News

CAPTION: Mayor Tom Dermody (left) and City of La Porte Police Chief Paul Brettin (right) congratulate Specialist William Bunton (center) on his retirement Friday, June 26, 2020, in La Porte. Bunton served in the city police department for nearly 23 years. A long-serving officer with the City of La Porte Police Department retired this week. After nearly 23 years with the department, Specialist William Bunton completed his service Friday, June 26. Bunton was a patrolman for most of his career and also spent some time working as an evidence technician in the detective bureau. Cheif Paul Brettin said the department will

The City of La Porte condemned two unsafe properties this week, according to Mayor Tom Dermody and Director of Code Enforcement Jeff Batchelor. According to a press release, Batchelor and Code Enforcement Officer Dan Drake inspected the rental properties at 207 Grove Street and 701 Maple Avenue and identified various safety and sanitation issues at each location, including construction and electrical problems, water damage and vermin infestation. Batchelor said he and Dermody are working hard to rid the city of dangerous living conditions like the ones found at these locations. Dermody said the city is working with Center Township Trustee

Indiana State Parks have created a new comment card that lets users share thoughts about service, hospitality and facilities. The Indiana State Parks team has a renewed focus on service and hospitality using an internally developed program called “Service State Park Style” that focuses on hospitality as you camp, stay at an inn or spend a day outdoors in a state park.  New printed comment cards are available in park offices, nature centers and other public buildings to share your thoughts about state park service, hospitality and facilities. The comment card is now also available for easy completion online at

During the month of July, Redwood Roofing and Remodeling is partnering with Heroic Hearts to donate unique hospital gowns to children in the La Porte Hospital and Franciscan Health in Michigan City. Heroic Hearts strives to make children’s hospital stays enjoyable by adding a touch of fun in their uniquely designed hospital gowns. As a child, being in a hospital, regardless of how long, can be an intimidating and energy draining experience. Swapping the drab hospital gown for a superhero or princess gown adds a spark of joy to children by providing a sense of normalcy to their situation. Heroic

The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 continues to be scheduled for Friday, July 24th at 7 p.m. on the CHS football field. They have been monitoring the situation closely and have been in direct communication with the Porter County Health Department to determine what is an acceptable number of patrons for this event. In efforts to try and ensure the safety of students and families during this ceremony Duneland School Corporation believes that they can safely allow each student to bring four guests to this ceremony. Students will be able to pick up their four tickets next week

The Michigan City Area Schools Food Service Department has announced plans for its summer feeding program through July. Meals will be available for pick up at Barker Middle School, Krueger Middle School, and Michigan City High School from 3:00 - 5:00pm each Friday through July 24. A supply of 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches will be provided for each child age 18 and under through a grab-and-go “curbside” service. There is no charge for these meals. Neighborhood deliveries of meals will also continue in some areas. Families living near neighborhoods where food will be delivered by school bus will receive

This morning at approximately 12:50 a.m., the Indiana State Police responded to a motorcycle vs. truck crash on I-80/94 at the 14 mile-marker.  Preliminary investigation by Trooper William Carlson shows that a 1998 Honda Motorcycle being driven by Theodore D. Hickman, 21, of Portage, IN was westbound at a high rate of speed.  A truck/trailer was also westbound and was in the process of changing lanes when the motorcycle rear-ended the trailer.  As a result of the collision, the rider was ejected from the motorcycle.  The motorcycle came to a rest against the median wall.  Lifesaving measures were performed on

Outpatient COVID-19 testing outside Franciscan Health hospitals in Michigan City and Munster will adjust days they are open during the Fourth of July holiday week. Drive-through testing at Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way, will be closed between Tuesday, June 30, and Thursday, July 2. It will reopen starting Friday, July 3, resuming regular hours of 7AM to noon daily. The COVID testing trailer is located in the east parking lot closest to the medical office building (Door B). Patients must have an order from a Franciscan physician or closely aligned physician with hospital privileges. Pre-registration is required by

Krueger Middle School in Michigan City was notified earlier this month that it finished among the top schools in the nation in the 2020 PepsiCo Recycle Rally Challenge. Throughout the school year, KMS collected 194 tons of recycled goods. Krueger Middle School Environmental Science teacher Daisy Lee coordinated the effort. Students and families brought in items to be recycled and weighed for the challenge, which also expanded to the community as several businesses began recycling and hosting collection bins. Participating businesses included LaPorte Insurance Agency, the Elston YMCA, and Anytime Fitness. With the help of the students, parents, teachers, and

As 2019 began, the Michigan City Police Department faced a critical moment in staffing levels. Multiple retirements were occurring, and several staff members had moved on to other police agencies. On August 6th, 2019 a request was sent to every member of the Michigan City Police Department. This request was seeking volunteers to work in the Investigative Division. Corporal Lendell Hood, Officer Dana Ford, Officer Melissa Sopher, and Corporal Michael King immediately stepped forward and accepted this assignment. Throughout the remainder of 2019 and into 2020 these four individuals worked diligently within the Investigative Division, while also maintaining their duties

Due to continued impacts surrounding COVID-19, the South Shore Line announces that all monthly tickets purchased for the month of July will remain valid throughout August 2020. As the State of Indiana and the City of Chicago continue to make progress with their respective re-opening phases, we understand that our passengers may continue to have differing travel schedules throughout the summer. Passengers purchasing a paper July monthly ticket should plan to keep that ticket and use it through August, and passengers purchasing a digital July monthly ticket via the mobile app will see an August ticket uploaded to their accounts

LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office is reminding the public that the new hands-free traffic law prohibits a driver from holding or using a telecommunications device while operating a motor vehicle.Exceptions are “Used with hands-free or voice operated technology” and ”Held and used to call 911 to report an emergency”.

Prairie Farms Dairy has gallons of thanks for Franciscan Health healthcare providers and to the public who have supported their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic. The well-known milk distributor is working jointly with a U.S. Department of Agriculture program and will make a special delivery at Franciscan Health Fitness Centers, 221 U.S. 41 in Schererville, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30. A truck in the south side of the parking lot will distribute 1,000 one-gallon jugs of 2 percent milk to hospital workers and to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Orange traffic cones will

Overnight lane closures will be taking place on I-65 from 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30 to 3 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1 to construct a new traffic configuration between MM 253 and 258. Beginning in the early morning hours of July 1, northbound I-65 traffic will be shifted to the left inside shoulder and left inside lane so that work can occur in the center lane, right lane and right shoulder. Northbound traffic will also have a counter-flow lane on the southbound I-65 side of the barrier wall. Traffic will shift back into normal alignment after the north crossover

Wednesday, July 1, 2020 – LaPorte County 10 a.m. – Noon CDT WHERE: LaPorte High School, 602 F Street, LaPorte, IN 46350 Thursday, July 2, 2020 – St. Joseph County Noon – 5 p.m. EDT WHERE: Food Bank of Northern Indiana, 702 Chapin Street, South Bend, IN 46601 Fresh perishable items and dry goods offered free of charge. All items will be pre-boxed and pre-bagged. First come, first served, for up to 400 households while supplies last for those in need of food assistance. One per household. This is a drive-thru distribution. Please remain in your vehicle and pop open

The community is excited to recognize the Class of 2020 in a “Salute to the Seniors” caravan on July 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the City of LaPorte. We invite all graduating seniors to participate in this event. In order to provide a safe atmosphere for our staff, graduates, and guests, the following safety precautions will be adhered to for the Class of 2020 “Salute to the Seniors” caravan on July 6. The senior caravan route will start at Dairy Queen and proceed down Lincolnway. The caravan will end near the splash pad on Lincolnway. The route is very similar

City reminds residents of fireworks ordinance After numerous complaints, Mayor Tom Dermody urges La Porte residents to be mindful of the city’s fireworks code as Independence Day nears. “With so many events being canceled this year, we know people are excited to find ways to celebrate the upcoming holiday on their own,” Dermody said. “However, we must still be respectful of other residents. Shooting off fireworks until 1 a.m. and keeping neighbors up a week before the Fourth just isn’t acceptable, and our police department will ticket anyone who violates the fireworks ordinance.” The City of La Porte’s municipal code

La Porte County SkillUp funded program provides coursework, lab work and real-world experiences The SkillUp program and A.K. Smith Career Center provide trained interns and employees in the field of air compression and vacuums to manufacturing facilities throughout LaPorte county and neighboring communities. Located in Michigan City, the A.K. Smith Career Center provides students an opportunity to learn all about manufacturing through classroom, lab and real-world experiences. The program will help high school students and those enrolled in Adult Education to be better prepared for employment in a technical work environment. “Every high school in LaPorte County has the opportunity

In alignment with the Governors’ orders, Franciscan Health Fitness Centers has re-opened with phases for safety. The phased strategy implements specific measures to ensure the safety and well-being of members and staff. All three Clubs have now re-opened, with the Chicago Heights location being the latest on June 15th.  The Chesterton and Schererville Clubs, following the Indiana Governor’s guidance, are in Phase Two and are offering limited land and aquatic Group Exercise classes. The Locker Rooms and the walking/running tracks are now available for Member’s use.  In the Chicago Heights Club, currently in Phase One or their re-opening strategy, Members

On Friday night, at 10:00 PM, Captain Andy Hynek had just started his shift as the Midnight Shift Supervisor. At 10:02 PM, he notified the La Porte County Regional E-911 Dispatch Center that he had been involved in a motor vehicle crash at US 20 and CR 450 East. Investigators and deputies determined Captain Hynek was traveling west on US 20 at CR 450 East in his agency issued blue 2017 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor. A white 2020 Mack tandem axle truck, driven by 50 year old James V. Futch of Dallas, Texas, was traveling south on CR 450 East.