Local News

CROWN POINT, Ind. – Franciscan Health Crown Point recently earned the bronze standard Level 3 Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The program recognizes emergency departments that provide excellent care to older adults. The voluntary program provides specific target criteria and goals for emergency clinicians and administrators. Accredited geriatric emergency departments are better suited to cater to the needs, dispositions and presentations of older adult patients. The accredited departments provide standardized, integrated care that can reduce system costs and drive better, healthier outcomes, often via the integration of best practices for older adults into an

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LA PORTE COUNTY - Grant applications for programs and projects that align with Health Foundation of La Porte, or HFL’s, strategic priorities of Healthy Children, Healthy Living, Healthy Minds, as well as Healthy La Porte will be accepted beginning January 10, 2025, through HFL's online grant portal. Applications to apply for a grant over $25,000 require a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) as a first step. LOIs are due by January 31 and must be submitted through the online grant portal. Only applicants who receive a favorable response to their LOI will be invited to submit a full

LONGJOHNS ON 2025 IS SET FOR JAN 11th!Five live music acts, Barrel Aged releases, guest drafts, food specials, outdoor games & more will be crushing The Taproom, The Back Room & The Patio!Tickets to the event include 1 food voucher & 3 small draft beer pours of your choice!GA & VIP tickets are AVAILABLE NOW at burnembrewing.com/event/longjohnson2025!

Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is now accepting artist applications for their 43rd annual Lubeznik Arts Festival this summer. Artists can apply at https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=13120, and a link to the application can also be found at LubeznikCenter.org/Events. Applications must be submitted by April 3, 2025 to be considered for this 2025 juried festival. Media categories include: Two-dimensional art: Painting, drawing, printmaking, pastels, mixed-media Fine craft: Functional, clay/ceramics, glass, wood, metal, fiber, textile, paper Jewelry Photography: Traditional and digital techniques Sculptural objects: Non-functional, all media Wearable art: Wearable and accessories $3,000 in artist awards will be distributed at this year's festival.   The Lubeznik Arts Festival—taking

Check out the list of items from the La Porte County Sheriff's Office that will be prohibited in the courtroom starting 02/01/2025. See detailed list below. Join Sheriff Ron Heeg in studio Monday 01/13 at 7:30am for “Sheiff”s Squawk” here on WIMS and FACEBOOK LIVE #wims #localradio #laportecounty #nwi   On December 8, 2024, the La Porte County Board of Commissioners passed an updated list of items that will be prohibited in La Porte County Courthouses beginning on February 1, 2025. The new prohibited list of items was recommended to the commissioners for consideration by a ‘Courthouse Security Committee’ that

Chesterton, IN – The Duneland Exchange Club is proud to recognize Chesterton High School senior Ava Kontos as its Student of the Month. Ava exemplifies academic and athletic excellence, achieving High Honor Roll throughout her four years of high school. She is an AP Scholar with Honor, a National Honor Society member, and a dedicated student-athlete. Ava has been a 4-year varsity participant in both indoor and outdoor track and currently holds two Chesterton High School track records as a member of the Sprint Medley Relay and the 4x200 Relay teams. Her achievements on the field have also earned her

The Valparaiso Police Department is honored to announce the swearing-in of six new officers as 2025 begins.  Mayor Jon Costas performed the ceremony within the council chambers of City Hall this morning, welcoming Jacob Bill, Madison Patrick, Nicholas Houston, Kaleb Ellingham, Kevin Flynn, and Dominic Iannantone to the police department.  Numerous officers and civilian staff joined the families of the new hires, witnessing the memorable event. Jacob Bill is a 2015 graduate of Warsaw Community High School, and served in the Air National Guard from 2016-2022 (Security Services).  Bill arrives in Valparaiso with several years of police experience, having served

The Michigan City Sanitary District has closed Striebel Pond’s south parking lot, accessible from Hitchcock Street, for the remainder of the winter season.   The north parking lot, accessible from Earl Road, will remain open and accessible, as will the restrooms located in that lot.   Additionally, the MCSD advises that snow and ice could cause dangerous conditions along the walking paths at Striebel Pond. Signage has been posted indicating that those who use the paths do so at their own risk.

Food Bank of Northern Indiana Mobile Food Distributions for January 2025 Wednesday, January 8, 2025 – Elkhart County 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET *While supplies last. Where: Northside Baptist Church, 53198 CR 9., Elkhart, IN 46514 *This distribution is sponsored by Kroger and will serve 200 households. Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – Kosciusko County 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET *While supplies last. Where: First Baptist Church, 206 S. Oak St., Mentone, IN 46539 *This distribution is provided by the USDA and will serve 200 households. Thursday, January 16, 2025 – Starke County 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT

 Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is excited to announce the appointment of Alejandra Y. Castillo as the university's Senior Fellow for Economic Development. Castillo, a distinguished leader in federal economic development, will bring her extensive experience to PNW, where she will play a key role in advancing economic growth, innovation and community development for the university and the greater Northwest Indiana and Chicago region. Castillo's impressive career spans over two decades of public service and nonprofit leadership. She most recently served as the 23rd U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, where she led the Economic Development Administration (EDA) through

A Message from Lake County Sheriff's Department: We have been informed of another scam where someone pretending to be the Lake County Sheriff’s Department is trying to connect with area residents. This time, the fraudster actually called a local school administrator and left a message asking that person to return the call. The scammer left a phone number which appeared as a Lake County government number on caller ID. The scammer identified himself as a Sergeant Carl Porter from the Lake County Police Department. We do not have a Carl Porter on our staff. If you get a similar call,

Last week, The Indiana DNR Division of Law Enforcement announced the retirement of Officer John Gano. Congratulations to Officer John Gano! Thank you Officer Gano for all your hard work and dedication!

BULLS "The Movie" Premiered in Michigan City over the weekend at the AMC Theater in Michigan City to a packed audience. Local Director and Actor and Creator of Dan Meyer gives his perspective below. Congratulations to everyone who helped make this happen.  Check out the WIMS FACEBOOK page and BULLS The Movie FACEBOOK page for video and pictures. In the days leading up to the cast and crew screening of “Bulls” I was excited, but grew increasingly nervous and anxious. I made the movie I wanted to and I love it, but I didn’t know if anybody else would. Everybody

The latest on an early morning fire from the La Porte County Sheriff's Office. Sunday morning at 7:06 AM, Captain Dallas Smythe and Deputy John Roby Jr. responded to 214 South Longshore Drive in reference to a structure fire. After arriving they approached the residence where excessive smoke prevented them from safely entering to search for any occupants inside. Once the fire had been knocked down by several volunteer fire departments who had responded, entry was made inside the residence. The resident, 64-year-old Ronald D. CONRAD, was located and declared deceased. Detectives Aaron Banic, Evan Doperalski and Justin Gorny, along

The Indiana Department of Transportation is prepared for a significant winter storm expected to move across the state starting Sunday. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm watches for all Indiana counties from just north of Lafayette and Kokomo to the Ohio River. NWS is calling for potential double digit snowfall totals in parts of the state, with a sleet and ice mix in southern Indiana. Heavier snow is currently expected between the Indianapolis metropolitian area and the U.S. 50 corridor where snowfall rates in excess of one inch per hour are possible.  Precipitation is expected to begin early

Portage | The Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that they will offer three, one-time $1,000 gift scholarships to current High School Seniors attending school in the City of Portage, Indiana that will graduate in Spring 2025. The Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to addressing the immediate needs of local businesses while also planning for a vibrant future. To ensure the long-term success of Portage's business sector, the Chamber is proud to offer scholarships aimed at fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs. By supporting students in their post-secondary education, the Chamber hopes to inspire them

Here is the latest from Ott Haverstock in Michigan City on Connie Ann Benningoff Connie Ann Benninghoff September 24, 1946 - December 29, 2024 Connie Ann Benninghoff, 78, La Porte, Indiana, passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 4:52 a.m. in Franciscan Health - Michigan City. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, IN with Deacon Bill Zientarski officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Thursday at the funeral chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Riley Children's

INDIANAPOLIS – With snow predicted to fall across large portions of Indiana this weekend, the American Heart Association encourages Hoosiers to protect their hearts while shoveling snow and to seek immediate treatment if they experience any signs or symptoms of a heart attack. Research shows that many people may face an increased risk of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest after shoveling heavy snow. “Shoveling snow can be a very vigorous activity, and you’re basically doing it in a freezer,” says Dr. William Gill, a cardiologist who is president of the American Heart Association board of directors in Indianapolis. “Those

Washington, DC – Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, released the following statement in response to blocking the sale of U.S. Steel Corporation to a foreign entity. “Since the initial announcement, I have expressed my sincere distrust of handing over the strength of our Northwest Indiana steel industry and the abilities of our national security and defense manufacturing base to a company that has a proven record of violating our trading laws.   “To date, Nippon Steel has been involved in 12 distinct anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders from the U.S. International Trade Commission, in

Two transported to hospital after four vehicle crash at intersection of 49 and Indian Boundary Road A mother and her daughter were transported to hospital Thursday evening, Jan. 2, following a four-vehicle accident at the intersection of Ind. 49 and Indian Boundary Road, the Chesterton Police Department is reporting. According to the CPD, at 5:44 p.m. a 32-year-old Valparaiso resident driving a pickup truck was southbound in the left through-lane of Ind. 49 when he rear-ended an SUV which had stopped for a yellow light at Indian Boundary Road. He then “re-directed” his pickup into the rear of a semi-tractor