Local News

Twenty-three year old Mario Ward II, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced upon his plea of guilty to 2 counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Ward was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in this case, in July 2018, Ward possessed a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense. Ward was in a car that led police on a high speed chase while he had a stolen 9 millimeter firearm. The car crashed in a residential neighborhood, after which a second stolen 9 millimeter firearm was

State Road 55 will close Monday in Crown Point for replacement of a box culvert. The road will close between Greenview Drive and Greenview Place, with work expected to wrap up by the end of August.

Yesterday, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Representatives Trey Hollingsworth (R-Ind.-09) and Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.-01) announced that TPG Chicago Dry Dock LLC will receive a $1.2 million Maritime Administration Small Shipyard Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This grant will aid in the construction of the largest dry dock in the Lower Lake Michigan region. In May, the Senators and Representatives wrote a letter to MARAD Administrator Mark H. Buzby in support of TPG Chicago Dry Dock’s construction project, which highlighted the substantial economic impact for the Great

The La Porte City Police Department will be conducting Aggressive Driving patrols from June 21st – July 14th.  Officers will be working approximately 120 hours of extra patrols under the Operation Pull Over grant. Aggressive driving patrols will target those dangerous moving violations that cause or directly contribute to traffic crashes.  The 4th of July celebration, as well as the La Porte County 4-H fair, will be in progress during this enforcement period.  Officers will focus their efforts on these dangerous violations as well as other dangerous moving violations such as Texting and Driving violations.  For more information on Operation

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra will be in concert Wednesday, July 3, at 8:30 PM EDT at Lions Park in New Buffalo, MI followed by fireworks over Lake Michigan. This event, sponsored by The Pokagon Fund and the New Buffalo Business Association, will be free and open to the public. For more information visit www.lcso.net .

With World Elder Abuse Awareness Day coming up on June 15, Attorney General Curtis Hill has announced that his office is working with other state agencies and non-profit organizations through membership in the newly-formed Indiana Council Against Senior Exploitation (IN-CASE).IN-CASE pursues a mission of educating seniors and their caregivers on how to prevent all types of fraud. Each year, older Americans lose an estimated $2.9 billion to $36.5 billion to financial exploitation, abuse and scams, according to the National Council on Aging.“In this office, our efforts to protect consumers already involve a significant focus on seniors,” Attorney General Hill said.

Five students from La Porte County received scholarships named in honor of fallen La Porte County Sheriff’s Patrolman Neil Thompson on Wednesday. The students were presented the scholarships at the La Porte County Sheriff’s Merit Board monthly meeting. Riley Ott (daughter of Captain Al Ott), Cedric McCoy (son of Deputy Marvin McCoy), Gabriel Chavez (son of Deputy Corey Chavez) and Tyler Benn (son of Fleet Technician Sam Benn) all recently graduated from La Porte High School and received scholarships. This year’s scholarship essay winner is Katherine Doperalski. Katherine recently graduated from Michigan City High School and is the sister of

The Portage Compost Site, off of Route 12, is now open to the public from 12pm - 5pm on Wedensdays and Fridays and 9am - 4pm on Saturdays. Free compost is available to Porter County Residents.

Utility work will close a lane of U.S. 41 in Cedar Lake during daytime hours through the end of June. The lane closure will be on the southbound side between 125th and 126th streets.

The Valparaiso Police Department is accepting applications for Probationary Police Officer. Applications are available at the Valparaiso Police Department, 355 Washington St., or at the department website, www.valparaisopolice.org. The applications may be completed on-line, mailed back to the department or returned in person. The minimum requirements to be considered for this opportunity are that the applicant must: be 21 years of age or older, hold a high school degree or GED, be a United States Citizen, possess a valid driver’s license and have no prior felony convictions.For more information about employment as a Valparaiso Police Officer, including a job description, log

A wrong way driver last night hit another car head on sending three people to the hospital.Investigation by Trooper John Landowski revealed that, a Dodge Caravan, driven by 37 year old Melissa Herzog, of Hammond, was east bound in the west bound lanes of I-80/94, near Broadway when the Caravan hit a Honda Accord head on.  The Accord was in the left middle lane going west bound when the driver 21 year old Bryan J. Lopez, of Montgomery, Illinois could not avoid the Dodge.Herzog tried to leave the scene on foot but troopers were able to detain her.  Herzog was

The National Endowment for the Arts is awarding Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) a grant of $10,000 to support The Chicago Imagists: Before and After exhibition and related programming. This vibrant exhibition featuring some of Chicago’s most famous artists, those who inspired them and those they influenced will span LCA’s three major galleries and be open to the public free of charge from June 17 through October 19.A variety of community engagement events are planned during the exhibition’s run, including an opening reception on July 5, a curator-led tour on July 13 and a Family Day on September 21.

From The National Weather Service:...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...* LAKE SHORE FLOODING...* HIGH WAVE ACTION AND DANGEROUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS EXPECTED...* STRONG RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED...* STRONG STRUCTURAL CURRENTS EXPECTED...* OVERVIEW/POTENTIAL IMPACTS...The combination of high water levels on Lake Michigan, strong onshore winds, and wave heights of 8 to 12 feet, occasionally up to 15 feet, can result in flooding of areas along the lakeshore. Additionally, these conditions will create life threatening swimming conditions.* TIMING...late tonight through Thursday evening.* IMPACTS...The combination of high waves, onshore winds, and above normal water levels will result in beach erosion and minor flooding along the lakeshore. The high

Yesterday, the American Gaming Association (AGA) released its annual State of the States report, highlighting the commercial casino gaming industry’s record-breaking 2018. In Indiana, total commercial casino gaming revenue reached $2.24 billion. This translated into $599.6 million in tax revenue. 

Yesterday, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Indiana Michael Dora announced funding of $109,195 for projects that will reduce energy costs in the Hoosier state. Dora’s announcement is in coordination with the recent announcement made by Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding 58 grants for projects in 17 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to reduce energy costs for farmers, ag producers and rural-based businesses and institutions. USDA is providing the grants through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Congress created REAP in the

The Indiana legislature has modified the tuition and fee exemption program. Beginning July 1, the following changes may effect a student's eligibility to be approved for Tuition and Fee Exemption. -The veteran parent must have resided in Indiana for 5 years prior to the student first applying for Tuition and Fee Exemption as the Child of a Disabled veteran or Child of a Purple Heart Recipient. -The student must be less than 32 years of age when first applying for the benefit If the student is adopted, the adoption must have taken place prior to their 18th birthday. 

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces that patching will begin Wednesday on U.S. 421 in LaPorte County ahead of a planned resurfacing project. Patching will be done in two phases. First, crews will patch the southern corridor of the project between I-94 and State Road 2. Then, when that work wraps up – up to two weeks, weather permitting – crews will move on to the northern portion, from I-94 to U.S. 20. Once all patching is done, the asphalt resurfacing will take place. For the patching work, flaggers will direct one lane of traffic around where work is taking place. 

La Porte County Sheriff John T. Boyd is announcing the recent hiring of three new Merit (Patrol) Deputies.  These deputies will fill open vacancies within the ranks of the Merit Division. The three deputies are scheduled to attend the fifteen (15) week Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (NILEA) basic recruit program later this year.     Twenty-three year old Deputy David A. Grimberg, a 2014 graduate of Boone Grove High School, attended Indiana University – Northwest Campus later earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.  He was previously employed by the Porter County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Grimberg resides in Valparaiso. Twenty-two year old

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a grant through their Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program that will improve railroad safety in LaPorte County. The $2,831,705 grant has been awarded to Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad and will be used to upgrade 7.5 miles of rail between Michigan City and the City of La Porte. According to the project description, the project will support freight delivery efficiency and community safety by replacing the existing 90-pound track with 115-pound track. This upgrade will ensure the safe transportation of materials and improve the reliability and efficiency of

On June 7th and 8th the Chesterton Police responded to 2 separate gas station burglaries. Both establishments were locked, secured and unoccupied by staff at the time. The suspect stole multiple items before leaving in both incidents. The second burglary which occurred June 8th at 2:25am set off glass break alarm. When officers arrived, a vehicle was observed leaving the area. The suspect, 45 year old Michael Vysinka of Hebron was eventually arrested in Michigan City after a pursuit occurred. Vysinka was arrested for resisting law enforcement, felony burglary, and felony theft. The investigation is ongoing.