A 'lights out' plan to honor fallen soldiers

VALPARAISO | If you hear taps being played at sunset in downtown Valparaiso soon, don't think the city administration expects you to turn out the lights and go to bed.

Celebrate vibrant, visionary Valparaiso

In Valparaiso, we have so much to celebrate in the way we work and play and live each day.

Parks enhance our quality of life

Orville Redenbacher's daugher Gail Tuminello sits next to a bronze statue of her father unveiled at Central Park Plaza in Valparaiso Sept. 4, 2012. The statue now has its own Twitter account.

And the winner of the Oscar visit is ... Valpo

VALPARAISO | Orville is welcoming a very important guest on Sunday. Oscar.

PHIL WIELAND: Getting Valpo's vision off to a flying start

It's no secret I'm a big fan of the future, in the sense that I hope we all have one. Keep those Mayans cranking out the calendars, please.

OFFBEAT: Col. Sanders 'resurrected' for new KFC cookie commercials

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Clock to add timely, timeless beauty to Valpo

VALPARAISO | By the time the Popcorn Festival fires up its annual tribute to Orville Redenbacher's favorite food, travelers on the ChicaGo Dash should know when the buses come and go.

Orville statue takes top Tweet trophy in Indy

VALPARAISO | Orville Redenbacher is still the king.

PHIL WIELAND: Big wind brings blowhard Wielando's annual visit

It's an ill wind that blows no good, and this week's storm blew in the no-goodest prognosticator of them all: The Amazing Wielando.

Explore the South Shore: Arts & Culture to feature sculptures

HAMMOND | The sculptors responsible for the creation of the Flick statue, as well as the Orville Redenbacher statue found in Valparaiso and numerous other statues all over the world, will present other works while educating visitors on the bronze statue making process during the Explore the …

Mystery person tweeting for Redenbacher statue in Valparaiso

VALPARAISO | The King of Popcorn seems to have made a triumphant return to the city. Not only is his statue in Central Park Plaza a popular feature, Orville Redenbacher has almost 200 followers on his Twitter account.

DOUG ROSS: Planning a legacy for Hoosier bicentennial

Each of the three candidates for governor is focused on the state's most immediate need: jobs. But what about later in the four-year term, after -- we all hope -- the economy has recovered?

PHIL WIELAND: A little refrain that popped into my brain

Listen, my children, just pull up a chair

Popping the Question: Orville Redenbacher's secret craft for creating 'perfect kernels' remains festival claim-to-fame

The late Orville Redenbacher happily wore the crown of "Popcorn King," and each year, made a return trek to Valparaiso to participate in the parade and festival created in his honor.

New Redenbacher sculpture to be unveiled today

CHICAGO | The signature suspenders were no problem for artist Lou Cella to recreate, but the wavy hair and the famous black, horn-rimmed glasses were more of a challenge.

Orville, Charlie turned popcorn into community service

VALPARAISO | When first approached about the idea of having a sculpture of her father in the Valparaiso's downtown park, Gail Tuminello said she couldn't quite picture it.

Orville Redenbacher: A passion for popcorn

VALPARAISO | The man who rose to become top of the poppers, Orville Redenbacher, was born in Brazil, Ind., on July 16, 1907 -- the youngest of four children.

Valpo first to get banner honoring National Guard

VALPARAISO | It's going to be a banner week beginning Saturday in downtown Valparaiso thanks to the National Guard and the Folds of Honor organization.

Popcorn maker lays off 35 in Rensselaer

RENSSELAER | A spokesman for ConAgra Foods Inc. said Monday it laid off 35 of its 220 employees at its popcorn production plant here.

Valpo extends amphitheater naming rights

VALPARAISO | The city's Park Board voted to renew the agreement with Porter hospital for naming rights to the Central Park Plaza amphitheater Tuesday.