News

Site work began this week on a new $3 million Franciscan Physician Network pediatric facility that will provide more space to care for Crown Point area families. The new facility will be 10,250 square feet with 18 exam rooms and child-friendly finishes. The FPN Crown Point Pediatrics Health Center, currently located at 1505 S. Court St., will move to the new location, next to the FPN St. Clare Health Center on Indiana Avenue in 2020. The building is expected to be completed in nine to ten months.

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced his co-sponsorship of the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act (S. 546). This legislation permanently reauthorizes the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), which supports 9/11 survivors and first responders who have experienced health issues following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Boaters preparing for the Independence Day holiday should be aware that Indiana Conservation Officers will be on high alert for violations of boating-under-the-influence laws as part of national Operation Dry Water. Operation Dry Water (operationdrywater.org), a year-round program, will be in heightened effect July 5-7.Indiana Conservation Officers, in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard, will focus on educating boaters about safe boating practices, including keeping alcohol off the boat, for both operators and passengers.Officers will be on the lookout for impaired boaters. Boaters will notice an overall increase in patrols, both

Captain David S. Kirkham has announced his retirement from the Indiana State Police following a career which spanned 25 and a half years, and he has been appointed as the new Deputy Director of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).Kirkham, was appointed as a Trooper in December of 1993 as a graduate of the 50th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy.  He was assigned to the Lowell District where he patrolled La Porte and Porter Counties, as well as served as a Field Training Officer and member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon. He served as a Gaming Investigator, District

Yesterday, The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced the grant recipients of the Indiana Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program. The DLI Program provides grants to school corporations that establish or expand dual language immersion programs in Mandarin, Spanish, French, or other languages approved by IDOE.Now in its fifth year, the DLI Program distributes financial assistance to school corporations or charter schools for either the establishment of new programs or the introduction of new languages within existing programs. DLI programs must begin in kindergarten or first grade and use an instructional model that provides at least 50 percent of its instruction

Yesterday, Gov. Holcomb announced Stephen E. Scheele as his appointment to the Lake County Superior Court to succeed Judge William E. Davis who retired in April.Scheele currently serves as a magistrate judge in the Lake County Circuit Court, a position he has held since December 2016. Prior to this, Scheele was in private practice and also undertook criminal defense cases in the Lake Superior Courts as well as in federal courts. Scheele will be sworn in as judge of the Lake County Superior Court on a date to be determined.

Monday, July 8th, marks the start of the 18th annual Cops Cycling for Survivors bicycle ride around Indiana. A departure ceremony is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. EDT at the Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters Memorial on the capital grounds in downtown Indianapolis. The cyclists will will meet with several families of fallen officers. The Cops Cycling for Survivors Foundation, Inc. annual bike ride consists of active and retired police officers, law enforcement survivors, law enforcement family members and friends of law enforcement riding their bicycles around the perimeter of Indiana to raise funds and awareness of the sacrifices made by

Deer hunters can sign up for the chance to hunt on land owned by participating landowners with the new Deer Hunt Registry system administered by DNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife.The Deer Hunt Registry connects deer hunters with landowners, golf courses, parks, land trusts, farmers, or communities. The registry will provide interested parties with a list of hunters in the area willing to help. The Deer Hunt Registry system is replacing the former Hunters Helping Farmers program and incorporating the Community Hunter Access Program (CHAP). To learn more about CHAP, see wildlife.IN.gov/9420.htm. signing up on the Deer Hunt Registry does

Indiana Clearinghouse for Information on Missing Children and Missing Endangered Adults and the North Township Trustee’s Office are hosts for the Missing Persons Day in North Township on Saturday, June 29th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  at Wicker Memorial Park Clubhouse located at Ridge Road & US Rt. 41 in Highland, IN. Family and friends of a person missing more than 24 hours are invited. The event is free. For information on what to bring check out the flyer on the Indiana State Police Facebook page. RSVP to 219-932-2530 extension 331 or email-bridgesk@ntto.net

The League of Women Voters of LaPorte County having Ms. Cheryl Drauer as their July 9th Dinner With The League Speaker.  Ms. Drauer, Executive Director of the LaPorte County Meals on Wheels, will describe how the Meals on Wheels program provides healthy meals to a very vulnerable population in LaPorte County, seniors and the disabled who find it difficult to purchase and prepare healthy meals for themselves.  Meals on Wheels works with volunteers to deliver affordable meals and personal contact wellness checks Monday - Friday.   This event will be at 4125 Franklin Street, in Michigan City. The general public is invited

Indiana American Water announced it is moving forward with its acquisition of the Lake Station water system after a favorable ruling Wednesday from the Indiana Court of Appeals.  The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and two other communities, the City of Crown Point and the Town of Schererville, appealed the August 2018 approval by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission of the $20.68 million sale. The Court of Appeals agreed with and affirmed the IURC approval.

In an effort to accommodate an expected increase in ridership for the Chicago Pride Parade, the South Shore Line will operate extra passenger trains on Sunday, June 30th. Westbound Train 502 and Train 606 will operate with additional capacity to accommodate passengers heading to Chicago in the morning. These trains will make all regular stops to Chicago.In the afternoon, two eastbound passenger extras will run following the day's events:The first eastbound extra will depart Millennium Station at 4:25pm, run non-stop to Hegewisch and make all local stops terminating at Carroll Avenue, Michigan City.The second eastbound extra will depart Millennium Station at

Michigan City High School was recognized at the Indiana State House on Wednesday. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education and INvestEd honored MCHS for over 70% completion of the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, by the Class of 2019. Completion of the FAFSA is a key first step in applying for college and other post-graduation training programs and enables students to qualify for scholarships and grants. 

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day and is forecasting high ozone levels for today in the following areas in our area: In Northwest Indiana – Lake, Porter, and LaPorte CountiesIn North Central Indiana – St. Joseph and Elkhart CountiesGround-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather bake vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties.To learn more about ozone or sign up for air quality forecasts, visit www.SmogWatch.IN.gov.(IDEM encourages everyone

Three communities and one golf club are approved to receive funding from the Community Hunter Access Program (CHAP), which is designed to increase hunting access and reduce conflicts with white-tailed deer.The successful applicants for 2019 awards are the City of Bloomington, Community of Duneland Beach, Wesselman Woods Nature Center, and the Indiana Oaks Golf Club. Acceptance of awards and recruitment of hunters is pending.CHAP first issued grants in 2018 to three communities to assist with the cost of implementing managed hunts while providing new access for eligible deer hunters.Hunters interested in CHAP can register for a possible opportunity to participate

Yolanda Davis, Vice President, Community Reinvestment Act Officer, presented the scholarships during the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, Inc. Annual Scholastic Achievement Awards Luncheon recently.The following students were awarded scholarships: Christopher French, Matthew Olchawa, Amanda Sparks, Antonio Mistretta, Dimetrious Poston, Sydney Starks, Yatziri Moreno, Faith Spencer, Jairo Cazares, Jamon Cavanaugh and Sylvia Williams.Horizon’s Diversity Business Council developed the Minority Scholarship Program to encourage minority students to pursue higher educations. The scholarships awarded were based on academic achievement, demonstrated leadership and future potential. The application process was administered through a partnership with the Urban League of NWI Inc., along with community

Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced yesterday that the state has extended the option to decide if it will purchase land near Lawrenceburg that could be the site of the state’s fourth port. The Ports of Indiana entered into an agreement in September 2017 to purchase up to 725 acres of land that was formerly the American Electric Power plant. That option was set to expire June 30.The option has been extended by six months to enable the seller, to complete its environmental remediation plan for the site and submit it to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. If the Ports

The Shore Line is reminding riders to ensure you have downloaded the latest South Shore app update available for Android, put out on Wednesday, which will correct previous train schedule discrepancies occurring between Central and Eastern time zones.iPhone users should ensure they have the latest app update that became available on June 21.

In the final days of a fundraising period for the Holcomb-Crouch campaign, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch transferred $1 million from her campaign account into the Eric Holcomb for Indiana campaign account. She announced this yesterday at a Team Holcomb fundraising event that separately raised another $1 million in a single night. The campaigns of Governor Holcomb, Lt. Governor Crouch and the Indiana Republican Party posted a combined $5.745 million cash on hand at the end of 2018, which was more than any previous combined total following a governor's second year in office. To date, Lt. Governor Crouch had previously transferred

Isabelle Meyer, an 11 year old Girl Scout from Jasper, Indiana, died when a tree fell in a “freak accident” at an Indiana campground on Monday, June 24, 2019, according to the Perry County Sheriff’s Office. The Perry County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page stated: "Central Dispatch received a 911 call reporting that a tree had fallen on campers at Camp Koch. Emergency responders and sheriff’s deputies quickly responded to the scene. Upon arrival responders found four injured persons. They were swiftly transported to various area hospitals. We have learned that one of the four victims has passed away." The tree