News

Sheriff Ronald Heeg of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced the recent hiring of three merit deputies. Deputy Joseph A. Walker, 44, began his employment with the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) on Feb. 6. He was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana and is a 1997 graduate of Southmont High School. Deputy Walker is a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy – Basic Recruit Class 14-202. He is also an Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board Certified Instructor. Deputy Walker is married, has two children, and resides in rural Scipio Township. Deputy Pablo J. Pesa, 31, began his employment

News release by Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) recently honored several standout students, faculty and staff members, nominated by their peers, for their exemplary accomplishments. Awards were presented during PNW’s seventh annual Founders Day celebration, hosted on the Westville campus. PNW’s Founders Day event celebrates the anniversary of the university’s founding and its mission as a metropolitan university to provide transformational and impactful change for Northwest Indiana. In doing so, the event also recognizes a new set of nominees each year who have advanced PNW’s mission through academics, scholarship, and service to the

The Michigan City Police Department is investigating after a home and three vehicles were struck by bullets Wednesday. At around 10:04 a.m., officers were called to the 400 block of Hayes Avenue in reference to gunshots being fired. The initial investigation determined numerous gunshots had been fired from a vehicle that had been traveling on Hayes Avenue. An occupied home and three vehicles were struck by bullets. Police say there were no injuries to any of the people inside the home. The crime scene was processed and multiple evidentiary items were collected. The investigation is still ongoing and no arrests

News release by NIPSCO: April is National Safe Digging Month Merrillville, Ind. — In observance of National Safe Digging Month in April, NIPSCO today shared results from the Common Ground Alliance national survey revealing that 74% of U.S. homeowners plan to dig on their property this year. Of those who are planning projects, more than 49.3 million Americans will put themselves and their communities at risk by not contacting 811 before digging. Thousands of buried utilities are damaged each year due to digging activities. Safe Digging Month serves as a reminder to homeowners and contractors that digging without knowing the

The Indiana Department of Transportation has provided an update regarding concrete restoration work on I-94 eastbound in Lake County. Starting this (Thursday) morning, traffic is shifting to the left, using the left shoulder as a fourth lane of travel. This configuration and the closure of the ramps from Calumet Avenue to Eastbound I-94 will remain in place through mid-April.  

News release by Franciscan Health: CROWN POINT, Indiana – Centier Bank recently donated $3,000 to the Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program to benefit the Diaper Pantry at the Franciscan Physician Network St. Clare Health Center in Crown Point. The Diaper Pantry provides free diapers, wipes, formula and other essentials for parents in financial need. “This year, it felt important to support the Prenatal Assistance Program, especially with inflation and the cost of raising a family,” said Centier Bank Special Events Coordinator Melissa Contrucci, who also serves on the board of directors for the Franciscan Health Foundation. “I have two children

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office says it arrested a “serious violent felon” after a traffic stop Tuesday morning on the Indiana Toll Road. At around 8:10 a.m., a deputy was stopped in the median of the Indiana Toll Road monitoring eastbound traffic near the 48-mile marker. A passenger vehicle passed by and gained the attention of the deputy. The deputy caught up to the vehicle near the 51-mile marker and saw it to be traveling less than one car length behind another vehicle. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near the 53-mile marker for following too

News release by Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. – Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has selected three impactful alumni to honor as its second annual PNW Alumni Hall of Fame class. PNW’s 2023 honorees include Robert Johnson III, Stewart “Stu” McMillan and Alfredo “Al” Sori. “These distinguished honorees embody the qualities of PNW alumni: people who built upon their PNW degrees to provide transformational change for the region and the world and who continue to devote attention to the university so that others may be inspired to pursue their own dreams,” Purdue Northwest Chancellor Thomas L. Keon said. “Each

La Porte County Sheriff’s deputy Deputy Michael J. Walker retired on Monday, Sheriff Ronald Heeg announced. Deputy Walker was hired by the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office as a Jail Deputy on September 21, 2000.  He was promoted to the merit division on January 1, 2002. Deputy Walker attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy later that year and was a graduate of Basic Recruit Class 02-150. Over the course of his career, Walker was a patrol deputy, an investigator assigned to the La Porte County Drug Task Force and was a member of the agency’s Hostage Crisis Negotiation Team. “I

The LaPorte County Health Department says it will be accepting water samples starting April 3 on Mondays and Wednesdays only, with the exception of government holidays. The LaPorte Office is temporarily located in Michigan City, 302 W 8th Street - Suite 4. Their office in the County Complex building has been under renovation since the flood in December 2022. More information is available on the flyer. The La Porte County Health Department is asking the public to read the flyer information carefully.    

The Indiana Department of Transportation will begin a resurfacing project on U.S. 35/Pine Lake Avenue between NewPorte Boulevard and State Road 39 starting on or after Monday, April 3 through early July. One lane will be closed at a time through the duration of the project. There will also be intermittent intersection closures for work, with no more than two intersections and never two consecutive intersections closed at the same time, INDOT says. Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns and intersection access through the area. Work will include patching, replacing curb and gutter, bringing ramps up to ADA

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce is congratulates the winners of the Chesterton town banner photo contest. The winners (in alphabetical order) are Susan Kirt, Olga Petryszyn, Elizabeth Robinson, and Morgan-Daniell Witt. All of the winners will have their pictures displayed on banners throughout Chesterton. The Duneland Chamber of Commerce thanks everyone who submitted photos. The banners will be up in time for the 2023 European Market Season.

Franciscan Health is offering free grief support group sessions to anyone seeking support with the loss of a loved one. The Palliative Care Departments at Franciscan Health Dyer and Franciscan Health Munster offer free grief support group sessions on Tuesday evenings for 10 weeks. The groups use “Understanding Your Grief,” by Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D., as a guide through the journey from loss to healing. The spring session runs from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings from April 18 through June 20. Registration is required and groups are limited to 10 members. Locations will be disclosed upon registration. No food

The next tribute band in the Civic Concert Series is sure to ‘rock’ the house, according to Civic Auditorium & Events Director Brett Binversie. Performing at the La Porte Civic Auditorium on Saturday, May 20 is Queen Nation – an amazingly accurate tribute to the legendary Queen. Formed in 2004, Queen Nation is the West Coast's longest-running, most authentic, fully costumed re-creation of a vintage Queen concert. According to Binversie, tickets to this show have been selling steadily from the moment they went on sale. “This show has already met and exceeded our expectations for attendance, and we are still

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. – The U.S. 6 bridge over Coffee Creek, between Mander Road and County Road N. 350 E/N Old Suman Road. The closure is set to be approximately 15 days starting on or after Monday, April 3. The official detour will follow State Road 49 and State Road 2.

The Westville Volunteer Fire Department stopped by AK Smith Career Center in Michigan City Monday to donate a fire engine to AK Smith’s Fire Science program. The WVFD recently replaced the 1993 model with a new truck. "We wanted to do something to give back to future generations of firefighters," said Westville Fire Chief Jason Zeman. For more information about the Fire Science program, visit https://educateMC.net/fire.  

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. – State Road 149 will be closed between Robbie Lane and County Road W 550 N on or after Monday, April 3 through early June. The closure is for a pipe lining and small structure maintenance and repair project. The official detour will follow State Road 130 and U.S. 6.

MICHIGAN CITY – Registration is now open for The Salvation Army’s annual free summer camp opportunities. Children ages 7 to 17 who reside in Michigan City are eligible to attend camp through The Salvation Army, including four different camps that will take place at Hidden Falls Camp in Bedford, IN. The experience will be a four or five day overnight visit, depending on the camp. Teen Camp will be held June 12-16 for campers ages 13-17; Kids Camp, for children ages 7-12, will take place June 19-22; and Sports Camp will be held July 3-6 for campers ages 10-14, with

DNR’s Division of State Parks recently honored its volunteers, partners, and employees for their commitment to conserve, manage, and interpret resources while creating memorable experiences for visitors in 2022. Awards were announced at the division’s annual leadership conference, which was held at Brown County State Park. Outstanding Volunteer Awards recognize the work of individuals who share their time and expertise at Indiana State Park properties. Three individuals were honored for their service: Phil and Marcia Douglass first came to Indiana State Parks in 2011 when they enrolled in an Indiana Master Naturalist class. There they were introduced to the campground

Valparaiso’s City Administrator Mike Jessen will leave his position with the City of Valparaiso on May 1 to become President and CEO for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, Mayor Matt Murphy announced on Friday. “Mike’s leadership has added tremendous value to the City of Valparaiso, from navigating through the pandemic to managing our most impactful projects to advancing community engagement. While he will surely be missed at City Hall, we wish him well in this new role, where he is perfectly suited to lead,” said Murphy. Jessen has served as City Administrator since January 2020, managing