News

The La Porte County Commissioners, the La Porte County Council, and leaders from La Porte County EMS broke ground earlier this week on an EMS base project that has been in the works for nearly 20 years.  “This much-needed EMS base to serve Rolling Prairie and eastern La Porte County will address the high need for emergency medical response and services. Saving lives and getting help to our citizens more quickly when minutes make a difference makes this EMS base project so very important,” said Sheila Matias, President of the Board of Commissioners. “I really want to thank Commissioner Richard

Mayor of La Porte Tom Dermody is reminding residents that the Active Living Workshop will take place 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Thursday May 12 at the Civic Auditorium. The workshop is designed to help participants increase opportunities for active living and long-term quality of life. It will focus on equity, land use, public health and safety while connecting the audience with tools for analysis of their own communities. The workshop Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided. A video explaining more along with a registration link can be found on Tom Dermody’s public Facebook page. More can

The City of Portage announced City Hall will be on the move back to its home headquarters Monday, May 9. Renovations to City Hall are nearly complete and the city says there will “still be a few loose ends to tie up" once they've moved in. City offices and employees will begin to move back in on Monday. The move could take a few days. Until the move back home is completed, the city will still be operating out of their temporary offices at Woodland Park. The City Council meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, will be held at Woodland

Two groups of scammers on the hunt to victimize others have been frequenting gas stations in the northern half of the county, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office said on their Facebook page Friday. Police stated that one is operating out of a white Ford Explorer and the other is a gray Dodge Avenger. The scammers approach citizens with various sob stories and gas money requests. In exchange for money, the scammers begin attempting to trade jewelry, all of which is fake, police said. The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office stated on their Facebook page, “Do not entertain these crooks!”

The Indiana DNR would like more information about the wildlife that spend time around Indiana’s waterways and are asking paddlers for help. Volunteer paddlers can sign up to complete paddling trip postcards documenting the wildlife they observe while floating from June 1 to July 31. Volunteers will be mailed a packet when they sign up.  Previous volunteers will be mailed a new packet and do not need to sign up again. The information collected will allow wildlife managers to estimate changes in key wildlife populations over time. See more information on the DNR website. 

The Town of Chesterton says emergency repairs to a collapsed sanitary sewer lateral serving the apartments at 610 Wabash Ave. will force the closure of Wabash Ave. between North Eighth Street and Locust Street from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 9.  There will be no access for emergency vehicles. The detour will be North 4th Street south to Broadway, then west to North 8th Street, then north to Wabash Avenue.

Visitors from the Unity Foundation of La Porte County stopped by Michigan City High School Thursday afternoon for a tour of the school’s Manufacturing, Safe Harbor Robotics, Engineering and Compressed Air labs. The electric vehicles that students built will be racing at Purdue on May 21. Michigan City High School’s engineering and tech programs are giving students hands-on experience, dual credit, internships, summer jobs, and research opportunities. See additional photos on the Michigan City High School Facebook page.

The Michigan City Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred early Thursday that sent one person to the hospital.  At 12:50 a.m. dispatch received a call regarding shots being fired and that one person had been shot in the 200 block of Thurman Avenue. When officers arrived they learned one person had been shot in the arm.  The Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS arrived on scene and transported the person to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  Officers searched the area for evidence and witnesses.   Witnesses were interviewed by officers at the scene to

The Salvation Army of Michigan City is offering free summer camp to Michigan City youth. Registration takes place at The Salvation Army 1201 Franklin Street today (Thursday May 5), from 4-6 p.m. The Salvation Army says it is hoping to send many children to camp this year for the multiple camps that are offered this year as in previous years. This camp experience is offered free of charge for local families thanks to a grant Camp-goers will visit Little Pine Island near Grand Rapids, Michigan and experience the same activities camp generally has to offer. Simmons said the camp will

The Portage Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect in a store theft. Photos of the suspect were released on Wednesday. The theft that occurred at Strack & Van Til on Saturday April 30 at around 11:55 a.m. Police say if you recognize him or his vehicle —a “newer” Black Jeep Compass— to contact Detective Czilli at 219-764-5708 or message the department on Facebook.

Valparaiso Police Department announced their K9 Keno has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Keno’s vest was embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.”. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.  Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $960

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host its spring commencement exercises outdoors on Saturday, May 14 at the Hammond campus. A total of 976 candidates, representing PNW’s five colleges, are eligible to receive degrees during commencement. This number includes 856 earning baccalaureate degrees and 120 earning master’s degrees. PNW’s ceremony will take place south of the Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building, 2229 173rd Street. The commencement program is scheduled to start at noon. In case of severe weather, the back-up date is Sunday, May 15. The keynote speaker will be Alfredo “Al” Sori, a 1989 graduate of Purdue Northwest who

The City of La Porte's Taco Fest has been postponed due to Friday's forecast, according to City Events & Civic Director Brett Binversie.  "With chilly temperatures and a 100 percent chance of rain in the forecast, we feel it is best to reschedule Friday night's festivities," Binversie said. "We want Taco Fest to be a fun, positive experience for visitors and vendors alike, and it just doesn't seem that the weather would permit that. Though disappointed about the delay, we are excited that we were able to find a new date that we are hopeful will work for everyone.   The

The Gabis Arboretum Railway Garden has opened for the season and will remain open from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through October. The Gabis Arboretum Railway Garden spans two-acres and tells stories of American railroads in the context of a display garden. Miniature G-gauge model trains run throughout the exhibit alongside ten dioramas depicting American history. The entire exhibit is made possible by volunteers. The Railway Garden showcases plants that are not often seen in the Midwest. Due to the various elevation changes throughout the exhibit, various “microclimates” are created allowing unique plants to thrive. 

The primary election took place Tuesday in LaPorte County. In general across the county voter turnout was 16.32% with a public count of 12,793. Out of that number 10,320 voted on election day; 329 by paper absentee; and 2,144 by walk-in absentee. The following documents are from the LaPorte County Primary Election Summary Report for 2022:

Construction work near Cedar and Lafayette Streets continues in Michigan City, the South Shore Line announced earlier this week. The South Shore Line says that the new sets of tracks in this area are designed to remove the track curve that previously existed. "Straightening the approach in and out of the future 11th Street Station platforms will help with speed and efficiency of the South Shore Line’s operational train movements", the South Shore Line said.  

A Chesterton police officer and the Chesterton Street Commissioner, John Schnadenberg rescued a passenger from a water-filled ditch on Tuesday, according to a post made on the Town of Chesterton Facebook page.  According to the post, Schnadenberg was pulling onto Ind. 49 at around 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, when he heard over his radio a report of a car, which had just left the northbound lanes of Ind. 49, had entered a ditch in front of the CVS, and was filling with water. On his arrival Schnadenberg discovered that, the car was submerged up to the top of its

The following is an update from NICTD on the South Shore Line (NICTD) Double Track NWI Project construction that is ongoing:  GARY- MILLER STATION AREA All buildings have been demolished for the construction of the station and parking lots in Miller. New sewer work has begun in both the west and east parking lots. Parking is available but temporarily restricted while work near Miller Station progresses. Vehicular and pedestrian access from Melton Road (US 20) will be closed, the driveway from Old US 12/Dunes Highway will remain open. Construction activities may be taking place on the shoulder of Dunes Hwy. Upcoming

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor has begun a $31.99 million concrete pavement restoration project on I-80/94 between the Illinois State Line and State Road 912. Mobile operations are currently taking place on the shoulders of I-80/94 between mile marker 0 and 7 during the daytime hours of approximately 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Work includes cleaning the shoulders and inspecting and repairing storm drains to prepare for shifted traffic during construction. These daily shoulder closures are scheduled to continue through May 11. Starting on or after Thursday, May 12, overnight lane closures will be utilized on westbound I-80/94. Alternating lane