VALPARAISO

Rodriguez found guilty of resisting, burglary

A jury found Portage resident Thaddeus Rodriguez guilty late Friday of burglary and resisting law enforcement, as well as being a habitual offender.

The 37-year-old will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Feb. 24 by Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper.

Deputy Prosecutor Trista Hudson told jurors last week that Rodriguez broke into a house in the 3200 block of Ashland Avenue in Portage on Jan. 28 and stole a stereo. Police said they followed footprints in the snow back to Rodriguez's house in the 5000 block of Boulder Avenue.

Rodriguez was apprehended when he crawled into the attic and fell through the ceiling in the adjoining duplex unit after an eight-hour standoff with SWAT officers, Hudson said. Rodriguez was found hiding under a bed.

The habitual offender status stems from two prior felony convictions.

VALPARAISO

Region bridal show is still seeking vendors

The Northwest Indiana Bridal Expo is still accepting vendors for the first bridal show of the season. The bridal show is being held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Porter County Expo Center and is free for brides, family and friends.

Categories are still open. The guest list of brides invited top 800 with a postcard mailed directly to the bride's home, all with a wedding in 2009 or 2010 and from Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.

For more information or to participate, contact Michelle at (219) 764-3825 or Sonya at (219) 769-3460 or by email at NWIBE@vmail.com.

PORTAGE

Board approves May fundraiser for Legion

The Board of Works on Monday approved a tag day for Portage American Legion Post 260.

The annual Poppy Day event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9. Volunteers will be collecting funds at the intersections of Central Avenue and Hamstrom Road, Vivian Street, Irving Street and Willowdale Road. Funds raised will be used to support American Legion projects.

PORTAGE

Local officer to work on county drug unit

The Board of Works on Monday approved a contract with the Porter County Drug Unit to lend a Portage police officer to the drug unit for 2009. The unit will pay the city $5,000 per month for the use of the officer.