News

In honor of Unity Foundation of La Porte County’s 30th Anniversary, Horizon Bank has donated $30,000 to Unity’s La Porte County Gives Gift Match Pool.  “For over 30 years, Unity Foundation has served as a powerful conduit for donors, nonprofits and community stakeholders,” said Craig M. Dwight, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Horizon Bank and Horizon Bancorp, Inc. “As a result, La Porte County is poised for stronger partnerships and bigger impact for many years to come.”  Unity is hosting La Porte County Gives, a 30-hour fundraising event between September 30 and October 1, 2022, at laportecountygives.net. Permanent funds held

Governor Eric Holcomb is directing flags in the State of Indiana to be flown at half-staff in honor of U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski, who passed Wednesday. Flags should be flown at half-staff immediately until the date of her burial. Holcomb is asking businesses and residents in Indiana to lower their flags.

Indiana Second District Congresswoman Jackie Walorski and three others died in an Elkhart County crash Wednesday.  At around 12:32 p.m. the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two vehicle crash on State Road 19 south of State Road 119. A northbound passenger car traveled left of center and collided head on with a southbound sports utility vehicle. All three occupants in the southbound vehicle died as a result of their injuries. They were identified as 58-year-old Jackie Walorski of Elkhart, 27 year-old Zachery Potts, of Mishawaka and 28 year-old Emma Thomson of Washington, DC.  The sole occupant of the

Heat advisories are in effect in northern Indiana, southwest Michigan and parts of Illinois Wednesday. The first heat advisory is from the National Weather Service of Northern Indiana: “...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT /11 AM CDT/ TO 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Peak afternoon heat index values 100 to 105 degrees. * WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana, southwest Michigan and northwest Ohio. * WHEN...From noon EDT /11 AM CDT/ to 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids,

The cadets of the Michigan City High School (MCHS) Cadets help put up one of the many tents used at the school district Back to School Rally. (MCJROTC) have been busy this summer as they trained for a week in Wisconsin at a Leadership Camp organized and run by MCHS, with cadets from Portage and South Bend Riley also attending. Selected cadets also attended the National Military Drill Camp at Schreiner University in Texas and the MCJROTC Senior Leadership Camp in Boswell, Pennsylvania. These camps, like all MCJROTC activities, were done at no cost to the students or MCHS. They

The following is an update on the Shore Shore Line's Double Track NWI construction: GARY- MILLER STATION AREA All buildings have been demolished for the construction of the station and parking lots in Miller. Work is underway at the new east lot. Parking is available but temporarily restricted while work near Miller Station progresses. Vehicular and pedestrian access from Melton Road (US 20) is closed, the driveway from Old US 12/Dunes Hwy will remain open with some lane restrictions. Construction activities may occur on the shoulder of Old US 12/Dunes Hwy.   Construction of the new Miller Station is expected to begin in

Attorney General Todd Rokita on Tuesday announced Indiana as a leader of the nationwide Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force, which will include 50 attorneys general. The task force will investigate and take legal action against the telecommunications companies responsible for bringing a majority of foreign robocalls into the country. This bipartisan national task force has one goal: to stop illegal robocalls.  The new task force, led by Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina attorneys general, has issued 20 civil investigative demands to 20 gateway providers and other entities that are allegedly responsible for a majority of foreign robocall traffic. Rokita’s office says

HOBART, Ind. – Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a kayaking incident Sunday night that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old Dyer man and left a 54-year-old Dyer woman in critical condition. At around 8:15 p.m., the Lake County 911 Center received a call for help after witnesses saw two kayakers on Robinson Lake tip over and begin struggling in the water about 200 feet from shore. As the kayakers struggled, one witness entered the water to rescue them. During that attempt, both kayakers went under the surface of the water. The witness located the female and swam her back

The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the disappearance of 15-year-old Antonio Mikell. He is described as a black male, 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, last seen wearing a Trump 2020 T shirt and pajama pants with Christmas lights, and carrying a silver suitcase. Antonio is missing from Elkhart and was last seen on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 3:15 pm. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. If you have any information on Antonio Mikell, contact the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office at 574-533-4151 or

Ogden Dunes police are reminding the public that U.S. 12 Westbound is closed in Ogden Dunes through Wednesday 3, for NIPSCO work related to the double track project. Drivers are able to take U.S. 12 east out of town; however, when returning to town the frontage road needs to be used. Additionally, northbound 249 is also experiencing traffic backups due to construction. Police say “If you can avoid the area around Ameriplex when returning to town, please do so. If you cannot, please expect delays and plan accordingly.”

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on the 54 -year-old Michael A Zaragoza. He is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Zaragoza has no known vehicle or employment, and typically travels with the assistance of friends or Uber. He is wanted for aggravated battery. Zaragoza is known to reside in, and frequent the Portage area, and is known to attend various substance abuse recovery meetings throughout northern Porter County. Zaragoza is currently believed to be staying at random locations with friends or family. He also has a history

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is entering its 50th Anniversary with the 2022-23 season. Concerts include: August 21 – Friendship Botanic Gardens September 17 – 17th Annual Hoosier Star! September 24 – Sharing Meadows (40th Anniversary) October 12 – 34th Annual Drayton Family Children’s Educational Concerts November 5 – “Americana!” December 10 – 28th Annual Holiday at the Pops February 11, 2023 – “Side by Side” with the La Porte High School Orchestra and Wind Ensemble March 12, 2023 – “Pictures at an Exhibition” April 22, 2023 – Purdue Varsity Glee Club and special guest yet to be announced

The Indiana Region of the American Red Cross is deploying eight volunteers to eastern Kentucky to assist with recovery efforts after significant flooding earlier this week. Additional volunteers may deploy from the region in the coming days as Red Cross teams continue to identify needs across eastern Kentucky. The volunteers will assist with mental health services, feeding assistance, shelter support and more. How to help: Visit redcross.org, call 800 RED-CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters. This

The Indiana Department of Health announced Friday that a total of 45 monkeypox cases have been reported across the state from June 18 - July 28, including 2 pediatric cases. Due to limited vaccine supply, vaccines are initially being prioritized for close contacts of positive cases to prevent severe disease. The Indiana Department of Health says person-to-person transmission is possible either through skin-to-skin contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores or contaminated items, such as bedding or clothing, or through exposure to respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact. Read more at https://go.usa.gov/xSEYA Learn more at monkeypox.health.IN.gov

In order to accommodate construction related to the Double Track NWI project, the South Shore Line will bus weekday passengers to stations between Carroll Avenue and Gary/Chicago Airport (Clark Road), effective Monday, Aug. 1 through Friday, Aug. 5. The Gary busing is in addition to ongoing busing between Carroll Avenue and Dune Park stations. Buses will arrive and depart with passengers to match the SSL’s published train schedule between Carroll Avenue and Gary/Chicago Airport, and will make all scheduled intermediate station stops. Loop bus service continues to be provided to Michigan City 11th Street (bus stop located at 920 Franklin

Incoming seniors at Michigan City High School are already looking ahead to post-graduation plans. Nearly 40 students attended a “Senior Boot Camp” event on Friday at MCHS, preparing for their final high school year. Aaron Garrett, K-12 College and Career Coordinator for MCAS, organized the event as a way to ensure that seniors are set up for success. “This goal of our Senior Boot Camp is to help high school seniors get a jump start on their future,” Garrett said. “At Michigan City Area Schools, we focus on college and career readiness beginning at the elementary level, so our hope

Northwest Health – La Porte honored two caregivers in July. Chelsey Clark, RN is the recipient of the DAISY award for exceptional nursing and Ashley Hall, nursing assistant, is the recipient of the PETALS award for outstanding support professionals. “Clark, an intensive care nurse, was nominated by her patient’s spouse who said that Clark was wonderful to her husband and not only cared for him, but her entire family during his stay,” Northwest Health said. Hall was nominated by a patient who shared that Hall was attentive to her many needs and played a vital role in saving her life.

The Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City will close for five days from Sept. 19 – 23, and will be inaccessible to the public during that time. Zoo staff will be making minor repairs and performing maintenance activities in the zoo’s Jungle Building. Some of the tasks require removing the animals from their viewing habitats into holding areas. The Zoo stated, “Zoo management feels that the staff needs to focus on these tasks at hand and closing to the general public is the most efficient and safe way to accomplish their goals.” Construction work to expand the African Lion and

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is offering student apprenticeships. The organization says that one of the best ways to inspire and to teach young talented musicians is to give them the chance to perform side-by-side with seasoned musicians – both in rehearsals and at actual performance. The Student Apprentice Program offers just such an opportunity. Young students from the area may audition for a seat in the orchestra; those selected will be paid a small stipend. 2022 - 23 Season Student Apprentice Auditions The LCSO is inviting advanced high school musicians to audition for the opportunity to play side-by-side

La Porte LakeFest weekend starts tonight with the Downtown Market on Monroe Street (between Lincolnway and Washington Street). The event kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday with vendors, food trucks and beverage options. Then there will be a street dance, featuring Middle of the Road. There will also be a Country concert performed by Clayton Anderson at Stone Lake Beach. The free concert begins with opening act, Jasmine Tabor, at 7 p.m. There will be a comedy show performed by Brent Terhune at 7:30 p.m. in Fox Park. For more information and the complete schedule, visit www.laportelakefest.com.