Local News

The City of Portage is informing residents of their leaf pick up season policy. The city stated the following on its Facebook page: Leaf Pick Up Season - Portage City Policy Last leaf season, the city's Street Department spent 34 working days and serviced 462 leaf loads throughout the routes. These loads are transported to the city compost site located on U.S. 12 and placed in windrows for future composting material. Beginning Monday, Oct. 30, the Portage Street Department will begin the yearly fall leaf pick-up schedule. Most of the foliage seems to be remaining in the tree canopy. The

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will close the ramp from southbound State Road 249/Port of Indiana to U.S. 12 on or after Friday, Nov. 3. The ramp will remain closed through the end of December. INDOT says motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will be to follow southbound State Road 249 to eastbound U.S. 20 to northbound State Road 149. This closure is for pre-work in advance of a contract to both reconstruct the State Road 249 bridge over U.S. 12 and build a second bridge. Major construction on that contract will

Press release by Unity Foundation of La Porte County: LA PORTE, IN — During Unity’s Annual Luncheon and Grant Celebration on October 26, Unity Foundation staff and board members gave an update on the Foundation’s work over the past year, including the Vibrant Communities of La Porte County initiative, and announced $190,000 in Power for Good Community Grants. Board Chair Jon Gilmore spoke on the history of the community foundation and vision for the future, stating, “As Unity looks to the future, we continue to focus on the fundamental goals of building assets, strengthening operations, and collaborating with local, regional

A Porter police officer was injured while apprehending a burglary suspect, according to the Porter Police Department. Early Friday, Porter Police responded to assist the Burns Harbor Police Department with a reported burglary in progress. Upon arriving, a Porter officer encountered the suspect who was fleeing the scene. During the apprehension of the suspect — who was physically resisting arrest — a Porter officer sustained a serious but non-life threatening injury that required transport by EMS. Police say the name of the suspect is being withheld until formal charges were filed. The suspect was treated and released from the hospital

A 27-year-old Portage resident is facing a charge of operating while intoxicated after crashing a pickup truck into the building at 1315 Broadway late Thursday afternoon, Oct. 26, the Chesterton Police Department is reporting. Police say on Friday the report on the accident has not yet been completed, but that it occurred on Thursday at approximately 5:20 p.m. The motorist was eastbound on Broadway, having just left the Mortgage Inn, 1400 Broadway, when she lost control of the vehicle, scraped a NIPSCO pole on the south side of the road, then “struck the apparently vacant building”, located at the southeast

Police departments across the country will be participating in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s Prescription Drug Takeback Day on Saturday, Oct. 28. So will the Chesterton Police Department, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. DEA launched the semiannual Takeback Day some years ago, for the express purpose of making it easy for folks to dispose of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications. “Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse,” DEA says. “Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as is the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses

HAMMOND, Ind. – An Indiana State Trooper found a missing 14-year-old girl Wednesday, who was the subject of an Amber Alert out of Iowa. At about 9:30 p.m., dispatchers at the Lowell Regional Dispatch Center received information on an Amber Alert that had occurred in Iowa. A follow-up call was then made to the dispatch center by the Iowa State Patrol, where they informed the dispatcher that they had information that the subject of the Amber Alert may be in the area of the Indiana Welcome Center located off I-80 at Kennedy Avenue.  A trooper was notified by dispatch that

Press release by Michigan City Area Schools: Parents, friends, teachers, and other supporters filled the Michigan City High School auditorium on Wednesday, October 25, as 44 juniors and seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society. NHS President Erin Piazzisi led the induction ceremony, which also involved 19 MCHS seniors who were inducted as members last year. The event featured remarks from MCHS Principal Kyle Dean, Michigan City Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, and NHS sponsor Kristen Freitag. NHS Vice Presidents Andrew Vicari and Madison Gresham introduced the student speakers, who addressed the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, service,

Franciscan Health is offering $49 self-pay lung scans on Saturday, Nov. 11 in honor of National Lung Screening Day. "According to the American Cancer Society, more patients die from lung cancer annually than breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer combined," Franciscan Health said in a press release. "However, when diagnosed in the earliest stages, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 92 percent, making screenings a key tool in survival." Franciscan says lung scans are simple, non-invasive computer tomography (CT) screenings that use a minimal amount of radiation. Franciscan says that to qualify for a lung scan, patients

A 16-year old has died after a crash that occurred Thursday morning in LaPorte County. Just after 7:10 a.m. deputies were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. 6 and County Road 425 West in reference to a crash. Deputies were advised a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and pickup truck were the involved vehicles. The initial on-scene investigation determined that a 2019 Freightliner, driven by a 70-year-old Hobart man had been traveling east on U.S. 6. Upon approaching County Road 425 West, the CMV slowed and prepared to turn left (north) onto County Road 425 West. The CMV began completing the

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce President from 2009-2014, Heather Ennis, was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash Tuesday by Governor Holcomb as the current President and CEO of the NW Indiana Forum. “Heather and her amazing team lead economic development efforts for our area, the Duneland Chamber said on their Facebook. “We are so proud of her accomplishment. Please join us in congratulating Heather!” WIMS congratulates Heather Ennis.

The Michigan City Police Department is welcoming back Officer Christopher Manns and Officer Josh Callahan as they return back to the Uniform Patrol Shift after attending several weeks of k-9 training school. Officer Manns returns to Uniform Patrol Shift III with his new k-9 partner Ork (Maliherd breed). Officer Callahan returns to Uniform Patrol Shift II with his new k-9 partner Donny (German shepherd breed). “MCPD is glad to have the new k-9s added to the patrol division,” MCPD said on their Facebook page.

News release by Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Oct. 25, 2023): Plan supports:  Infrastructure modernization Economic development and job creation-related projects System improvements that directly benefit customers and communities Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), has made a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to adjust its natural gas base rates. The request is largely driven by federal safety and compliance regulations, system upgrades to support economic development and job creation, and infrastructure modernization and improvements that directly benefit customers and communities – including an estimated $1.1 billion in investments

Press release by Unity Foundation of La Porte County: LA PORTE COUNTY, IN — Unity Foundation of La Porte County is pleased to recognize ten local high school seniors as La Porte County finalists for the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Two of the finalists will be selected as 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. The two scholars will each receive a full-tuition scholarship to pursue a baccalaureate degree at any accredited public or private Indiana college or university and an annual book and equipment stipend. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program has provided approximately $6 million in tuition and book

The Office of Mayor Duane Parry is informing residents of Michigan City about the fall leaf pickup schedule. Mayor Parry's Office gave the following information: The Michigan City Street Department will begin fall leaf pickup on Monday, November 13th, 2003 If residents would like weekly pickups of their leaves, they may use compost/yard waste bags (no plastic bags) available from area merchants (NO TOTERS PLEASE!). Leaves in paper yard bags or 32-gallon trash cans should be placed in the front of property, and will be picked up, by the Refuse Department with regular compost day until the week ending November

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced on their Facebook page that State Road 39 will be closed at the Kankakee River Bridge from Oct. 30 through Nov. 20. The work is for a bridge deck overlay project. The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office says the official detour is U.S. 30, U.S. 35 and State Road 8.

News release by Indiana Department of Transportation: JASPER COUNTY, Ind. — Governor Eric J. Holcomb joined the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), public officials and contracting partners for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to mark the opening of the newly-constructed Kankakee Welcome Center on southbound I-65 near mile marker 231 in Jasper County. “Indiana lives up to our destination as the Crossroads of America through our top-rated infrastructure and our commitment to getting Hoosiers and visitors to where they need to go,” said Gov. Holcomb. “Visitors passing through on I-65 will have a clean, safe and interactive experience.” The new welcome center replaces

LOWELL, Ind. –Governor Eric Holcomb was joined by Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter Tuesday to commemorate the completion of the newly constructed Lowell State Police Post and Regional Laboratory facilities. “This is another great day for northwest Indiana as we celebrate the opening of the new Lowell State Police Post and Regional Laboratory,” said Gov. Holcomb. “This project is years in the making and I’m grateful for state and local leadership that made it happen.” Indiana State Police Lowell Post and Forensic Laboratory The 40,000 square foot facility will replace the 8,000 square foot facility, which has

Press release by NAACP Michigan City LaPorte County Branch 3061: The 2023 NAACP Indiana State Conference Annual Convention will be held at Purdue Northwest, Westville Campus, November 2-5. Our theme is "Thriving Together." Michigan City LaPorte County Branch 3061 serves as host. Our Convention opens with a: Press Conference Thursday, 10 AM CST, November 2, 2023 Dworkin Center, Purdue Northwest, South Dr. entrance 1401 S. U.S. 421 Westville, IN 46391 Michigan City LaPorte County Branch President Wes Scully will welcome the press and public. Conference President Barbara Bolling-Williams will officiate. She said, "Our theme this year, 'Thriving Together', is a

Press release by Indiana State Police: Newton County - On Wednesday, October 18th, the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED), along with the Newton County Sheriff's Office, conducted another traffic enforcement blitz in Newton County. This is the third traffic blitz in the last five months that was focused on commercial vehicle enforcement. The officers were primarily focused on trucks traveling on U.S. 41 and I-65 due to continued complaints of overweight trucks. The blitz shifted to I-65 when officers were alerted that trucks were changing their route due to the presence of law enforcement on U.S. 41.