Local News

The La Porte County Public Library recently challenged community youth to “do good” and read or listen to reading a total of 250,000 minutes during the month of May. If they met this goal, the Friends of the La Porte County Public Library would donate $1,000 to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. Local youth rose to the challenge and met this goal with ease! With some kids logging over a thousand minutes a day, 266,742 was the final tally of minutes read or listening to reading. The La Porte County Public Library would like to thank community members for

The Michigan City Park Department would like to announce the opening of Patriot Park for play beginning June 14, 2020.  While the facility will open, we still encourage social distancing for those in attendance.  We would also like to remind those who are ill to remain home. The Adult Men’s and Coed Softball Leagues will be pushed back and will not begin until August with play running through the fall.  This year it will be a combined summer/fall season.  We are looking forward to opening for play this season and hope to see you at the park!

Kathleen Chroback, Secretary of the La Porte County Election Board issued a press release stating that to assure your 2020 Primary Ballot is received by the clerk’s office on June 2, 2020 by 12:00 noon the public is advised that ballots may be dropped off at the security points in the La Porte and Michigan City courthouses. The release went on to say that after hours ballots may also be placed in the child support drop box just outside both courthouse doors, the tax bill drop box at the La Porte County complex (on the corner of state street and

The South Shore Line announced that service will be temporarily suspended Monday, June 1, 2020. In consultation with Metra officials, who are suspending its Monday train service, the SSL will not operate passenger trains in an abundance of caution for the safety of employees and passengers. Please be advised that SSL positive train control test trains will be operating throughout the day on Monday, although no passenger service will be available. The South Shore will continue to monitor events as Monday progresses.

Kathleen Chroback, Secretary of the La Porte County Election Board issued a press release stating that to assure your 2020 Primary Ballot is received by the clerk’s office on June 2, 2020 by 12:00 noon the public is advised that ballots may be dropped off at the security points in the La Porte and Michigan City courthouses. The release went on to say that after hours ballots may also be placed in the child support drop box just outside both courthouse doors, the tax bill drop box at the La Porte County complex (on the corner of state street and

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today took these actions to protect Hoosiers, properties and businesses as the result of two nights of violence, following peaceful protests in Indiana. The Governor: Signed Executive Order 20-29 to lift restrictions on local declarations of emergency that had been instituted as a part of the stay at home and back on track orders pertaining to COVID-19. This order, effective as of 11 a.m. today, allows local governments to place more stringent travel restrictions than the state has in place. A link to the order may be found at: https://www.in.gov/gov/files/Executive%20Order%2020-29.pdf.Directed members of the Indiana National Guard to

 Last night and this morning, Indianapolis saw another night of unrest in the city. Damage was received to some of our state’s war memorials and monuments. Veterans, especially combat veterans, understand and appall violence as American service members have fought for years to bring down tyranny and maintain our freedoms. We are united as Americans, and will get through this together. But peace must prevail. As many have said, fire met with more fire, only burns everything to the ground. The American Legion Department of Indiana supports America's right to peaceful protests, however we denounce the violence and rioting that is

Drive-through pre-surgical and outpatient COVID testing have moved from Franciscan Health’s Homer Street campus to the Franciscan Health Michigan City hospital located at 3500 Franciscan Way. Drive-through testing is taking place at the COVID testing trailer, located in the east parking lot closest to the medical office building (Door B). Hours of operation will be 7AM to noon, seven days a week. Patients must have an order from a Franciscan physician or closely aligned physician with hospital privileges. Pre-registration is required by calling (219) 877-1474. Patients must bring their photo identification to the testing site. Testing at the Michigan City

 La Porte residents can continue riding with Transporte for free through the month of June, according to Manager Beth West. The transportation service began its essential-only free rides following the governor’s “stay-at-home” order. Until now, essential rides included trips to the grocery store, pharmacy and doctors’ offices only. West said beginning June 1, they will now provide transportation to laundromats and the library as well. “Though we must still restrict our rides to essential travel only, we are happy to add a few more essential stops to the list for our passengers,” West said. “As the outbreak continues, we are

A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR DUANE PARRY REGARDING WASHINGTON PARK HOURS We have one of the most popular stretches of beachfront in Indiana right here in Washington Park. With the warm weather we had this past holiday weekend, we had more visitors than expected. Unfortunately, most did not exercise the required social distancing, jamming nearly elbow-to-elbow on the beach and in the main parking lot throughout the day and into the night. The congestion associated with the large crowds and higher than normal temperatures created conditions right for several disturbances, fights, and a shooting on Saturday evening.  Michigan City maintains beach

After careful thought and deliberation, the La Porte County Agricultural Association (the “Board”) has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 LaPorte County Fair originally scheduled for July 12 – July 18.“For the last 174 years, the La Porte County Fair has been held without hesitation and the Board is extremely proud of that,” said Steve Mrozinski, Board President. “However, our priority is the safety of all of those involved in making our Fair great. After reviewing federal, state, and local guidelines, and knowing how quickly and easily the Covid-19 virus spreads in large groups of people, the Board

While the Michigan City Police Department would normally refrain from commenting on the actions of another jurisdiction, there are times when it is necessary to comment on tragedies that affect us all. Due to the current situation in Minneapolis, Chief Campbell, on behalf of the Michigan City Police Department, wished to issue the following statement: The Michigan City Police Department strongly denounces the actions that resulted in the death of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Words can’t fully express the emotions of grief and anger we all are feeling over this senseless tragedy. There is no excuse for what

The Indiana Department of Transpiration announces the beginning of a bridge preventative maintenance  project on the State Road 912 ramp to eastbound and westbound I-80/94. This project will begin on or after Thursday, June 4. During phase one of the project, the southbound Cline Avenue/State Road 912 ramp to eastbound and westbound I-80/94 will be reduced to one lane. The right lane and shoulder will be closed for work. The project is expected to be completed in August, 2020. INDOT urges drivers to stay alert near crews and follow traffic directions carefully. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra time when

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 646 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 33,068 the total number of Indiana residents known  to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. A total of 1,907 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 37 over the previous day  following a correction to the previous day’s total. Another 161probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive

              This morning (05/28/20) at approximately 3:17 AM, deputies were dispatched to the 7800 west block of State Road 2, rural New Durham township, in reference to an unresponsive male subject lying along the roadway.  At approximately 3:21 AM, Deputy Austin Howell arrived and located the subject.  Soon thereafter, a crash scene was discovered nearby.           The crash investigation determined that a blue 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle had been traveling east on SR 2.  The motorcycle failed to negotiate the curve, left the eastbound lane of SR 2, drove off roadway and overturned/rolled over in the lawn of a nearby residence. 

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 23 year old Lanard D. Edwards of Michigan City. Wednesday at around 12:30 AM, Captain Andrew Hynek observed a passenger vehicle stopped on Grand Beach Road east of El Portal Drive. As Captain Hynek neared the vehicle, he noted it was now traveling west on Grand Beach Road towards him. He observed the vehicle disregard the stop sign on Grand Beach Road at El Portal Drive. Captain Hynek initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Michiana Drive and Grand Beach Drive. The driver of the vehicle was identified as

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating 30 year old Aaron M. Metzner. Listed as 5’10” and 135lbs, and “Brown / Brown”. His last known addresses were in Chesterton, Portage, Valparaiso, and Hobart. He may be in the company of Edward Furlong Jr, Ashley Jones, or Michael Weiss. Last known to drive an older gray sport utility vehicle with a cracked windshield on the passenger side, possibly a Jeep Grand Cherokee. He is wanted on the charges of Battery and Theft. His photos can be found on the Porter County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 370 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 32,437 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. Intensive care unit and ventilator capacity remains steady. As of today, more than 41 percent of ICU beds and nearly 82 percent of ventilators are available. A total of 1,871 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 21 over the

Appointment based COVID-19 testing sites and scheduling information for the LaPorte County community are as follow: FREE COVID-19 TESTING IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLYProvided by LHI/OptumServe Health ServicesOnline appointments are available at https://lhi.care/covidtestingPhone registration is available for those without Internet access at 888-634-1116Testing Location:Michigan City High School8466 W Pahs RdMichigan City, IN 46360

To clear up any misunderstanding, the City of Michigan City did advertise on February 6th, for all seasonal positions, including lifeguards. The City received only one application from a returning lifeguard from last year, and no others with required qualifications. Lifeguarding has always been a high-risk job. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, those who work to protect beachgoers are facing a new level of danger.     From stubbed toes to cardiac arrests, open water lifeguards are trained to act as first responders for all manner of medical emergencies that can happen at the beach, often putting them in very close proximity to