News

DNR grants totaling $632,880 will be used to fight aquatic invasive plants in Indiana’s lakes. The grants were awarded by DNR director Cameron F. Clark through the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program in the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. The 42 projects involve 62 lakes and one river in 15 counties. The applications were submitted by local sponsors who share at least 20 percent of the total cost. (For a list of 2019-2020 grant awardees, visit wildlife.IN.gov/3304.htm.)

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources confirmed more than 70 Walmart stores and 18 Rural King stores in the state have received rhododendron plants infected with sudden oak death (SOD), a fungal pathogen that kills oak trees. Shipments containing infested material were sent to nine other states as well.Workers from the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology have been visiting stores across Indiana to destroy any stock that has been found infested and quarantine any stock that is symptomatic. The DNR has destroyed approximately 1,500 infested rhododendron so far and pulled another 1,500 from stores. The DNR has also ordered

The City of Michigan City is announcing that mosquito adulticiding (spraying for adult mosquito control) is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5th or Thursday, June 7th (weather determining and permitting.) When spraying occurs, it will commence at dusk and continue through the night until finished. The city asks the public to be alert when they see trucks with flashing lights and a spraying ULV machine, and to please give them plenty of room.The public can help the City by policing their yard and home for these type of items:-Get rid of old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles or any water

The Valparaiso Police Department will be hosting the North American Police Work Dog Association (N.A.P.W.D.A) National Seminar. The seminar will include police canine teams, as well as certified Master Trainers and Trainers from across the country. There will be approximately 150 police personnel in the City of Valparaiso during the week of June 9th—June 13th. The week will include training and certifications for all canine teams. The topics covered will include narcotics detection, explosive detection, cadaver, tracking, building search, area search, aggression control, and search and rescue. Along with the basic training skills, there will be venues set up for

Indiana Conservation Officers have recovered the body of 23 year old Jacob Sandy, of South Bend. Wednesday morning, an employee of Indiana Dunes State Park observed Jacob’s body on the shoreline near where he was last seen on Saturday May 18th. The DNR said that the official cause of death is pending, but is believed to be accidental drowning. Jacob was last seen kayaking near Porter Beach on May 18th just before a strong storm moved into the area. His kayak was located in New Buffalo, Michigan on May 21st. The DNR stated “The family wishes to express their gratitude

There will be a free child car seat check this Thursday at Franciscan Emergency Center in Chesterton. Properly used child safety seats can save lives, but they must be properly installed in the vehicle. Make sure that your child safety seat is properly installed at a free car seat safety clinic from 2:30 to 4:30 PM in the parking area of Franciscan Emergency Center, 770 Indian Boundary Road in Chesterton.

As the 2018-2019 school year comes to a close and the kids prepare for a fun summer off, Sheriff David Reynolds and Herb Stepherson author of Junkbox Diaries continue to speak to the students about the substance abuse problems in Porter County. Tuesday morning they stopped in at Washington Township High School.

Center Township Fire Department will be holding an open house ribbon cutting for the Grand Opening of their new fire station this Saturday. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. you can tour the new Fire Station, see the trucks, and the kids can see “Sparky” The Fire Dog. You may also meet the firefighters, along with snacks and refreshments being served. The building is located at 4504 W. Johnson Rd. in La Porte.

Scammers often strike after severe storms, taking advantage of homeowners needing repairs. Reputable contractors also visit storm-ravaged neighborhoods offering their services, Attorney General Hill noted, but consumers must do their homework to make sure to hire trustworthy companies. Hoosiers are encouraged to contact the Office of the Indiana Attorney General about any suspected scams. You can file a complaint by visiting indianaconsumer.com or calling 1-800-382-5516.

The La Porte County Extension Homemakers are again hosting Lend A Hand Day. The date is Tuesday, June 4th from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Community Building at the La Porte County Fairgrounds, 2581 W. St. Rd. 2, La Porte. We will be assembling quilts, bags, backpacks, lap robes, wheel chair totes, birthday bags, hats and many other items that will be donated to La Porte County residents through local service organizations. Donations of fabrics, notions, thread, yarn and supplies are always welcome! Bring your own sewing machine or use one provided. A light meal will be provided

Indiana’s labor force grew again in April, extending a record streak of improvement over the past year to hit another new peak last month. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development recently reported that the state’s labor force now stands at 3,415,523. The measure is considered an important indicator of economic growth because it counts both those who have a job or are actively searching for one. The new peak for the state is preliminary and could be revised later. Year over year, 37,495 more Hoosiers have joined the labor force since April 2018. Also, Indiana’s labor force participation rate in

The Indiana Department of Education kicked off the 2019 Summer Food Service Program yesterday. In partnership with nearly 250 school and community sponsors, children 18 and younger across the state will have access to free meals and snacks throughout the summer break. June marks the busiest month for the summer food program when many families seek help for additional nutrition resources. As a result, Governor Eric J. Holcomb has issued a statewide proclamation declaring the week of June 10-14 Summer Food Service Program Week.Site locations and meal service times vary throughout Indiana, and locations range from parks and community centers

In separate judgments this month, Attorney General Curtis Hill successfully defended the State of Indiana against challenges brought by two Indiana Department of Correction inmates. On May 10th, the Indiana Court of Appeals denied inmate Hubert Williams’ appeal of a LaPorte Circuit Court decision. The circuit court earlier denied Williams' petition for writ of habeas corpus, in which he argued among other things that the conditions of his parole did not apply since he refused to sign his parole agreement. (A writ of habeas corpus is a court order requiring officials to prove that an inmate’s imprisonment is valid.) The

In separate judgments this month, Attorney General Curtis Hill successfully defended the State of Indiana against challenges brought by two Indiana Department of Correction inmates.On May 10th, the Indiana Court of Appeals denied inmate Hubert Williams’ appeal of a LaPorte Circuit Court decision. The circuit court earlier denied Williams' petition for writ of habeas corpus, in which he argued among other things that the conditions of his parole did not apply since he refused to sign his parole agreement. (A writ of habeas corpus is a court order requiring officials to prove that an inmate’s imprisonment is valid.) The Court

On Tuesday, Governor Eric Holcomb announced he has appointed four local leaders to the newly restructured Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District board. The bipartisan group includes one official from each of the four counties the NICTD board serves: Gary Mayor Karen Freeman Wilson (Lake County) Porter County Commissioner Jeff Good St. Joseph County Commissioner Andrew Kostielney Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer (LaPorte County) Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuiness will serve as the chair. NICTD is responsible for maintaining and improving the South Shore rail passenger service. Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda includes double tracking the South Shore line

A new study shows America's beer industry has a major impact on the Indiana economy. The Beer Saves America study, commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Beer Institute, says the beer industry contributes $5.5 billion to the state's economy annually and supports nearly 36,000 jobs throughout the state. According to the study, the jobs impacted by the industry account for $1.5 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry is broken down to three categories: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors, and licensed retailers. The study says the industry generates $680 million in business, personal, and

The cadets of the Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) supported the true meaning of this day by marching in the Michigan City Memorial Day parade and participating in the ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery. Earlier, they had assisted veterans groups in placing flags on all of the veteran graves in the Greenwood cemetery. They had also supported veteran’s motorcycle groups in their ceremony at the Medal of Honor recipient Danny Bruce memorial ceremony at Washington Park prior to their trip to Washington, DC, for ceremonies there. In addition to the Memorial Day parade

On Sunday night, the Valparaiso Police responded to the Super 8, located at 3005 John Howell Dr., regarding the report of an armed robbery. The incident occurred in a rented room within the hotel. The victims reported three subjects, two male and one female, entered the room after knocking and displayed a handgun. The group then began to collect property belonging to the victims, as well as the hotel, and left within minutes. The total estimated loss incurred during this incident is $680.00. The investigation into the robbery in on-going and the Valparaiso Police is seeking any information available on

The Michigan City Fire Department visited Franciscan Health Michigan City on May 23 to display new equipment that was purchased with a donation from the hospital.The 2018 donation of nearly $3,000 allowed the department to purchase a set of rescue jacks for their newest truck. The jacks are used to stabilize cars and trucks during extrication.Michigan City Fire Chief Randy Novak and Deputy Chief Jeff Cox were on hand to thank Franciscan Health Michigan City President/CEO Dean Mazzoni for the contribution.

According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, a tornado touched down near the border between northern Illinois and northwest Indiana on Monday. The weather service said trained spotters reported the touch down around 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon east of Sauk Village, Illinois and near Dyer, Indiana. The communities are located about 30 miles south and southeast of Chicago. NIPSCO reported hundreds of power outages Monday night in the Dyer and Munster areas caused primarily by falling trees taking out power lines. Tornado warnings were issued in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties as the storm continued to move east. The