Friday's flood fighting drill canceled due to real flooding

GARY | A flood fighting drill scheduled Friday morning has been canceled because those involved in it are dealing with the real thing.

Preparations ready for possible NWI flooding

MUNSTER | As the rain continues over the next 24 hours, preparations are ready in every community to fight possible floodwaters, members of the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission heard at Wednesday’s meeting.

New Little Cal flood fees to appear on property tax bills

Lake County property tax bills coming soon to mailboxes will include a new annual fee to help operate and maintain the flood control levee system along the Little Calumet River. All or parts of 15 communities throughout the county will be accessed the fee.

Kennedy Avenue closes Wednesday night, Thursday morning for drill

HAMMOND | For 4.5 overnight hours Wednesday and Thursday, the west side of Kennedy Avenue and two of the interchanges with Interstate 80/94 will be closed in Hammond and Highland for a flood-fighting drill.

Flood-fighting drill set for Kennedy Avenue this week

HAMMOND | In September 2008, Interstate 80/94 running through Lake County was closed for a week as a result of flooding when the Little Calumet River overflowed an unfinished levee.

Trees along Little Cal may cause flooding

MUNSTER | About 2,500 diseased and damaged trees between the Little Calumet River and the flood protection levee system designed and built under the supervision of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must be removed.

Flood control drill to close Kennedy on March 20

A full-scale drill to practice protecting parts of Highland and Hammond during future flood events will shut down Kennedy Avenue at just after midnight March 20.

EDITORIAL: Corps hits brick wall on Little Calumet

The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission was right to go against the Army Corps of Engineers' wishes last week in voting for a quick, $100,000 flood control project while waiting for the corps to come up with its own proposal.

EDITORIAL: Tie airport board changes to RDA funding

Indiana Sen. Ed Charbonneau's legislation for Gary reforms, Senate Bill 585, is running into opposition in Northwest Indiana because of its proposed restructuring of the Gary/Chicago International Airport board of directors. This board revamp could be used as leverage to bring needed support…

Construction problems on just-completed levee provide food for discussion

MUNSTER | Problems with construction of the newly completed flood protection levee became an issue at Wednesday’s meeting of the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission at Munster Town Hall.

Officials report progress on Little Calumet levee project

MUNSTER | The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission couldn't pay bills or take any official action Wednesday because of a lack of quorum.

EDITORIAL: We pick Soliday in Indiana House District 4

Voters in Indiana House District 4 face two candidates who have served as state representatives — Democrat Greg Simms and the incumbent, Republican Ed Soliday. The latter is the better choice.

Governor appoints two new members to Little Cal Commission

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels this week appointed two new members to the commission that oversees Little Calumet River levees in Lake County and reappointed two Valparaiso residents to other state boards.

Looking back at the Flood of 2008

The flood of Sept. 12-14, 2008 isn’t just history to the thousands of people from Northwest Indiana and south suburban Illinois who experienced what one meteorologist calls “the perfect storm” of weather patterns.

Ire over Little Cal levee work comes to a head

MUNSTER | Forest Avenue residents flooded Town Hall on Wednesday to find out when their neighborhood will be fully protected by the Little Calumet River levee system.

EDITORIAL: Isaac wasn't stern, but NWI was prepared

The worries about the remnants of Hurricane Isaac bringing a reprise of the 2008 rains that pounded Northwest Indiana turned out to be unfounded, but that's not the only good news.

Isaac remnants rain on region

The remnants of Hurricane Isaac lost steam on the way to the region, bringing rain but not the severe weather and flash flooding that was feared.

Work on Little Cal levee system continues

MUNSTER | The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission is continuing to focus on maintenance and getting the final phases of a flood protection project completed.

Munster duo vying for GOP House seat nod

INDIANAPOLIS | Both Republicans running for the 12th Indiana House District in Munster, Highland and Griffith believe newly drawn district boundaries make it likely three-term state Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, will be defeated.