News

This month, calls from scammers to area homes and businesses posing as NIPSCO employees have sharply risen, the company says. Recent, and common reports from NIPSCO residential and business customers state that they have received calls and texts from people claiming to be NIPSCO employees and demanding payment to avoid their service being disconnected. NIPSCO says it wants to emphasize that the company never demands immediate payment via prepaid card, or in cash at a person’s residence or place of business. Scammers have even presented information that only the customer may know in an attempt to gain their trust, according

The La Porte County Health Department is letting the public know that the CDC has issued booster eligibility guidance for ages 16-17. “Based on those recommendations, the Indiana Department of Health supports the administration of booster doses to individuals who attest to meeting CDC guidelines as outlined below. • 16 and older and completed their primary vaccination series of Pfizer at least 6 months ago. • 18 and older and completed their primary vaccination series of Moderna at least 6 months ago or completed their primary vaccination of Johnson & Johnson at least 2 months ago.” Teens 16-17 years old

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

The Michigan City Police Department announced that during a ceremony on Wednesday evening, Emergency Management Volunteer Rick Jackson was presented with the 2021 EMA volunteer of the year award. In 2021 Rick volunteered over 130 hours of service to the Michigan City Police Departments Emergency Management Volunteer organization. During this same ceremony EMA volunteer Demariya Baker was posthumously awarded the co-volunteer of the year award. Earlier this year Demariya lost his life as the result of a tragic incident. Demariya’s close friend and mentor Assistant Chief Marty Corley accepted the award on Demariya’s behalf. EMA volunteers assist the Michigan City

The Department of Justice announced Thursday that it has awarded more than $17.5 million in grants to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute was awarded over $135,000 to administer PSN grant funds in the Northern District of Indiana. The Justice Department says funding will support efforts across the country to address violent crime, including the gun violence. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will administer the 88 grant awards, which are being made to designated fiscal agents to support local PSN projects that work in

The Indiana Department of Health has labeled LaPorte County’s COVID-19 advisory level as red, the highest level in this weeks update. The county’s positivity rate is currently at 17.39%. The Indiana Department of Health reported 4,241 more Hoosiers have tested positive for COVID-19 from November 26 to December 6. LaPorte County numbers currently reflect 17,777 public cases, 298 Westville Correctional cases and 52 Indiana State Prison cases for a total of 18,127 positive cases including 80 cases reported on December 7. The Indiana Department of Health coronavirus dashboard reported 19 deaths from November 15 to December 6. A total of

The Michigan City Washington Park Zoo’s bidding is now open in their 2021 Facebook auction supporting their animal care program and habitat improvements. The 2021 auction features over 60 zoo-nique items. The auction is open until Dec. 13 at 9:00 a.m. The zoo gave out some tips and rules for the auction: “1.) The winning bid must be on this Facebook page if this post is shared. Only bids on that page will be used. 2.) Bids will end at 9:00 am (12-13-2021). 3.) All items will need to be picked up or have arrangements made no later than Dec.

The South Shore Line announced that they are thanking local educators for their hard work this school year, by inviting teachers to ride the SSL for free December 22 – 29 on all weekday, weekend, and holiday trains. To ride, educators will need to present a valid school ID. See more information at MySouthShoreLine.com .

The final Veteran Free Day of the year at La Porte County Historical Society Museum will be on Saturday, Dec. 11. The museum is celebrating National Guard Founding Day. Although the National Guard was founded on Dec. 13, as that falls on a Monday this year they’re honoring it early. Veterans from any branch are welcome to visit the Museum free of charge this Saturday as a thank you for their service.  

The Ogden Dunes Street Department is no longer picking up brush for 2021 and the last day for leaf pickup will be this Friday, December 10th, 2021. Please try to get your remaining leaves out as soon as possible. If leaves are out after Friday, they will NOT be picked up. Leaf and brush pickup will resume at a date to be announced in the spring.

The Purdue Top Farmer Conference, a management program for farmers that features some of the nation’s top experts on farm management, farm policy, agricultural finance and marketing, will take place Jan. 7, live via the Zoom meeting platform. Frank Mitloehner, a University of California, Davis professor of animal science, air quality extension specialist and the conference keynote speaker, will discuss animal agriculture’s path to climate neutrality. Mitloehner is a sustainability expert who has spent nearly two decades studying the relationship between the livestock industry and air quality. His research sheds new light on the impact of livestock emissions on climate

The City of La Porte says if you are looking for gift ideas, TransPorte punch tickets are good for 10 rides and never expire. Drivers will pick passengers up right at their door and take them anywhere in City limits. General passes are available for just $30, and Senior/Disabled passes are $22.50. For more information, contact TransPorte at 219-326-8274.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that in response to some customer service cases, their maintenance forces are taking on the task of clearing vegetation and trash from behind the sound wall on I-80/94 in Lake County. INDOT said that over the years, the area behind the wall that stretches for miles along the Borman Expressway, has become overgrown and a dumping ground for trash. INDOT said there’s standard debris such as papers, food containers, etc. but also larger items like mattresses, televisions and even a car in one spot. The maintenance teams are making clearing the areas

Governor Holcomb Tuesday announced the placement of Indiana’s first-ever naloxone vending machine at the St. Joseph County Jail in South Bend. The machine is one of 19 to be placed in the state and will be available for use by the public. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication approved to reverse an overdose from opioids and is given when a person is showing signs of opioid overdose to block the deadly effects of the overdose. Each kit includes a single dose of naloxone, instructions for use, and a referral to treatment for substance use disorder. The machine holds

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022 AT 3 PM – 6 PM Event by Chesterton Physical Therapy, Inc. 3190 Willowcreek Rd, Portage, IN 46368-4424, United States Light Refreshments provided

Mayor Tom Dermody and the Board of Public Works & Safety today announced the hiring of Craig Phillips as the new Director of Community Development & Planning for the City of La Porte. A Michigan native, Phillips’ resume includes planning experience in cities such as Elkhart, Valparaiso and more recently, Michigan City. Dermody said with his more than 20 years of professional experience, he anticipates big things from Phillips in the coming months. “We are thrilled to welcome Craig and his abundance of experience to our team,” Dermody said. “La Porte is on a roll and we are excited for

Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) awarded $6,502,170 in grants in 2021, bringing HFL’s total investment in the community to over $30 million since HFL’s founding in 2017. Dedicated to empowering La Porte County residents to live healthy and well, HFL makes grants to advance its strategic priorities of Healthy Children, Healthy Living, and Healthy Minds and responds to community health and wellness needs outside of these priorities through Healthy La Porte grants. HFL supports efforts to strengthen nonprofit organizations in La Porte County through Healthy Partners grants and grants AED equipment to help community members survive cardiac arrest through