Adventures in Everyday Living, Shorelines Thursday, April 11, 2013

Northwest Indiana radio came alive on Friday night in Valparaiso with a star-studded cast including Senator Ed Charbonneau as Superman, Heather McCarthy and Leigh Morris and Saturday afternoon John Records Landecker broadcasting from Top Dog in Michigan City.---Pat Colander, Associate Publis…

EDITORIAL: Porter County should reinstate TQM program

In shutting down the total quality management program last week, the Porter County Council put the county back in the Dark Ages.

Portage seeks to reset capital development tax rate

PORTAGE | The City Council will consider resetting the tax rate for the cumulative capital development fund.

Porter County Democrats sworn in

Porter County Surveyor Kevin D. Breitzke, center, speaks with county Treasurer Mike Bucko, left, on Saturday before being sworn in to office at the Porter County Courthouse in Valparaiso.

Porter County Democrats sworn in

Democrat Mike Bucko, center, is sworn in as county treasurer by Judge David L. Chidester as Bucko's wife, Carolyn, stands near on Saturday.

PHIL WIELAND: Putting the X into Christmas carols

Christmas carols can help your holiday mood, unless your office Muzak station just played "Feliz Navidad" for the 912th time in the past two hours. In that case, I understand if you are looking forward to reindeer steaks on Christmas Day.

Lake County Council prepares to apply for $15.5 million loan

CROWN POINT | Lake County Council members said they are prepared to take a final vote Tuesday on borrowing $15.5 million next year to meet anticipated spending on the county jail, its roads and drainage waterways, and other services.

Lake County officials say they are credit worthy

CROWN POINT | Lake County officials want to assure the public that county government can handle its debt — even though it already owes creditors more than $100 million and is about to borrow more.

MARK KIESLING: Fences may make good neighbors but loans don't

Let's say for the sake of argument that I make $100,000 a year at my job.

Porter County already loaning to Lake taxing units

VALPARAISO | Porter County Treasurer Mike Bucko said Thursday the proposed loan of up to $15.5 million to neighboring Lake County is just the latest in what is shaping up to be a profitable investment move.

Lake County may borrow $15.5M from Porter County

CROWN POINT | Lake County government soon may be indebted to Porter County, literally.

Hospital opening frees up $160 million for county

VALPARAISO | Five years after the sale of the county hospital, members of the Porter County Board of Commissioners and Council gained access Saturday to the $160 million in sale proceeds.

Porter County offering payment plan for delinquent taxpayers

VALPARAISO | Porter County Treasurer Mike Bucko is taking advantage of a recent change in state law that he helped implement that allows property owners to set up a payment plan and avoid the upcoming tax sale.

PHIL WIELAND: Bank pays wrong taxes once, demands twice back

Make no mistake. Bank of America Corp. doesn't make mistakes like the mistake it made with Valparaiso Councilman John Bowker's property taxes.

Lake treasurer says amnesty program is the tax deal of a lifetime

CROWN POINT | Lake County Treasurer John Petalas said thousands of home and business owners can banish millions of dollars of tax penalties and late interest payments under an upcoming amnesty program. They need to follow two simple rules.

Mike Bucko

Michael Bucko

PHIL WIELAND: Big news: Porter County official did his job

The tax bills are coming! The tax bills are coming! Oh, the joy. Oh, the excitement.

Porter County tax bills going out next week

VALPARAISO | Porter County Treasurer Mike Bucko said tax bills should begin going out in the mail Monday or Tuesday, marking the third year in a row for on-time billing.