News

La Porte residents can now share their feedback on ways to improve the community through La Porte's new social media campaign, according to Mayor Tom Dermody. Last week, the city launched its new 'Feedback Friday' campaign on Facebook. Each Friday, a survey link will be posted to both the City's and Mayor's Facebook pages, asking for opinions on various topics as they relate to the city. Dermody said he and his leadership team will use this data as they make important decisions regarding the future of La Porte. "Our residents' thoughts and ideas matter," Dermody said. "As we continue to

On Thursday, January 21st, the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division at the Lowell Post was contacted by the Indiana Department of Correction for a death investigation at the State Prison located in Michigan City.  Deceased is Daniel L. Heflin, 30, originally from Goshen, IN.  Family has been notified.  Heflin was incarcerated, having plead guilty to murder in 2012 in Elkhart Circuit Court.  This is an ongoing investigation and no further information is available to be released.

On Friday, January 22nd, at 8:20 a.m., S/Trp. Potesta and Trooper Marlowe were on patrol in LaPorte County when they observed a silver Lexus at the Speedway at U.S. 20/U.S. 35.  While speaking with the occupants, the odor of burnt marijuana was detected.  Further investigation lead to the discovery of several hypodermic needles including one that contained a brown substance.  A female subject was then taken into custody.  Once transported to the LaPorte County Jail, two plastic baggies were discovered on her person that contained  suspected narcotics. Nicole Orlopp, 36, from Waukesha, WI, was arrested and booked on charges of

Saturday morning at 12:55 AM, Deputy William Masterson was dispatched to the area of SR 39 and CR 1800 South, rural Prairie Township, reference a motor vehicle crash.  At 1:01 AM, Deputy Masterson arrived at the scene.  He located a vehicle fully engulfed in flames in a ditch off the west side of SR 39 south of CR 1800 South. The crash investigation completed by deputies determined the following had occurred.  A white 2015 Hyundai Tucson had been traveling southbound on SR 39 when it entered a curve.  For an unknown reason, the driver failed to navigate the curve.  The vehicle left the southbound lane

The LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call on Saturday, January 23rd , 2021 at approximately 08:39 PM for an adult female suffering from multiple gunshot wounds at Crown Food Mart (1302 East Michigan Blvd.). Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 2 responded to the scene and found a 31 - year - old female from Michigan City suffering from multiple gun shot wounds . Responding officers immediately began providing medical aid to the victim before LaPorte County EMS transported her to Franciscan Health Michigan City with non - life threatening injuries.The LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center received a

Mayor Of La Porte Tom Dermody announced from the Civic Auditorium that COVID-19 testing has been extended through March. Check out lhi.care/covidtesting to schedule a test and see the full video announcement on Tom Dermody’s Facebook page where he also talks about vaccines.

Join the City of Valparaiso for a Community Call with Mayor Murphy & Porter County Health Officer Dr. Maria Stamp on Monday, January 25th at 3:30 p.m. This meeting will be held via phone. To listen to the call live, call 1-717-275-8940 and use participant access code 3179197.Members of the public are encouraged to email questions for Dr. Stamp to bdickinson@valpo.us. The call will be recorded and posted later for those unable to join.

Through February, all shooting ranges operated by the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife will operate under adjusted hours. During this period, the ranges at the following fish & wildlife areas will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET or 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT, depending on their location: Crosley, Deer Creek, J.E. Roush Lake, Jasper-Pulaski, Kingsbury, Pigeon River, Sugar Ridge, Tri-County, Wilbur Wright, and Winamac. Regular shooting range hours will resume March 1.Archery ranges at these properties remain open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Three Purdue University Northwest - (PNW) faculty members secured a federal grant of $205,921 to develop an educational program designed to encourage high school students to consider careers in the growing field of cybersecurity. The project is part of a national educational cybersecurity initiative sponsored by the National Security Agency. The grant will feature a collaboration among faculty members in the university’s College of Technology and College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, and from three different programs.The PNW team will develop a series of web-based, interactive cybersecurity games for students in kindergarten through high school. The goal is to

The Journey is pleased and honored to announce Chief Dion Campbell for being chosen as 1 of 29 distinguished leaders across the State of Indiana as an Executive Journey Fellowship recipient for 2021 . The Journey is home to a variety of programs that support and renew current and prospective youth workers in Indiana and around the country. The Journey is about those who have a passion for serving young people for both practicing professionals and students who are considering making youth work part of their career. It is for leadership and career development, personal and professional renewal, and learning

Crown Point High School sophomore Charlotte Annes wanted to find a way to give back during the pandemic. By teaming up with a student-run organization, she is helping Northwest Indiana senior citizens and veterans connect with their healthcare providers through technology. Charlotte and her mother, Izabela Annes, delivered eight laptop computers and an iPhone XR to Franciscan Health Crown Point on Jan. 15. The COVID-19 pandemic “puts the elderly population at serious risk from the virus,” Charlotte said. “A lot of seniors don’t have devices to use telemedicine services.” Franciscan will put the technology to work as part of its

Sheriff John T. Boyd announced today that the Indiana Sheriffs' Association (ISA) will again be awarding college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies. There will be approximately 40 - $750 scholarships awarded to qualifying students throughout the state.The ISA Scholarship Fund was established for the purpose of receiving, investing, and dispensing of funds to provide college scholarships to qualified students who are committed to pursuing an education and career in the law enforcement field.To qualify for one of these scholarships, the applicant must be an Indiana resident, be

Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 1 were dispatched to Sunglass Hut Outlet Store (419 Lighthouse Place) on January 20th , 2021 at approximately 10:00 AM for a burglary investigation. Officers met with maintenance staff from Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets who discovered a burglary had taken place at Sunglass Hut Outlet Store , while clearing snow from the walkway. Officers discovered numerous sunglasses and an undetermined amount of currency were taken during the burglary. Detectives are reviewing video surveillance from inside the business and nearby businesses to gather additional information pertaining to the items taken along with a description of the

The Michigan departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture and Rural Development today announced the addition of beech leaf disease to the state’s invasive species watch list. Invasive species on the watch list have been identified as posing an immediate or potential threat to Michigan's economy, environment or human health. These species either have never been confirmed in the wild in Michigan or have a limited known distribution. Beech leaf disease is associated with the microscopic worm Litylenchus crenatae, a nematode that enters and spends the winter in leaf buds, causing damage to leaf tissue on American beech and European and Asian beech species. Infestations result

This morning at approximately 1:13 AM, Captain Andy Hynek was traveling south on US 35 approaching Kingsbury Avenue. The area at the time was experiencing heavy snowfall and the roadway surface was completely snow-covered.A sport utility vehicle turned onto US 35 from Kingsbury Avenue in front of Captain Hynek and began traveling south in the outside lane. Captain Hynek passed the vehicle and shortly after doing so, the vehicle passed him but then reduced its speed until he caught up again. It was then the driver of the vehicle began to rev the engine as Captain Hynek could hear the

The Economic Development Corporation Michigan City team is welcoming new leadership and a new member to its Board of Directors. Linda Simmons, director of marketing for Visit Michigan City-LaPorte, has taken on the helm as board chair and Seth Spencer, founder and CEO of SERA Solutions, has joined the board as a new member. “We are honored to have such strong leaders serve on our board, especially as we enter a new year and move forward from 2020,” said EDCMC Executive Director Clarence Hulse. “While Linda is now serving as chair, she has continuously been an integral part of our

On January 17th , 2021 at approximately 06:28 P.M. is when officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 2 responded to the 1700 block of Goldfinch Lane for a report of gunshots being fired. Officers found multiple vehicles and buildings struck by gunfire upon their arrival. No one was reportedly injured as a result of this incident. Officers canvased the area for evidence and located numerous spent ammunition cartridges laying on the pavement. Witnesses were interviewed at the scene by officers to gather more information regarding this incident. Officers learned a dark colored passenger vehicle parked near the 1700 block of Goldfinch

On January 15th, at approximately 7:29 P.M. is when officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 2 responded to the 500 block of Center Street for a subject that had been battered during a robbery. Officers found a 40-year-old male victim who was severely bleeding from multiple lacerations to his head and right hand up on their arrival. Officers learned the suspect and victim were both together at a residence in the 100 block of Blaine Street earlier in the day on January 15th. It was reported to officers the suspect took personal property from the victim during a physical altercation at

The Valparaiso Police are currently on scene of a personal injury crash, involving a semi-truck and East Porter County School Corporation bus.  The only injury reported is minor, involving a student that was on the bus.  Early reports indicate the bus was traveling westbound, crossing State Road 49 on Burlington Beach Rd., when the semi-truck disregarded the red light while traveling northbound through the intersection.  East Porter County Schools have been notified of the crash and staff is currently on scene. Due to the crash, State Road 49 and Burlington Beach Rd. will experience partial closures, as the vehicles will

For the third time in as many weeks, an Indiana State Trooper has been struck while investigating a prior crash. This morning at 4:07 a.m., troopers from the ISP Lowell Post were investigating a multiple vehicle crash on I-80/94 eastbound at the 1.7 mile-marker.  As a result of this crash, the right three lanes were blocked as one of the vehicles stalled and was unable to be moved from the lane.  Preliminary investigation by Sgt. Dwayne Dillahunty and Trooper Nicole Maenza shows that Trooper Jarah Burgin parked his fully marked police car behind the disabled vehicle with its emergency lights