Local News

A group of Michigan City High School students attending the A. K. Smith Career Center received a special award from the LaPorte County Family YMCA in early March, honoring them as 2018 YMCA Youth Volunteers of the Year. The students, who are enrolled in the Career Skills program at A. K. Smith, received the award for their work at the Y’s Elston branch in Michigan City. Four days each week, the students spend two hours daily (one hour in the morning, and another hour in the afternoon) cleaning the YMCA. The work includes sweeping and mopping the hallways, gyms, and

Just before midnight on Saturday, March 23, 2019, 77 year old George Kearney was discovered unresponsive by jail medical staff, in the medical unit of the St. Joseph County Jail. Emergency medical technicians were called to the jail at approximately 11:56 p.m., and Mr. Kearney was pronounced dead at approximately 12:05 a.m. early Sunday morning. The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit (CMHU) was activated to investigate the death, as per protocol for all in-custody deaths. According to jail medical staff, Mr. Kearney was suffering from a terminal illness and his condition had been deteriorating over the past weeks. Mr.

Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) this week sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin asking for clarification of the Trump administration’s policy on sanctioning the perpetrators of atrocities committed against the Rohingya people during the 2017 security operations by Burmese military forces. Acknowledging the decision by the administration to already sanction five officials, the senators point out that additional targeted sanctions against the senior-most ranks of the Burmese military, including Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, is needed to send a strong message

The City of Michigan City has revised the start date of Spring Clean-Up. The new start date is March 25th. The previous start date was listed as March 26, 2018.

Franciscan Health is offering a free baby and child care informational session titled, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Baby Shower, from 9 AM to noon on Saturday, April 6 at the Wicker Memorial Park Social Center, 2215 Ridge Road in Highland. The program will provide advice from health care professionals and information booths on car seat safety, breastfeeding, prenatal care, smoking cessation and community resources. Food, refreshments, gifts and prizes will also be available. Registration is required. Call (800) 931-3322.

Attorney General Curtis Hill joined a group of 24 other attorneys general in expressing concern over a sweeping legal opinion that may negatively impact state-run and multi-state lotteries, including Mega Millions and Powerball. The letter, sent late Thursday to U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, argues the federal government’s new legal opinion could reach beyond the realms of sports gambling and into areas traditionally controlled by the states, potentially jeopardizing in-state lotteries. State-run and multi-state lotteries are a major source of revenue that represents billions of dollars in state funding used for vital state services.

Barker hosted the 5th Annual 8th grade Career week, March 18-22nd. Classes infused different career activities throughout the week. Amy Hamann, Barker Curriculum and STEM Coach, organized the week of events for Barker 8th grade students. Career Week Opening Speakers (past Barker students), Kenny Smith (Artist and Business Owner) and Lane Van Sickle (Nurse and Volunteer Firefighter) spoke to students highlighting setting & writing down goals, being positive, importance of education, and not being afraid to fail. On Career Guest Speaker Day, 8th grade students attended 3, 30-minute scheduled sessions on careers of their choice. Guest Speakers brought “tools of

Parents, friends, teachers, and other supporters filled the Michigan City High School auditorium on Tuesday, March 19, as 58 juniors and seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society. NHS President Evangelea Dabagia led the induction ceremony, which also involved 59 MCHS seniors who were inducted as members last year. The event featured remarks from MCHS Principal Candy Van Buskirk, Michigan City Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, and NHS sponsor Judy Kovalcik. NHS Vice Presidents Emma Sells and Hannah Noveroske introduced four student speakers, who addressed the pillars of NHS: scholarship, service, character, and leadership. Dominic Yanke, speaking on

With spring break right around the corner, the South Shore Line is expanding its Kids Ride Free program from March 23 – April 6, 2019. SSL has selected this promotional time frame to cover an average portion of scheduled spring breaks across the four-county SSL service area.From Saturday, March 23, through Saturday, April 6, up to three children 13 years of age and younger may ride any train for free — ALL weekend, holiday, off-peak or rush hour weekday trains — when accompanied by a paying parent or guardian.The children riding free do not need to purchase a train ticket

Franciscan Health is offering a free baby and child care informational session titled, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Baby Shower, from 9 AM to noon on Saturday, April 6 at the Wicker Memorial Park Social Center, 2215 Ridge Road in Highland.The program will provide advice from health care professionals and information booths on car seat safety, breastfeeding, prenatal care, smoking cessation and community resources.Food, refreshments, gifts and prizes will also be available.Registration is required. Call (800) 931-3322.

Representative Pat Boy (D-Michigan City) led Indiana House members in recognizing Adrian Huizar as a 2019 top youth volunteer and state honoree in a resolution yesterday .Huizar, an eighth-grader at Queen of All Saints Catholic School, was awarded the title of 2019 top youth volunteer and state honoree at the annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for his outstanding record of volunteer service, peer leadership, and contributions to the education of his fellow students.The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program was started in 1995 by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary Schools Principals (NASSP) to emphasize the importance

On Wednesday, at just around 8:00 p.m., Valparaiso officers responded to the report of a gunshot and a projectile coming through an apartment wall in the 1900 block of Beech St. Upon arrival, officers followed the path of the bullet to an apartment belonging to 52 year old Gerald Lefere, of Valparaiso. Gerald admitted to having “accidentally” discharged his firearm while manipulating the weapon inside his bedroom. It was also discovered that Gerald had been consuming alcohol prior to the firearm being discharged. A .22 caliber pistol was located inside the apartment and Gerald further explained he had discarded the

The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) is warning taxpayers to be on alert when getting phone calls claiming they have unpaid tax bills. These phone calls are often scams designed to threaten individuals with some sort of law enforcement or legal action in order to get them to send money towards bogus tax bills. The federal government’s Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) reports that 14,700 victims have paid more than $72 million as a result of phone scams since 2013. Customers should be aware that DOR and the IRS will never: Call demanding immediate payment using a specific

On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at approximately 1:48 pm, a male subject entered Fifth Third Bank, 2604 Franklin St. Michigan City, IN. He announced he is robbing the bank and demanded money from a teller. The suspect fled with an undetermined amount of currency with no one physically hurt during this robbery. Subject is described as a black male approximately 5’7”, 140 to 150 lbs., thin build wearing dark clothing. Any information on the possible identity of this subject or witness information, please contact lead Detective Cpl. Jillian Ashley at 874-3221 Ext. #1082, or email at jashley@emichigancity.com

Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. and the Hammond Marina are pleased to announce the return of the Annual Fishing Derby for the 21st year. The Derby will be held on Saturday, April 13 (no rain date) from 7a - 4p at the Hammond Marina, 701 Casino Center Drive. This event is FREE and is open to all adults and children, with free parking and refreshments. Fishing will take place on the outer Lake Michigan break wall, on the inside, west end docks of the marina break wall and on land. There will be no boats. Live and/or artificial bait will

The Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) launched a joint Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign addressing a nationwide telephone impersonation scheme. Social Security and the OIG continue to receive reports from across the country about fraudulent phone calls from people falsely claiming to be Social Security employees. Calls can even “spoof” Social Security’s national customer service number as the incoming number on the caller ID. The new PSAs will air on TV and radio stations across the country to alert the public to remain vigilant against potential fraud. Social Security employees do occasionally contact

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) has launched a new free smoke alarm program for Hoosiers with a goal of installing 10,000 smoke alarms in homes in two years. The Get Alarmed program (GetAlarmed.in.gov)—managed by the Indiana Fire Marshal in partnership with the American Red Cross—offers up to three free smoke alarms for Indiana homeowners. The program works with local fire departments and service providers to properly install the alarms and educate residents about fire prevention and safety. Get Alarmed is funded via a federal Fire Prevention and Safety Grant awarded to the Indiana Fire Marshal, who oversees the

Alzheimer's & Dementia Services of Northern Indiana, a division of REAL Services, will host its 19th annual fundraising walk on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at Lake County Fairgrounds, Shelter #6, Crown Point, Indiana. Registration starts at 9:00 am CST, and the walk begins at 10:00 am CST. The theme is Stand By Me. The cost to participate in the Lake County walk is $20 per walker, and to register to walk or donate to this year's Stand By Me Lake County walk, click here or contact Stephanie at 219.789.2470 or via email at lakecountywalk@alzni.org.

Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) this week sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin asking for clarification of the Trump administration’s policy on sanctioning the perpetrators of atrocities committed against the Rohingya people during the 2017 security operations by Burmese military forces. Acknowledging the decision by the administration to already sanction five officials, the senators point out that additional targeted sanctions against the senior-most ranks of the Burmese military, including Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, is needed to send a strong message

La Porte Hospital offers a variety of diabetes education and programs to the community, some free of charge. Classes are as follows: Diabetes Support Group This free Diabetes Support Group provides a place for those with diabetes and their support team to share ideas, experiences, and problems related to diabetes. The group meets from 11 a.m.- noon, the fourth Monday of the month in the Heart & Vascular Center First Floor Conference Room, 901 Lincolnway, La Porte, or 11 a.m. – noon on the fourth Tuesday of the month from in the First Floor Conference Room at Starke Hospital, 102