Local News

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 .

OFFICE OF MAYOR DUANE PARRY City of Michigan City Mayor Parry has made the decision to re-open the Washington Park Zoo on an appointment only basis beginning Friday August 7th, amending his original order.  The Zoo will be open to the public by APPOINTMENT ONLY from 10 am-4 pm with gates closing at 2:30pm. Zoo visitors must enter the secondary entrance to Washington Park located on Lake Shore Drive across from the zoo.      Check out the WIMS FACEBOOK page for the full release         

A driver was arrested for OWI on Monday in Valparaiso after getting stuck on railroad tracks according to police. At approximately 1:00 a.m., Patrolman Redmon was dispatched to the area of Nickel Plate Ave. and Axe Ave. due to the report of a vehicle being stuck on the railroad tracks.  He observed the vehicle 300 meters west of the crossing and noted it was still occupied.  Ptrl. Redmon further noted that an eastbound train was approaching the vehicle., as the train horn was sounding.  Ptrl. Redmon took action, assisting the driver from the vehicle and away from the tracks as

INDOT announced a road closure for Indianapolis Blvd (U.S. 12/20) in East Chicago between Riley Rd and McShane Ave from approximately 6 p.m. on Friday, August 7 to 6 a.m. on Saturday, August 8. The contractor performing work on the Indianapolis Blvd lift bridge over Lake George Canal will need to have the bridge lifted during those overnight hours. Drivers should seek an alternate route.

This WWII B-17 is one of only five currently flying. Both LaPorte Municipal Airport and Sentimental Journey are celebrating their 75th anniversary. In fact, Saturday August 15 will be the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. There will be tours available during the week, and rides on the weekend. They will be arriving on Monday morning, August 10 at 11 am Central, and are making themselves available to the media at that time.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb offered the following statement regarding the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s decision to run the Indianapolis 500 without spectators: “Throughout this unprecedented process, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has always prioritized the safety of the fans. I am grateful for Roger Penske’s leadership and his entire team for thoughtfully approaching this decision with transparency and collaboration. I want to encourage Hoosiers to continue to social distance, wear masks and take precautions so we can continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and hear the roar of the engines at the track next May.”

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraiser every year. However, due to COVID-19, the American Cancer Society has reinvented the event this year. The walking, running, and fundraising by teams in La Porte County will be taking place as a “virtual” event. Donations to the Relay for Life fund everything from breakthrough cancer research to free rides for cancer treatment appointments. In honor of those touched by cancer, this year the annual luminaria display will be placed on the La Porte Hospital front lawn, at 1007 Lincolnway. Relay for Life teams will drive their decorated vehicles from

Michigan City volunteers and community members donate school supplies for local children returning to school during the pandemic – whether online or in the classroom (MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana) (August 3, 2020) – Walmart and The Salvation Army are teaming up to provide new school supplies to hundreds of local children in need during the “Stuff the Bus” campaign event at Walmart, 5780 Franklin Street, Michigan City on August 7, 8 and 9. For kids preparing for the upcoming school year, school supplies remain critical to their success. In light of COVID-19, The Salvation Army has adapted its services to ensure

In Berrien County this past Thursday, a few minutes before 9pm eastern, first responders were called to the Warren Dunes State Park for a water rescue involving a 13 year old girl from Otsego, Michigan that was missing and last seen in the water. First Responders and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a search for the victim but were unable to locate the female in the water. The search was suspended after dark and resumed the following morning. On Friday the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Dive Team along with the Lake Township Fire Department and Great Lakes

In New Buffalo this past Thursday, just after 7:30 pm eastern, first responders were dispatched to the New Buffalo City Beach to assist with a subject who had gone missing in the water near the US Corp of Engineers break wall. Rescuer’s searched the water and the rocks in the break wall and were unable to locate the individual. The missing individual is a 24 year old from Villa Ridge, Missouri, who was a contractor working in the area. A helicopter and UAV were used to do aerial searches. There were nearly 6tf waves and strong rip currents at the

The Michigan City Police Department (MCPD) currently has two K9 Officers: Officer Mike Petrie and his K9 Edo and Corporal Mike Oberle and his K9 Axel. K9 Edo is a one-year-old Belgium Malinois that was born in Poland. K9Edo is certified in the detection of illegal drugs, tracking, criminal apprehension, and article/area searches. K9 Axel is a 4-year-old German Shepherd that was born in Hungary. K9 Axel is also certified in the detection of illegal drugs, tracking, criminal apprehension, and article/area searches. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, Corporal Oberle is unable to continue to be the handler for K9 Axel.

City Hall will continue to do business online and over the phone throughout the next month, according to La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody. Dermody said City Hall was set to open by appointment only starting August 3. However, Governor Eric Holcomb announced Thursday that Indiana will remain at Stage 4.5 on the Back on Track Indiana plan until the end of August. Dermody said this extension means City Hall will remain closed to the public for a while longer. “As the numbers begin to rise again throughout the state and nation, we must practice caution and do all we can

Bolt for the Heart announced the second annual 5K Family Run/Walk and inaugural Half Marathon at a kickoff event yesterday. The event was hosted by event sponsor Franciscan Health Michigan City. The race is set for 9AM, Sunday, Sept. 27 at Washington Park in Michigan City, and 100 percent of the net proceeds from sponsorships and tax-deductible registrations will go to purchasing AEDs (automatic external defibrillators) to be placed into LaPorte County first responder vehicles. Also, Bolt for the Heart will be donating 25 AEDs today to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. As the presenting sponsor of Bolt for the

People across the country are receiving unsolicited packages of unidentified seeds in the mail that seem to be coming from China. The Office of Indiana State Chemist, located at Purdue University, is urging Hoosiers not to plant or dispose of the seeds since they could be spreading noxious weeds, plant diseases or invasive species. Anyone in Indiana who receives a package is told not to open the seed packet and to mail it and any packaging materials to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Indiana office. Weed seeds, invasive species and disease pathogens can