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The Franciscan Physician Network Center for Midwifery is now open in Crown Point, expanding Franciscan Health Crown Point’s offerings to meet the healthcare needs of women of all ages. “Franciscan Health Crown Point has consistently built and broadened our services to meet the needs of the community by advancing technology such as our robotics program, broadening our expertise as evidenced with our partnership with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital for neonatal intensive care services, and now, expanding our choices for women’s services through our midwifery center,” Franciscan Health Crown Point President and CEO Daniel McCormick, MD, said. Women's

The Valparaiso Police Department announced the recent retirement of Patrol Lieutenant Phil Spence. Phil has served with the City of Valparaiso for nearly 30 years, beginning his career with VPD in 1993 as a “Special Officer” and becoming a dispatcher in 1994, before being sworn-in as a Probationary Patrolman on February 16, 1995.  Phil attained his first promotion, to Sergeant, in 2005 and was again promoted in 2017, to Lieutenant. During his career, Phil remained a valuable member and leader within the Patrol Division.  Phil served many roles within the Valparaiso Police Department, including as a Hit and Run Investigator,

A Michigan City man is facing charges including attempted murder after making a 911 call for help and then firing shots at officers on their arrival. On Friday, at 5:25 a.m., dispatch received a 911 call from the 1500 block of E. Barker Avenue in Michigan City. The male caller asked for help but provided no other details. Three officers responded to the Barker Avenue residence to conduct a welfare check on the caller. The officers attempted to get the caller to come to the door by knocking and announcing their presence. While doing so, movement could be heard inside

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a Highland police officer shot an alleged shoplifter. On Friday at around 1:54 p.m., Highland Police were dispatched to Kohl’s, at 10353 Indianapolis Blvd., for a report of a male suspect who was allegedly shoplifting in the store and the male had allegedly been observed shoplifting from Kohl’s in two past incidents. Officers made contact with the male suspect in the parking lot near a Ford Escape. An altercation ensued between an officer and the driver and another officer fired shots into the vehicle. The suspect was struck in the arm. The

Kyra Krachinski, a senior at Michigan City High School, has been selected for the Indiana All-State Honor Band – the first musician in the history of MCHS to be chosen for this prestigious honor, selected from among hundreds of students across the state who auditioned. All-State Honor Band musicians are selected based on a recorded audition of advanced-level musical pieces. Krachinski’s audition was held in January at Valparaiso High School for a panel of judges who determined the Indiana All-State Honor Band in a blind selection – not knowing the school affiliation of students auditioning. Those students from across the

The first African American judicial officer in LaPorte County will be appointed this April. Thomas Alevizos, Judge of the LaPorte Circuit Court, announced that on April 21, he will be appointing and swearing in Erika C. Stallworth as the first African American Judicial Officer in LaPorte County, Indiana. Stallworth will be assuming the duties of Juvenile Magistrate upon the retirement of W. Jonathan Forker, who has served in the capacity of both Magistrate and Juvenile Magistrate since January of 2011. She is currently the Executive Director of the LaPorte County Juvenile Services Center (JSC), a 24-bed emergency shelter care and

City of Michigan City offices will be closed in observance of Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 20. There will be no interruption in Refuse services as they will be operating their normal pickup schedule. Transit will also be operating their regular schedule with no interruptions. The city is reminding citizens of the Complementary Paratransit Service (Dial A Ride) for passengers with scheduled medical treatment appointments.

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – The parents of a 3-year-old girl with autism who died in May have been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death. eOn the morning of May 12, 2022 the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call in reference to a 3 year old autistic child, Ivey Allen, who had wandered away from her residence in the 400 block of Long Beach Lane, and was missing. A search for Ivy began immediately following the call. The Michigan City Police Department Uniformed Patrol Division, Investigative Division, Traffic Division, Michigan City Fire Department, Long Beach

The City of La Porte Police Department says its Detective Bureau has made an arrest on a suspect responsible for four burglaries between August 2022 and February 2023. The victims of the burglaries were the La Porte Pantry and the Glass House Smoke Shop. Both businesses were victimized twice by the same suspect. Detectives worked together with the cases to build enough probable cause against the suspect to apply burglary charges. The suspect’s identity will not be released due to the suspect being a juvenile.

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon B. Israel Yahuaca, MD is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Michigan City and Chesterton. Dr. Yahuaca completed his training at University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria, Ill. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia, Mo. Dr. Yahuaca’s fellowship training was in shoulder and elbow surgery at Florida Orthopedic Institute in Tampa, Fla. His clinical interests are complex shoulder and elbow issues, shoulder replacement, arthroscopic shoulder surgery, upper extremity trauma, sports injuries and elbow replacement. Dr. Yahuaca is

As part of their investment with the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce (Chamber), Horizon Bank recently gifted a full year chamber membership to the Michigan City Black Business Association (MCBBA). During a recent chamber networking event, Horizon Bank representative, Bill Gertner, was able to present the membership to Denice Shipp Glenn, President, and founder of the MCBBA. (Photo provided) MCBBA was founded to empower and provide a voice for the invisible, overlooked, and undervalued black business community. As a membership-based association, they do this through business promotion, business resources, and networking. MCBBA meets monthly every third Monday at Emmet D.

Judicial officers around the state will have the authority to allow news media into their courtrooms to record, photograph, and broadcast court proceedings that are not confidential, beginning on May 1. Rule 2.17 of the Code of Judicial Conduct has long prohibited broadcasting, recording, or taking photographs of court proceedings and areas adjacent to courtrooms without prior approval by the Indiana Supreme Court. An order amending Rule 2.17, effective May 1, 2023, gives the discretion to allow cameras to the local judges. “This is the culmination of years of work and pilot projects with discussion and evaluation,” said Chief Justice

Eighth-grade students from Michigan City and beyond are invited to attend Michigan City High School’s annual Wolfpack Roundup. This informational session will be held on Friday, February 24 at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Michigan City High School, 8466 W. Pahs Road. “Wolfpack Roundup is an opportunity for students and their families to take a tour, meet school counselors and administrators, and hear more about classes, extracurriculars, dual credit, and much more,” said MCHS Principal Kyle Dean. The Roundup is open to families of all current eighth-grade students – those who attend Michigan City Area Schools, as well as

Recently approved federal funding of up to $385 million over the next 15 years will allow Indiana to reclaim more former coal mines to their pre-mining status. Hoosiers who own such property are encouraged to report it to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — even if you don’t want the work done right away. Reclamation is the process by which adverse safety, health, and environmental effects of formerly unregulated surface mining are minimized and mined lands are returned to a beneficial end use. In Indiana, more than 2,000 reclamation projects have been completed since 1982 on both public

In Portage, Tecumseh Street will be closed to all traffic beginning Wednesday, Feb. 15 through Friday, Feb. 17 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. between Defiance Avenue and Prophet Avenue for work on water lines. Local traffic will still be able to travel through the area. Detour routes will be from Defiance to Hamstrom to Prophet.

The Portage Police and Fire Departments with the assistance of the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Project ChildSafe are able to provide interested persons with free gun locks in an effort to reduce firearms accidents and misuse. Image source: Portage Police Department / Facebook The free gun locks can be picked up at the Portage Police Department or any of the three Portage Fire Stations. Police Department - 6260 Central Avenue Fire Station #1 - 3401 Swanson Road Fire Station #2 - 6275 Old Porter Road Fire Station #3 - 6300 Central Avenue More information on safe firearms storage

The LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call on February 14, 2023, at approximately 5:13pm regarding a crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Hitchcock Road. Michigan City Police Department Uniform Patrol Shift 2, along with Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS were dispatched to this location. At this time, a preliminary investigation has revealed that the SUV involved in this crash was traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 20 and attempting to make a lefthand turn onto Hitchcock Road to travel northbound. At this time the SUV and motorcycle crashed into each other. The Michigan

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) announced the collection of more than 30,000 gallons of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) firefighting foam from Indiana fire departments. Since April 2022, this free program, provided by IDEM, Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), and Indiana Finance Authority (IFA), has collected and safely disposed of foam from more than 220 Hoosier fire departments across the state. “When we first began collection, we set a lofty goal to collect 30,000 gallons of PFAS foam,” said IDEM Commissioner Brian Rockensuess. “We have exceeded that goal in less than a year’s time and are still scheduling

Board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor Joshua Scheidler, MD is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Crown Point. Dr. Scheidler completed his training at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colo. Dr. Scheidler’s fellowship training was in spine medicine at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. His clinical interests are spasticity neuro-rehabilitation such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI), medical rehabilitation, general debility amputation and spine and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Dr.