(Merrillville, IN) - It’s been over a week now since some NIPSCO customers have been without power since Tuesday’s major rain and wind storm.

The numbers continue dropping, though.

According to NIPSCO, over 700 customers were still without power this afternoon in its La Porte service territory while that figure was just over 300 in the Michigan City service area.  NIPSCO also reports nearly 388 remaining outages in the Westville area.

There are more than 10,000 customers still without electrical service in Merrillville and Lake Station combined while the number is over 1,300 in Chesterton and Valparaiso combined.  NIPSCO said the number of outages throughout its northern Indiana service territory stands at over 83,000.

At one point, about 60-percent of NIPSCO’s 500,000 customers were without power, the most in recent memory for the utility company from a storm.

(La Porte County, IN) - Overnight lane closures are upcoming on a stretch of Interstate 94 in La Porte County.

According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, the overnight lane closures will occur between U.S. 421 and U.S. 20/35 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. over the next two weeks.

Lane closures will first occur for two evenings beginning on or after the night of Thursday, August 20.. Crews will be removing the work zone configuration currently in place to put traffic back into the standard three-lane configuration in both directions, as well as conducting guardrail repairs, INDOT said.

Overnight lane closures will occur for four nights starting on or after Wednesday, August 26 for raised pavement marking installation. I-94 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for this overnight work but will resume three travel lanes during daytime hours. 

According to INDOT, this work is in relation to the full bridge deck replacement on Bleck Rd over I-94 through the beginning of September, which includes restrictions on I-94. The work zone to the west of U.S. 421 will remain in place after construction at Bleck Rd concludes.

Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns on I-94, especially during overnight hours. INDOT encourages drivers to consider safety for all by slowing down, using extra caution and driving distraction-free when traveling in and around all work zones.

(La Porte County, IN) - The cause of a house fire in Mill Creek is under investigation.

Firefighters early Monday afternoon responded to the 2400 block of Taylor Road. According to La Porte County Police, the homeowner, Betty Hildebrandt told investigators she placed a pan containing oil and grease from cooking chicken nuggets on the stove.

Hildebrandt said she then covered the pan and left to pick-up a pizza.  Her son later discovered a fire in the kitchen.

Most of the damage was around the stove in the kitchen where the entire ceiling was blackened by fire and smoke, police said.  The entire livingroom floor leading into the kitchen was filled with water from extinguishing the flames.

(Michigan City, IN) - A judge has been sentenced for driving impaired just two days after his arrest in Michigan City.

Porter County Superior Court 4 Judge Christopher Buckley was placed on 180 days of probation for Class C misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.  He was also ordered into substance abuse treatment.

Buckley, 46, was arrested Saturday night near the city’s lakefront and stepped into a courtroom for a hearing on Monday wanting to plead guilty. 

La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan said his office agreed with his request and the quickly negotiated sentence for reasons that include Buckley being a first time offender.  Fagan said the punishment was also standard for a first time OWI conviction without the involvement of major circumstances like injury or death.

“It made sense,” he said.

According to Michigan City Police, Buckley was stopped about 9 p.m. in the 200 block of Heisman Harbor for driving and parking in an area that he was not supposed to be in.

Buckley has since suspended his campaign for a second term as judge and released a statement.

“I feel strongly that officers of the court should be held to a higher standard of conducdt than an ordinary citizen, much higher than the standard of conduct I displayed this past Saturday night.  I can place no blame on anyone but myself for this weekend’s actions.  I am, however, grateful for the opportunity that this created to get help,” he said.

Buckley also said he has struggled with alcohol since his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. over 20-years ago.

(Berrien County, MI) - A driver was killed when hit by an Amtrak passenger train near New Buffalo yesterday.

According to police, the vehicle also burst into flames.

Paul Rizzo, 72, was identified as the driver and only occupant of the vehicle.

The Amtrak train was westbound at the East Road crossing near Red Arrow Highway just before 10 a.m. when Rizzo, who lives in that area, tried to cross with the warning lights at the crossing flashing, police said.

Amtrak said none of the 203 passengers or three crew members were hurt in the crash, which delayed the train for about two hours.  The train was heading to Chicago from Grand Rapids.

The crash is under investigation, authorities said.

(Michigan City, IN) - A teenage boy drowned in Lake Michigan at Michigan City yesterday.

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, a 911 call just before 2 p.m. indicated the male swimmer had gone under the water and failed to resurface. First responders from multiple agencies arrived quickly at the residential access point and initiated a search.

DNR said a Michigan City firefighter soon located the victim, entered the water and brought him to shore where lifesaving measures started immediately.

The victim, a 16-year-old from East Brunswick, New Jersey, was transported by ambulance to Franciscan Health hospital where he later died.

Indiana Conservation Officers and the LaPorte County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate.  The identity of the victim was not released.

Assisting agencies included the Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, and LaPorte County EMS.

(La Porte County, IN) - Crop damage from the August 11 storm that packed up to 100 mile per hour winds seems rather limited for the most part in La Porte County.

At least one field containing over 100 acres near Kingsford Heights, though, had a lot of corn plants knocked completely to the ground or left leaning by the hurricane force winds of the storm in places that also brought heavy rains.

Farmer Mark Parkman said a small percentage of his corn plants on the outer edges of his fields had their stalks snapped below the ears and were left leaning.

Parkman said he hasn’t been deeper into his fields yet to know if there’s any similar damage toward the center of his fields but doubts it since the outside plants take the brunt of the winds.

“It could be worse inside than outside. Typically not, but it can happen that way,” he said.

Parkman, who also owns an excavating firm, said he hasn’t had a chance to try and get in his fields because he’s been helping remove the many fallen trees and limbs from the Westville area in what’s been an ongoing major clean-up.  His corn and soybeans were already struggling to a certain extent from the wet spring and the wet growing season before the storm and the additional rain that fell later in the week.

Farms in his area are slower draining because of heavy clay in the soil.

“It’s not going to be a bumper crop.  It hasn’t been all year long in my book.  It’s just one more thing that’s going to hinder the crop in our area,” he said.

Farmer Jeff Mitzner of Wanatah said there wasn’t much crop damage in his area with just a few broken and leaning corn stalks in his fields along with some with leaves stripped from the stalks by hail.

Mitzner said his crops could have been hurt some by the six inches of rain that fell last week but he hasn’t been out in his fields recently to determine moisture levels. He still likes the condition of his corn and soybeans, which have benefited from having more easier to drain sand in the soil.

Mitzner said he spent the weekend in downstate Tipton welcoming a new grandchild into his family and witnessed the devastating flooding the recent storms brought to that part of the state.  Some areas were below 20 feet of water in spots.

“If I had my choice, I’d take the wind damage over the water damage because at least then you still have your valuables at home.  There, houses were washed into the river,” he said.

Farmer Matt Schafer said his fields in LaCrosse and as far to the west as Kouts received anywhere from four to seven inches of rain last week.  He also reported just minimal crop damage but he could discover more once he goes deeper out into his fields at some point.

Schafer also said he’s worried now about the potential for disease and other things that hurt yields developing because of the recent heavy rains and lack of hot weather to evaporate the moisture faster.

“We’re kind of in a wait and see mode.  In our particular area, it would seem as though we might have dodged a bit of a bullet,” he said.

(Michigan City, IN) - An 18-year old driver is facing major felony counts in connection with serious injuries to her passengers from a collision in Michigan City during a pursuit.

Jaelyn Maida is charged with Level 3 felony resisting law enforcement and three counts of Level 5 felony criminal recklessness.

Police said an officer Friday night tried stopping Maida for driving the wrong way down a one-way street on W. 11^th St., but she accelerated.  During a pursuit, police said she soon crashed into a guardrail.

All three of her passengers sustained life-threatening injuries, including an adult later flown to a regional hospital for more advanced care.  The remaining juvenile passengers were still hospitalized Monday at Franciscan Health, police said.

Police said investigators are waiting for the results of a blood test but suspect alcohol was a contributing factor in the collision.

The names of the injured passengers and other details were not released. 

Maida was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $15,000 bond.

(Michigan City, IN) - Help from the public is sought in trying to identify the driver of a vehicle who fled after striking a seriously injured pedestrian in Michigan City.

According to police, a black pick-up truck fled after striking the pedestrian about 8 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of Ramada Inn at 5820 Franklin St.

Police said the victim was taken to Franciscan Health hospital with life threatening injuries and later transported by helicopter to a regional hospital for more advanced care.

The name and age of the victim have not been disclosed.  Police said no further details will be released due to the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with additional information along with any witnesses are asked to contact Michigan City Police Capt. Greg Jesse at (219) 874-3221, Ext. 1008 or gjesse@michigancity.com.

(Union Mills, IN) – Another day, another delay for another La Porte County School.

On Sunday afternoon South Central Schools Superintendent Dr. Ben Anderson announced that the first day of classes will be pushed back to Tuesday, August 18.

While most of Hanna now has power, many Union Mills families do not. Also a few south county roads are still not accessible to school buses. For example, 900 S. between 600 W. and 700 W. remains blocked at this time, Anderson said.

“This has been a difficult balancing act as we try to be considerate of everyone's circumstances while also getting our students back to school,” said Anderson in a statement to the South Central Schools community. He also gave the following updates:

• Information regarding any make-up days will be shared at a later time.
• School picture day that was scheduled for the JH/HS on Tuesday will be postponed.
• The lunch menu will be as scheduled for this week, so what is on the calendar for each day is what will be served.
• Elementary families may drop off bagged and labeled (name/teacher) student supplies on Monday from 1:00pm-3:00pm.

Seniors will be welcomed back Monday, August 17, at least to the parking lot. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. those students will be able to paint their parking spots. Seniors should have received an email with details.

(La Porte County, IN) – It’s day six of being without power for thousands of northwest Indiana residents. Patience is wearing thin. Some people appear to have forgotten their manners.

According to La Porte County Commissioner Steve Holifield, on Saturday in an area near Johnson Road, police intervened on behalf of NIPSCO electrical workers. Said Holifield, “We had to send the Sheriff’s Department out. People were harassing and threatening linemen.”

Holifield said workers were temporarily blocking a roadway to install new equipment; meanwhile, "people were screaming and yelling at them." Holifield said he called local law enforcement, and a Sheriff’s patrol arrived to monitor the situation.

A more serious incident involving linemen happened Friday night in Gary, where a NIPSCO service truck was struck by at least two bullets. Work there was halted while authorities investigated. Indiana State Police have since dispatched extra patrols to Gary.

Holifield says he’s been out talking to electrical workers, many of whom have come to La Porte County from far away. “They’re getting tired, they’re getting worn out,” Holifield said. “They’re having a hard time procuring supplies. This is the worst outage they’ve ever seen.”

Holifield said ComEd crews have arrived to the area from Illinois with supplies. The National Guard rolled into La Porte on Saturday to help coordinate resources. “We’ve also got a couple of volunteer groups that have come through here,” Holifield added. “They’re going out basically to help move brush away from people’s yards. He stressed that all of these workers need to be given respect and cooperation.

According to Holifield, local leaders will meet at 7:30 Monday morning to discuss allocating new resources. He encourages anyone needing special assistance to text him at (219) 304-3164.

(La Porte County, IN) – Following declarations of emergency in La Porte, surrounding areas, and statewide, Governor Mike Braun has announced that federal aid is on the way. President Trump approved the Governor's request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration following a call between the two earlier in the day. The approval makes up to $5 million in federal assistance available to support emergency response efforts across Indiana.

On Saturday afternoon, La Porte County Commissioner Joe Haney confirmed that the National Guard has arrived in La Porte County. Utility crews assigned to them, he said, will assist with clearing roads, power lines, snapped poles, and related debris.

Haney also offered the following important reminders:

Brush & Debris Placement
County residents may place tree limbs and brush along the front of their property in the right-of-way for future removal. Please do NOT place anything in the street itself. Removal may take some time.

Use 211
It is ESSENTIAL that every resident report storm damage through 211. These reports help IDHS and FEMA unlock and allocate recovery resources.
Residents in at-risk populations—including the elderly, people with disabilities, veterans, and those living below the poverty line—are especially encouraged to report damage.

211 can connect you with qualified charitable organizations that provide free services such as tree and debris removal, basement flooding remediation, and more. Links in first comment.

Haney urged patience as recovery efforts continue. "Please understand that if your street looks good today, many areas in the County still look like a war zone," he said. "It is going to take a long time to get back to normal."

Fefillable Oxygen Supply Available

County Commissioner Steve Holifield told HTNN that Emergency Management Director Rob Sabie has been able to procure an oxygen truck. The truck is currently at La Porte’s Fire Station 3 on 710 Daytona Street. “If someone’s refillable oxygen tank is low, they can refill it there,” Holifield said.

(La Porte, IN) - School kids in La Porte did not go back to class this week, as planned, due to the extensive storm damage. The decision to start school on Monday, August 17 has now been pushed back another day.

La Porte public schools will begin Wednesday, August 19. Monday and Tuesday will be preparation days for staff.

School leaders said, as of Friday morning, six of the district’s school buildings and its transportation center were still without power. Even once all buildings come back online, they explained, food has to be moved back into schools, technology has to be tested and repaired, bus routes need to be adjusted for current road conditions, and building air systems have to be reset.

Open House hours on Tuesday, August 18 at La Porte Middle School, La Porte High School, and La Porte Alternative Education/Unity are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families and students from these schools, whose open house events were canceled last week, are welcome to come pick up schedules, walk the halls, and get comfortable before school starts.

In a statement to the community, school leaders expressed their commitment to starting off the year in the best way possible:

“Our goal is to have the first day of school at every building on the same day. This community cares about starting the school year together and celebrating it together, and we hope moving to Wednesday makes that possible. We will continue to assess our buildings every day and will let you know as soon as possible if anything needs to change.”

Because cell service and internet remain unreliable, they say to check ParentSquare or email, if possible, for Dr. Wood's full message, and share what you know with neighbors who may still be cut off.

(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City area public school students were supposed to start on Wednesday. Their first day has been postponed until Tuesday, August 18, with power and internet expected to be restored across all buildings.

The district has updated the schedule for Back-to-School Nights on Monday, August 17. Here are the rescheduled locations and times:

Barker Middle School: 5:00-6:00

Coolspring Elementary School: 4:00-5:00

Edgewood Elementary School: 4:30-6:00

Joy Elementary School: 4:00-5:00

Knapp Elementary School: 4:00-5:15

Marsh Elementary School: 4:00-5:30

Pine Elementary School: 2:30-4:00

Springfield Elementary School: 4:45-6:15

Schools not listed have already hosted their Back-to-School Night events.

For more information, contact each school directly, or visit EducateMC.net.

(Michigan City, IN) - Tired of renting, living in Mom and Dad's basement? Interested in getting into real estate? Next week, the United Way of La Porte County will host a free symposium on all things housing.

The event is geared toward first-time home buyers, investors, those new to the community—in particular data center employees and construction workers— veterans, or anyone who may be asset limited.

The seminar will take place at Michigan City’s Blue Chip Casino on Thursday, August 20 and is completely free.

Doors open at 4:30 pm. There will be various sessions addressing topics related to home-buying and home-building, followed by a panel discussion. Free food and a free cocktail mixer is included in the evening.

Registration is required. You can register online through the United Way HERE.

(Merrillville, IN) - There are still a lot of power outages from Tuesday’s hurricane-like storm but NIPSCO is making progress.

According to NIPSCO, the number of customers without power in its La Porte service territory has dropped from over 16,000 to just under 9,000 early this afternoon.  In the Michigan City area, NIPSCO reports customer outages have dropped from more than 9,000 to just over 2,600 by 1 p.m.

According to NIPSCO, it might take until Tuesday night to restore power for 90-percent of its storm impacted customers and next Friday night before all customers have electrical service back on.

So far, no estimated restoration times have been given for specific neighborhoods. Periodic updates will be given on estimated power restoration times, NIPSCO said.

(La Porte, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody has declared a state of emergency for the city because of the widespread damage from Tuesday’s hurricane-like storm.

While covered under the declarations by county government and the governor, Dermody said the state of emergency for the city is an effort to maximize the resources and assistance available to the city from resources like the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Dermody also asked motorists to stay off the roads, if possible, to give crews space to cut and clear trees and to call 911 for any immediate assistance or call Indiana’s 211 hotline to be connected to resources like meals and showers.

He also urged residents needing help to contact him on his cell phone at (219) 363-7293.

At one point, the mayor said over 14,000 residents of the city were without power from a storm that toppled more than 1,000 trees in the community.

(Lake Forest, IL) - The name Chicago Bears will not change if the team builds a stadium in northwest Indiana.

That’s according to Bears’ chairman George H. McCaskey during his annual training camp address on Thursday.

“We will be the Chicago Bears whether we're in Arlington (Heights, Ill.) or whether we're in Hammond," he said.

He went on to say “our focus is on Hammond.  That's where we're advancing our efforts and that's where the bulk of our time, attention and resources are being devoted."

McCaskey said he’s still confident fans will support the team if a new stadium is built in Hammond, despite polls that show many fans would be less likely to go to home games across the state line.

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Police Department has what should be a very fun upcoming fundraiser.

A car show will be held to raise money for the department’s SWAT team.  SWAT teams consist of officers trained in resolving high-risk situations like shootouts, hostage takings and raids.  

Sgt. A. J. Jaskowiak said the proceeds will be used to help purchase equipment and pay for training officers to become members of the SWAT team.  He said just over 100 car owners showed up in their antique vehicles last year when the fundraiser was held for the first time.

“It was pretty successful last year.  We had a really good turnout,” he said.

There will also be music, a bounce house and a 50/50 drawing. 

The car show is scheduled August 22 at Sauers GMC at 1900 E. Lincolnway from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Vehicle owners can register for the event on site from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.  The show will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Jaskowiak said about $5,000 was raised from last year’s car show.

(Michigan City, IN) - A semi-truck driver used his rig to stop a suspected Michigan City shoplifter during a high-speed pursuit last evening.

Royale Murphy, 27, was booked into the La Porte County Jail for resisting law enforcement, theft, reckless driving and other counts.

According to La Porte County Police, the South Bend man was caught by a store security officer at Walmart with nearly $200 in clothing he failed to pay for at a self-checkout lane.  Police said a sheriff’s deputy chased him on foot in the parking lot but Murphy was able to get into a vehicle and while speeding away slammed into a shopping cart holder.

Murphy then made the short drive to Interstate 94 where the officer pursued him as the suspect kept switching lanes in moderate to heavy traffic.  Eventually, the fleeing pick-up truck veered into the opposite lanes of Indiana 49 at Chesterton.  

Police said Murphy was in the process of returning to Interstate 94 when the truck driver pulled across a ramp the suspect was on.   The maneuver prevented the suspect from continuing on any further and he was taken into custody at gunpoint.

Murphy was being held on $15,000 bond.

(Merrillville, IN) - NIPSCO has shed first light on when customers can expect to have their electrical service restored after Tuesday’s major storm.

According to NIPSCO, preliminary estimates indicate 90-percent of customers who lost power will have their service restored by no later than next Tuesday night.  Service will be restored for remaining customers by no later than Friday night, August 21.

Further specifics on the projected restoration times were not provided. 

About 60-percent of NIPSCO’s half million customers throughout northern Indiana had their service knocked out, an all-time record for storms in recent memory for the utility company.

NIPSCO said it will give restoration updates on a regular basis at NIPSCO.com/outages.

(La Porte County, IN) - Two semi-trucks collided last night, killing one of the drivers in La Porte County.

The victim, Johnny Rodriquez, 32, of Lakeland, Florida struck the back end of a tractor-trailer at U.S. 30 and Indiana 39 just east of Hanna, according to La Porte County Police.  

The rear-ended driver from southern California had stopped for a traffic light not working apparently from a lingering power outage linked to Tuesday's major storm. 

Police said Rodriguez failed to slow down prior to the collision, which occurred after 10 p.m.

No information was available on the condition of the other driver. 

(La Porte County, IN) - A lot of donated food, including meat from animals shown during the La Porte County Fair, is being used to help fight hunger.

Operation Feed La Porte County this week gave about 15,000 pounds of meat to nearly 30 food pantries and soup kitchens countywide, said Steve Mrozinski, president of the fair board.  

A lot of the meat came from animals 4-H youth had in the show ring during the fair. Some of those animals were purchased during the fair auction and donated to the cause while the remainder came from local farmers.

Mrozinski said the animals were processed into mostly one-pound packages of ground beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb and goats.  He said donations of produce and over five tons of canned food collected during the fair were included in the giveaway.

“It worked out great,” he said.

Mrozinski said it was the most food given away in the history of Operation Feed La Porte County, which has existed for several years.

(La Porte County, IN) - Fire heavily damaged a house in Michiana Shores yesterday.

Emergency responders just after 6:30 a.m. were called to 5701 Birchwood Trail. According to La Porte County Police, the owners of the home live in Chicago and use the dwelling as a vacation rental.

Police said the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire because the last guests left on Tuesday due to power being out at the residence from the major storm that greatly impacted the area.

A maintenance man told investigators everything seemed fine with the house when he walked through it after the guests departed the property.

Police said fire damage was confined around a bedroom and bathroom on the lower level of the home.  The damage included a heated concrete floor above the bedroom collapsing.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(La Porte, IN) - Professionals are extremely busy removing trees from homes after Tuesday’s storm, which produced what some people believe were hurricane force winds.

Kyle Russell with Forrester’s Quality Tree Experts said his office received dozens of calls from people needing fallen trees removed.

“We’ll be out and about the next couple of weeks at least,” he said.

Russell and other members of his crew this morning were about finished removing a large tree from a house at B and 4^th streets in a job that began last evening.

He said it took longer last night to drive back to the shop a few miles west of La Porte from having to find other routes from so many streets blocked by fallen trees.

“They came down fast and hard,” he said.