Three Tri-Creek School Corp. employees honored

LOWELL | The Tri-Creek School Corp. has honored three employees for outstanding work.

Lowell High band recognized with group's All-Music Award

LOWELL | The Lowell High School band has received the Indiana State School Music Association All-Music Award for 2012-13.

Lowell considers bike trail proposal

LOWELL | The Lowell Town Council heard a proposal recently to create a bike trail that could possibly connect to other region trails.

Lowell looks to expand volunteer firefighter roster

LOWELL | Concerns about daytime emergency responses have prompted the Lowell Town Council to look at expanding the roster at the town's Volunteer Fire Department.

SMALL-BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Illiana Heating and Air Conditioning

When Tom Krygsheld started Illiana Heating and Air Conditioning with his wife Sue out of their Lansing home, they had three younsters running around and not a lot of space.

Genetically modified products a benefit, farmers say

For Eagle Creek Township grain farmer Bob Little and others like him, genetically modified seeds for corn and other foods represent earth-friendly progress that enhances life on the planet.

Lowell eyes new concept for water plant

LOWELL | The town could head into uncharted territory if it chooses to dive into the new means of sourcing municipal water as presented to the Town Council Monday.

Tri-Creek schools meeting time changed

LOWELL | Thursday's Tri-Creek School Board meeting has been rescheduled to 6 p.m. rather than the normal 7 p.m. start time.

Poetry in the Park scheduled for Saturday at site in Lowell

LOWELL | Evergreen Park will serve as the backdrop as poets converge Saturday for two hours of Poetry in the Park.

Lowell planners set hearing on land use maps June 13

LOWELL | The Plan Commission will conduct a public hearing at 7 p.m. June 13 on the town's proposed land use and zoning maps.

Lowell pays sewer line access costs in annex settlement

LOWELL | The Town Council has approved a settlement with two property owners who opposed annexation.

Athletes' parents must sign civility clause

LOWELL | When parents sign up their kids for Tri-Creek School Corp. middle school and high school sports next year, they'll be signing off on a civility clause as well.

Mother Nature, equipment help farmers plant crops in record time

After a wet introduction to the planting season, local farmers and those across the state hit the fields hard in May as Mother Nature opened some timely windows.

Tri-Creek raises the bar for high school courses

LOWELL | Tri-Creek School Corp. is raising the bar for courses at Lowell High School.

22-year-old St. John resident joins Lowell Police Department

LOWELL | Matthew Philbin, 22, of St. John, has been was sworn in as Lowell's newest police officer.

Lowell's interim police chief gets the job permanently

LOWELL | Interim Police Chief Erik Matson has been named the permanent chief in a unanimous Lowell Town Council vote Tuesday.

Tri-Creek school trustee plans to resign effective June 30

LOWELL | Tri-Creek School Board member Jeff Mescal is resigning from the board effective June 30 to devote time to other matters.

SMALL-BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Michael's Restaurant, Highland

After working in restaurants for 35 years, the last decade as a district manager for a bakery cafe chain, Peter Bizoukas was surprised when he was downsized.

Lowell businessman earns top drag racing award

LOWELL | With wraparound headphones on and a National Hot Rod Association cap atop his head, 85-year-old Ken Hirata talks up a vendor before switching to a conversation with a Lake County planner on expanding one of his buildings immediately west of Lowell.

Devils Give Back Car Show is Sunday at Lowell High School

LOWELL | The third annual Devils Give Back Car Show is set for Sunday in the north parking lot of Lowell High School.

Buckley Homestead will host Hoosier River Watch in June

LOWELL | Those with a keen interest in the water quality of rivers and other waterways are urged to reserve a spot now for the Hoosier River Watch Workshop on June 14 at Buckley Homestead County Park.

Nike Fuel Bands allow Lowell students to track energy output

LOWELL | New technology and a new class at Lowell High School are fueling interest in fitness.

Business finally linked to Schneider water, sewer utilities

SCHNEIDER | After six years of using a private well in violation of town ordinance, a local business will be getting hooked up for municipal water and sewer utilities.

Lowell shop changes name, adds antiques to offerings

LOWELL | A new sign, "Aunt Nae's," has gone up at the former location of You Shouldn't Have in the historical downtown district.

Strack & Van Til opens Cedar Lake store

CEDAR LAKE | After hungering in a food desert for three years, residents of this lakeside community happily converged on the first-of-its-kind Strack & Van Til grocery store Thursday following grand opening ceremonies.

Lowell Town Council meets in work session on Monday

LOWELL | The Town Council will meet next in a work session at 4 p.m. Monday at Lowell Town Hall.

Two-day Voyageur Rendezvous starts Saturday

HEBRON | Three centuries ago, French-Canadian fur traders and native Americans plied the waters of the Kankakee River.

Lake waste district aids Lowell Green Community drive

LOWELL | This south Lake County community is going green in a big way.

Lowell keeping Republic Services as trash collector

LOWELL | After unanimously agreeing nearly two months ago to go out for bids for the municipal garbage contract, a majority of the Town Council voted Monday to stay with Republic Services for another three years.

LaPorte County farm family honored for 115 years heritage

When Gerald Werner's great-grandfather settled in the rich farm country of Indiana from his native Germany, he planted the seeds of a heritage that continues to bear fruit.

Tri-Creek School Board OKs student trip to East Coast

LOWELL | A group of Lowell High School students will take a trip next spring break to Boston and New York.

Tickets on sale for event to honor World War ll veterans

GARY | Tickets are expected to go quickly for an event to honor veterans of World War II.

Fog cancellation day extends Tri-Creek school year one more day

LOWELL | The end of school will be one day later.

Tri-Creek School Board signs on to Green Community concept

LOWELL | The message in the Tri-Creek school system is simple.

Lowell looking to expand Town Hall parking lot

LOWELL | The Lowell Town Council has received quotes for extending Town Hall parking lot to adjacent property to the east, where the Old Grade School was razed earlier this year.

Tri-Creek seeks waiver of town fees for learning center project

LOWELL | Tri-Creek Schools Superintendent Debra Howe said she would like the town to waive $110,000 in public works fees for the learning center project, but that's a large chunk of change for the town, councilmen are arguing.

Tri-Creek schools set to discuss lease

LOWELL | The Tri-Creek School Board is scheduled to meet in special session at 7p.m. Monday to take preliminary steps for the lease with a corporation established to fund bonds to build the Tri-Creek Learning Center.

A return to normal weather means normal crop production

Dan Roeske has been in the farming business for 25 years, since he was 19 years old and took over the family's rural Hebron farm in Porter County.

Lowell Academic Decathlon team headed to nationals

LOWELL | As excited as he was March 7 when he learned the Lowell Academic Decathlon team he coaches was heading to the nationals, English teacher Joe Gianotti had to think about money.

Business offers space to work when a dedicated office is too much

Whenever Chris Vestal stopped in local coffee shops, he always found a number of patrons working away on their laptops between sips of mocha.

Lowell Academic Decathlon team holding fish fry Friday

LOWELL | The Lowell Academic Decathlon team is sponsoring a fish fry from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday to help raise money for the trip to the national competition next week.

Illiana Expressway foes to attend

LOWELL | The No Illiana 4 Us group plans to bring its handout maps tonight when bistate planners of the Illiana Corridor lay out theirs during a public meeting to examine specifics of the expressway that would run between Cedar Lake and Lowell.

Tri-Creek School Board given state's 'outstanding' kudos

LOWELL | The Tri-Creek School Board has reached "outstanding" status.

Tri-Creek board mulls refinance plan

LOWELL | The Tri-Creek School Corp. top finance official plans to save thousands of dollars for the district and its taxpayers if the state's Department of Local Government Finance agrees it can be done.

Illiana Expressway strategies to be discussed April 18 at Lowell Middle School

LOWELL | Indiana and Illinois planners for the Illiana Expressway will meet from 5 to 8 p.m. April 18 at the Lowell Middle School, 19250 Cline Ave.

Illiana opposition takes up environmental impact crusade

LOWELL | An area federal conservationist has a list he thinks Illiana Corridor consultants should follow if they are to maintain environmental justice and not destroy agriculture in the project's path.