News

On Monday August 6th shortly before 10:00 AM the Indiana State Police received a tip from a LaPorte County Sheriff's deputy of a semi truck driver carrying beer from a Family Express at the intersection of US Highway 20 and State Road 39 in LaPorte County, Indiana. Master Trooper Tim McCormick responded to the area to investigate the call. He located the semi truck traveling westbound on US Highway 20 and conducted a traffic stop. Further investigation revealed that the driver, 58 year old Gary Eriks of Griffith, Indiana, was in possession of alcoholic beverages within the driving compartment of

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced that the agency is accepting applications for matching funds for shovel-ready local construction projects through Community Crossings, the State’s local road and bridge matching grant program. Projects that are eligible for funding through Community Crossings include road resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation, road reconstruction, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance in connection with road projects. Material costs for chip sealing and crack filling operations are also eligible for funds. Projects submitted to INDOT for funding will be evaluated based on need, traffic volume, local support, the impact on connectivity and mobility within the community, and

  The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available on Unity Foundation of La Porte County’s website at www.uflc.net. Through support of Independent Colleges of Indiana and Lilly Endowment, Unity Foundation is offering two full-tuition, four-year college scholarships to benefit La Porte County residents. They provide full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of undergraduate study, leading to a baccalaureate degree at any accredited Indiana public or private college or university. Nontraditional students - those who have been out of high school for any period

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a Sunday drowning at Portage Lakefront Riverwalk on Lake Michigan. Five friends were swimming together at Portage Lakefront Riverwalk Beach, when 30 year old Salomon C. Martinez from Cincinnati, OH did not resurface. Martinez was located underwater by Portage and Porter Fire Departments and brought to shore. Martinez was transported by Portage EMS to Porter Regional – Portage Campus for further treatment and later pronounced deceased.

It's billed as the biggest and fastest offshore racing series, with flashy boats, thousands of spectators, and a chance to chat with boat owners passionate about their season-long weekend racing. Michigan City's Big Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 10th Annual Great Lakes Grand Prix featured races on Sunday with owners and drivers at the top of their game. Ric Federighi and Jackie Beissel were on hand broadcasting live for TEAM WIMS and TEAM WHFB. For all things Big Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 10th Annual Great Lakes Grand Prix including photos and videos from the race check out our Facebook and Twitter

State health officials are urging Hoosiers to protect themselves from ticks as cases of tick-borne disease continue to rise in the state. More than 100 cases of tick-borne disease have been reported so far in 2018, including one death due to ehrlichiosis in an elderly patient. Deaths from ehrlichiosis are rare in Indiana, with only four deaths reported in the last five years. Ticks are small, insect-like creatures that are found throughout Indiana in grassy and wooded areas. They tend to be most active during the late spring and early summer. Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases, such as

Nine community organizations have once again joined forces to host the Citywide Back-to-School Rally on Thursday, August 9 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. The event will be held at Elston’s Gill Field, 317 Detroit Street in Michigan City. More than 1,600 students and their families are expected to attend this year’s Rally, which has been held at Gill Field each summer for the past ten years. The event will again feature free food, exhibits, activities, free lead screening and blood pressure checks, and a school supply giveaway. To attend the rally, families must be residents of Michigan City or attend

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office has announced that four people have been arrested for their role in a burglary to a home of a veteran that had been reported on July 18, 2018. The suspects have been identified as 19 year old Ethan Binversie of La Porte, 19 year old Bailey Gervais also of La Porte and 22 year old Tyler Jaeger of Michigan City. They are currently being held in the La Porte County Jail, all with a $20,000 bond. A 16 year old juvenile has also been arrested and he is being held in the La Porte

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly’s office announced that Indiana students interested in pursuing a nomination to one of our nation’s service academies must submit their nomination application to the Senator’s office by 6:00 PM EDT on Friday, September 14, 2018. To download the 2018 U.S. Service Academy Nomination Application form, . Each year, Donnelly has an opportunity to nominate Hoosiers for admittance to service academies: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY; the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO; the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY; and the U.S.

Nine community organizations have once again joined forces to host the Citywide Back-to-School Rally on Thursday, August 9 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. The event will be held at Elston’s Gill Field, 317 Detroit Street in Michigan City. More than 1,600 students and their families are expected to attend this year’s Rally, which has been held at Gill Field each summer for the past ten years. The event will again feature free food, exhibits, activities, free lead screening and blood pressure checks, and a school supply giveaway. To attend the rally, families must be residents of Michigan City or attend

Congratulations to Daryl Westphal of the Michigan City Fire Department for receiving the Rotary Club of Michigan City annual Service Above Self Award. Daryl received the award during the Rotary Club’s luncheon at Patrick’s Grille on July 26th, recognizing him for going above and beyond in service to the community. Fire Chief Randy Novak of the Michigan City Fire Department spoke about the Firefighter award winner going to Battalion Chief Daryl Westphal. Battalion Chief Westphal has served the department for over 36 years and has served the department in many positions in his career as a firefighter, including Driver/Operator, Captain,

The Porter County TSP and La Porte City Police are joining about 230 law-enforcement agencies across Indiana and thousands nationwide in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization. From mid-August through Labor Day, police will be out in full force arresting impaired drivers. Expect to see increased sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and saturation patrols. Indiana law-enforcement agencies have participated in annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic enforcement for more than 20 years. Overtime patrols are supported with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) funds distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). For more information, visit "https://on.IN.gov/drivesober"NHTSA

On Thursday just before 7:30 a.m., officers of the Michigan City Police Department were dispatched to the railroad intersect located at Eastwood and Tryon Roads, in reference to a serious bodily injury automobile/train accident. Upon their arrival officers located a severely damaged passenger vehicle imbedded against the front end of an Amtrak train approximately 500 yards from the impact on the tracks. As additional emergency responders arrived it was soon discovered that the sole occupant of the passenger vehicle had died upon impact. A preliminary investigation then revealed that a 2014 Honda Accord was traveling eastbound on Tryon Road when

UPDATE On Tuesday July 31st, 2018 at approximately 3:17 pm, a male subject entered 1st Source Bank, 3905 Franklin St. Michigan City, IN. He announced he is robbing the bank and demanded money from a teller. The suspect instructed the teller to hurry up with this demand, before he starts shooting, in which the teller complied. The suspect fled with an undetermined amount of currency with no one physically hurt during this robbery. Approximately and hour later a Chase Bank was robbed in Portage, IN. The Portage Police Patrol shift located the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Without

In a story WIMS has been following, the Michigan City Police reported on Tuesday that they have officially charged 67 year old Terry Marthinsen of 214 South Woodland Ave. Michigan City with 35 counts of Animal Neglect Class “A” Misdemeanors. The homeowner has agreed and signed off ownership where these animals will be treated and potentially adoptable. Numerous citizens have come forward with donations, and expressions of compassion for all of the dogs involved

Attorney General Curtis Hill announced on Tuesday he has joined a bipartisan group of 28 states in fighting to protect a historic cross honoring World War I veterans as part of a case with broader implications for the First Amendment. The 28-state coalition urges the U.S. Supreme Court to protect veterans’ memorials that feature religious symbolism. The coalition’s friend of the court brief seeks to overturn a lower court’s ruling that one such memorial violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The case at hand involves a nearly century-old memorial cross in Bladensburg, Maryland, started by community members and

Westbound Train #14 will operate an Extra for additional capacity to accommodate passengers heading to Chicago in the morning. Train #14 and its Extra will make all regular stops to Chicago. Alcohol will not be permitted on South Shore trains after 7 p.m. Please be advised that glass bottles are always prohibited. Bikes will not be permitted on South Shore trains Aug. 2-5. All available space will be needed to provide service for additional passengers.

Valparaiso Police on July 16th began an investigation regarding five separate vandalisms. All the vandalisms were buildings and/or vehicles damaged with black spray paint. Through the investigation police learned of two male juvenile suspects that were involved. The two juveniles, 13 yrs old and 15 yrs old both of Valparaiso, were interviewed by Detective Jason Hamilton and both admitted to committing the vandalisms. Both explained they randomly picked the buildings and/or vehicles prior to spray painting them. Both juveniles are being charged with Criminal Mischief through the Porter County Juvenile Court System.