Local News

Spring Clean Up Begins Next Month

(Michigan City, IN) - The annual spring clean-up in Michigan City begins next week.

 

Starting Monday, the city’s refuse department will be collecting yard waste and furniture on the north and west sides of the city alongside other forms of refuse, according to the mayor’s office.

 

That area is marked by County Line Road to the west; Franklin Street to the east; Kieffer Road to the south and 2nd Street to the north.  Officials said collections will occur on the same day as regular trash pick-up.

 

There will be two passes in each of the three zones in Michigan City through May 6th.

 

For further information, contact the city.

Work Begins on 14 Story Hotel/Condo Development

(Michigan City, IN) - Work has begun on what’s expected to be part of the major transformation of Michigan City, as reports indicate NIPSCO has been out relocating utilities to make way for the construction of a 14-story development.  

 

The $280 million project, set to be along U.S. 12 next to City Hall, will contain two hotels along with condos, townhomes, upscale restaurants, retail shops, bars, and a rooftop pool providing views of Lake Michigan. The goal is to make Michigan City as popular as New Buffalo among visitors and second homeowners.

 

Officials say there will be close to 300 permanent jobs at the high-rise facility, with the hotels projected to house an estimated 100,000 visitors a year taking advantage of attractions like Mount Baldy, Washington Park Beach, the Indiana Dunes National Park, and the Blue Chip Casino.

 

Last week, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a 12-story apartment tower, located beside the new South Shore Railroad commuter line train station at Franklin and 11th Streets. Quicker travel to and from Chicago via the nearly completed double track from Michigan City to Gary is the incentive for new developments because of an influx of visitors and residents anticipated as a result of the rail travel upgrades.

La Porte Works to Modernize Urban Forestry

(La Porte, IN) -  The City of La Porte has a lot of old and unhealthy trees from mass plantings a century or more ago.

 

Ongoing efforts to create a more vibrant and safer urban forest have received a major shot in the arm from a $1 million federal grant. Those dollars awarded by the U.S. Forest Service will start being put to work soon

 

“A lot of our trees are older and they’re going to have to be replaced here in the next few years. This is a good start,” said Assistant City Engineer Tucker King.

 

King said the first of the funds will be spent on updating an inventory from five years ago of trees in city-owned tree lawns that need cutting down or trimming.  About two-thirds of the 400 trees earmarked for removal then have already been taken down by members of the street department over the past two years.

 

King said the goal is to cut down and trim the rest of the unhealthy trees still left on the previous list and others that might now be seriously ailing beginning late in the summer.

 

Tree-cutting specialists will be hired with the funds to assist the street department mostly with bringing down problematic trees, such as those with branches hanging above homes and power lines.

 

Beginning in the fall, King said much of the focus will be on planting anywhere from 500 to 700 new trees in public easements over the three-and-a-half-year lifespan of the grant.

 

The city’s nickname has long been the “Maple City,” since a majority of the trees planted here a long time ago were maples. The new trees will include maples but also include a wide variety of other species to be strategically planted where they can best thrive without threatening homes and sidewalks. King said trees with smaller root systems that won’t grow as large are the ones that will go in areas too narrow for the bigger trees planted in the past. 

 

The tree work will happen on the letter and number streets and east of Rose Street; areas where many of the city’s oldest trees exist.

 

Street Department Director Jeff Batchelor said the oldest trees, due to age and condition, are prone to falling during storms.

 

Batchelor illustrated how other property damage has been from tree roots wrapping themselves around water and sewer lines, causing them to break or working their way inside and clogging them up. Many sidewalks have also been cracked and heaved up by roots from trees much too large for where they were planted. The idea is to plant new trees in the right locations so problems from the past several decades won’t repeat themselves long into the future.

 

“It’s going to be a win-win for the city,” he said.

 

Some of the funds will go toward developing a plan for taking care of the new trees so they stay healthy during the first couple of years when they’re prone to shock from replanting, as well as creating a long-term management strategy for the entire urban forest. King said he would like to be finished with the project before the grant expires so that more funding can be sought to get a jump on the urban forestry work still left to do.

 

“The City of La Porte has never had an opportunity like this when it comes to funding for our trees. I think it’s going to have a really big impact,” he said.


Another Brand Name Restaurant for La Porte

(La Porte, IN) - Another brand-name restaurant appears to be on its way to La Porte, with the door opening for construction last evening when the city’s Redevelopment Commission approved a purchase agreement for the old Don George Ford property on Pine Lake Avenue, across from Starbucks.

 

The purchaser is CMG Development, which was behind the 2021 construction of Popeye’s at Boyd Boulevard and East Lincolnway in La Porte.

 

La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership Executive Director Bert Cook said the city is receiving about $40,000 for the roughly one-acre parcel cleared in 2021. Cook would not reveal what franchise would be staking claim, but described the restaurant as fast/casual and a popular chain recognized nationwide that should be a great fit for that part of the city.

 

“It works well for what we have going on at NewPorte Landing,” he said.

 

Cook said the restaurant's name will be released once the developer is ready to do so, and that construction could begin as soon as this summer.

 

The developer has also agreed to a potential kayak launch for public access on the site the city is thinking about constructing on the parcel beside Lily Lake.

 

Eventually, Cook said, the hope is to clean out an existing channel running from Lily Lake to Stone Lake and Pine Lake to allow kayakers to travel to all three of the lakes. He said it could take three to five years, perhaps, to do all of the work necessary in the channel to make kayaking possible from a Lily Lake launch to Stone Lake and Pine Lake.

 

The developer has also agreed to work with the city to provide kayakers parking on the restaurant site if the outdoor recreation project materializes.

 

“He agreed to add some additional parking and grant us the necessary easements to do that,” he said.

Man Facing Child Molesting Charges

(La Porte County, IN) - A Wanatah man could face a lengthy prison sentence on allegations that he had inappropriately touched a five-year-old boy on multiple occasions.

 

Zachary Riley, 30, is still being held in the La Porte County Jail on $100,000 cash bond following his arrest last week, having been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with two counts of Child Molestation.

 

According to court documents, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office was contacted in November to investigate the claims, which alleged Riley often sexually touched the boy. In early January, attempts were made to question Riley about the allegations, but a voice message investigators left for him was returned by an attorney he had already hired prior to the charges being filed.

 

Riley could face as much as a 40-year sentence on the most serious Level 1 felony count. The other Level 4 felony count could bring him anywhere from a 2 to 12-year sentence.

Marijuana Bust Triggered by Flock Camera

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man is facing drug-related charges after being caught driving with a suspended license by a Flock camera.

 

Jason Hill, 46, has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Possession of Marijuana and Maintaining a Common Nuisance, along with Driving on a Suspended License.

 

According to court documents, on Sunday a Flock camera alert indicated that the registered owner of a vehicle traveling near Pine Lake had a suspended driver’s license.

 

During a traffic stop, an Indiana State Police trooper called for a K-9 dog, which led to the discovery of THC wax in the vehicle, authorities said. 

 

Further information developed that resulted in the search of his home in the 200 block of Maple Avenue near Rose Street, where more than 77 grams of marijuana in separate packages were confiscated from the residence, which also contained drug paraphernalia.

 

There were also reported signs of possible methamphetamine use by a female passenger in the vehicle who was living at the residence, judging by a noticeable decline in her physical appearance compared to a healthier-looking picture on her driver's license.


Local Farm Recognized for Longevity

(La Porte County, IN) - Area legislators are recognizing the latest local recipient of the Hoosier Homestead Award, which recognizes farms owned and maintained by the same family for 100 years or more.

 

The Spence farm in LaPorte County received Centennial and Sesquicentennial Awards.

 

The Hoosier Homestead Award Program honors families who have made significant contributions to Indiana agriculture. Instituted in 1976, the program has recognized more than 6,000 family farms that have impacted Indiana's economic, cultural, and social advancement.

 

"As one of the largest agricultural exporters in the nation, Indiana is well-known for its large farming community. The Spence farm is a prime example of a successful farming family and I am proud to represent families like theirs who have passed down their knowledge for generations," said State Senator Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores.

 

Bohacek, along with State Representative Jim Pressel of Rolling Prairie, were part of the presentation.

 

"Thousands of Hoosier farmers work tirelessly to maintain and grow their operations and build on their family's legacy. I'm thankful for their hard work and dedication over the years and congratulate them on reaching this impressive milestone," Pressel said.

 

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for at least 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres or produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year.

 

To learn more about the program or to apply for a Hoosier Homestead Award, visit www.in.gov/isda/2337.htm.

High Expectations for Bison in Baseball

(New Buffalo, MI) - The goal for the New Buffalo High School varsity baseball team is to compete for, if not win the District 4 title.

 

The Bison have come a long way, mostly with the same players who struggled mightily as freshmen two seasons ago, with a winning record for much of last year brought to an end by a string of end-of-the-season losses.

 

Head Coach Adam Lijewski said a strong finish to the regular season and at least a victory or two in the postseason is what he believes the team, realizing its potential, can achieve.

 

“They’re starting to see what we’ve seen for a couple of years, so, now they’re starting to see it in each other,” he said.

 

Lijewski said success will have to come from contributions from every player since the roster from a talent standpoint is mostly balanced.

 

Ethan Lijewski and Vaughn Nikkel are expected to continue being the hardest hitters, while the rest of the batting line-up has no glaring weaknesses.

 

“It’s filled with some good hitters and then some consistent and mediocre hitters,” he said.

 

Lijewski is hoping the much-improved pitching staff from two years ago can rise even more to the occasion to get the team over the top, especially in low-scoring games.

 

There is no dominant starting pitcher, but Lijewski feels he has enough good arms that can go for a strong four or five innings in a game before calling for the bullpen.  Lijewski said he’s also encouraged by how some of the pitchers from last year, who spent the off-season working with a coach on sharpening their skills from the mound.

 

“They’re lightyears ahead of where they were,” he said.

 

Ethan Lijewski, who’s also the starting quarterback on the football team, is the hardest thrower but he struggled at times last year with his control. He could become a dominant force on the mound, though, if the improved accuracy he has shown at practice in recent weeks continues into the season.

 

Steady play is also expected on offense and defense from players like third baseman Nicholas Wolfe and first baseman Hagan Davis.  Measurable contributions are also anticipated from freshmen Drew Borman, Jeffrey Tertel, and Lucas Thun, who Lijewski described as “ball players.” Bowman and Tertel can also pitch and do some catching behind the plate.

 

“They help with depth at catcher and pitching. You can never have enough pitchers,” he said.

 

Lijewski predicted winning the District 4 title is going to be a battle between New Buffalo, River Valley, Michigan Lutheran, and Our Lady of the Lake.

 

“We have goals and we’re going to go after it. It’ll be tough. Anyone of us can win it,” he said.

 

Man Witnessed Beginnings of Chase

(La Porte County, IN) - NIPSCO worker Nick Morford was leaving for his job at the company's facility in Michigan City on Tuesday afternoon, only to stumble upon a police officer with his gun drawn towards the driver of a vehicle parked in his driveway.

 

He didn’t know it then, but it was the beginning of a police chase ending with the capture of a driver on the Chicago Skyway.

 

“It’s one of those things that you just see on T.V. and you would never think you would witness something like that,” said Nick Morford.

 

La Porte County Police said a license plate-reading Flock Safety Camera alerted officers to a stolen sport utility vehicle with Illinois plates headed eastbound on U.S. 20 from U.S. 35 near Michigan City. Deputy Alex Clemons soon located the vehicle turning into the Hunter’s Run subdivision near Wilhelm Road

 

Morford said the vehicle pulled into his driveway just before the officer arrived in his squad car, overhead lights flashing. He said the driver stepped out and was told by the officer a few times to remove one of his hands from a pocket. Gun pointed at the driver, the officer also yelled for Morford to get back inside his residence.

 

Morford said he obeyed the officer’s commands and then went to a bedroom to further observe out of curiosity through a window.

 

The man reportedly climbed back into the SUV and fled, returning to U.S. 20 and heading westbound for a short distance as the officer followed in pursuit. After a U-turn, police said, the suspect began traveling eastbound on U.S 20 before heading southbound on 525 West.

 

Eventually, the fleeing driver, using other roads, doubled back to U.S. 35 and turned left on U.S. 20 before entering a ramp to the westbound lanes of Interstate 94. Authorities note the driver, James Simcoe, 43, merged onto the Indiana Toll Road in Lake County and continued until reaching a Chicago Skyway toll plaza where he was taken into custody.

 

Simcoe, who lives in the northern Chicago suburb of Norridge, was being held by authorities in Illinois until formal arrangements could be made for his return to LaPorte County to face charges.

 

Officers from Michigan City, Trail Creek, and Westville, along with the Porter County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police, were all involved in the pursuit.

 

Morford said he acted with disbelief when he learned the vehicle in his driveway was the subject of the chase, telling his co-workers at NIPSCO in turn.

 

“It kind of got a laugh from everybody,” he said.

 

Last week, a Flock camera in Michigan City was credited with aiding two arrests made during a traffic stop of a vehicle containing two individuals from the state of Washington suspected to be part of a large nationwide theft ring.

LakeFest 2024 Events Schedule Announced

(La Porte, IN) - The LakeFest planning committee today released the festival's schedule of events for its fourth annual season in La Porte.

 

Back again at Stone, Pine, and Clear Lakes July 26th-28th, LakeFest will feature watersports, music, art, and food while showcasing the city’s parks and lakes.

 

Park Department Superintendent Mark Schreiber said some changes and additions to this year’s lineup should offer an exciting shakeup for visitors of all ages.

 

"As LakeFest continues to grow, our committee is determined to find new and creative ways to make the festival bigger and better each year. With changes to our Friday night lineup and some other additions throughout the weekend, I think we accomplished just that," he said.

 

New this year is a 5K partnership with Bolt for the Heart, mountain bike group rides, and a Friday Night Live event right along Clear Lake to showcase the soon-to-be-completed Clear Lake Trail. Returning favorites will include the P1 Aqua X Jet Ski races, live music, activities for kids, an artisan market, a car show, and outdoor recreational activities.

 

For the full schedule and to learn more about individual events, visit laportelakefest.com. Concert performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Chase from La Porte County Ends in Chicago

(La Porte County, IN) - A Flock camera was connected to a high-speed chase spanning from La Porte County to Chicago on Monday afternoon.

 

La Porte County Police said one of the devices notified an officer about a stolen vehicle, an SUV with Illinois plates, that was headed eastbound on U.S. 20 from U.S. 35. Soon, the officer located it, which had turned into the Hunter’s Run subdivision. During a traffic stop, the driver reportedly took off and headed back to U.S. 20, ventured down 400 West and U.S. 35, and returned to U.S. 20. A short time later, he turned on the ramp leading to the westbound lanes of Interstate 94.

 

Authorities said the suspect veered onto the Indiana Toll Road in Lake County before the Chicago Skyway, where he was captured at a toll plaza.

 

James Simcoe, 43, who’s from the Chicago area, is being held in Illinois until arrangements are made to bring him to La Porte County to face charges.

Senior Center Having Grand Reopening

(Michigan City, IN) - A grand reopening has been scheduled for the Senior Center in Michigan City.

 

According to the mayor’s office, the facility at the lakefront was recently remodeled. To celebrate the occasion, a grand reopening, which will include an open house, will be held on April 24th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The keynote speaker will be former La Porte County Commissioner Sheila Matias, who was mayor at the time the senior center was originally constructed in the late 90’s.

 

Her presentation is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided.

Deadbeat Dad Alleged in Charges

(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte area man is facing possible jail time for falling way behind in his child support payments. Robert Reed, 47, has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Non-Support of a Child, a Level 6 felony.

 

According to court documents, in July of 2016, Reed was ordered to pay $141 a week in child support.  By the end of 2023, he owed just over $43,000.

 

He could face anywhere from a six-month to 30-month sentence.

 

La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan said his office has been aggressive in going after people for non-payment of child support, his primary reason being not so much to put people in jail because that could hurt their future employment and chances of making due on their child support debts.

 

Instead, it’s to enforce an order from the court being ignored to the point where it’s a crime and, hopefully, people, once jailed, will be motivated enough to start making due on their child support obligations under the watchful eye of the court.

 

Fagan said he has witnessed child support violators, once arrested, somehow find the cash to pay down their large debts entirely as well as what's owed over time.

 

“As long as money is being passed from parent to child through whatever means that’s really what we’re trying to do,” he said.

Crash Through Ceiling Ends Pursuit

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte City Police were recently involved in a high-speed chase that ended in the driver making it home and ultimately crashing through his ceiling.

 

Police say that, early on Sunday, 35-year-old Scottie Fletcher was traveling with no lights on in the area of Indiana Avenue and Boyd Boulevard. An officer attempted to make a traffic stop but Fletcher allegedly kept going.

 

Eventually, with officers in pursuit, Fletcher cut across a field in his 2002 Dodge Ram before fleeing on foot through a wooded area into his home between Kingsbury and Union Mills.

 

Per authorities, he apparently crawled into his attic to hide from pursuing officers but fell through the ceiling. He was covered in insulation from the attic when he was greeted by officers.

 

An open case of Budweiser was reportedly found in his vehicle.

 

Fletcher was arrested for Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated when he allegedly refused a breathalyzer test and for Resisting Law Enforcement.

Upcoming Crackdown on Distracted Driving

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Police Department will take part in a nationwide effort next month to curb distracted driving, as the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching a national high-visibility enforcement effort in April.

 

“Distractions behind the wheel can have devastating consequences. We urge all motorists to focus on the road and avoid any activity that takes their attention away from driving safely,” said Devon McDonald, Executive Director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

 

Law enforcement officers nationwide will work together to enforce texting and distracted driving laws and remind people to put away distractions while on the road. The effort comes during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

 

“People know using their phone while driving is dangerous and often illegal, but they do it anyway and put themselves and others at risk,” said La Porte Police Chief Dick Buell.

 

Drivers will see increased enforcement efforts from officers stopping and ticketing anyone who is caught texting and driving. Violators of Indiana’s hands-free law could face a Class C infraction with fines of up to $500 and points added to their driver’s license.

Flock Cameras Hook Major Crime Keepers

(Michigan City, IN) - Flock cameras in Michigan City helped place two alleged members of a nationwide criminal organization behind bars.

 

On Saturday, Florin Vaduva, 32, and Loredana Vaduva, 26, were in a vehicle with California plates when the flock camera system alerted officers that the vehicle, suspected in multiple out-of-state felony financial crimes, entered the city limits.

 

Officers stopped the vehicle in the area of U.S. 12 and East Michigan Boulevard. The driver, Mr. Vaduva, was arrested for producing a counterfeit identification card while his female passenger was taken into custody on nine theft warrants from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Colorado.

 

Both suspects are from the state of Washington.

 

Investigation reveals that the man and woman are part of a nationwide criminal organization suspected of placing electronic devices on automated teller machines that record bank card data like account numbers once cards are inserted into the ATMs. They are also suspected of multiple large scare operations that defrauded several financial institutions across the country of more than $500,000.

 

Police said Mr. Vaduva was identified as one of the high-ranking members within the organization.  They were both transported to the La Porte County Jail

 

Mr. Vaduva later posted $1,500 bond on the charge of Possession of a False Government Identification, a Class A misdemeanor.  A hold was placed on his female counterpart until she can be taken back to face charges in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado.

Technology Helps Capture Fleeing Driver

(La Porte County, IN) - A heat-sensing device on a drone was key in helping La Porte County Police locate a driver who fled on foot from a single-vehicle collision.

 

Just before 4 a.m. on Friday, officers responded to the 3100 block of West Small Road, where a 2008 Chevy Impala struck a utility pole and a tree.

 

The investigation shows that the driver was traveling above the speed limit when he struck a deer before hitting the pole and tree. The driver was reportedly wearing a black sweatshirt and red hat and was spotted grabbing some items from inside the vehicle before running away from the crash site.

 

The heat sensing device on the drone, hovering above the ground, detected the man via his body temperature about a half mile away. Officers responding to where he was detected found him near some horse stables.

 

Andrew Atwood, 33, of Michigan City told investigators he fled out of panic.

 

A warrant is being sought for his arrest on a Class B misdemeanor charge of Leaving the Scene of a Crash.

Mayor Claims Victory in Annexation Battle

(La Porte, IN) - Residents and business owners along a stretch of Indiana 39 can expect to see police and other city service vehicles in and around their neighborhoods very soon. That’s according to La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody, who says that the city's annexation of the 39 North Conservancy District became official on March 11th after years of effort.

 

According to state law, the city has one year from the effective date to provide non-capital services. However, Dermody said services such as police and fire coverage, street maintenance, TransPorte pick-ups/drop-offs, and code enforcement will begin for these new residents on April 1st.

 

“It is important to our team that we try and make the transition for residents and businesses in this area into the city as smooth as possible. One way to do this is by providing the services we promised throughout this process without any delays. For this reason, we are committed to providing any services we can immediately,” he said.

 

Utility and trash billing updates for the newly annexed area will begin at a later date because billing updates can’t occur until contracts with service providers and ordinances have been amended.

 

Dermody also noted that work continues on capital improvement projects, such as larger water lines to replace existing ones promised by the city to improve fire protection. The water line upgrades will also open the conservancy district to more future development. Currently, additional development cannot occur because of the inability of the existing lines to service new water customers.

 

“Planning is well underway for the water infrastructure improvements we have promised for this area. We continue to work cooperatively with the 39 North Conservancy Board led by Mark Childress and will use this progress as a springboard into the significant infrastructure investments we have committed to along 39 North,” Dermody said.

 

More information regarding the transition of utilities, along with updates on the status of capital projects for water and sewer, will be available at upcoming New Resident Welcome Meetings slated for the end of June.

 

Meeting dates and other details will be shared in the coming weeks.  Anyone with questions can contact the mayor’s office at 219-362-0151.

New Prairie Book Review Round Two

(New Carlisle, IN) - Last week the New Prairie United School Corporation Board of Trustees heard another round of library book objections. In January, the board voted to retain six books in the school library, despite claims that they contain offensive or otherwise objectionable material.

 

Eight different books were on the chopping block this time.

 

Heather Oake, who brought the challenge, read excerpts from the books at a special meeting last Monday night. Many of the passages contained sexually explicit language that cannot be printed here.

 

Even so, as in January, many people at the meeting spoke up in favor of the books and what they consider a matter of free speech. Among them was Jamie Talboom. “Banning books like this does not protect your children from the atrocities of this world,” she told the school board. “Books like these let children know they are not alone in their journey, and it gives them empathy for other people.”

 

Several others vouched for the artistic merit of the books in question and urged that such books can be beneficial to students who are grappling with difficult topics in their personal lives.

 

A few community members spoke out against the books. Austin Kosinski questioned the propriety of offering what he considers pornographic content to middle schoolers. He also read a passage from one of the books with anti-Semitic overtones. Another parent said she previously worked for the school district but resigned and pulled her kids from school when she discovered what they were being exposed to.

 

The school board voted unanimously to keep the books in the middle school library.

 

School Superintendent Dr. Paul White explained the legal reasoning behind it: “When you look at the library material, you have to consider it as a whole, meaning you have to look at the literary value, in total, of the book.” It’s pornography, he said, if a book’s sole theme is sexual. But other themes, if present, must be taken into account.

 

Oake questions why books with such risqué passages were chosen to begin with. “The whole point is just to make people aware that this is going on,” she said after the meeting. “Why do they have to be there? So just letting parents know that you know, you might want to start looking at what books your kids are actually checking out.”

 

She says she has not found the same controversial titles elsewhere. “It’s not going on in every school,” she said. “I’ve looked for these same books in La Porte’s middle school, at Kesling, and they’re not there.”

 

Dr. White says the issue has prompted the school to take a closer look at what kinds of books are on the shelves. According to him, a newly hired media specialist has been coordinating a full review of the library collection. White said some books have already been moved from the middle school to the high school due to age-appropriateness.

 

The book debate at New Prairie is not over. Oake said she initially challenged about 30 books. For practical reasons, the school district has decided to review them in chunks, so that a committee can read and discuss them thoroughly before making a recommendation.

Lost Cell Phone Leads to OWI Arrest

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Police arrested an impaired driver who pulled over to look for his cellphone.

 

Early Sunday, an officer on patrol spotted a vehicle on the shoulder of U.S. 20 near Fail Road with its hazard lights flashing. According to police, the driver said he was looking for his cellphone, which the officer found underneath the floormat on the car's floor.

 

Among the things raising the officer’s suspicions was a near-empty bottle of whiskey the driver reportedly kicked under his vehicle when he noticed it was spotted on the ground by the officer. 

 

Byran Mack-Isbell, 34, of Michigan City allegedly had a blood alcohol level over two times the legal limit.  Authorities explain that the charge was upgraded to a felony because of a prior OWI conviction from 2020.

Teacher Accused of Having Sex with Student

(La Porte, IN) - A now-former teacher is facing allegations of having sexual intercourse with a student at his home in La Porte, as Kody Lowery, 32, has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with three Level 5 felony counts of Child Seduction.

 

He was still being held on Monday in the La Porte County Jail on $20,000 bond after being taken into custody on Friday.

 

Investigation into the case shows that Lowery and the 16-year-old girl, who was one of his students at the Oregon Davis School Corporation just outside Hamlet, had sex for three consecutive days on the weekend of October 13th at his apartment in LaPorte.

 

Authorities at the school and in Starke County became involved when a rumor about them having dinner together on October 13th began spreading at the school following a social media post by the girl, court records disclosed.

 

Initially, Lowery and the girl reportedly denied the allegations or gave partial statements.

 

As per court documents, the case was eventually given to LaPorte Police after the girl confided with a friend of the family about the alleged sexual relationship and its happening at the defendant’s home. At the time, Lowery was staying at The Banks, a development of about 200 resort-type apartments near Clear Lake.

 

The girl’s description of the apartment matched what the dwelling looked like, while receipts verified the restaurant and pharmacy the girl said that they had visited while spending time together in LaPorte, authorities said.

 

Lowery’s mother reportedly told investigators that her son confessed to her in early December about having sexual intercourse with the girl.

 

Lowery resigned from his teaching position on October 26th, less than six months after he was hired.

 

Under Indiana law, the legal age for giving consent to have sex is 16. La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan said state law overrules consent when an adult sexual partner of a minor is in a position of authority or influence over the person.

 

“Indiana law does not take kindly to people in authority taking advantage of those in some form or fashion in their care,” he said.

 

According to court documents, Lowery lived in his apartment under a lease co-signed by his mother. Currently, jail records show he is now living in Michigan City.

 

Each count filed against him carries anywhere from a one to six-year sentence.  

Drug Bust for Two Passing Through

(La Porte, IN) - Two out-of-town motorists were nabbed on multiple drug charges while traveling through La Porte County.

 

Late Thursday morning a county police officer was patrolling the Indiana Toll Road when he noticed an eastbound vehicle with heavily tinted windows tailgating another vehicle. During a traffic stop, deputies allegedly discovered various illegal narcotics, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

 

27-year-old Chelsea Hahn and 28-year-old Sadiq Heyward, both from the Baltimore, Maryland area, were each charged with four counts of dealing narcotics. They’re being held in the La Porte County Jail on a $50,005 cash bond through the circuit court.

 

According to the Sheriff's Office, the deputies are part of a special highway interdiction unit, which strategically patrols designated roadways to aggressively disrupt the flow of illegal drugs, weapons, and other criminal-related activities.

Valparaiso Woman Sentenced for Fraud

(Hammond, IN) - A Valparaiso woman has been sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud. 66-year-old Randi Scannell pled guilty to defrauding a business client.

 

As the owner of Custom Drying Solutions, Scannell overcharged the client with phony invoices totaling over $460,000. An FBI investigation uncovered the scheme.

 

According to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office:

“Between September 2015 and August 2020, Scannell sent scores of fraudulent invoices to Company A for reimbursement of payroll expenses incurred by Custom Drying Solutions. These invoices concealed weekly paychecks that Scannell directed a third-party payroll service to issue to herself and her family members. By paying the invoices, Company A unwittingly funded unearned paychecks totaling $460,182.69 for Scannell and her family members.”

 

Scannell was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. She was also ordered to repay the money.

St. Patrick's Holiday Busy, and Dangerous, for State Troopers

(Lowell, IN) - Last weekend saw an increase in St. Patrick’s Day partiers and drunk drivers.

 

Between last Friday and last Sunday, Indiana State Police reported 116 traffic citations and 113 warnings on northwest Indiana highways. Troopers also made 17 O.W.I. arrests and investigated 18 crashes. There were also 24 arrests for other criminal offenses ranging from drug possession to indecent exposure and battery by bodily waste on a public servant.

 

Also of note, an off-duty state trooper was hit in his police car by an impaired driver.  In addition to an O.W.I. arrest, that driver was charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent, as there were two children in their vehicle at the time of the crash.

New Carlisle Strategic Plan Nearing Finish Line

(New Carlisle, IN) - With major economic development happening outside of New Carlisle, the town is updating its strategic plan in the nick of time.

 

Planners with The Michiana Area Council of Governments have been steering the process. For about a year, community stakeholders have been collecting input from other locals for a comprehensive plan looking ahead to 2040. The previous one dates back to 2007.

 

Based on feedback received last September and December, a draft of the plan is now complete, but not finalized. The community still has until April 11 to review the plan, which covers such topics as housing, recreation, business, and education.

 

To view the plan, follow this link.

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