News

Thursday, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the 2023 Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest. The winning photographs will be displayed in the lieutenant governor’s Family of Business offices in Indianapolis throughout the next year. The winning photos were chosen from hundreds of entries in the following four categories: Agritourism, Conservation, Faces of Agriculture and On the Farm. Two winners were selected from each category, along with two winners overall. To be considered, the photo had to be taken in the state by an Indiana resident. The photos were evaluated by a panel

The South Shore Line is reminding the public about track safety. They gave the following information in a news release on their website: At South Shore Line, safety is our number one priority. The completion of the first phase of the Double Track Project presents an opportunity to refresh all pedestrians and drivers on safety around the railroad tracks. “We want to keep all drivers, pedestrians, and passengers safe on our trains and around our tracks,” said Nicole Barker, South Shore Line Director of Capital Investment and Implementation. “With the Double Track NWI project taking place from Gary to Michigan

The City of Portage announced that workers from Milestone Contractors have begun to mobilize for the Portage Avenue reconstruction projects. The City of Portage says you may have seen workers this week beginning to demolish concrete aprons and other areas. Work will continue ramp up over the next couple of weeks on the project which will repave Portage Avenue from McCool Road to Willowcreek Road. The city says the project, which is funded through the state Community Crossings Grant Program and city Wheel Tax revenue, will significantly disrupt residents living on the north side of Portage Avenue between Pennsylvania and

The City of New Buffalo is gearing up for a Special Election on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. This election pertains to the renewal of the current millage for Lake Michigan College, which is set to expire with the 2023 tax levy. Polling hours are 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. The polling location is New Buffalo City Hall, located at 224 W. Buffalo Street. Early Registration and Absentee Ballots: For your convenience, the City Clerk's Office will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2023, to facilitate voter registrations and to receive absentee ballots.

A man has been charged after a stand-off with Porter Police on Monday. In the evening hours, an officer attempted to contact a motorist who was operating a vehicle with a broken tail-light and loud exhaust. The vehicle pulled into a driveway in the 200 block of Franklin Street. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Gary Bolcerek, became irate and appeared to be reaching for a weapon, police reported. The initial officer called for emergency assistance at which time the Chesterton and Burns Harbor Police Departments responded to the scene. Bolcerek retreated from his vehicle into his garage

A two-hour manhunt for a shooting suspect ended Wednesday afternoon with two arrests. Aaron Belcher, 35, of Griffith, and a female subject who was with him were both taken into custody in Merrillville Wednesday afternoon. The two were spotted arguing in the entryway of an apartment complex near Grant Street and 79th Place.  The witnesses called 9-1-1.  The two subjects fled into a nearby wooded area between Grant and Cleveland Streets where they were arrested. Earlier Wednesday, a 33-year-old man was transported to an area hospital with gunshot wounds after an assault at a home in the 1000 block of

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO) received a decision from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to adjust its electric rates, effective August 2023. The newly approved rates will be phased in over a multi-step process to spread out the changes to customer bills beginning in August 2023, with the remaining changes applied in 2024.   “Customers expect safe, dependable electric service at the lowest cost possible,” said Mike Hooper, NIPSCO president. “This decision balances new rates in a way that allows NIPSCO to continue making the necessary investments in our infrastructure and technology to serve

WESTVILLE, Ind. – The Leadership Institute and Society of Innovators at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) have announced the 2023 Northwest Indiana Women’s Leadership and Innovation Summit. The annual event brings 260 diverse women leaders together for inspiring presentations and panel-style conversations, with a focus on authentic leadership, innovation knowledge, the power of networking and personal empowerment. The summit is especially suited to mid-level managers, star contributors and high potential employees who have been identified as outstanding prospects for increased leadership responsibilities, professionals with an interest in personal development and executives seeking to become a more innovative leader. “Leadership is highly

The Michigan City Police Department released the following information on parking restrictions for the XInsurance Great Lakes Grand Prix Boat Parade: “Due to the 2023 XInsurance Great Lakes Grand Prix Parade, there will be NO PARKING on the west side of Pine Street from U.S. Hwy 12 to 10th Street, NO PARKING on 10th Street between Pine Street and Franklin Street, NO PARKING on Franklin Street from 10th Street to 4th Street, and NO PARKING on 7th Street from Pine Street to Washington Street. This parking restriction will begin Saturday August 5th at 6am and will go through midnight. We

The Valparaiso Police Department announced the retirement of Sergeant Perry Stone, who has served the City of Valparaiso since January 16, 1986. Stone began his career with VPD as a “Special Officer” before being officially sworn-in on August 1, 1987, as a Probationary Patrol Officer. During his tenure, Stone earned the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, and Detective Sergeant. The Valparaiso Police Department said on its Facebook page that Stone also excelled in specialty areas such as canine handler, Field Training Officer, emergency vehicle operations instructor, and negotiator. In 1999, Stone briefly left VPD to serve as a member of the

Press release by Duneland Chamber of Commerce: Chesterton, IN – The Duneland Chamber of Commerce will host a Ribbon Cutting Celebration for Duneland Pottery on Thursday, August 24.  Duneland Pottery is located at 500 Broadway, Chesterton, IN. We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of Duneland Pottery, a welcoming art studio right in the heart of downtown Chesterton! Please join us from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm as we celebrate this creative new business in the Duneland Community. The ribbon cutting will be followed by refreshments and even a live pottery demonstration by the owner, David Arreola! We hope

The City of Portage announced that through Aug. 30, the roads listed below will have rolling lane closures as their crack sealing contractor will be filling cracks in the asphalt pavement. The City said on its Facebook page to expect delays periodically. Flaggers will be present. “We also ask that residents in these areas not park on the streets between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.,” the City of Portage said.   List of rolling lane closures: Bailey Street – US Hwy 20 to the End Marine Drive – Southport Road to the End Willowcreek Road – Coca Cola Road to

The 41st annual Lubeznik Arts Festival will bring over 70 artists from around the United States in a variety of media to Michigan City, Ind. on Saturday and Sunday, August 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. Always the third weekend in August, the festival draws children and adults from the Northwest Indiana region and beyond to Lubeznik Center for the Art’s (LCA) grounds and galleries at 101 W. 2nd Street. Festival goers enjoy fine arts and crafts from over 70 artists from across the nation, indoor exhibits by contemporary artists, family activities, free art making, live

Franciscan Health and Geminus Regional Health Systems are partnering to host two free LaPorte County car seat safety clinics in September. The first event will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Central on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the Strengthening Indiana Families LaPorte County Family Resource Center, 1232 W. State Road 2 in La Porte. The second event will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Central on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Franciscan Health Michigan City Legacy Campus, 301 W. Homer St. in Michigan City. Car seats will be available free of charge to qualifying Indiana residents

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor  will close State Road 2 just west of the intersection of State Road 2 and C.R. N 400 E on or after Monday, August 7. State Road 2 will be closed through approximately the end of November for a small structure replacement. INDOT says motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow State Road 49, U.S. 6 and State Road 2.

Press release by Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has named Kwangsoo Park as associate dean and director of the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the College of Business, effective Aug. 1, 2023. In his role, Park will lead the school, an academic unit with interdisciplinary degree programs preparing students for multiple aspects of the hospitality and tourism industry, such as hospitality and tourism management; food and beverage; fitness management; foods and nutrition; event and meeting management; travel and tourism; and more. “I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Park to the College

Press release by Michigan City Area Schools: While most students were taking a break from the academic rigors of the classroom, the cadets of Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) were supporting Michigan City Area Schools (MCAS), the community, and preparing for the upcoming school year by improving themselves.  The cadets participated in a Leadership Camp in Wisconsin which was conducted by MCHS and attended by three other MCJROTC schools.   Among the community service activities that the cadets supported were a recycling and food drive at the Members Advantage Credit Union, the

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation will move to the next phase of concrete restoration work on I-94 between State Road 912/Cline Avenue and I-65 over the next week. There will be overnight lane closures from approximately 8 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, August 1 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, August 2 on westbound I-94 to move the lane closures from the right side to the left side of the travel lanes. Over the next week, crews will be moving barrier wall materials over the median to prepare for concrete restoration work on eastbound I-94. On or after the evening

On July 28, 2023, Pedro Burgos was sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading Guilty to Dealing Fentanyl. Deputy Prosecutors Julianne Havens and Atley Price, working with the Laporte County Drug Task Force, brought this case to a success conclusion. Mr. Burgos was arrested as part of Operation Play Pen, a years-long effort to identify and disrupt networks of fentanyl coming into Laporte County. Prosecuting Attorney Sean Fagan said: “Fentanyl is a scourge in our County, and it weakens us a community.  Most people don’t realize the long hours and painstaking effort that goes into identifying suppliers and dealers.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating after the body of an 18-year-old man was pulled Saturday from Lake Michigan in Lake County Saturday. At 2:55 p.m., emergency personnel were dispatched to Miller Beach for a missing person presumed to be in Lake Michigan. Multiple agencies with dive teams responded to the scene to search. Search efforts were hampered due to a north wind, with three to six-foot waves creating dangerous rip currents in the area. At around 6:00 p.m., a beachgoer observed a body in the water approximately three quarters of a mile from where the man was last seen. A