Local News

On January 12th, 2018 at approximately 10:17am Michigan City Police officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Springland Ave. This was in reference to a personal injury automobile accident with entrapment.  Upon their arrival officers located a heavily damaged vehicle resting on its roof along the south shoulder of the roadway.   Although several bystanders attempted to gain entry into the damaged vehicle to assist the female occupant, the vehicle was so severely damaged that entry could not be made until members of the Michigan City Fire Department arrived with extrication equipment.   The female occupant was then freed from the

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office is reminding everyone living in the unincorporated areas of Porter County about the County Ordinance, ‘Parking after Snowfall.’ The ordinance in summary means if there is expected to be 2+ inches of snowfall, vehicles must be moved from the roadway. Failure to move your vehicle, could result in your vehicle being towed at your expense and a County Ordinance citation with fines up to $50.00. This is very important, as it speeds up County Highway’s ability to clear the roadways safely as well as widen the roadway for emergency vehicles to have access to your

The Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2nd Annual Fish On-Portage’s Fishing & Outdoor Show, a fishing and outdoor show in Northwest Indiana. Back for a second year the event will be held on Saturday, February 24th 9a-4p and Sunday, February 25th 9a-3p at the Portage High School Fieldhouse. For more information, visit the Greater Portage Chamber website at: www.portageinchamber.com .

The Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) voted to advance proposed changes to the state’s school accountability rule to a public comment period beginning now and ending in April. Public comment can be submitted sboe_comment@sboe.in.gov and will be discussed in future public meetings. Working with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), the SBOE will consider public comment and make any necessary changes to the proposed bill before conducting a final vote to approve a final rule. If approved, Indiana’s new school accountability rule would go into effect next school year (2018-2019).

Barker Mansion will host a multi-media presentation titled War: Michigan City and Beyond which covers The Great War conflict at home and abroad, as well as Catherine Barker's impact on allied troops, including a donation of ambulances to the war effort. Additionally, this Friday marks the Grand Opening of a traveling exhibit on display in the mansion's lower level. The exhibit, brought to the mansion through the Indiana Historical Society, is titled The Great War: From Ration Lines to the Front Lines. With The Great War, visitors will see how Hoosiers experienced the first World War in distinct ways.Specially-themed Great

Walmart is closing 63 Sam's Club stores across the US. Several stores were abruptly closed on Thursday. In some cases, employees were not informed of the closures prior to showing up to work on Thursday. Instead, they learned that their store would be closing when they found the store's doors locked and a notice announcing the closure, according to reports. Ten of the affected stores will be turned into ecommerce distribution centers, and employees of those stores will have the opportunity to reapply for positions at those locations, a Walmart official said. The remaining stores will stay open for several

Weather reports for the next several days are predicting the potential for a variety of weather conditions across the state, including freezing rain, snow and ice. State authorities are advising Hoosiers to keep a close eye on weather and road conditions, and make some basic preparations. Hoosiers are encouraged to stay aware of current weather conditions by monitoring dependable weather sources like the National Weather Service at https://www.weather.gov. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for our area until noon Friday.

Police have been searching for Donald Gildersleeve of Valparaiso, since being reported missing on December 31st. This morning police received a report of a subject laying on the ground just southeast of the intersection of Burlington Beach Rd and Calumet Ave, behind the Horizon Bank. Police arrived and located a male subject deceased. The male subject was identified through identification in his possession as Donald Gildersleeve of Valparaiso.  No foul play is suspected at this time, police continue to investigate.

25 year old Denzel Rakim Bridges of South Bend, was sentenced before District Court Senior Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. for one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Bridges was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in this case, on or about May 2017 a search warrant was executed on Bridges’ address in South Bend for heroin trafficking. During the execution of the warrant officers located a loaded handgun, $3600 in currency, marijuana on a coffee table and multiple small

Shirley Heinze Land Trust announces that it has donated 17.34 acres of protected natural land to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IDNL). The transfer, which took place last fall, consists of four parcels that lie adjacent to park boundaries. The additional acres will help buffer the park’s current holdings and reconnect fragmented high-quality natural areas. For more information on the work and nature preserves of Shirley Heinze Land Trust, visit www.heinzetrust.org, call (219) 242-8558, or access its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/heinzetrust.

All lanes east and west bound on I-80/94 in Gary at Chase Street were closed for several hours on Wednesday. Utility crews removed the power lines that were laying across the entire interstate and returned later that evening to replace the compromised power pole.

NIPSCO has received an influx in calls from residential and business customers reporting several hundred cases of unknown callers claiming to be affiliated with the company and demanding payment through a prepaid card.   Some reports have indicated that scammers have appeared in person knocking on doors, while other reports have indicated that the company’s 1-800 customer service phone number was cloned to appear on caller IDs.  NIPSCO is proactively notifying customers to remind them of important safety tips to avoid becoming a victim and emphasize that these calls are not from, or affiliated with, the company. ·    

South Shore Line service updates will be in effect to accommodate passengers wishing to attend the Chicago Boat, RV & Sail Show, to be held Jan. 10-14, 2018, at McCormick Place. The following weekday trains will make flag stops at the McCormick Place Station from Jan. 10-12: Westbound: Trains 14, 216, 116, 218, 18, 118, 220, 20 Eastbound: Trains 109, 209, 17, 119, 19, 121, 123 All weekend trains except Train 601 utilize McCormick Place as a flag stop. Passengers departing from McCormick Place must remain visible on the platform to be seen by train personnel.

On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly spoke on the floor of the Senate calling for bipartisan action to address a number of pressing health care issues, including repealing the Medical Device Tax, reauthorization for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), funding for the Community Health Center Fund, and the need for more funds to combat opioid abuse and to address the shortage of treatment providers. Donnelly said in his speech, “I strongly urge my colleagues to work with me to quickly and meaningfully address the medical device tax... “We must reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program – also known as

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly applauded President Trump’s executive order today directing the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security to develop a plan to ensure servicemembers transitioning out of the military and back into civilian life receive mental health care for a year. All active-duty and reserve servicemembers are required to have an annual mental health assessment, thanks to Donnelly’s Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act, which has now been fully implemented.

Candidates seeking public office this year may begin filing their declarations of candidacy for the 2018 Primary Election tomorrow, Wednesday, January 10 with the Secretary of State or county election board. Filing will remain open until 12:00pm local time on Friday, February 9th. A candidate seeking nomination by a major political party may file, as well as independent or minor party candidates and state convention delegates. Candidates for U.S. Senate may begin filing petitions of nomination with county voter registration offices for verification of petition signatures. Further information can be found by calling the Election Division, or by visiting www.in.gov/elections.

Shortly after midnight Tuesday, Valparaiso Police officers responded to a female subject that had been involved in a physical disturbance which included threats being made with a handgun by her boyfriend. The female subject had fled the house immediately after the disturbance and called police. Police responded to the 300 block Garfield Ave to investigate the incident further. When police arrived the male subject inside the home refused to answer the door. Numerous attempts to make contact with the male subject were made and went unanswered. The Porter County Emergency Response Team was activated shortly after 1:00 a.m. Police obtained

The Valparaiso Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 76 has named their Patrol Officer, Investigator and Supervisor of the year for 2017. Each award is voted on by the members of the Valparaiso F.O.P Lodge 76. This year Officer Jonathan Watson was named Patrol Officer of the Year, Lt. Jerame Simpson was named supervisor of the year and Sgt. Dave Castellanos was named Investigator of the Year for 2017. Officer Watson has been with the department for 2 years. Sgt. Castellanos is a 16 year veteran of the department, and Lt. Simpson is a 11 year veteran of the department.

Indiana Conservation Officers on Monday were called to a rural area near Hanna, Indiana shortly after midnight regarding a serious injury snowmobile crash. The investigation revealed at around midnight, 38 year old Charles Zbuka was riding his snowmobile across a large field at approximately 40 miles per hour when he drove into a large ditch, striking the bank on the opposite side. Another snowmobile rider witnessed the crash and found Zbuka unconscious and in the water at the bottom of the ditch. The witness entered the water and held Zbuka’s head above the surface while he called 911. LaPorte County

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host East Chicago native and U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel at two Martin Luther King Jr. programs in January. Curiel's address will honor Dr. King's legacy and vision and reflect the programs' theme, "Together we win with love for humanity." The coordinating events will take place Monday, Jan. 15 and Tuesday, Jan. 16 at the Westville and Hammond campuses, respectively. To obtain more information about these activities visit www.pnw.edu/MLK-celebration or call (219) 785-5545. To request a disability related accommodation for these events, please contact the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Hammond (219) 989-2163