Times Pictures of the Year 2011

Jonathan Miano | The Times

Bill Kobak, of Chicago, surfs on large waves in Lake Michigan during a windy day at Whihala Beach in Whiting, Sept. 30.

Kyle Telechan | The Times

Portage resident Christine Allison and Chesterton resident Greg Duda join a candlelight parade Sept. 27 in memory of slain Portage 19-year-old Amanda Bach.

John J. Watkins | The Times

Wearing her brother Jeff's jersey, Gina Gagliano is comforted by her boyfriend, Paul Graetz, at the memorial to American Eagle Flight 4184 Oct. 31. Jeff Gagliano was one of the pilots of the ill-fated flight that crashed in a field near Roselawn, Ind., 17 years ago on a cold, rainy Halloween night, killing all on board.

Jonathan Miano | The Times

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Ralph talks to his family via Skype from a military base in Virginia Beach, Va., while wife Sherri Ralph prays before dinner with daughter Samantha Ralph, 1, and sons Matthew Mendoza, 8, left, and Ryan Ralph Jr., 2, right, at the family's home in Highland, Feb. 9. Ryan married Sherri three-years ago and has been apart more than together with them.

Tim Hunt | The Times

Lake County Highway Department driver Roger Ohlenkamp walks through deep snow to prepare a chain to tow his snowplow out of a ditch in Crown Point on Feb. 2. The truck ended up in a ditch due to a civilian driver that would not move.

John Luke | The Times

Gary resident Marquis Sample joins dancers from DancExcel as they perform "The Spirit of the Baobab Tree" at West Side High School, Feb. 18. The dance company, which teaches young people dance and other lessons, was able to get up and operating from an Hammond Empowerment Zone loan.

Mike McArdle | The Times

Munster senior basketball player Brian Stolarz reacts to his team's loss to Kokomo in the semistate playoffs while opposing fans celebrate behind him in Lafayette, March 19. Kokomo defeated Munster 47-44 to get the right to play in the state finals.

Jon L. Hendricks | The Times

Election judge Dana Bohannon takes a quick rest May 3 during a lull in voting at the Valparaiso High School polling place. Voters in Porter County barely turned-out to mark their ballots in the primary, with less than 12 percent voting.

Jonathan Miano | The Times

Bryan Regan, of the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, flies inverted over Gary during a practice flight for the 12th annual Gary South Shore Air Show, July 15.

John J. Watkins | The Times

A section of the Cline Avenue bridge in East Chicago was demolished in 2011 after state officials deemed it structurally deficient in 2009. The state is considering proposals to build a private toll bridge in its place.

John Luke | The Times

Wheeler's Jake Gore intercepts a pass intended for Andrean's Brandon Pavlina during the final minutes of their sectional game Oct. 21 at Andrean High School. Wheeler shocked Andrean by defeating them 12-7 with eight Andrean turnovers and only 20 total yards of offense.

Jon L. Hendricks | The Times

Sari Hogg looks up at a hole in her garage firefighters cut after a lightning strike and subsequent fire May 25 in Valparaiso.

Jonathan Miano | The Times

Spc. Felix Duron Jr., of Valparaiso, kisses his two-month-old son, Felix Duron III, for the first time at the VFW in Lake Station after coming home from his year-long deployment in Afghanistan Aug. 24. "I'm overwhelmed. I'm just so happy to see them. It's good to be home," Duron said.

Jonathan Miano | The Times

Hammond Police Chief Frank DuPey's loved ones, including son Frank E. DuPey, left, and grandson Frank M. DuPey, 9, and friend Ricky Janek, right, carry his casket at St. John Cemetery on Nov. 3 in Hammond. Frank E. DuPey, son of Chief DuPey and a Lake County sheriff's police officer, wears his father's original Hammond police jacket from 1957 and his chief badge.

John Smierciak | The Times

Mt.Carmel's Chris Sujks scores at home plate as Marist catcher Pat Nelson loses the ball during the Southside Conference Challenge 2011 baseball game on, April 10. Mt. Carmel won 16-5.

Mike McArdle | The Times

Liberty Elementary School first grader Chloe Isaac tries to blow a ping-pong ball into a square before her opponent during the fun fair in Hobart, Jan. 28.

John J. Watkins | The Times

Firefighters wait for water to be trucked in while battling a house fire at 11719 Decatur St. in Winfield Township. No one was injured in the blaze that took firefighters almost one-hour and over 20,000 gallons of water to extinguish.

John J. Watkins | The Times

University of Indianapolis forensic anthropologist Stephen P. Nawrocki, right, and graduate students exhume the bones of a female under a former bait and tackle shop in Hammond, Oct. 7. The identity of the female is still unknown.

AJ Mast | The Times

Agustin Carreon, vice president of Laborers' International Union of North America Local 81 in Valparaiso, chants with union protesters outside the Statehouse in Indianapolis, Feb. 24. Thursday was the fourth consecutive day unions have gathered to voice opposition to various bills before the General Assembly.

John J. Watkins | The Times

A barn near Cline Avenue south of Rohrman Road burns in Schererville, July 7. Police and firefighters assisted rescuing all 40 horses from the four-alarm fire which caused $1 million in damage.

John J. Watkins | The Times

Allen Thomas wrestles a steer to the ground in the chute dogging competition Aug. 20 at the Windy City Rodeo in Crete. The 16th rodeo presented by the Illinois Gay Rodeo Association had approximately 50 cowboys and cowgirls participating in classes such as, team roping, bareback bronc riding, mounted breakaway roping and line dancing.