(La Porte County, IN) - NIPSCO has offered up a chunk of change to support the La Porte community. Over 60% of NIPSCO's northwest Indiana customers lost power during the August 11 storm. It was one of the largest outages in the utility’s history.

 

Unity Foundation of La Porte County has received $400,000 from the NiSource Charitable Foundation to support disaster relief and long-term recovery efforts across the county.

 

"Our community has endured devastating damage and disruption, leaving many of our neighbors facing loss and uncertainty,” said Jeri Pat Gabbert, President & CEO of Unity Foundation of La Porte County. “As La Porte County’s community foundation, our role is to stay in close communication with local partners, bring people and resources together, and connect philanthropic generosity with community needs."

 

According to Unity Foundation, the grant allocation strengthens local recovery capacity across these essential areas:

 

• Basic Needs & Household Support: Helping residents access food and other immediate necessities following the storm.
• Property & Infrastructure Recovery: Supporting efforts to address storm-related property damage, cleanup and other recovery needs.
• Community & Resident Support: Supporting local organizations as they respond to the ongoing needs of residents.

 

Unity Foundation will distribute the funds to the following 13 local organizations:

 

• Catholic Charities
• Center Township
• Citizens Concerned for the Homeless
• Coolspring Township
• Food Bank of Northern Indiana (La Porte County)
• Meals on Wheels
• New Durham Township
• Operation Feed La Porte County
• Pax Center
• The Salvation Army
• Threads of Hope/New Carlisle Community Food Pantry
• Union Township
• United Way of La Porte County

Those recipients will announce how they plan to use the money to support storm damage recovery efforts. At least one has already done so. The La Porte County Salvation Army will offer eligible households one additional pantry visit per month through the end of October to help families replace food lost during extended power outages.

(La Porte County, IN) – La Porte County’s four high school football teams are a combined 1-15 so far this season. Three squads are still looking for their first win, following another tough Friday night. Results from week 4 below:

 

• La Porte 7, Chesterton 35
• Michigan City 7, Valparaiso 28
• New Prairie 13, South Bend Adams 47
• South Central 6, Triton 37

 

Other area high school football scores:

 

• Plymouth 24, NorthWood 31
• Knox 18, Tippecanoe Valley 21
• John Glenn 13, Jimtown 20
• North Judson 46, North Miami 0
• Winamac 32, Culver 14

(La Porte County, IN) - The Salvation Army serving La Porte County is expanding food pantry services in response to the devastating storms that impacted the region last month.

 

Beginning immediately and continuing through October 31, households served by The Salvation Army food pantries in Michigan City and La Porte will be eligible for one additional pantry visit per month.

 

The temporary expansion is designed to help families replace food lost during extended power outages, stretch household budgets, and access nutritious groceries while recovering from the financial impact of the storms.

 

The enhanced services are made possible through a $40,000 storm recovery grant provided by Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO) with support from the NiSource Charitable Foundation and administered through the Unity Foundation of La Porte County.

 

"The storms created challenges that many families are still working to overcome," said Major Becky Simmons of The Salvation Army serving La Porte County.

 

Normally, people are allowed one to two visits to the food pantry a month depending on their eligibility.

 

During September and October, households will be permitted one additional pantry visit each month, providing greater flexibility and support as families recover from storm-related hardships.

 

The Salvation Army food pantry at 1201 S. Franklin St. in Michigan City is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

 

The Salvation Army food pantry at 3240 Monroe St. in La Porte is open Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Individuals visiting either pantry for the first time should bring a valid photo ID, officials said.

More information is available by calling (219) 874-6885 or (219) 326-5342.

(Fort Wayne, IN) - Indiana Michigan Power has been recognized for its response in restoring power after a June storm.

 

The company has received the Edison Electric Institute's Emergency Recovery Award, a very coveted honor in the industry.  The award recognizes the dedication of I&M employees, contractors and crews from neighboring power companies who worked tirelessly to restore power following multiple rounds of severe weather on June 11 and 13.

 

The storms caused widespread damage across northern Indiana, leaving thousands of customers without power. The hardest-hit areas were South Bend and Elkhart, where an EF-2 tornado with winds of up to 115 mph damaged poles, power lines and other electrical equipment.

 

During one of the largest storm recovery efforts in recent company history, I&M's storm restoration team worked nearly 136,000 hours in challenging heat and humidity to repair more than 300 broken poles and rebuilding more than 700 sections of power line.

 

Such dedication helped restore power to approximately 62,000 customers with over 90% of customers having their power restored within 42 hours, I&M said.

 

Winners for the EEI Emergency Recovery Award were selected by a panel of judges through a nomination process.

 

"When severe weather strikes, our member companies mobilize around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as possible for the customers they serve," said Drew Maloney, President and CEO of EEI.

 

“This honor reflects the skill and determination of I&M's workforce, who prepare year-round so they're ready to face the toughest conditions and get the lights back on for communities who depend on them,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - Firefighters in La Porte today honored New York City firefighters who died while saving lives in the terrorist attacks from 25-years ago.

 

Over a dozen firefighters climbed the bleachers at Kiwanis Field as a tribute to firefighters who were inside the World Trade Center after the skyscrapers caught fire from being hit by planes.  The skyscrapers beside each other later collapsed with many people still inside, including the emergency responders.

La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said firefiighters went up and down the bleachers 72 times, which equals the number of stairs firefighters were climbing in each of the skyscrapers.

 

“Kind of a remembrance in honor of them,” he said.

 

Over 3,000 people were killed in the terrorist attacks, which also included a plane flying into the Pentagon building in Washington D.C. and a plane crashing to the ground in Pennsylvania during a revolt by passengers against the terrorists.

(La Porte County, IN) - Contractors from the state will begin storm-related vegetation and tree debris cleanup on Monday.

 

For one week, residents who need to have their storm debris picked up are asked to submit a pickup request through the LaPorte County Government website: www.laporteco.in.gov.

 

Click the rolling header at the top of the page labeled “Highway Dept. Brush Cleanup” and complete the request form.  If you are unable to submit a request online, please call the LaPorte County Highway Department at (219) 362-2051 to make your pickup request.

 

Debris Placement Guidelines

• Place tree limbs, branches, brush and other vegetative debris in the county right-of-way (ROW).
• Keep debris completely out of the roadway and away from traffic.
• Do not place debris near mailboxes, electrical/utility boxes, poles or other obstructions.
• Vegetation and tree debris only. Household goods, garbage, furniture, appliances, construction debris and other non-vegetative materials will not be collected.
• Debris that is improperly placed or mixed with other materials may not be picked up.

Residents are encouraged to submit their requests as soon as possible to help organize and complete the cleanup efficiently.

(La Porte, IN) - For the 24^th consecutive year, funds are being raised at the Broadcast Center for taking deserving children shopping for Christmas.

 

Our very own Dennis Siddall is on the roof today broadcasting on 96.7 The Eagle until 6 p.m.  The goal is $50,000.

 

Volunteers are outside the Broadcast Center collecting donations from people in their vehicles at State and Oregon streets.

 

“If you could, stop on by,” Dennis said.

 

The money will go toward the Deserving Children’s Christmas Shopping Tour, which spent $175 on each child last year primarily on clothing.  Dennis said around one million dollars has been raised for the tour since he started broadcasting on the roof each year.

(La Porte County, IN) - The LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District has received top honors for being friendly to Mother Nature.

 

The district was among eight Indiana organizations to receive the 2026 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.  Specifically, the district was commended for its Native Habitat for Pollinators Establishment Program established in 2023.

 

Officials said the program met its 50-acre goal by creating diverse native pollinator habitats across 10 sites in nine sub-watersheds spanning the Lake Michigan and Kankakee basins.

 

The program transforms degraded and invasive-dominated areas into biodiverse plantings featuring grasses, forbs, and shrubs native to Northwest Indiana’s coastal region.

 

The awards are reserved for the most innovative, sustainable, and exemplary programs or projects that positively impact Indiana’s environment and demonstrate measurable environmental, economic, and social benefits.

“This year’s winners represent some of the most innovative, forward thinking work happening today, improving quality of life for communities across our state,” said Governor Mike Braun.

(La Porte, IN) - An alleged impaired driver is scheduled to be sentenced Friday for causing serious injuries in a head-on collision.

 

Mackenzie Miller, 22, of Walkerton faces an up to six year sentence in La Porte Circuit Court for operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, a Level 5 felony.

 

In March, she veered across the center line on Indiana 2 near 100 South, striking an oncoming vehicle operated by Franklin Lile of Wanatah, police said. 

 

Lile, 47, was airlifted to a regional hospital for more advanced care of his injuries. Police said Miller suffered minor injuries in the crash.

(La Porte, IN) - A man on a motorcycle was taken by medical helicopter after a collision with a car in La Porte.

 

It happened Tuesday afternoon. According to La Porte Police, the investigation

shows Thomas Hyer was southbound on U.S. 35 when a car pulled out into his path from a parking lot in the 400 block of Pine Lake Ave.

 

Police said the other driver, Stanley Wisniewski, was not injured. Hyer was taken by ambulance to a medical helicopter waiting for him in a grassy area outside the downtown courthouse, police said. 

 

Police said the motorcycle suffered extensive damage.  Further details were not released.

(La Porte County, IN) - A police chase occurred this morning in La Porte County.

 

According to police dispatch information, the pursuit was on U.S. 35 just after 8 a.m. then veered eastbound on U.S. 6. where speeds topped 90 miles per hour before entering Kingsford Heights.

 

A short time later, the suspect stepped out of the vehicle and fled on foot after turning on Grayton Road.  At one point during a foot chase, a bite from a K-9 dog was reported.  The chase originated in the city of La Porte.

 

We’ll provide more details once they’re made available.

(La Porte, IN) - The Mark Cuban Foundation, in partnership with Indiana 4-H, will host a free Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp for high school students in LaPorte this fall.

 

The program is open to students in grades 9-12 and runs over three Saturdays: Oct. 31, Nov. 7 and Nov. 14.  Meals, transportation assistance and technology are provided at no cost.

 

Students get hands-on experience with AI tools, including generative AI, and see how the technology shows up in fields such as healthcare, arts, business, computer science, sports science and career readiness.

 

Each student finishes the program with a capstone project built under the guidance of industry mentors. The bootcamp is hosted and staffed by Indiana 4-H and the LaPorte County Purdue Extension Office.

 

"AI literacy is a new form of empowerment," said Rachel Haselby, 4-H Youth Development Extension Specialist.

 

"When young people understand how artificial intelligence works, they gain the confidence to create, innovate, and lead in a technology-driven world rather than simply react to it," she said. 

 

Indiana 4-H is one of more than 35 organizations selected to host bootcamps across the U.S. this fall.

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man is facing drug charges after getting pulled over for traveling with a bad headlight on his vehicle.

 

Daniel Bernacchi, 60, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 6 felony possession of cocaine and Class A misdemeanor possession of a schedule 1 controlled substance.

 

Court documents state that a La Porte Police officer pulled Bernacchi over just before 11 p.m. on September 3rd near the intersection of Lincolnway and Teegarden Street after noticing a malfunctioning headlight on his vehicle.

 

During the stop, officers reported smelling recently used marijuana coming from inside the car. A search reportedly turned up plastic bags containing about one gram of cocaine and roughly 45.5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, found on the floorboard of the driver's seat.

 

Bernacchi was still being held in the La Porte County Jail without bond.

(La Porte County, IN) - A stretch of U.S. 35 in La Porte County will be temporarily closed next week.

 

 

 

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to begin seal coat work on the highway between U.S. 30 and U.S. 6 starting Monday or shortly after. According to INDOT, the scrub seal operations are expected to take about two days, running daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Drivers are advised to plan for alternate routes during the work, with INDOT recommending a detour via U.S. 30, State Road 39 and U.S. 6.

 

According to INDOT, the schedule could change depending on the weather.

(La Porte County, IN) - A local firefighter has received one of the highest state honors.

 

Mick Pawlik was chief of the Coolspring Township Volunteer Fire Department for over 30 years before stepping down in February.

 

 

 

Pawlik received the Circle of Corydon, the second highest civilian award issued by the governor for remarkable contributions that have bettered Indiana and demonstrating qualities exemplified by the state’s greatest citizens.

 

Warren Smith, who was assistant fire chief under Pawlik for about the past decade, said the honor is well deserved.

 

“When something bad was happening in the community, he dropped everything that he was doing and he would be there.  That’s in his personal life, too.   If you needed help from the guy, he’d stop what was he was doing and come over and help you.  That’s just the kind of person he is,” he said.

 

Pawlik along with Smith, who stepped down as assistant chief at the same time, remain on the department as volunteer firefighters.  “It’s just time.  We’re both starting to get up there in age and it’s time for a younger generation of people to start stepping up to the plate,” he said.

 

State Representative Randy Novak of Michigan City helped present the award to Pawlik, who he has known for about 50-years.  “You would be hard-pressed to find someone who is more deserving of the Circle of Corydon,” he said.

 

Michael Lusco, a veteran of the department, is now the fire chief.

 

(Lowell, IN) - Indiana State Police troopers assigned to the late shift at the Lowell Post participated in a Labor Day Weekend patrol blitz Saturday evening. Troopers were actively enforcing the speed limit along I?80/94 while also looking for impaired and aggressively driving individuals.

During the enforcement period, troopers conducted 77 traffic stops, issued 76 citations, and provided 77 warnings to motorists. Of the 76 citations, 46 were for speeding violations. Troopers also recorded the following activity:
• 3 pursuits
• 6 reckless driving arrests
• 4 OWI arrests (Operating While Intoxicated)
• 3 drug arrests
• 24 criminal arrests
• 7 felony arrests
• 6 crashes investigated (5 crash?related citations issued)

These enforcement actions underscore the agency’s continued effort to deter impaired driving, combat criminal activity, and maintain safe roadways for our community and those traveling through it. In addition to enforcement, troopers responded to 27 police service calls, including assisting motorists with flat tires, vehicles out of gas, and other roadway-related issues.

Lt. Terrance Weems, Lowell Post District Commander, commended the late shift’s efforts. “Our Troopers work hard every day to uphold our values of public safety in keeping our interstate roadways safe. These numbers not only reflect enforcement, but a commitment to supporting our community by identifying dangerous driving behavior and taking appropriate action.”

(Lake County, IN) - A truck driver was seriously injured this morning when he struck the back end of a stopped semi-truck on Interstate 80-94 in Gary.

 

According to state police, Garbiel Corral, 31, of Chicago was ejected from the cab of his truck.  Police said he hit the rear of a tractor-trailer hauling Amazon packages that was stopped between an exit ramp and travel lanes of the interstate.

 

The driver hauling the packages, Ahmed Taher Hussein Al Subari of Dearborn, Michigan, was reportedly standing outside his truck urinating when Corral struck his rig, police said.

 

He was not injured. 

 

The eastbound lanes were restricted for about eight hours to allow for the crash to be investigated and cleaned-up.  Police said criminal charges are a possibility depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Fish Lake man was allegedly impaired when he crashed his antique vehicle on Monday.

 

James Holland, 67, of Fish Lake is charged with operating while intoxicated.

 

According to La Porte County Police, officers about 5 p.m. found his 1937 Dodge on a guardrail in the area of 400 South and 800 East.  Holland told investigators he had his car out for a joyride when a deer crossed his path, causing him to swerve and lose control of the vehicle, police said.

 

He suffered an abrasion to the bridge of his nose but refused medical attention.  His alleged blood alcohol level was .161-percent.

 

A tow truck was called for the damaged car.

(La Porte County, IN) - A 19 year old man is facing underage drinking and other charges related to his alleged combative behavior during his arrest.

 

Police said Victor Louis was found in the driver's seat of a vehicle stopped in the middle of Indiana 39 near Union Mills without headlights on before 1 a.m. on Sunday.

 

According to police, Louis believed to be heavily intoxicated told investigators a vehicle occupied by two males forced him to stop and punched him several times before taking his car keys.  During a tirade, police said Louis used a lot of obscenities and even forced officers to carry him to a law enforcement vehicle. 

 

He was taken to a hospital for evaluation when he allegedly kicked an officer, tried biting another officer and attempted to grab ammunition for an officer’s handgun before transported to the La Porte County Jail while screaming.

 

Louis is facing three misdemeanor counts along with Level 6 felony battery to a police officer.

(La Porte County, IN) - A pet dog is back in loving arms after dug out a storm drain pipe he was trapped in outside his home near Michigan City.

 

David Lant said he was relieved Sunday when “Bubba” emerged from the pipe on the other side of a roughly 40 foot long culvert in a ditch in front of his residence at 7933 W. Dianne Dr. just off Wozniak Road.

 

Lant, 62, said he was outside with first responders during the rescue while his emotional wife, Loretta, stayed inside.  Her tears from worrying about her beloved Yorkshire terrier quickly turned into tears of joy.

 

“She was just crying and all upset,” he said.

 

Lant said the dog was roaming free in his yard when he made his way over close to the drainage culvert then disappeared.  He said the first thing he did is walk to where he last saw the dog and heard the echoes of him barking and whimpering from inside the 12 to 15 inch wide pipe.

 

Lant citing limited physical ability from Parkinson’s Disease chose not to try and rescue dog himself but, instead, called 911.

 

Coolspring Township Assistant Fire Chief Warren Smith said the dog was trapped in a bunch of dirt and sand inside the pipe.

 

“The dog got in there and got wedged,” he said.

 

He said duct tape was used to fasten a garden hoe to the end of a long pole to reach the clog about halfway into the pipe.  Firefighters Hunter Wrobleski and Tyler Bohle took turns slowly moving the pole in and out of the opening, removing just a small amount of dirt and sand each time.

 

Smith said about one hour later is when the dog as Wroblewski stood up to take a short break emerged from the end of the pipe.

 

“He was a happy little dog.  He was just running around like no big deal,” he said.

 

Lant speculated the dog ran into the pipe while chasing a ground hog, a mole or some other animal into the opening.  He has since placed two metal roads in front of the openings on each side to try and keep the dog out of the culvert.

 

“That dummy is still going to the pipe wanting to get in there.  He’s very smart,” he said.

(Indianapolis, IN) – La Porte High School’s Kiwanis Field is back on an unenviable list of endangered places.

 

Every year Indiana Landmarks collects a Top-10 list of historic structures that are on the brink of extinction. For the second straight year, La Porte’s high school football facility made the list.

 

The fieldhouse, which was state-of-the-art when it was built in 1950, has seen better days and has been the center of save-it-or-replace-it discussions recently. Over 750 community members signed a petition in support of rehabbing the landmark and preserving it as the high school’s signature sports venue.

 

School officials have partnered with Indiana Landmarks and Preserve Historic La Porte to explore possibilities, commissioning a study to assess renovation options. The committee identified a plan to rehabilitate the existing fieldhouse and locker rooms. However, the school board must still approve the proposal and determine how it will be funded. Some school officials feel that building a new football stadium would be more cost effective than investing in repairs and updates to the aging facility.

 

Indiana Landmarks is a statewide non-profit organization that raises awareness and offers resources for historic preservation. Far from being a death sentence, a stint on their Top-10 list often helps spur redevelopment. Since the list was introduced in 1991, 105 places have been completely restored or are no longer endangered. One such local success story is the Old Republic, an 1860 New Carlisle residence that sat vacant for 30 years before a massive $1.4 million renovation saved it over 20 years ago.

(La Porte County, IN) - A couple of La Porte County communities had some water problems over the weekend.

 

Late Friday night a lift station went down affecting residents in the area of Karwick Road and U.S. 12 near Long Beach.

 

The Michigan City Sanitary District determined a blown NIPSCO transformer to be the cause of the failure. Residents were urged to limit water use to essential needs only. Power and normal water functions were restored mid-afternoon Saturday. No basement backups or sewer overflows have been reported.

 

Down in LaCrosse, the town’s water tower sprung a leak.  Fortunately, water continued to pump into the tower faster than it was leaking out. Water was not turned off, and there was no need for a boil order.

 

A specialized contractor was quickly brought to the site, who worked overnight Saturday to patch the hole without having to drain the tower.

(La Porte County, IN) - Friday night was a rough one for La Porte County high school football teams. The Four county teams managed only two touchdowns between them and gave up a combined 176 points. Here’s the rundown:

 

• Valparaiso 39, La Porte 3
• Chesterton 28, Michigan City 7
• South Bend Saint Joseph 46, New Prairie 0
• North Judson 63, South Central 6

Other area schools didn’t fare much better:

 

• Culver Academies 35, Knox 6
• Rensselaer Central 14, John Glenn 0
• Pioneer 50, Winamac 7
• Mishawaka 20, Plymouth 13

(La Porte County, IN) – A Walkerton woman died in a single-vehicle accident on State Road 104 Saturday evening.

 

According to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, just before 7 pm, deputies responded to a crash scene in the 7000 east block of 104. That’s south of Fish Lake, about two miles southeast of Stillwell.

 

Their investigation indicated that a blue 2017 Chevrolet passenger vehicle travelling eastbound left the roadway for an unknown reason and collided with a tree. The driver, 42-year-old Irene J. Pantle of Walkerton, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

 

Toxicology test results are pending.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Michigan City Police Department is self-reporting an internal Flock camera violation that has resulted in the resignation of an officer.

 

According to an announcement Friday evening, MCPD discovered questionable searches conducted by an officer during a routine audit of Flock system activity.

 

Noting a violation of department policy, the department immediately initiated an internal investigation and placed the officer on administrative leave. That officer then resigned while the investigation was underway, police said. Once the investigation is complete, they will forward the findings to the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

 

Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch weighed in on the incident. “Public trust requires transparency and accountability, particularly when the City uses technology that gives law enforcement access to sensitive information,” Nelson Deuitch said. “Our residents have every right to expect that these tools will be used lawfully, ethically and only for legitimate public-safety purposes. When that trust is violated, we have a responsibility to identify it, address it and be transparent with the public about what occurred.”

 

Public debate has increased on the use of Flock technology in Michigan City, as the police department there has pressed the city’s Common Council for funds to expand the system. MCPD is holding itself accountable for the recent violation.

 

“Misuse of law-enforcement technology will not be tolerated,” Police Chief Steven Forker said. “Our officers are entrusted with access to sensitive systems, and we expect that access to be used appropriately and only for legitimate law-enforcement purposes. In this instance, our auditing process identified a concern, and we acted immediately.”

 

The department is not releasing additional details, as the investigation remains ongoing. Officials say they will continue to conduct routine audits of Flock system activity and review compliance with department policies to help ensure the technology is being used appropriately and to hold users accountable when violations occur.