News

Applications are now available online for the 2019 Unity Foundation of La Porte County cycle of scholarships and awards. Deadline for submission is March 22. Scholarships and awards ranging from $250 - $2,500 each are awarded through more than 50 funds at Unity, which is the community foundation serving La Porte County. Scholarship opportunities are available for both graduating seniors and students who already are in college. To make the application process easier for students and school officials, all applicants can simply log into www.uflc.net to complete and submit applications and documentation online. The Unity Foundation General Scholarship application was designed to

PNW - Opening late at 12:00pm Paladin, inc - Closed Opportunity Enterprises - Closed Ivy Tech Michigan City and La Porte Campuses - ClosedDuneland Schools - ClosedHebron - 2 HoursMarquette Catholic - ClosedMichigan City - ClosedLa Porte - ClosedNew Prairie - ClosedValparaiso - ClosedImagination Station - 2 Hours - Open at 8amLowell - 2 HoursLake Station - 2 HoursRiver Forest - 2 Hours **There will be no Meals on Wheels service for La Porte County today. Customers are asked to use their blizzard boxes. **Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets will be closed today.

With extreme cold weather in our area, Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer would like to remind the citizens of Michigan City that several warming centers will be open.Warming centers will be available at the following locations: Michigan City Police Station (24 hours)1201 E. Michigan Blvd. Michigan City Fire Administration Building (8am-4pm, Monday-Friday)2510 E. Michigan Blvd. Michigan City Senior Center (8:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday)2 on the Lake Michigan City City Hall (8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday)100 E. Michigan Blvd. Michigan City Public Library (during regular business hours)100 E. 4 th Street Keys to Hope Community Resource Center (8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday,8:00am-12pm, Sunday-Saturday)1802 Franklin Street Mayor Meer urges the

The Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law heard Sen. Young’s SB 488 on public defenders authorizing the Indiana Public Defender Commission to create a system for and guidelines governing multi-county public defender offices. The bill also specifies term limits, member appointments, and meeting requirements for the joint board of a multi-county public defender’s office.Representatives of the Indiana Public Defender Council and Public Defender Commission testified in support of this bill. The bill passed 7-0.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM CST TO 6 PM CST MONDAY. Snow expected throughout the day with total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches expected.

Michigan City will feel the brunt of a historically cold outbreak beginning this week. In an effort to remove the already fallen snow and in preparation for more heavy snow forecast to hit the area starting tonight, Mayor Ron Meer has declared the following: Sec. 94-254-Parking restrictions during a snow removal condition. Snow removal conditions have been declared by the Mayor, the following traffic regulations shall be in effect: Immediately on January 27, 2019 (1) No vehicle shall be parked on a designated “snow route.” (2) On even numbered days, no parking shall be permitted on that side of the

The shelter is asking residents to please, focus on your pets and be aware of the dangers. They stated, “Frostbite can happen in a matter of minutes with the extreme temperatures headed our way. If anyone needs assistance with their pets like food, short term shelter etc, please call 219-326-1637. Animal Control Officers will be impounding animals left outside as County Ordinance prohibits this”.

This past Thursday, just after 12:30 P.M. La Porte County Sheriff's Office Deputies were dispatched to the 7000 north block of State Road (SR) 39, for a crash. Upon arrival, deputies learned one of the involved drivers was deceased. SR 39 was immediately closed for investigative purposes, the cleanup of the large debris field and for the removal of the involved vehicles. The crash investigation revealed a Toyota passenger vehicle, driven by 27 year old Ric Henriott of Walkerton, was traveling south on SR 39. Information was provided that Henriott was overtaking/passing other southbound SR 39 vehicles in the northbound

This past Thursday, around 9:30 am, the Porter County Multi-Enforcement Group (PCMEG), responded to an anonymous “Submit a Tip” for a residence in Chesterton on 10th Street. PCMEG was assisted by Porter County Adult Probation at the 10th Street residence as Probation was also looking for a subject that had been non-compliant with the terms of their probation and lived at the same residence. Information obtained at the residence led PCMEG Detectives to another, larger source, which was also in Chesterton, in the 800 south block of 2nd Street. Detectives made contact with the homeowner, who refused a consent to

On Tuesday, January 22nd, at around 2:00 PM, La Porte County Sheriff's Office Deputies were dispatched to US Highway 20 east of Range Road, in rural Kankakee Township, reference a two vehicle crash with injuries. The crash investigation revealed a GMC pickup truck, driven by 25 year old Zachary Lane, of Texas was traveling west on US 20. While doing so, Lane drove left of center into the eastbound lanes of US 20. The pickup truck Lane was operating collided with a Dodge van. The van was being operated by 44 year old Ryan Wireman, of South Bend. At the

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter is hosting a Community Forum in Valparaiso to better understand the needs of the community and reach more residents affected by the disease. The public is invited to come together to ask questions about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, share their personal experiences, learn about available resources and discover volunteer opportunities.An estimated 2,700 people in Porter County are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and another 8,000 are caregivers. Nearly 27,000 residents are over the age of 65, putting them at increased risk of developing the disease.Community Forums are hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association in

The Michigan City Human Rights Department is updating its Local Hiring Registry. They are seeking qualified residents with documented experience in the building and construction trades that have an interest in working on municipal funded projects. Your name will be added to the list of Michigan City residents who are available to work with local contractors. Those individuals with any union affiliation are encouraged to submit their information. A resume and copies of any training records should be included. All previous information will be purged from the Hiring Registry.For further information, contact the City of Michigan City, Human Rights Department,

The Indiana Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program is providing services as usual during the federal government shutdown and has funding to support benefits through March. Clients are not currently experiencing any changes to their benefits because of the shutdown.Indiana WIC will continue to work with federal and state partners to make plans should the shutdown extend past March and will provide additional updates as needed.WIC provides healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to social service programs for families and is available in all 92 Indiana counties. The Indiana WIC program currently serves an average of 145,000 women,

The Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law heard Sen. Young’s SB 488 on public defenders authorizing the Indiana Public Defender Commission to create a system for and guidelines governing multi-county public defender offices. The bill also specifies term limits, member appointments, and meeting requirements for the joint board of a multi-county public defender’s office.Representatives of the Indiana Public Defender Council and Public Defender Commission testified in support of this bill. The bill passed 7-0.

More Hoosiers are working than ever before, as Indiana ended 2018 by reporting record employment numbers for the year and job gains in every major sector measured by the state.The Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported on Jan. 18 that the total number of employed Hoosiers in December preliminarily reached 3,284,190, while private employment hit 2,731,600—both new highs for the state. Total preliminary private employment in 2018 grew by 42,700 people from the previous peak in December 2017, according to DWD. Dating back to July 2009, Indiana has gained 408,400 private jobs since state employment bottomed out during the recession.

Wednesday, the President and Board Members of the Bolt For The Heart (BFTH) foundation were welcomed to Governor Holcomb’s office for a personal “Thank you” for donating an additional 134 AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) units to the Indiana State Police. This brings the total number of AED units donated to the state police to 465 and marks the fulfillment of a 2014 pledge by BFTH to put an AED in state police road patrol vehicles. The value of this donation exceeds $600,000.Gov. Holcomb visited with Pierre Twer, the President of the BFTH, a non-profit organization, along with BFTH Board Members,

Indiana residents in favor of stronger gun laws are optimistic that 2019 will be the year that background checks are expanded. A pair of bills were introduced in the U-S House and Senate (H.R. 8/S. 42) that would extend the federal background-check requirement to all gun sales, including private sales. However, Edmund Smith with Hoosiers Concerned about Gun Violence explains there's a similar effort at the statehouse. Senate Bill 307, introduced by State Senator Mark Stoops (D-Bloomington), would require the sale or purchase of firearms to have to be completed through a licensed state dealer, with a background check. It

Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 15.  A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after midnight. Check back for updates on warming centers throughout the area.

With extreme cold forecast in the next week, Mayor Meer would like to remind the citizens of Michigan City that several warming centers will be open.Warming centers will be available at the following locations: Michigan City Police Station (24 hours) 1201 E. Michigan Blvd.  Michigan City Fire Administration Building (8am-4pm, Monday-Friday) 2510 E. Michigan Blvd.  Michigan City Senior Center (8:00am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday)2 on the Lake Michigan City City Hall (8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday)100 E. Michigan Blvd. Michigan City Public Library (during regular business hours) 100 E. 4 th  Street Keys to Hope Community Resource Center (8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-12pm, Sunday-Saturday) 1802 Franklin Street Mayor Meer urges the citizens of

It has been recorded that more ice was shipped from La Porte County than from any other place west of the Hudson River. Keeping food cold in our early history was not an easy job, and ice harvesting on the lakes in the county was a major industry. Learn about the various companies that were involved in this industry, their locations as well as tools of the trade, methods of harvesting, and more. Travel back in time to touch actual blocks of ice donated by City’s Pure Ice, Inc.! Be sure to be here Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 9:00