Local News

With the raising of a canoe paddle from Purdue University Northwest (PNW) alumnus and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Stephen R. Turner, a sea of graduates donning mortarboards at each of PNW’s three fall commencement exercises shouted, “Paddle your canoe!” The refrain was a memorable cue offered by Turner during his keynote address to help the undergraduate, master’s and, for the first time at PNW, doctoral degree candidates navigate various obstacles as they embark on a new journey. Ceremonies held on PNW’s Westville Campus Friday afternoon, Dec. 7 and two on the Hammond Campus on Saturday, Dec. 8 conferred

The Burns Harbor Police Department is investigating the disappearance of Robert O. Mottinger, a 70 year old white male, 6 feet 0 inches tall, 180 pounds, gray hair with blue eyes, last seen wearing blue denim jacket with gray sleeves, gray sweatpants, and has several tattoos including:  an eagle on one shoulder, a cross on his chest, and barbed wire on both arms.  He is driving a red 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 four door pickup truck with Indiana plate VOF590.  The truck has a American flag/eagle designed bug deflector on the front. Robert is missing from Burns Harbor, Indiana which

On Saturday, an Oswego, Michigan woman was brought back to life after she got herself pinned between her vehicle and a toll booth. Preliminary investigation revealed at approximately 9:19 p.m., Trooper Ala'a Hamed responded to a personal injury crash that occurred on the Indiana Toll Road west bound at the 1 mile marker (this is the West Point Toll Plaza-one mile east of the Illinois/Indiana border).  Upon arriving he saw that a silver Buick SUV was against the toll booth with a female entrapped between the driver’s side and the booth. The female was unconscious and unresponsive with no pulse

Valparaiso Police are investigating the theft of property from the Valparaiso Best Buy. The theft occurred on December 3, 2018 at approximately 6:00 p.m. The males entered the store and removed numerous display items, before exiting the store and fleeing the area in a silver Dodge passenger vehicle with false plates.

Chesterton Police asking for public assistance to locate two teenagers that have ran away from home. Sixteen year old Aiden Moran and 15 year old Madaline Paugh last had contact with their parents during the evening hours on 12/05/2018. If you have any information please contact the Chesterton Police Department at 219-926-1136. Possible destinations are California, New Orleans, and Florida. (More information and photos are posted to the Chesterton Police Facebook.)

Governor  Holcomb accepted Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Jim Brown’s resignation. Brown has led the IDVA during two administrations following a distinguished military career where he was awarded three Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts for his service in Vietnam and Afghanistan. Brown has held several leadership positions in the U.S. Army and the Indiana National Guard. In his civilian capacity, he has 25 years of small business ownership and managed a transportation company. He has served as director since February 2013 and his resignation is effective Dec. 28th.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will receive two Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants totaling $40 million, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced late yesterday. INDOT will be awarded two $20 million grants to help fund two projects to expand and rehabilitate Interstate 65. The funds awarded to Indiana will support projects to add lanes to I-65 between S.R. 32 and S.R. 47 in Boone County and between S.R. 58 and S.R. 46 in Bartholomew County. Existing pavement will rehabilitated and various bridges will be rehabilitated or replaced along both segments. More information about BUILD grants is

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced that his bipartisan legislation to increase oversight of taxpayer dollars spent by federal agencies has passed the Senate. The Good Accounting Obligation in Government (GAO-IG) Act requires federal agencies to provide annual reports to Congress on the status of implementing recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (IG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). “This bill keeps our government in check and protects Hoosier taxpayers. Increasing accountability in our federal agencies will better serve all Americans,” said Senator Young. “I’m proud that this legislation has passed out of the Senate and I look forward

Governor  Holcomb accepted Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Jim Brown’s resignation. Brown has led the IDVA during two administrations following a distinguished military career where he was awarded three Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts for his service in Vietnam and Afghanistan. Brown has held several leadership positions in the U.S. Army and the Indiana National Guard. In his civilian capacity, he has 25 years of small business ownership and managed a transportation company. He has served as director since February 2013 and his resignation is effective Dec. 28th.

A traffic stop early this morning, December 7, 2018, on the Indiana Toll Road resulted in the arrest of a Michigan man for possessing approximately 100 grams of suspected marijuana. Trooper Cody Brown reported that at approximately 12:51 a.m. he observed a white 2009 Cadillac that was travelling eastbound commit several traffic violations and almost hit an abandoned vehicle that was parked on the right berm of the Indiana Toll Road. Brown stopped the Cadillac approximately four miles west of the Howe/LaGrange exit near the 117 mile marker. While speaking to the driver, Johnathon Hulley, 39 of Sturgis, MI, Brown purportedly smelled

Yesterday, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb announced the launch of the Next Level Trails grant program, which will dedicate $90 million to connect communities through more hiking, biking and riding trails. Next Level Trails is part of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Connections, a $1 billion statewide infrastructure program announced in September. Next Level Trails 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 fund will require a minimum 20 percent project match, which can include monetary

To accommodate passengers attending Chicago Bears home games, the South Shore Line is planning select train stops at the 18th Street Station in Chicago. These stops are in addition to regular service to Museum Campus/11th Street. For the home game at 7:20p on Sunday, Dec. 9, Train #506 will arrive at 18th St. at 2:33p, and Train #608 at 5:17p. Following the game, Train #613 will depart 18th Street at 11:23p, and Train #101 will depart at 12:53a. Both terminate at Carroll Ave., Michigan City.

(1) When temperatures plummet, pets should not be left outside. Bring small or short haired pets, and puppies, kittens, and their nursing mothers inside when temperatures reach thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit. Larger breeds and thick-coated dogs may remain outside, with adequate shelter available, to a temperature of ten (10) degrees Fahrenheit, subject to the discretion and judgment of the animal control officer. (2) Precipitation and wind chill may also be taken into account in determining appropriate temperature to bring pets indoors. (3) Cats and other small pets should be kept indoors or at least brought into a warm structure during

Thursday morning, just before 3:30 a.m., State Trooper William Carlson was dispatched to a vehicle that slid off the ramp from I-80/94 eastbound to Kennedy Avenue northbound into standing water.  A passing motorist stated that all the occupants of the car were running down the ramp towards a local hotel off Kennedy Avenue. Trooper Carlson was told by a motorist who had stopped to check on the submerged car, that two of the occupants were hiding over the outside barrier wall in the high grass, Carlson and a Griffith police officer located a male and female hiding in the grass

Chesterton’s European Market is dressing up for the holidays. Come on out to 220 Broadway, Chesterton on Saturday, December 8, from 9 am to 3 pm to experience this year’s, Mistletoe Market. This beloved holiday market is outside again this year, giving the event a more European feel. The Mistletoe Market will feature many of the regular season vendors. There will be mulled wine, and live music along with photo props for the whole family to enjoy. Santa will even be in attendance too! Find that perfect, one of a kind holiday gift and experience a little bit of Europe

Wednesday, Attorney General Curtis Hill announced that he is helping lead a bipartisan group of 40 state attorneys general developing fresh strategies to stop or reduce annoying, harmful and illegal robocalls. The coalition is reviewing innovative technologies that major telecom companies hope to employ in this fight. Indiana is one of 15 states on the working group's executive committee. Since it was formed, the multistate group has had in-depth meetings with several major telecom companies. These productive meetings have led to greater information sharing about the technological capabilities currently in existence or in development to fight these calls. Attorney General

Secretary of State Connie Lawson announced Wednesday that 51 percent or 2,308,258 of Indiana’s 4.5 million registered voters cast a vote in the November 6 General Election. Early voting popularity continues to soar. In 2014, only 16 percent of voters cast a ballot early. This year, that number was doubled to 32 percent. Henry County had the highest turnout in the state at 64 percent. They were followed by Spencer County at 62 percent. (Turnout statistics for previous elections can be found online at https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2983.htm)

Tuesday evening, police investigated a threat made by a Portage High School student on social media, directed towards the school. The Officers responded to the students house in unincorporated Porter County and the juvenile student stated it was just a joke. The juvenile was taken into custody and transported to JDC on an Intimidation charge.

A crash on US 31 between an Eastern Pulaski Community School bus and a straight truck has claimed the life of a teenage boy. Just after 9 a.m. on Wednesday Indiana State Troopers and Marshall County Deputies responded to calls of a crash on northbound US 31, just north of Argos. The bus had just stopped, at the railroad crossing just south of Michigan Road. As the bus began to accelerate it was struck from behind in the left rear by a Freightliner straight truck.The truck, which was towing a trailer, was being driven by 26 year old Tylor Perry,

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces that the State Road 331 (Capital Avenue) bridge over the St. Joseph River will close for about a week starting Monday, Dec. 10. That bridge is in the midst of a two-year reconstruction project and is closing so crews can set new beams on the southbound portion of the bridge. Currently, one lane of traffic is flowing in each direction over the northbound side. However, to place these beams, crews will need to position large cranes in those lanes.