Local News

The Indiana General Assembly passed a new law this year that is now in effect (Senate Enrolled Act 363) requiring a Hunting Guide License for those that provide hunting guide services for money or other goods or services (barter or trade). The license costs $100 a year. The application for the license and monthly report form can be found at wildlife.IN.gov/2371.htm.While hunting guides (also called outfitters) have not been licensed by the Indiana DNR in the past, fishing guides have been licensed for a number of years.The Indiana General Assembly also modified language for penalties as it pertains to guides.

The Trail Creek Police Department will be accepting applications for a full-time police officer through August 5th. Applications may be picked up at the Trail Creek Town Hall located at 211 Rainbow Trail, Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Applications must be completed and returned to the town hall no later than Monday, August 05, by 2:00 pm. The department is asking for no phone calls.

La Porte Hospital continues to expand its La Porte Physician Network with the addition of General Surgeon, Blake Hood, D.O..  Dr. Hood’s areas of interest include all general surgery procedures including robotic-assisted and minimally invasive surgeries, endoscopy, colon and anal-rectal surgery, hernia repair, gallbladder removal, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, and thyroid and parathyroid surgery.  Dr. Hood is accepting new patients in his office at 600 Legacy Plaza West in La Porte, phone: 219-379-3166.  He will also have office hours in Knox, Indiana.

The ramp connecting westbound I-94 with southbound I-65 in Lake County is closing today for around seven days while crews do a bridge deck overlay.The detour will have drivers use the ramps at SR 53 (Broadway) to get to eastbound I-94 and access southbound I-65.

The MCPD is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Probationary Police Officer, Test date is August 24th, applications need to be turned in by August 18th. Visit MichiganCityPolice.com for more information. 

In a story WIMS has been following, Indiana State Police have confirmed that the traffic stop on the female on I-65 south bound at the 249 mile marker was in fact a police officer with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.  The officer verified he made the traffic stop on I-65 on July 8th. The officer did stress he did not make a traffic stop in Portage on July 17th, and has no knowledge of that contact. The officer saw the article in the newspaper and realized it was a traffic stop he had made and contacted the department. Police have

In LaPorte County, U.S. 6 will close Wednesday, July 31st, while Grand Trunk Western Railroad rebuilds a crossing. The crossing is located between State Road 39 and CR 50 W. The road is anticipated to reopen in mid-August.

Governor Holcomb and Indiana Department of Natural Resources director Cameron Clark recently announced details of the second round of the Next Level Trails grant program, including three workshops in August for interested applicants. Next Level Trails, which will dedicate $90 million of State funds over the life of the program, is the largest infusion of trail funding in state history. The grant program is divided into two components: a $70 million fund for regional projects and a $20 million fund for local projects. Each requires a minimum 20 percent project match, which can include monetary contributions, land value, and in-kind

This week Fugitive Apprehension Street Team (FAST) officers traveled to Tupelo, Mississippi and Carbondale, Illinois to return two fugitives who had fled from justice and law enforcement officials for lengthy periods of time. Juan Burdine was recently apprehended in Tupelo for a Dealing Cocaine. Burdine remains housed in the La Porte County Jail on a $20,005 cash-only bond through La Porte County Circuit Court. Tiffani Coates was recently apprehended in Carbondale for a Robbery, and Auto Theft. Coates remains housed in the La Porte County Jail on a $25,005 cash-only bond through La Porte Circuit Court. Both fugitives had been sought by FAST

The Office of the Dean of the College of Business is pleased to announce Godwin-Charles Ogbeide, Ph.D., as the next director of the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) . Ogbeide comes to PNW after having served as an associate professor and director of strategy and hospitality and founding director of the Events and Tourism Institute (ETI) at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Ogbeide is vice president and immediate past president of the Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE), a nonprofit association working to promote global education, research, service and

Rural and volunteer fire departments from 46 counties have been awarded more than $297,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants. DNR Forestry staff reviewed grant applications and selected recipients on the basis of population density, acres of public wildlands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. Grants may be used for training, installation of dry hydrants, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. As in past years, the Wildland Fire category was highlighted.  The awarded grants range from $1,500 to $5,000 and were given to 71 departments. Fire departments interested in applying for VFA grants should

Law enforcement officials from throughout LaPorte County gathered on Tuesday with organizers of the Bolt for the Heart Family 5K to tout the effort to bring lifesaving automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to every squad car in the county. The inaugural Bolt for the Heart 5K Family Run/Walk, presented by Franciscan Health, will be 8AM on Sunday, Sept. 8th in Washington Park. The eight law enforcement departments in LaPorte County are partnering with Bolt for the Heart and Play for Jake in this event, where 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward the goal of placing AEDs in police cars

The ramp connecting westbound I-94 to southbound I-65 will close Monday, July 29, for approximately one week. Crews will be working on a bridge deck overlay and doing joint repairs. The detour will have drivers use the ramps at SR 53 (Broadway) to get to eastbound I-94 and access southbound I-65.

Motorists are warned that a man posing as a police officer pulled over a vehicle last week and had the driver submit to what he said was an alcohol breath test. A 40-year-old Portage woman was on her way home from work at 2:30 p.m. July 17 when she was pulled over on Evergreen Avenue in the area of Clydia Street, according to Police Chief Troy Williams. The dark blue car, which was possibly a Ford Crown Victoria, had flashing red and blue lights on the dashboard, but no siren, he said in a press release. The man who approached her

Michigan City Area Schools online registration for the 2019-2020 school year has begun and runs through July 31. If you are enrolling a student who is new to the district or if you need additional assistance (change of address, transfer request, etc.) please come to on-site registration, which will be held at all schools: - July 30 - 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. - July 31 - 8:00 am - 1:00 p.m.

Indiana Dunes' Park Connection program offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups of all ages and abilities to serve alongside park employees. To start volunteering or for any questions, contact The Park Connection Office by calling (219) 221-7098 or by sending an email parkconnection@gmail.com . 

Chesterton Police Department is now accepting applications for the position of Patrol Officer. This application process will be used to fill an immediate opening. More details and information on this position can be found on the Chesterton Police Department Facebook page. Completed applications with all required materials must be turned in by person on or before Friday, August 9th, 2019 at 4:00 pm. Candidates may be eligible for lateral transfer consideration. Questions may be directed to Chief David Cincoski at dcincoski@chestertonin.org or by calling (219) 926-1136.

Seven local organizations have announced a community-wide school supply drive in Michigan City, which runs through August 5. Supplies collected during the drive will be distributed to area students who are in need of materials to start the school year.  Many area businesses, including major retailers, have set up collection bins to accept donations from their employees and the general public. Businesses, churches, and other organizations are invited to join in the collection drive. Supplies collected by community organizations and individuals may be brought to the Elston Cafeteria (enter on the west side of the building on Spring Street, near

The Valparaiso Police Department is again participating in National Night Out, being held August 6th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. National Night out is a national event, bringing communities and police together under positive conditions, creating an exchange of ideas, and developing a partnership with citizens. The Valparaiso Police is inviting community members and neighborhood groups to organize events and activities as part of the national celebration. Valparaiso Police Officers and civilian staff will be visiting the planned activities in a variety neighborhoods throughout the city, to show their support of the citizens. Members of the department will include

The LCSO is partnering with Bolt for the Heart, a Carmel based non-profit organization, Franciscan Health and the Play for Jake Foundation, for a Family 5K Run/Walk. The event will be Sunday, September 8th, at 9AM, in Washington Park. The event will assist by raising awareness of heart disease and equip EVERY police vehicle in La Porte County with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). To learn more and sign up check out www.boltfortheheart.com