News

The La Porte County Sheriff's Office is sharing the results of its recent U.S. 20 Traffic Safety Project. Last Wednesday, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office participated in a multi-state traffic safety project along U.S. 20. Agencies from five states – Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana partnered to raise awareness and reduce crashes on U.S. 20. The LCSO was included in the project due to the high volume of crashes on U.S. 20 in La Porte County. Deputies worked the project throughout the day, with a primary focus occurring during the mid-morning and mid-afternoon hours. A total of 42

The Indiana Department of Transportation will close westbound U.S. 12 west of State Road 249 to replace several NIPSCO poles and wires for the NICTD Double Track Project beginning on or after Monday, July 25.  The work will take around two weeks to complete.  INDOT says that motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will utilize State Road 249.

A project to improve traffic flow and safety along Indiana’s busiest interstate corridor is moving to its next phase. The project, 80/94 FlexRoad, will identify the best solutions for the I-80/I-94 corridor. The Indiana Department of Transportation says innovative strategies are being developed to help reduce travel time, increase reliability and improve safety. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study will examine benefits, impacts and costs of those alternatives. The study is required for projects that will receive federal funding. INDOT stated, “Strategies being considered include dynamic shoulder lanes, variable speed limits, ramp metering, lane control and queue warning systems.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction Co. will implement ramp closures and restrictions at the I-65 and U.S. 30 interchange the next two weekends. The schedule is weather dependent and subject to change but is currently as follows: -The ramp from I-65 southbound to U.S. 30 will be reduced to one lane from the evening of Friday, July 22 through the evening of Sunday, July 24. -The ramp from westbound U.S. 30 to southbound I-65 will close the evening of Friday, July 22 and reopen the morning of Monday, July 25. -The ramp from eastbound U.S. 30 to southbound

Michigan City Police have opened a homicide investigation after a woman died in an apparent shooting early Sunday. At 01:50 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of Springland Avenue and Roeske Avenue for a call of shots fired. They were further notified that a subject was believed to have been struck by gunfire. Upon their arrival, officers located an unresponsive adult female in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that went off the roadway at Springland Avenue and Roeske Avenue. Officers found that the woman had an apparent gunshot wound, at which time they attempted lifesaving measures. The woman

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