Pence orders cuts in Calumet Township spending

INDIANAPOLIS | Griffith leaders were ecstatic Friday after Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed into law mandatory reductions in Calumet Township spending and a path for Griffith to exit the township if its excessive spending continues.

Lake County officials cancel trash-to-ethanol contract

After four years of failed attempts to get a Lake County trash-to-ethanol plant off the drawing room floor, waste district officials unanimously canceled the contract Thursday with a would-be developer.

Wasteful endeavors?

Some officials throughout the country say they have learned the grass isn't always greener when it comes to alternative methods of disposing of municipal garbage.

Waste board may cancel ethanol contract next month

The longtime champion of a Lake County trash-to-ethanol plant expects a final decision to made next month regarding whether to cancel the four-year-old contract.

Economic renaissance of Griffith continues

GRIFFITH | In 2008, Griffith began planning a renaissance of its downtown to bolster existing businesses and attract new enterprises.

Some see federal ruling as opportunity to revisit canceling trash-to-ethanol contract

A recent federal ruling paints a picture of the national alternative-fuels scene that closely mirrors what Lake County has experienced for four years in its trash-to-ethanol plan: lots of promises and no results.

Cal Township won nearly $3M in federal refunds over last decade

Calumet Township Trustee Mary Elgin doesn't get any slack from her critics even when the office tries to be frugal.

RICH JAMES: Griffith offers wrong answer on Calumet Twp.

I can’t believe Griffith is at it again, wanting to break away from Calumet Township.

Griffith makes another bid to leave Calumet Township

GRIFFITH | After six years of trying to leave Calumet Township, the Town Council said Tuesday that 2013 may finally be the charm.

Calumet Township, Griffith will duke it out again in General Assembly

Secede is too strong a word for what the town of Griffith wants to do to Calumet Township.

Calumet Township data reveals it as big spender among townships

GARY | The multimillion-dollar budget for the Calumet Township trustee has been a fat target for critics from Griffith Town Hall to the statehouse in Indianapolis.

Griffith police punctuate message to dealers with drug raid

GRIFFITH | Griffith's interim police chief sent a message as loud as a flashbang grenade early Thursday to drug dealers he believes are using his town as a "safe haven" for their illegal trade.

Griffith Safety Board: 'Gross misconduct' led to demotion of chief, lieutenant

GRIFFITH | Griffith's former police chief and his second-in-command were demoted following allegations of "gross misconduct" within the department, a town letter made public Friday states.

Calumet Township to give idled ambulances to Gary

GARY | The Calumet Township trustee on Thursday will symbolically pull the plug on her office's once expensive and controversial emergency medical services when she hands over the keys to her fleet of ambulances to a new owner.

Trash-to-ethanol debate pauses until after election

Some Lake County Republican officials are crying foul over the cancellation of last week's solid waste district meeting, dubbing it a possible political ploy to push a discussion past the general election.

Can trash-to-ethanol facility make it?

With yet another collapsed land deal, a fresh set of delays on financing decisions and a contract in limbo, some Lake County solid waste officials wonder if they are hearing the end of trash-to-ethanol.

Consortium given more time to buy out Powers, but deal remains uncertain

A consortium of region contractors on Thursday argued it and its potential investors need more time to evaluate whether the trash-to-ethanol process works before taking over the long-stalled project.

Trash-to-ethanol saga marked by constant change, missed deadlines

With new owners possibly on the horizon for the proposed Schneider trash-to-ethanol plant, some Lake County waste officials say it is the perpetuation of a four-year-old game of musical chairs.

Lake County waste officials to mull termination of Powers contract in executive session

What had been billed as the moment when financiers would potentially endorse Lake County's trash-to-ethanol plan became another in a long line of failures of a would-be developer to produce, some county officials said Thursday.

Powers given another month in quest for trash-to-ethanol plant financing

Powers Energy of America remained in breach of contract with Lake County's solid waste board but was given another month to try to prove it can finance its long proposed trash-to-ethanol plant.