WESTVILLE

Tip leads to find of 155 pot plants near Westville

Another high-grade marijuana growing operation has been uncovered in LaPorte County.

Well over 1,000 cultivated plants have now been destroyed this year from the efforts of LaPorte Metro Operations, a group of drug investigators from the LaPorte County Sherriff's Office and LaPorte Police.

Police have at least one suspect from the Nov. 12 indoor growing operation bust, said LaPorte County Sheriff's Department Chief of Detectives John Boyd.

There have been no arrests because the case was still being reviewed by the LaPorte County prosecutor's office for possible filing of charges.

Police said 155 plants in various stages of growth were uncovered in a pole barn near Westville following an anonymous tip.

Items typical of a growing operation were seized, including lights, fertilizer and potting soil, police said.

Police said detectives detected a strong odor of marijuana as they approached the barn.

Among the other busts this year occurred in September when about 900 high-grade marijuana plants grown outdoors were seized near Heston.

LAPORTE

Former high school teacher, coach dies

A former coach and teacher at LaPorte High School has died.

Dick Deardurff was head football coach for the Slicers from 1978 to 1981.

He was also the head coach of the high school track team for about 15 years starting in the early 60s, said LaPorte High School Athletic Director Ed Gilliland.

Memorial services for Deardurff, who was 76, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at Bethany Lutheran Church.

Former LaPorte High School baseball coach Ken Schreiber remembers Deardurff as a "people person" who motivated and hated mistakes.

"He loved people. People loved him. If you looked up the word 'coach' in the dictionary, you'd see his picture there," said Schreiber.