(La Porte County, IN) - Some farmers in the area will have to do some replanting to replace crops waterlogged from as much as three times the normal amount of rain in June.

Matt Goetz said 11 inches of rain has fallen on his farm about five miles east of Valparaiso since early this month.

“It’s just been relentless,” he said.

Goetz farms ground mostly in east-central Porter County with some fields further north in Porter and La Porte counties.  He said none of his fields are completely underwater but there’s considerable ponding that has drowned some of his corn and soybean plants especially in the low lying areas.

He said it’s too late in the season to replant corn but there’s still a few weeks left to replant soybeans but only if it stops raining for about a week to let the fields too wet to travel on dry out.

“We have some spots where we’ll probably try it when the opportunity arises,” he said.

Mark Parkman has lost some of his corn and soybeans in the Westville area to standing water in his heavy clay soil but he’s decided not to replant.

“Many of the low holes are full of water even where you have stand pipes to drain it.  We’ve had plenty,” he said.

Parkman said the cost of replanting and the damage heavy machinery could do to some of the surviving crops were among the factors in his decision.

“You might not be money ahead to do it,” he said.

Parkman said he also didn’t want to take the risk of replanting then having those plants die if the rainy conditions persist.

“Whatever we got there right now is the way it’s going to be,” he said.

Jeff Mitzner of Wanatah said he also has some ponding in his fields but he has no plans right now to do any replanting.  Mitzner said his farm hasn’t received as much rain as some of the surrounding areas but he’s still way above normal at over six inches.

“We’ve been getting showers but not drowning showers.  It’s just enough to be a pain,” he said.

His soil being more sandy drains better, which has helped to limit the damage to his corn and soybeans.  Mitzner said his fields were still dry enough to run sprayers Saturday and Sunday with just a few problems caused by the wet ground.

“We were getting across everything pretty decently,” he said.

Farmers say an extended dry period and major warm up are needed most right now.

“We need more sunshine.  We need some 85 degree days.  Crops don’t develop very quickly when you’re 69 and 72 degrees every day,” Goetz said.

(La Porte, IN) - A LaPorte man was last reported in critical condition after pulled from his burning home by firefighters on Friday.

The fire caused significant damage to the small single-story structure at 1604 K St. LaPorte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said firefighters responding about 11 a.m. encountered heavy smoke and flames.  They were also told by neighbors the man still might be inside the house.

Water had just started being applied to the structure when firefighters went in and quickly located the victim, Roy Boness.

“We were able to get the individual out within minutes of our arrival,” Snyder said.

The man while treated by paramedics was taken by ambulance to nearby La Porte High School and loaded into a medical helicopter that landed in the parking lot. Snyder said Boness was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago with significant burns and smoke inhalation.

“We will hope for the best for him,” he said.

Most of the fire damage appeared to be to a carport attached to the home where the fire possibly started.

(La Porte, IN) - A juvenile is charged as an adult for firearms-related crimes in La Porte.

Izaya Hancock could face a one to six-year sentence on each of two Level 5 felony counts filed in La Porte Circuit Court. 

Authorities said six machine gun conversion devices and a number of guns were found during a search of a home on South Walnut St.

Hancock was located hiding in the basement, police said. 

Police said other items seized include boxes of ammunition, numerous marijuana products and over $3,000 in cash. 

Hancock has a prior juvenile record for dangerous possession of a firearm from a case filed in 2023. 

(La Porte, IN) - A railroad crossing in La Porte is temporarily closed for maintenance.

According to the mayor's office, the Norfolk Southern crossing at Boston St. is closed through Friday.

Motorists are encouraged to find an alternate route until the crossing reopens.

(Michigan City, IN) - A search was conducted last evening for a child who reportedly went underwater at the beach in Michigan City.

According to police, officers just after 5:30 p.m. were dispatched to Washington Park for a possible drowning.  Bystanders observed a child wearing red shorts enter Lake Michigan along the east side of the catwalk and just south of the lighthouse.

The child never resurfaced after entering the water which initiated an immediate response from the Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and LaPorte County Emergency Medical Service.

Police said a fishing charter boat and drone technology were used to assist in the search efforts.  A medical helicopter was dispatched to the area and remained on standby while first responders continued to search for the missing child.

Despite the immediate deployment of multiple agencies and specialized dive teams, challenging water conditions significantly impeded search operations.  After multiple hours of an exhaustive search, dive efforts were suspended due to hazardous conditions that posed a substantial threat to the safety of responding personnel.

During the operation, police said three divers from the Michigan City Fire Department sustained minor injuries and were transported to Franciscan Health for medical treatment.  An Indiana DNR diver was also injured and evaluated by EMS at the scene.

Divers from the Michigan City Police Department will continue to assist the Indiana DNR in their search efforts to locate the missing child, authorities said. 

(La Porte, IN) - There was a fire this morning at a factory in La Porte.

Firefighters just after 9 a.m. were called to Accurate Castings on Koomler Drive on the city’s east side.

Fire Chief Andy Snyder said a dry powder was used first to extinguish some of the fire while waiting for NIPSCO to come and shut off the power to the whole building so they could use water to finish extinguishing the flames.

He said the fire was contained to a room that houses all of the electrical wiring for the building.

Snyder said it’s too early to know the cause but it appears there was an electrical issue coming from the high voltage lines that supply electricity to the building.

Snyder said Accurate Castings was not operating due to the power being shut off and he was not sure when the plant will be running again.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County student competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Hanna Best made it through the first two rounds, but fell short by just one word of advancing further during the written portion of the spelling bee.

Best will be an 8^th grader at South Central School in August.

She qualified for the national spelling bee by winning the spelling contests at her school and at the regional level.  Best finished 96^th out of 247 spellers in the national contest at Washington D.C. 

(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte area man is facing drunk driving charges after wiping out on his antique motorcycle.

Randall Jerkins, 74, is charged in La Porte Superior Court 3 with Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.

According to police, officers early Friday were called to the area of U.S. 35 and U.S 20 by another driver who saw sparks as the motorcycle went down.  Fortunately, Jerkins suffered only minor injuries.

His alleged blood alcohol level was over two times the legal limit.

Police say he was taken to the La Porte County Jail while his damaged 1957 Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle was left at a nearby gas station for him or a family member to retrieve later.

(La Porte County, IN) - A woman with no pants on along with a man wearing just shorts took off running from a police officer near the La Porte County Fairgrounds and managed to get away.

La Porte County Police said an officer on routine patrol early Saturday shined his headlights on a small metal shed near the entrance to the fairgrounds.

Police said a man wearing black shorts with a heavily tattooed chest and a woman with just a shirt on came out of the shed and began sprinting toward the nearby La Porte County Animal Shelter.  The man then jumped a fence and crossed Indiana 2 before disappearing into a wooded area.

Police said the woman was last seen running toward the camping area of the fairgrounds.

According to police, the officer went back to the shed and found two syringes, a container of marijuana and a small bag of methamphetamine along with a vibrating device.  The man and woman were both described as white and in their late 20’s to early 30’s.

(Indianapolis, IN) – Coinciding with Internet Safety Month, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is offering a free webinar on video games and the dangers they may pose to children.

The free live webinar, called “Video Games and Your Child: Spotting Red Flags and Staying Safe Online,” will address the following topics:

• Common online gaming risks
• Warning signs that may indicate concerning online activity
• How predators and offenders use gaming platforms to communicate with children
• Practical tips to help keep children safe while gaming
• Strategies for having productive conversations about online safety

Video games are a huge part of many children's lives, but, says the ICAC, online gaming can also expose them to risks that aren't always obvious. It’s important for parents to know what warning signs to watch for.

The webinar will take place Tuesday, June 23 from 1-2:15 Central time. You can register at the ICAC website: https://www.icactaskforce.org/internetsafety.

(La Porte, IN) - The Kiwanis Club of La Porte is inviting the public to take part in a fund raising fitness event on July 4.

The organization is hosting the annual Run for Riley 5K Run and Walk in addition to the Fourth of July parade.  The 5K raises funds for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis to support pediatric care and services. 

Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., with the race starting at 8 a.m.  The start and finish line will be in the Biggby Coffee and Dollar Tree parking lot at the corner of Andrew Avenue and Indiana 2 on the city’s west side.

The registration fee is $30.

Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt, guaranteed for those who register by June 21.

TJ Hague of the Kiwanis Club of La Porte said the event continues to be a community tradition.

“The Run for Riley is more than just a race. It brings our community together on one of the most meaningful days of the year, and every step supports the important work being done at Riley Children’s Hospital,” Hague said.

Registration is available at RunSignUp.com.  More information about the Kiwanis Club of La Porte and its programs is available at KiwanisClubofLaPorte.org and Kiwanis4thofJulyParade.org.

(La Porte, IN) - The annual dumpster program in La Porte is on borrowed time.

The dumpsters will no longer be available for use by the public at the end of this month, said La Porte Code Enforcement Director Jeff Batchelor.

Batchelor said there were ongoing problems with residents placing their unwanted items on the ground when the dumpsters at the street department were full but cost was the main factor.  The city’s Urban Enterprise Association paid to have the dumpsters emptied on a yearly basis.

Batchelor said the $90,000 the UEA allocated this year for the program has already been spent due to the increased amount of users.  The cost is now considered prohibitive to continue the program in future years.

“We just can’t afford to do it anymore,” he said.

Batchelor said residents can still get rid of their unwanted items by making arrangements with the city’s trash hauler, Waste Management.  He also said the city is continuing with the annual fall clean-up where unwanted items can be placed at the curb for pick-up.

A spring clean-up, a long tradition until discontinued several years ago, could return as a result of the dumpster program ending.

“That’s something we’re looking at,” he said.

(La Porte County, IN) - There could be an effort to keep dogs from being on the courthouse lawn in La Porte.

La Porte County Commissioner Steve Holifield raised the issue during the commissioners’ meeting Wednesday night.  He cited a woman living nearby who allows her dog to answer nature’s call in the grass outside the courthouse on a regular basis.

Holifield also said she doesn’t always clean-up after the dog.

Initially, he expressed a desire to enforce an ordinance that’s been in the books for decades prohibiting dogs from being on the courthouse lawn.

“She can walk downtown somewhere and find a place for her dog to dump since she lives in the city,” he said.

La Porte County Attorney Guy DiMartino said he wasn’t sure if dogs can be prohibited from being on the grass and felt it might be best to require pet owners to pick-up after their animals.

“I can see you saying you have to pick up your waste but I don’t think you can stop the act,” he said.

Regardless, DiMartino said he would look at the existing ordinance before drafting another ordinance for the commissioners to possibly consider at some point, if instructed to do it.

(Chesterton, IN) - The South Shore Railroad commuter line will offer more seats for kids to ride free to help encourage families to travel together during summer break.

The Kids Ride Free program will include all trains from June 29 through July 3. 

The program allows up to three children ages 13 and under to ride free with a paying adult during weekday off-peak hours along with weekend and holiday trains.

“Whether it’s a day in downtown Chicago, a visit to the Indiana Dunes or a trip to South Bend, we want to make it easy for families to explore and create memories together,” said Amber Kettring, Manager of Customer Service and Communications for the railroad.

The promotion is part of the rail line’s ongoing effort to provide affordable, convenient and family-friendly transportation.

(La Porte County, IN) - Lane switches on a stretch of U.S. 20 under reconstruction in La Porte County are upcoming.

The Indiana Department of Transportation said the inside left passing lanes will close in each direction between Fail Road and County Road 250 East on or after June 22.  The left passing lanes will also close from Indiana 39 to Fail Road on or after June 25, according to INDOT.

According to INDOT, the configuration will be in place until on or after June 29 when the westbound lanes will be converted to two-way traffic from Indiana 39 to County Road 250 East and the eastbound lanes will be closed for widening work.

Work is nearing completion between U.S. 35 and C.R. 400 W and between C.R. 250 E and C.R. 500 E on the east and west ends of the U.S. 20 with alternating lane closures for final cleanup and miscellaneous work, INDOT said.

INDOT said the extensive project has encountered numerous utility conflicts and delays but continues to progress toward its end of November completion timeline. 

(La Porte, IN) - A LaPorte man pulled from his home by firefighters Thursday was taken by a medical helicopter to a trauma center.

The fire caused significant damage to the small single-story structure at 1604 K St. LaPorte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said firefighters responding about 11 a.m. encountered heavy smoke and flames.  They were also told by neighbors the man still might be inside the house.

Water had just started being applied to the structure when firefighters went in and quickly located the victim.

“We were able to get the individual out within minutes of our arrival,” Snyder said.

Snyder would not disclose the name of the man, his condition or whether he was conscious.

“We will hope for the best for him,” he said.

The man while treated by paramedics was taken by ambulance to nearby La Porte High School and loaded into the helicopter after it landed in the parking lot.  Most of the fire damage appeared to be to a carport attached to the home where the fire possibly started.

Brenda Del Real, 21, said her parents had just stepped into the backyard to check on their chickens when they spotted what seemed to be a small, controlled fire in the carport, which was open on both ends.  It wasn’t long before they spotted smoke and told her to call 911.

Del Real said she was dialing the number when she heard what sounded like an explosion loud enough to be heard by all of her neighbors.  She went outside to see the flames at the house spreading quickly.

“We were all panicking,” said Griselta Montanez-Serrano, 30, who lives across the street in the neighborhood where the homes are close together.

Del Real said she was still outside when firefighters brought the man not moving out of the home.

“It looked like he had ash all over his face. My mom said his leg looked like it was pretty burnt,” she said.

Snyder said it was too early to know what caused the fire.  Due to the nature of the blaze, though, Snyder said the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office has been asked to assist with the investigation.

(La Porte, IN) - A LaPorte man was pulled from his burning home Thursday and taken to a hospital by medical helicopter.

The late morning fire caused significant damage to the single-story ranch structure at 1604 K St.

LaPorte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said there was heavy smoke and flames when firefighters went inside and quickly located the victim, who was helped out of the residence.

The condition of the man was not disclosed.

He was taken by ambulance to the medical helicopter which landed in the parking lot of nearby La Porte High School.   

(La Porte County, IN) - An arrest has been made for the fatal shooting of a man inside his La Porte area home.

John Jackson, II, 35, of Westville is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with murder.

He allegedly shot 64 year old James Williams twice in the chest at close range last week at the victim’s home on U.S. 20 in Springfield Township.

La Porte County Police said the investigation shows Jackson after the shooting left after taking a cell phone, tablet and over $3,000 in cash from the home.  The body was found several hours later by the victim’s son.

According to police, Jackson was at the residence earlier that day and left to pay his rent but showed up with the payment looking nervous and sweating profusely. Jackson later confessed, telling investigators Williams said something that made him mad, so, he left and got a gun then came back and shoved the victim to the floor where he shot him twice, according to police.

Jackson was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $1 million bond.

(La Porte, IN) - The City of LaPorte is preparing for a major long-term influx of construction workers that will start building a Microsoft data center next month.

A groundbreaking on the over $1 billion investment was held Wednesday at the 500 acre site on Boyd Boulevard where grading of what’s been farmland has been occurring for several weeks to prepare for the upcoming construction.

Bo Wallace, a Microsoft corporate vice-president, said the goal is begin operating out of three buildings in 2029 followed by three additional structures on the site “as fast as we can build them.” 

Wallace said it’s going to take over 600 full-time employees to operate and maintain all six of the facilities.  Plans call for another 11 data center structures to start going up later on 1,300 acres of farmland Microsoft is purchasing adjacent to the site.  It’s going to take up to 10-years to complete the construction at both locations.

Eventually, Wallace said more than 2,000 construction workers will be at the site daily once the job fully ramps up.

LaPorte Economic Advancement Partnership Executive Director Bert Cook said building construction will begin in less than 30 days.  He said local hotels, restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations are among the businesses given notice already about the upcoming work so they can prepare for the potential of more customers.

“We want to be prepared as we possibly can be for that,” he said.

Microsoft decided earlier this year not to seek tax abatement on any of its data center projects nationwide.

For LaPorte, the full payout on the first completed site will mean tens of millions of dollars annually for the city and several million dollars a year for the school corporation under a 20-year agreement with Microsoft.

The city, school corporation and county government will receive property tax dollars from the other site under a separate agreement.  The exact amounts will not be known until the properties as they’re being developed have their current values reassessed for tax billing purposes.

Mayor Tom Dermody said the amount of new tax dollars locally from the project is unprecedented.

“Microsoft’s historic investment in LaPorte surpasses all private investment ever made in our city’s history, combined,” he said.  

Brad Smith, Vice-Chair and President of Microsoft, said the company and school corporation will partner on offering classes at the high school that prepare students for the high-tech jobs offered at the data center complex for years to come.  Smith said the jobs are well-paying and give students looking elsewhere for opportunity a reason to stay.

“That, in some ways, may be the longest-lasting and most important thing we do here.  If so, we’ll be proud to be a part of it,” he said.

The city is also collecting another $17 million from Microsoft because over 100 acres of municipally owned land is part of the 1,300 acres the tech giant is purchasing.  The city used the land for spreading manure from its nearby waste water treatment plant and to contract with a farmer to grow crops.

Dermody and many other leaders in the community believe the data center complex will transform the city, which has been pushing aggressively for new growth and seeing positive results in areas like new housing over the past several years.

He called the groundbreaking one of those moments that define the future of a community.

“This is a day when generations of LaPorte residents will look back and remember a day when a global leader chose to invest in our city, our people and our future,” Dermody said.

La Porte Schools Superintendent Dr. Sandra Wood said the money from Microsoft will mean financial stability again for the corporation which has been dealing with revenue losses from gradual enrollment declines over roughly the past decade.  The school board considered asking voters to approve a property tax increase to help with cash flow but dropped the idea because of the revenue coming from Microsoft.

“That’s going to be a game changer for us,” said LaPorte School Board member Jim Arnold.

(Michigan City, IN) - Another shooting has occurred in Michigan City.

Police said officers about 8 p.m. Monday responded to Franciscan Health hospital on a report of a person being treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

So far, further details have not been released but police say the shooting is under active investigation. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Michigan City Police.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Michigan City woman is accused of having a good-sized amount of methamphetamine.

Jeannie Sanders, 36, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with possession of methamphetamine as a Level 4 felony along with resisting law enforcement and possession of paraphernalia, both misdemeanors.

According to the charging information, Sanders was a passenger in a vehicle stopped on June 9 for speeding on Indiana 2 in Rolling Prairie.  The officer discovered Sanders had a warrant for her arrest on an undisclosed offense in Michigan.

According to court records, she also has a prior drug related conviction and past convictions on multiple counts of operating while intoxicated.

During the traffic stop, police said Sanders was found with a plastic bag containing methamphetamine beneath her clothing and struggled with officers until taken to the ground where she was placed in handcuffs.  The methamphetamine in that bag and another bag allegedly found on her possession later weighed a combined 23 grams.

Sanders could face anywhere from two to 12 years on the most serious count.

(La Porte County, IN) - The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for the position of Merit (Patrol) Deputy.  An applicant who successfully completes and passes the various stages of the process will immediately fill a vacancy within the Merit Division. 

The hiring process will include the following stages: application phase, physical agility testing, written examination, computerized voice stress analysis examination, background investigation, Merit Division panel interview, Merit Commission interview and psychological examination. 

Applicants who have successfully graduated from a certified law enforcement academy will be “fast-tracked” through an abbreviated hiring process.     

Applications can be found online by accessing www.laportecountysheriff.com or by picking them up at the front desk of the Sheriff’s Office.  Individuals who apply and meet the required standards will be notified with further instructions.  Completed applications will be accepted through July 24.   

The starting salary for a Merit Deputy is $57,680.  Following one (1) year of service, the salary increases to $66,950.  Those with current or prior law enforcement experience are strongly encouraged to apply as the LCSO offers a variety of specialty divisions, incentives, and benefits package, and a financially sound pension.    

Completed applications can be dropped off at the front desk of the Sheriff’s Office, sent via standard mail, or as a scanned attachment and sent via email.  Completed applications may be mailed to the following:

La Porte County Sheriff’s Office

Attn: Administrative Captain Derek J. Allen

809 State Street

La Porte, Indiana 46350

All completed applications sent via email shall be sent to the following:  dallen@lcso.in.gov.  Any questions should be directed to Captain Allen at the aforementioned email address. 

(La Porte, IN) - The City of La Porte is preparing for a major influx of workers that will soon begin constructing the buildings at the Microsoft data center facility.

Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, told the city’s Board of Public Works & Safety this morning an average of 2,000 to 4,000 workers will be at the site each day during the up to 10 year construction period.

He said the city has already reached out to businesses like restaurants and hotels to let them know what to expect since a percentage of those workers will likely be coming from outside the area.

“We want to be as prepared as we can possibly be for that,” he said.

The data center will consist of well over a dozen buildings on about 1,800 acres of what used to be farmland annexed by the city at the request of the property owners in the area of Boyd Boulevard and U.S. 35.

Cook expects construction of the buildings to begin at some point in the very near future.

(La Porte, IN) - With heavy rain and potential for severe weather in the forecast for Wednesday, events that night at Fox Park in La Porte will be relocated.

The Maria Fruth Plaza dedication and subsequent LaPorte City Band concert have been moved to the La Porte High School Performing Arts Center.  The dedication of the plaza will be at 6 p.m. in the PAC lobby.

Following the plaza dedication, the community is invited to join the LaPorte City Band for a concert honoring Fruth and her years of contributions to the community.

Fruth served as the President/Chief Executive Officer of the Health Foundation of La Porte from March of 2016 until her retirement in April of 2024.  Previously, she was the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of the La Porte Hospital Foundation for over 20 years.

Under Fruth, HFL supported hundreds of local health and wellness initiatives with planning and funding, including significant investments in park improvements and recreation programming.  The plaza was part of the Fox Park renovations funded by HFL in 2023.

The Park Board voted to rename the structure after Fruth in 2024.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Michigan City Police Department is reminding residents about Indiana’s current laws regarding electric motorized devices now that summer-like weather has arrived.

Police say electric motorized devices are becoming increasingly popular as a form of transportation, especially among young riders.   These devices are categorized as electric foot scooters (e-scooters), e-bicycles (e-bikes), or e-moto devices.

The most common electric motorized device being operated in Michigan City is called an electric bicycle or “e-bike.

Electric bicycles are regulated similarly to traditional bicycles and are not considered motorized vehicles. Therefore, no license, registration or insurance are required to operate an electric bicycle.  A person must be 15 years of age or older to operate an e-bike, police said.

Helmets are required for anyone less than 18 years of age to operate or ride an e-bike.  

“E-moto” devices are defined as a device that is powered by an electric or mechanical motor that typically exceeds 750 watts and is capable of generating speeds that exceed 28 mph when powered by the motor.

All operators and riders of electric foot scooters, traditional bicycles, e-bikes or e-moto devices are encouraged to wear helmets.

“Ride responsibility, obey the law and share the road,” police said.