Local News

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

Wednesday morning November 11th just before 3 AM, deputies were summoned to Hitchcock Street also known as CR 1100 West, north of Earl Road, reference a single motor vehicle crash. The crash investigation determined that a 2020 Chevrolet pickup truck had been traveling north on Hitchcock Street. For an unknown reason, the truck drove left of center, crossed over the southbound lane and left the west side of the roadway. The truck traveled northbound off roadway, parallel to Hitchcock Street and struck a utility pole. After doing so, the truck continued traveling north for several hundred feet and collided with

The East Porter County School Corporation Board of Trustees is seeking a qualified individual to fill a vacancy on the school board. The School Board consists of seven members. Two members each are elected from Pleasant, Morgan, and Washington Townships. The seventh member is an at-large member and can be from any of the three townships. One of the Pleasant Township seats is vacant. The term of this position on the school board expires on December 31, 2024. After that date, each school board member is elected to a four-year term. Terms are staggered to provide continuity. Members take office

The Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation Board of Directors would like to remind organizations that the deadline for the 2021-2022 Grant Applications is November 30, 2020 at 11:59 pm.  The online application is available at www.mccec.com. In March of this year, the Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation awarded 51 grants totaling $641,310.00 to Michigan City Area charitable organizations. They also awarded $100,000 to the Washington Park Zoo for capital projects. Since the Board’s inception in 1997, the Enrichment Corporation has awarded over $15,00,000 in assistance to charitable organizations that directly benefit people in the Michigan City area. The Washington Park

La Porte's Veterans Day service will be held online this year, according to La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody. "With the number of COVID-19 cases rising in our area, we decided we could not gather for our traditional ceremony at the Civic Auditorium," Dermody said. "However, our teams put their heads together to find a way to still honor our veterans with a virtual service. After all they have sacrificed, they deserve recognition, and we are so glad we found a way to make it work." Dermody said his team partnered with local veterans’ groups to pre-record the service. Despite the

Plans are in full swing for this year’s Downtown for the Holidays. The LaPorte Santa Parade will be happening in downtown LaPorte on Saturday, November 28, 2020 beginning at 11 a.m. The format for the parade will be a drive-thru style this year with all parade entries lined up on either side of State Street. Patrons will enter State Street through Jackson Street and drive West toMichigan Avenue. Families have the option of taking a right turn ontoMichigan and proceed to the train depot at 809 Washington where Santa and Mrs. Claus will be waiting in their chalet to take

Michigan City Police say they Seized five illegally possessed firearms in eight days. On Halloween, an officer was dispatched to the 100 West Block of Fulton Street for a report of a subject pointing a firearm. The officer arrived and located the vehicle and suspect believed to be involved. The suspect, 29 year old Charles Pheal, of Michigan City was found to be in possession of a firearm that was reported stolen. Pheal was placed under arrest for Theft of a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm without a Permit. On Tuesday November 3rd, an officer was in the area

  INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: On August 19, Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, visited Indiana Dunes National Park during a tour of the Midwest. In addition to learning about possible projects that could be funded through the Great American Outdoors Act, he wanted to meet with park employees for a question and answer session. During the session, Ryan Koepke, the park’s Fee Program Supervisor, asked why there wasn’t a free pass to the national parks for military veterans. Mr. Koepke’s question prompted the Department to testify to Congress that veterans should be added to a proposed bill that would

The Indiana State Police are currently investigating an incident that occurred on November 5th, at the home of a Michigan City firefighter, while a group of firefighters were off duty. Mayor Parry has released both the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief from their duties, in part due to their handling of this incident. The Mayor will be announcing future leadership of the Michigan City Fire Department in the upcoming days.

The Salvation Army of Michigan City is offering the opportunity for the public to learn more about volunteering this holiday season through a volunteer orientation. On Friday, November 13th, an in-person orientation will be held at The Salvation Army, 1201 S. Franklin Street, at 1pm, with social distancing guidelines in place.  For those who prefer to learn about these opportunities from home, the event will broadcast via Facebook live, as well. Major Dale Simmons of The Salvation Army said the purpose of this orientation is to inform the community of the various ways to help support the annual Christmas Campaign. 

Tuesday, November 10, 2020, United Way will facilitate a food giveaway event for Food Bank of Northern Indiana at the Marquette Mall. These events have been instrumental in helping our community battle food insecurity with FRESH healthy food delivered right to your car. To ensure these critical services continue, United Way has partnered with Food Bank of Northern Indiana to provide financial resources. In front of the old Carson's store, from 10-12 (or until supplies run out), volunteers from CCH and from the community will load your trunks with fresh perishables as well as dry goods. Please enter the Mall

The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) would like to alert all Hoosiers of a tax scam reported by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This scam is sent through text message and is trying to trick individuals into providing personal information in order to receive a $1,200 Economic Impact Payment. The scam text message reads: "You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment into your account. Continue here to accept this payment …" The text includes a link to a fake web address. The IRS has advised people who

State Road 2 is closed between Thornhill Dr and Thornapple W through approximately Saturday, November 14. This closure is to rebuild a culvert under the road. Drivers should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow U.S. 30, State Road 49, and State Road 8.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Friday announced a series of pilot programs designed to increase access to mental health care for inmates in Indiana county jails. The pilot programs will focus on individuals found incompetent to stand trial who are awaiting placement in the state psychiatric hospital network. Currently and historically in Indiana, these individuals are forced to await the availability of a bed in a state psychiatric hospital before they can receive the competency restoration services required by law. DMHA’s pilot programs will work with a variety of partners to provide

Attorney General Curtis Hill said Friday that a court’s default judgment against Wildlife in Need should demonstrate to all nonprofit organizations that they must use donations for their intended purposes and cannot misrepresent their activities to would-be donors. Last week, a Marion Superior Court judge affirmed that the state’s allegations against Wildlife in Need are correct and ruled that the organization is now officially dissolved. Attorney General Hill sued Wildlife in Need in February over owner Timothy Stark’s misrepresentations of the nonprofit organization’s activities. He alleged that for years, Stark embezzled the nonprofit’s assets for his own purposes. The lawsuit

Washington, DC - Friday, Congressman Pete Visclosky announced the following closure schedule for his offices in Merrillville and Washington, D.C. Due to Congressman Visclosky’s impending departure from the House of Representatives, his Merrillville and Washington, D.C., offices will cease to be able to respond to general inquiries after November 13, 2020. This action is consistent with the standard protocols of shutting down the offices of a departing Member of Congress, which includes the removal of government-issued property and electronics. Individuals with general inquiries, including inquiries related to casework, legislation, tours, and flag requests, are encouraged to communicate their request and

Indiana Department of Transportation: is offering civil engineering students scholarships of up to $3,125 per semester, and paid employment during summer breaks and upon graduation. Students must be accepted or enrolled full time in one of Indiana’s certified civil engineering schools and apply using the form at www.INDOTScholarship.IN.gov. Applications for the 2021-2022 school year must be submitted by December 31st. INDOT’s scholarship program uses federal funds to offer $3,125 per semester or $2,083 per trimester for up to five years of post-secondary civil engineering education. Scholarship funds can be applied to educational expenses, fees and books. In return, recipients will

WIMS congratulates Michigan City Area Schools Coolspring teacher Angie Dydo and MCHS junior Lance Corporal Emily Pacheco on their award earlier yesterday from The Rotary Club of Michigan City. WIMS also congratulates: Police Officer of the Year (co-recipients) Lt. Tim Richardson and Sgt. Jeff Piotrowski of the Michigan City Police Department, nominated by Chief Dion Campbell Firefighter of the Year Brad Kreighbaum of the Michigan City Fire Department, nominated by Chief Craig Krivak Teacher of the Year Angie Dydo, teacher at Coolspring Elementary School, nominated by principal Kim Palmer Michigan City High School JROTC Student of the Year Cadet Emily