PAPER PROTECTION: Faith in system shredded

Phyllis Roy discusses her case prior to a hearing in November with Tajanae Mallett, a Valparaiso University Law School student from Naperville. VU law professor Geneva Brown runs a domestic violence clinic out of the Lake County clerk's office, allowing students to represent clients seeking …

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T.F. South senior Joe Young, left, takes down Justin McCoy during a practice. Young is 31-3 at 182 pounds and will compete in the Class 3A state meet which begins today in Champaign.

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T.F South heavyweight senior Corinthan McBridge, top, is 37-3 and is competing in the Class 3A meet which begins today in Champaign.

Woof Life

Leslie Cook aims to provide dogs and cats superior nutrition with her Crown Point shop, Woof Life.

Business will pick up in region in 2013

Gold shovels and hard hats sit on a bulldozer near the beginning of the groundbreaking ceremony for the CSX Select Site designation and rail infrastructure improvements at INland Logistics Port in Kingsbury in September.

Mike Miklusak, Lake Central

Lake Central's Mike Miklusak stands 6-foot-5 but can shoot the long-ball like a guard. That is why Texas Pan-American and Chicago State have already offered Division I scholarships and Hofstra is making a push of late to obtain senior's talents in the coming years.

Levon Hamilton, Hammond

Hammond's Levon Hamilton was a member of Lew Wallace's 2010 Class 3A state runner-up team. He collapsed after the Hornets' overtime loss and was rushed to the emergency room. After recovering from severe migraine headaches, he moved to Hammond with his mother. He's worked hard to help lead t…

Levon Hamilton, Hammond

Hammond's Levon Hamilton was a member of Lew Wallace's 2010 Class 3A state runner-up team. He collapsed after the Hornets' overtime loss and was rushed to the emergency room. After recovering from severe migraine headaches, he moved to Hammond with his mother. He's worked hard to help lead t…

Wheeler's Kevin Barnes

Wheeler's Kevin Barnes participates in the final rounds of the boys 3-point shootout at the Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.

Whiting's Nick Filipek

Whiting's Nick Filipek participates in the final rounds of the boys 3-point shootout at the Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.

Lake Central's Mike Miklusak

Lake Central's Mike Miklusak participates in the tie-breaker final rounds of the boys 3-point shootout at the Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.

Chesterton's Cole Teal

Chesterton's Cole Teal participates in the final rounds of the boys 3-point shoot out at the Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.

Hammond High's Levon Hamilton

Hammond High's Levon Hamilton participates in the final rounds of the boys 3-point shootout at the Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.

Levon Hamilton

Hammond High's Levon Hamilton has worked the past two year to change his physique and overcome the migraines that once interfered with his basketball career.

Levon Hamilton

Hammond High's Levon Hamilton hopes to return to the state championship, where he and his former Lew Wallace teammates once played.

Portage's Nicki Monahan

Portage's Nicki Monahan poses for a picture with Times managing editor Paul Mullaney after winning the final round of the 3-point shootout at the Region Roundball Rumble.

Crown Point's Abby Kvachkoff

Crown Point's Abby Kvachkoff finished second after final round of the 3-point shootout at the Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.

Portage's Nicki Monahan

Portage's Nicki Monahan participates in the final round of the 3-point shootout at the Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.

Lake Central's Gina Rubino

Lake Central's Gina Rubino finished fourth in the finals of Tuesday's 3-point shootout at the Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.

Chesterton's Caroline Puntillo

Chesterton's Caroline Puntillo finished third after the final round of the 3-point shootout at the Region Roundball Rumble at the Hammond Civic Center.

Heavens Helping Hand

Stan Wrobel of Heaven's Helping Hands, a Hammond Resale Shop, sits among items for sale in the store. Wrobel says the store has been open since March and continues to increase business monthly.

African-American community celebrates Kwanzaa

Jahsil Smith talks about the origin of Kwanzaa during a celebration Thursday at the DuBois Library in Gary. The holiday was started in 1966 by a professor at California State University, Long Beach.

African-American community celebrates Kwanzaa

Jonathan Boos opens the Kwanzaa celebration Thursday at the DuBois branch of the Gary Public Library. Thursday marked the second day of the seven-day nonreligious holiday when African-Americans celebrate family, community and culture.

Local pastors focus on true meaning of Christmas

The Rev. Lionel Young, of Calvary Church in Valparaiso, delivers his sermon Dec. 16.

Local pastors focus on true meaning of Christmas

The Rev. Lionel Young, of Calvary Church in Valparaiso, delivers his sermon Dec. 16. Young said he plans to discuss the Newtown, Conn., shootings with his congregation during Christmas services. “I think we are all grieving as a nation over the pain and suffering of a community that has endu…

Here comes Santa Claus

Santa Claus arrives and greets children Sunday participating in a Christmas event sponsored by Elite Academy in Winfield.

Here comes Santa Claus

Elite Academy in Winfield sponsored a visit from Santa Claus on Sunday in Winfield. Local children received a meal along with gift bags from Santa.

Lowell FOP members shop with kids for the holidays

Lowell police Officer Cory Burkus talks Star Wars with kids participating in the Lowell FOP's Shop with a Cop event Saturday.

Lowell FOP members shop with kids for the holidays

Lowell police Officer Dan Lee talks with Madison Shepard, 7, during the Shop with a Cop event Saturday. Lowell Fraternal Order of Police members began the day began with breakfast with the children and their families at Schoop's Hamburgers. After breakfast each child received a $150 gift car…

Trauma center need remains top issue

A University of Chicago's Aeromedical Network transports a patient from Methodist Northlake's Gary campus to the University's Chicago Pediatric Trauma Center in October 2009.

Trauma center need remains top issue

A patient suffering from life-threatening injuries lays on a gurnee in October 2009 at the Trauma Area of Methodist Hospital's Northlake Campus as doctors and nurses work to care for him.

Trauma center need remains top issue

A supervisor checks IV bags while making calls concerning a trauma case as Dr. Nick Johnson and his team assess a patient for injuries Oct. 24, 2009 at Methodist Northlake's Gary campus.

Meteorologist shows St. John kids the future is bright

Clark Middle School eighth-graders thank meteorologist Megan Glaros for speaking to them Thursday at the St. John school. Glaros, the meteorologist for the CBS 2 Morning News, graduated from Lake Central High School in 1998 and lives in St. John.

Meteorologist shows St. John kids the future is bright

Meteorologist Megan Glaros speaks with eighth-graders Thursday at Clark Middle School in St. John.

Nikki Smith, posing in Munster pool

Munster sophomore Nikki Smith has even bigger goals this season.

Nikki Smith, competing for Munster

Munster's versatile Nikki Smith was a pleasant surprise as a freshman.

TF South wrestlers pose for photo

T.F. South seniors, from left, Darius Thomas, Austin Berryhill, Blake Tisza, Corinthan McBridge, Joe Young, Monche Gutierrez, Justin McCoy and James Cooper hope to lead the Rebels to a South Suburban Blue Conference title and beyond.

TF South coach Mike Tisza talks to his team

T.F. South wrestling coach Mike Tisza talks to his team following a recent practice.

Morton's head coach Kevin Dermody

Morton's head coach Kevin Dermody reacts during Tuesday's game against Crown Point.

Crown Points's Braxton Rice shoots over Morton's Xavier Johnson

Crown Point's Braxton Rice shoots over against Morton's Xavier Johnson during the first quarter Tuesday.

Crown Point's Alex Nickla drives against Morton's Travon Atkins

Crown Point's Alex Nickla drives against Morton's Travon Atkins during the first quarter Tuesday.

Morton's Eleazar Henderson drives the lane

Morton's Eleazar Henderson drives the lane against Crown Point's defense Tuesday.

Crown Point's P.J. Phelps looks for an open man

Crown Point's P.J. Phelps looks for an open man against Morton on Tuesday.

Coroner ID's body found near Lowell as missing Cal City woman

Lake County Coroner Merrilee Frey and Calumet City Police Chief Frank Gilmore hold a press conference Monday confirming the body of Gena Chiodo was found found near Lowell Sunday.

Coroner ID's body found near Lowell as missing Cal City woman

Calumet City Police Chief Frank Gilmore hugs Pat Nasella, of Lansing, as Lake County Corner Merrilee Frey gives her condolscences to the friends of Gena Chiodo. The body of Chiodo was found near U.S. 41 southwest of Lowell on Sunday. Her boyfriend Donol Clark, 42, has been charged with murde…

Coroner ID's body found near Lowell as missing Cal City woman

Michelle Mack, of Lansing, becomes emotional while remembering her friend at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Lansing following a news conference at the Calumet City Police Department.

Triple W Forum

Inspired by her late sister, Crown Point resident Jennifer Connelly organizes the Triple W Forum to help women balance work and personal life.

Rustic yule depicts 'simpler life'

Jayden, from left, Eli and Juliet Gurley pose with St. Nicholas on Saturday at Buckley Homestead County Park's "Christmas Long Ago" event. The program continues today at the park near Lowell.

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Alex Cerros discusses marketing tools he suggests for Thomas Irrigation during his small business consulting presentation. Groups made a presentations about area businesses. Students in Purdue University Calumet's Small Business Consulting class made consulting presentations to several small…