National lakeshore reminds Lake Michigan users of swimmer, boater safety

PORTER | With the warming weather, many people begin to return to the shores and waters of Lake Michigan to enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities.

Sustainability, economic development thrive in Cedar Lake

The Blues Mobile was the winner in this heat of the Great Cedar Lake Cardboard Boat Race on July 4. It was piloted by Camerron Gembala, left, Brandon Dobe, Tim Zebleckis and Rodney Shipe, all of Cedar Lake. The lake is the center of life in the town.

Shared language of firefighting

Portage Fire Department's Assistant Fire Chief Joe Calhoun, left, talks with Baumberg, Germany Fire Department's Jurgen Auhalt as they sit on the bow of PFD's new fire boat Thursday. A handful of German firefighters and family members from Baumberg visited the Portage Marina to see the new 3…

Shared language of firefighting

Oilver Emunds, from Baumberg, Germany, photographs the Monsoon deck gun onboard Portage Fire Departments new fire boat Thursday. Several firefighters from Baumberg paid a visit to the Portage Marina to see the new 36-foot firefighting boat Portage Fire Department put into service last month.

Shared language of firefighting

Firefighters and visitors from Baumberg, Germany, look over the controls of the new Portage fire boat Thursday on Lake Michigan. The volunteer firefighters from Germany are interested in the new vessel because of their own location to the Rhine River.

Shared language of firefighters

Portage firefighter Andy Himan stands onboard the department's new fire boat Thursday as he takes firefighters from Baumberg, Germany out onto Lake Michigan on the boat. The German frefighters paid a visit to the Portage Marina on Thursday to see the new 36-foot boat the Portage Fire Departm…

Cedar Lake cardboard boat race crews think out of box

Ken Rasmussen, of Cedar Lake, was an easy winner Wednesday in his heat at Cedar Lake's 12th annual Cardboard Boat Race.

Region celebrates Independence Day

Rachel Gurthet, 16, of South Bend, coasts to an easy win over Shamus Shields, 16, and Shawn Shields, 13, both of Lowell, at Cedar Lake's 12th annual Cardboard Boat Race.

Cedar Lake cardboard boat race crews think out of box

Cousins Harrison, left, and Jack Gluth had a tough time of it Wednesday at Cedar Lake's 12th annual Cardboard Boat Race.

Cedar Lake cardboard boat race crews think out of box

The Blues Mobile was the winner in its heat at Cedar Lake's Cardboard Boat Race. It was piloted by Camerron Gembala, left, Brandon Dobe, Tim Zableckis and Rodney Shipe, all of Cedar Lake.

Cedar Lake cardboard boat race crews think out of box

The Blues Mobile was the winner in this heat of Cedar Lake's 12th annual Cardboard Boat Race. It was piloted by Camerron Gembala, left, Tim Zableckis, Brandon Dobe and Rodney Shipe, all of Cedar Lake.

Portage fire boat christened

PORTAGE | Sharon Gordon, of Burns Harbor, stood on the stern of Portage Fire Department’s new rescue boat on Saturday morning and gracefully broke a bottle of champagne to christen the craft, named for her brother-in-law, into the emergency fleet.

Portage fire boat christened

Sharon Gordon christens Marine 1 at the dedication of the new Portage Fire Department fire boat Saturday. Sharon is the sister-in-law of Samuel Malarek, for whom the boat was named.

Portage fire boat christened

Residents get a ride on Marine 1, the Samuel E. Malarek, after the new Portage Fire Department fire boat was christened Saturday.

Portage fire boat christened

Tyler Monahan, 4, of Portage, gets ready for a ride on the new Portage Fire Department fire boat. Marine 1, the Samuel E. Malarek, was dedicated Saturday.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Bob Mehok, of Munster, prepares to dock a boat May 18 at the Portage Public Marina.

Northwest Indiana marinas gearing up for boating season

Portage resident Les Karafta washes his boat May 18 at the Portage Public Marina. The 200-slip Portage Public Marina has 194 of its 200 slips occupied with the rest left for transient boaters, Harbormaster Allen Ekdahl said. Ekdahl said he expects the marina is popular because of its proximi…