News

Porter County Firefighters were called to a residential fire in rural Jackson Township, with automatic aid units late Friday morning. The fire occurred in the 200 East block off County Road 650 North. Liberty Fire Chief Brian Duncan arrived on scene with heavy smoke showing from the roof line and ultimately called for a First Alarm and Tanker Plan One. Residents were safely evacuated with many thanks to working smoking detectors; which alerted the occupants. Fire crews remained on scene for more than three hours with the fire being struck within the first hour. It was later learned Emergency Services

The Indiana Department of Health announced plans to conduct the aerial application of pesticide to control Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus in northern Indiana. The state Department of Health has reported a lab-confirmed case of EEE virus disease in a LaPorte County resident. The state Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has recorded probable EEE cases in two horses in LaGrange County, one horse in LaPorte County and one horse in Kosciusko County. BOAH suspects EEE in three additional horses in LaGrange County. Health officials plan targeted mosquito control to help protect residents from EEE beginning Tuesday evening and continuing Wednesday

Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags across to be flown at half-staff to honor U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset until the day of her interment. Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff to honor Justice Ginsburg and her service. -30-

With the upcoming fall elections we wanted to take this opportunity to explain to the Michigan City community the upcoming process for voting. Registration Register to vote by Oct. 5th. In Indiana, you do not declare a party affiliation when you register. No other person may register for you. Voting early in Michigan City will be at the County Offices 302 W. 8thSt. located at 8th and Wabash Streets. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 through Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 (8am-4pm)Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 through Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 (8am-4pm)Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 through Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 (8am-4pm)Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb today announced the state will not move forward with plans to purchase land near Lawrenceburg that was under consideration as a potential site for a fourth port. The Ports of Indiana entered into an agreement in September 2017 to reserve the option to purchase up to 725 acres of land that were formerly the American Electric Power plant. The Ports of Indiana engaged in an extensive evaluation of the site to determine its suitability as a port, including its environmental condition and plans for remediation. The Ports of Indiana concluded that the remediation work would take years

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office is reminding drivers that barricades with signage reading “ROAD CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC”, are not to be disregarded and driven around. LCSO says this specifically pertains to the US 6/35 closure/road improvement project between the North Junction and South Junction.  The LCSO has received information that there is a fair amount of motorists who are disregarding the signage and barricades around the area of the closure.  The closure/road improvement project is expected to last several weeks (weather dependent).  In the meantime, deputies will be saturating the area of the work zone to protect the safety

To some, he was a humanitarian. To others, he was an educator. To all, he was a legend. Timm was born in Michigan City on March 2nd, 1923. He attended St. Mary's Grade School and then St. Mary's High School. Taught by Holy Cross Sisters, he served our local parish as an altar boy. Timm was ordained a priest in June of 1949 before earning his doctorate degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.. In 1952, he followed God's calling to Bangladesh where he served the local community for the vast majority of his adult life.  Upon his arrival in Bangladesh,

Craig M. Dwight, chairman and CEO of Horizon Bank, Michigan City, is being honored by the Indiana Bankers Association with the IBA Leaders in Banking Excellence award, to be presented at a private ceremony in December in Indianapolis. This award, the Association’s highest honor, celebrates exceptional leaders who have positively impacted Indiana banks and the communities they serve. At the upcoming awards event, Indiana dignitaries from private and public sectors will be making presentations, and honorees will have the opportunity to offer comments. Additionally, participants will be invited to visit the IBA offices to view the Leaders in Banking Excellence

State health officials are urging Indiana residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites following reports of a probable case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in a LaPorte County resident and the detection of the virus in horses in northern Indiana. As of Sept. 14, two horses in LaGrange County and one horse in Kosciusko County have tested positive for EEE virus. Because there is suitable habitat for mosquitoes throughout the area, residents of all northern Indiana counties should take precautions. In 2019, northern Indiana experienced a significant outbreak of EEE virus activity, resulting in 14 horse cases, one fatal human

Annual cancer screenings save people’s lives every day, but the battle against cancer doesn’t end there. Join Franciscan Health Cancer Center for a free virtual seminar to better understand hereditary cancers and the role of genetic testing and counseling. The online seminar will be 6-7PM CST on Monday, Sept. 28. Franciscan Health Cancer Center Genetic Counselor Malavika Praseed McGrail, MS, CGC, LGC, will provide the latest information on the role of genetic testing to fight cancer. Among the questions that will be covered are: ·        * What types of cancers are hereditary? ·        * What is genetic counseling and testing? ·        * Am

Yesterday, the Indiana Department of Education announced income eligibility guidelines, including household size, for the free and reduced-price school meals and milk programs. The National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and Special Milk programs were created to support students unable to pay the full price for meals or milk. For more information regarding the free and reduced-price school meals and milk programs, or to view appropriate forms, please visit: www.doe.in.gov/nutrition/snp-free-and-reduced-price-forms.

The Center of Workforce Innovations and the Northwest Indiana Forum are excited to share that our seven-county region has been recognized and will receive the state’s designation as a 21st Century Talent Region. See attached Save the Date with guest speakers. The special designation presentation will take place on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 11:00am (CST) via Zoom. The State of Indiana identifies 21st Century Talent Regions as areas that commit to using a systems approach to attract, develop, and connect Hoosier talent. In addition, they recognize regions that are working toward building and implementing a plan to increase educational attainment, raise household income, and

In January, the Michigan City Police Department and the Indiana State Board of Accounts began a joint investigation into an overpayment from the Michigan City Police Department’s pension fund. It was reported thatpension funds were being deposited into an account belonging to a deceased beneficiary. Through the course of the joint investigation, it was determined that the beneficiary passed away in 2015, however; the pension board was not notified of their passing. The deposited funds were being managed by the executor of the deceased beneficiary’s estate. Detective/Sergeant Anna Painter was assigned to investigate this overpayment along with an Indiana State

On Saturday September 12th at approximately 11:45 P.M., MCPD Shift 3 Patrol Officers were dispatched to the area of East Michigan Blvd. and Warnke Road for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. Officers arrived and found a 46-year-old female unresponsive in the roadway being tended to by civilians that were in the area when the accident occurred. Officers began assisting with life saving measures until La Porte County EMS arrived. MedFlight was then summoned and transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment. Read the entire release on WIMS FACEBOOK page

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) once again has been recognized among the best regional universities in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, released today (Sept. 14, 2020). PNW ranks 60th nationally among the Best Engineering Programs, of engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s degree. For the first time, PNW is included in the ranking of top performers on social mobility, among regional universities. The social mobility indicator measures how well universities graduated students who received federal Pell Grants. “Purdue Northwest is committed to helping our students with the greatest financial need achieve their academic goals. Many of

On September 10th around 7pm, the Chesterton Police Department received a report of a driver being pulled over near Dogwood park by a subject presenting themselves as a Police Officer.  Officers on scene determined that no Police agencies working in the county had any reports of an officer making a traffic stop in that area around the time of the incident.  The driver of the vehicle stated that a dark SUV had pulled behind them with a red and blue flashing light on the front of the vehicle. The driver stated that a male subject wearing a black hooded sweatshirt

Michigan City Police Department welcomed Officer Steve Wiegel and K9 Axel back to MCPD, as they have successfully completed their training and certification of the North American Police Work Dog Association. They began on August 31st, and for the past 2 weeks have undergone extensive training and certification with Michael McHenry and his staff at FMK9 in Berrien Center, Michigan. Officer Wiegel and Axel successfully completed training and certification in narcotics detection, obedience, building searches, area searches, article searches, tracking and aggression control. K9 Axel is certified in the detection of Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, and Methamphetamine

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) will begin making Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) payments to eligible claimants beginning the week of Monday, Sept. 21. LWA is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). LWA funding will only cover the six-week period from the week ending Aug. 1 to the week ending Sept. 5. No LWA funding will be available to states beyond that time period. Indiana will make payments the week of Sept. 21, covering the period of Aug. 1 to Sept. 5, for those eligible. For those claimants with issues holding payment, DWD will make payments, pending

In observance of National Child Passenger Safety Week, Franciscan Health Michigan City will host a free car seat safety clinic. The clinic at Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way, will be by appointment only from 11AM-3PM, Sunday, September 20th. Free car seats, provided by generous grants from ArcelorMittal and Geminus Regional Health Systems, will be installed by a certified technician while supplies last. Some qualifications are required to receive the free car seat, maximum two free car seats per vehicle. To schedule an appointment, call (800) 931-3322. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recommends that whether you’ve just installed

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced the funding recipients of the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program. Over $10 million will be allocated to 45 out-of-school learning programs, including 16 new to the program, and 29 that have been renewed. The 21st CCLC grant is continued through implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Twenty-first CCLC funds help support local programs providing a safe and enriching learning environment to bolster regular school-day learning and programming. In addition, parent, family, and community engagement activities also receive support. Funding is made available to support the