News

The City of Portage's Utility Department is taking orders for 55- gallon rain barrels for residential usage. The limit is one barrel per household. The cost is $25 each. A limit of 135 barrels will be sold at that price. After the limit is met, additional barrels may be purchased for $54. The deadline for mail orders is Aug. 19 and for online orders, the deadline is Aug. 22 See a flyer on how to order the barrels on the Portage Indiana Government Facebook page. A link to the company to order online has been posted to the Portage Indiana

The City of La Porte Park and Recreation Department announced that Fall Baseball registration for Minor, Major and Junior divisions is now open. Emphasis will be on instruction and constructive competition as players look to take their games to the next level. Players must be age 8-11 for Minor and Major divisions and age 12-14 for the Junior Division (as of April 30, 2022). Cost is $60 for Minor and Major divisions and $100 for Junior Division and registration is available at the Park Office (250 Pine Lake Avenue), by phone (219-326-9600) or online at www.laporteparkandrec.com. The deadline is Friday,

The Collective Artisan Market returns to Fox Park for LakeFest 2022. The curated artisan pop-up event will be from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Dennis F. Smith Amphitheater. Shop small and support 75-plus locally-owned small businesses. There will be live music, food vendors, high school artists and more. Admission is free. Visit www.laportelakefest.com for the full schedule.

The Michigan City Parks and Pavilion will be closed on Friday Aug. 5 due to the Great Lakes Grand Prix taking place. Parking operations will resume Aug. 8 with regular hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Saturday office hours from 9 a.m. to noon end July 30.

Work has begun on the City of Portage’s $2.6 million 2022 paving program. The paving program is funded through a $1 million state Community Crossings Matching Grant program along with city and Redevelopment Commission Funds. There are rolling lane closures. Streets included in this portion of the paving project include: - Plaza Avenue between Plymouth Street and the end, east of Dombey Road - Houston Avenue between Sloan Street and Willowcreek Road - Lakewood Avenue between Venus Street and Jacqueline Street - Venus Street between Lakewood Avenue and the Cul-de-sac - Christy Street between Stone Avenue and Tilford Avenue -

The Portage Police Department Friday congratulated Lieutenant Ross Haynes #93 on his retirement from the Portage Police Department.  Lt. Haynes began his career with the City of Portage on July 19, 1992, Throughout his career, Lt. Haynes served in numerous roles from patrol officer, instructor, field training officer, supervisor, SWAT Team member, and administrator while holding the rank of Captain of the Patrol Division. As an instructor Haynes was state certified to teach firearms and physical tactics. Certifications that he put to good use, providing the highest quality of training not only to members of the Portage Police Department but

The La Porte County Sheriff's Office is asking the public if they recognize a vehicle or two individuals in photos that were posted to the department's Facebook page. They are being sought in connection with a burglary that occurred on July 3rd at a business along US 20. Those with information are asked to contact Detective Aaron Banic by email at abanic@lcso.in.gov or by phone at 219-326-7700, ext. 2407.

In Portage, Airport Road between Monda Avenue and Lute Road and Lute Road east of Sarah Street will be closed to all traffic Monday, July 18 through Tuesday, July 19. Airport Road between Monda Avenue and Lute Road will be closed to all traffic Wednesday, July 20 through Thursday, July 21. These are separate closures than previously issued. The closures will not open for evening traffic.

A 53-year-old man is dead after a shooting Wednesday evening in Michigan City. Police were called to the 1600 block of East Michigan Boulevard at 08:02 p.m. regarding a person suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers located 53-year-old Michigan City resident Jimmy Brown inside a vehicle. Brown was suffering from multiple life-threatening injuries, so officers provided life saving measures until EMS and Michigan City Fire Department personnel arrived. Brown and a passenger riding with him were transported by EMS to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital for medical treatment. Brown eventually died from his injuries while the passenger riding with him

As Michigan City Area Schools prepares for school to open in August, the district is again seeking retired educators, future educators, and other community members to assist students who have fallen behind academically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Students in our district, like school-age children across the country, experienced learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said MCAS Superintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins. “High-dosage tutoring is just one way we are working to help students get back on track.” MCAS began high-dosage tutoring as a pilot program at several schools last spring and hopes to increase the number of tutors this

Michigan City Police announced Thursday that a La Porte man was arrested in connection to an August 2021 homicide that occurred in Michigan City.  On August 9, 2021 at around 7:34 PM police were called to Eastside Liquors regarding a person who was shot in the parking lot of Eastside Liquors located at 1509 East Michigan Boulevard. Officers were dispatched to the scene and discovered 34- year-old Leland Collins of Michigan City suffering from life threatening injuries. Officers immediately began life saving measures until EMS arrived. Collins was transported to Franciscan Health Michigan City Hospital where he later died from

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Division of Mental Health and Addiction is providing new funding to help build and support projects in Indiana to improve mental health services for Hoosiers. It includes funding appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly in House Enrolled Act 1001, and additional funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and other sources. The largest investment is in Community Catalyst Grants provided to 37 recipients. The $54.8 million provided in these grants includes $22.3 million of local and grantee match dollars as well as $32.5 million in federal funds. The goal of the

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will begin two pipe lining projects on U.S. 20 in St. Joseph County on or after Wednesday, July 20.  The first pipe is located just west of the U.S. 20/31 bypass and State Road 23 interchange. The right outside shoulder and lane of westbound U.S. 20/31 will be closed and the eastbound shoulder of U.S. 20/31 will be closed through this area. The ramp from State Road 23 to westbound U.S. 20/31 will remain open, but traffic will be shifted to accommodate the work zone.  The second location is at the U.S. 20 and

Three students from La Porte County received scholarships Wednesday in honor of fallen La Porte County Sheriff’s Patrolman Neil Thompson. The students were presented with the scholarships at the La Porte County Sheriff’s Merit Board July meeting. Alexis Becker (daughter of Brian and Leslie Crook) is a 2022 graduate of La Porte High School. Roman Piergalski (son of Brian and Ursula Piergalski) and Nicholas Boyd (son of John and Amy Boyd) are 2022 graduates of New Prairie High School. Alexis will be attending Indiana University and plans to major in psychology. Roman will be attending Nova Southeastern University and plans

The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest has opened nominations for the 2022 Innovators Awards. In addition to inducting Individual and Team Honorees into the Society, three unique awards will be considered: Richard C. Sussman Prize for Team Innovation, Society of Innovators Fellows, and the John H. Davies Lifetime Achievement Award.  Purdue Northwest says the Society of Innovators “celebrates the spirit of creativity and ingenuity by discovering, honoring and celebrating innovators from across the seven-county region of Northwest Indiana.”  “Celebrating individuals and teams driving innovation in Northwest Indiana shines a bright light on the incredible spirit of innovation that has

One person died Wednesday after a crash involving a Lake County police officer in Gary.  Wednesday afternoon at around 12:10 p.m., the Indiana State Police Lowell Post was contacted by the Lake County Sheriff's Department to investigate a crash involving a Lake County Officer. The crash occurred within the city limits of Gary at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Colfax Street, police said. Preliminary investigation by the Indiana State Police revealed that a black, 2019, Dodge Charger police car, was traveling east on 5th Avenue when it struck a silver, 2005, Toyota Corolla that was making a left turn

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. – The traffic pattern on I-94 between Exits 34 and 40 (U.S. 421 and U.S. 20/35) will change on or after July 20, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced.  The two left lanes and shoulders in both the eastbound and westbound directions will be closed between W 400 N and Bleck Road. Traffic will be shifted to the right with two 11-foot lanes with two-foot shoulders open in both directions.  These lane closures and shifts are for phase two of a bridge replacement project just east of Johnson Road and will be in place through late

The Indiana Department of Education Wednesday presented updated findings from a study on COVID-19’s academic impact on student learning.  The IDOE says that the results show that while learning is stabilizing or recovering for many Indiana students, innovative and collaborative accelerated learning activities must be implemented to increase academic momentum for all Hoosier students. “Today we’re seeing the positive collective impact we can have when educators, communities and families come together to support our students’ learning,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Foundational learning in English/language arts and math is stabilizing or recovering for most of our students,