News

Representatives Michael Ayelsworth and Jim Pressel toured the Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad Tuesday near Thomaston and Hanna in LaPorte County to view firsthand the work in progress to repair and upgrade the rail line that is used to move millions of bushels of grain grown in northwest Indiana to major markets. Improvements currently under way include installing 4,800 new railroad ties and, later this fall, work will begin to replace two timber bridges with culverts. In addition, CKIN will also expand capacity for more traffic by installing a new mile-long siding at Thomaston. This siding will better handle CKIN’s growing

The Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence were presented this week to honor seven recipients for extraordinary initiatives in protecting the environment. Commissioner Pigott and Rebecca Holwerda, Senior Policy Director for Governor Eric Holcomb, presented the awards during the 21st annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Tradeshow held at the Marriott North in Indianapolis. Locally, in the category of Energy/Renewable Resources: • Michigan City Area Schools, Michigan City, LaPorte County, for “ Michigan City Area Schools Solar and LED Lighting Project 2017.” After completion of a guaranteed energy savings project, Michigan City Area Schools (MCAS) decided to further reduce their energy costs

The League of Women Voters of LaPorte County will present Judge Greta Friedman at Lunch With The League, Tuesday, Oct. 9th, at Patrick’s Grille, 4125 S. Franklin Street, in Michigan City. Judge Friedman has served as both a Magistrate and elected Judge of LaPorte Superior Court 4 beginning in 2008. While she handles both civil and criminal cases, she is most proud of her work with the LaPorte Problem Solving Court. The Court is an alternative sentencing court for individuals with substance abuse addictions facing felonies in the criminal justice system. It has been operating since 2012. The general public

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter invites Northwest Indiana residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® on Saturday, October 6. Along the walk route, participants will learn about Alzheimer's disease and dementia, volunteer opportunities, public policy initiatives and local programs and services provided by the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter. Walk participants also honor those affected by Alzheimer's disease with a poignant Promise Garden ceremony before the walk, which invites participants to display colored flowers, which represent their personal connections to Alzheimer’s. More than 5 million Americans are living

Effective Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, improvements to the Gary Metro Center platform will shift locations, impacting passenger access to the station. On Oct. 3rd, the east end of the platform will re-open and the west end of the platform will close, including the main stairway and SSL platform elevator. During this time, passengers may access the SSL platform through the Broadway St. entrance. Due to the elevator closure, the recommended alternative ADA-accessible station location is East Chicago. The closure is expected to last until early Monday, Oct. 8th.

In July 2015, then-governor Mike Pence signed House Bill 1305 into law to protect waste and recycling collection workers on the state’s roadways, joining eight other states at the time with similar laws. Currently 21 states have enacted Slow Down To Get Around Legislation. Saturday October 20, Governor Eric J. Holcomb will sign a proclamation highlighting the law that requires motorists to slow down and safely move over when approaching certain vehicles on the roadway. “Driving safely should be a top priority for anyone getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.  We all want to safely get home to our

The Duneland Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an afternoon speed networking event on Thursday, October 4, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The event will be held at AJ’s Pizza, located at 3050 Matson Street in Chesterton. There is no cost to attend, and Chamber members are encouraged to bring guests. This speed networking event will offer Chamber members and their guests the opportunity to introduce themselves and their businesses to other event attendees in timed, one-on-one conversations. In each pairing, members will discover ways in which they can grow their own (and others’) organizations through previously untapped avenues.

Fall water system flushing began September 23rd and will continue Sunday through Thursday nights from approximately 8PM-5AM. Flushing is done at night to minimize inconvenience to customers. Discolored or rusty water may occur in some areas during flushing. Running the cold water tap for several minutes usually is enough to clear it up. The water is safe to drink. If you are doing laundry and rusty water enters your washer, do not dry the clothes. Washing the items again after the water clears normally takes care of the problem. The first week of flushing will be predominantly on the north

Valparaiso Police are investigating a suspicious incident that occurred outside Montessori School (daycare center) at 505 Marquette St. On Tuesday afternoon police were called to the location after a male subject approached a grandparent of a child and inquired about the procedures for picking up a child at the center. The subject drove off a short time later without picking up any students. The male subject was driving a blue minivan with possible Texas license plates. The male subject was described as approximately 70 years old. He had gray hair and was wearing glasses with a baseball cap. Police are

The Indiana State Police will be holding an informational seminar and physical abilities session on Saturday, October 6, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. until noon at Indiana Tech located at 1600 E. Washington Boulevard in Fort Wayne. The purpose of the event is to help prepare those individuals, with an interest in a career with the Indiana State Police, for the next selection process which is expected to begin this coming November.  A more specific application date will be forthcoming. Attendees will be provided with information on the various components of the selection process, which include a written test, oral interview,

At its Annual Update Luncheon on September 12th, Unity Foundation of La Porte County supported more than 80 local nonprofit projects by awarding over $140,000 in grant funding. The applications were evaluated by a committee of dedicated members from throughout La Porte County. The grants are made possible due to the generosity of visionary donors who left unrestricted funds to Unity Foundation. Those community funders include the following: American Association of University Women La Porte Community, Backer Family, Fred & Helen Brust, John P. and Anne H. Daley, Ernest and Mildred Delco, Pauline M. Dent, Randy & Jane Dorman, Charles

Horizon Bank’s Diversity Business Council members attended a meeting at their corporate headquarters to discuss diversity and inclusion initiatives. Horizon Bank executives and the members of the Council had the pleasure of having Michael Suggs, Operations Integrations & Strategy Director for NIPSCO present “Inclusion & Diversity Path to Success.” He discussed retention of a diverse workforce, diversity awareness and how it affects internal and external customers. Suggs has worked at NIPSCO for 37 years, and has advanced Diversity and Inclusion initiatives throughout the NiSource organization and Northwest Indiana. Michael was recognized as an Indiana Champion of Diversity by Indiana Minority

The Great Lakes Legislative Caucus (GLLC), a nonpartisan group of lawmakers from eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces that focuses on issues and policies concerning the Great Lakes, recently elected State Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) to chair the Caucus during 2019 and 2020. Charbonneau will succeed Michigan State Sen. Darwin Booher, whose legislative term will end in December. Illinois State Rep. Robyn Gabel was elected to the position of vice chair. The Caucus also elected members to serve on the GLLC Executive Committee. All 10 jurisdictions are represented on the committee. Some of the specific objectives include assuring the

Attorney General Curtis Hill announced yesterday he is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the 1979 decision Nevada vs. Hall, which holds that states are subject to lawsuits brought against them in the courts of other states. Sovereign immunity prevents states from being sued without their consent. Hall’s holding, which allows plaintiffs to circumvent sovereign immunity by bringing suit against one state in the courts of another state, is irreconcilable with the Supreme Court’s larger body of sovereign immunity decisions, said Attorney General Hill. He is leading a 44-state friend-of-the-court (amicus) brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case Franchise

Grant Applications are available beginning September 24, 2018 for the Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation’s 2019-2020 grant cycle. Online Grant Applications are available at: www.mccec.com In March of this year, the Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation awarded 49 grants totaling approximately $650,000 to Michigan City Area charitable organizations. If you have any questions about the Application process, please call their voice-mail at 219-873-1402 or email mccec@emichigancity.com and a representative from the Enrichment Corporation Board will be in contact with you.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Administration today announced the second opportunity for Indiana schools to order state-funded handheld metal detectors. Gov. Holcomb announced the original program earlier this summer. Schools that have not ordered the devices can contact info@k12indiana.com. Ordering instructions will be provided. The deadline to order is 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 5. To date, 3,231 total handheld metal detectors have been requested by 370 school entities — including 94 percent of all traditional public school corporations. Originally announced on July 9, the program makes one handheld metal detector available for every 250 students

Governor Eric Holcomb has declared September 23-29, 2018 as Indiana Rail Safety Week in conjunction with U.S. and Canada Rail Safety Week that will take place in all 50 states and Canadian provinces. Our goal is to increase rail safety awareness by working collaboratively on national rail safety week. Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Transportation, local law enforcement and railroad companies have partnered together to raise awareness about the dangers of disregarding railroad crossing laws and trespassing on railroad property. “Train versus vehicle collisions and trespasser deaths are completely preventable,” states Jessica Feder, Executive Director, Indiana Operation Lifesaver.  “Indiana

Horizon Bank’s Diversity Business Council members attended a meeting at their corporate headquarters to discuss diversity and inclusion initiatives. Horizon Bank executives and the members of the Council had the pleasure of having Michael Suggs, Operations Integrations & Strategy Director for NIPSCO present “Inclusion & Diversity Path to Success.” He discussed retention of a diverse workforce, diversity awareness and how it affects internal and external customers. Suggs has worked at NIPSCO for 37 years, and has advanced Diversity and Inclusion initiatives throughout the NiSource organization and Northwest Indiana.  Michael was recognized as an Indiana Champion of Diversity by Indiana Minority

Ivy Tech Community College and Michigan City Area Schools are partnering to bring technical courses to adults at the AK Smith Center starting October 15. Courses will include Automotive, Construction, Manufacturing, Logistics, Welding and Certified Production Technician. The courses are eligible for Next Level Jobs funding and there will be no cost to qualifying participants. For more information contact Rob at rjeffs@ivytech.edu or ( 219) 879-9137 x 6252 or attend an Information Session Thursday, September 27., at Ivy Tech Michigan City Campus, 3714 Franklin St. M.C. 6:00 pm -8:00 pm .

In the wake of widespread damage caused by Hurricane Florence, Secretary of State Connie Lawson cautioned investors to watch out for opportunistic investment or charitable scams. Secretary Lawson recently reminded investors to watch for red flags of hurricane-related scams, including unsolicited email, social media messages, crowdfunding pitches or telephone calls promoting investment pools or bonds to help storm victims, water-removal or purification technologies, electricity-generating devices and distressed real estate remediation programs. Scam artists may linger long after the storm has passed to prey on victims who anticipate receiving large lump-sum insurance settlements for damaged property and other losses. Secretary Lawson