(Michigan City, IN) - The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce has announced Kurt Gillins as its new President.

Gillins, who brings over 15 years of chamber experience from his previous role at the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, has also collaborated with other chambers and businesses regionally, statewide, and nationally to exchange best practices according to chamber officials.

They also cited his understanding of economic trends and dedication to fostering partnerships, which they feel will also help him to propel the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce toward continued success.

“Stepping into the role of President of the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce is an honor and privilege. I look forward to working together with the chamber board, staff, business members, and community leaders to continue the incredible momentum the Chamber has been experiencing under the previous leadership of Katie Eaton," he said.

As President, Gillins will focus on advancing the Chamber's mission to promote economic vitality, advocate for local businesses, and bring in new ideas to enhance every aspect of the Chamber.

Gillins will officially begin on May 13th.

(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch presented 13 local youth programs with one-thousand-dollar checks before a sold-out crowd during her first charity gala on April 19th.

Through sponsorships and ticket sales, the mayor raised $113,000, the funds to benefit Michigan City organizations that offer youth services and programming.

“Before I was mayor, I was a coach, a teacher, and a mentor,” Nelson Deuitch said.

“I’m as committed now as I’ve ever been to our young people, and saw my first mayor’s ball as the perfect opportunity to raise the money our community needs to help our kids grow and develop into the leaders Michigan City will turn to in the future,” she said.

Several youths volunteered their services throughout the evening by distributing programs, escorting guests to their tables, and even speaking on stage to a crowd of nearly 800 people.

“Everyone there was really nice and welcoming, so that took away my nerves,” said Joshua Vaughn, an eighth-grader who took the stage during the dinner program to welcome gala attendees and recognize the elected officials in the room.

Check recipients at the gala included the Fly High Youth summer program, Salvation Army of Michigan City summer camp, Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City summer program, Diamonds and Pearls, the Drifters college readiness program, Essence Rare scholarships, JUMP, the YMCA of Michigan City summer camp, Kidpreneurs, Lubeznik Center for the Arts pop-up youth events, Monster Bowling, the Michigan City Soul Steppers, and the Stepping Stone Shelter youth program.

According to the mayor’s office, Horizon Bank provided the seed that got the ball rolling on the record-breaking fundraising initiative. Law firm Barnes & Thornburg LLP and Blue Chip Casino then upped the ante by signing on as Gold Sponsors for the event. NIPSCO, HealthLinc, Purdue University Northwest, American Structurepoint Inc., Harris Law Firm, Hoosier Equipment LLC, ACME Print Copy Design, Global Engineering & Land Surveying LLC, Meticulous Design + Architecture, Wessler Engineering, and La Porte County Project Management rounded out the event’s Silver Sponsors. Dozens of more businesses, service clubs, church groups, and individuals from throughout the region pitched in to sponsor tables and tickets as a means of supporting Michigan City’s youth.

“I am so grateful to all of our sponsors and everyone who attended the gala or donated tickets, time, or talents to help us pull this off,” the mayor said.

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte woman could face prison time for Possession of Methamphetamine, as Sadie Christy, 21, has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court.

According to court documents, officers were called to her residence on April 18th on a report of disruptive behavior from Christy, who was found in the bathroom of the home on Farrand Avenue. There, she reportedly began yelling and screaming at officers, struggling against them as they attempted to place her in handcuffs due to her growing hostility. Amid the fracas, A bag containing over two grams of methamphetamine was located in the bathroom sink.

Christy was given a dose of Narcan to ease her overdose symptoms before being taken to Northwest Health where she was later medically cleared.  She was booked into the La Porte County Jail a short time later and could face an up to 30-month sentence on the Level 6 felony charge.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Michigan City man caught squealing his tires has been accused of leading police on a short vehicle pursuit while impaired over the weekend. Christopher Mays, 22, has been charged with Level 6 felony Resisting Law Enforcement and Class C misdemeanor Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated.

According to La Porte County Police, at about 12:20 a.m. a sheriff’s deputy heard the squealing of tires from a car turning from Johnson Road onto 400 North in Coolspring Township, before spotting a 2021 Honda Accord accelerating rapidly and fishtailing.

The officer, with his lights and siren activated, then caught up to the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop, only for the suspect to run a stop sign before rapidly accelerating.

Mays allegedly veered onto 450 North before 660 West, ultimately turning into the driveway of a residence. He told the officer he fled because he didn’t want to receive another ticket for his driving behavior.

Mays had an alleged .099 percent blood alcohol level at the time of the incident.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Los Angeles Rams will be heading into the next season with a piece of Michigan City among their ranks, as local football player Braden Fiske was drafted in the second round this past weekend.

Fiske, along with family members and friends, were at Zorn Brew Works on the city’s north side when he received that fateful phone call from the Rams.

Fiske is a 2018 graduate of Michigan City High School.  He spent six years in college, his final year at Florida State. He is also a defensive lineman who helped lead Michigan City to the Class 5A regional title in 2017.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County planners are deliberating possible restrictions for solar developments. The planning commission held a workshop prior to its regular meeting last Tuesday.

An interested crowd spilled out of the County Complex meeting room into the hallway.

County Attorney Doug Biege advised the commission that he needs to review state regulations to make sure that anything the county decides does not supersede them. Contrary to claims by some remonstrators recently, Biege reiterated multiple times that a county ordinance cannot be more stringent than state regulation.

Lori Johnston, a resident in the area of the proposed solar installation, objected to the plan, saying that her home would be completely surrounded by solar panels, ruining her view and property value. She said that she has talked to a resident in St. Joseph County whose house was recently surrounded by solar panels and has had trouble selling his home. She also testified that she was offered $20,000 by the solar company to sign a non-disparagement agreement.

A spokesperson for the solar company acknowledged that monetary compensation offers have been made to residents adjacent to the solar panels. She also stressed that they have already planned for 250-foot setbacks plus screening, which is according to state standards.

Biege reaffirmed that the planning commission only drafts a proposal. The Board of Zoning Appeals will have the final say on any solar projects. But he added that a careful handling of all matters concerned may take a while. He compared it to the process of approving a battery storage facility near Walkerton a couple of years ago. "It may take more than one meeting," he said. "The law is changing very quickly, as you can see. And so I want to make sure we've got concerns covered. I’m not advocating either side; I’m trying to do it the right way.”

Resident Steve Holifield suggested that a moratorium on solar projects is the most sensible thing to do. With elections on the horizon, he cautioned that the political winds may shift in the coming year.

The planning commission voted not to add moratorium consideration to their regular meeting agenda. In the meantime, attorney Biege is researching state statute, and a special planning commission meeting will convene this upcoming Tuesday, May 30th at 6 p.m. to reconsider the matter.

(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City firefighters fought a three-story blaze near the lakefront.

Just before 7 a.m. last Friday morning first responders were called to 305 Beachwalk Lane where a home was engulfed in flames.

The residence was empty at the time. Three firefighters fell through the porch while containing the blaze, but luckily they were not injured. According to a spokesperson for the fire department, it took a couple of hours for crews with three engines and a tower truck to maintiain the fire. They had to return later to deal with hot spots.

The State Fire Marshal brought in a chemical-sniffing dog to detect any possible accelerants that might have been involved. That investigation is ongoing.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Gary man faces a litany of charges after throwing a bit of a tantrum for police officers.

It happened in Michigan City last Sunday evening. When an Indiana State Police trooper pulled over a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, its passenger, 19-year-old Nadan Stallings was found to have an active La Porte County warrant for Criminal Mischief.

Rather than go peacefully, Stallings created more mischief, according to police. He allegedly resisted officers and caused extensive damage to a squad car by trying to kick out a window. Michigan City officers helped subdue Stallings; one of them was assaulted.

Stallings was eventually transported to county jail where he now faces a felony charge of battering a public official, in addition to five other misdemeanor charges:

• Battery on a public safety official-Level 6 felony
• Resisting law enforcement-Class A misdemeanor
• Criminal mischief-Class B misdemeanor
• Disorderly conduct-Class B misdemeanor
• Possession of marijuana-Class B misdemeanor
• Possession of paraphernalia-Class C misdemeanor

(South Bend, IN) - A carload of people were injured in a crash on the Indiana Toll Road Monday night.

The accident happened in the westbound lanes near the Notre Dame exit in St. Joseph County. Around 7:00 Central, Indiana State Police say a box truck slammed into the back of a Chrysler Pacifica minivan.

According to police, a 25-year-old woman in the back of the minivan was ejected from the vehicle, suffering extensive injuries. Four others were also slightly injured. At least two of the injured are residents of the United Kingdom. The group is participating in a balloon sculpture event in Elkhart which is raising money for Memorial Hospital’s Ronald McDonald House. Now the family of the 25-year-old victim is staying at the Ronald McDonald House while she recovers.

The 47-year-old Nebraska man who was driving the box truck was not injured in the crash. Police are still investigating.

(La Porte County, IN) - It appears a happy ending is in store for a La Porte County man who had his flag pole and the two flags on it stolen from his yard.

According to La Porte County Police, at bout 10 a.m. on Monday, officers were called to a home in the 2700 block of South 425 West in Scipio Township. There, the victim told officers his up-to-25-foot tall flag pole was taken from the front of his residence sometime between 4 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

He said attached to the pole was the State of Indiana flag and the American flag. However, he could not provide any suspects and did not have any working surveillance cameras. He estimated the loss at $450.

The man filed a police report the next day at the request of the flag pole company, which offered to replace everything as long as he reported the crime to authorities, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office.

(Michigan City, IN) - The superintendent of schools in Michigan City is retiring, with Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins leaving her position effective August 2nd.

Watkins originally accepted the job about 14 years ago after originally coming from Chicago, where she was nationally recognized as a principal. She later became chief education officer in the Chicago Public Schools.

School Board President and Michigan City Chief of Police Marty Corley said her dedication to the community was unwavering and she laid down a foundation for the future success of the school corporation.

“I think she has done a remarkable job,” he said.

Corley said Watkins came to Michigan City at a time when the school corporation needed strong leadership and an uplifting, tasks for which he gave her an excellent grade.

“She’s moved us forward in the right direction and brought us to a point of stability, promise, and productivity when it comes to the education of our kids,” he said.

Corley also praised her for having a heart for educating children and improving leadership skills in young people. He said her loving personality and respect shown to others was infectious, not just in the schools, but out in the community.

“There’s only one Dr. Watkins. Even though she’s retiring on paper, I think when it’s all said and done, she will still be a cheerleader and advocate for our kids and our community when needed. I’ll still have her on my speed dial,” he said.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz denied allegations made in a complaint from a county government employee who claims he harassed her.

Stabosz said he acted cordially in verbal and text message exchanges with Human Resources Director Monique Thomas, who he described as “having an ax to grind.”

On Thursday, Thomas filed a written complaint about Stabosz with the La Porte County Commissioners and La Porte County Council. She alleged that Stabosz, over about a two week period, kept asking her if she leaked incorrect information about high turnover from his office that aired on a local radio talk show. Eventually, Thomas said, she hung up on Stabosz and blocked him from contacting her on her phone.

Stabosz said about half of the employees who left his office since becoming auditor in 2021 were promoted to other departments, alleging that Thomas and others are just playing dirty politics to make him look bad prior to the May 7th primary.

“Let’s get Tim Stabosz, Let’s get Tim Stabosz.' A professional would not do that. It’s completely inappropriate. So, this is the way the game is played and I just appeal to the public to look at this for what it is,” he said.

Stabosz is running for the Republican Party nomination for a seat on the La Porte County Commissioner against Steve Holifield and Martin C. Smith.

Stabosz also said Thomas stepped out of bounds in her official job capacity from her complaint finding its way to the news media when such complaints are supposed to be kept in-house as a personnel matter.

“It’s a terrible reflection on her,” he said.

Stabosz and Thomas have sparred in the past over Stabosz opposing her hiring as the permanent human resources director. She was previously the interim human resources director for about two years.

(La Porte County, IN) - A complaint alleging harassment has been filed against La Porte County Auditor Tim Stabosz. 

Monique Thomas, Human Resources Director for La Porte County government, alleges in her complaint that Stabosz has repeatedly called and texted her since April 15th regarding a report of high turnover in his office since he became auditor in 2021. In the complaint, Thomas said Stabosz wanted to know if she leaked the number “13 employees,” which was the amount reported on a local radio talk show as the number of workers that had left his office during his tenure. She alleged Stabosz also came to her office wanting to know who gave out the figure.

During one conversation, Thomas also said Stabosz was accusing her of lying and that the reported figure was “making him look bad,” according to the complaint. In a phone call, Thomas said she hung up on Stabosz, who responded by texting several messages to her.

“As HR Director, I should not be used in his political antics,” Thomas said in her complaint.   

In her complaint filed on Thursday with the La Porte County Commissioners and La Porte County Council, Thomas said she had blocked him from contacting her on her personal phone and directed him to call her on her work phone should he have any employee-related concerns.

"He’s irrational, and this type of behavior should not be tolerated towards any employee as far as I’m concerned," Thomas said. 

Stabosz and Thomas were previously at odds with each other over her hiring as HR director, which led to a heated exchange between them during a La Porte County Commissioners meeting earlier this year. 

Stabosz is currently the elected La Porte County Auditor and is seeking the Republican Party nomination for La Porte County Commissioner during the May 7th Primary Election.

So far, attempts to reach Stabosz for a response have been unsuccessful.

(La Porte County, IN) - A man nearly died from a drug overdose on Thursday afternoon outside of a store in the Rolling Prairie area.

According to La Porte County Police, emergency responders were called to the Dollar General on 450 East, where a witness spotted a driver pull into the parking lot before finding him slumped over the wheel of their vehicle, lips turning blue.  Cesar Perez, 30, reportedly woke up after being given a dose of Narcan, which reverses the effects of heroin and other opioids. The La Porte area man allegedly told officers that he thought he had taken some fentanyl at the time of the incident.

A small amount of materials suspected to be drugs found in the vehicle were tested, but the results came back inconclusive.

Perez, who had a small amount of alcohol in his bloodstream at the time, was arrested for Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated because investigators believe he was driving while impaired on drugs.

(Michigan City, IN) - The ankle bracelet of a work release offender reportedly helped authorities tie him to a burglary of a Michigan City manufacturing company.

Pedro Lopez, 20, of La Porte is still being held in the La Porte County Jail after being taken into custody on April 12th. He is accused of breaking a window in late November to enter Midwest Wheelcoaters at 800 Royal Road on the city’s northeast side, where an undisclosed amount of money was taken from an office therein along with a laptop computer.

Lopez, who formerly worked at the company, was wearing a GPS monitor on his ankle as required under his six-month sentence with La Porte County Community Corrections for a Resisting Law Enforcement conviction, according to court documents.

Once he was located several weeks later, Lopez reportedly denied committing the burglary. However, police said, the satellite tracking device monitoring his whereabouts continuously placed him at that location during the time it was believed the burglary occurred.

In addition, money was found inside a vehicle belonging to Lopez after police responded to a report of a vehicle traveling on railroad tracks close to the burglary's location, found abandoned once authorities arrived.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City dog owner is facing criminal charges for injuries inflicted onto a man and woman along with their four-year-old son by his pet. 

Deandre Burnett has been charged with three misdemeanor counts of Dog Bite Liability, the most serious count being a Class A misdemeanor which could bring an up to one-year jail sentence.

According to police, it was late February when a man and his four-year-old son were walking to the family car parked in the driveway of their home in the 600 block of South Ashland Avenue, only to come across a pack of dogs fighting in the middle of the street.

One of the dogs then began attacking the boy.

In response, authorities explain, the man struggled to remove the dog’s mouth from his son’s face before his wife came out and tried to drive away the animal.

The husband and wife were treated and then released from a hospital for injuries suffered during the attack. However, the boy remained in the care of a doctor for injuries to his face, head, arms, and body amid concerns that the boy’s injuries were extensive enough to possibly result in permanent scarring.

Police noted that the dog, considered by a veterinarian to be a significant risk to public safety, was euthanized.

According to court documents, four dogs belonging to Burnett were let outside his home during the night and somehow made their way through a gate of the fenced-in yard.

(La Porte County, IN) - Volunteers instrumental in carrying out the mission of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service are being celebrated this week, with individuals lending their time of all sorts across the country being in the spotlight during the 50^th anniversary of National Volunteer Week, April 21st-27th. 

Volunteers are involved in every aspect of the Extension Service, including determining the needs of the local residents, planning and implementing programs to address these needs, securing resources, and evaluating programs in areas of 4-H, Ag & Natural Resources, Community Development, and Health and Human Sciences, per Kelsey Guadarrama, Director of La Porte County Purdue Extension.

"We are appreciative of all of our volunteers that spend hours to help develop our local community," she said.

Guadarrama said the work of volunteers is in areas like 4-H Youth Development, Health and Human Services, Ag and Natural Resources, and Community Development.

In La Porte County, 241 adult volunteers are serving as club leaders, project leaders, committee members, and in advisory capacities for the 4-H Youth Development Program. Volunteers spend numerous hours working on tasks such as helping a child with a 4-H project, leading a project to serve the community, or helping organize an event at the county fair.

"We thank you for your commitment to our future generations," she said.

She said the local Master Gardener Association has 54 members who have provided over 2600 hours of Volunteer & Educational hours. The Extension Homemakers have roughly 85 members who have logged over 26,000 hours in helping the community, and members of La Porte County Row Crop Food Producers Association have volunteered over 600 hours teaching local youth the importance of agriculture, farming, and where their food comes from.

People interested in joining the team of Extension Volunteers are invited to contact the LaPorte County Extension Office at 219-324-9407 or online via https://extension.purdue.edu/county/laporte/ or laporteces@purdue.edu.

Free trees and other environmentally-related things will be available in Michigan City next month.

According to the Michigan City Sustainability Commission, the MCSC has partnered with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and the tree board to host the third annual Earth Month Extravaganza.

The free all-ages event is scheduled for May 4th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Krueger Memorial Hall, located at 801 Liberty Trail.

In addition to free trees, people can learn from over 20 environmental organizations to be present during the event and participate in activities like guided hikes, a fossils hunt, games, and crafts.

For more information, contact Andie Jahnz-Davis at Andie.goinggreen@gmail.com.

(New Carlisle, IN) - It appears an Amazon data center is coming to the immediate area, as Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has announced that Amazon Web Services plans to invest $11 billion on constructing a data center along Indiana 2 in New Carlisle.

Over 1,000 jobs are expected to be created from what the governor described as the largest investment in state history.

“Indiana’s long-term economic strategy is paying dividends for Hoosiers as we cultivate the growth of critical sectors like technology infrastructure. Amazon has long been an important economic partner in Indiana, and we are excited to welcome AWS,” Holcomb said.

Holcomb was accompanied by representatives from AWS in today’s announcement.

“This significant investment solidifies Indiana’s leadership position in the economy of the future and will undoubtedly have a positive ripple effect on the town of New Carlisle, the north-central region, and the state of Indiana for years to come,” he said.

AWS operates cloud servers across various industries including automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, and the public sector. Clients range from small businesses to large corporations and the federal government.

Roger Wehner, AWS Director of Economic Development, said the investment will include workforce development and educational initiatives, which are common in areas where the company operates.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our operations in Indiana through this planned $11 billion investment, which will create numerous well-paying job opportunities and tap into the state’s burgeoning tech sector while contributing significantly to the state’s growing economy,” he said.

Construction is expected to occur over a several-year period.

(La Porte County, IN) - Another man headed back home through La Porte County from Michigan was allegedly caught with a large amount of marijuana.

Demar Garrison, 45, has been charged in La Porte Superior Court 1 with Level 5 felony Dealing in Marijuana and could face an up to six-year sentence.

According to court documents, he was in a westbound rent-a-car on April 17 when he was stopped by La Porte County Police for tailgating on Interstate 94 outside of Michigan City. There was an overwhelming smell of air freshener emitting from the vehicle, seemingly to disguise any odor of marijuana.

Information about the vehicle entered into a license plate reader database showed that he had traveled the previous day from Racine, Wisconsin, where he lives, to Grand Rapids, Michigan. There was also evidence the marijuana was possibly linked to a dispensary.

With help from a K-9 dog, nearly a dozen one-pound packages of marijuana were located in the trunk, along with more than three pounds of THC cartridges and THC edibles. Authorities noted that all of the illicit materials were contained inside a large odor-proof duffle bag commonly used in bulk marijuana smuggling.

Marijuana is legal in Michigan to purchase from dispensaries, but remains illegal to sell or possess in Indiana. 

(La Porte, IN) - An arrest has been made for the break-in of a pizza parlor in La Porte, as Dontrell Rice, 35, of Gary has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Burglary.

According to court documents, in October he allegedly obtained key codes from an employee at Marco’s Pizza to enter the building at 1505 Lincolnway and open a safe.

The burglar, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and mask, also reportedly broke open the cash register possibly with a hammer or crowbar. Whether the safe and cash register contained any valuables was not disclosed.

The employee told investigators she was acquainted with Rice, who allegedly removed the key codes from her cell phone without her knowledge.

A warrant was issued for his arrest several weeks following the incident.

Rice was taken into custody on the allegations on Friday and could face an up to six-year sentence on the Level 5 felony charge. Likewise, he also has charges of Resisting Arrest among other counts from January still undecided in La Porte Superior Court 1.

(North Aurora, IL) - A longtime local provider of milk in thick glass bottles at select grocery stores and throughout the Midwest has a potential buyer not long after filing for bankruptcy.

Oberweis Dairy, based in the western Chicago suburb of North Aurora, announced on Tuesday that it had received a stalking horse bid to purchase a substantial amount of its operating assets under section 363 of the bankruptcy code. The bid is from Brian Boomsma, a prominent Chicago area business owner and founder of Dutch Farms in 1987.  Chicago-based Dutch Farms is a provider of milk, eggs, cheese, deli meat, and bakery products to supermarkets in the Chicago area, including Northwest Indiana.

A stalking horse bid is the first bid offered to a bankrupt company before a public auction takes place and serves as the reserve bid to keep competing parties from underbidding the initial bid.

His offer to purchase the company is still subject to approval in bankruptcy court.

”We are thrilled to have a business leader like Brian Boomsma interested in investing in Oberweis and enabling the company to continue to move forward and prosper,” said Oberweis President Adam Kraber.

His plan is to continue operating and grow the firm, whose beverages, in one-quart and half-gallon glass bottles, include whole and chocolate milk, along with eggnog.  The milk is offered in stores like Al’s Supermarket in LaPorte and Michigan City and Barney’s Supermarket in New Buffalo, Michigan.

Kraber said he expects a Chapter 11 reorganization of the company under the bankruptcy filing to be completed in late June. He placed a similar timeframe on the company moving forward under new ownership. The intent of filing for bankruptcy was reportedly for the company to keep operating as it normally does while seeking debt relief and new ownership.

“We continue to be grateful to our loyal customers, vendors, and committed employees who have supported us through this process,” he said.

Oberweis, which was founded in 1927, listed more than $4 million in debt to creditors on its bankruptcy papers then after the filing revealed plans to lay off more than 100 workers.

Family members of former Illinois State Senator Jim Oberweis own the company, which alongside its traditional dairy products also makes ice cream.

According to the company’s website, Peter J. Oberweis was a dairy farmer in Aurora nearly a century ago when he began selling extra milk to his neighbors from the back of a horse-drawn wagon. That same year, he became co-owner of Big Woods Dairy, bought the remaining interest in the company, and renamed it Oberweis Dairy.

In 1951, his son, Joe, opened the company’s first ice cream store in Aurora after perfecting his recipe and process for producing super-premium ice cream.

In the 1960s, one of his sons, John, became part of the family business and ran it until his death in 1986.  The family then opened a second ice cream and dairy store in 1991, about 25 miles away in Glen Ellyn. Four years later, production moved to a new facility, which is also home to its corporate headquarters and a dairy store in North Aurora. There’s now an Oberweis ice cream and dairy store as close as Schererville, IN.

Oberweis products are available at stores throughout much of Illinois and Indiana, along with parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Iowa. The company also offers beef, chicken, pork, and seafood while providing the option of home delivery.

(La Porte County, IN) - An arrest has been made for the death of a homeless individual who was struck by a fleeing motor vehicle in La Porte County.

Troy Slack, 48, has been charged with Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Crash. He was being held on $20,000 bond after being booked Tuesday into the La Porte County Jail.

Keith Eastwood, 67, was found dead at about 6 a.m. on Monday on the shoulder of U.S. 6 by a motorist outside Westville.

According to court documents, the part number from a passenger side mirror recovered from the accident scene revealed itself to belong to a 2007-2014 GMC vehicle product. A nearby Flock camera on U.S. 6 at the La Porte/Porter county line, capable of reading license plates and recording information from all passing vehicles, was later searched.

Per authorities, a westbound GMC Yukon passed the camera about five hours before the body was discovered, along with another Flock camera roughly 15 minutes later on U.S. 6 at Indiana 149 in the village of South Haven near Portage.

The next day, police reportedly discovered that no other Flock cameras nearby detected the vehicle after that period, which led to a search of the immediate area.

A 2007 GMC Yukon missing its passenger side mirror was later found parked outside a home about 30 minutes later. The vehicle also had fresh damage consistent with hitting a person while traveling in the same direction.

Police knocked on the door of the residence and were told Slack was sleeping upstairs. From there, according to court documents, Slack woke up, came downstairs, and told his mother “I am in trouble.” He also told officers that  Eastwood was in the roadway and he tried to avoid him before panicking due to not having insurance or a license plate on the vehicle he was in the process of purchasing.

In addition, he claimed to have learned that the man he struck died after reading a social media post about the collision.

He could face anywhere from a 2 to 12-year sentence on the Level 4 felony charge.

(La Porte, IN) - La Porte Police arrested an individual suspected of dealing heroin and methamphetamine in a traffic stop.

Kayla Shaffer, 29, was charged in La Porte Circuit Court after she was allegedly caught with the drugs on Sunday. Per authorities, she was a passenger in a Jaguar sedan that was stopped due to not having working license plate lights. With help from a K-9 dog, Shaffer was found with 5.3 grams of methamphetamine and 3.9 grams of heroin in her bra.

A notebook used as a ledger, with names and dollar amounts, along with $548 in cash was reportedly recovered from her pink backpack.

The La Porte woman could face anywhere from a 2 to 12-year sentence on each of the two Level 4 felony Drug-Dealing counts. She is currently being held in the La Porte County Jail on $25,000 bond.

(Westville, IN) - A correctional officer at the prison in Westville allegedly took money from an inmate to bring contraband into the facility.

Ashley Watson, 30, has been charged with Bribery when, according to court documents, the Merrillville woman received two mobile payments for a combined $3,000 earlier this month.  One of the payments was allegedly from the mother of an inmate.

Watson reportedly admitted to accepting money from an inmate but claimed she never brought contraband into the prison.

Authorities said she gave only a basic description of the inmate and was also advised that stealing money from inmates can be dangerous.

Her response was, allegedly, "What are they gonna do?"

She was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $15,000 bond.  Watson could face anywhere from a one to six-year sentence on the Level 5 felony count.