(Indianapolis, IN) - State authorities are looking to resume executions in Indiana prisons, starting with a convicted murderer.

On Wednesday Governor Eric Holcomb and Attorney General Todd Rokita issued a joint statement on their intent to enforce the death penalty after a recent hiatus.

They say it’s taken years to acquire a drug approved for executions. The Indiana Department of Correction has recenly acquired pentobarbital, which is a sedative often used to treat insomnia, anxiety, and seizures.  They plan to use a lethal dose of it on Joseph Corcoran who was found guilty of four murders back in 1997. He’s been on Death Row since 2016.

“In Indiana, state law authorizes the death penalty as a means of providing justice for victims of society’s most heinous crimes and holding perpetrators accountable,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Further, it serves as an effective deterrent for certain potential offenders who might otherwise commit similar extreme crimes of violence. Now that the Indiana Department of Correction is prepared to carry out the lawfully imposed sentence, it’s incumbent on our justice system to immediately enable executions in our prisons to resume."

The Indiana ACLU is opposed to the development, posing this comment on X: "We’re deeply concerned with the decision by Governor Holcomb and Attorney General Rokita to resume executions in Indiana. The death penalty lacks public support, is rooted in racism and is prone to serious errors. A government should never execute its citizens. Full stop."

The state has not executed a person in 15 years. The last death sentence was carried out by lethal injection at the state prison in Michigan City in 2009. 

(La Porte County, IN) - The County Election Board is still wrestling with penalties dished out to local candidates for alleged paperwork violations.

In February the Election Board issued fines totaling close to $23,000 to about 30 candidates for various filing violations. While most of those situations have been resolved with reduced fines, two candidates stuck up for themselves on Monday.

Rodney McCormick of Michigan City, with his campaign manager, testified that his paperwork was not late, as alleged. He said he emailed it on time, but county workers did not receive it. McCormick claimed that his due process had been violated, since the fines were given by the board and not a court. He also questioned why the board seemed to backpedal on their process for hearing appeals. Like with many other candidates, the board decided to reduce McCormick’s initial fine of $1,000 to $200.

County Councilman Mike Rosenbaum also testified that he properly filed campaign finance paperwork and shouldn’t be fined at all. The board heard from Rosenbaum and his attorney and decided to take the matter under advisement.

(La Porte County, IN) - The La Porte County Health Department is finally back in its original offices in the County Complex Building.

Health workers moved back into their fourth floor headquarters on Monday, after about a year-and-a-half in other county offices while the complex was renovated. In December of 2022, county staff had to scramble to relocate due to a bad water leak.

Tricia Wozniak, Health Department Environmental Supervisor, says the results were worth the wait. “The office is absolutely beautiful,” she told HTNN. “Everybody is very pleased with it. Our office has never looked this nice. We are still unpacking, so it’s going to be a process. But we are fully operational at this point.”

Wozniak says she and her staff notice a world of difference, even if it’s not that obvious to the public. “New counters, new desks. All the walls are new, carpet’s new, all the lighting is new,” she said. “But the configuration of it is basically the same.”

Wozniak says a meeting room was expanded to make extra space. It seems even more spacious now, after having to share office space in other parts of the county for over a year.

(La Porte, IN) - A verdict has been reached in the defamation lawsuit between Shaw Friedman and Tim Stabosz. That trial, over three years in the making, has been going on all week in La Porte Circuit Court.

Friday morning, the last three witnesses took the stand. And after lunch, lawyers on both sides gave their closing arguments.

Lawyers for Friedman contended that Stabosz maliciously and recklessly abused his right of free speech in order to damage Friedman’s reputation. Friedman’s civil suit requested over $5 million in damages.

The six-member jury was given their instructions at about 3:30 in the afternoon. About three hours later, they returned with a verdict in favor of Stabosz, clearing him of any liability for his comments.

His attorney, Andrew B. Jones, talked to HTNN shortly after the decision came down. “We are incredibly satisfied with the outcome,” he said. “But more than anything, we are appreciative to the jury, the court, and the court staff for all of the time, energy, and effort they put into allowing my client to present his case and receive a just and proper verdict.”

Friedman’s legal team responded with this statement: "We appreciate the work and attentiveness of the jury. The law of defamation is difficult and complex and we are evaluating several issues for appeal."

(Elkhart County, IN) - Multiple people were injured and multiple vehicles damaged in a roadway collision with a cow.

It happened on SR 19 between Elkhart and Wakarusa just before 3:00 am Thursday morning.

According to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, here’s how it went down:

First, a northbound Mercedes-Benz hit a cow in the roadway. The unfortunate bovine lurched into the opposite lane, where it was struck by a motorcycle. The cycle was hit from behind by a Honda Civic, which was rear-ended by a Dodge Ram pickup. Once those vehicles were off the roadway, a Ford Edge came upon the scene and hit the dead cow in the middle of the road.

Several injuries were reported, but none of them serious. Obviously, the cow got the worst of it.

(South Bend, IN) - A Rhode Island man has been sentenced to federal prison for shipping fentanyl to Indiana.

Thursday in South Bend’s U.S. District Court, 44-year-old Jesus Martinez-Salas of Providence, Rhode Island was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. He had previously pled guilty to distributing over a pound of fentanyl to a buyer in Indiana back in 2022.

Toxicologists say 2 mg of fentanyl, which is 50-100 times more potent than morphine, is lethal to humans. So the pound that Martinez-Salas was peddling could have killed over 226,000 people.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Gary woman was relieved, but not in the right way, after being picked up for drunk driving on a La Porte County roadway.

Around 1:30 early Monday morning, a sheriff’s deputy responded to a reckless driving complaint on Fail Rd just south of US 20. He spotted a 2018 Chevy Equinox swerving over the center line and pulled it over.

Following a field sobriety test, including a breathalyzer and later a blood draw, the driver, 34-year-old Brianna Easterling of Gary, was found to be twice the legal limit of intoxication.

According to police, Easterling became emotionally upset, saying she knew she’d be going back to prison.

She was booked on two felony and two misdemeanor charges, including OWI, endangerment, and being a habitual traffic offender. According to court records, Easterling has similar charges pending in Lake County.

Making matters worse, police say Easterling urinated in the back of the patrol car once they got back to the county jail.

(Indianapolis, IN) - State Republican delegates gathered in Indianapolis recently to choose some candidates for state offices. The big draw was the race for Lt. Governor. Usually it’s not contested, with the nod going to whomever the gubernatorial candidate chooses.But this year a dark-horse candidate— Micah Beckwith, a Noblesville church pastor— campaigned for the position. And won.

Beckwith’s victory was an upset, but hardly a landslide. Beckwith garnered 891 delegate votes (just under 52%), to 828 votes for State Representative Julie McGuire, Mike Braun’s pick for the place on the ticket.  95 delegates did not cast ballots.

Perhaps the only one not surprised by the outcome was Beckwith himself. “I don’t see it so much as an upset, as it was a long time coming,” he told HTNN. “I think the establishment, or ivory tower elites, whatever you want to call them, just the people that have been in politics for a long time, have stopped listening to the people.”

Beckwith says there’s a disconnect between career politicians and average people who are living “the inflation life.”

“I said listen, ‘you’re frustrated, I’m frustrated. You don’t feel heard, I don’t feel heard. Why don’t I go be your voice?’”

Beckwith has been a Republican delegate since 2016. He felt like, for some state offices, delegates had a vote, but not a choice. “They let you vote for Lt. Governor,” he said, “but they never allow you to have more than one option. It’s kind of this façade.” He says he decided to campaign for the office over a year ago partly to put an end the usual rubber-stamp process for nominating a candidate.

Also, what he calls unconstitutional edicts during the pandemic spurred Beckwith to run. “I know what the government’s allowed to do, and I know what the government’s not allowed to do,” he said. “And here we saw the government doing things they weren’t allowed to do.” Specifically, he was against mask and vaccine mandates and shutting down churches. Beckwith said that as a church pastor, he wrote about 4,500 religious exemptions for people who wanted to opt out of certain mandates.

In Indiana the Lt. Governor heads several state committees, oversees agricultural affairs, and serves as president of the state Senate. Beckwith has never held public office, but says he brings the right qualifications through years of church and civic involvement. He has worked in politics with the Indiana Family Institute; he’s worked with dairy farms across the state while helping run his family’s small business; he teaches high school civics. He also cohosts a podcast called “Jesus, Sex and Politics.”

Apparently, though— at least to rank-and-file Republicans— Beckwith’s chief attribute is something he’s not: an insider. He got the nomination even without the endorsements of gubernatorial candidate Mike Braun or Donald Trump, who both backed McGuire.

Beckwith says even though he wasn’t Mike Braun’s personal choice, he gets along great with Braun and has already hit the campaign trail with him. “I think the media is blowing that out of proportion,” Beckwith said. “They’re saying it’s going to be a dumpster fire. Mike and I have been friends since 2018. We’ve always had a good relationship. The Braun team has been super welcoming.”

According to Beckwith, Braun told him that his addition will only help solidify the conservative base. That’s welcome news to Republicans who stand to lose certain conservative votes to Donald Rainwater’s Libertarian ticket. Beckwith says he’s received messages from Rainwater supporters who now feel comfortable voting a straight Republican ballot.

Following Beckwith’s nomination, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick named her preferred running mate: Dr. Terry Goodin, a former public school superintendent and 20-year state Rep. and current state USDA Rural Development Director. Goodin, known as social conservative among Democrats, has himself walked back previous positions against abortion rights and gay marriage.

Beckwith says he won’t budge, especially on social issues. He made news two years ago by leading a charge against offensive library material as a member of a Hamilton County library board, a position from which he has since resigned. Beckwith has been outspoken in his opposition to progressive causes, like Critical Race Theory, Black Lives Matter, and LGBQ+ issues. “I love everybody. Everyone is made in the image of God,” Beckwith stressed. “But when it comes to the ideologies, I’m not going to play nice with this radical leftism. That is a huge threat.”

On Monday Beckwith made a campaign appearance with Braun, but says he plans largely to go his own way, working grassroots channels along the campaign trail.

A little over a week ago, Micah Beckwith was an underdog. Now he’s the favorite, at Mike Braun’s side, to win an office in the Statehouse. In the movies, Mr. Smith went to Washington. Come November, Mr. Beckwith, in a state as Red as Indiana, may very well go to Indianapolis.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City man has been arrested on child pornography charges.

Thanks to an online tip, the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began an investigation into illegal material being downloaded. According to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office, authorities pinpointed activities on a Synchronoss Technologies account, which is a cloud-based storage provider for all digital media on the Verizon Wireless Network.

Last week, county authorities arrested 39-year-old Steffano Alan Guess of Michigan City on two felony counts of child exploitation. As HTNN has previously reported (click here for article), Guess was found hiding in the closet of a mobile home in the 6200 block of North 400 West. 

According to court records, Guess appeared in La Porte Superior Court 1 on Tuesday and pled not guilty. He has a jury trial scheduled for November 12.

(La Porte, IN) - Adult supervised programming for children is being offered in a select number of parks during the summer in La Porte.  The free summer program is held at Koomler, Allesee, Scott, Ben Reese and Rumely parks.  There are morning and afternoon sessions daily with each park visited during the week.

“The park leaders put together a plan every day, a combination of games, sports, arts and crafts.  We also get visits from the mobile library, the Little Fish Club.  Things of that nature.  There’s always something for the kids to do,” said La Porte Park Department Superintendent Mark Schreiber.

Schreiber said parents must register their children for them to participate in the program.  Registration along with a complete schedule are available at laporteparkandrec.com.

“We do encourage parents to make sure they know when the leaders will be there and the time they’re leaving,” he said.

Schreiber said he participated in the program while growing up and it was brought back about a decade ago.

“It helps get the kids out, give them some structured play,” he said.

(La Porte County, IN) - The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra will have auditions for the 2024-25 concert season.  The auditions are scheduled September 4th and September 11th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church at 307 Kingsbury Avenue in La Porte.

The orchestra is seeking qualified musicians to fill the following vacancies:

• Flute 2
• Oboe 2
• Principal Trumpet
• Trumpet 3/Section Trumpet
• Piano/Keyboard
• Section Violin (seats available in Violin I and Violin II)
• Associate Principal Violin II
• Associate Principal Cello
• Section Cello
• Principal String Bass
• ALL instruments are available to audition for subbing opportunities

Music Director Dr. Carolyn Watson said the LCSO has grown from a community orchestra a just over a half century ago into a professional 60 piece ensemble drawing on musicians from Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

“I am excited by this continuing trajectory of growth, development and improvement, building on our already solid foundations," she said.

The 2024-2025 season will feature seven performances: four mainstage classical subscription concerts as well as the Hoosier Star fundraiser, Children’s Education Concerts, and Holiday at the Pops.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City man is facing possible time in jail for failing to properly take care of his two dogs.  Michael Stalling was found guilty on two counts of neglect of a vertebrate animal in a bench trial before Magistrate Judge John Link at the courthouse in Michigan City.  Sentencing is scheduled July 8.   Stalling could face an up to one year jail sentence on each count and a maximum $5,000 fine.

According to court documents, Stalling abandoned his two dogs, which he kept in an outdoor cage, at a home in the 1100 block of West 9^th Street in August of 2022.  They were found to be very thin and very dehydrated a few days after he abandoned them.

“Abandoning or neglecting an animal resonates with people as cruelty, and to do that in Indiana is a crime,” said La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan.

Fagan praised the work of deputy prosecutor Mike Freddoso and Detective Lt. Anna Painter for their work on the case.

(La Porte County, IN) - Ethical questions are being raised over a man recently taking a seat on the La Porte County Election Board, which is looking into a campaign finance violations complaint involving him.

Former La Porte City Councilman Gautama “Goot” Logwood, who brought the complaint, said former LaPorte County Prosecutor John Lake joining the three member governing body seems to give an appearance of impropriety.

Logwood alleges the La Porte Democratic Civic Club had an operating budget exceeding $5,000 in five of the past eight years, but did not file the required paperwork required for a political action committee.  Under Indiana law, he said an organization becomes a PAC after it goes above the $5,000 operating budget threshold.

“The only years they didn’t go over that $5,000 threshold, which would put them in the filing of a PAC, were off election years,” Logwood said.

PAC’s must also report the donors and recipients of their campaign contributions.

“There’s a lot of investigation that needs to be done,” he told the La Porte County Election Board during its meeting on Monday.

Logwood said he was not able to uncover the filing of any public campaign finance reports filed by the club in the years at question.  He said Lake’s wife, Mary, was an officer with the club when it gave Lake a $1,500 campaign contribution during his unsuccessful run for reelection in 2022.  If the Civic Club is not a PAC, he said the $1,500 contribution would still have to be reported because it exceeds the $1,000 contribution ceiling for an auxiliary organization.

Logwood, who served four years on the La Porte City Council from 2008 to 2011, was membership director for the club in 2023.  He said he filed the complaint out of concern about transparency.

“Part of keeping ethics in politics and funding is you have to be able to show where funds are coming from.  It has to be trackable.  Voters have to be able to see who is funding candidates and from there make their decisions on them,” he said.

In February, the election board formally requested 12 years of the La Porte Democratic Civic Club's bank records as part of its investigation into the allegations.  During Monday’s Election Board meeting, La Porte Democratic Civic Club attorney, Alan Sirinek, said he would comply with the request once witness fees related to the request are paid.  In response, Lake said he will seek another person to occupy his seat on the election board during any proceedings involving the Civic Club complaint to avoid any conflict of interest.  Lake indicated he might ask Teresa Massa, who he replaced on the election board, to serve in his capacity during those periods.

“I’ve been an attorney for 33 years and I’m very well aware of what my ethical obligations are.  I will comply with that fully,” he said.

Lake was also critical of allegations whenever they're made publicly without merit or legal standing.

“I don’t believe that this board should be used as a sword.  My philosophy has always been to promote positive elections.  I just generally think that there is too much misinformation, too many people who are not trained in the law or have enough knowledge that they’re connecting dots that don’t connect,” he said.

Lake was appointed to the election board by the new La Porte County Democratic Party Chairman, Angie Nelson Deuitch, who is mayor of Michigan City.   The two other members of the Election Board are Republicans Heather Stevens, who’s the La Porte County Clerk and Brody Shoffner, a local attorney.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Michigan City Patriotic Parade is Saturday.  The city’s Director of Special Events ,Terry Greetham, said the parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Franklin and 10^th Streets. 

The parade will proceed southbound to Ames Field.  Greetham said staging for the parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Pine Street from Michigan Boulevard to 9^th Street.

The theme of this year’s parade is “Proud to be an American.”

(Berrien County, Michigan) - Authorities in Berrien County, Michigan are trying to determine who robbed a Dollar General store at gunpoint Tuesday morning. 

Police said a man wearing black clothing and a black ski mask fled with an unknown amount of cash after threatening store clerks and demanding money.  A K-9 tracked the suspect for several hundred yards before losing the scent, police said.

There were no injuries during the robbery at the store near Berrien Springs.

Police said the suspect was further described as black with a thin build and average height.

(La Porte County, IN) - A man passing through La Porte County is now facing a possible lengthy prison term on allegations of having a sizable amount of methamphetamine.  Damon Coleman, 33, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 2 felony dealing in methamphetamine.

According to court documents, a La Porte County Police officer stopped a vehicle occupied by Coleman on June 19th for speeding on the Indiana Toll Road between La Porte and Rolling Prairie.  The officer, whose suspicions were first raised by another passenger breathing heavily, became even more suspicious at the conflicting stories told about their trip from Colorado to New York.

Another officer was called to assist with his K-9, which alerted to the potential of drugs inside the rental car.  During a vehicle search, police said a draw string bag and back packs at the feet of Coleman were found to contain more than 67 grams of methamphetamine in several containers.

Coleman of Farmington, New York could face anywhere from a 10 to 30 year sentence.

(La Porte, IN) - Police say a known drug user is facing charges following a wild motor vehicle chase down numerous streets in La Porte.  The count filed in La Porte Circuit Court against William Panos, 38, include resisting law enforcement and possession of syringe.

According to court documents, Panos was pulled over early on June 21st for not have a working license plate light.  After speaking to the officer, Panos allegedly turned his vehicle back on and quickly accelerated down Linwood Street.  Police said he ran multiple stop signs and traffic lights and even traveled at high speeds the wrong way down a one way street during the pursuit.

“William showed no regard for the safety of anyone on the road,” said La Porte Police officer Robert Metcalf in his report.

Police said the suspect came to a stop at Heinz and Grove streets and fled on foot.  A K-9 was released and caught up to Panos, who was treated by medics for wounds inflicted by the dog holding on to his right arm, police said.

According to court documents, Panos told police he fled because he didn’t want to go into withdrawal symptoms from being incarcerated at the jail.

Panos was also arrested on a warrant charging him with failure to appear in court on a prior drug related count.  An unused syringe was allegedly found in the right front pocket of his shorts.

(La Porte County, IN) - The popular Pioneer Land at the La Porte County Fairgrounds has a new leader.  Darla Quinn has moved up from treasurer to president of Pioneer Land as a result of a majority vote last month by more than 60 members of the 1840’s style village.

Quinn, a La Porte County native and volunteer at Pioneer Land for the last 22 years, is the third new person to hold that position since the 2022 death of Pioneer Land founder and long-time president Dick Reel.

“I want to resolve all of the conflicts that we’ve been having and just be able to move forward with Dick Reel’s ideas,” she said.

Pioneer Land member, Mark Parkman, said the friction was simply over “differences of opinion” on how things should be done.  Parkman emphasized all of the Pioneer Land members are on the same page, though, in their desire for what some people consider a magical place to continue flourishing.

“They’re doing it for the right reasons.  With Darla Quinn being elected, we’ll just have to see what happens.  I think she’ll do fine,” Parkman said.

With more than a dozen buildings like a blacksmith shop, general store, one room schoolhouse and log cabin, Pioneer Land is a huge attraction during the fair and during other times when it opens during the year.  The village, which doesn’t charge admission, often draws a few thousand people in early December when it opens as a weekend kick-off to the Christmas season.  Pioneer Land also opens for school tours.

Quinn said she will carry on with Reel’s vision, which included using Pioneer Land to provide children a glimpse of life as it was back in the day and a wholesome source of entertainment while roaming the grounds.

During their visits, children have free access to wooden stilts and old fashioned games such as washer toss they can play with their families.

“It’s a learning device.  He would do anything for kids and youth and we’re there to preserve that and maintain that for the future years,” Quinn said.

When the village is in operation, more than 100 volunteers dress like Pioneers perform an assortment of jobs like wood working, crafting tools and other products from steel, manning a camp fire, cooking and tending to a vegetable garden.  Their labor of love is often returned by people whose yearly visits to Pioneer Land are now a tradition passed on to their children and other family members or friends.

“We have people that show up year after year after year and have taken it to heart.  They’ve loved it their whole lives and I want to continue that,” Quinn said.

Pioneer Land began with construction of the log cabin in 1995.  The cost of building all of the structures was paid for with donations and money raised from the annual ham and bean dinner and auction during the fair. 

Funds from the dinner and auction now utilized strictly for building maintenance. Many of the items offered during the auction such as quilts, knives and rugs are made by the Pioneer Land volunteers.

This year’s La Porte County Fair is scheduled July 6-13.  The ham and bean dinner at the log cabin is scheduled for July 7th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  The meal is served with cornbread, homemade pie and a drink.  Quinn said chicken and noodles will be served for people who prefer that over ham and beans.  Each serving costs $10. 

Quinn said more than 700 meals were served last year. 

Quinn replaces Merle Miller, who served as president after Dana Conboy resigned, who was Reel’s handpicked successor.

(Fort Wayne, IN) - Indiana Michigan Power Company is reporting more than 9,000 customers without power because of the storm this morning.  According to the utility, 3,500 of those outages were in its northern Indiana service area with all of those outages being in South Bend and Elkhart.  The utility estimated service will be restored to those customers by 11 p.m.

In southwest Michigan, the utility reported 5,700 outages with 4,100 of those impacted customers in Three Rivers.  The remainder of the Michigan outages were in the Buchanan and Benton Harbor areas.

Estimated service restoration times in those areas ranged from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

(La Porte County, IN) - More than 6,000 NIPSCO customers were without power as a result of a storm Tuesday morning.  According to the NIPSCO website, more than 400 of those customers were in the La Porte service area while just over 60 customers were in the Michigan City service area.

There were more than 500 customer outages in NIPSCO’s Westville service area and just over 400 customer outages in the Union Mills service area.  NIPSCO also reported more than 300 outages in the Hamlet area along with close to 80 outages in Knox.

So far, NIPSCO has not shed light on when service will be restored.

(La Porte, IN) - Several women with signs declaring support for abortion rights stood outside the downtown La Porte courthouse Monday afternoon.  The protest was on the two year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade, a ruling in 1972 that made abortion a constitutional right.

Cindy Torgesen of La Porte said she believes the decision to have an abortion should be left up to women to decide.  She said one of the purposes for the protest was to keep the rights of women from eroding further.  Torgesen encouraged females “to stand up for themselves and their rights and realize they are created equal.”

Abortion is now up to states to decide and some have chosen to outlaw it all together even if the pregnancy resulted from a sex crime.

“I don’t feel that it’s right for a 12 or 13 year old girl who’s molested and impregnated that she should be further traumatized and forced to carry that child to term,” Torgesen  said.

“I think that it should come down what you feel is best for you as an individual.  That is what is fair,” said Janie Blower also of La Porte.

The women, holding pink signs during their march, also took a stand on other women's rights issues like equal pay.

(Kingsford Heights, IN) - Charges have been filed against a suspected car thief in Starke County captured in Kingsford Heights. 

Police said a 2008 Ford Ranger was taken from an auto parts store about 9 a.m. Thursday in Knox.  A short time later the vehicle was spotted near Hamlet, triggering a chase ending in a wooded area in Kingsford Heights.  The suspect then fled on foot.

Police said it took over three hours to locate 26 year old Beck Serles, on Fernway Road in Kingsford Heights.  He was charged with auto theft and resisting law enforcement after arrested by officers from Knox and Kingsford Heights.

(La Porte County, IN) - An event dedicated to the history of farm machinery maker Allis Chalmers wrapped up Sunday at the La Porte County Fairgrounds. 

The Gathering of the Orange drew roughly three thousand people over four days, according to Paul Rymer, who was involved in bringing the event here.  He says the Gathering of the Orange attracted about twice as many people when it was here last in 2014.  Rymer believes the hot weather kept some people away.

“We had people coming in, calling cancelling golf carts and stuff like that that they had reserved because they just said it was too hot,” he said.

Rymer said there must have been 500 or more pieces of Allis Chalmers farm machinery for people to see.

“We had discs and combines, of course, tractors, corn pickers, grain heads and stuff like that,” he said.

 

The event at the fairgrounds was hosted by the Rumely-Allis Chalmers La Porte Heritage Center, which contains antique farm equipment manufactured for over a century by Allis Chalmers and the Rumely Company in La Porte.

The Gathering of the Orange is held twice a year a different locations across the country.  The next one is scheduled August 14-18 in Pickneyville, Illinois.

(La Porte County, IN) - An old truck and camper went up in flames Sunday evening in the Union Mills area.  La Porte County Police said emergency responders were called to the 10667 S. Indiana 39 just before 6 p.m.  A 1953 General Motors truck, along with a camper, were engulfed in flames outside a residence.

Police said the homeowner, 78 year old Thomas Stacy, explained he didn’t know about the fire until a passerby came to his door.  Stacy also told investigators he had no idea how the fire could have started.

Firefighters from the Noble Township Volunteer Fire Department put out the flames.

Stacy said he owned the 20 foot long camper while the truck belonged to his grandson, according to police.  The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

(La Porte County) - A La Porte area man was given a court date for allegedly traveling twice the speed limit on U.S. 20 Sunday night.  Corey Emery, 21, was cited for speeding and reckless driving, according to La Porte County Police. 

Emery is accused of traveling 109 miles per hour on U.S. 20 near Wilhelm Road in his 2013 Volkswagen Jetta.  During a traffic stop, police said the driver explained he was in a hurry to get home from being tired after work.

He was given an August 7th court date to answer to the allegations.

(New Carlisle, IN) - Early Friday afternoon the sidewalks of New Carlisle slowly filled with people. They were silently beckoned by the sight of uniformed firefighters and two fire trucks on each side of Michigan Ave./U.S. 20. Their ladders, fully extended and crossing high above the roadway as if saluting, made a grand entrance into town. Townspeople were gathered not for a midday parade, but for a funeral procession.

On June 15, longtime firefighter Chris Antonucci (58) passed away from cancer. Not a line-of-duty death, but a heroic battle nonetheless. Antonucci began his 37-year career as a volunteer with the New Carlisle Fire Department, back when they relied on able-bodied locals to answer the call at a moment’s notice. Antonucci dedicated himself to the craft, rising through the ranks, serving for the past eleven years as the Fire Chief in Warren Township, just east of town. He also spent 15 years leading the University of Notre Dame’s Risk Management and Safety department.

Following a funeral Mass for Antonucci at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, mourners drove through New Carlisle to the town cemetery.

New Carlisle resident Tom Keen, who is himself battling stage-4 cancer, sat in his golf cart awaiting the procession. “When I left here in 1973, Chris was a young kid,” he reminisced. “When I moved back here in 2003, he was a grown man, and the minute I met him, we were friends.”

Antonucci, a 1984 New Prairie graduate, was an avid Harley rider, a chef known for his babyback ribs and Bloody Marys, and regular usher at his church. But he’ll be remembered for his personality.

“The first thing you’d notice about Chris was his smile,” said Keen. “He never wanted to talk about him; he always wanted to talk about you. He surely will be missed.”

As the procession made its way through town—fire trucks in front, motorcycles behind— members of the New Carlisle Fire Department stood at attention. Chief Josh Schweizer credited Antonucci for getting him started with his own career. “Chris has been a mentor,” he said. “He’s the one that got me into the fire service. He was a great leader, a great man. He will be sorely missed by New Carlisle, Warren Township, and the surrounding community.”

Firefighters followed the procession to the cemetery and joined Antonnuci on his final call to eternal rest. Chris Antonucci leaves behind his wife of 22 years, Linda, three children, four grandchildren, two beloved cats… and a grateful community.

(Washington, D.C.) - A northern Indiana Congressman says death threats against him and his family received only a shoulder shrug from federal prosecutors.

Last October 33-year-old Aaron Thompson of Ft. Wayne pled guilty to one felony charge of Intimidation and one misdemeanor charge of Harassment. He allegedly left vulgar and threatening voicemails for 3^rd District Congressman Jim Banks. The messages also mentioned Banks’ wife and three young daughters. "Three daughters… three bullets…” the first message said. “One wife… we'll give her two bullets..."

According to court documents filed last June, the threats seemed only to escalate. Thompson claimed to own a gun and hoped that Banks would “get [his] brains blown out.” Then the final message: "Here's the choice. Your daughters grow up without their dad, or you grow old without your daughters. How you like that? Let me know what your opinion is. I’ll make the decision… boom, boom you pick which two daughters get shot."

Charges were brought by local authorities, and last November an Allen County judge sentenced Thompson to two-and-a-half years of probation. But according to a letter obtained by ABC News, the U.S. Attorney General declined to take action. Banks, a Republican, sent the letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland after Garland wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post last week decrying political violence.

The FBI and U.S. Capitol Police allegedly interrogated Thompson, who admitted to making at least seven threatening phone calls while he was intoxicated. Still, the U.S. Attorney for Northern Indiana declined to prosecute Thompson even though, as Banks claims, Thompson violated federal law. Earlier this week federal prosecutors announced that a 61-year-old Texas man has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and a $10,000 fine for threatening California Rep. Maxine Waters. Waters is a Democrat, and because she is Black, a hate crime elevated the offense, according to reports.

Banks, previously an Indiana State Senator, has served in the House of Representatives since 2016 and is currently running for the Indiana Senate seat soon to be left open by Mike Braun.

(Indianapolis, IN) - The Indiana State Police are dealing with some defective patrol vehicles.  According to ISP, 18% (about 1in 5) of their brand new fleet of Dodge Durangos have gone kaput. A defective oil cooler is ruining the engines.

Last year, State Police phased out the Dodge Charger, which had been in service since 2010, in favor of the Durango. 516 SUVs were ordered at the cost of $25.8 million. So far, 219 have been deployed to Hoosier roadways. But 39 of them have gone down, 15 in the month of May. If the trend holds, they expect nearly 80 vehicles to fail.

The remedy, a complete engine replacement, takes four to eight weeks, which means almost $4 million of equipment may be sidelined, putting a greater burden on the other vehicles and officers.

“ISP has used Dodge as our primary police vehicle provider for the last decade-and-a-half,” said Superintendent Doug Carter. “It is unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this precarious position. We’re having to sideline brand new vehicles, losing out on their value and functionality… the citizens and taxpayers of Indiana are being shortchanged and deserve better.”

Carter says Chrysler has not given him a timeline to resolve the matter.

(Chesterton, IN) - It was so hot this week that even the South Shore Commuter Line had to slow its roll.

Some trains experienced a temperature-based speed restriction between Michigan City and South Bend. The maximum speed of trains was decreased to minimize heat-related damage to the track and overhead wire. That caused 15 to 20-minute delays for those trains.

Of course, South Shore has already been dealing with delays since opening their new double track. South Shore President Mike Noland has issued an update on their efforts to get passengers to their destinations safely and on time. Noland says they have lowered the delay time from 15 minutes to between 6 and 10 and continue to work their way through a list of about 40 adjustments.

An adjusted schedule will take effect at the end of the summer.

On Thursday some trains were delayed in the Gary area. But that was not a South Shore issue. It was caused by a gas leak near the tracks.

Chris Guiliano swims for the University of Notre Dame, and this week earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. It’s the first time a Notre Dame swimmer has qualified for the Olympics.

Guiliano, who hails from Pennsylvania, is a four-time individual ACC champion, five-time NCAA First Team All-American, and helped the Irish to their first-ever top-10 finish at the NCAA Championships in March. He looks to be the first American to swim in both 100 and 200 freestyles at an Olympics since Matt Biondi in 1988.

A handful of other Hoosiers have also made the team.

The Olympic swim trials have been held in Indianapolis this week at a pool constructed inside Lucas Oil Stadium. A record crowd of over 22,000 people turned out for Wednesday’s races.

Fun fact about the swimming pool: It contained 2 million gallons of treated water from the White River in downtown Indy. A single fire hydrant outside Lucas Oil was used to fill the pool.

(East Lansing, Michigan) - Michigan, the nation’s leading producer of tart cherries, is expected to have a bumper crop this year compared to 2023 when frost hurt yields.

The United States Department of Agriculture is forecasting 182 million pounds of tart cherry production, which would be 37 percent higher than last year in the state. An unusually mild winter resulting in trees blooming early led to some frost damage to the crop, but warmer temperatures in May, along with adequate moisture and good pollination, improved tree growth and fruit development.

Nikki Rothwell, an extension specialist at Michigan State University, said she agrees with the forecast, not just because yields this year look to be excellent. She also noted how there were also fewer cherries last year because of frost damaging more of the trees' blossoms.

“We have a better crop,” she said.

Dave Kludy described his tart cherry trees in Shelby as “absolutely loaded," expecting his yields to be closer to 30 percent higher than last year while predicting a 20 percent drop in his number of sweet cherries.

Kludy, who has a few hundred acres of trees in the west-central part of the state, said his sweet cherries were in bloom when the only frost of the season hit his farm in March. His tarts were protected from the frost, though, because they’re usually a week or two behind the sweets in blooming.

“We’re going to have a big crop,” he said.

Most of the projected higher tart cherry yields are from the west central and northwest portion of the state’s Lower Peninsula, where most of the Michigan crop is traditionally grown. About ten percent of the tart cherry yields this year will come from the southwest part of the state, which seemed to be more negatively impacted by a January freeze and spring frost.

(La Porte, IN) - Plans are moving forward to create a firefighter training facility in La Porte.

Fire Chief Andy Snyder said the money to pay the cost wasn’t there until the Health Care Foundation of La Porte came through with a $500,000 grant. After pitching the idea to the HCFL, “they were fully supportive of it,” he said.

No actual cost figures have been obtained yet because the proposal is still very early in the planning stages. However, Snyder estimated the entire cost would be roughly around $1 million, with the city perhaps coming up with the rest of the funding.

The city’s Board of Public Works & Safety this week voted to allow Snyder to accept the grant.

(La Porte, IN) - It’s going to cost more for water to be turned back on after being disconnected due to past-due payments in La Porte, as the city’s Board of Public Works & Safety voted to increase the reconnection fee from $20 to $75. 

In addition, the full balance of the amount owed will also have to be paid for water service to be restored. Primary reasons cited for the change include helping the water department recover its cost of disconnecting and restoring service.

Water Department Superintendent Tim Werner said he also hopes the change will cut down on the number of disconnections from people being caught up entirely on the amount owed. “What happens there [is] sometimes they get into that revolving door of, every month, us out there shutting them off because they never squared the rest of that bill up. Once they get into that revolving door it’s hard to get out of."

The new fee structure will go into effect on August 1st.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Michigan City area man has been accused of trying to help someone avoid arrest, as Brian Volk, 34, has been charged with Assisting a Criminal.

La Porte County Police went to a mobile home Thursday night in the 6200 block of North 400 West to arrest a man wanted for Possession of Child Pornography. There, according to police, Volk said “figure it out” when asked about the whereabouts of the suspect. He was placed in handcuffs for his alleged deception and then reportedly claimed the suspect had left the residence before the officers showed up.

Officers soon located Steffano Guess, 39, hiding under a pile of clothing in a closet. The investigation also indicates Volk removed some totes from the closet to clear space for Guess to hide.

Volk could face anywhere from a six-month to 30-month sentence on the Level 6 felony charge.

A man was seriously injured on Thursday in a collision with a semi-truck in La Porte County.

At about 5:30 a.m., emergency responders were called to U.S. 30 and Indiana 39 near Hanna, with La Porte County Police saying that 41-year-old Jeramie Colby was in a car when he struck the back end of a tractor-trailer stopped at a red light.

Colby was conscious and alert but taken by helicopter to a regional hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries. Police said he complained of extreme pain to his right arm and right leg.

The truck driver, Arthur Newbury, 45, was not injured.

(La Porte County, IN) - A driver whose vehicle was like a bowling ball striking pins was arrested last evening on allegations of Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated.

Joshua Hildebrandt, 30, of Michigan City was spotted by a volunteer firefighter at about 6 p.m. knocking over five mailboxes in the 3600 block of North Wozniak Road, police said. There were also tire marks in the yards and a destroyed statue of a lion hit by his vehicle, along with a damaged fence.

Hildebrandt was soon located standing outside of his 2001 Dodge Ram pick-up truck parked in a driveway. There, he started making insulting remarks to the officer and then apologized before claiming to have shared a half-gallon of rum with a friend, who lives somewhere on Wozniak Road. According to La Porte County Police, he refused to take a breathalyzer test. 

He’s charged with Class A misdemeanor OWI and Class B misdemeanor Failure of Duty for not stopping after the collisions.

(La Porte County, IN) - The old La Porte Highway Department site in Rolling Prairie is going to become a park, as the 40-acre site was recently turned over to the La Porte County Park Department.

So far, it’s too early to say what will be offered at the new park department property.

La Porte County Commissioner Rich Mrozinski said there’s already been discussion about turning a pond on the property into an area for fishing and canoeing. He’s already spoken with New Prairie Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul White about having students helping to do some of the work.

“He’s got high school kids who said they would love to come out and help us. They’ll get extra credit on how to design trails and how to develop the pond for a fishing area where the kids can come out maybe put your canoe in or have a pier where you can fish,” he said.

The site is in the area of 400 North and 700 East, and La Porte County Parks Superintendent Jeremy Sobiecki said there is no timeframe for developing the site yet.

The La Porte County Highway Department branch in Rolling Prairie relocated last year to a nearby site, where a new La Porte County Emergency Medical Service building was constructed.

(La Porte County, IN) - A driver whose vehicle ran out of gas near Kingsbury is now facing drug-related charges.

La Porte County Police said it was about 2 a.m. when Antonio Lopez, 36,  ran out of gas on June 14th in the 4500 block of South 200 East last week.

A responding officer first became suspicious of Lopez, who was sweating profusely when it was 60 degrees outside. When asked for his name, the officer’s suspicions grew when Lopez reportedly claimed to be somebody else on multiple occasions.  

With help from a drug-sniffing dog, a small amount of heroin and three syringes were located in his pick-up truck, police said. In addition, a warrant for his arrest out of St. Joseph County was also discovered.

Lopez is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 5 felony possession of cocaine Or a Narcotic Drug and Level 6 felony Unlawful Possession of a Syringe.

(Indianapolis, IN) - Another air quality action advisory has been issued for La Porte and other parts of northwest Indiana today, with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management noting that Lake and Porter counties and cities as far south as Kentland and Rensselaer are also included therein.

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather bake vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and gasoline vapors, according to IDEM. Individuals sensitive to air quality changes like children, the elderly, and anyone with heart and lung conditions may be affected when ozone levels are high.

Hoosiers are encouraged to visit SmogWatch.IN.gov to:

• View real-time air quality information for all Indiana counties, including a state map of affected areas.
• Learn about Air Quality Action Days and recommended precautions.
• Gain insights on ozone and fine particulate matter.
• Sign up for air quality alerts.

(Knox, IN) - The cause of a fatal fire in Knox remains under investigation. as Ben Deming, 38, died in a fire in his two-story garage Monday in the 600 block of South Main Street.

Deming was found by emergency responders outside the building with severe burns and died after being taken by helicopter to a Chicago medical facility.

The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting in trying to determine how the fire started.

(La Porte, IN) - It thankfully didn't take long to put out a fire that damaged apartment housing in La Porte.

Just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, firefighters responded to a two-story, four-unit residential structure in the 700 block of Clay Street. Fire Chief Andy Snyder said the exterior of the building caught fire and the flames made their way partially inside the structure. Fortunately, it didn’t long to gain control of the fire, which heavily damaged a bathroom area in one of the first-floor apartments.

“They were able to extinguish the fire in about 15 minutes,” Snyder said.

The damaged apartment was occupied by a man, who was burning paper in the backyard and walked away from the fire thinking it had burned out, Snyder said. The fire caught the grass on fire, which then spread to the exterior of the building.  He said the damaged apartment is not habitable at present, but the tenants in the three other apartments were allowed to return.

(La Porte, IN) - Plans to produce a lot of solar energy on more than 3,300 acres of farmland were given final approval Tuesday night by the LaPorte County Board of Zoning Appeals.

By a 3 to 2 vote, the BZA granted a special exception to the current agricultural zoning for RWE Clean Energy, LLC., a Chicago-based firm with 130 solar projects operating in the U.S., to build a solar farm projected to produce enough electricity to power 68,000 homes annually.

Construction of solar panels and other infrastructure to serve the operation will begin early in 2025, according to the plans. The 500 million-dollar facility will stretch from Kankakee to Wills and Pleasant townships.

The BZA voted without any discussion from its members or accepting public comment after listening extensively to both sides during its May 21st meeting and workshop sessions in previous weeks.,

“We already heard evidence and remonstrance,” said BZA president Melissa Mischke.

The BZA voted to table the plans last month to give them a final review before deciding on the request.

Farmers like Mike Ekovich, whose dairy is just 400 feet away from the site, were among the opponents at the jam-packed meeting noting how “It borders us on all three sides."

One of his concerns is the site becoming an eyesore, particularly for him and other nearby farmers.

“You got the farm landscape your whole life and then you got to deal with this,” he said.

The company has agreed to provide setbacks of at least 250 feet from other properties, vegetative screening from homes and bury cables three and four feet below the ground within and away from the site.  Other requirements include taking action to control glare from the solar panels and designing the facility to control stormwater drainage.

“I have two and a half pages of conditions set for the solar project and many of them mirror what I believe will be additions to our solar ordinance,” said BZA attorney Craig Biege.

However, Ekovich said one of his concerns hasn’t been addressed, with worries about the possibility of low volumes of electricity straying from the site and coming into contact with some of his 1,000 cows. He said electricity can jump from things like bad grounding of the solar panels and loose wiring. Cows drinking water on wet concrete surfaces, for example, would feel a tingling sensation and could produce less milk from contact with any stray voltage.

“That’s a very big concern of ours,” he said.

Emily McDuff, an engineer and project manager with RWE Clean Energy, said the power from the solar farm would help replace the electricity to be lost when coal-fired generating plants in Indiana, such as the NIPSCO generating station in Michigan City, shut down in the next couple of years. She also said about a dozen farmland owners would no longer have to worry about selling their properties for future financial security, with the supplemental income they’ll be paid for the use of their ground under lease agreements. The solar farm would also mean about $100 million in property tax revenue for local governments over the lifetime of the operation.

After 35 years, McDuff said the solar farm would be decommissioned and the property restored to farmland.

BZA member John Carr said he saw no downsides to the project, calling some of the concerns “myths” after doing extensive research about solar farms, and saying that the remainder of the concerns were addressed to his satisfaction by the company.

“With the amount of tax revenue this project is going to generate and the amount of jobs that it’s going to generate to building the solar farm, it’s a win-win,” he said.

Carr also said local governments shouldn’t tell people what they can do with their land as long as neighbors aren’t going to be harmed.

“At the end of the day I think it comes down to personal property rights,” he said.

Farmer Steve Holifield, who lives a few miles from where the solar farm is planned, said he’s concerned about the loss of farmland and even more if the decision attracts other solar farm projects. His other fears include concerns that the soil will not be as productive once the site is restored to farmland, along with loss of property value and quality of life. Holifield said he respects the rights of property owners as long as nearby landowners are not negatively impacted.

“We’ve never argued they don’t have the right to do what they want, but you don’t have the right to devalue or take away the enjoyment of another person’s rights on their private property. That whole thing was ignored,” he said.

Biege said construction expected to begin early next year is projected to be completed in 12 to 18 months.

(La Porte, IN) - A large amount of methamphetamine was seized during a traffic stop in downtown La Porte.

Justin Geren, 34, of Kingsford Heights is now potentially facing a lengthy prison sentence.

According to court documents, he was pulled over early Sunday for not having a working license plate light in the area of Lincolnway and Clay St.

Police said he allegedly handed a bag of meth to a female passenger with instructions to hide it from the officer.

Authorities said the woman admitted to placing the plastic bag of drugs in her vagina after a drug-sniffing dog detected the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

After removing the bag, the contents were found to weigh over 20 grams, police said.

(La Porte, IN) - La Porte became a destination today for dozens of small-engine planes taking part in the 47th annual Air Race Classic.

The race started this morning in Carbondale, Illinois, with a first stop at the La Porte Municipal Airport and headed to the next in Cadillac, Michigan, en route to the finish in Colorado on Thursday.

From airport manager Rachel Bolahannis when the first planes began arriving at about 9:30 this morning, "There’s a long line of planes heading straight to La Porte. The first two planes, there’s some really fast planes, they’re not stopping for fuel. They are just flying straight up to Cadillac."

Many of the planes stopped here to be timed and for other purposes such as refueling.  Bolahannis said a few more planes could still be landing at the airport until about mid-afternoon.

(St. Joseph County, IN) - A man is off to prison for soaking his employer for at least a half million dollars while living in Michigan City.

Authorities say that Joshua Gregg traveled extensively for his job and was compensated for his work-related expenses. However, the amount of reimbursement he turned into the company was often well above his actual expenses. During a nine-year period, Gregg reportedly overcharged anywhere from a half million to 1.5 million dollars.

Per a sentencing document, "In his position, he did extensive travel and approved his own expenses. He submitted requests for reimbursement through the company software, and his supervisor in Florida approved the requests."

The court ordered him to pay more than $170,000 to his former employer, located in Ohio, as part of his sentence.

Gregg, a former vice-president of the firm, was given 18 months in prison in addition to one year of supervised release after completing his prison term. 

(La Porte County, IN) - The same dog has now bitten another FedEx delivery driver in Springfield Township as, according to La Porte County Police, a female FedEx employee pulled up in her delivery truck Monday outside a home in the area of 900 North and 300 West.

She was getting a package off her truck when the dog nearby bit her on the wrist. Authorities said the bite was minor. but broke the skin.

The owner was informed this was the second FedEx employee to be bitten by his dog, a Great Pyrenees. The owner claimed his dog was vaccinated against rabies, but the paperwork was at his primary residence in Valparaiso. Without immediate proof of vaccination, the woman reportedly advised she would be going to a walk-in clinic to be examined just in case.

(Michigan City, IN) - Cooling center locations in Michigan City have been announced to help people needing relief from the hot and humid conditions.

Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch is also urging citizens to check on family, friends, neighbors, pets, and especially the elderly during this extreme weather.

The cooling center locations open to the public are:

1. Michigan City City Hall at 100 E Michigan Blvd. Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
2. Michigan City Police Department at 1201 E. Michigan Blvd. seven days a week from 8 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
3. Michigan City Fire Administration Building at 2510 E. Michigan Blvd. Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
4. Nest Community Shelter at 1001 W. 8th St. from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily.

According to the mayor’s office, any citizen needing transportation to a cooling center may call the MCPD’s non-emergency number at (219) 874-3221. 

People needing help keeping their pets cool are advised to call the La Porte County Animal Shelter at (219) 326-1637.

(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City residents are being urged to make sure contractors offering to fix hail-damaged roofs are licensed with the city as only three contractors have permission from the city to solicit door-to-door at this time despite a recent influx.

“The city does not endorse any specific company. It only grants licenses to vendors who provide proper insurance and adhere to local ordinances,” according to the mayor’s office.

For example, Michigan City Ordinance No. 1892 dictates vendors must observe the following rules as they relate to handbills or other printed advertising materials.

1. No distribution in public streets, park grounds, or other public places.
2. No placing on motor vehicles.
3. No distribution upon private yards, porches, mailboxes, or houses.
4. No distribution between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.
5. No posting on fences, buildings, or other structures.

Michigan City residents are encouraged to do their due diligence in determining whether they’re working with a licensed and authorized vendor, all of whom are required to wear city-issued badges while soliciting or distributing materials.

To determine whether a contractor is licensed and approved to work locally, contact the Michigan City Board of Public Works & Safety at (219) 873-1400, ext. 2001.

(La Porte County, IN) - Fire destroyed a large piece of farm machinery in La Porte County while it was being driven home from a shop where it underwent repairs.

La Porte County Police said that a combine was headed northbound on U.S 421 when its owner and driver, Matt Goetz, noticed smoke coming from the back end. He then pulled into a field near County Road 1000 South outside Wanatah, before spotting flames, which quickly engulfed the right side of the machinery. He said the right side was where the fire was burning, under the full 250 to 300-gallon fuel tank. The fire spread rapidly once a hole had been burned through the plastic tank, allowing all of the leaking fuel to be consumed by the flames.

“I couldn’t get it out before it got into the fuel tank,” he said.

A large plume of black smoke filtered into the air until the flames were extinguished by firefighters. Goetz said four of the six tires on the combine made gunshot sounds from the release of air at high pressure when melted by the heat.

Goetz told investigators he just had $17,000 in repairs done to the combine at a dealership in LaCrosse and was heading home after picking it up from the shop at about 4 p.m. on June 12th.

“I thought it would be an easy ending to the day, then this happened,” he said.

The Goetz family farm raises corn, and soybeans along with seed wheat. Goetz said he has another combine to use, if necessary, as a backup for gathering his 50 acres of wheat that should be ready to harvest in a few weeks. The dealership where it was repaired has also offered him the use of one of their combines, if necessary. The destroyed combine, a 2009 International Harvester, was reportedly insured to help cover the loss.

“We’re going to be talking to the dealership soon and see what we can come up with for a replacement. We should be able to find something reasonable,” he said.

Goetz said he has no idea what caused the fire, which he’s glad didn’t happen during the fall when a vast majority of his harvesting occurs.

“At least we weren’t in the middle of cutting soybeans or harvesting corn and have the combine go down. I guess it’s the right time of the year for it to happen,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - The governor is going to be in this year’s Fourth of July parade in La Porte. Eric Holcomb will be the grand marshal of the parade, put together by the Kiwanis Club.

Kiwanis Club president John Pappas made the announcement this morning over the applause of fellow members of the group and Mayor Tom Dermody, assuring that "He’ll be in La Porte to help us celebrate this occasion."

Dermody said he and his staff have been asking the governor to be in the parade for a couple of years, crediting persistence for the governor finally accepting the city’s invitation.

“I think we wore him down,” he said.

Dermody said it’s only fitting for the governor to be here considering how La Porte, for generations, has been declared the state capital for the day on July 4th. Past governors like Evan Bayh have been here for the parade, but it’s been years since a governor has come to La Porte for the event.

(New Buffalo Township, MI) - Rap legend Snoop Dogg apparently passed through the area over the weekend, as his tour bus was outside one of the marijuana dispensaries on Michigan 239 in New Buffalo Township on Saturday.

Dani Fellows, a receptionist at The Bloomery, said the tour bus, emblazoned with large images of the rap icon on both sides, pulled up at about 10 a.m. There, Fellows said, a few people from the bus came in, purchased some products placed into a medium-sized bag, and then left about 20 minutes later. “The Dogg Squad, they called them, had come in. They had purchased some pre-rolls and stuff."

Fellows said she took pictures of the tour bus while leaving for the day, but didn’t see Snoop Dogg, who might have remained on the bus. Regardless, the tour bus attracted a lot of people who took pictures of it.

“I think they said he was sleeping. I know he had a tour that night. Plus, it was like a last-minute stop. I think it was like a security thing,” she said.

The 31-year-old New Buffalo native, who now resides in Weesaw Township, said it was thrilling to see the tour bus, and even more so being a fan of the rap legend.

“It was exciting. There are so many dispensaries but they had stopped here was pretty awesome,” she said.

Snoop Dogg, otherwise known as Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., hit the rap scene in the early 1990s and gained notoriety both for working with other prolific figures of the medium like Dr. Dre, as well as for a public persona with an affinity for the consumption of marijuana.

(La Porte, IN) - Surf Internet is expanding its broadband services to Michigan City.

A $5.6 million investment will deliver fiber internet to 4,500 homes. Internet speeds will start at up to 2 gigabits-per-second (Gbps), but the new infrastructure will allow 10 Gbps in the near future.

“Surf Internet is committed to leading the way in innovation and connectivity," said Surf’s Director of Business Development, Scott Franko. "We have been a longstanding partner of La Porte County and are proud to now extend that partnership to Michigan City. We congratulate them on this next step toward unlimited potential with Surf’s fiber-optic network!”

Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch said the project helps Michigan City achieve its goal of becoming a multi-gig city. “From the start of my administration, I charged our IT department with the mission to connect our families and city,” said Deuitch during remarks at a groundbreaking last Thursday. “This initiative is not just about technology; it’s an economic development tool that will benefit our existing and future families. We are grateful to Surf Internet for investing in our community and helping us achieve our vision.”

The first phase of the project should be ready for customers by August, with all phases complete by August of next year.

Based in Elkhart, Surf Internet employs 250 people, with one of its offices right here in La Porte.

The Diocese of Gary has announced a $150 million commitment from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation.

The Merrillville-based foundation will contribute that amount over ten years. The money will be managed by Big Shoulders Fund, which supports Catholic schools in Chicago and northwest Indiana. The funds will drive initiatives that focus on curriculum development, teacher training, leadership development, infrastructure improvements, student support services, new governance models, updated management structures, and assistance with enrollment and tuition management.

The diocese also said it plans to establish a separate endowment, with a goal of building a fund of up to $50 million over the next 15 years to supplement pay for Catholic school teachers and staff.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb joined Bishop Robert J. McClory Wednesday for the announcement. “On behalf of all families who will benefit from this commitment, we are thankful and filled with great hope for the future,” McClory said. “This is an enormous vote of confidence for Catholic education and the value of our individual schools.” Bishop McClory called the donation “the largest single investment in PreK-12 Catholic education in history.”

“We know that access to high-quality, values-based education is as important as anything we can support, and our efforts would not be complete without a deep commitment to the Catholic schools that have been a critical part of the fabric of Northwest Indiana for decades,” said White Family Foundation Executive Director Bill Hanna.

There are over 6,000 students across 20 Catholic schools in four northwest Indiana counties. Four of those schools are in La Porte County.

(St. Joseph County, IN) - A 2,500-acre solar power development may be put on hold in Saint Joseph County.

Hexagon Energy has been contacting homeowners just south of Potato Creek State Park near North Liberty. A public meeting two weeks ago brought out a bevy of nay-sayers.

On Friday two St. Joseph County Council members issued a statement supporting a slow-down on such projects. Republicans Amy Drake and Randy Figg are urging the area plan commission to adopt a solar moratorium.

They want to put protections into place first and gather more input from the public. The plan commission in St. Joseph County will meet on Tuesday.

Here is their statement in full:

"As the solar panel debate heats up in North Liberty -- as a direct result of the 2,500- acre solar industrial complex being considered there -- we are requesting that our area plan commission put forward a solar moratorium. Wide-scale solar installations are relatively new to our area, and we feel that we must take a pause and put thoughtful consideration into how projects like these affect our community.

"Many other counties all over the state are either putting forward or considering solar moratoriums for identical reasons. Area plan on Tuesday will consider new solar protections already on their way through the legislative process, which can provide us with a baseline of protection. We encourage area plan to both pass through these new rules with a favorable recommendation -- and put forward a solar moratorium so we can thoughtfully consider any additional safeguards we need to put into place."

(La Porte, IN) - Starting this week, the La Porte Parks Department is hosting planned activities at some local parks to keep the kids busy this summer.

On Mondays through Fridays, twice a day, some organized fun is scheduled at five parks: Koomler, Allesee, Scott, Rumely, and Ben Rees. There’s a morning and an afternoon session, but the days vary by park. See below for the complete schedule:

Koomler

Monday and Wednesdays       9-11:30

Tuesdays and Thursdays         1-3:30

Allesee

Mondays and Wednesdays     1-3:30

Tuesdays and Fridays              9-11:30

Scott

Mondays and Thursdays         9-11:30

Tuesdays and Fridays              1-3:30

Ben Rees

Mondays and Thursdays         1-3:30

Wednesdays and Fridays         9-11:30

Rumely

Tuesdays and Thursdays         9-11:30

Wednesdays and Fridays         1-3:30

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Police were not slow to response to a turtle in harm’s way, as someone on Thursday evening called the 911 dispatcher and reported a turtle in the middle of Fail Road ,just south of U.S. 20.

An officer in the area responded and quickly removed the turtle from the path of vehicular traffic.

La Porte County Police Capt. Derek Allen said he’s not aware of any calls from the past that involved saving a turtle. Occasionally, though, he said officers find themselves helping to coral horses and cattle that have wandered away from their properties.

“We’re a full-service agency. Our little creatures crossing the road we’ll be more than happy to help them get to safety,” he said.

(LaCrosse, IN) - The governor has ordered flags be flown at half-staff on Monday in La Porte County for a firefighter who died after returning from a brush fire.

Ken Caldwell was a member of the LaCrosse Volunteer Fire Department for nearly 23 years, ultimately passing away at his home on June 6th five hours after the incident. He was 63 years old.

Fire Chief Aaron Rust said Caldwell made a living as an over-the-road truck driver, and that when he wasn’t on the road, he responded to every call, whether it was for a fire, a meeting, or a training session.

“Ken was usually the first one here and the last one to leave. If anyone is deserving of that honor to have the flag fly at half-staff, it's firefighter Caldwell,” he said.

Per Rust, the cause of death was a heart attack, but his passing was still considered in the line of duty because it occurred within 24 hours of a response call.

Caldwell was also known for his red Peterbilt semi-truck which had over two million miles on the odometer. Rust said Caldwell was still operating the semi he had for roughly 20 years, and people knew he was around whenever they spotted the truck in town. He also said it was kind of exciting for him to see the truck parked in Caldwell’s driveway after he returned from two to three months on the road, considering they were neighbors.

“Ken’s home. Let’s see what kind of stories he’s got. He always had plenty of them from being out on the road,” he said.

Rust said Caldwell was also known for having several 1970’s pick-up trucks that he “tinkered” with a home.

Visitation for Caldwell is scheduled Monday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with services to follow at the LaCrosse Volunteer Fire Department.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department is reminding the public that parking stickers for the season at Washington Park will only be available through Wednesday, July 3rd.

People can get a parking sticker at the North Pointe Pavilion at the park during operating hours. Without a sticker, the cost of parking is $20. Even if you received a sticker last year, you’re still eligible for a 2024 sticker as long as your current registration hasn’t expired, officials said.

The sticker office's hours are as such:

• Monday – CLOSED
• Tuesday through Friday 10 am to 6 pm
• Saturdays through June 29th from 10 am to 1 pm
• The sticker office will be CLOSED on Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, for Juneteenth

According to park department officials, people need to bring their current vehicle registration card to get a sticker. Those living outside the city who own property therein should bring their current vehicle registration card and a utility bill or tax bill with the address of the property owned in the city. The name on the vehicle registration must match the name on the tax or utility bill.

People with questions can contact the park office at (219) 873-1506.

Email: parkandrec@emichigancity.com

Web:  www.emichigancity.com

(La Porte County, IN) - A suspected drunk driver is now facing charges for a second death from the accident he was involved in, as Angel Almarez, 32, of La Porte is facing two counts of Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated Causing Death.

82-year-old Larry Cummings passed away about a week after his passenger, Cheryl Skidmore, 73, died. On June 3, the victims were traveling on a three-wheeled motorcycle when they were rear-ended by Almarez at State Road 2 and 150 East.

The defendant’s alleged blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, and the investigation reportedly shows that Almarez left a bar in La Porte not long prior to the crash.

Cummings and Skidmore are from Rolling Prairie, but their most recent address was from Florida, police said. 

Almarez had a prior OWI conviction within the past five years out of Berrien County, Michigan. If convicted in both deaths, Almarez would face anywhere from a 2 to 12-year sentence on each count.

(La Porte County, IN) - Smoke was coming from a boat while being pulled on a local highway yesterday.

La Porte County Police say the tire on the boat trailer, being pulled by a Penske moving truck, caught fire on U.S. 35 just north of Kingsbury.  The driver then pulled to the side of the road and abandoned the boat on the shoulder of the highway.

Investigators are turning to the public in hopes of determining the boat's owner.

(Michigan City, IN) - There was no foul play found in the death of a man whose body was discovered outside a school in Michigan City.

Per La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson, a 60-year-old roofing contractor from Valparaiso doing work at Joy Elementary School was found deceased next to his truck, allegedly having died from a heart attack.

Not long after his passing, his body was discovered by a school corporation staff member.

(Michigan City, IN) - On Thursday, a 56-year prison sentence was handed to a man who killed his roommate and disposed of the decaying body parts in trash cans in Michigan City.

John Hallett, 54, was convicted by a jury on May 16th, receiving 55 years behind bars for Murder and one year for Abuse of a Corpse from La Porte Superior Court 1 Judge Jamie Oss. Hallett could have received up to 65 years on the murder charge and another 30 months on the lesser count.

Despite the gruesome acts related to the killing, La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan said he was pleased with the sentence because the chances of Hallett ever being free again, given his age, are very low.

“As long as justice is being served to Mr. Gonzales and his family, that’s what really matters,” he said.

 

Evidence shows that in 2017 Hallett choked 64-year-old Paul Gonzales to death and left his body on the basement floor for nearly two months at their home in the 1000 block of West 9^th Street. He then cut up the corpse with a hacksaw and disposed of the parts in municipal trash cans. The two were previously living on the streets before being placed into a home together by a group serving the homeless.

Fagan said none of Gonzales's remains, which presumably wound up in a landfill, were ever recovered.  However, evidence of his death in the form of microscopic material was gathered forensically from where his body decayed.

According to court documents, law enforcement did not know about the murder until 2022, when Hallett called Michigan City Police, claiming he took the life of his former roommate and that he did so because he suspected Gonzales was stealing his mail and trying to get him evicted.

Fagan said an arrest wasn’t made until about a year later after enough information was gathered to substantiate his claims.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Police are trying to figure out who forced their way through a sheet of plywood to steal some loose change.

At about 10 a.m. yesterday, officers responded to the Shady Oak Trailer Park on U.S. 12 near the Michigan state line.

A man living there told police he returned home to find a nailed sheet of plywood was forced off the inside of the back door frame.

Soon, he discovered a couple of jars filled mostly with quarters missing from his bedroom.

Authorities say the victim estimated his loss at about $80 and believes a drug-addicted homeless person whom he knows committed the burglary.

(La Porte County, IN) - Officials are trying to figure out why the air conditioning system is not keeping things cool enough inside the La Porte County Complex.

La Porte County Councilman Adam Koronka said the problem is more on the upper levels, where things can become a little sticky, especially on a very warm day.

“The temperature isn’t unbearable but it’s higher,” he said.

He said the discovery was made during the ongoing repairs of extensive flood damage done to the building just a few hundred feet north of the courthouse in La Porte.

“For the brand new construction we did to repair those floors, we want to make sure we’re protecting our investment,” he said.

$4 million has been mentioned as the possible cost of fixing the problem. Without a solution to the cause identified yet though, Koronka said it’s too early to estimate the expense.

“People are speculating in millions of dollars, but right now, until I have all of the information in front of me, I could say what the solution is going to be or how much it’s going to cost,” he said.

Koronka said the building, having a lot of windows facing west, could be allowing too much heat inside from the sun, which would contribute to any mechanical issue the system might be having to stop the production of cooler air. 

(Michigan City, IN) - An alleged crack cocaine dealer in Michigan City could face a lengthy prison sentence as Cardia Chaney, 48, has been charged in La Porte Superior Court 1 with Level 2 felony Dealing in Cocaine or a Narcotic Drug.

According to court documents, Chaney has been accused of selling about 14 grams of crack cocaine for $450 on May 30th, conducting the exchange from his vehicle parked in an alley next to a residence in the 1100 block of Holliday Street.

Chaney, of Trail Creek, is looking at a possible sentencing range of 10 to 30 years.

(La Porte, IN) - A woman is accused of selling pills containing fentanyl at a mobile home community in La Porte.

Jordan Torres-Lackey, 26, has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 3 felony Dealing in a Narcotic Drug.

According to court documents, Torres-Lackey in April met the alleged buyer at a park within the mobile home community at 1083 East Indiana 2.

She's accused of selling 14 fentanyl pills for $140 inside a vehicle at the park.

The charge, under Indiana law, was upgraded because the illegal activities occurred within 500 feet of a park. The intent of the law is to keep drug-related activities away from places where children typically gather.

Torres-Lackey could face anywhere from a 3 to 16-year sentence.

(La Porte, IN) - Plans to construct new affordable housing in La Porte were given preliminary approval last night, with the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals having shown their support for a request for new housing on Boyd Boulevard, Roosevelt Street, and Jefferson Avenue.

Developer Brandon Shields said the cost of the new homes would be reduced with money obtained from the sale of tax credits to investors. He added that the homes would be offered under a 15-year lease contract where rent goes toward the balance., and would be offered years later for sale at the easy-to-reach balance amount.

“You’re talking a $220,000 unit you may be able to purchase for $10,000 to $12,000 15 years down the road," he said.

Local businessman Jeff Mackey, who lives across from the site on Boyd Boulevard, spoke to the contrary saying that new housing would not be a good fit there because it’s an industrial area.

“It just does not seem a practical place to put families, children. There’s a lot of truck traffic,” he said.

Mackey said he has no problem with building new homes on Jefferson Ave. and Roosevelt St. since those are residential areas.

Officials said the company must apply for the tax credits under a state program aimed at constructing more affordable housing, which has become a major issue nationwide. The developer also must come back and follow additional steps like a site review of the blueprints at each location to obtain final approval.

There could be upwards of 50 new affordable homes constructed beginning possibly as soon as the spring. 

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man could face time in prison after allegedly being found with fentanyl while creating a disruption at a mobile home park.

Jose Rosales, 22, has been charged with Possession of a Narcotic Drug, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Public Intoxication.

On June 6th, officers were called to a mobile home on Indiana 2 on the city’s east side on a report of a man yelling and seemingly intoxicated. There, a small bag containing seven pills of fentanyl along with a straw with fentanyl residue on it was allegedly found in his possession.

Police said his mother lives in the neighborhood, but she told officers he was not welcome at her residence. 

Rosales is being held in the La Porte County Jail without bond.

(La Porte County, IN) - An antique vehicle was stolen in La Porte County, driven in a snowstorm, and abandoned in South Bend.

Charges have now been filed in the case, which sees Wendy Hutson, 50, accused of driving a 1955 Chevy pick-up from her ex-boyfriend’s garage in Kingsbury following a break-up in their relationship. Authorities also note that snow and sleet were falling while she was driving it after the theft in late January.

The red pick-up is now back in the garage of owner David Meals, who notes that there were a few things wrong with the truck, like an oil leak and the clutch slipping, when it was returned to him.

“The truck was driven in the salt so there’s rust developing on the truck now,” he said.

 

Meals said the truck was in pretty good shape when he bought two years ago but, needed some restoration which he performed himself. He said he bought and restored the truck to remember his son, who died at the age of 21 in a head-on motor vehicle collision caused by another driver in Pennsylvania.

“That '55, '56, and '57 Chevy pick-ups was his favorite out of all vehicles. I built the truck mainly as a memorial to him,” he said.

According to police, it’s believed she used a set of keys to the truck to steal it.

Hutson could face anywhere from a one to six-year sentence on a Level 5 felony theft charge.

The truck has an estimated value of $50,000

(La Porte County, IN) - A man is facing charges in connection with alleged acts of violence and attempting to bribe a La Porte County Police officer.

Dylan Schweizer, 26, has been accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend, shattering her windshield with a baseball bat, and ramming her vehicle with his pick-up truck over the weekend in Coolspring Township.

The woman reportedly told investigators this happened after she found him in the garage smoking what she believed to be methamphetamine. Police said he was at a gas station on Wozniak Road upon being taken into custody, allegedly offering the arresting officer a payoff if he let him go.

Authorities say the back end of the woman’s pick-up sustained a substantial amount of damage from the ramming. 

(La Porte, IN) - A 73-year-old La Porte man is accused of being a fentanyl dealer, as Charles Ackerson has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance.

According to court documents, Ackerson sold $60 worth of fentanyl in January from his residence in the 400 block of Rockwood Street, the buyer, and Ackerson allegedly having made arrangements for the sale in a cell phone conversation.

Ackerson was previously convicted in 2013 of the same charge and received two years on probation. He could face anywhere from a one to six-year sentence on the current Level 5 felony count.

(Michigan City, IN) - Over $3,400 was raised for the Salvation Army of Michigan City during its recent 9^th annual Donut Eating Contest, with the proceeds to help support free programs and services including a food pantry, diaper bank, utility assistance, summer camp, clothing room, group grief support, and case management.

About 200 people watched as 13 competitors vied for the trophy. New Prairie High School Athletic Director Ben Bachmann was this year’s champion by eating 11 donuts in 10 minutes during the June 7th competition at Blue Chip Casino. Coming in second place, with 10 donuts in 10 minutes, was Landon Roberts from Warsaw, Indiana.

Indiana State Police Trooper Ken Payonk set the record last year, eating 16 donuts in 10 minutes, This year, he managed to consume just five.

The contest was held on National Donut Day, which has roots in The Salvation Army commemorating a time when “Donut Lassies” from The Salvation Army traveled to the front lines of World War I, serving spiritual care, coffee, and donuts to American troops in France.

“Thank you to everyone who supported this event, and those who support our programs throughout the year,” said Major Dale Simmons, who operates the Michigan City Salvation Army with his wife, Becky.

Sponsors of the 9^th annual Donut Eating Contest included GAF, Blue Chip Casino, the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, and Al’s Supermarkets.

More information about The Salvation Army of Michigan City is available by visiting www.samichigancity.org or calling (219) 874-6885.

(La Porte, IN) - Charges have been filed in connection with a gun fired inside a home in La Porte during an argument, as Brandon Butts, 24, has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 5 felony Criminal Recklessness and Level 6 felony Pointing a Firearm.

According to court documents, on June 7th, Butts and his girlfriend were arguing inside their home in the 300 block of B Street before he had to leave for work. It’s then alleged that Butts pointed a gun at his head before pointing the firearm at her. Butts was emptying the gun when somehow it discharged, sending a bullet into the floor of their upstairs apartment.

Whether the bullet penetrated the floor and went into the lived-in apartment below was not revealed.

Butts is being held in the La Porte County Jail on $15,000 bond.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte Police County Police are currently trying to identify a woman caught on video taking potted plants in front of a home at night.

Per authorities, the home surveillance footage shows a woman stopping her car in the 3900 block of North 500 East, walking up to the home in question, taking potted plants, and placing them in the trunk of her car.  She was described as white, about 35 years of age, and wearing a fluorescent green hoodie with "P.I.N.K." spelled out on the back. She fled in what appeared to be a silver-colored Chevy sedan. Both potted plants, combined, were valued at about 200 dollars.

The victim told police he exited his residence and yelled at the victim, who he did not recognize.

The theft occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.

(Gary, IN) - Everything is back to normal on the South Shore Railroad commuter line after a dump truck was struck by a westbound train near Gary during the morning rush hour on Monday.

Reports indicate the driver was able to get out before the collision. Some passengers left wearing neck braces, but none of the injuries were believed to be major.

There were travel delays for up to one hour because of the collision with the train, heading to Chicago from South Bend.

(Indianapolis, IN) - The Indiana Department of Transportation announced a commitment of $50 million in Highway Safety Improvement Program funds today to support safety improvement projects on local road networks across the state.

The commitment solidifies the agency's renewed focus on safety and the goal of reducing fatal and serious injury crashes on Indiana roadways by 25% over the next ten years.

"This is a goal that we can't reach on our own. It's going to take all of us, at both the state and local levels, working together, to truly enhance roadway safety," said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith.

A Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is now available, providing an opportunity for local agencies to implement specific safety countermeasures on local roads.

According to INDOT, eligible countermeasures are systemic, low-cost improvements that do not require additional right-of-way. Examples include new or updated warning devices, signs or pavement markings, raised medians, curb extensions, pedestrian/crosswalk improvements, guardrail additions or improvements, traffic signal enhancements or adjustments, and improvements at rail crossings, among others.

Local cities, towns, and counties that receive funding will be required to use funds within two years of the award.

The call for projects will open September 3 and close on October 11.

(La Porte County, IN) - The LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra is waging a Battle for the Baton fundraiser to support the Steck Family Music Education Fund, with the friendly competition having begun today.

The winner will be announced during the free LCSO summer concert at the Friendship Gardens in Michigan City on July 21st.

The fundraising showdown is between La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody, State Senator Mike Bohacek, and State Representative Jim Pressel. According to the LCSO, every dollar raised goes toward providing music lessons for children in need, and every donation will also be matched to double the amount collected.

Donations are accepted by visiting www.lsco.net.

(La Porte, IN) - There was very good attendance for three recent events in La Porte.

About 1,000 people was the estimated turnout for the first Friday Night Live event of the season in downtown La Porte, which featured more than a dozen vendors serving people who came to hear live music and view about 20 antique vehicles parked in the area of Monroe and State Street.

“It was a very steady crowd. We’re quite happy with the way things turned out,” said Brett Binversie, Events Coordinator for the City of La Porte.

Binversie said he expects the turnout to be twice as high for the next Friday Night Live event, Taco Fest on July 5th, along with revealing that about 600 people attended a Neil Diamond tribute band concert at the Civic Auditorium last night.

La Porte Park Department Superintendent Mark Schreiber said the estimated crowd for the first “Arts In The Park” concert of the summer on Thursday night, which featured The Remedy playing in the band shell at Fox Park, was 1,500 to 1,600 people.  

“Everything went great. It was a wonderful night,” he said.

(La Porte County, IN) - Fire destroyed a garage and damaged a house in Center Township.

At about 2 a.m. on Saturday, firefighters responded to the 4000 block of North Paden Drive just off U.S. 35 where the attached garage of a residence was reportedly fully engulfed in flames starting to make their way into the house. The fire was brought under control with help from surrounding departments.

According to La Porte County Police, the homeowner, Stephen Stark, said he woke up to a neighbor knocking on his door. Stark along with his wife, Sherril, and their two dogs made it out of the home safely.

So far, no estimate has been given on the extent of the damage to the home, yet a 1997 Chevy truck parked near the garage also caught fire.

In addition, no light was shed on the cause of the fire, which currently remains under investigation.

(La Porte County, IN) - A man who kept driving with a flat front tire after crashing was allegedly found to be impaired by alcohol in northern La Porte County, as Dean Seber, 56, was charged with Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated after refusing to take a certified blood alcohol test.

Just before 5 a.m. on Friday, June 7th, La Porte County Police were contacted about a reckless driver traveling despite missing a tire in the area of U.S. 20 and Indiana 2 near Rolling Prairie. During a traffic stop, the investigation showed his front passenger side tire was flattened as a result of striking a guard rail in Saint Joseph County, police said.

The tire reportedly came off the rim at some point before a motorist called 911 during the four miles he kept driving prior to pulling over in his 2018 Dodge Ram on the shoulder of Indiana 2.

According to authorities, a portable breathalyzer test showed the Mishawaka man’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the .08 percent legal limit. Since PBT results are not admissible in court, he was reportedly offered to take a certified blood alcohol test but refused, which led to his automatic arrest under Indiana law for OWI.

(Kokomo, IN) - Last year New Prairie’s girls made history on the diamond. This year it’s the boys’ turn.

New Prairie’s dynamic pitching duo of Tyson Greenwood and Joe Kinney led the team to two semi-state victories Saturday and, for the first time in school history, a place in the Class 3A State Finals.

According to head coach Mark Schellinger, New Prairie’s m.o. has been to get an early lead and rely on steady pitching the rest of the way. That’s just what the Cougars did in each game—with a couple of twists.

New Prairie’s first opponent at Kokomo’s Municipal Stadium was Ft. Wayne Bishop Dwenger (24-9). Nursing a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning, the Cougars found themselves in a bases-loaded jam with only one out. Having relied on the 1-2 punch of his aces all season, Schellinger decided to make a change.

Like a WWE tag team, Kinney bounded to the mound in relief of Greenwood and got the two needed outs. The momentum shifted for good in favor of the Cougars, who went on to win 5-3.

“That’s not the first time that Joe’s been put into a jam,” said Schellinger of Kinney’s solid relief performance. “That’s the thing about Joe--he’s always under control.”

Kinney picked up where he left off, starting the evening game against Twin Lakes (26-5) a few hours later, until pitch count eventually caught up with him.

Once again, New Prairie jumped out on top. In the bottom of the third inning, sophomore Reed Robinson gave the Cougars a 4-1 lead with a nearly 400-foot, three-run blast out of Municipal Stadium.

New Prairie seemed comfortably in the driver’s seat until the wheels almost fell off in the fifth inning. A misplayed fly ball led to a Twin Lakes three-run, inside-the-park-homer, tying the game.

Suddenly, briefly, the momentum shifted away from the Cougars. “I just told them to calm down,” said Schellinger, who said he felt a sense of doom come over the crowd. “I told them we’re doing fine, we’re going to battle back past this. We’ve faced adversity before.”

And battle back the Cougars did. With men at the corners, senior Carson Young charged home on a softly hit ground ball. The alert throw to the plate made for a close play. “I heard coach yell go and I just booked it for home,” recounted Young after the game. “Everything was in slow motion when I was running. When I heard the safe call, it was the best feeling in the world. Just to be the go-ahead run. It was awesome!” Senior Colin Wind then scored an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by junior Jordan Davis.

As fate would have it, Kinney had one pitch left to open the last inning, meaning he could at least face the first batter. Then, with one out and the bases empty, Greenwood returned to the mound with eleven pitches left until his limit. The 6’3” lefty only needed seven to seal the 6-4 victory.

After the game, Greenwood exuded poise and confidence, saying his arm felt great after 110 pitches in the opening game. He went from starter to closer in the same day, something he said he’d never done before. “I was just very calm, collected, and confident up there,” he reflected after his game-clinching performance. “We were just rolling, just buzzing. I don’t know how to describe it; it’s an unreal feeling.”

Schellinger balanced his two aces to a masterful result. “It’s nice to have two guys,” he said afterward. “When you come into a two-game tournament like this, you got to have two, and we knew as long as they were on the mound, we’d have a good chance.”

Schellinger also praised the chemistry of his club as a whole. “It’s a special group,” he admitted. “They’ve played together since they were like eight or nine years old, all of them. And so to see them have this success and be the first group to take New Prairie to Indy is pretty special.”

One thing Schellinger wasn’t quick to admit was his own professional milestone. Saturday night’s semi-state win marked the 200^th of his 14-year career. Eight of those years have been at New Prairie.

New Prairie (26-5) will face Brebeuf Jesuit (25-9) for the Class 3A Championship at Victory Field in Indianapolis next Friday night.

(Michigan City, IN) - Friday was National Donut Day, which dates back to WWI. Salvation Army members became quite popular during the Great War by delivering, among other things, homemade donuts to American soldiers on the front lines.

The Michigan City Salvation Army celebrated the day with their 9^th Annual Donut Eating Contest. It was standing-room-only at Blue Chip Casino to cheer on the eaters.

13 contestants gathered to challenge returning champion Indiana State Trooper Ken Payonk, who last year set the record of downing 16 donuts in 10 minutes. Competitive eater Landon Roberts from Warsaw also competed.

In a bit of an upset, New Prairie High School Athletic Director Ben Bachmann was the winner, edging out Roberts. Bachmann put away 11 donuts. He represented the Phi Delta Kappa service fraternity.

Proceeds from the contest go towards Salvation Army programs.

Head coach Mark Schellinger says the Cougars have had their sights set on this all year. “We had a really good start, but we’ve also gotten a lot better,” he said about the season so far. “I think our guys were confident going into the year and really expected to play well and expected to make a deep post-season run."

New Prairie faces Ft. Wayne Bishop Dwenger in the 3A semi-state. Schellinger says they’ll continue to lean on their two pitching aces, Tyler Greenwood and Joe Kinney. “Our guys are really comfortable when those two are on the mound,” said, “and that really spills over offensively. We’ve been able to jump out to some early leads throughout the tournament and be able to hold on from there and kind of use that energy to carry us through the game.”

The Cougars are riding a nine-game winning streak, defeating recent opponents Culver Academy and Knox 34-2, then squeaking by Hanover Central.

Today’s semi-state is hosted at Kokomo’s Municipal field, a minor-league-caliber field with synthetic turf. Schellinger said he took his team to Penn High School on Friday afternoon to practice on such a surface. “We had a really good week of preparation,” he said. “Energy is up. The guys are excited to get to this point. They realize what an opportunity it is.”

The only other time New Prairie has made it to semi-state was back in 2005. If they beat Dwenger in game 1, they’ll play the winner of Delta and Twin Lakes Saturday evening.

(Indianapolis, IN) - Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced today that an additional $81.5 million has been allocated to further access to broadband statewide. The latest round of funding will provide broadband infrastructure to more than 34,000 homes and commercial locations in 54 counties. 

“The first-of-its-kind broadband grant program has connected thousands of Hoosiers in nearly every corner of the state,” he said.

The fourth round of the grant program leveraged 17 telecommunications providers and utility cooperatives, contributing more than $135 million in matching funds, resulting in more than $216 million total investment for broadband. By providing a 20% match, broadband service providers and utility cooperatives can apply for up to $5 million to expand service to unserved areas.

"Broadband expansion isn't just about connecting homes, it's about connecting Hoosiers to a brighter future,” said Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, who’s also Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“Reliable, high-speed internet unlocks opportunities for education, healthcare, and jobs, improving the quality of life for all Indiana residents," she said.

The Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program has awarded $328 million to connect more than 102,000 homes and commercial locations by funding broadband infrastructure projects over the last several years. 

Since 2018, the state has leveraged more than $426 million in private and local investment. 

(La Porte, IN) - A woman is being prosecuted for the drugs that claimed a life in La Porte last year, as Kayla Shaffer, 29, has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 1 felony Dealing Resulting in Death.

In September, authorities said, Cannon Breneman, 22, was found dead by family members at a home in the 600 block of Tecumseh Street. The case was then turned over to the La Porte County Drug Task Force, which learned during a several month-long investigation that a drug trafficking organization was operating within the city limits and that Shaffer played a role in the drugs winding up in the victim’s possession.

Shaffer, whose address is from the Kingsford Heights area, could face anywhere from a 20 to 40-year sentence. She is being held in the La Porte County Jail on $100,000 bond.

La Porte Police Chief Dick Buell praised the efforts of drug task force members.

“The fortitude demonstrated by detectives in this case is a testament to their dedication in making La Porte a safer community,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - It could be a while before an allegedly drug-dealing couple in La Porte can pay their debt to society in full, as Misty Hurley, 39, and Anthony Roundtree, 30, have been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with three counts of Dealing in Cocaine or a Narcotic Drug.

According to court documents, they were taken into custody this week for conducting the alleged crack cocaine buys in November when they were living together at 313 Grove St. Each of the transactions were reportedly arranged once Hurley was reached on Facebook Messenger. All of the exchanges, made for $100, $250, and $250, occurred at a community garden in the 200 block of Brighton Street.

Two of the counts filed against them each carry anywhere from a 2 to 12-year sentence, while the remaining count has a sentencing range of 3 to 16 years.

(Rolling Prairie, IN) - A business in downtown Rolling Prairie is operating again today, likely thanks to a quick response by firefighters, as the outside of Grimm Mold and Die Company on Depot Street caught fire at about 7 p.m., a few hours after closing for the day.

Kankakee Township Fire Chief Zach Rasiuk said the fire worked its way inside the structure but not too far. The rapid response was from volunteer firefighters already at the nearby fire station after returning from what had turned out to be a false alarm.

“We stopped it before it could take off in the ceiling and cause more damage to the building,” he said.

Rasiuk said the fire might have had something to do with pallets outside or a nearby burning barrel filled with cutting oil catching fire via sparks from a machine cutting metal before the tool and die shop closed for the day. No official ruling has been made due to the investigation being ongoing.

(Indianapolis, IN) - Ivy Tech Community College will soon undergo a change in leadership, as President Sue Ellspermann has now told the Ivy Tech board of directors she will retire after the next academic year.

Ellspermann is the college’s ninth president and the first woman to hold the position. She will serve the remainder of her three-year contract, which ends in June of 2025, officials said. 

The board will have a year to conduct a nationwide search, but Ellspermann said there are strong candidates for the position already on campus.

Ivy Tech has 45 campuses throughout the state including the ones in La Porte and Michigan City. 

(Rolling Prairie, IN) - David Burden has been a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator in Warsaw, LaVille, and Elkhart. Now, he's been hired at Rolling Prairie Elementary School as their new principal.

According to the New Prairie United School Corporation, he also brings significant experiences in STEM education initiatives, active learning for students, and bringing communities together with classrooms for excellent learning experiences for students.

“Mr. Burden's passion and heart for teaching and leading schools to great work for students will be immediately evident,” said NPUSC Superintendent Dr. Paul White.

He replaces Dr. Pamela Moore, who had been at Rolling Prairie Grade School since 2022.

"Mr. Burden is perfectly situated to lead Rolling Prairie forward after the great work of the teaching staff and Dr. Moore achieved together in the past two years,” White said.

Burden, who will begin in July, was unanimously approved for a two-year contract.

(Michigan City, IN) - A new public trail opened on Thursday at a 93-acre wooded nature preserve in Michigan City. The trail is at the Amber Flatwoods Nature Preserve on Meer Road, just south of U.S 12 on the eastern corporate boundary of the city near Michigan City Municipal Airport.

The 3,600-foot long, mostly level trail has a smooth gravel surface, making it easier to navigate especially for people with physical challenges and in wheelchairs, along with individuals pushing baby strollers.

Eight boardwalks over wetland areas were also built into the trail on the property, acquired from the Shirley Heinze Land Trust in 2023 by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

“It’s a fresh acquisition. A fresh protection for conservation and we look forward to managing it,” said Derek Nimetz, an ecologist for the DNR Division of Nature Preserves near Valparaiso.

Both organizations did most of the work to create the trail, except for the parking lot put down and striped by a contractor. It’s the first trail with a gravel surface at the nature preserve, which has about four miles of trails with dirt surfaces and the roots of trees, which pose a tripping hazard, running over the top in spots.

“This is definitely more of an improvement out here,” said Doug Botka, a Stewardship Ecologist for the SHLT.

About a dozen people involved in the project were taken on a guided hike. The trail loops back to the parking lot, but also has connections with the existing dirt paths for extended hikes.

“This is a great addition to what was already here,” said Claudia Wood, who monitors the trails for any repairs or litter that need addressing as a volunteer for the land trust.

There are also signs along the way containing information about the trail and the nature preserve.

Dr. Shirley Heinze was a psychologist at the University of Illinois in Chicago and had a beach home in Ogden Dunes. She had an interest in land conservation and was involved in early efforts to preserve the Indiana Dunes along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Porter and LaPorte counties. Heinze died in her 50s from lymphoma.

With a $30,000 endowment, some of her patients, wanting to do something in her memory, created the Shirley Heinze Land Trust and organization in 1981 to acquire and preserve land deserving of protection. Currently, the group has over 3,000 acres of land under its protection in LaPorte, Porter, Lake, Saint Joseph, Starke, and Marshall counties.

“Shirley never knew about this organization. She was the inspiration for it and it lives on,” said Ron Trigg.  Trigg of Valparaiso is a former longtime executive director of the organization and a current member of the group’s advisory board.           

The nature preserve in Michigan City features more than 600 species of plants with some not found anywhere else in Indiana.

Eric Bird, an ecologist with the land trust, said the term flatwoods means the ground is closer to the water table, leaving it prone to flooding in the spring and winter. Bird said such moist conditions make it a great habitat for a wide variety of plants and wildlife, including many native species, particularly frogs, toads, and salamanders. One of the most unique aspects of the nature preserve is how it has some of the species normally found in Michigan and other places further north because of its close proximity to the southern border of that state.

“It’s one of the most bio-diverse places in the area,” he said.

Bird said the new trail is the third gravel one at nature preserves under the wing of the land trust, which likes how they open up nature preserves for all people to enjoy, not just the ones wanting a more rugged experience.

‘This is a really big effort to make places more accessible,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - Traffic started moving again on Pine Lake Avenue about 20 minutes after a two-vehicle accident that occurred this afternoon at about 2:30 p.m. at Polk Street

No information has been made immediately available from the La Porte Police Department, however, the owner of Anderson Automotive Rob Torgesen said that there were two vehicles involved and were “pretty well damaged.”

“It’s just a couple of cars tangled up at the intersection. Just a typical busy afternoon on Pine Lake Avenue,” he said.

Torgesen said traffic was backed up for a “couple of blocks,” but started moving better about 20 minutes after the accident. He also said there didn’t appear to be anyone injured.

(La Porte County, IN) - The clock is ticking on the time a La Porte County Commissioner can hold onto their seat as member Richard Mrozinski has revealed that he will not seek a third term, having been removed from the May Republican primary ballot for failing to properly fill out his candidacy papers. 

Mrozinski, who’s in his 70’s, could run in November as an independent, but he said that is not happening. One thing he wants to do is be at his second home more often in Florida.

“I’d like to spend whatever time I have left enjoying life and playing golf and walking the beach on the ocean,” he said.

Mrozinski said he also wants more quality time with his family, iterating on his desire to "spend more time with my wife and my grandkids. My little great-grandson. He just graduated from elementary school and he’s going on to junior high. These are important things I want to be part of."

He cited the building of an EMS base in Rolling Prairie, the extension of sewer service to Rolling Prairie, and the Kingsbury Industrial Park's incoming full service by two Class 1 railroads as among the biggest accomplishments he helped to achieve. 

Mrozinski, of Rolling Prairie, previously spent two terms on the La Porte County Council and retired after being employed for close to 40 years by NIPSCO.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody and La Porte County Commissioner Joe Haney threw jabs at each other today during a funding request to pay for extending water and sewer lines to two new housing sites.

Dermody asked the commissioners to support allocating $500,000 to run municipal utilities to a planned 150-housing-unit development on Park Street, where 40 new homes are planned at the existing Whispering Pines subdivision along Indiana 4 on the southeast side of the city. In exchange, the city will pay the remaining $1.5 million.

The purpose of the subsidy would be to help lower the cost of the new housing so it’s within the price range of more prospective buyers, with Dermody saying “What’s good for the county is good for the city. What’s good for the city is good for the county."

Haney opposed the request, which he described as a "thumb in the eye" by Dermody to unincorporated residents over matters like the recent annexation of the 39 North Conservancy District and not repealing a city ordinance prohibiting water and sewer extensions outside the city unless property owners in those areas agree to be annexed.

“A partnership goes both ways,” he said.

Dermody responded by saying that “politics” should not get in the way of coming together to address the major need for more housing countywide and doing other things for the greater good.

“I understand people say things politically to get elected. We’re not going to get caught up in all of this Mickey Mouse pettiness. Our top priority is housing in La Porte and making a difference for families,” he said.

 

Haney replied a lot of new housing is going up in Kingsford Heights and more is planned in the future but the town has not asked the commissioners for help in subsidizing the cost of that work. “It would be fantastic for the City of La Porte to take some pointers from Kingsford Heights, where everybody is moving to,” he said.

By a 2-to-1 vote, the commissioners approved the request, which will go before the La Porte County Council for final consideration.

(La Porte County, IN) - A man facing possible jail time for killing and seriously hurting a pair of senior citizens in a collision with their motorcycle in La Porte County allegedly had an alleged blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit, among other new details obtained in the case against Angel Almarez of La Porte.

Almarez, 32, has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated Causing Death, and Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury, and could face anywhere from 2 to 12 years on each of the level 4 felony counts. He’s also charged with never receiving a driver’s license, which is a Class C misdemeanor.

According to court documents, the collision happened on Monday at Indiana 2 and 150 East near Rolling Prairie at about 9 p.m., with authorities reporting that Almarez was headed eastbound in a 2006 GMC Envoy when he struck the rear of a 2012 Honda three-wheeled motorcycle.

The motorcycle's passenger, Cheryl Skidmore, 73, was airlifted to a regional hospital and later died. The driver, Larry Cummings, 82, was taken by ambulance. Both victims, from Fort Meyers, Florida, had upper body injuries and were discovered unconscious at the scene of the crash.

According to court documents, Almarez told investigators he did not see the motorcycle, also headed eastbound, before the collision.

His alleged blood alcohol level was .173-percent, well above the .08-percent legal limit for operating a motor vehicle. Court documents also revealed Almarez had just left a bar in La Porte and had a prior OWI conviction within the last five years out of Berrien County, Michigan.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City steel company has plans to build a new $20 million plant in the community, as D. Martin Enterprises intends to construct a new manufacturing operation to serve Northwest Indiana and the national steel industry.

Currently, the company at 10 Commerce Square employs 100 workers. The goal is to add 30 more people to its workforce over the next two years. The firm provides products and services to electric arc furnaces nationwide.

In a statement, Cassie Martin Graham, Vice-President of Operations, said Michigan City is a central location to many of the mills that do business with her company.

“My grandfather opened the DME office in Michigan City over 40 years ago and it’s always felt like the right place to be,” she said.

The new plant would contain more than 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space and about 4,000 square feet of office space.

“To have a multigenerational company continue to cultivate roots in Michigan City signifies how we continue to provide a strong base for our business community,” said Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch.

According to company officials, the need to expand is due to a sharp increase in sales over the past several years. A groundbreaking is planned in October while the hope is to begin operating from the new facility in early 2026.

(La Porte County, IN) - After nearly a decade of fighting, the digging of sand could be over for good in a La Porte County neighborhood as the La Porte County Commissioners Wednesday gave final approval to a settlement agreement with the landowner, D & M Excavating.

Under the agreement, the owner will attempt to sell the land, along Schultz Road near U.S. 35 a few miles north of La Porte, and stop worker orders on the property won’t be lifted until the sale becomes official.

Nearby homeowners like Randy Veatch stood up and applauded the decision by the commissioners, having previously complained primarily about noise, dust, and roads damaged due to trucks hauling sand off the property from what they alleged was an industrial sand mine operating in a residentially zoned area.

“Can you imagine that happening eight hours a day, every day, five days a week and that’s all you're hearing,” he said.

La Porte County government attorney Scott Pejic said the sale must be to a party unaffiliated with the owner.

“Hopefully, we’ll be done with all of his litigation surrounding sand removal in this area,” he said.

Pejic said both sides came together after Porter County Judge Jeffrey Clymer, in 2023, upheld the stop-work orders.

Initially, owner Ryan Miller claimed he was digging sand to create a pond for a dream home he wanted to build for himself, only to then several years later submit plans for a 40-unit subdivision to be constructed in phases on the property. Residents alleged his plans were just a cover to keep mining sand under a loophole in the county government zoning ordinance.

The county government issued the first stop work order on the property in 2015, several months after the digging started. Other stop-work orders were issued by the county government in 2019, 2020, and 2022 because the activity at some point always resumed. The matter was finally taken to court where Judge Clymer agreed the purpose of the activity was for the delivery of sand to paying customers.

Since the court issued the stop work order, Veatch said his life at home has become peaceful again in a residential but somewhat rural area, just like it was after he bought the property in 2000.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - Police have arrested a man for allegedly buying cars without the funds to make good on the purchases.

47-year-old Carl Mack has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Credit Card Fraud, with authorities reporting that the purchases were made at Madison Motors in La Porte. The owner accepted his credit card as payment after the bank told him Mack had enough money in his account to cover the costs involved.

As it turned out, the car lot owner was later notified the credit card was fraudulent.

Mack, who's from the Chicago area, bought seven vehicles from the used car lot over a week and a half period last summer, reportedly claiming that the vehicles were for his employees and friends. The investigation indicates Mack possibly made at least one similar purchase at a dealership in Lake County.

He allegedly owes the used car lot more than $53,000.

(La Porte, IN) - A suspected methamphetamine dealer has been swept from the streets of La Porte, as Michael Rawlins, 49, has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 4 felony Dealing in Methamphetamine on accusations of selling 1.8 grams of methamphetamine in December from his apartment in the 200 block of Norton Street for $40.

He was taken into custody upon being served with the warrant for his arrest on May 29th, according to court records.

Rawlins could face an up to 12-year sentence.   

He is still being held in the La Porte County Jail on $20,000 bond. 

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte woman is still being held today on $20,000 bond after allegedly being caught with a large amount of methamphetamine.

Sabrina Lutz, 32, has been accused of having 13.6 grams of methamphetamine in her vehicle during a May 30th traffic stop in the area of New Porte Boulevard and Clear Lake Boulevard in La Porte. According to court documents, she was asked out of the vehicle to allow a K-9 dog to conduct a free air sniff. Acting upon the dog being alerted, officers allegedly located a bag of crystal-like substance later testing positive for methamphetamine between the front seats.

The drugs weighed enough for the Possession of Methamphetamine charge to be upgraded to a Level 4 felony, which could bring her anywhere from a 2 to 12-year sentence.

(La Porte County, IN) - In high school baseball, New Prairie has advanced to the semi-state tourney in Class 3A, as the Cougars defeated Hanover Central 8 to 6 on Monday to bring home the regional title at Schreiber Field in La Porte. New Prairie scored seven runs in the second inning and held on.

The Cougars (24-5) will face Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (24-8) in the first game of the semi-state Saturday at 2 p.m. at Kokomo.

The championship game between the winners of both games is set for 8 p.m.

(La Porte County, IN) - A fatal collision in La Porte County last night involving a motorcycle was reportedly caused by an impaired driver. Just before 9 p.m., according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, a motorcycle was rear-ended on State Road 2 and County Road 150 East.

The driver and passenger on the bike were both from Florida. The passenger, Cheryl Skidmore, 73, was taken to a regional hospital by helicopter and later died. The driver of the motorcycle, Larry Cummings, 82, was taken by ambulance to an area hospital. Both people sustained what were described as upper-body injuries.

Police said the motorcycle was traveling eastbound when it was struck in the rear by an SUV driven by 32-year-old Angel Almaraz of La Porte, who has been charged with Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated Causing Death and Serious Injury, both Level 4 felonies. 

Almaraz has a prior OWI conviction and never receiving a driver’s license. Almaraz remains housed in the La Porte County Jail on $20,000 cash-only bond. He could face anywhere from a 2 to 12-year sentence on each count. 

(La Porte, IN) - A deal has been struck for Microsoft to build and operate a data center in La Porte. 

Microsoft will invest $1 billion into what will be a 245,000-square-foot facility on Boyd Boulevard just east of U.S. 35. The roughly 500-acre site, which has been farmland, was acquired by Microsoft after the city annexed the property at the request of the former landowners. Up to 200 people will be employed there by the end of 2032 in high-wage, high-tech positions.

Monday night, the La Porte City Council unanimously approved a 40-year tax exemption on the high-tech equipment to be contained inside the facility.  In exchange, as much as $2.5 million dollars in tax savings will be given to the city’s redevelopment commission and the school corporation each year for 40 years.

Councilman Tim Franke had this to say about what was billed as the largest economic development project in the history of the city.

“It’s massive for the City of La Porte.  The jobs are all going to be quality, high paying jobs which is something we can’t have enough of,” Franke said.

Franke also indicated that what the redevelopment commission and school corporation can do with the additional revenue will be a “game changer for us.”

“Wow. Changing our future direction. This is amazing,” said Mayor Tom Dermody.

La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership Executive Director Bert Cook said landing Microsoft definitely furthers the change the city has been pushing for since Mayor Tom Dermody took office in 2020. He believes other companies and residents will be attracted to La Porte just from having a world-renowned company like Microsoft in the community.

“It really signals that La Porte is a community that’s growing and it is a place where people want to be. For any of those other businesses or residents who are looking for a community to locate in, they should be looking in La Porte and we’re excited about that,” Cook said.

Governor Eric Holcomb said the data center will accelerate cloud computing infrastructure to support growth in technology and artificial intelligence.

“As a state, we’ve built a pro-growth business climate and implemented a future-focused framework to attract major investments in high-tech, high-growth sectors. We’re excited to welcome Microsoft’s new data center to Indiana and look forward to the incredible value added impact this will have on our statewide data driven ecosystem, new career opportunities, specifically the greater northwest Indiana community,” he said.

 

Cook said the timetable for construction has not been set but should begin in the near future.

"We'll see construction in the very near term. It's not something that is 10-years out," he said.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS will host free classes each week in June to teach residents how to handle emergency situations.

The series, dubbed “Michigan City Safe Citizens,” will be every Thursday in June from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the MCPD, 1201 E. Michigan Blvd.

Classes include the following:

• June 6th – Gun Safety with MCPD
Gun safety, proper firearm handling, and storage; will provide free gun locks

• June 13th – Stop the Bleed with LaPorte County EMS
Life-saving techniques for bleeding emergencies

• June 20th – Fire Safety with MCFD
Fire hazards, escape routes, fire extinguisher use, and at-home safety tips

• June 27th – Personal Protection with MCPD
Helpful techniques for getting out of dangerous situations

(New Buffalo, MI) - The New Buffalo High School baseball team came back furiously against River Valley to win the District 4 title. River Valley scored three first-inning runs, but the Bison finished all of the scoring in the bottom of the first and second innings to win 7-3 at Bridgman on Sunday, June 2nd.

After a rocky beginning, senior Giovanny Sanchez Perez, with help from his defense, pitched brilliantly the rest of the way for the Bison.

“I was feeling it. I was in the zone,” he said.

Two of the runs were driven by a second-inning double from Ethan Lijewski, who made several outstanding plays at shortstop.

“There are no words to describe how we all feel right now,” he said.

The performance of Sanchez Perez from the mound came at the right moment for the Bison, who relied heavily on freshman pitcher Jeffrey Tertel throughout much of the season because of his consistency in the strike zone.

Tertel, considered the ace of the pitching staff, went the distance in the 5-4 victory over Michigan Lutheran on Saturday to advance to the finals. He allowed just one earned run. Tertel was ineligible to take the mound in the finals because of a Michigan High School Athletic Association rule that requires three days of rest from pitching after throwing 76 or more pitches in a game. He also drove in what turned out to be the district title-winning run with a double to the left field fence.

“That felt really good,” he said.   

The Bison play in the regionals Wednesday at Gobles against Kalamazoo Hackett at 4:30 p.m.

(La Porte County, IN) - A gold ring and other items were taken early Monday from a vehicle parked at a hotel where the victim is employed outside of Michigan City.

Just before 1 p.m., officers were called to the Microtel Hotel in the area of U.S. 421 and 400 North, where the 47-year-old victim reported an old gold ring, worth about $1,000, was taken from the vehicle along with two jackets, two tote bags, and about $35 in cash and coins, according to La Porte County Police.

The man discovered the items were missing when he went to his vehicle to get his lunch about one hour after reporting for work. He told investigators the vehicle, parked near the side of the building, was unlocked.

(La Porte County, IN) - Police say an impaired driver caused a rear-end collision at a busy La Porte County intersection, as Violet Terry, 67, allegedly had a blood alcohol level considerably higher than the legal limit and also may have been under the influence of marijuana and cocaine found in her vehicle.

Just before 1 p.m. on Friday, officers reportedly responded to Indiana 39 and U.S. 20 where Terry rear-ended a motor vehicle. The investigation showed that the Ohio woman had just exited from the Indiana Toll Road and was headed northbound when the collision soon happened. There, a small amount of cocaine and marijuana were located in a bag on the back seat, along with a cooler containing several unopened containers of beer in the trunk.

The vehicle, operated by Terry, sustained heavy front-end damage. No injuries were reported by anyone involved in the collision.

(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County commissioner wants to do something about roadway safety following a fatal accident at a rural intersection last weekend.

Joe Haney says he has already directed the highway department to install additional warning signs at the intersection of Joliet Rd. and CR 900 West, where two children were killed and others were injured in a collision on Saturday, May 25. Spinning reflective markers have already been placed above existing stop signs. "Stop Ahead" signs will be installed early this week. Haney said he spoke with a homeowner near the intersection who obligingly trimmed back bushes along the roadway.

At the next commissioners meeting, Haney intends to ask the county engineer to study other possible improvements. Any additional changes must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Commissioners.

Saturday’s tragic incident, Haney noted, appears to have been caused by a vehicle blowing the stop sign on 900 W.

(North Liberty, IN) - Tempers flared at a solar energy meeting in North Liberty on Thursday night.

For several years, Hexagon Energy has been quietly laying the groundwork for a 2,500-acre solar installation just across the road from Potato Creek State Park.

A grassroots group called Rethink Industrial Solar hosted the meeting at the North Liberty American Legion, where there was an overflow crowd. For many present, it was their first opportunity to discuss the topic.

Steve Holifield of La Porte County not only was in attendance but said he had to intervene when the crowd got a little rowdy. “I understand it gets emotional, Holifield told HTNN. “The crowd kind of went ballistic, so to speak, which sometimes they do.” That’s when someone handed him the microphone to get the meeting back on track. “As I’ve always spoke out before at county meetings,” he said, “we all need to remain polite and courteous to each other, and that’s why I tried to calm things down a little bit.”

Most in attendance, Holified said, were dead-set against the development and surprised to only recently learn about it.

Hexagon’s Senior Director of Development Scott Remer attended the meeting and received the brunt of the negativity. Moments prior to the meeting, he spoke exclusively with HTNN about the so-called element of surprise. “You can look; the public record shows that our lease agreements are recorded,” he said. “That’s not something secret, it’s not under a secret name. It’s under Dumont Solar LLC.”

Remer said he is surprised that people are surprised by the plans. “It’s certainly not what I want our company to be seen as,” he said, “as somebody who does things in a shady way. That’s not our desire at all."

Remer suggested that misinformation about solar arrays often fuels opposition. He emphasized that the panels are non-toxic and that the installations promote wildlife and vegetation as well as soil conservation.

Remer told HTNN that Hexagon, which is based in Virginia, chose St. Joseph County because of favorable regulations and permitting requirements as well as proximity to a large electric substation. The Dumont substation just south of Potato Creek, he said, is one of the largest in the country. Hexagon is also working on two other projects in the Hoosier state.

According to Remer, over 25 landowners have already signed on to the Hexagon project. Between 2,000 and 2,500 acres are being planned. Remer claims the project will generate at least $50 million in tax revenue for the county on top of the extra income for landowners. He said it's in the mid-stage of development, probably at least a couple of years from being built out.

Holifield has been keeping a close eye on the proliferation of solar projects. He says solar proposals have cropped up in over 30 counties across Indiana. “This is a big topic,” he said. “My opinion is they are looking at places that have very poor ordinances and governments that can be swayed one way or another. They’re offering big dollar signs, and so far we’re not sure those dollar signs are even available.”

The next public meeting to discuss the project will be June 18th at the County-City building in South Bend. 

(La Porte, IN) - A concerned motorist helped police bring in an alleged drunk driver.

On Tuesday night dispatch received a call from a driver concerned about a Jeep Patriot swerving erratically on northbound US 421 and eastbound State Road 2. Westville police and La Porte County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a search. It didn’t take them long to find the jeep being followed by a Volkswagen Passat with its flashers on near La Porte’s National Guard Armory.

Detecting a strong odor of alcohol, police tested the driver, 27-year-old Jose Tadeo-Arista of Valparaiso, for impairment. A deputy used a Google translate feature to communicate with Tadeo-Arista, who allegedly could not complete the field sobriety tests. A breathalyzer test allegedly revealed a blood alcohol level over 2-and-a-half times the legal limit. Tadeo-Arista’s driver’s license was also suspended.

The concerned driver who tailed the Jeep stayed on the scene to give a statement.

(Washington, DC) - An area Hoosier will no longer be the nation’s ambassador to the Vatican.

Former Senator and current U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Joe Donnelly has announced he’s stepping down from the post in July.

Donnelly, of Granger, was appointed by President Biden to serve as the country’s ambassador to the Holy See in 2021.

He was previously a U.S. Congressman, then Senator, before losing a bid for reelection in 2018 to Mike Braun.

(Southfield, MI) - If you’re riding around in a jalopy, you’ve got plenty of company.

A recent report by S&P Global Mobility shows that cars currently on American roadways are older than ever. The average car out there now is 12.6 years old, according to their research. That breaks last year’s record, which has slowly increased over the past six years.

It appears drivers are taking their chances with repair shops. About 70% of vehicles on the road are 6 or more years old, beyond manufacturer warranties.

Data also indicate electric vehicle numbers continue to rise, with 3.2 million EVs in operation in January. The average age of EVs in the U.S. is 3.5 years.

Americans have been buying fewer new cars since the pandemic, a trend that’s slowly turning. New car prices have dropped slightly, but last month the average new car price was just over $45,000.