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Starting Veterans Day, veterans and their families will be able to visit the park for free with the new Military Lifetime Pass available, with proper identification, at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, the Indiana Dunes National Park announced. The pass provides free entrance to national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands. This pass does not expire and covers entrance fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle. Click here for more information. Military Annual Passes will also be available for current members of the US Armed Forces. Click here for more information.

Volunteer fire department personnel from various townships were battling fires throughout La Porte County on Thursday, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Department said on its Facebook page. In the social media post from Thursday afternoon, police said the fires, initially containing just fallen leaves, had been spreading out of control due to the dry and breezy conditions. In addition, the fires were forcing deputies to close roadways while fire personnel worked to contain the spread of the fires, according to police. Property owners were being asked to refrain from burning leaves any further on Thursday. No further updates were posted

Students at Michigan City High School are being introduced to one more avenue of support as they make post-graduation plans. City Connect is a new program, piloted last year, that has officially launched to help City students. Angie Nelson Deuitch, owner of Diversity Squared, is coordinating this initiative at Michigan City High School, focusing on soft skills, job placement, training programs, post-secondary education, and more. “The purpose is to identify students who want to stay local and pursue education or jobs or go into trades,” Nelson Deuitch said. “Our team of career counselors will give them support and walk alongside

A Michigan City woman died after being struck by a vehicle in a parking lot Tuesday morning, according to the Michigan City Police Department. The incident happened in the rear parking lot at the Michigan City Fire Department Administration Building at 2510 East Michigan Boulevard. Officers encountered 92-year-old Michigan City resident Virginia Bobillo who was unconscious and suffering from a severe head injury. Responding officers immediately began life saving measures until LaPorte County EMS and Michigan City Fire Department personnel arrived on scene. Bobillo was transported from the scene to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital with life threatening injuries. Bobillo

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is informing the public that it's not too late to prepare for the winter heating season. The office says all consumers should be aware of the tools they can use to mitigate winter heating bills, with utilities throughout Indiana and the United States projecting higher energy costs over the next few months. They gave the following tips and information: Financial Assistance If you need financial assistance, resources are available. The federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists qualifying consumers each winter. State statute protects participating customers, and those who have applied

The Porter Police Department announced the passing of K9 “Kilo” on Wednesday.  Kilo passed away peacefully beside his handler, Porter Police Corporal Scott Cornelison at  approximately noon on Wednesday, according to PPD.  The Porter Police department released the following statement Wednesday: “Cpl. Cornelison and Kilo were the Porter Police Department’s sole K-9 Unit from 2012-2021 and were responsible for numerous missing persons and narcotic searches. “Just after retiring Kilo last year, Cpl. Cornelison was involved in a head-on collision while pursuing a kidnapping suspect in November of 2021. While Cpl. Cornelison has fought diligently at overcoming the injuries sustained from

The South Shore Line invites all veterans and active-duty military personnel to ride free of charge on all trains Friday, Nov. 11, through Monday, Nov. 14. At the time of fare collection, passengers are to inform train personnel of veteran or active military status in order to take advantage of the free passage; no identification will be required. On Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, trains will follow the regular weekday train schedule. NOTE: Temporary busing to stations between Gary and Michigan City remains in effect. Up to three children 13 years of age and under may ride free with each

Mayor of Michigan City Duane Parry has announced two Veterans memorial statues will be unveiled Friday at Greenwood Cemetery and Swan Lake Cemetery. On Memorial Day, Mayor Parry announced during the Veteran Memorial Ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery that he will use the proceeds from his Golf Outing, to purchase and dedicate a statue to the memory of “ALL THAT HAVE SERVED” Due to the overwhelming response from donors, the city was able to purchase two statues. One statue will be unveiled in Greenwood Cemetery this Friday at 11:00 a.m. At the conclusion of that unveiling, officials will be escorted by

As part of their investment with the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, The Barker Welfare Foundation recently gifted a full year chamber membership to Chef Quayla of Predictable Foodz. At a recent gathering of friends at the Barker Mansion, Chef Quayla catered lunch with a variety of sandwiches, sides, and dessert. Susan DeMaio, Executive Director of The Barker Welfare Foundation was on hand and presented a classic membership package to Quayla shortly after the lunch ended. Predictable Foodz was founded and created in Michigan City, IN by Chef Quayla.  They are a mobile hospitality company that specializes in offering a

Franciscan Health Michigan City is hosting multiple COVID-19 vaccine clinics in LaPorte County in partnership with Beacon Health through year’s end. The clinics will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Al’s Supermarket East LaPorte, 702 E. Lincolnway in LaPorte; from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at Grace Learning Center, 1007 W. 8th St. in Michigan City; from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the VFW Post 1130, 181 W. McClung Road in LaPorte; from 1-2:30 pm. Sunday, Nov. 20 at New Hope Baptist Church, 730 W. Sixth St. in Michigan

Installation of the play structure at Ben Rees Park in La Porte was completed Tuesday morning. The structure, funded by the La Porte Park Foundation, includes three slides and a number of climbing options. Additionally, La Porte Park and Recreation maintenance staff recently stained the pavilion and plan to make further repairs this fall.

The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) honored the 247th birthday of the United States Marine Corps by conducting the traditional Marine Corps birthday ceremony. Marines always celebrate November 10th, the day the Marine Corps was founded in Philadelphia in 1775 prior to the start of the Revolutionary War.  Whether at peace or at war, in combat or training in the field, on ship or ashore, Marines always find a way to celebrate the traditions of the Marine Corps.  MCHS MCJROTC did that at the Pine Grove Banquet Hall in LaPorte.  The cadets

The City of Valparaiso announced that due to wet pavement Friday night, the contractor was unable to stripe Vale Park Road as scheduled. The work is now scheduled for overnight on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, weather depending. The city is asking the public to use the detour route during this overnight period.

Portage Police reported on their Facebook page Tuesday evening that there was one confirmed fatality after a multi-vehicle collision at the intersection of Willowcreek Road and Lute Road. Police updated their post later in the night that all lanes of travel were clear and open. Police said further details will be released in a subsequent post. WIMS will continue to follow this story.  

The following is a copy of the unofficial final results of the election summary report for LaPorte County.

A Michigan City man was sentenced to over four years in prison on his plea of guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sergio Adams, 33, of Michigan City was sentenced to four years and four months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. In November 2021, police responded to an alert and recovered a handgun that had been possessed by Adams. At the time, Adams was on supervised release. Adams has three prior felony convictions, any one of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm or ammunition, according

The intersection of Broadway and 15th Street in Chesterton will be closed to all traffic for three days, beginning Tuesday, Nov. 8, Street Commissioner John Schnadenberg announced to the Town of Chesterton. The closure will be in effect around the clock. Indiana American Water Company is tying in a new main at this location. Schnadenberg expects the intersection to re-open to traffic late Thursday afternoon, Nov. 10. Detours will be posted. Motorists southbound from the Town of Porter will be detoured onto Woodlawn Avenue.

In order to accommodate ongoing, temporary busing in relation to the Double Track NWI project, the South Shore Line will be implementing a temporary modified schedule to be in effect TUESDAY, NOV. 15, 2022, until further notice. TEMPORARY MODIFIED SCHEDULE Busing between Carroll Ave. and Gary Metro Center stations remains in effect for all weekday and weekend trains. Bus service makes all intermediate scheduled station stops (with the exception of Beverly Shores and 11th St. – see below information). Passengers will be bused to/from the following stations on the temporary modified train schedule: Carroll Ave., Dune Park, Portage/Ogden Dunes, and Miller. Westbound passengers

In order to accommodate ongoing, temporary busing in relation to the Double Track NWI project, the South Shore Line announces that call-ahead bus service will be implemented at Beverly Shores Station and 11th Street Michigan City Station (bus stop temporarily relocated to 920 Franklin Street). Train service between Gary Metro and Millennium and between Carroll Ave. and South Bend Airport will operate as normal. Busing is ongoing to/from the following stations: Carroll Ave., Dune Park, Portage/Ogden Dunes, and Miller. As of Nov. 15, 2022, the regularly scheduled loop bus service to Beverly Shores Station and 11th Street will be temporarily