News

Update: In an update to a story WIMS has been following, 79 year-old Peter Metcalf was found safe, according to the St. Joseph County Police Department. Original story: A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared for a missing St. Joseph County man. The St. Joseph County Police Department is investigating the disappearance of 79 year old Peter Metcalf. Metcalf is described as a white male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 157 pounds,  gray hair with blue eyes, last seen wearing a black Air Force hat, navy blue coat, shirt, blue jeans, and driving a red 2016 Ford Edge with Indiana

The following is a statement from the Michigan City Police Department regarding a second arrest being made from the homicide that occurred on Christmas Eve: "An update on the homicide that occurred on December 24, 2021. On Christmas Eve at approximately 3:39 pm, Officers with the Michigan City Police Department began to hear gunfire in the area of 10th and Wabash St. The LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center advised the officers that they were receiving reports of a gunshot victim in the area of West 11th Street and Wabash Street. Michigan City Police Officers, Indiana State Police Officers, Michigan City

The Indiana State Police - Lowell Post announced that troopers working the midnight shift made 526 arrests for impaired driving in 2021.  Trooper Israel Rosillo led the way with 111 arrests, followed by Trooper Jordin Bilthuis with 94 and Trooper Kevin Council with 83.  These statistics include arrests for alcohol offenses, as well as drug offenses to include operating under the influence of marijuana and other illegal drugs.  Several of these arrests also involved vehicle crashes that involved injuries to either the arrestee or an innocent person.  The Indiana State police say that while they are proud of the efforts

Furniture, housewares and office supplies will be among the items people can take home from a garage sale at Franciscan Health Hammond from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19. There will be no charge for items, which had previously been used at the hospital campus, but a goodwill donation is requested. Donations will go toward the Franciscan Alliance Employee Assistance Fund. To access the sale, use the hospital’s main entrance at 5454 Hohman Ave. Items that may be available at the sale include: • various housewares and house décor items • tables: round, square, rectangular of various

Students at A.K. Smith Career Center who are enrolled in the Education Professions program are getting back into the classroom, but this time in a whole new way. Thanks to a partnership between La Porte County Career and Technical Education and Michigan City Area Schools, these juniors and seniors are now spending several hours each month in an elementary school classroom to get some real-world experience. “Students don’t truly know what it’s like to be a teacher until they are in the classroom,” said Cathy Lindgren, Education Professions teacher. “This gives them a deeper understanding of lesson planning, the method

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is celebrating National 211 Day today – February 11! IN211 is a free service that connects Hoosiers with help and answers from thousands of health and human service agencies and resources right in their local communities - quickly, easily and confidentially. IN211’s team is comprised of experienced, responsive and compassionate community navigators who are skilled at actively listening and identifying needs and providing referrals that best meet those needs. Since Indiana 211 became part of FSSA in July of 2020, we have helped hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers. In the past 18 months,

The South Shore Line announces that it will again offer a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” promotion, applicable for March monthly tickets. All monthly tickets purchased for the month of March 2022 will remain valid throughout April 2022. Passengers purchasing a paper March monthly ticket should plan to keep that ticket and use it through April, and passengers purchasing a digital March monthly ticket via the mobile app will see an April ticket uploaded to their accounts prior to April 1. For passengers who receive tickets through an employer benefit program such as Wage Works or Commuter Benefit Solutions, these

A lengthy pursuit on the Indiana Toll Road of a stolen U-Haul landed an Illinois man in jail after he refused to stop for Indiana State Troopers. Indiana State Police Dispatch say on Monday they received a call from the Ohio State Highway Patrol informing them that their troopers had been in pursuit of a stolen U-Haul in the Toledo, OH area. Authorities in Ohio were able to provide identifying information on the vehicle and they also had reason to believe that it was in Indiana. At just after 9 p.m., a trooper located the alleged stolen U-Haul as it

Thanks to a $15,000 grant from 1st Source Foundation, Franciscan Health’s Centers of Hope in Michigan City and Chesterton will have the ability to provide compassionate care to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, while documenting evidence to bring justice to tragic cases. “With this generous grant from 1st Source we are able to meet our goal of purchasing and installing state-of-the-art Cortexflo equipment for both our Chesterton and Michigan City emergency departments, enhancing and improving existing sexual assault response and treatment services in Porter and LaPorte counties,” said Debbie Tatum, Franciscan Health Foundation director of development. Franciscan Health

Governor Eric Holcomb Thursday announced that he signed executive orders granting medical clemency to three offenders who are bed ridden and diagnosed with terminal health conditions. The three men will be released to the supervision of the Parole Board and will serve the remainder of their lives at a skilled nursing home under the state’s care. In all three cases the offenders require 24-hour a day care as they are unable to care for themselves. Holcomb said in a statement, "These men are no longer a threat to society, and it’s been determined they are better cared for at a

A Gary man was charged with attempted murder of a Gary police officer, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. Wednesday police announced that 22-year-old Kameron T. Cooks, of Gary, is facing a charge of attempted murder in the shooting of veteran Gary police officer Sgt. William Fazekas on Feb. 7. Cooks also faces one count of aggravated battery, three counts of resisting law enforcement and one count of striking a law enforcement animal.

The Salvation Army of Michigan City is offering a unique way to celebrate the “Big Game” by tackling hunger in Michigan City.  A drive-through food drive will be held this Saturday, February 12 from 9 a.m. to noon to help restock food pantry shelves. The Salvation Army is seeking donations to the food pantry to help restock the shelves after serving nearly 600 local families with Christmas assistance.  In addition, the food pantry serves approximately 500 families per month. Suggested items for donation are canned fruits and vegetables, spaghetti sauce, cereal, jelly, canned meat, paper products, dish detergent, hygiene products

Wednesday, Rep. Frank J. Mrvan announced that the Sanitary District of Michigan City will receive a grant award from the Nonpoint Source Runoff and Nutrient Reduction Program under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The grant award, which is over $292,000, will be used to improve water quality and reduce stormwater runoff in Michigan City communities. Specifically, the funding will support the Adams Park Stormwater Wetland Restoration project, which will develop a 2.5 acre stormwater treatment wetland. The purpose of this area is to capture stormwater runoff and will add 413,820 square feet of green infrastructure and the planting of

A La Porte man was charged with rape and eight additional related felony counts according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. Police say on Jan. 4, Deputy Ryan Doperalski was dispatched to a residence located in rural Pleasant Township regarding a sex offense. Initial information was gathered by Deputy Doperalski from the teenage female victim and her guardians. This information identified the suspect as 35 year old John M. Doty of La Porte, a teacher for a regional area school. The matter was assigned to Detective Gabe Struss for immediate investigation. In the days and weeks that followed, Detective

A crane hoisted a yellow beam skyward in the winter sun, marking a milestone in the construction of Franciscan Health Crown Point’s new hospital at Interstate 65 and U.S. 231. The recent Topping Off Ceremony celebrated the last of the structural steel that will shape the $200 million hospital, which will open in 2024. Jason Middleton, vice president of administrative services at Franciscan Health Crown Point, said, “This is a special day. This is the final beam going up into the hospital.” Father Tony Janik, OFM, director of spiritual care at Franciscan Health Crown Point, blessed the beam with holy

Indiana State police say a life-threatening condition was discovered after a trooper made an arrest following a pursuit on I-65 in Lake County Tuesday afternoon. At around 1:42 p.m.Troopers with the All Crimes Policing Team attempted to perform a traffic stop on a 2017 Nissan Maxima for traffic violations. The driver failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated northbound on I-65 from the 240 mile-marker (Lowell exit). During the pursuit, the suspect was able to avoid stop sticks that had been placed on the roadway at different locations. However, at the 255.2 mile-marker, another trooper attempted to put stop