(La Porte County, IN) - Business owners and community members from throughout La Porte County are invited to connect, discover local products and services, and build new contacts at the La Porte County Business Expo.

It’s scheduled September 17 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Purdue University Northwest campus outside Westville. .

The event is hosted by the chambers of commerce in Michigan City and Westville along with the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership to showcase businesses from across La Porte County and beyond.  Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the people behind local businesses, learn about their products and services and make valuable new connections.

“The La Porte County Business Expo is a great example of what can happen when organizations work together to strengthen our business community,” said Kurt Gillins, President of the Michigan City Chamber.

Admission is free and open to everyone.  Light refreshments will be available for purchase.

(Michigan City, IN) - The Michigan City Police Department is now accepting applications for its 2026 police academy for citizens.

The academy will run every Thursday evening from October 15th through November 19th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Michigan City Police Department.

Police said the six-week program gives community members an inside look at the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement and provides a hands-on introduction to many of the same topics officers encounter every day.

Participants will learn about:

• Criminal law and search and seizure

• Patrol tactics

• Emergency vehicle operations

• Police technology

• Crime scene processing

• K9 operations

• Specialty units and more.

Police said participants will also have the opportunity to meet and speak with MCPD officers, command staff and instructors throughout the academy.

Class size is limited to 30 participants.  Applicants must be at least 21 years old, complete an application and consent to a background check.

Applications may be submitted by email or delivered to the Michigan City Police Department front desk.  For more information, contact: Capt. Jillian Ashley at (219) 874-3221 Ext. 1075 or email  jashley@emichigancity.com or Jamie Blackwell at jblackwell@emichigancity.com.

Spots fill quickly, so don’t wait to apply!

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County residents with damage from last month’s storm can apply for financial assistance.

Today, officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security are at Krueger Memorial Hall at 801 Liberty Trail until 3 p.m. for people to apply for storm relief.

Representatives from the two agencies on Friday will be at the La Porte County Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

La Porte County Emergency Management Director Rob Sabie said people need to bring their social security numbers, contact information and a list of damages to their properties along with annual household income and banking information for people who choose to have their funds directly deposited into their accounts.

“And, if you do have insurance or partial insurance, your policy number for that,” he said.

A school bus was involved in a collision with another motor vehicle yesterday in LaPorte County.

It was a bus from South-Central school with 16 kids on it.

School officials say the bus was making a right turn onto County Road 950 South when struck by a driver dozing off.

No one was hurt but one student was looked at by medics at the scene, officials said. 

(La Porte, IN) - Authorities are looking into the cause of a fire at a La Porte manufacturing company.

A machine somehow caught fire late Tuesday night at Howmet.  The building where the machine caught fire was evacuated due to heavy smoke inside.

Fire Chief Andy Snyder said firefighters using night vision equipment to see through the heavy smoke managed to cut power to the machine and ventilate the structure.

“Our crews were on the scene for two to three hours,” he said.

Snyder said investigators are trying to determine what caused the machine to catch fire.  Howmet was working to get the building where the fire occurred fully operational again.

There were no injuries reported.

(La Porte County, IN) - A local fire chief is praising the quick thinking of his men that kept them from being electrocuted like a married couple was before they arrived.

Cass-Clinton Fire Chief Jeff Mitzner said the first firefighters to get there using flashlights to see in the dark ordered the electricity shut off before moving closer to the victims.  He said it would have been easy to rush in to try and help but they wisely stayed back to avoid potential danger.

“My first guys on the scene recognized what had happened and they just didn’t go jump in,” Mitzner said.

Todd and Tricia Rosenbaum, both 60, were electrocuted on Saturday at their Wanatah area farm.

La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson said the investigation shows Mr. Rosenbaum was using a sump pump to move water from a creek into a man-made pond while his wife was sitting on the edge of the creek with her feet in the water.

He was in the creek handling the pump when both of them were electrocuted, she said.

Swanson said one of their daughters who had been trying to reach them on the phone went to the home and discovered the bodies.  She said how the electricity escaped from the pump is still being investigated but it could have had a cracked seal.

Mitzner, who’s also a farmer, said the deaths have left the close-knit community stunned.

“They were out doing things as husband and wife as my wife and I do all of the time on the farm.  It’s a bad situation that happened,” he said.

According to family members, the pond was recently dug for a “dream home” the couple had planned to build.

Visiting hours are set for Thursday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post in Wanatah with the funeral scheduled Friday at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wanatah.

(La Porte County, IN) - The Food Bank of Northern Indiana has announced its Mobile Food Distribution Dates for September in La Porte and Starke counties.

On September 9th, there will be a food distribution at the Starke County Fairgrounds at 400 Division Road in Hamlet from 9:30am to 11:00 am Central Time while supplies last.  The food provided by USDA and the Starke County Health Department will serve 150 households.

On September 16, there will be a mobile food distribution at the La Porte County Fairgrounds at 2581 Indiana 2.  This event will be from 10am to noon Central Time while supplies last.  This distribution sponsored by Citizens Concerned for the Homeless will serve 300 households.

According to information from the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, these events include assorted food items that have been pre-boxed and pre-bagged, free of charge for households in need.

The items are distributed on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last, and with a limit of one box/bag per household.

These are drive-through distribution events, meaning participants should remain in their vehicle and open trunks to receive items. There will be an area available for self-loading if your trunk does not open.

(La Porte County, IN) - An individual on foot was seriously hurt when hit by a motor vehicle this morning.

It happened on U.S. 35 just a few miles north of La Porte.  How the accident occurred and other details, so far, have not been released.

All lanes of U.S. 35 were blocked from 400 West to Stonehedge Way until nearly 11 a.m.

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, in collaboration with the City of La Porte, has announced two project manager openings that will play a pivotal role in advancing housing, neighborhood revitalization, and downtown redevelopment efforts across the community.

According to LEAP, these positions represent a major step forward in La Porte’s long-term strategy to strengthen quality of place, expand housing options, and accelerate economic growth.

Project Manager: Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization

LEAP is seeking an entrepreneurial, results-driven Project Manager to lead comprehensive housing and neighborhood revitalization strategy for the City of La Porte. This role will be central to expanding and improving the city’s housing inventory through:

·       Property acquisition and redevelopment coordination

·       Partnership-building with private developers

·       Launching and managing rehabilitation programs

·       Driving strategic initiatives that support long-term neighborhood stability

This position is ideal for a candidate who thrives in a fast-moving environment, enjoys building partnerships, and is motivated by measurable community impact.

Project Manager: Downtown Revitalization & READI Projects

The City of LA Porte is seeking a dynamic, highly organized Project Manager to lead high-impact downtown revitalization efforts. As an independent contractor, this individual will:

·       Coordinate Indiana READI grant projects

·       Secure and manage local matching funds

·       Serve as the primary connector between city leadership, economic development teams, and private developers

·       Ensure timely execution of transformative downtown initiatives

This role is designed for a professional who excels at cross-team coordination, strategic planning, and managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects.

Driving La Porte’s Momentum Forward

La Porte continues to experience strong momentum in housing development, downtown investment, and quality-of-place enhancements. These two project management roles will help accelerate that progress by providing dedicated leadership, strategic oversight, and hands-on coordination across major initiatives.

“Both of these positions are critical to the next chapter of La Porte’s growth,” said Mike Riehle, President of Business Services for LEAP. “We’re looking for professionals who are ready to make a meaningful impact and help shape the future of our community.”

How to Apply

Interested candidates can review full job details and submit applications using the links below. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

(La Porte, IN) - A member of the La Porte City Council is stepping down.

Lauren Huffman is resigning effective the 11^th of this month because she and her family are moving out of state.

The La Porte County Republican Party has scheduled a caucus to appoint someone to fill the remainder of her term.  The caucus will be September 12 at the Republican Party headquarters in La Porte at 814 Jefferson Ave.

Anyone wanting to run for the vacant seat must notify party chairman Allen Stevens by email no later than 72 hours prior to the caucus at allenstevens1974&gmail.com.

(La Porte County, IN) - A husband and wife found dead at their farm in Wanatah were both electrocuted.

That’s the official ruling in the deaths of Todd and Patricia Rosenbaum, both 60, and fourth-generation owners of Circle R Farm.

La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson said the ruling was made following autopsies Monday on each of the bodies.  Swanson said the investigation shows Mr. Rosenbaum on Saturday was using a sump pump to transfer water from a creek into a large man-made pond.

She said the pond was for a cabin the Rosenbaum’s planned to have constructed to use as a vacation rental on their property.  Swanson said the pump was plugged into a large electrical box about 25 feet from the creek.

The investigation shows Mr. Rosenbaum was in the creek handling the sump pump when his wife sat down along the edge of the creek and put her feet into the water. It wasn’t long before the current powering the pump somehow leaked out, electrifying the water and the Rosenbaum’s.

“When it happened, it got them both,” she said.

Swanson said one of the daughters of the victims unable to reach her parents on their phones went out to the property and discovered the bodies.

Police were unable to locate any exposed wires on the pump, which continues to be examined to see if there might have been a broken seal, perhaps, that would have allowed the electrical current to make contact with the water, she said.

Swanson said emergency responders had the power turned off before retrieving the bodies.

Bill Field, a veteran farm safety expert at Purdue University, said one way the seals can break is if the pumps are dropped. 

He said electrocution can also occur if extension cords submerged in water are used to supply power to pumps.  Field said just a hairline gap between where the plugs on cords fasten together can allow electricity to leak out into the water.

“Electricity doesn’t need much space if it gets moist,” he said.

Circle R Farm is a small family owned operation raising corn, soybeans, hogs, beef cattle and eggs.