News

The National Park Service is planning to conduct five prescribed fires this fall of areas totaling more than 1,400 acres in Indiana Dunes National Park, according to a Facebook post from the Town of Chesterton. One of the burns is a carryover from last year, when unfavorable weather conditions precluded its completion. A list of the five burns is below: Tolleston East Prescribed Fire: 550 acres—the largest burn on the schedule—located immediately south and east of Ogden Dunes, with U.S. 12 to the north, County Line Road to the west, and Stagecoach Road to the south and east. Grand Blvd./Marquette

Press release by Michigan City Area Schools: MICHIGAN CITY, IN – October 18, 2023 — The LaPorte County Career and Technical Education program hosted its annual N.E.W. Opportunities workshop on October 17, inviting middle school girls from seven LaPorte County middle schools to visit the A. K. Smith Career Center to check out career options that may not be on their radar. The N.E.W. (Nontraditional Employment Workshop) Opportunities event introduced eighth-grade girls to a variety of jobs in which women have been traditionally under-represented – in fields such as law enforcement, construction, dentistry, architecture, HVAC, welding, finance, and more. The

Throughout September, NIPSCO employees participated in various volunteering events throughout northern Indiana to make a difference through the company’s 13th annual Charity of Choice campaign. Charity of Choice is NIPSCO's employee-driven, company-wide effort to provide a significant contribution of volunteer efforts to benefit a variety of community causes across NIPSCO’s service area. Similar to last year’s Charity of Choice, employees were able to choose from a number of volunteer opportunities throughout the month of September to get out with fellow NIPSCO team members and combine efforts, providing support to those in need throughout our communities. In partnership with the NiSource

Press release by Helathcare Foundation of La Porte: Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) recently awarded two grants to meet the community need for car seats. Ranging from infant-size car seats to five-point harness combo seats, the car seats are now available for free for those in need. Two local partners, the La Porte County Health Department and the City of La Porte Fire Department, received a total of 118 car seats between them to distribute as needed. HFL funded nearly $10,000 to these two entities to purchase the car seats from Evenflo.   With the funding from HFL, La Porte County

Press release by Salvation Army of Michigan City: The Salvation Army of Michigan City is pleased to announce that Gene and Linda Simmons will serve as 2023 Christmas Campaign Chairs during the upcoming holiday season. Gene Simmons currently represents the 6th Ward on the Michigan City Common Council and Linda Simmons serves as Marketing Director for the La Porte County Tourism Bureau. Gene is a Viet-Nam veteran who served in the U.S. Army. Immediately after returning home from service, Gene joined the Michigan City Police Department, where he served as Chief of Police before retiring. Linda started a career with

Porter County Sheriff Jeffery Balon released a statement Tuesday about Trick or Treat throughout the county along with increased patrols by officers. The statement is below: Porter County Residents, In a coordinated effort, most of the communities throughout Porter County are observing Halloween Trick or Treat on Tuesday, October 31st from 5:30pm-7:30pm. In an effort to keep the children and their chaperones safe during this time, there will be several Sheriff’s Officers, along with me and my administration conducting extra patrols in the neighborhoods and communities throughout unincorporated Porter County. I ask everyone who is reading this message to please

The Michigan City Police Department on Tuesday released a statement on their Facebook page regarding the investigation into the deadly hit-and-run of Tara Stevens, which occurred in September of 2020. The department released the following statement: “The Michigan City Police Department Administration, Investigators and LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office met with members of Tara Stevens’ family this past Thursday, October 12th. The purpose of the meeting was to provide updates, answer questions and dispel the fallacious narrative/conclusions about this case that are circulating on social media. We would like to extend an offer to meet with any other members of Tara’s

Indiana American Water has announced that approximately 2,700 customers will be without water service overnight on Friday evening through Saturday morning as work to repair a water main near the intersection of Randolph Street and E. 83rd Avenue in Merrillville, Ind. Affected customers will also be under a precautionary boil water advisory after service is restored on Saturday morning. Customers in the affected area will be without water service for approximately 8 hours beginning at 11 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023, while the work is being completed. Water service is expected to be restored no later than 7 a.m.

Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry is informing citizens and visitors that he has directed temporary bathroom facilities to be installed immediately in the Uptown Arts District. Parry says the bathroom facilities will be for the upcoming fall and winter event season. Additionally, Parry says the facilities will be placed on the southwest corner property owned by the Redevelopment Commission at 7th and Franklin Streets.  

The La Porte Community School Corporation released a statement on Monday regarding the loss of a 10th grade student. La Porte Community School Corporation Statement: "We are deeply saddened to confirm the tragic loss of a tenth-grade student at La Porte High School. This loss has greatly impacted our community, and our thoughts and hearts are with the student's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. In times like these, it's natural to seek to understand the circumstances surrounding such a tragic accident. However, out of respect for the privacy of the student's family and the ongoing investigation by

Local area older adults, retirees and caregivers are invited to learn about resources and opportunities available to them at an expo next month, according to Assistant Director of the La Porte Park and Recreation Department Susie Wireman. The La Porte Activity Center for Older Adults, in partnership with the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte, will be hosting its first-ever expo for older adults and caregivers from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Healthcare Foundation. Wireman said the theme for the event, Passport to Lifestyle & Health, is a reflection of the world of opportunities that exist

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – Franciscan Health’s Prenatal Assistance Program this month hosted an evening with Indiana Department of Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, MD, and Franciscan medical staff focused on maternal/fetal health. During the event at Innsbrook Country Club in Merrillville, Weaver said Indiana’s infant mortality rate is 6.7 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is higher than the national average of 5.4. Weaver acknowledged Indiana’s data on infant mortality is sobering, but said her goal is to use comprehensive data at the county and state level to identify where help is needed most. “You can’t make a difference unless you know

The Portage Police Department says they received a few calls from residents Monday asking if the Portage Police Department was conducting a telephone solicitation campaign. “PPD is not calling citizens to solicit donations,” the department said on its Facebook page. “Please do not give your credit card or banking information to anyone claiming to be from or associated with PPD over the telephone.”

The South Shore Line says they will resume train service between Carroll Avenue Station and Dune Park Station on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Beginning that day, their buses will shift to run between Dune Park Station to Gary Metro Station until project completion in May 2024. In May 2024, they will begin their new schedule including 14 new scheduled trains each weekday.  

News release by Michigan City Area Schools: Michigan City Area Schools is pleased to announce the launch of a new Teacher and Employee of the Year recognition program. This initiative will celebrate outstanding educators and staff members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, and commitment to students. The Teacher and Employee of the Year program will honor individuals who have gone above and beyond, making a positive impact on students, colleagues, and the community. Recipients will include an: Elementary Teacher of the Year Secondary Teacher of the Year Support Staff Employee of the Year Transportation Employee of the Year Food

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a major partner from Indiana in an alliance awarded up to $1 billion in funding to develop a regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub in the Midwest, as announced by President Biden on Oct. 13. PNW, through its Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS), will be integrally involved in the research and workforce development to create sources of clean hydrogen production that will reduce emissions from industrial sectors, including the region’s steel mills, refineries and power plants. The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, or MachH2, hub is one of seven selected by the U.S.

The City of Portage says work on Portage Avenue has been delayed due to the forecasted rain. The city provided the a summary of what to expect in the next two weeks: "The widened area of Portage Avenue between Pennsylvania and east of Kennedy will receive the intermediate layer of asphalt early to mid-week of Oct. 15. Later in the week, Milestone Contractors will start the milling process.  They will spend about two days milling Willowcreek Road between the CSX railroad tracks and the new surface next to Quality Inn & Suites and Portage Avenue between Willowcreek Road and Crisman

Press release by Duneland Chamber of Commerce: Chesterton, IN – The Duneland Chamber of Commerce will host an Anniversary Party and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for The Waxi Taxi on Tuesday, October 24 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. The Waxi Taxi is located at 206 S. Calumet Road. We are thrilled to invite the public invited to The Waxi Taxi's 13th anniversary party and ribbon-cutting. Please join us in celebrating their new location, expansion, the addition of valuable staff members, and the remarkable milestone of their owner, Jeny Burkhart, marking her 30th year in the business! Your presence will make

Press release by Healthcare Foundation of La Porte: On the morning of Thursday, October 12, 2023, Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) and the HFL Partners for Healthier Babies Council welcomed La Porte County partners working to reduce infant mortality for an October Safe Sleep Celebration and Commemoration. The event was designed to celebrate accomplishments in improving the infant mortality rate in La Porte County, including the one-year anniversary of the La Porte County Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) team, and connect local partners working to continue to improve services throughout the county.   Hosted at the HFL Conference & Learning Center, the October Safe