(Michigan City, IN) - Police in Michigan City are investigating vandalism at a Catholic church.

On Thursday morning police were called to St. Mary the Immaculate Conception Parish, which is located on 11^th Street across from Marquette High School. Arriving for Mass, the priest found the exterior door damaged and disarray in the sanctuary.

According to a police report, an odd layer of dust covered the floor and a piano by the altar. Candles and broken glass were scattered on the floor. The stained-glass window on the confessional was damaged, and a statue of St. Joseph was smashed.

No suspects have been identified, as Michigan City Police continue to investigate.

According to the parish, the damages were extensive enough to cancel all activities in the church until December 9. In the meantime, all Masses will be moved to Queen of All Saints at the regularly scheduled times. The following message was posted on the parish Facebook page:

"It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the desecration of St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday evening. The extensive damage sustained inside and outside the church will require significant repairs. Until at least December 9, all Masses and sacramental services will be relocated to Queen of All Saints Church. Our victory and consolation is always in Christ. Let us pray for those who involve themselves in violent acts, trusting with confidence in the love and mercy of the Lord. All Masses will be moved to Queen of All Saints at the regularly scheduled times."

(La Porte, IN) - The annual Christkindlmarkt that began a three day run Friday at the La Porte County Fairgrounds was met with winter-like weather but plenty of campfires and hot drinks helped keep people warm.

Many of the two dozen or so vendors offering a wide range of handcrafted products are also located inside large storage containers, not tents like in previous years, as shelter from the wind during the German-themed event.

Other vendors selling things like food and beverages along with Santa Claus are inside some of the permanent buildings at the fairgrounds.

“It’s really very do able,” said a bundled up Tatiana Colby of Portage.

Other activities happening at the market, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 a.m. daily through Sunday, include Christmas tree throwing and corn hole contests along with live music and a beer garden.

Colby brought her two sons, Simeon, 22, who is home for the weekend from Indiana University and Jamieson, 14, along with her sister, Rebecca.  It’s become a tradition for her family to go to the Christkindlmarkts in La Porte and other cities like Chicago and Indianapolis to start the holiday season.

“It’s just kind of a whole Christmas vibe,” she said.

Jake and Ali Janik made the drive from Hobart with their four-year old daughter, Naomi, especially for her to visit with Santa Claus and for them to spend quality time together as a family.  They also purchased a wreath during their third consecutive year at the market.

“It’s fun to just start celebrating the Christmas holiday,” Mrs. Janik said.

For Paul and Amy Schnerold of La Porte, the market was a chance for them to purchase unique gifts for their relatives of German descent.

“We thought what better place than a Christkindlmarkt,” Mr. Schnerold said.

Freshly cut Christmas trees are also available for purchase.           

The Christkindlmarkt is put on by Bethany Lutheran Church, but not so much as a fund raiser since a vast majority of the proceeds go toward the cost of staging the event, said Carrie Garwood, one of the coordinators from the congregation in La Porte.

Garwood said the real incentive is to provide local vendors an off season opportunity to offer their products and residents from the area who can’t afford the much larger Christkindlmarkts in Chicago or elsewhere an opportunity to experience one on a much smaller scale.

“It’s a community event we get to give back to people,” she said.

The food menu includes bratwurst sandwiches or a platter consisting of two bratwurst sandwiches, sauerkraut, red cabbage, potato pancake, applesauce and a Kringle, which is a German Danish with filling on the inside.  Much of the food kept hot inside crock pots is made by Reggie Belzowski, a church member whose parents were originally from Germany.

“My mom used to cook things like this.  That’s how I know how to do it,” she said.

Among beverages helping to keep people warm are hot chocolate and Gluhwein, an apple spiced wine famous in German that’s served hot.  The vendors include Amanda Tompkins whose products made at her home in La Porte include wreaths and tumblers.  The tumblers have a wide range of pictures and designs she applies to the containers with a heating process.

Norman Plaka of Elkhart is offering pocket knives and samurai swords with blades made from carbon and stainless steel.

“I got a little bit of everything,” he said.

(Lowell, IN) - An Indiana State Trooper with some special professional ties to La Porte is retiring after 33 years of service.

Master Trooper Jeff Council graduated from the Indiana State Police Academy in 1991 and joined the Lowell Post in 2001, where he patrolled La Porte and Porter Counties.

During his distinguished career, Council was recognized many times for his selfless acts. In 2011 he was honored by the City of La Porte for saving a suicidal man from jumping off a bridge. Council risked his own life, climbing over the wall and grabbing the man before he could jump. In addition, he was recognized several times by the La Porte County Drunk Driving Task Force. Council also served as a detective with the Indiana Gaming Commission, assigned to the Majestic Star and Blue Chip Casinos.

(La Porte, IN) - Center Township Trustee Lisa Pierzakowski has taken a little holiday break, but she’s left behind a challenge for the community.

There’s a gift-wrapped donation box at the trustee’s office for monetary donations (cash or check) for local families in need this Christmas. It will be there through next Wednesday, December 4th . Lisa says if $1,000 ends up in the box, she’ll pitch in another $1,000-worth of gift cards.

The Trustee’s office is open today, Friday, from 9-noon. Normal business hours will resume next week. Their location is 1108 W State Road 2, next to Biggby Coffee.

(Gary, IN) - An Indiana State Police Trooper and his K9 companion teamed up to take down an armed felon in Gary.

On Monday, Trooper Ben Beers pulled over a gray 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee for having an improper headlight.

Beers determined that the driver, 33-year-old Shelley Cooper, from Gary, was in possession of an expired license. Inside the vehicle, the officer also smelled burnt marijuana and saw in the center console a red solo cup containing what appeared to be an alcoholic beverage. During a search, Cooper ran away from the trooper, while appearing to pull a gun from his waistband. After fumbling the firearm, Cooper continued to run, until he was tackled and bitten by the officer’s K9, named Zero. The trooper then tasered Cooper and took him into custody.

According to police, during the altercation, Cooper intentionally laid on top of the K9 with all of his body weight in what appeared to be an attempt to hurt the dog. State Police subsequently reported that Zero was uninjured.

Cooper has been preliminarily charged with the following offenses:

• Resisting Law Enforcement- Defendant Draws a Weapon- Level 6 Felony (2 counts)
• Resisting Law Enforcement- Class A Misdemeanor
• Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun- Class A Misdemeanor
• Cruelty to a Law Enforcement Animal- Class A Misdemeanor
• Driving While Suspended Prior Conviction- Class A Misdemeanor
• Possession of Marijuana- Class B Misdemeanor

During the investigation, it was determined that the defendant was also a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

(Indianapolis, IN) - A scholarship is available to aspiring school teachers.

Applications for the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship are now open to high school seniors and college students who are looking to pursue a career in teaching.

The scholarship is good for $10,000 per year for up to four years, and students must commit to teaching in Indiana for at least five years.

Last year Indiana awarded over 300 scholarships with applications from 89 of the 92 counties. Six of the recipients were from La Porte County.

Applicants need to be in the top 20% of their high school graduating class, have a top 20% SAT or ACT score, or have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

(Pulaski County, IN) - Officers in Pulaski County used extra precaution and some advanced technology in a tense standoff last week.

According to the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, on November 19th a serious domestic altercation took place somewhere in Pulsaski County. A woman involved fled to Knox, where she made a report. Citing a dangerous combination of violent threats, firearms, and alcohol, police quickly obtained a search warrant.

Six deputies gathered at the home. When no one responded from inside, officers donned protective gear and opened the front door. Using a drone, they were able to pinpoint the location of the suspect, 30-year-old Leonard Salyer, inside. A police K9 cornered Salyer, and officers apprehended him. Police say he continued to resist authorities as they took him into custody.

Salyer now faces charges of confinement, battery, intimidation with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement, along with a felony drug charge.

(Indianapolis, IN) - The Indiana Attorney General’s Office is looking into allegations of human labor trafficking down in Logansport.

In the legal crosshairs is Tyson Foods, a meat processing plant which employs over 2,000 people. Authorities believe that Tyson is aware that some of its workers have come to the U.S. illegally, and may have contributed to their influx.

“The vast number of additional people coming into our communities is alarming, and that’s just from the standpoint of seeing the staggering number of resources being put towards this fight – Every. Single. Day,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “When you have an open border and an influx of people coming over illegally by the millions, we can’t have companies incentivizing this criminal behavior by offering jobs for cheap labor. It’s not fair to those looking for employment or to our law enforcement, local hospitals and healthcare facilities, taxpayers that fund these services, and our housing and labor markets.”

The Attorney General’s office says it is acting pursuant to its authority under Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and indecent nuisance statute.  Rokita has requested documentation from Tyson, as well as other local entities, such as the hospital, school district, and department of health in Logansport. They have until the middle of next week to respond.

(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County man is facing potential time in prison for injuries a girl sustained from being spanked with a belt.  Devin Gallant, 28, of Rolling Prairie is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 6 felony battery.

According to court documents, Gallant used a belt on a six year old girl for refusing to eat chicken he had prepared on November 14th.  Police said the girl was left with a large number of bruises on her legs, buttocks and both hips. 

At the recommendation of a social worker, the girl was examined by a doctor, who found no internal injuries, according to court documents.

Gallant could face an up to 30 month sentence.

(Michigan City, IN) - People have a chance to help a local family in need every Thursday in Michigan City over the next few months.

An off-season Farmed and Forged Farmers Market is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays through February 13th in the backroom of Burn ‘Em Brewing along U.S. 12 just east of Blue Chip Casino.  There will be no market on Thanksgiving or the day after Christmas.

According to organizers of the event, the family being helped through challenging circumstances is a single mother with four children ages 4-17.  People attending the market can donate or select items requested by the family from an Angel Tree and go out to purchase those products for them.

Unwrapped items for Christmas can be returned to Burn ‘Em Brewing no later than December 5 for distribution to the family.

“The community’s help can make a meaningful difference in ensuring they have a brighter holiday season,” said Mandy Krickhahn, president and founder of The Collective.

The Collective hosts the Farmed and Forged Farmers Markets in La Porte and New Buffalo during the summer and plans to open one in Michigan City for next summer.

(La Porte, IN) - People are gearing up for the annual Santa Parade in La Porte.  Santa will be ushered into the city during the parade, which begins at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The parade will venture westbound on State Street then head north of Michigan Avenue and eastbound on Lincolnway until reaching Plaza 618 where Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with the children.

There will also be live Christmas music and caroling at 618 Plaza along with the lighting of the ceremonial tree.

(La Porte County, IN) - What promises to be three days of fun will start Friday at the La Porte County Fairgrounds.  The annual Christkindlmarkt, hosted by Bethany Lutheran Church, will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday.

Pastor Dennis Meyer said there will be vendors offering food, beverages and various products, including Christmas trees, at the German themed event.  There will also be games like Christmas tree throwing, cornhole and visits from Santa Claus along with live music and ice skating.

“It’s pretty exciting. We always like that time right after Thanksgiving,” he said.

Meyer said the activities will be centered on the midway.   There will also be plenty of seasonal lights and fires to help people warm up from the expected below freezing temperatures predicted during the weekend.  

The Christkindlmarkt started at the church during the pandemic but moved to the fairgrounds the following year to better accommodate the large number of people drawn to the event.  Meyer said all of the vendors will be from the area.

“That’s really what Christkindlmarkt is all about in Germany.  It’s local markets where people can support local businesses and enjoy just kind of being together,” he said.

For a complete list of all of the happening, CLICK HERE to visit the event website.

(Indianapolis, IN) - The Indiana Senate will begin accepting applications on December 1st from students to spend a day at the statehouse.

Under the Senate Page program, students in grades six through 12 spend a day touring the statehouse, listening to debates and helping staff with age-appropriate tasks.  Students also have the opportunity to meet their state senator.

"Participating in the Page Program is a great way for students to learn more about their role in the legislative process," said State Senator Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores.

The Senate Page Program will begin in January and is expected to run through early April. Pages are scheduled for Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during the legislative session.  Students begin their day at 8:30 a.m. and are dismissed at 3:30 p.m.

When completing the application, students will be able to request the day they would like to page. Once the application is submitted, the Senate Page Office will reach out to confirm the paging date and ensure all required participation forms are signed.

For more information or to apply, CLICK HERE.

(Michigan City, IN) - A correctional officer at Indiana State Prison allegedly brought marijuana into the facility on Monday.  Christian Bates, 22, is charged in La Porte Superior Court 2 with trafficking with an inmate and official misconduct.

According to court documents, Bates drew the suspicions of prison security by walking into a bathroom with two potato chip bags and quickly walking out of the bathroom without the bags.  The chip bags allegedly containing marijuana were found by security inside a cabinet during a search of the bathroom, prison officials said.

According to court documents, Bates told investigators an offender instructed him to go to Gary where he would find the chip bags under a tree or in some bushes and bring them into the prison.

Bates, who denied knowing the contents of the bags, was later approached by an inmate asking for the chip bags. The chip bags had already been confiscated by prison security before Bates returned to the cabinet to find they were gone, authorities said. 

The Portage man was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $1,500 bond.

(Michigan City, IN) - Two suspects have been charged in connection with a man being shot by one of several gunshots fired in his direction in Michigan City. 

Leonard Taylor, Jr., 29, and Brandon Wroblewski, 22, are charged with aggravated battery and criminal recklessness.  Taylor is also charged with serious violent felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, the victim, Bryley Langford, pulled up to a home on November 14 in the 700 block of East 7^th Street.  Langford was walking up to the door when a conflict erupted over his presence at the home.  Police said the investigation shows Langford displayed a gun then was punched in the face.

At least one gunshot was fired before Langford got back into his car, which was struck by several bullets while he was fleeing.  Police said Langford was treated for a gunshot wound to his leg.

According to court records, both suspects and victim have prior criminal records but the most extensive belongs to Taylor, whose past convictions include armed robbery.

(La Porte, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody is hoping to reschedule his meeting with the mayor of Chicago.  He had to cancel that meeting last week because he came down with COVID-19.

Dermody said he wants to hear from Mayor Brandon Johnson on what’s being done in the Windy City to combat drugs since much of the drugs in La Porte come from Chicago.  Having that meeting is part of his commitment to making La Porte drug free.

“That’s our goal. That’s what we believe. That’s what I believe and that’s what we’re going to accomplish,” he said.

To do so, Dermody said it’s going to take help from state and federal officials along with officials in Chicago and Detroit where drugs come here from the east.

“Tell me what you’re doing, what you need and let’s stop it,” he said.

Dermody said he hopes to have the meeting, which was originaly scheulded at the Chicago mayor’s office, rescheduled as quickly as possible.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Kingsford Heights man is facing charges related to an alcohol impaired motor vehicle pursuit. 

La Porte County Police said 34 year old Joshua Mullins was clocked at 113 miles per hour on U.S. 30 late last week.  Police said he veered northbound on Indiana 39 and accelerated then turned onto County Road 1150 South before slowing down at County Road 100 West.  Police said his speed dropped to as low as 27 mph.

At one point, police said he stuck his arm out the window and waved at the officer behind him then called 911.  Police said the 911 dispatcher urged him to stop but he kept going until pulling into the driveway of his home in Kingsford Heights.

Mullins, who had several open containers of alcohol in his vehicle, had a blood alcohol level of .125 percent, according to police.

(La Porte County, IN) - The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is trying to identify the source of pornography that wound up on the screens of viewers during a live broadcast of a public meeting Monday night on ZOOM.

Elected officials and other people in attendance, physically, were also subject to the graphic material on a monitor showing the ZOOM broadcast so everyone in the room can see and hear the individuals taking part in the meeting virtually.

“We’re conducting an investigation,” said La Porte County Police Capt. Derek Allen.

Somehow, a hacker introduced the explicit video about 30 minutes into the ZOOM broadcast of the La Porte County Council meeting.

The sheriff’s office responded to a request from La Porte County Commissioner Joe Haney, who would like to see criminal charges filed, if possible.  He’s particularly disturbed by such a display being introduced in a public setting and children, perhaps, catching a glimpse of it on ZOOM screens at home.  

“I think there were a number of different laws that were broken at the state and federal level,” he said.

Haney said he was watching the meeting at home when X-rated images along with audio containing racial slurs took over his screen for a couple of minutes.  He immediately reached out to information technology employees of county government to look for any security lapses a hacker could have taken advantage of and tighten any such weaknesses in the system.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure this kind of thing never happens again,” he said.

La Porte County Councilman Mark Yagelski described everyone at the meeting as stunned by the unexpected drastic change of what was being shown on the monitor.

“Everybody was in shock,” he said.

The meeting was paused while Yagelski quickly made his way to an electrical outlet and pulled the cord to turn off the screen.   

Yagelski said he then went outside the meeting room and consulted with IT Director Darlene Hale. He acted on her advice to have the cord powering the ZOOM meeting pulled to stop the broadcast.

The meeting then resumed.

“It’s a shame the public had to see that.  It was upsetting for the people who were there.  We got to fix it and we’re already on it,” Yagelski said.

Allen said it’s too early in the investigation to even speculate on who was responsible and their location.

“It may take some time to get some information that we need gathered up to look at any possible criminal charges that may apply,” he said.

Allen also said the investigation could show the ZOOM platform may also need some tightening of security in their system.

La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan said any charges in the case might have to be filed at the federal level if the pornographic material originated from outside the state or country.  He said trespassing is among the state laws that could be prosecuted locally, though, if the perpetrator used a computer system or network belonging to someone else without permission to disseminate the images.

Fagan said he and the sheriff’s will discuss the findings before a decision on what steps to take next.

“We’re going to talk about this once the investigation wraps up,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz has received another vote of "no confidence" in his job performance, this time by the La Porte County Commissioners.

Commissioner Rich Mrozinski referred to the "no confidence" vote taken against Stabosz by the La Porte County Council the previous month as the reason for his motion.

“I thought that was very timely and needed to be said,” he said.

Stabosz, who has been at the center of extreme political fighting with mostly the commissioners since becoming auditor in 2021, alleged politics was behind the November 20th decision by the commissioners.

In his reaction to the motion, Stabosz said Just splended.  Just splendid.”

The 2 to 1 vote in favor of the motion came after the commissioners denied a request by Stabosz for county government to pay his legal bills from a lawsuit filed against him in late October by Attorney Alan Sirinek.

“Hire your own attorney,” Mrozinski said.

His motion included granting Stabosz permission to seek reimbursement from the County Council but only if he wins the case.

Sirinek claims the commissioners rightfully approved his 2023 claim of $1,000 for work he performed for the Adult Protective Services Division of county government, but Stabosz paid him only $319.

Stabosz said he withheld the remainder of the funds because a former commissioner improperly acted by herself to pay Sirinek the $681 balance when the decision should have been made by all three commissioners.

Mrozinski’s motion was supported by Commission President Connie Gramarossa, who directed all of her questions on the matter to the county attorney.

She ignored Stabosz when he tried offering explanations by calling him “out of order.”   Several times, Gramarossa tried minimizing his standing in county government by calling him “the secretary” for the commissioners since his responsibility at meetings is to record the minutes.

“I’m not going to have a conversation with the secretary,” she said.

Stabosz seemed insulted by the reference and once fired back at Grammarosa.

“I’m barely here in that capacity. That’s your claim. That’s not statutorily accurate,” he said.

In late October, the County Council voted not to have confidence in Stabosz citing many incorrect figures from his office while preparing the 2025 budget. Stabosz admitted the numbers weren’t always accurate (CLICK HERE to see the article).

Commissioner Joe Haney, a supporter of Stabosz, said the latest round of fighting and action was sad with Stabosz’ only term as Auditor ending at the end of the year.

Stabosz ran for County Commissioner, instead of seeking a second term as Auditor.  He lost in the May primary to Republican Steve Holifield, who defeated his Democratic opponents in the November 5th general election to join Haney and Gramarossa as a Commissioner on January 1st.

Haney was elected to a second term.

“It’s unfortunate that we continue to go down this path,” Haney said.

Stabosz has expressed a strong interest in running for the open seat of County Councilman Mike Rosenbaum when he steps down in about five weeks to become Auditor.

(Indianapolis, IN) - Governor Eric Holcomb today recognized the generosity of Indiana’s poultry producers at the 77th annual Governor's Poultry Presentation at the Indiana Statehouse.

Over the past year, Indiana poultry farmers and businesses have continued their long practice of working to address food insecurity in the communities where they operate and across the state.

Indiana food banks and community organizations were able to offer 250,000 pounds of nutrient-rich duck, turkey and chicken meat to Hoosiers in need this year.

Indiana chicken egg producers supplied food banks with one million dozen eggs, and duck producers donated upwards of 50,000 dozen eggs this year as well.

"Indiana poultry producers truly embody the generosity of the Hoosier spirit," Holcomb said.

The strength of Indiana’s poultry sector was also recognized during the ceremony.

According to the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service, Indiana ranks No. 1 in duck production, No. 3 in egg production, No. 4 in turkey production and is home to high quality broiler chicken production as well. 

(La Porte, IN) - The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will make its annual Christmas season pass through La Porte and the surrounding area tomorrow morning.

The train decked out in Christmas lights is scheduled to pass through the City of La Porte at 4:13 a.m.

The westbound train will next venture through Pinola ten minutes later and then Chesterton.

Before reaching La Porte, the train will pass through New Carlisle and other places to the east like South Bend, Mishawaka and Elkhart.

The train runs in the U.S. and Canada from November 21 through December 20, raising money, food and awareness to support food banks across the railroad's service area. 

Since 1999, the train has raised more than $24 million and collected about 5.3 million pounds of food for food banks in both countries, according to the railroad. 

(Michigan City, IN) - Franklin St. in Michigan City’s Uptown Arts District on Monday opened to two way traffic in a move aimed at providing more customers for businesses and filling remaining empty storefronts.  

About 8 a.m., Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch helped cut the ribbon then led a convoy of municipal vehicles occupied by city employees in the new southbound lane from Fourth St. to Ninth St.

That two lane stretch of Franklin St. had been just for northbound travelers for 30 years or more.

The hope is to provide a boost to the ongoing revitalization of what’s still viewed by many residents as downtown by eliminating confusion of one way travel especially for out of town travelers not used to navigating the landscape.

Michelle Gaines, a lifelong Michigan City resident, was among the first travelers on the freshly converted two way thoroughfare.

“I love it,” she said.

Adding to her pleasure were the changes from one way to two way travel just a few years ago on Washington and Pine streets, which run in the same direction as Franklin St. just a block away to the west and east.

“It’s a fantastic feeling for everybody to be able to go both ways on all of these streets,” she said.

Assistant City Planner Kyle Anthony-Petter said how much of an economic difference two way travel on Franklin St. will have in the Uptown Arts District probably won’t be fully known until after winter.  That’s when visitors start coming back in their highest numbers to enjoy Lake Michigan and other local attractions.

“I think come this summer we’re really going to find out the impact of the decisions we’ve made here,” he said.

The conversion of Franklin St. was completed within a recent two week period by doing things like laying down fresh pavement and restriping the angled parking on both sides of the roadway.

Matt Kubik, a member of the Michigan City Public Arts Committee, said he hopes two way travel will help recapture the momentum downtown revitalization had until the worldwide pandemic.  He said some businesses were not able to survive the lockdowns that kept a lot of people home to try and keep the COVID-19 virus from spreading.

“We have a few more empty storefronts than I think that we would like but now is the time with a new mayor, a new energy and a new street to pick it back up and really make this I would say the playground of Michigan City,” he said.

Kubik said the Uptown Arts District is also supported by the artists and fans of culture living in the over 40 apartments created several years ago inside the refurbished six story Warren Building at 717 Franklin St.

He said further support has come in recent years by people now living in many of the once empty upper floors in other renovated buildings.  

Kubik believes two way travel will bring more visitors and local residents to the restaurants, coffee shops and other Uptown Arts District businesses and, hopefully, other new establishments wanting to tap into the increased motor vehicle and foot traffic.

“It’s a work in progress,” he said.

Marissa Manteo, Manager of FLUID Coffee Roasters at 518 Franklin St., said she believes two way travel will add to the record number of customers served at her shop this past summer.

“Our sales were out the roof.  It was amazing,” she said.

Manteo is also hopeful traffic moving in both directions will lead to uptick in business during the much slower off-season.

“I have positive outlooks for it,” she said.

(La Porte County, IN) - An investigation is underway into the cause of a fire that destroyed four parked semi-trucks just outside Michigan City.

The semi-trucks were beside each other at Gallops, a Marathon station on U.S. 20 between the city limits and Porter County line when firefighters and other emergency personnel responded about 2 a.m. on Saturday.

Coolspring Township Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Warren Smith said a fifth semi parked in the same row of trucks was starting to catch fire but the flames were put out before engulfing the rig.

“When we arrived, four of the five were already pretty much burnt completely up,” he said.

Smith said aerial trucks belonging to his department and Michigan City were used to extinguish the flames fed by diesel fuel in the tanks reaching high into the air.

“A lot of fire. It was big,” he said.

What sounded like explosions were also numerous from air escaping melting tires on the 18 wheelers.  Smith said the gas station building about 150 feet from the trucks was never threatened by the flames.

He said a load of cardboard inside one of the trailers destroyed. Two other trailers were loaded with steel coils and railroad car wheels while the other two semis had no cargo.

Fortunately, there were no drivers sleeping inside the semis at the time. Smith said all of them left their rigs there to spend time the weekend at home.

He said arson will be among the potential causes looked into but there are other possible sources of ignition like an electrical short drawing energy from a battery despite the trucks not running at the time.

The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting with the investigation, he said.

(South Bend, IN) - A repeat immigration offender has been sentenced to federal prison.

This week 44-year-old Jose De Jesus Rosales-Gamez, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced in South Bend’s U.S. District Court to 16 months in prison.

Authorities say Rosales-Gamez was sent back to Mexico four times from the mid-90s through 2016. He then returned again following two felony convictions.

(North Judson, IN) - On Wednesday afternoon, there was an accidental shooting involving a minor within the North Judson town limits. Authorities did not elaborate on the details, other than that the male victim was struck by one bullet. First responders decided to transfer the minor via Medivac helicopter due to the nature of his injuries.

As such, nearby North Judson-San Pierre High School property was used as a landing site. School Superintendent M. Kelly Shepherd later clarified that the school was not involved in any way in the shooting. “The North Judson-San Pierre High School property was/is utilized for these types of transports that occur near or within town limits,” he said in a statement on Thursday. “We are aware of the many rumors circulating about the incident. We want to reiterate that there is no correlation to the events surrounding the incident yesterday afternoon and no direct involvement with matters within the NJSP School Corporation.”

(Starke County, IN) - Barring appeal, a Plymouth man may be spending the rest of his life behind bars for killing a Hamlet woman during a home invasion this summer.

Last month 40-year-old David Campbell was found guilty by a jury of over a dozen counts related to burglary and violence. In August Campbell had forced his way into an elderly couple’s home on the north side of Hamlet near U.S. 30. 72-year-old Connie Bailey died from injuries sustained in the attack.

Earlier this week in Starke County Circuit Court, Campbell was sentenced to 100 years in  prison.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Christmas season will be ushered into Michigan City this year with a bit more flare and a few changes.

The annual Festival of Lights celebration is scheduled December 7.

As always, the massive holiday lights display at Washington Park will be illuminated for the first time of the season at dark on that day.

The annual Christmas Parade along Franklin Street will begin at 5 p.m. and run north to south between Fourth and Ninth streets, the opposite direction from years past.

To register to be in the parade, visit https://www.emichigancity.com/FormCenter/Special-Events-43/Michigan-City-Festival-of-Lights-Parade--87.

For the first time in the event’s history, the celebration will include a Kindlmarket from 3-9 p.m. at Uptown Social at 907 Franklin St.

Also at Uptown Social, the annual Chili Challenge will begin at 6:30 p.m. A $5 donation to Meals on Wheels made at the door will allow you to sample every chili in the contest and vote on your favorites.

Santa Claus will be available for photos at Uptown Social from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Those wishing to visit with Santa must bring one new, unwrapped toy to be donated to Toys for Tots.

Additionally, children can hand-deliver their letters to Santa at that time. Letters containing a return address will receive a personal response from one of Santa’s helpers before Christmas.

For more information, follow Michigan City Special Events on Facebook or call (219) 873-1400, ext. 2047.

(Michigan City, IN) - Santa Claus is coming to Michigan City already.

He’s scheduled to be Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m.

Santa will take part in the annual tree lighting ceremony in the main courtyard of the mall at 601 Wabash St.

Organizers say Santa will also ride around the mall in a golf cart sleigh allowing shoppers to take free photos. Santa will also spend time visiting with children.

In addition, the “Those Funny Little People,” a group of life-sized dancing and singing puppets that once appeared on the TV show America’s Got Talent, will be part of the festivities.

A live reindeer will also be on the grounds of the mall during the festivities which run until 7 p.m.

(Michigan City, IN) - It’s been well over a half century since trains were powered by coal but a landmark filling station for railroads is still straddling the tracks, but apparently not for much longer.

Plans have emerged to tear down the over 100 foot tall coaling tower along U.S. 12 in Michigan City just east of the Uptown Arts District.

Amtrak, whose trains now run on the rail line, is seeking an exception to the city’s noise ordinance to demolish the deteriorating reinforced concrete structure built in 1923.

Lorenzo Perez, project manager for Amtrak, said the tear down is planned over a 14 day period beginning at the earliest in September of 2025.  He said the work can’t begin sooner because of the amount of time anticipated for the demolition to receive final approval from the Federal Railroad Administration.

Perez said the demolition was moved up by at least one year because of the hazard the structure from continued decline in its already deteriorating condition might start posing to the eight passenger trains running underneath it daily.

“Safety is really the driver of it,” he said.

The city’s noise ordinance prohibits such work from occurring between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.  The plan by Amtrak is to work around the clock to avoid extending the amount of time required to complete the tear down since no trains will run on the line during the demolition.

Buses will be used to transport passengers between Chicago and New Buffalo, Mich. until the job is finished.

Skyler York, Director of Planning and Inspection for the city, said the tower is cast-in-place concrete construction reinforced by rebar inside the concrete, which requires demolition to start at the top and work its way down pieces at a time.

“They looked at three to four different methods and this is the way it needs to come down,” he said.

Any break in the work would add to the risk of collapse before completion because there are no beams within the concrete for enough stability to pause demolition between eight to 12 hours shifts.

“Once they start, they’re just going to keep tearing it down, essentially, and then clean-up,” he said.

Perez said much of the noise will be from jackhammers breaking up the concrete to expose the rebar, which are steel rods that will be cut and removed.

York took the request during a November 18 public hearing under advisement, saying later that he expects to grant an exception to the noise ordinance as long as Amtrak agrees to conditions he will submit to the railroad in writing.

The conditions include notifying nearby property owners about the demolition in advance and having a plan to control dust.

Noise is not expected to be a major issue with a scattered number of homes in the immediate area dominated more by industries such as chemical makers Shell Catalysts and Technologies and USALCO.

Perez said U.S. 12 will remain open during the tear down.

According to history, the tower was erected by the Michigan Central Railroad to service the steam powered engines on its trains carrying freight and passengers with fresh loads of coal and water.

Burning coal heated the water to create the steam that powered the engines.

At the time, the tower was among the first ones allowing trains to pull underneath to refuel instead of switching to another set of tracks to reach a coaling station.

Perez said the tower stopped being used in the early 1960’s once the engines on trains started being powered by diesel fuel.

People who appreciate the history of trains might be sad to see the coaling tower disappear from the landscape.

Michigan City resident Tommy Kalavik, though, welcomed the decision. He views the structure as both a safety threat and eyesore.

“I’m glad to this structure finally going down. It should have been torn down 30 years ago, if you ask me,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - Not one penny of tax money will be used to operate the La Porte Civic Auditorium beginning next year.

La Porte Park Department Superintendent Mark Schreiber said he didn’t think it could be done when that goal was set after Mayor Tom Dermody took office nearly five-years ago.

He gave credit to La Porte Civic Auditorium Director Brett Binversie for his work in scheduling more concerts and other events to generate revenue for operating the facility.

“If you would have told me that we would get here this quickly and, maybe, if we would get her at all, I would have said I doubt it,” he said.

Several years ago, tax dollars from the city were subsidizing the operations of the Civic Auditorium by more than $300,000 annually.

The amount started diminishing each year as more events with paid admission kept being added to the calendar.

“The community’s support that’s been given to the building has been amazing.  We’ve had great attendance at our concerts,” Schreiber said.

(La Porte, IN) - Five men are charged in the brutal attack of a fellow La Porte County Jail inmate.

Julius Bowen and Wayne Witt are each charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 5 felony battery.

Barron Moore, LaKeith Winters and Breshawn Young are all charged with aiding, inducing or causing battery, also a Level 5 felony.

According to court documents, the investigation shows Bowen was the first of a “flood of inmates” to enter the cell of the victim, LaShawn Kuykendall.

The victim told investigators he was thrown to the ground, punched, stomped and kicked while held to the ground and lost consciousness, according to court documents.

According to court documents, Kuykendall was still being hit when he regained consciousness.

The injuries suffered by the victim included a nasal fracture along with hemorrhages that included one to the left eye socket.  

Each of the suspects could face an up to six year sentence.

A motive for the attack was not disclosed. 

(La Porte, IN) - Actor Sam Elliott has cancelled plans to be in La Porte and Three Oaks, Michigan to help celebrate the 35^th anniversary of the Christmas movie, Prancer.

Elliott, who played the leading role in the movie filmed in the immediate area, cited an unexpected professional commitment for withdrawing from the festivities dubbed “Prancer Palooza.”

Jessica Bruder Spoljaric, Communications Director for the City of La Porte, said the festivities next month will go on as scheduled.

“We have a lot of exciting things planned,” she said.

Cast members such as Rebecca Harrell Tickell, who played Elliott’s daughter in the movie, Jessica, will be here along with Rutanya Alda, who played her aunt, Sarah, and Mark Rolston, who played Herb Drier.

The movie directed by La Porte County resident John Hancock will be shown on screens at Vickers Theatre in Three Oaks on December 14 and the Civic Auditorium in La Porte on December 15.

The activities in both communities will include a question and answer session after the showing of the movie.

Spoljaric said Elliott not being here for the festivities is disappointing, of course, but the atmosphere will still be festive with an appearance by Santa Claus adding to the spirit of the season.

“The celebration is going to continue and be a lot of fun,” she said.

(La Porte, IN) - The first measurable snowfall of the season is providing drivers a chance to brush up on their winter driving skills.

The National Weather Service is calling for one to three inches of snowfall along with a mixture of rain.

Travel conditions were reported as mostly wet with just the makings of a few slippery conditions in spots especially on city streets and roads in the unincorporated areas.

Police advise drivers to slow down, allow for plenty of distance between themselves and drivers ahead of them and exercise other precautions to reduce the chances of weather related collisions.

(Michigan City, IN) - The pastor of a church that’s fallen into major disrepair in Michigan City is asking for time to bring the very historic looking structure back up to code before possible condemnation.

The city recently placed barricades around God’s Grace Church at 301 E. Barker Ave. as a public safety precaution because of an outside brick wall facing a sidewalks appearing to be at risk of collapse.

There’s a noticeable bulge in the wall and numerous cracks in the masonry work.

Minister Lisa Jackson said the city also had utility service to the building turned off.  Understanding the concerns yet feeling the sudden action was a bit extreme, Jackson said she is now afraid the city will next condemn the building and have it torn down before the church can arrange for the necessary repairs.

“We want to keep our church but not under the threat of investing thousands to come out on a Monday and there’s a bulldozer ready,” she said during the November 18 meeting of the city’s Board of Public Works & Safety.

Jackson is the interim pastor at the church, filling in for Jack Benning while he deals with medical issues she described as serious.

She said a contract for hiring a professional to start the process of repairing the wall and foundation is under review by her congregation.

Due to uncertainty right now about the amount of work necessary to bring the building into compliance along with cost, she asked the city to hold off on taking any further steps while the problems are being addressed.

“If we present a timeline would the city be willing to work with us,” she said.

Jackson said efforts are also underway to apply for historic designation status for the building she described as the community’s first ever Scandinavian church. Scandinavian churches in Michigan City with congregations of Swedish and Norwegian descent in Michigan City date back to the late 1800’s, according to history.

Jackson said a historic designation would make the building eligible for outside sources of revenue to help with the repairs and future maintenance, she said.

The concern over safety is heightened not just by the presence of children living nearby but those walking to and from Marsh Elementary School across the street from the church.

The board also heard from resident Kathy Stransky, who expressed heart felt sentiments for the church she has lived close to for nearly 60 years.

“I, too, have feelings for that church, but the church is dangerous at this point for the neighbors and the children,” she said.

She’s also worried about the potential of children playing on a concrete stairway with a gap between the top of the stairway and back door of the church.

“That bothers me, too,” she said.

Skyler York, the city’s Director of Planning and Inspection, said chances are the building will be condemned but, like with any unsafe structure, contractors would be allowed to go inside the church for the repairs.

York said any demolition order is the last resort once all previous attempts have failed to get properties into compliance with local codes.

“We work with people all of the time.  It’s more important for us to work with the owner to try and get it fixed,” he said.

(Michigan City, IN) - A man is charged in connection with an exchange of gunfire in a Michigan City neighborhood.

Milo Denwiddie, 47, is charged in La Porte Superior Court 1 with Level 5 felony criminal recklessness and Level 4 felony serious violent felon in possession of a firearm along with Level 5 felony theft of a firearm.

According to court documents, the investigation shows Denwiddie on November 16 twice forced an irate woman trying to start a fight and making threats out of his residence in the 1100 block of W. 7^th St.

Police said Denwiddie was outside his home when the woman stepped into a car that just pulled up.  A man in the car stepped out and began firing gunshots.

At one point, police said Denwiddie returned fire knowing there was a baby inside the vehicle, which fled after the gunfire exchange.

Police said Denwiddie’s home was struck by multiple rounds fired from the other gunman.  No injuries were reported.

According to police, Denwiddie told investigators he did not know the gunman but the woman claimed she brought him there to kill him.

(La Porte County, IN) - A teenager is accused of fleeing La Porte County Police on a motorcycle at high speeds.

Travis Murray, 18, of Kingsbury is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 6 felony resisting law enforcement and other counts.

According to police, Murray was clocked at nearly 80 miles per hour Tuesday night on Indiana 2 near Rolling Prairie.

Police said the officer began following but when he turned on his lights and siren, Murray accelerated reaching 100 miles per hour in speed.

Eventually, the eastbound chase wound up northbound on 900 East where Murray was forced to stop by a freight train passing through a railroad crossing.

Police said Murry did not have insurance on the motorcycle, which also was missing a license plate.

(New Buffalo, MI) - The New Buffalo High School boys’ basketball team showed why the upcoming season could be one to remember during seven recent preseason games.

Head Coach Nate Tripp is even seeing flashes of the No. 1 ranked Class D squad that didn’t lose its second game until the regional championship match against Tri Unity Christian in 2022.

The Bison coasted to wins against Eau Claire and Andrews Academy but were soundly defeated by always talented Benton Harbor on Sunday, November 17 at Andrews University near Berrien Springs.

The previous day, the Bison at home twice defeated Howardsville Christian but lost both games to a strong Victory Christian team out of Valparaiso, Ind. Tripp said the games against the more physical Victory Christian players were not decided, though, until very late in each of the final periods.

He said his players showed they can play the type of fast paced style on defense leading to points off miscues that helped propel the 2021-22 squad.

“We got some defensive schemes going this year that I think are going to rattle some teams,” he said.

This year’s team might not be as potent offensively as the 2021-22 squad, which averaged more than 80 points per game and was in the top 10 nationally, at one point, for scoring.

However, Tripp said he expects a similar fast paced attack and no shortage of buckets especially from 6’4” junior center Lucas Forker, who scored more than 20 points a game in much of the preseason competition.

He said Forker’s ability to score is similar to Kayden Parmley, who set the New Buffalo High School record for scoring in 2022.  Parmley, a four year starter, finished with about 1,300 career points as a guard.

M’Nason Smothers and Trevor James are emerging as possibly the next scoring threats while Nick Haskins and Sam Tripp, who also have good ability to put the ball through the net, are settling in as ball handlers on offense.

Tripp said he also came away from the preseason more impressed with the desire of his players to work and pass the ball for open shots.

“It’s fun to watch.  It’s ball movement like we had in 2022 with that team,” he said.

He’s not expecting this year’s team of mostly juniors to win as many games as the senior rich 2021-2022 squad. Tripp said the players this year, though, could advance just as far, if not, deeper into the post season.

“Every single one of these guys have greatly improved,” he said.

The Bison open the regular season at home against Bangor on Tuesday, November 26.   

(La Porte, IN) - The annual Salvation Army kettle drive for the holiday season has begun in La Porte.

The fund raising goal from the kettles this year is $85,000, said Maj. Charles Pinkston of the Salvation Army at 3240 Monroe St.

“We’re off to a good start this year,” he said.

Pinkston said the goal is the same last year when about $69,000 came out the kettles.

The monetary goal from all sources of holiday giving is $150,000, which was the mark achieved in La Porte during the previous season.

Michigan City’s new mayor, Angie Nelson Deuitch, has agreed to continue the kettle drive competition with La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody.  Dermody won the friendly competition against former mayor Duane Parry  in each of the previous four years.

The ring-off between the mayors is scheduled December 20.

(La Porte County, IN) - An out of state man is accused of passing through northern La Porte County with 60 pounds of marijuana and more than 900 THC vape cartridges.

Jamal Verdun, 35, is charged in LaPorte Circuit Court with Level 5 felony dealing in marijuana.

According to court documents, the man was stopped on November 13 for traveling at a high rate of speed through a construction zone and tailgating a semi-truck on the Indiana Toll Road near Rolling Prairie.

A LaPorte County Police officer becoming increasingly suspicious about possible criminal activity called for a drug sniffing dog, which detected the presence of narcotics in the suspect’s BMW, according to court documents.

During a search of the vehicle, police said vacuum sealed packages of marijuana were found inside three cardboard boxes in the backseat of the vehicle along with THC vape cartridges inside two suitcases and another cardboard box.

The investigation revealed Verdun recently moved from Oregon to Washington D.C. and was returning to the nation’s capital a day after making the drive to Chicago.

Police said a notebook containing information about suspected drug transactions was also recovered from the car.

Verdun, who was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $15,000 bond, could face an up to six year prison sentence.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City man is not the second coming of Jesus as his name suggests if allegations are true that he robbed a Walgreens.

Messiah Talley, 23, allegedly robbed the pharmacy at U.S 421 and U.S. 20 in Michigan City last week.

Police said he was wearing a mask, sunglasses, white gloves and a large maroon puffy coat when he demanded money from the register. It wasn’t long before responding officer located Messiah on foot in the area of Pahs Road and Chickadee Dr.

Fortunately, for police officers, the suspect was not walking on water allowing for a quick apprehension.  

Over a $120 dollars taken during the robbery was recovered.

Talley could face an up to six year sentence on a Level 5 felony charge filed at the Michigan City courthouse.

(Berrien County, MI) - This drug bust on Interstate 94 could have topped all previous ones on the six lane highway in the area.

Acting on a tip, Berrien County Police said a semi-truck was pulled over Monday outside Benton Harbor, Michigan.  50 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.5 million was recovered from the trailer, police said.

The driver, Sukhraj Singh, a resident of Canada, was taken into custody, police said.

So far, police have not revealed where the cocaine was obtained and its destination. 

The Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team assisted with the drug seizure.

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man is accused of chasing someone through yards and nearly running him over with his minivan.

Brian Thomas, 42, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 6 felony criminal recklessness and Class A misdemeanor intimidation.

According to court documents, the investigation shows Thomas on November 10 answered the door at a home on Albin Dr.  A man standing there asked if his ex-girlfriend was there.

Following a heated exchange, the man left and was walking along the street when Thomas pulled up in a van.  Police said Thomas was holding a knife and threatening to run over the man and kill him.

The man struck the van with a helmet and took off running while Thomas backed up in a driveway on Ohio St. and went after the man through the yards of at least two homes.

The investigation shows the man jumped out of the way to avoid being struck by the van, which then left the scene, according to court documents.

Thomas, who was booked into the La Porte County Jail four days later, was being held on $755 bond.   

(La Porte County, IN) - A Chicago woman employed as a prison guard in Westville is accused of trying to smuggle marijuana and other contraband to inmates.

Salina Newton, 43, is charged in La Porte Superior Court 2 with two counts of Level 5 felony trafficking with an inmate.

According to court documents, prison security during a routine pat down search felt a hard object between her upper legs while Newton was reporting for work on November 14 at Westville Correctional Facility.

A package wrapped in black electrical tape was discovered after she complied with requests to remove her pants. The package allegedly contained about a quarter ounce of marijuana, nearly a half ounce of tobacco and 150 rolling papers.

After transported to the La Porte County Jail, Newton during a strip search was found with another wrapped in black electrical tape package inside a body cavity, authorities said.

That package allegedly contained similar amounts of marijuana, tobacco and suboxone.

Newton could face an up to six year sentence on each count.

(Cass County, IN) - Following the deaths of two Indiana hunters died, another one was injured by shooting himself in the foot.

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, a 36 year old Logansport man in Cass County was climbing down from a tree stand on Monday.

He was lowering the gun from the stand when it fired and sent a bullet into one of his feet, DNR said.  The hunter climbed the rest of the way down from the stand and called for help.

Earlier this month, Larry Sedwick, 53, of Cedar Lake fell from a tree stand in Starke County.  The next day, a 76-year-old southern Indiana man fell from a tree stand.

DNR said both of those victims were not wearing a full-body safety harness.

(La Porte, IN) - The downtown ice skating rink in La Porte is going back up for the season.

Opening day for the refrigerated rink at State and Monroe streets is scheduled November 29, which is the day after Thanksgiving.

Park Department Superintendent Mark Schreiber said the cost for admission is $6 and the price includes skate rental.

“We’re exciting to bring it back again this year,” he said.

Schreiber said there will also be specials like “Free Skate Fridays” at the rink at times throughout the season along with skating lessons for $40 once in month in December and January.

The three session classes for ages 3-5 and 6-12 begin on December 3 with the next class starting on January 7.

People wanting to use the rink are encouraged to reserve their times in advance at www.laporteparkandrec.com. 

Group outings at the rink can also be scheduled by calling the park department at 326-9600.

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte School Board last night voted unanimously to close Lincoln Elementary School and repurpose the building for use as a district wide pre-school.

The decision stems from a decade or more of lost revenue from declining enrollment throughout the district.

“This transition allows us to address multiple strategic priorities for our district,” said La Porte Schools Superintendent Dr. Sandra Wood, who made the recommendation.

Wood said the upcoming changes at Lincoln also create an opportunity to expand the district’s Career and Technical Education program at the former Boston Middle School building and “provide our youngest learners with a comprehensive early education environment.”

Wood also announced the district will begin implementing a nine month transition plan that prioritizes supporting students, families and staff through the upcoming change.

Transition committees will be formed to guide the process and ensure stakeholder input is incorporated into the planning.

“The board carefully considered all aspects of the recommendation and the input we received from our community. We believe this change will strengthen our district’s ability to serve all students effectively,” said School Board President Ryan Seaburg.

According to school officials, families can expect detailed information about school assignments, transportation arrangements and transition activities in the coming months.

(La Porte County, IN) - An impaired driver took down a NIPSCO pole last night in the Westville area.

La Porte County Police about 6 p.m. responded to County Line Road near Snyder Road where a NIPSCO pole was snapped off at the base and leaning against a 2014 Ford Edge, which had heavy front end damage.

Police said the driver, Sandra Ray, 45, of DeMotte was spotted by witnesses running into a woods after the crash.  She returned to the vehicle, though, when requested to do so by the investigating officer.

When asked if she consumed any alcoholic beverages, Ray, who was crying hysterically, said she had two beers with the last being one hour prior to the crash, according to police.

She refused a certified blood alcohol test but a search warrant was obtained from a judge to draw blood from her body to test for alcohol consumption, police said.

Her alleged blood alcohol level was .18 percent.

Ray, who was transported to the La Porte County Jail, could face an up to one year jail sentence on the Class A misdemeanor charge.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Union Mills area woman was taken to the hospital after bitten while breaking up a fight between her two pit bulls.

La Porte County Police on Friday responded to a home in the 7000 block of W. U.S. 6.

According to police, Michelle Kramer, 47, was holding a rag over three to four inch long lacerations to her forehead and blood was running down her face.

The officer retrieved a medical bag from his police vehicle and opened a package of gauze for the woman to press on her wounds.  She was given more gauze to apply on a puncture from a tooth on her right arm, police said.

With paramedics on their way, Kramer told investigators she placed each of the dogs in separate rooms after they stopped fighting. She was taken by ambulance to Northwest Health in La Porte.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City woman clocked at well above the speed limit during the afternoon on Saturday is facing allegations of driving impaired.

Toni Stephens, 31, was traveling 79 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour on U.S 421 just south of Interstate 94, according to La Porte County Police.

Police said Stephens told the officer she was heading home from work in Westville and last consumed alcoholic beverages the previous night.  However, the officer noted the smell of alcohol on her breath was strong and so were her other symptoms of impairment.  

A test revealed she had an alleged blood alcohol level of .261-percent or more than three times the legal limit.

She could face an up to one year jail sentence on the Class A misdemeanor charge.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Police say man posing a hazard to other motorists repeatedly offered money to the officer who pulled him over to keep from being arrested for drunk driving.

His alleged efforts proved futile, though.

Mario Mendoza Diaz, 41, of South Bend is charged with operating while intoxicated and bribery.

According to police, an officer Saturday night began looking for a vehicle described by a motorist as unable to stay in its lane of travel and maintain a consistent speed on U.S. 20 near 300 West.

Police said an officer after spotting the vehicle began following it then pulled it over after the driver veered over the center line and disregarded a stop sign at 300 West and 800 North.

Diaz on numerous occasions allegedly offered the officer money to let him go and at least twice pulled out his wallet.

Police said Diaz constantly yelled obscenities and even threatened to kill the officer during the trip to the La Porte County Jail.

The OWI charge was upgraded to a felony because of a prior OWI conviction within the past seven years, police said.

(Hudson Lake, IN) - A La Porte County family had all 14 of their laying hens inside a reinforced coop killed by two dogs.

“It was a horrible bloody scene,” said Amber Walorski, whose husband, Michael, scared the dogs off his property in Hudson Lake by firing several gunshots.

According to La Porte County Police, Mr. Walorski woke up Friday about 3:30 a.m. to start getting ready for work.   He went outside to investigate the sound of dogs barking outside his residence in the 8000 block of E. Chicago Road.

Using a flashlight, he spotted the dogs he did not recognize from the neighborhood attacking his chickens and scared them off by firing several rounds from a gun into the ground, police said.

Mr. Walorski described one of the dogs as weighing about 100 pounds with longer brown fur and the other dog as a white Labrador retriever about half the size.

Mrs. Walorski said there were dead chickens inside the walk-in coop and out in the yard along with about a half dozen still alive birds put down because of gaping wounds.

“It was really, really horrible to wake up to and to deal with,” said Mrs. Walorski.

Fortunately, the dogs did not break into another nearby coop holding about a half dozen chickens panic stricken during the attack.

“They were going crazy,” she said.

Mrs. Walorski said it appears the dogs broke into the coop by forcing open the bottom of a door with enough force to break the latch and ripping into a section of chicken wire to create an opening just large enough for them to squeeze in.

She said her husband reinforced the coop a few years ago to protect the birds from any coyotes and other wild animals that might try to break in.

Police said the case was turned over to La Porte County Animal Control to try and determine the owner of the dogs.  Animal control officer Jay Dare said a $50 fine for each dog could be issued for them running at-large.

If the owner of the dog is proven, Dare said the best option for the couple is to file a civil case to try and recover their financial losses if an out of court settlement cannot be reached.

“Normally, that’s what I always tell people as their best bet to get reimbursed,” he said.  

Mrs. Walorski said her family started raising chickens for eggs and meat in response to rising  food prices during the pandemic and to give their sons, ages 7 & 5, the experience of taking care of the birds.

She said money is not that important because they still have five hens and a rooster they reserved for meat to use now to rebuild their flock of egg layers.

Walorski said what hurts the most is having to tell her children their pets were dead.

“None of it was fun,” she said.

(Michigan City, IN) - Police in Michigan City are investigating a Thursday night shooting that wounded one person.

At around 9:30 p.m. officers responded to a residence in the 700 block of East 10^th Street in response to gunshots fired in the area. Multiple people had fled the area on foot and in vehicles before they arrived, police said.

While officers at the scene spoke with witnesses and processed evidence, a person with a gunshot wound to the leg turned up at the Michigan City Police Department. The person’s car had been shot numerous times, according to police. The victim was transported to Franciscan Hospital for treatment of the non-life-threatening wound.

As the investigation is ongoing, no further information has been released. The Michigan City Police Department is asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident, has any additional information, or has video surveillance / cell phone video of this incident, to contact Sergeant Melissa Sopher at (219) 874-3221 Ext. 1049, email msopher@emichigancity.com.

The public can also contact the department via Facebook Messenger, through their crime tip hotline number of 219-873-1488, or through the WeTip Hotline for General Crime (800) 78-CRIME and possibly receive a reward upon an arrest and conviction. All WeTip call information is sent directly to the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office. You can always request to remain anonymous.

(La Porte County, IN) - The Food Bank of Northern Indiana is giving away thousands of turkeys throughout the area this month. A few of them already took place in La Porte County this week, but there’s more to come.

On Monday, November 18 two La Porte locations will host turkey giveaways. In the morning, volunteers will be in Kingsbury at Lighthouse Assembly of God Church on Park Rd. That’s scheduled from 9 a.m. to 10:30, or while supplies last. Then, from noon until 2:00, they’ll be at the La Porte Salvation Army on Monroe St. 250 turkeys will be available at each giveaway.

Below is a list of other free turkey events:

Monday, November 18, 2024 – LaPorte County

9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CT (or while supplies last)

Lighthouse Assembly of God, 505 Park Rd., Kingsford Heights, IN 46346

250 turkeys available.

Monday, November 18, 2024 – LaPorte County

12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. CT (or while supplies last)

Salvation Army – LaPorte, 3240 Monroe St., LaPorte, IN 46350

250 turkeys available.

Friday, November 22, 2024 – Starke County

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT (or while supplies last)

Heartland Church, 6020 S. 300 E., Knox, IN 46534

250 turkeys available.

Saturday, November 23, 2024 – LaPorte County

9 a.m. – 11 a.m. CT (or while supplies last)

Marquette Mall, 201 W. US 20, Michigan City, IN 46360

500 turkeys available.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City Police K9 named Donny has just received a bullet and stab protective vest, thanks to a charity known as Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

Donny, a German Shepherd, assists Officer Josh Callahan. Donny’s custom-made protective vest, valued at about $1,800 and weighing about five pounds, is embroidered with the phrase “Honoring Those Who Served and Sacrificed.” 

The Vested Interest program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. Since 2009 Vested Interest in K9s has provided nearly $7 million worth of protective equipment all over the country.

(La Porte County, IN) - Local law enforcement is getting a head start on Thanksgiving travel safety. Starting this weekend, extra patrols are monitoring certain high-traffic areas.

Officers are looking to discourage impaired and distracted driving and promote seat belt usage. The high-visibility enforcement campaign is funded with grants provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and administered through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

“We’re anticipating another busy travel season this year, so for those sharing the road, remember; slow down, avoid distractions while driving, designate a sober driver, and buckle up,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “We want everyone to make it to their holiday events safely.”

According to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office, OWI arrests decreased last month by 38% from September, but safety experts say they’ve seen an increase in impaired driving on Thanksgiving Eve. Extra patrols will be out all week, as holiday traffic picks up.

“When you get on the road, you are pledging to use safe driving practices to keep all road users safe,” said Captain Derek J. Allen. “Anyone planning on visiting a tavern or a party must make a commitment to stay sober for the night if they plan on driving.”

Motorists are encouraged to call 911 if they encounter an impaired or unsafe driver on the road.

(Michigan City, IN) - Work has begun on converting Franklin St. on Michigan City’s north side into two way traffic.

According to the mayor’s office, striping on Franklin St. began this morning north of Ninth St.

The travel lane on the west side of Franklin St. will remain closed through November 24 and reopen as the southbound travel lane the following day, effectively converting that stretch of two lane road into a two-way thorough fare for the first time in decades.

Officials are hoping the change will further increase traffic flow in the city’s Uptown Arts District, which is also referred to as downtown.

The once thriving downtown has witnessed a resurgence in new businesses and traffic flow in recent years with help from private and public investment.

One of the most significant developments was completing the renovation of the former six-story Warren building into living space geared toward artists in 2016.

(Michigan City, IN) - Children can start writing letters to Santa and dropping them off in his mailbox in Michigan City.

According to the city’s park department, which has a line of communication extending to the North Pole, a response from Santa’s helpers will be received by children on letters dropped into the mailbox at the entrance to Washington Park.

The deadline for placing letters in the mailbox is midnight on December 7.

No postage is necessary, park officials said.

There must be a return address on envelopes containing the letters, though,  to receive a response.

For more information, contact the park and recreation department at (219) 873-1506 or parkandrec@emichigancity.com.

(Michigan City, IN) - A student led satanic organization has formed at Michigan City High School, generating concern and alarm within the community judging by numerous posts on social media.

Members of the “High School Satan Club” are students who started holding meetings on November 1st after school in the building. 

The club is affiliated with The Satanic Temple (TST) based in Salem, Massachusetts.  According to the TST website, there is an application process to follow for clubs seeking their designation as a local branch of their High School Satan Club.

School officials themselves chose not to comment but the corporation did release a statement saying there was a request by students to form the club.  Officials said the request could not be denied under federal law, which also gives students in the club and other extracurricular groups the right to meet at the school.

“The school and district are not affiliated with the club,” school officials said.     

Pastor Geoff Safirt with Faith City Assembly of God Church in Michigan City said he perfectly understands the concerns expressed on social media, initially, but urged people not to greet club members with hatred or conflict.

Safirt said he believes the best public response is to lead members of the group into a better place by reaching out with “the love of Christ” and showing them that he has a plan and purpose for their lives.  

“It’s really hearing what they have to say and understand what they say and choosing to love them even though there may be a difference of opinion,” Safirt said.

Under the Equal Access Act of 1984, public schools with at least one student led extracurricular club that meets after school must allow other clubs to be organized and give them access to meeting spaces.

The law does provide for exceptions if student groups interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school.  Schools also have the option of eliminating a club but only if they eliminate all student extra-curricular groups.

In compliance with the law, “Michigan City Area Schools does not deny any group an opportunity to meet on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the activity,” school officials said.  School officials also revealed club meetings are supervised by a “volunteer faculty sponsor.”

Currently, Michigan City High School has 42 clubs and organizations that “reflect the diverse interests of the student body. Participation in all clubs is always voluntary,” school officials said.

Safirt said members of the club should also be treated with empathy because heading in that direction often stems from the pain and grief of being hurt or negatively impacted by some other bad experience.

“We have an opportunity to show them something different,” he said.

According to the Satanic Temple website, the organization was formed in 2013 and claims to be “the primary religious satanic organization in the world with congregations internationally.”

Several weeks ago, Safirt said some youth group members of his church started the process of forming a “Jesus club” at the school.  Safirt said their aim is for all students to rely on Jesus for hope and treat others with his love, mercy and grace.  

“It’s going to draw people to that.  The Satanist club probably won’t last very long as a result of it," he said.

(La Porte, IN) - Prancer Palooza, an event being held in La Porte to celebrate a 1989 Christmas movie filed in La Porte and the surrounding area, is mostly sold out.

The 35^th anniversary celebration of the movie, which can still be seen on television during the holiday season, is scheduled to happen on December 15th at the La Porte Civic Auditorium.  At the time this article was written, only reserved seating at two tables remain available.

La Porte Civic Auditorium Director Brett Binversie said all of the 1,600 or so tickets for seating at tables on the floor and seats in the balcony sold out Wednesday.

Cast members like Sam Elliott, who played the lead role in the movie, will be there along with John Hancock, who directed the film.  Hancock lives in northern La Porte County.

Binversie said he’s not surprised tickets for the event have sold out because they were priced at $8 on the floor and $5 in the balcony.

“We knew it was going to sell out.  It was just a matter of how quickly."

The movie, Prancer, will be shown during the event on a new LED screen purchased for the La Porte Civic Auditorium earlier this year.  The doors will open at 1:30 p.m. with the movie starting at 3 p.m.

A question and answer session with cast members and Hancock will follow the showing of the movie.

(Michigan City, IN) - Sentencing is scheduled for a Michigan City woman who admitted to having sex with a man and 14 year old girl. 

Maryann Carmichael, 48, has pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and other charges.  She’s accused of engaging in the three way relationship last year at a Michigan City hotel.

The guilty plea calls for her to receive a 20 year prison sentence.  La Porte Superior Court 1 Judge Jamie Oss will decide whether to accept the plea at a hearing set for December 5th.

Her boyfriend, Daniel Pasco, is already serving a nine year prison term.  According to authorities, Carmichael took part in the sexual activities with him and the girl while being choked by Pasco.  Pasco also ordered her to videotape the activity.

(La Porte, IN) - A local church will again host a Thanksgiving Eve Dinner.  It’s going to be at State Street Community Church at 209 State Street.  This will be the 13^th annual day before Thanksgiving meal at the church in La Porte. 

Pastor Nate Loucks said the dinner is free and everyone is invited.

“The holidays can be a lonely time for many, and we believe no one should face this season alone. Our Thanksgiving Eve Dinner is an opportunity to combat loneliness by coming together as a community, sharing a meal, and celebrating the spirit of togetherness around the holidays."

In addition to turkey, there will be ham, stuffing along with mashed potatoes and gravy along with other traditional Thanksgiving food items.

The November 27^th dinner is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

(La Porte, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody will play a role in the administration of Indiana’s new governor. 

Dermody was appointed by governor-elect Mike Braun to his Local and Municipal Affairs Transition Council.  Input from members of the council will help the governor address key issues at the local level of government in areas like local tax and financing.

Dermody, a former 10 year member of the state legislature, said it was an honor to be chosen by the governor to have a voice downstate that can make a positive difference.

“I appreciate that he trusts my thoughts and ideas to continue to reform and improve local government and other topics that make life better for residents,” Demody said.

Dermody and Braun served together for one year in the legislature before the governor-elect took the seat that he still holds in the U.S. Senate until the end of the year.  Braun was also a recent guest at Dermody’s home.

Dermody said he plans to be most vocal about things such as looking at cutting bureaucracy at all levels of government to improve efficiency along with local control and finding new ways of doing things to maintain and improve services.

One idea worth exploring is having one county commissioner instead multiple commissioners as the administrative branch of county governments in the state to get more accomplished, he said.

Dermody said serving on the council will not require him to move to Indianapolis or prevent him from continuing as mayor. He’s nearly one-year into his second four year term.

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man had his initial court hearing Wednesday in connection with a former local official being injured during an attack.  Devin Barger is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with battery.

According to court documents, it’s alleged Barger was drunk and lying in the middle of Planett Street about six weeks ago.  It was five o’clock in the morning when a man walking his dog asked Barger if he was ok.

Barger got up and approached the man, who in self defense shoved him back a few times.  Police said Barger then punched the man on the side of his head and the man fell, striking his head on the pavement.  Barger allegedly punched him one more time and walked home.

Not feeling well a few days later, the victim, Terry Scherer, went to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain bleed, police said. 

Scherer is a former La Porte Police officer and former La Porte Police Chief for several years who also once served multiple terms on the La Porte City Council.

Barger could face an up to 30 month prison sentence.

(Berrien County, MI) - Three people injured in a head on collision outside New Buffalo over the weekend are on the road to recovery.

Berrien County Police said the investigation shows Victor Becerra, 27, caused the Saturday night crash by veering over the center line on U.S. 12 a few miles west of the city limits.  Police said the Hammond man was taken to a hospital in South Bend where he is now listed in good condition.

His female passenger and the other driver, 57 year old Paul Bricker, of Chesterton, have since been released from the hospital.

Police said investigators were still waiting for test results to determine if alcohol was a factor in the crash.

(La Porte County, IN) - The driver in a rollover accident Wednesday night in La Porte County is facing drunk driving charges.  Vicky McCray, 58, had an alleged blood alcohol level slightly above three times the .08 percent legal limit, according to La Porte County Police.

The accident happened about 9 p.m. near Hudson Lake in the 8000 block of North Emery Road.  Police said her SUV was upside down when McCray was helped out of the vehicle by firefighters.

According to police, the Gary woman said she came to Hudson Lake to visit her two daughters.  An empty bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey along with a case of beer were found in the vehicle.

McCray, who was not injured, was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $905 bond.

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Fire Department is reminding people burning leaves is still prohibited in the city despite the recent lifting of a countywide open burning ban.

Fire Chief Andy Snyder said some people were under the impression leaves were allowed to be burned in the city but that was never the case.  The ban, in response to drought like conditions, was for unincorporated areas of the county.

After the ban was lifted last week, firefighters in the city were called to burning piles of leaves several times a day.  No fines were issued but firefighters extinguished the burning leaf piles.

Snyder said the calls have tapered off since the recent rainfall but calls could pick up again once the rain stops.

“I just need to stress to city residents that even prior to the burn ban being put into place that leaf burning as well as other burning material is not allowed.  It’s against city ordinance,” he said.

Snyder said the only open burning allowed in the city are fires in a container with steel type grading over the top of them with a fire extinguisher or garden hose nearby.

He said residents should continue to rely on the city to pick up their leaves, a process that is still ongoing.

(La Porte, IN) - A man sentenced to federal prison last week was connected with the fire that destroyed the old American Rubber plant in La Porte in 2022.  Dennis Zeedyk, 53, received a four year federal prison sentence on mail and tax fraud allegations.  Details on the federal sentencing can be found by clicking HERE.

Zeedyk rented the old American Rubber building and practically filled up an old storage area with pallets of expired hand sanitizer he was planning to recycle.

He also owned Glycerin Traders, a company in Stillwell that processed and sold glycerin, methanol and other biofuel products.  At least two much smaller fires related to the flammable alcohol based products occurred at their Stillwell facility after the huge blaze at the former American Rubber Co.

La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said the investigation showed the fire at the old American Rubber plant started close to where some of the hand sanitizer was stored.  The flammable product was in containers as large as 80 gallon drums to one ounce bottles packaged in boxes.

Snyder said human involvement with the fire is suspected because of reports of vagrants finding there way inside the building. Whether it was set intentionally or by accident many never be known unless a major lead develops.

“Unfortunately, at this point and time, we are kind of in a stalemate in us moving forward,” Snyder said.

Snyder said Zeedyk was given permission by the city to store the hand sanitizer but he failed to live up to his promise of having someone inside the building around the clock just in case a fire broke out so it could be reported quickly.  He said the stipulation was made because the sprinkler system inside the structure was in disrepair.

According to federal authorities, Zeedyk was the maker of an ethanol based product.  Some batches contained a mixture of wood alcohol and three people died from somehow ingesting the product.

(La Porte, IN) - A man is facing charges related to a short high speed pursuit on La Porte’s east side.  Anthony Rumbel, 19, was arrested Monday night for resisting law enforcement, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.

La Porte Police said an officer near the Speedway on East Lincolnway began following a car with extremely tinted windows for not having a license plate.  Police said the driver quickly accelerated and veered southbound on Boyd Boulevard reaching speeds estimated at 100 miles per hour despite a light rain creating wet road conditions.

The officer soon lost sight of the vehicle at Ohio Street.  Another officer on the lookout for the suspect located the vehicle outside Country Acres Apartments and spotted Rumbel sitting about a 100 feet away on a picnic table.

He was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $755 bond.

(La Porte, IN) - The march for more new housing in La Porte continued with ground breaking on Tuesday of a new section of a large subdivision that will grow the neighborhood by more than 20 percent.

The plans at Whispering Meadows calls for another 38 mostly three bedroom homes with basements and attached garages, which are similar to the ones that already exist. 

The subdivision has grown to about 150 homes since the first one was built in 2006.

LaPorte based developer Mitch Feikes said he expects all of the new single story homes to be constructed within the next three to four years based on current demand and recent slight drop in interest rates.

Feikes said the sale price for the homes will start at about $320,000.

“We’re just a local company putting out a good product,” he said.

The ground breaking occurred after construction began on 160 homes at Severs Road at Park Street.  Other residences have also been gone up since the push for more new housing began when Mayor Tom Dermody took office in 2020.

“We heard on day one of this administration we need housing, housing, housing.  We’ve seen it.  We have more to do and there’s going to be housing for everybody,” he said.

A 2022 study recommended the construction of more than 1,600 homes for sale and rent to modernize the housing stock in a community where 80 percent of the residences were constructed prior to 1980.

“This is a sizable development but it’s just a tip of the iceberg.  We got to continue to put units on the market,” said Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership.

Feikes said there’s enough ground at the subdivision to construct another 50 homes after the latest ones are built.

(Michigan City, IN) - A driver who crashed into a utility pole in Michigan City this week is accused of being impaired by fentanyl.

Police said Ronald Cambridge, II, 26, of Michigan City was under the influence enough to be given Narcan. The crash happened Monday night at Franklin Street and Coolspring Avenue.

Michigan City Police said his Chevy Malibu was going through the intersection when the car veered into a NIPSCO pole.  Cambridge was not seriously injured, but a passenger complained of extreme pain to his head.  Police said Cambridge went from nodding off at the crash site to quickly being sober once given the Narcan.

The OWI charge was upgraded to a level 4 felony because of a prior conviction for causing serious injury while driving impaired.

Cambridge could face anywhere from a 2 to 12 year sentence.

(Indianapolis, IN) - A hunter falling to his death from a tree stand recently in Starke County is not the last one in Indiana for the season. 

Leslie Burnett, 76, fell from a tree stand Sunday in a hunting area near Borden in the far southern part of the state.  According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the man was not  wearing a full-body safety harness.

Larry Sedwick, 53, was also not wearing a full-body safety harness in his fall on Saturday, DNR said.

Sedwick was from Cedar Lake.

(LaCrosse, IN) - The high school gymnasium in LaCrosse is 75 years old this school year.  A celebration for what’s called the Tiger Den is being planned.

Tri Township Schools Superintendent Dr. Pamela Moore said no date has been chosen yet to mark the occasion, but something will be scheduled at some point during the current school year.

“We’ll make sure everyone in the community is well aware in advance so they can plan to attend because I know that is going to be a special night for everyone,” she said.

Moore said plans for the celebration will include inviting student athletes from the past to be in attendance.

LaCrosse High School was in a more than century old building when closed three years ago and moved to an addition placed on the K through 8 school in Wanatah.

The beloved Tiger Den built in 1950 was allowed to remain open for practices and sporting events.

(La Porte County, IN) - A driver who took down a utility pole outside La Porte was arrested for being impaired by alcohol.

Bailey Viou, 26, of La Porte is charged for having an alleged blood alcohol level of .225 percent.

The crash happened late Sunday night at Johnson Road and W. Severs Road.

La Porte County Police said Viou explained he was driving through the intersection when he swerved to avoid a deer, causing him to strike the pole in his 2005 Chevy Avalanche.

The power lines from the broken pole were laying on the ground, police said.

Police said the charge was elevated to a felony because of the driver having a prior OWI conviction from 2020.

(La Porte County, IN) - A man driving a car that seemed to have been in a bad accident was arrested in Wanatah for operating while intoxicated.

According to La Porte County Police, the 1998 Honda Accord had a shattered windshield, heavy damage to both sides and auto parts were dragging from the car when it pulled into Speedway at U.S. 30 and U.S. 421 early Saturday.

The car was followed into the parking lot by a Starke County Police officer, who first observed the vehicle swerving along with speeding up and slowing down.

Brandon Robinson, 27, of Holland, Michigan was charged with an alleged blood alcohol level slightly more than two times the legal limit.   The charge was upgraded to a felony because of a prior OWI conviction in Michigan from 2018.

(La Porte, IN) - No decision was made last night on a proposal to close Lincoln Elementary School in La Porte. 

The school board voted to take a recommendation to close the school from Superintendent Dr. Sandra Wood under advisement.  A decision is expected at a special school board meeting scheduled on November 18th.

Wood is recommending the school be closed because of the district losing an average of 60 students annually over the past 10 years and need to close a spending gap caused by declining revenue stemming from lower student head counts.

To her knowledge, Wood said the amount of kindergarten students that came into the district this year was below 400 for the first time, which reflects a study projecting continued enrollment declines until 2030.

She blamed factors such as lower birth rates and competition for students from other school districts for the drop in students.

Wood said other school districts in the state are also struggling with declining enrollments for the season reasons.

About 100 people attended the meeting, which was moved to the high school to accommodate the anticipated larger crowd.

Members of the Lincoln Elementary School community spoke out against closing a school they described as having among the highest student test scores in the school corporation.  The school also provides access to services within walking distance in a neighborhood where transportation can be an issue at some households and more than 70 percent of students receive free or reduced lunch.

Free lunches are also provided during the summer. 

 

“Closing Lincoln School would disconnect families from their support systems they rely on,” said Lincoln School parent, Chelsie Timm.

Third grader Lilliana Holt told the school board she and her younger brother, Cameron, walk to school together most of the time and don’t want to ride a bus to another school.

“Please don’t take down my favorite school.  Thank you,” she said.

The proposal calls for Lincoln students to be redistricted to Hailmann, Riley and Indian Trail elementary schools beginning in the fall of 2025.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Salvation Army of Michigan City will host its annual Thanksgiving Community Meal on Thursday, November 28th.  It'll be from 11:30am to 1:00pm.

Majors Dale and Becky Simmons, who oversee the Salvation Army, remind the public that this meal is free and open to anyone in the community that needs a place to spend Thanksgiving Day.

“To us, Thanksgiving is about people being together,” Major Becky Simmons said.

“We serve this meal so that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal with turkey, ham, and all the sides.  We don’t want anyone to spend this holiday alone, so if you’re looking for someone to celebrate with come have lunch with us,” she said. 

Plated meals will be available for dining in the chapel at The Salvation Army, at 1201 Franklin Street.

Warm meals will also be available for pick up.

Turkeys and hams for the feast are donated by the Rotary Club of Michigan City and will be prepared by Blue Chip Casino.

Local physicians also contribute financially to the meal every year.
 

“We love how giving this community is and how generously people give of their time and resources to help the less fortunate,” she said.

(La Porte, IN) - Ground has been broken for a new senior citizen living facility in La Porte.  The facility, called Bella Largo, is being built near the Hampton Inn on Indiana 39 close to the Indiana Toll Road.  The nearly 50,000 square foot building will contain 33 assisted living units and 30 memory care units.

The cost of construction is projected at around $16 million.

Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, said the facility could be operating late next year or early in 2026.  He also said there will be 50 full time employees.

The new senior living center is in response to an aging population nationwide.

“There’s a need for this type of care,” Cook said.

 

Among the advantages of the facility, according to Cook, is its location beside the Indiana Toll Road which promises easy access for visitors.  He also said its exciting that this project is the second one secured for an area of the city recently annexed in March.

Developers of the senior living facility waited more than a year for the annexation to go through and for the plans to upgrade the water system to materialize before moving forward with their plans.

The other development in the newly annexed area of the city is 1^ST Distribution based in Hammond.  The distribution firm is planning to build an 81,000 square foot facility near the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad spur already serving Hickman, Williams & Company.

(La Porte, IN) - She grew up in Michigan City and later played a role in gathering intelligence used to help the president decide the next military steps to take in the Middle East.

Anna Lloyd, who retired from the U.S. Marines as a master sergeant in 2018, was the featured speaker during the 37th annual Veterans Day ceremony before a large crowd at the Civic Auditorium in La Porte.

Lloyd, a 1997 graduate of Michigan City High School, said all veterans whether in combat or not deserve “immense gratitude” for helping to defend the country and the personal sacrifices their acts of selflessness that came with it.

“These brave individuals wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America in the amount up to and including their own lives for the freedoms we all have and hold so dear today,” she said.

Lloyd recalled her parents giving their written consent for her to join the military since she was only 17.  She knew absolutely nothing about the operations of an aircraft but was chosen by the military to become an electrician on helicopters.

Five years later, she was given the task of inspecting repairs on helicopters and giving her stamp of approval if she felt the work was good enough for them to return to the air.

“Lives depended upon my technical skills,” she said.

From the very beginning, Lloyd credited her instructors for making sure she would become a master at her craft.

“I was in awe of their expertise and leadership,” she said.

In response to the terrorist attacks at home in September of 2001, she was deployed twice to Iraq.  After returning, Lloyd said she was tired and thought about retiring but stayed when offered a chance to be trained at fixing various equipment used for gathering intelligence against the enemy.  

She put her new skills to work during two more deployments to Iraq.  On one occasion, Lloyd recalled the role she played in obtaining cell phone data, which was translated and sent back to military officials and the president to help decide the next step in the conflict.

She later served in Congress bringing awareness to issues impacting veterans and military security.  Toward the end of her military career, Lloyd said she was in the Pentagon helping to formulate the best possible military advice for consideration by the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Security Council and the president.

“When I say these people are the best of the best in the military, they are. Intelligence doesn’t come close to describing these people,” she said.

Lloyd is now a volunteer with Task Force Argo, a group of 240 private citizens across the globe working to get U.S. citizens and U.S. allies in Afghanistan out of the country.  They were left behind in 2021 when the U.S. pulled its long time military presence out of the foreign nation.

Initially, Task Force Argo was able to get about 2,100 people out of the terrorism ravaged country.  More than 7,000 other Afghans have been relocated to other countries since the group partnered with the U.S. State Department on the effort.

Lloyd ended her 15 minute speech by urging school children in attendance to get involved whether be through the military or some other cause.

“However you choose to serve, please just serve and serve in the most self-less ways,” she said.

Lloyd now lives downstate in Carmel with her husband, Jeremy, who she met while they early in their military careers.  The couple has three children.

(New Buffalo Township, MI) - A head on collision over the weekend outside New Buffalo resulted in serious injuries.  The crash occurred about 8 p.m. Saturday on U.S. 12 outside Grand Beach.

Berrien County Police said a 27 year old man from Hammond traveling eastbound veered over the center line.   He was taken to a hospital in South Bend with multiple broken bones and other injuries.

His passenger, a 26 year old woman also from Hammond, was taken to Franciscan Health in Michigan City with injuries described as life threatening.

Police said the other driver was a 57 year old man from Chesterton. He was taken to a hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan. His injuries were not disclosed.

So far, police said whether alcohol was involved in the crash is not known, but the possibility the driver at fault did not have his headlights on is under investigation. 

(Porter County, IN) - Two Chesterton men are accused of taking a South Shore commuter train to purchase drugs in Chicago. 

Authorities say the suspects took the train Friday and returned with fentanyl, methamphetamine and pills along with syringes and other drug paraphernalia.

Acting on a tip, Police arrested the men when they stepped off the train upon their return that evening to the Dune Park station outside Chesterton.

31 year old Matthew Stephens and 37 year old Joseph Brunsvold were being held in the Porter County Jail on multiple counts.

(South Bend, IN) - A La Porte man has been sentenced in federal court for business dealings that have led to the death of several people.

According to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office, 53-year-old Dennis Zeedyk marketed and sold an ethanol extract meant for human consumption that actually contained high levels of methanol.

Zeedyk is the founder and CEO of Glycerin Traders in Stillwell, a company that processes and sells glycerin, methanol, and other biofuel products. According to their website, Glycerin Traders also operates in Ohio and Iowa.

Between 2016 and 2018, authorities say Zeedyk sold a particular ethanol product to over 1,200 customers across the country via Amazon, eBay, and an online website. Marketing it as a pure, non-denatured, food-grade grain ethanol distilled from 100% corn, Zeedyk’s company advertised the “Ethanol Extraction” as a household product with various uses: as a solvent to extract essential oils from cannabis, herbs, and other plants; for creating medicinal tinctures and perfumes; for baking in the kitchen; and as an all-natural cleaning product, among other uses. The product was labeled as 95% ethanol and 5% purified water.

In reality, authorities say the source material for the product came from the remnants of denatured industrial alcohol shipments from Lake Michigan barges. Prosecutors claim that Zeedyk illegally distilled the alcohol through an apparatus not registered with the federal government. The final product allegedly contained toxic levels— 30% to 45% — of methanol. When ingested, methanol can cause symptoms such as difficult breathing, blurred vision, dizziness, headaches, seizures, abdominal pain, vomiting, blindness, and even death.

In a statement, prosecutors likened Zeedyk to a “modern-day snake oil salesmen,” claiming he used “lies to entice consumers to purchase and to use products that are dangerous.” At least three people died from drinking it, and several others suffered severe physical injuries. After the first reported death, Glycerin Traders issued a recall, but not all customers responded. Some batches of the product are still unaccounted for.

Multiple federal agencies got involved, including the ATF, FBI, USDA, EPA, and the IRS.  Anthony Gledhill, Assistant Administrator for Field Operations, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) said, “This was an egregious, and thankfully, rare crime involving an illegal still and fraudulent product misrepresentations that resulted in the loss of life because of a product that should have never entered the domestic marketplace.”

After pleading guilty in South Bend’s U.S. District Court to mail fraud and tax fraud by a distiller, Zeedyk was sentenced to 4 years in prison, 1 year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of over $43,000 to victims. He also faces a fine of $76,500.

(Chesterton, IN) - The South Shore commuter rail line is once again acknowledging delays and blaming it on something rather unexpected: leaves.

In a letter to the public on Thursday, South Shore president Mike Noland said that fallen leaves getting squished on railroad tracks cause wheel slippage and maintenance delays. As Noland explained, “[L]eaves fall from trees and land on the rail, getting crushed into a compound that inhibits the coefficient of friction and creates an icy coating. We refer to this time of the year as ‘wheel slip season.’” The slipping results in defects or "flat spots" in the wheels.

According to Noland, safety inspectors have recently discovered an unusual amount of wheel damage caused by leaves, necessitating trains being taken out of service for repair. “Over the past several weeks,” he said, “the number of trains with car wheels out of tolerance was like nothing anyone on this railroad had seen or experienced in their entire careers.” The problem has led to overcrowding and up to one-hour delays.

By the end of the week, South Shore reported that at least 65% of their trains were back on track, with maintenance efforts continuing around the clock.

(Marshall County, IN) - A Michigan City woman was arrested for drunk driving in Plymouth on election night.

Around 11:30 Central time, police in downtown Plymouth clocked a car doing over 80 mph in a 35 mph zone. The driver at first refused to stop, running several red lights, according to reports. Eventually police apprehended 31-year-old Brianna Ellis of Michigan City. Her blood alcohol level was allegedly over three times the legal limit.

She was taken to Marshall County Jail facing multiple charges including Resisting Law Enforcement, Reckless Driving, Disorderly Conduct, and O.W.I. She was being held on a $1,500 bond.

(Delphi, IN) - Jury deliberations continued Saturday morning down in Delphi in the high-profile double murder trial there.

The jury of seven men and five women did not reach a verdict by the end of Friday, their first full day of deliberations. By mid-afternoon Saturday, there was still no decision. The jury will reconvene on Monday morning at 9:00 local time.

52-year-old Richard Allen and an anxious Delphi community await the outcome, following an 18-day trial, with some 60 witnesses and hundreds of pieces of evidence.

Teenagers Abby Williams and Libby German were found dead near a pedestrian bridge northeast of Delphi in 2017. It took over five years to compile evidence implicating Allen in the crime. Staff from Westville Correctional Facility here in La Porte County testified to Allen’s numerous confessions while imprisoned there.

His defense attorneys have argued that a botched investigation lacked eyewitnesses or DNA evidence, and that only a “magic bullet” supposedly placed Allen at the crime scene. They alleged other possible explanations for the gruesome act, including involvement by a pagan cult.

(La Porte, IN) - There's been a change in the location for the La Porte School Board meeting on Monday where a recommendation will be made on whether to close Lincoln Elementary School.

Late this afternoon, school officials revealed the meeting will be at La Porte High School and begin with a work shop at 5 p.m. in Schulze Hall.  The regularly scheduled board meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

Originally, the meeting was to be held at the Educational Services Center inside the former Boston Middle School.

Currently, the plan is to close the school at 402 Harrison Street at the end of the school year and redistrict the students to Hailmann, Handley and Riley elementary schools.  Schools Superintendent Sandra Wood cited an average districtwide enrollment decline over the past 10 years of 63 students annually for proposing to close the school along with a continued loss of students projected until 2031.

She said schools across the state are also experiencing declining enrollment from lower birth rates, families relocating along with school choice.  Wood is in her first year as schools superintendent in La Porte.

“When I accepted this position, I knew that hard decisions would be necessary to better align the district resources and lead to a prosperous future for the La Porte Community School Corporation. The previous ‘wait and see’ approach regarding enrollment has only worsened the problem,” she said.

Enrollment declines have also resulted in falling revenues since education money from the state is based on student head counts.

“If we have to make a hard decision, it has to be made early enough to allow time to prepare. We want stakeholder input to plan. We have nine months to move forward with a comprehensive and respectful plan for our staff and families,” she said.

If the school is closed, Wood said the plan is for the building to become an early childhood center through a merger with the district’s preschool program.

Last year, there was a proposal to close Kingsford Heights Elementary School but the school was allowed to remain open in response to new housing construction in recent years and plans for more within the district of that school.

(Michigan City, IN) - A man and his ex-girlfriend were arguing inside her Michigan City home when he allegedly shot her in the back.  Those are among the new details obtained in the attempted murder case filed in La Porte Superior Court 1 against Martino Eldridge, 33, of Michigan City.

Eldridge is also charged with aggravated battery and criminal recklessness.

The victim, Courtney Norwood, was transported to the University of Chicago Hospital after the October 30th shooting at 143 Hendricks Street.

According to court documents, Norwood and Eldridge lived together for a number of years in the home until their relationship ended in more recent times.  The investigation shows Eldridge went to the home asking for his belongings which led to a verbal exchange loud enough to be heard by neighbors.

Yelling for him to leave, Norwood barricaded herself in a bedroom.  They were still arguing when Eldridge allegedly fired a shot that went through the bedroom door and struck Norwood, who began grabbing articles of clothing to apply to her wounds. 

Responding officers found Norwood kneeling on the living room floor while Eldridge was spotted jumping a chain link fence.  He was soon apprehended outside a nearby residence, according to court documents.

Police said a gun was found underneath Eldridge when he stood up from the ground.  There was also blood on his hands when he removed them from the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt, police said.

According to court documents, the bullet exited out of the right side of her chest after entering Norwood’s back.

(Michigan City, IN) - A ribbon cutting was held today at the Michigan City Police Department for a new place of wellness for officers feeling a bit overwhelmed.  A decompression room was created at the police station at 1201 East Michigan Boulevard.

Police Chief Marty Corley says the room is where officers needing relief from stress and anxiety can go for privacy and quiet time.  Officers can also use equipment in the room to help find relief.  Corley said the room is available to officers pretty much whenever necessary.

“You can do it before work, after work or on lunch period. If the situation becomes too volatile then they actually can be referred by their supervisor,” he said.

Corley said the room stems from a focus by the department this year on the mental and physical wellness of the officers.  Helping to make the room a reality was the Unity Foundation of La Porte County, Naturally Wood and Sacred Dunes Health.

(La Porte, IN) - A recommendation on whether to close Lincoln Elementary School will be made to the La Porte School Board on Monday.  The announcement was made last night by La Porte Schools Superintendent Sandra Wood.

Currently, the plan is to close the school at 402 Harrison Street at the end of the school year and redistrict the students to Hailmann, Handley and Riley elementary schools.

Wood cited an average districtwide enrollment decline over the past 10 years of 63 students annually for the proposal along with a study projecting a continued loss of students until 2031.

She said schools across the state are also experiencing declining enrollment from lower birth rates, families relocating along with school choice.  Wood is in her first year as schools superintendent in La Porte.

“When I accepted this position, I knew that hard decisions would be necessary to better align the district resources and lead to a prosperous future for the La Porte Community School Corporation. The previous ‘wait and see’ approach regarding enrollment has only worsened the problem,” she said.

Enrollment declines have also resulted in falling revenues since education money from the state is based on student head counts.

“If we have to make a hard decision, it has to be made early enough to allow time to prepare. We want stakeholder input to plan. We have nine months to move forward with a comprehensive and respectful plan for our staff and families,” she said.

If the school is closed, Wood said the plan is for the building to become an early childhood center through a merger with the district’s preschool program.

The school board will meet at 6 p.m. at the Educational Services Center, which is at the former Boston Middle School at 1000 Harrison Street. 

Last year, there was a proposal to close Kingsford Heights Elementary School but the school was allowed to remain open in response to new housing construction in recent years and plans for more within the district of that school.

(La Porte County, IN) - United Way of La Porte County and Al’s Supermarkets are teaming up to honor retired and active military personnel on Veterans Day.

$20 gift certificates and commemorative coins will be given to the first 100 retired or active military personnel entering the grocery store at 702 E. Lincolnway in La Porte or 3535 Franklin Street in Michigan City on Monday.  This will occur from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or until supplies last.

“We know the sacrifice so many of us have made during their time of service and we are excited to be in a position to give back to our local heroes and comrades,” said Dave Sisk, Director of Engagement for United Way of La Porte County.

A valid military identification or DD Form 2 must be presented to receive the gifts.

United Way of LaPorte County helps people in the community in need of critical human, health, and social services.

For more information or to make a donation, CLICK HERE.

(Michigan City, IN) - A historic Polish Catholic church in Michigan City is going to be preserved with help from donated funds. 

According to a report by the Catholic News Agency, $400,000 is coming from the Indiana Landmarks group.  Another $250,000 was awarded by the National Fund for Sacred Places.

St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church at 1506 Washington Street was built mostly by parishioners just over a century ago.

Some of the grant money will be used for restoring the masonry and the 87 stained glass windows on the church, according to the CNA report.  Other work includes repairing the columns on the church’s two bell towers.

The construction needs were described in the article as significant.

Currently, the church is in the midst of an effort to raise $3 million to cover the balance of the expense.

(Michigan City, IN) - A man twice found unconscious outside Walmart in Michigan City is still behind bars.  The 30 year old man is charged in La Porte Superior Court 4 with inhaling toxic vapors, a Class C misdemeanor.

According to court documents, the man on two separate occasions Monday was found unconscious in a vehicle in the same Walmart parking lot.  He allegedly inhaled the toxic gases inside a can of compressed air.  Then hours later, fumes from a container of brake fluid.

Police officer Mike Kellems of La Porte said people breathe in such poisons to achieve a high, but due to changes that occur in the brain from exposure and possibly other organs the vapors can result in unconsciousness and even death.  Kellems said he’s not sure if the ingredients in the vapors are addictive, but the high achieved from them can be from users wanting to experience again such a sense of euphoria.

“That’s the part that’s addictive,” he said.

Dustin Neuliep, who's from the Valparaiso area, was still being held on $305 bond.  He could face an up to 60 day jail sentence and maximum $500 fine. 

(New Buffalo, MI) - After a slow start, the New Buffalo High School girls’ volleyball team caught fire against state ranked Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School but fell just short in the District 4 tournament semi-finals Wednesday at River Valley High School.

“We just couldn’t get over the hump,” said Head Coach Bruce Molineaux.

The Lady Bison lost the first set 25-17 but stormed back after trailing 9-4 in the second set. 

Points from an overpowering spike at the net by Nicky Durham and unreturned serve from Josie Humphrey evened the score at 17.

A kill at the net by Cassidy Saunders from a set by Meagan Fatter evened the score again at 19.

The Lady Bison took the lead on a kill from Humphrey and were on the verge of winning the set but the Lakers scored the final three points to claim victory 27-25.

In the deciding third set, New Buffalo led 3-1 after scoring a point from a block at the net by Benita Puskinigus.  The Lady Bison soon trailed but kept the score close with the Lakers ahead by no more than three points throughout the game.  Another point on a ball drilled by Durham evened the score at 17.

The Lady Bison then fell behind by two points but evened the score again and took a 23-22 lead on three consecutive unreturned serves from Riley Tertel.

The Lakers took the match, though, by scoring the final three points to win the set.

Molineaux said his players became much more competitive after overcoming some early jitters, perhaps.

“It’s been like that all year long, really. We’re not a start out quick team but once we get in the groove we play well,” he said.  

 

Molineaux felt his players, who are mostly seniors, also stormed back from being determined in wanting to extend their final high school season.

“They don’t want to lose.  I don’t want to lose, but it still hurts,” he said.

New Buffalo finished the year with a record of 24-13-3.

(Portage, IN) - A La Porte man is accused of being drunk in a motor vehicle crash while traveling with his children for trick or treat.

Avis Owens, 43, was in Portage on Halloween night when he hit a parked car and fled then nearly struck some bystanders, police said.  He was located about a half mile or so down the road.

Police said one of his daughters was treated for injuries sustained in the collision.  His alleged blood alcohol level was more than .13 percent.

According to police, Owens told investigators he was on his way home after his kids finished trick or treating when he struck the car while swerving to avoid a dog in the road.

After the crash, Owens said he felt overwhelmed because of his children being in the vehicle and went to his mother’s house for her to comfort the kids, according to police.

The OWI charge was upgraded to a felony because of children being in the vehicle.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Salvation Army of Michigan City is ready to kick off another Red Kettle season with a Christmas Campaign theme of “Love Beyond Christmas.”

The annual kick-off is scheduled November 12th at McDonald’s at 3507 Franklin Street from 7am to 10am with a short program at 8am.  The public is invited to stop by and join in the festivities.

“We continue our theme of ‘Love Beyond’ this Christmas as we ask the Michigan City community to ‘love beyond’ circumstances,” said Major Dale Simmons, who oversees The Salvation Army of Michigan City, along with his wife, Major Becky Simmons.

Last year, The Salvation Army provided holiday assistance to 1,369 local children.  Simmons said he expects that number to be higher this year since many people continue to struggle in the post-pandemic economy.

“Over the past year, the number of households seeking assistance has continued to increase due to the high cost of groceries, rent, and utilities,” he said.

The Salvation Army has set a goal to raise $235,000 during the Christmas campaign.  The funds will help provide food and toys to hundreds of local families during the holidays and will also support year-round services including a food pantry, utility assistance, diaper bank, free clothing closet, summer camp and case management.

The Lubeznik family, which owns the local McDonald’s restaurants, will donate proceeds from coffee sales at all three Michigan City locations during the Red Kettle Kick Off to The Salvation Army to help support the campaign.

The Salvation Army is seeking volunteer bell ringers to help meet the need this season.  Kettle season officially begins on November 8th and continues through December 24th.

Volunteers can ring a bell any time Monday through Saturday between 10am and 7pm at several locations throughout Michigan City by signing up online (CLICK HERE) or by calling The Salvation Army at (219) 874-6885 ext. 1003.

(La Porte County, IN) - Voter turnout in La Porte County was 60 percent for this year’s election. 

According to figures provided by the La Porte County Clerk’s Office, there were 22,309 votes cast on Election Day while 24,208 people cast ballots during the early voting period.  There are 78,924 registered voters in La Porte County.

Interest in this year’s election was so high there were lines of people outside some of the vote center locations before the polls were scheduled to close at 6 p.m.  Voters who showed up before 6 p.m. were allowed to vote, which delayed by at least one hour the start of vote tabulating.

La Porte County Councilman Mike Mollenhauer, who was elected to his third term as an at-large member, said it was gratifying to have such a high turnout.  He said it’s disappointing for candidates when voter turnout is much lower.

“This time they showed up.  That is so great,” he said.

Mollenhauer was the only Democrat among the local candidates to win.  He placed third for to fill one of the three open County Council at-large seats.  He was the La Porte County Sheriff for two terms before taking a seat on the county council. 

(La Porte County, IN) - A familiar face is returning to the La Porte School Board, which will have two newly elected members.

Incumbent Jim Arnold was the leading vote getter for three open seats on the board.  Arnold, who lives just outside the La Porte city limits, received 8,773 votes or nearly 24 percent of the total votes cast in the five person race.

Tucker King, a 2015 graduate of La Porte High School, will fill the second seat after receiving 7,568 votes or 20.7 percent of the total votes.

The other seat will be filled by Monica Beaty, another La Porte High School graduate and resident of Kingsford Heights.  Beaty received 7,449 votes or 20.3 percent of the votes.

6,689 votes were cast for Maria Carpenter while former La Porte High School athletic director Ed Gilliland finished with 6,176 votes.

Arnold is a former state senator and two term La Porte County Sheriff.

(La Porte County, IN) - Ending four years of extreme political fighting is top priority for both newly elected members of the LaPorte County Commissioners.  But, only time will tell whether incumbent Joe Haney and Steve Holifield, who are both Republicans, can avoid such clashing once taking their seats on January 1st.

Haney, 47, defeated Randy Novak by about 2,200 votes for a second term in a race featuring a lot of mudslinging especially in the final weeks of the campaign.

Holifield, 59, won by a similar margin over veteran law enforcement officer Democrat Mike Kellems in a race both candidates described as positive and respectful.

Novak, a retired Michigan City fire chief, will return to his seat on the La Porte County Council to serve the remaining two years on his third term.  He often defended himself against claims by Haney and La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz of benefitting financially for supporting no-bid contracts awarded to contractors and being a puppet for power brokers within the party.

Novak alleged Haney was a puppet for Stabosz, a major financial supporter of the Haney’s campaign and a campaign contributor of money to a select number of other republican candidates.

The 59 year old Holifield, a farmer and president of the Lincoln Township Board, said he has a long record of working with people and plans to do the same with Haney.  Holifield, though, said he will not tolerate continued political firestorms triggered by Haney, Stabosz or anyone else during Commissioners meetings that have La Porte County government labeled even downstate as a “laughingstock.”

Instead, Holifield said he will insist any disputes between the Commissioners be discussed privately to avoid more public drama.

Stabosz, on the other hand, will no longer be Auditor when his term expires December 31st.  He was defeated by Holifield in the May primary.

Holifield said he expects Stabosz to keep showing up but there’s not much he can do to stop him from creating friction should he try during the public comment portion of meetings.  His plan is to let him speak his mind until he has nothing left to say.

“It’s like a crying baby. Once they’ve cried long enough they usually go to sleep and be quiet,” he said.

Haney said he intends to work with Holifield as long as they are on the same page against things like hiring and awarding contracts to family members and what he described as other “shady” dealings.

“That’s my hope.  I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet.  We’ll see,” he said.

La Porte County Councilman Mike Rosenbaum will vacate his seat to become the next La Porte County Auditor.  Rosenbaum, Republican, ran unopposed.

His seat will be filled in a vote by Republican precinct officials from within the county during a caucus sometime in January.  Stabosz said he has strong interest in becoming a candidate for the open seat and has been lobbying precinct officials for their support.

Holifield, who has a vote as a precinct committeeman, said the party should not elect Stabosz to fill the two years left on Rosenbaum’s term since he was defeated in the primary.

“We should not ignore that and put him in,” he said.

Haney said he wants to know who is seeking the seat first before supporting anyone but feels Stabosz is qualified to serve in that capacity.

“I think he would be a fine addition,” he said.   

(La Porte County, IN) - A house in La Porte County was damaged Tuesday by dual tires that came off a passing semi-truck.

About 6:30 a.m., La Porte County Police were called to 11111 West Indiana 8 near LaCrosse.  Upon arrival, police said a set of dual tires on aluminum rims were laying in the front yard of a home with heavy damage to the front porch.

Angela Vernon, 55, said she was inside her home and heard a loud noise then found the tires outside of her residence, according to police.  Police said it appears the tires came off a westbound semi-truck when several of the studs the rims were fastened to by lug nuts broke.

Attempts to locate the semi-truck failed.

(La Porte County, IN) - A red wave made landfall in LaPorte County on election night. 

La Porte County Democratic Party Chairman Angie Nelson Deuitch was disappointed while thanking the candidates in her party for running during a brief speech to supporters at the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Michigan City.

“That’s what’s important that we continue to build up people to run and run good races, not negative races,” she said.

Deuitch is also mayor of Michigan City.

Republican incumbent Joe Haney won by about five percentage points over Democrat Randy Novak in the hotly contested race for a seat on the LaPorte County Board of Commissioners.

Republican Steve Holifield had a very similar lead over Democrat Mike Kellems for the seat now held by Republican Rich Mrozinski, who did not seek a third term.

Other Republicans won more substantially with Dan Barenie defeating Democratic incumbent Joie Winski by close to nine percentage points in the race for County Treasurer.

Republican incumbent County Recorder Ella Bilderback beat Democrat Matthew Sikorski by 15 percentage points while incumbent County Clerk Heather Stevens, a Republican, won by  19 percentage points over Democrat Angie Henzman.

Incumbent County Coroner Republican Lynn Swanson had a 20 percent margin of victory over Mark Baker.

Republican John Matwyshyn defeated Democrat Tony Hendricks by five percentage points in the County Surveyor’s race.

The only Democrat to win was incumbent Mike Mollenhauer, who finished third in a six candidate race for three open at-large positions on the La Porte County Council.  Mollenhauer said he was thankful his campaign for a third term was clean, unlike the race between Haney and Novak.

“That’s the way I like it,” said Mollenhauer, a former two term La Porte County Sheriff.

Complete "unofficial" results from the La Porte County 2024 General Election can be found by clicking HERE.

(La Porte County, IN) - The "unofficial" results of the 2024 General Election are in for La Porte County.  With 60.4% voter turnout, nearly 48,000 registered La Porte County voters cast their vote in this election.

Below are the "unofficial" results of the contestest races on the ballot in La Porte County.  

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (Vote for 1)
56.2%  DONALD J. TRUMP/JD VANCE – Republican Party
41.9%  KAMALA D. HARRIS/TIM WALZ – Democratic Party

UNITED STATES SENATOR (Vote for 1)
55.6%  JIM BANKS – Republican Party
41.9%  VALERIE MCCRAY – Democratic Party

GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (Vote for 1)
52.3%  MIKE BRAUN/MICAH BECKWITH – Republican Party
43.8%  JENNIFER G. MCCORMICK/TERRY GOODIN – Democratic Party
  4.0%  DONALD RAINWATER/TONYA HUDSON – Libertarian Party

ATTORNEY GENERAL (Vote for 1)
57.4%  TODD ROKITA – Republican Party
42.6%  DESTINY WELLS – Democratic Party

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 1 (Vote for 1)
48.0%  RANDY NIEMEYER – Republican Party
49.4%  FRANK J. MRVAN – Democratic Party
   2.5%  DAKOTAH MISKUS – Libertarian Party

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 2 (Vote for 1)
64.3%  RUDY YAKYM – Republican Party
32.1%  LORI A. CAMP – Democratic Party
  3.6%  WILLIAM E. HENRY – Libertarian Party

STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 8 (Vote for 1)
68.0%  MIKE BOHACEK – Republican Party
32.0%  LEON P. SMITH – Democratic Party

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 09 (Vote for 1)
46.6%  JOEL FLOREK – Republican Party
53.5%  PATRICIA A. (PAT) BOY – Democratic Party

CIRCUIT COURT CLERK (Vote for 1)
58.8%  HEATHER STEVENS – Republican Party
41.2%  ANGELA HENZMAN – Democratic Party

COUNTY RECORDER (Vote for 1)
57.0%  ELZBIETA (ELA) BILDERBACK – Republican Party
43.0%  MATTHEW SIKORSKI – Democratic Party

COUNTY TREASURER (Vote for 1)
53.6%  DAN BARENIE – Republican Party
46.4%  JOIE WINSKI – Democratic Party

COUNTY CORONER (Vote for 1)
59.7%  LYNN SWANSON – Republican Party
40.3%  MARK P. BAKER – Democratic Party

COUNTY SURVEYOR (Vote for 1)
52.3%  JOHN MATWYSHYN – Republican Party
47.7%  ANTHONY CHARLES (TONY) HENDRICKS – Democratic Party

COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 (Vote for 1)
52.6%  STEVE HOLIFIELD – Republican Party
47.4%  MIKE KELLEMS – Democratic Party

COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 (Vote for 1)
52.4%  JOE HANEY – Republican Party
47.6%  RANDY NOVAK – Democratic Party

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE (Vote for 3)
19.7%  BRETT H. KESSLER – Republican Party
17.1%  ADAM KORONKA – Republican Party
16.4%  HEATHER OAKE – Republican Party
14.6%  SCOTT (SCOTTY) FORD – Democratic Party
17.3%  MIKE MOLLENHAUER – Democratic Party
14.8%  JOHNNY STIMLEY – Democratic Party

LA PORTE COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD AT LARGE (Vote for 3)
23.9%  JIM ARNOLD – Non-Partisan
20.3%  MONICA L. BEATY – Non-Partisan
18.3%  MARIA L. RIA CARPENTER – Non-Partisan
16.9%  ED GILLILAND – Non-Partisan
20.7%  TUCKER KING – Non-Partisan

MICHGIAN CITY AREA SCHOOL BOARD CIVIL CITY (Vote for 1)
60.8%  MARTY M. CORLEY – Non-Partisan
39.2%  RODNEY MCCORMICK – Non-Partisan

MICHIGAN CITY AREA SCHOOL BOARD COOLSPRING/PINE TOWNSHIPS (Vote for 1)
32.8%  JACKIE ALLISON – Non-Partisan
21.7%  STASI BENNING – Non-Partisan
23.8%  DONALD J. DULANEY – Non-Partisan
21.8%  SUSAN FAZEKAS – Non-Partisan

NEW PRAIRIE UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION AT LARGE (Vote for 1)
65.0%  JILL SMITH – Non-Partisan
35.0%  MIKE YACULLO – Non-Partisan

NEW PRAIRIE UNITED SCHOOL CORPORATION DISTRICT 3 (Vote for 1)
53.9%  PHILLIP J. KING – Non-Partisan
46.1%  ANDREW OAKE – Non-Partisan

SOUTH CENTRAL SCHOOL BOARD HANNA TOWNSHIP (Vote for 1)
65.7%  CHERYL LYNN (SHERRY) SHEI – Non-Partisan
34.3%  MICHAEL SULLIVAN – Non-Partisan

(Porter County, IN) - A 16 year old boy on a bicycle was struck and killed by a motor vehicle in Porter County last evening.

Mitchell Sterling of Valparaiso was transported to a local hospital but later died.

According to Porter County Police, it was about 6:30 p.m. when the boy and driver of a sport utility vehicle were both traveling northbound on 500 West.

Police said that stretch of road north of Indiana 2 is not well-lit.

The driver reported not seeing the bicyclist in the road when they collided and found the victim on the pavement after immediately turning around, police said.

The department’s crash reconstruction team is still investigating, police said.

(New Buffalo, MI) - New Buffalo Mayor John Humphrey will still be at the plate swinging a bat for the city after serving the final day of an often stormy but productive term.

Humphrey said he will be working as a private contractor with other groups to fight at the state level of government for changes that would benefit New Buffalo and other municipalities.

For example, Humphrey said he hopes to be directly involved in an effort to secure more state sales tax revenue for communities like New Buffalo to offset costs associated with tourism paid by local governments.

Currently, he said “$50 to $60 million” is spent on various goods in New Buffalo each year primarily during the tourism season.

In return, though, Humphrey said the city receives only about $180,000 a year in sales tax revenue from the state.

Humphrey said the amount from Lansing hardly covers the expense of things like fixing streets with shorter lifespans from more visitors traveling in New Buffalo.

He said residents paying higher property taxes should not be the solution to filling the financial gap.

“People that live here should not be carrying the cost of having tourists come here while businesses make all of the money,” he said.

He also wants to push for a change in how the state distributes other sources of money so the amount collected by the city is more balanced with the much higher amount received by the school system.

“I have various windows where we can work on these things on behalf of the town and I’m happy to do it,” he said.

Humphrey said he chose not to run again because the 20 or more hours he spent on what’s a part time  job paying $2,500 a year took too much of his time away from his work in the private sector.

“I need to get back to making more income than I was able to devoting as much time as I was to this,” he said.

Humphrey said he also had his family to think about financially.

“To continue to do this would be an additional drain on the resources that I provide them. It was time for me to take a break,” he said.

Humphrey served as mayor during his first and only term on the city council when chosen by his colleagues to act in that capacity. 

Ranking highest on his list of achievements included changes in the city’s zoning ordinance to ban new short term rentals from operating in residential areas and casting the deciding vote not legalize the retail sale of marijuana in the city.

Humphrey said as many as 10 marijuana shops could have opened in the city limits in addition to the numerous dispensaries that have already and continue to go up in New Buffalo Township along Michigan 239 and U.S. 12.

He said dispensaries in the city would have added traffic to the heavy congestion already experienced during the summer and further increased the complaints of marijuana use at the beach since the marijuana shops began opening in the township.

“It would have been a disaster,” he said.

His final day will be November 18 when the city council is sworn into office and appoints a new mayor.

(La Porte County, IN) - Two vote center locations in La Porte County were neck and neck this morning for the highest number of votes cast on Election Day today.  The computerized voting system in La Porte County keeps live tallies on voter turnout.

La Porte County Clerk Heather Stevens said there were 5,582 voters casting ballots by 9 a.m. at the 37 vote center locations throughout the county. That number was up by 160 in just six minutes.

By 9 a.m., she said the highest number of voters was 289 at Agape Christian Church at 1601 I Street in La Porte.  The Center Township Volunteer Fire Department on Johnson Road trailed by just one voter.

Other voter turnout numbers this morning in La Porte included 209 at Cummings Lodge and 200 at the Civic Auditorium.

There were 250 ballots cast at the vote center in Westville and 246 at the Kankakee Township Volunteer Fire Department in Rolling Prairie.

By 9 a.m., voter turnout countywide stood at 36.2 percent, which included the 27 percent turnout for early voting that ended at 12 p.m. Monday.

The number of voters this morning in Michigan City stood at 1,774 as of 9:40 a.m.

(La Porte County, IN) - Despite heavy early voting, a lot of people are turning out to cast ballots on this Election Day.

By 7:30 a.m., over 170 people had voted this morning at the Center Township Volunteer Fire Department on Johnson Road, said poll worker Cathy Reese.  She said there had been a steady stream of voters there since the doors opened at 6 a.m.

“It is very, very busy,” she said.

She said the wait to vote was just a few minutes, though, since there were four judges to help get people through the process faster along with eight voting machines.

There were more than a dozen votes cast within the first 15 minutes since the vote center doors opened at Hanna United Methodist Church, said poll worker Sacha Gee Burns.  Burns said among the voters was a police officer who was on his way home after working the late shift.

“It seems like a lot of people want to get out there and go ahead and vote,” she said.

The polls close at 6 p.m.

About 27 percent of all registered voters in La Porte County voted during the early voting period, which ended at 12 p.m. on Monday. 

(La Porte County, IN) - A local lawmaker says there needs to be a test proving driver impairment before he would consider legalizing marijuana in Indiana.

Currently, Republican State Senator Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores said tests only show if a person has consumed marijuana within the past 30 days because that’s how long the active ingredient, THC, remains in a person’s bloodstream.  As a result, he said drivers with positive test results could be charged with a crime if they cause an accident even if they’re not impaired by marijuana at that moment.

“You may have consumed marijuana eight days prior.  You’re not impaired.  We need to fix that before we take that step over to recreational weed,” he said.

Bohacek also said he doesn’t believe any proposal to legalize marijuana will get very far in the republican dominated state legislature unless a test is developed proving impairment at the time of a crash or traffic stop.   

There's been a push by Democrats, primarily, to legalize marijuana in Indiana, which is surrounded by states like Michigan where it's already legal. 

(La Porte County, IN) - A woman suffered only minor injuries when her vehicle wound up on its side on U.S. 421 near LaCrosse early Sunday.

According to La Porte County Police, the driver, Summer Sobczak, told investigators she lost control of her vehicle while reaching for something she dropped on the floorboard.

Her 2007 Honda Civic traveled more than 200 feet in a ditch before returning to the pavement and flipping onto the driver’s side at 1800 South. Emergency responded helped the Portage woman out of the vehicle.

She complained of pain to the rib cage area along with a headache but declined medical attention.

According to police, she told investigators she was returning from a party where she consumed just a couple of mixed drinks.  She was not arrested because her blood alcohol level was below the .08 percent legal limit, police said.

(La Porte County, IN) - Voter turnout is shaping up to be high with over 23,000 people voting early in La Porte County before Election Day tomorrow.  That’s about 27 percent of all of the registered voters throughout the county.  Early voting ended today at 12 p.m.

La Porte County Clerk Heather Stevens said there was about a one hour wait or more today at the early voting locations especially at the La Porte County Fairgrounds and the county government offices at 8^th and Wabash streets in Michigan City.

Stevens said the wait was longer than at any point during the early voting period.  The amount of early voters at the fairgrounds totalled close to 11,000 with less than an hour to go before early voting ended, Stevens said.  

In comparison, she said the total amount of early votes cast was over 8,100 in Michigan City.  There were more than 1,700 early voters at Wanatah Town Hall and over 1,100 at the Wills Township Community Building.   In addition, slightly more than 1,000 people used the mobile voting unit to cast votes in various locations where the vehicle traveled during the early voting period.  

There are close to 40 voting center locations open in La Porte County on Tuesday. 

(La Porte, IN) - A registered nurse from La Porte is going to another college football game at the University of Alabama this time at no cost for her recent life-saving efforts inside the stadium.

A video of her overcome by emotion afterwards has gone viral with nearly seven million hits on the internet.  

The hit rock song “My Hero” released in 1998 by the Foo Fighters is the sound track for the video taken by an unknown fan and posted on Instagram.

Erin Mender, 30, said she doesn’t think of herself as a hero, though.  She views her actions as more about feeling obligated to help.

“It’s hard not to feel like you have a duty to do,” she said.   

Mender was at the October 26th game against Missouri with her fiancé, Mike Eldridge, when she first leaped into action by assisting a middle-aged fan after he passed out and fell in the seats just before kick-off in 90 degree weather.

Mender said the fan, who suffered an abrasion to his forehead, had a rapid pulse, an irregular heartbeat at times and low blood pressure.

“He was just really shook up.  He didn’t understand what was going on,” she said.

She helped medics carry him out of the stadium for transport to the hospital. Then, while returning to her seat close to the top of the stadium, an elderly medic who had just assisted her with the fan passed out.

Mender said she rushed the short distance over and yelled at the man.  She also shook him but he was not responding.  Unable to find a pulse, Mender said she laid his body on a bleacher and started CPR.  A minute after starting chest compressions, she said the man gasped, regained consciousness, sat up and began talking to her.

Quickly, her emotions swung the opposite way from the panic and intensity she was experiencing with a life in her hands.

“It was such a relief,” she said.

Mender said she stayed with the man until medics returned and took him away.

It wasn’t long before the emotion filled Mender broke down in the arms of her fiance, Mike Eldridge, a teacher at La Porte High School.  Mender said she tried watching the game but her focus wasn’t on the field. It was more on things like how the life-saving outcome could have been much different and whether both men were doing okay now.

“I was just not present at all, like at all,” she said.

Mender said the first man she assisted is doing well based on her conversation with him after he later reached out to her.  She’s hoping the other man will contact her soon after hearing from a third party he was doing better.

“In a sense, I need closure. I can’t stop thinking about him,” she said.

She and Eldridge were given tickets for November 30the when Alabama plays at home against Auburn in a rivalry match between the two teams.  They are the guests of Vista Hosts and Homewood Suites, which is also donating $3 on behalf of Mender to the American Heart Association for every hotel room booked for an Alabama game until the end of the season.   

Mender, who has gone to college football games in the past at the University of Notre Dame and Purdue University said she didn’t really get into college football much until after meeting Eldridge, who’s a huge fan of the Crimson Tide.

“The environment prior to the game was so fun.  I can’t wait to go back and, hopefully, just have a normal experience,” she said.

Mender has since been making videos about how important it is for the general public to be trained in CPR and posting them on social media.  She works at Corewell Health, a hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan.

“I live in a world where everyone is CPR certified, so, I guess it never dawned on me to think about that kind of thing.  But, now, I definitely am,” she said.

(La Porte County, IN) - A police chase from La Porte County ended with a crash just west of Michigan City.  Jonathan Sanchez, 34, is charged with resisting law enforcement and two other counts.

About 2 p.m. Sunday, La Porte County Police were heading to the Colonial Mobile Home Park in the area of 400 West and 700 North.   Sanchez was wanted on several warrants and information developed he was living at that location.

Police said Sanchez was spotted near the trailer park driving a vehicle traveling twice the 30 mile per hour speed limit.  The chase went into Michigan City where Sanchez collided with another motorist on Michigan Boulevard.

Eventually, the pursuit wound up on U.S. 12 in The Pines.  Soon, an Indiana State Police Trooper forced him into a tree in the area of U.S. 12 and 300 East.

According to police, Sanchez admitted to using meth earlier in the day. Two pipes used to smoke heroin were allegedly recovered from his vehicle.  Police said Sanchez was taken to a hospital to have what were believed to be minor injuries evaluated.

(Michigan City, IN) - One person is in the hospital and another is behind bars following a shooting in Michigan City Wednesday night.

Just before 7 p.m. first responders were called to a house in the 100 block of Hendricks Street. That’s on the city’s near east side near Michigan Blvd.

Officers found a person inside the residence with multiple gunshot wounds. Fleeing the scene was 33-year-old Michigan City resident Martino Eldridge, who was apprehended.

The unidentified victim was transported by La Porte County EMS to Franciscan Health Michigan City with serious injuries and later transferred to University of Chicago Hospital for more advanced medical treatment.

Eldridge has been charged with Attempted Murder (Level 1 Felony), Aggravated Battery (Level 3 Felony) and Criminal Recklessness (Level 5 Felony).  Eldridge was issued a $100,000 cash only bond, with an initial court appearance scheduled for November 4th in LaPorte County Superior Court 1.

As detectives continue to conduct interviews and analyze evidence, they asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident, has additional information, or has video of this incident to contact Detective Corporal Kay Pliske at (219) 874-3221 Ext. 1086 or by email at kpliske@emichigancity.com.

(Michigan City, IN) - The fate of the public fountain in Michigan City has been under consideration.  Now city officials are looking for more input on what to do.

Millennium Fountain in Washington Park has been out of service and is need of major repairs.  Problems include numerous cracks, stains, and pitting, as well as lights in the fountain not working from vandalism. The pump house is also in disrepair.

On October 16th the Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department had an open forum, where some people showed strong support for restoring the fountain, but public opinions seem to be very split.

There is now a online survey to get more feedback. It just takes a few minutes. You can find it HERE.

(Indianapolis, IN) - A proposed change to Indiana’s high school diploma requirements is still up for public debate.

A new plan for high school graduation was unveiled, with some controversy, in August, then recently updated. The current revision offers three graduation pathways: college enrollment, employment readiness, and military service. Different requirements apply for each option. You can study the changes HERE.

A new state law passed last year requires the graduation overhaul. As currently proposed, schools can opt-in, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. If they don’t, current graduation requirements will be in effect until 2029.

So far, over 8,000 public comments have been collected, but the department of education is looking for more feedback. There is an online forum for comments available until Friday, November 8. You can access the survey HERE.

(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City is looking at another way to drive economic development.

The city’s Economic Development Corporation has announced a partnership with Better City Grant Writers, which helps communities navigate various aspects of development.

The hope is that the organization can assist in funding key agenda items outlined in the Vibrant Michigan City initiative, including entrepreneurship, youth activities, business corridor development, and childcare/early learning initiatives.

 “By putting a knowledgeable team into place, we are moving forward our capacity-building efforts,” said Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch. “There are grant opportunities out there for the city, EDCMC, and our community organizations, but it is challenging to not only find them, but also go through the application process. Our over-arching goal is to find funding for public projects.”

“Navigating the grant application process takes time and talents that are time-consuming,” added EDCMC Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse. “The Better City partnership allows us to continue working toward our top priorities while knowing we could have the funds to fulfill our goals.”

Better City has helped communities across the country obtain over $100 million in funds. “As a strategic partner with the EDCMC,” said economic development advisor Trina Kittleson, “Better City will help to identify and secure funding that will support the implementation of projects in the Vibrant Michigan City Playbook – attracting investment, creating jobs and enhancing the City’s overall economic environment.”

(Indianapolis, IN) - The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is stocking lakes around the state with catfish.  On Friday they announced that 157 Hoosier lakes will receive a total of 51,000 catfish.

Tamarack Lake at the Kingsbury Wildlife Area will get 500 of them.  East and West Ponds down in Winamac will also be stocked, along with Lake Osceola and Pinhook Lagoon in St. Joseph County.

DNR officials say fresh channel catfish ranging in size from 8-10 inches long will be released by early November. They were raised by state biologists in various fish hatcheries around the state.

(Berrien County, MI) - Motorists are advised to take precautions to avoid collisions with deer which are most active this time of year.

In Michigan, Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit says a seat belt is one way to prevent injury in a collision with a deer.

“Seatbelts are the best defense in the event of a crash,” he said.

According to the Michigan Office of Highway Planning, there are 2 million deer in Michigan. In 2021, there were 50,000 vehicle-deer crashes, with 80 percent occurring on two-lane roads.   Most of these crashes occur during dust and dawn when deer are on the move, according to the MOHP.  Heit said one reason deer are on the move right now is the ongoing hunting season.

He advises drivers to:

• Stay Alert, awake, aware, sober, and travel at safe speeds
• Watch for deer crossing signs
• Deer typically follow one another so if you see one, there may be more nearby
• If a crash is unavoidable, DO NOT VEER!!!  Brake firmly and try to stay in your lane
• If you hit a deer, turn on your emergency flashers and try to move your vehicle out of the road
• If you cannot, carefully exit your vehicle and stand at the side of the road away from traffic
• Call the police and provide your location and any information if anyone is injured

La Porte County Police Capt. Derek Allen said deer are also on the move from being driven out of corn fields during the harvest season.

He said swerving to avoid a deer can result in drivers losing control of their vehicles, putting themselves and other motorists at greater risk.

(La Porte, IN) - A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man who told police after a suspected alcohol impaired crash he never obtained a driver’s license in the USA or Mexico.  Efren Uribe-Marcelino is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with operating while intoxicated and operating a vehicle while never obtaining a driver’s license.

After posting bond, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for his initial hearing in the case.

According to court documents, Marcelino in early October had a blood alcohol level of .19 percent after a collision with a utility pole near Indiana 2 and Fail Road on the city’s east side.  A green utility box near the pole was also damaged.

Police said Marcelino told officers he was heading back home from a barbecue when distracted by the lights of an oncoming vehicle being too bright.  An officer spotted multiple cans of Bud Light inside his Chevy Silverado, police said.  

Marcelino told investigators he was attempting to turn into a private drive at the time but hit the pole, according to court documents.  He also told the officer he has never had a driver’s license on either side of the southern border.

Marcelino was booked into the La Porte County Jail after the crash then two days later was released on two separate bonds of $750 and $300, according to court  records.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Michigan City man apparently pulled a trick to be able to drive his motorcycle disguised as a moped but a flock camera was not fooled.

Donald Kirby, 51, was booked into the La Porte County Jail for driving as a habitual violator.

A La Porte County Police officer received an alert Wednesday from a Flock camera detecting a motorcycle westbound on U.S. 20 near Rolling Prairie was being operated by a man with a suspended driver’s license.  With a picture of the motorcycle provided by the license plate reading camera, the officer located the Yamaha and pulled it over within minutes.

Police said a computer check showed the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the motorcycle was different from what was on file with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.  The VIN came back as being for a moped owned by Kirby.

The real VIN on the motocycle was covered by tape.

Police said it appears he registered the two wheeled machine as a moped so he wouldn’t have to have a driver’s license to operate it.  He could face an up to 30 month sentence on the Level 6 felony charge. 

According to court records, Kirby has at least two previous convictions for operating while intoxicated.

(La Porte, IN) - A man who crashed into a utility pole in La Porte is facing his third drunk driving charge.  Police said 25 year old Anakin Christy was driving a car that struck a NIPSCO pole last week at Indiana 39 and West 18^th Street.

According to police, the investigation shows the La Porte man was swerving all over the roadway and passed a vehicle from behind just before hitting the pole.  Police said the front end of his car was heavily damaged.  The pole also was damaged.

There were alcoholic beverage containers outside his vehicle, which was disabled from the collision.  His alleged blood alcohol level was over three times the .08 percent legal limit.

Police said he was twice convicted of OWI in 2019, which resulted in the current allegations of driving while impaired being upgraded to a Level 6 felony.