News

The La Porte Hospital offers a 4-Hour Childbirth Preparation Class. It should be taken at approximately 28 weeks of pregnancy.  Topics covered are: prelude to labor, labor, support techniques to assist the laboring mother, vaginal birth, medical procedures, cesarean sections, postpartum care, pain management options, newborn baby care, preparations for going home, and tour of the Birthing and Family Care Center at La Porte Hospital. Those attending are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing.  A drink and light snack is provided. You are welcome to bring a second support person. Classes are offered two Wednesdays and one Saturday per month. The

South Shore Line passengers utilizing Millennium Station in the evenings will temporarily board/detrain at the Metra Depot (Tracks 5 and 6), located northwest of the SSL platform through Thursday. During this time, work will be ongoing in the SSL depot overnight beginning at 7pm. The depot switch will not impact daytime trains, and those passengers should continue to use the SSL platform. For more information check out mysouthshoreline.com.

State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) encourages Hoosier small-business owners and entrepreneurs to apply for a free program that provides direct technical support to help build their online presence. The Indiana Small Business Development Center launched Project HOPE and recently partnered with the Indiana University Kelley School of Business to support long-term economic recovery of Hoosier small businesses and entrepreneurs. Pressel said through the program, eligible companies may apply for no-cost assistance to help establish or increase their online presence through website development, e-commerce support, and other digital tools and services. To be eligible, Indiana small businesses must meet the

Today - Tuesday, August 18 – LaPorte County 10 a.m. – Noon CDT WHERE: LaPorte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge Street, LaPorte, IN 46350 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 will be a drive-thru distribution. Please remain in your vehicle and pop open your trunk to receive your items. An area will be available to load items if your trunk does not open.

The Michigan City Police Department has received credible information that the activities leading up to and including the shooting death of Darius Mitchell, at Garden Estates on Tuesday August 11, 2020, was captured on cell phone videos. At this time the department is offering a $1000.00 reward to anyone that comes forward with video that leads to the arrest of those involved in the shooting. This reward is being issued on a first come first serve basis.Those who have videos from this incident can contact Detective/Sergeant Anna Painter at 219-874-3221, Ext: 1077or email apainter@emichigancity.com. Calls will also be accepted utilizing

During the 2020-2021 school year, the Valparaiso Community Schools Social Services Team is able to provide food for students in need over the weekend. Food items will be provided to students on the last school day of each week to sustain the student through the weekend. If you would like your students to participate in the Backpack & Snacks Program, click on the link provided on the Valparaiso Community Schools Facebook page. Students who previously participated in the Backpacks & Snacks Program must be signed up again in order to receive food bags this school year. The 1st Backpacks &

Michigan City Area Schools wants to emphasize that all students will need reliable broadband internet access for online learning. Michigan City Area Schools is offering a limited number of personal hotspots to students who do not have Internet access. All decisions regarding the distribution of these devices will be made on a case-by-case basis. If your child does not have access to broadband Internet, fill out this form found on the Michigan City Area Schools’ Facebook page. More information about low-cost internet options for families who qualify is available on their website:( https://www.mcas.k12.in.us/Page/28320)

A guide to a Guide to MCAS Online Learning for families can be found at this link. Check WIMS FACEBOOK page for the link.

Supporting the environment and conserving energy consumption were significant considerations in the design of the new La Porte Hospital, going up at 1331 State Street in La Porte.  In fact, as a result of a deliberate and focused design process, the new hospital will be Green Globes certified. Green Globes is a building rating and certification tool that is used to rate the efficiency of buildings across the USA and Canada. Energy efficiency and a green infrastructure were applied to the civil engineering elements of the structure and to the mechanical, plumbing, and electrical infrastructures in the new hospital. A

 On August, 15th of 2020 at approximately 12:00 a.m., the Indiana State Police Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call regarding a multi-vehicle rollover crash on I-65 southbound near the 211.5 mile-marker.  Preliminary investigation by Trooper William Stancy shows that a white 2008 Infiniti EX35 and a black 2020 Dodge Ram were both travelling southbound when for unknown reasons the driver of the Infiniti lost control of their vehicle, sideswiping the Dodge Ram.  The Infiniti then rolled several times in the left lane before coming to a rest, upright, in the median.  The Dodge also rolled several times after being sideswiped

POLICE IMPERSONATOR ALERT / INVESTIGATION The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is warning and alerting motorists of a police impersonator.  Yesterday morning (08/13/20), a female reported to Deputy Austin Epple that she had been stopped by a male subject operating what was thought to be a policevehicle while traveling along US 20.  The female advised she observed a light-colored Ford Focus or Toyota Prius traveling behind her with red and blue flashing lights.  She turned onto Range Road and stopped her vehicle.  A white male, approximately 6’0”- 6’02” tall, wearing a black T-shirt, black pants, a plain black baseball cap

Yesterday Portage Police stated they received two reports from residents stating that they received suspicious phone calls. In each of these calls residents were advised that their social security number was used in the commission of a fraud in another state and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. The caller goes on to demand bank account information, credit card information, or pre-paid gift cards in order to satisfy the bail amount listed on the arrest warrant. Legitimate law enforcement will never demand pre-paid gift cards or your banking or credit card information in order to avoid arrest.

The Valparaiso Police Department is accepting applications for Probationary Police Officer. Applications are available at the Valparaiso Police Department, 355 Washington St., or at the department website, www.valparaisopolice.org. The applications may be completed on-line, mailed back to the department or returned in person. The minimum requirements to be considered for this opportunity are that the applicant must: be 21 years of age or older, hold a high school diploma or GED, be a United States Citizen, possess a valid driver’s license and have no prior felony convictions. For more information about employment as a Valparaiso Police Officer,log onto the Recruitment

The Porter County Health Department has developed requirements for gatherings and events in Porter County. For any gathering over 100 people, the host or organizer is required to contact the Porter County Health Department to discuss your COVID-19 Safety Plan. Examples of events include, but are not limited to, festivals, trade shows, musical performances (including bars), weddings, reunions, birthday parties, religious gatherings, vendor markets, business meetings, etc. Failure to notify Porter County Health Department in advance may result in closure of your event. For questions and to review your Safety Plan,call the Health Department 219-707-8158 or by email to Sheila.Paul@porterco.org

The City of La Porte is encouraging individuals behind on city utility payments to set up a payment plan, according to Clerk-Treasurer Courtney Parthun. Parthun said the City suspended shut offs, penalties for late payments, and delinquency notices at the start of the pandemic in March. As people are getting back to work, she said procedures in the billing office will be shifting back to normal. The Utility Billing office will send delinquency notices by mail this Friday and resume shut offs for nonpayment on Aug. 21. “The global pandemic has inflicted financial hardship on many families throughout the nation,”

Monday evening in Michigan City, some citizens contacted the police department because they found a kitten in a storm drain near Tryon Street and E. Michigan Blvd. Corporal Greg Miller and Officers Brian Wright and Adam Brinkman were able to find and rescue the kitten. The kitten is currently being cared for by Julie and Natalie, Michigan City’s Animal Control Officers, but will likely be taken to one of the local shelters for adoption very soon. If you would like to follow what animals are located by Animal Control Officers, follow their Facebook page- Michigan City Animal Control Services.

A man was killed by Gunfire in Michigan City on Tuesday. At around 8:45 P.M dispatch received a 911 call indicating that several shots were fired, and a subject had been shot in the area of Garden Estates West. Officers Matthew Babcock and Dalton Pflughaupt were first to arrive and encountered a group of people estimated to be 50+ in the area of Building 13 of the complex. Officers Babcock and Pflughaupt were able to locate a victim who was lying motionless on the ground. Officer Pflughaupt immediately began life saving measures until La Porte County EMS arrived and found

The La Porte County Historical Society Museum is proud to announce its recent donation, a 9-foot copper sculpture of Icarus created by artist, sculptor, and former LaPortean Roland Hockett. Hockett grew up in La Porte, graduated from La Porte High School, and returned and taught art at La Porte High School upon graduation from college. Hockett, whose work is known internationally, now lives in Panama City, Florida, where he maintains his studio. The statue, entitled “Icarus,” is a representation of the young man from Greek mythology who used wings crafted of feathers and wax in an attempt to fly. He

 Last night at approximately 10:20 p.m., Troopers were dispatched to a wrong-way driver on I-65 that was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes from the 260 mile-marker. Troopers Davidson, Payonk, Grant and Joyner were able to locate the vehicle near the 259 mile-marker driving in reverse on the left shoulder.  The vehicle was a black 2011 Dodge Charger.  As the vehicle was backing up, it was scraping against the concrete barrier wall and the tires were deflated.  Troopers attempted to get the driver to stop, but he continued to drive in reverse from the scene.  The Charger started moving forward

Michigan City Area Schools stated on their Facebook page that their online learning program will be different from the eLearning that students experienced last spring. One significant difference is that students will be required to log on for instruction during the school day.The elementary school day will still be 8:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., while the middle and high school day will be adjusted slightly to 7:45 am - 2:15 pm. Specific schedules for online work will be shared with each family by your child’s school. Throughout the school day, students will receive instruction through a combination of “live” and