online auction is taking place now through Friday, April 23. Bids on auction items will be accepted until Friday at 11:59 p.m. Bids are being accepted at https://www.event.gives/ivytech.edu. Net proceeds from this auction benefit the “Meet the Need” initiative for students of the Lake County and Valparaiso/Michigan City campuses. “Because of the pandemic, our students need help now more than ever,” Cindy Hall, executive director of resource development, said. “We have some

This past weekend, a theft of four high performance Dodge/Jeep vehicles occurred at a Dodge dealership in LaPorte, IN.  The vehicles were located on I-80/94 traveling an extremely high rate of speed, which resulted in the Indiana State Police Lowell Post becoming involved.  Citizens were reporting the vehicles traveling at speeds upwards of 150 mph.  Troopers were able to locate one of the vehicles and observed it exit the interstate and continue northbound onto Cline Ave.  The vehicle ran out of gas and stopped on the Cline Ave. bridge.  The driver fled from the vehicle, jumping over the wall, landing

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is moving quickly to disburse $3.8 million in newly released federal funds related to pandemic relief directly to its students with financial need.   PNW will have distributed nearly $8.9 million in emergency funding directly to students over the past year. Although federal guidelines require universities to provide 50 percent of the emergency funding to students, Purdue Northwest decided to award 87 percent of all funds available to the university directly to students with financial need.   The current funds are available through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II), authorized by the Coronavirus