Local News

A Kouts Woman has been indicted for willful failure to pay federal payroll taxes. Sixty-one year old Kathy L. Lynch, of Kouts, was indicted on nine counts of willful failure to pay federal payroll taxes, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. The Indictment alleged that Lynch has owned and operated two health care clinics, Kouts Health Care, Inc. and its predecessor company Kouts Family Health Care, Inc. since January 1999. As alleged in the Indictment, between January 1999 and September 2015, Lynch withheld payroll taxes (i.e., federal income taxes and Medicare and Social Security contribution taxes) from her employees’ paychecks but failed

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

This past Friday, just before 10:30 pm deputies from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 2500 North block of US Highway 35 in reference to a two-vehicle motor vehicle crash. It was determined that a Chevrolet Cobalt had struck a Toyota Tundra head-on. The Chevrolet was operated by 27 year old Kimberly Morehouse of La Porte, and the Toyota was operated by 45 year old Agustin Flores-Garay of Chicago. Morehouse was pinned in her vehicle and had to be extricated by firemen. Both Morehouse and Flores-Garay were transported to South Bend for treatment of serious injuries. The

Four ramps connecting Cline Avenue and Michigan Street in Gary being paved this week. The ramps connecting eastbound Michigan to southbound Cline; and connecting southbound Cline to eastbound Michigan are closed through Tuesday. The ramps connecting westbound Michigan to southbound Cline; and connecting southbound Cline to westbound Michigan will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

Valparaiso Police are reminding residents that National Night Out is almost here. Register your neighborhood by July 29th to get involved in the August 6th event. Contact Sgt. Hall at 219-462-2135 (ext. 2376) or at jhall@valpopd.com before it is too late.

Michigan City Police Announced the retirement of Officer Doug Samuelson. Samulson is retiring after 22 dedicated years of service Additionally Doug has been and will continue to be the FOP Dunes Lodge 75 President.

INDOT announced that a bridge deck overlay project is set to begin today on State Road 312 in East Chicago. The bridge over the Indiana Harbor Canal – just east of U.S. 20 – will have one lane of traffic maintained in each direction during the project, which is anticipated to wrap up by mid-August.

The former host of the Outdoor Channel hunting show “Fear No Evil,” has pled guilty in federal court to unlawful transportation of wildlife, in violation of the Lacey Act. Forty-one year old Christopher Brackett, of East Peoria, Ill., admitted to killing two bucks within minutes of each other in Indiana in December 2013 while filming an episode for his show. Indiana law only allowed hunters to kill one buck per season. Brackett also admitted to transporting the larger buck, which he nicknamed “Unicorn Buck,” across state lines to his home in Illinois. The footage featuring “Unicorn Buck” appeared on an

Indiana’s unemployment rate drops to 3.5 percent for June and remains lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent. Indiana’s labor force had a net decrease of 10,126 over the previous month. This was a result of a decrease of 3,123 unemployed residents and a decrease of 7,003 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.39 million, and the state’s 64.8 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 62.9 percent. In addition, regular unemployment insurance claims in the reference week (12th of the month) continue to

State Road 39 is closed in LaPorte and Starke counties while crews perform chip seal operations. The road will close between U.S. 30 and State Road 8 and is anticipated to reopen by the end of Tuesday, weather permitting. State road detours must use state-maintained roads only. Detours will be posted.Indiana’s unemployment rate drops to 3.5 percent for June

Governor Holcomb is directing flags across the state to be flown at half-staff Tuesday to honor John Paul Stevens, retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on the day of his burial Tuesday.

Porter County Government is accepting applications for the position of Part-Time Switchboard Operator/Mail Clerk. The part-time position is available at the Porter County Administration Center to relieve and assist the main switchboard. Hours are 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and 9:30 to 3:30 on Friday (29 hours per week). The hourly rate starts at $12 per hour (no benefits are included). Email resume and completed job application form available online at: www.porterco.org/jobs to ryoung@porterco.org . OR applications may be dropped off at the Porter County Board of Commissioners’ Office or at the front desk, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso, IN 46383. Applications

On July 1, reserved hunt application periods opened for dove, waterfowl, deer and pheasant. The application period for dove will close July 29, and the application period for deer will close Aug. 26. Waterfowl and pheasant application periods will close on Sept. 16. You can only apply for these hunts online. To get started with an application, go to on.IN.gov/reservedhunt and click on “Apply for a reserved hunt.” Only one application per hunt is allowed, and no changes can be made once an application is submitted. Applicants must possess a hunting license valid for the hunt for which they are

INDOT announced that Indianapolis Boulevard (U.S. 12/20) has reopened in East Chicago from Columbus Avenue through the lift bridge over Lake George Canal. This will remain an active work zone as crews work to finish the road portion of the project just south of the bridge. Traffic will be maintained one lane in each direction through the corridor, except when workers are present, when flagging operations could be in place, directing one lane of traffic through the work zone. Motorists could experience congestion and delays, particularly during work hours, so it’s advisable to avoid the area if at all possible.

Early Sunday morning, the South Bend Police Department (SBPD) received several calls reporting gunshots fired in the 300 block of North Niles Ave., near Corby’s Pub. Officers also were in the vicinity when the incident occurred and immediately responded. Officers located one male adult victim deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers also observed a vehicle driving erratically, northbound on Niles Ave. A traffic stop was initiated on this vehicle near Howard St. and Niles Ave. An additional gunshot wound victim was found to be a passenger in this vehicle. This individual was transported to an area hospital. A third

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an incident where an unresponsive 1 year old was pulled from Lake of the Woods in Marshall County. The child was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. On Saturday night at approximately 8:09 p.m., responders were dispatched to the 4100 block of Lake Shore Drive near the town of Bremen. Initial reports were that a young child was pulled from the lake and was unresponsive. Results of an initial investigation were that family members were ending a birthday party when they noticed a back door to the home open

A 25 year old man is in critical condition after he nearly drowned in Lake Michigan on Saturday night. Around 8:30 p.m., the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said that Christian Rosete of Michigan City was swimming with family near Washington Park Beach when waves overcame him and he did not resurface. First responders and good Samaritans rescued Rosete from the water. He was then taken to the hospital. When the incident happened, the DNR reported that it was "red flag" swimming conditions, meaning no one was allowed to be in the lake. Indiana Conservation Officers are conducting an investigation.

Indiana’s unemployment rate drops to 3.5 percent for June and remains lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent. Indiana’s labor force had a net decrease of 10,126 over the previous month. This was a result of a decrease of 3,123 unemployed residents and a decrease of 7,003 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.39 million, and the state’s 64.8 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 62.9 percent. In addition, regular unemployment insurance claims in the reference week (12th of the month) continue to

Robert Milos has a mission to ensure great minds in Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) esteemed College of Nursing can fulfill the dream of earning a college degree despite a temporary financial setback.The newly established Robert Winston Milos Endowment supports nursing students who are in good academic standing and exhibit sudden emergency financial uncertainty that may delay or interrupt their academic pursuits. Milos made an initial $50,000 gift, and hopes others will be inspired to contribute and grow the fund. For students facing hardships the difficulty can be catching up, which is why the endowment will provide emergency resources discreetly and

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces that State Road 331 (Capital Avenue) will close Monday at the bridge over the St. Joseph River while crews pour concrete as part of a bridge reconstruction project.The closure will begin at approximately midnight EST, with the road anticipated to reopen by late afternoon the same day. The road will be closed between State Road 933 (Lincolnway E.) and Jefferson Street.This is the final planned closure for this two-year project, with the bridge anticipated to fully reopen by late August.