Cancer survivors celebrated at Valparaiso Relay for Life

Cancer survivors make their survivors lap at the Valparaiso Relay for Life Friday evening at thomas Jefferson Middle School. Luminaria bags in the foreground memorialize cancer victims.

Cancer survivors celebrated at Valparaiso Relay for Life

Cancer survivors make their survivors lap at the Valparaiso Relay for Life Friday evening at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Cancer survivors celebrated at Valparaiso Relay for Life

Cancer survivors make their survivors lap at the Valparaiso Relay for Life Friday evening at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Cancer survivors celebrated at Valparaiso Relay for Life

Cancer survivors make their survivors lap to kick off the Valparaiso Relay for Life on Friday evening at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Cancer survivors celebrated at Valparaiso Relay for Life

Ten-year-old Riley Evans, of Valparaiso, fixes fallen luminaria bags memorializing cancer victims at the Valparaiso Relay for Life on Friday.

Cancer survivors celebrated at Valparaiso Relay for Life

Ten-year-old Riley Evans, of Valparaiso, fixes fallen luminaria bags memorializing cancer victims at the Valparaiso Relay for Life on Friday.

Feds hand down public corruption indictments

Laser sights are displayed Friday during a news conference held by the U.S. attorney's office. A Pennsylvania gun dealer is accused of conspiring with former Lake County police officers to purchase machine guns and laser sights, meant for law enforcement or military use, then sell them for p…

U.S. Attorney David Capp announces three indictments as a result of investigations of public corruption.

U.S. Attorney David Capp announces three indictments as a result of investigations of public corruption, including charges against Lake County Surveyor George Van Til.

Van Til indicted for using public employees, resources for campaign work

U.S. Attorney David Capp announces three indictments as a result of investigations of public corruption, including charges against Lake County Surveyor George Van Til.

Lake Surveyor Van Til indicted by feds

Lake County Surveyor George Van Til takes a call from Lake Station Mayor Keith Soderquist as he watches the election returns come in during the 2012 general election. Van Til is accused by the U.S. attorney's office of using public employees and equipment to do political work.

Opening day for the RailCats

RailCats' Brian Kolb dives back to first to beat the tag by the Saltdogs' Ian Gac as the Gary South Shore RailCats tangle with the Lincoln Saltdogs Thursday.

Opening day for the RailCats

The Saltdogs' Matt Forgatch dives safely into second beating the tag by RailCats' as the Gary South Shore RailCats tangle with the Lincoln Saltdogs Thursday.

Opening day for the RailCats

The RailCats' Chase Tucker dives for an infield fly but can't get to it as the Gary South Shore RailCats tangle with the Lincoln Saltdogs Thursday.

Opening day for the RailCats

RailCats' catcher Craig Maddox pulls in a foul ball for a Saltdogs out as the Gary South Shore RailCats tangle with the Lincoln Saltdogs Thursday.

Opening day for the RailCats

Alain Quijano pitches for the RailCats as the Gary South Shore RailCats tangle with the Lincoln Saltdogs Thursday.

Opening day for the RailCats

The RailCats' Chase Tucker dives for an infield fly but can't get to it as the Gary South Shore RailCats tangle with the Lincoln Saltdogs Thursday.

Opening day for the RailCats

The Saltdogs' catcher Jeremy Mayo appeals to home plate umpire Mike O'Leary after the RailCats' Brian Kolb dives safely into home as the Gary South Shore RailCats tangle with the Lincoln Saltdogs Thursday.

Opening day for the RailCats

The RailCats' Adam Klein dives into home plate beating the tag by the Saltdogs' Jeremy Mayo as the Gary South Shore RailCats tangle with the Lincoln Saltdogs Thursday.

Opening day for the RailCats

The RailCats' Adam Klein dives into home plate beating the tag by the Saltdogs' Jeremy Mayo as the Gary South Shore RailCats tangle with the Lincoln Saltdogs Thursday.

Meet the 2013 RailCats

RailCats practice baseballs

Alex Nickla, Crown Point

From his knees, Crown Point's Alex Nickla gets the runner out at first as Valparaiso lost to Crown Point in Duneland Athletic Conference baseball action on Tuesday.

Ethan Lehnen, Valparaiso; Jake Jatis, Crown Point

Valparaiso's Ethan Lehnen gets caught off base by Crown Point's Jake Jatis as Valparaiso meets Crown Point in baseball action Tuesday.

Jake Benich, Crown Point; Drew Weston, Valparaiso

Crown Point's Jake Benich reacts after getting tagged out by Valparaiso's Drew Weston in Tuesday's Duneland Athletic Conference game, which the Bulldogs won.

Rene Lozano, Valparaiso; Jake Jatis, Crown Point

Valparaiso's Rene Lozano gets caught between third and home by Crown Point's Jake Jatis in Tuesday's Duneland Athletic Conference game, which C.P. won 9-6.

Jake Jenks, Crown Point

Crown Point's Jake Jenks is congratulated at home plate after hitting a three-run homer against Valparaiso on Tuesday as the Bulldogs beat the Vikes in Duneland Athletic Conference play.

Rene Lozano, Valparaiso

Valparaiso's Rene Lozano was brought in as a relief pitcher against Crown Point on Tuesday, but the Bulldogs were able to pull out the Duneland Athletic Conference win.

Valparaiso's Rachel Willing

Valparaiso's Rachel Willing is 8-1 at No 2 singles, 2-1 at No. 3 and 0-1 at No. 1 this season.

Valparaiso's Rachel Willing

Valparaiso's Rachel Willing is 10-3 combined in singles play this season.

Valparaiso's Rachel Willing

Valparaiso's Rachel Willing was 14-2 at No. 3 singles last season.

Valparaiso's Rachel Willing

Valparaiso's Rachel Willing is 24-5 overall in varsity singles play the last two seasons.

Giffith police launch K-9 patrol

Officer Robert Gutierrez shows off Gino, his canine partner, on Monday to AT&T Indiana President George Fleetwood at Jedi's Garden in Griffith.

Giffith police launch K-9 patrol

Griffith police K-9 Officer Robert Gutierrez and Gino romp outside of Jedi's Garden before being presented inside.

Gary Chamber Luncheon

Ken Bennett, left, from the U.S. Department of Labor chats with U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky at the Gary Chamber of Commerce's annual Membership Meeting on Monday.

Gary Chamber Luncheon

U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky chats with Norma Serrano-Williams at the Gary Chamber of Commerce's annual Membership Meeting on Monday. Investment by all layers of government, economic development agencies and private industry is what’s needed to secure the future of the U.S., Indiana and N…

Paul Komyatti Jr.

Convicter killer Paul Komyatti Jr. talks with The Times from the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, Ind., in 2007.

Woman celebrates Mother's Day with long-lost mom

Crown Point resident Andrea Niecikowski-Hunter, left, and her birth mother, Diane Espar, will celebrate Mother's Day together this year. As an unmarried teenager, Espar gave her daughter up for adoption. They reconnected 27 years later.

Woman celebrates Mother's Day with long-lost mom

Crown Point resident Andrea Niecikowski-Hunter, left, and her birth mother, Diane Espar, will celebrate Mother's Day together this year. The two were apart for 27 years after Niecikowski-Hunter was adopted, but instantly connected when they were reunited, they said.

Gary/Chicago Airport expansion work

Using expanded polystyrene, workers construct a new bridge at the Gary/Chicago International Airport. Gov. Mike Pence on Friday also signed Senate Bill 585, thawing the Lake County property tax levy freeze, setting qualifications for Gary airport board members and providing for studies of re…

Mt. Carmel Caravan football

Mt. Carmel practices for an October game with Catholic League Blue rival St. Rita. The IHSA recently put limits on preseason practices.

Quiet zones coming to Schererville railroad crossings

New delineators were installed near the 213th Street crossing in Schererville. The work was recently done to create a quiet crossing there. The delineators start about 100 feet away from the tracks and are there to prevent motorists from driving around railroad gates.

Quiet zones coming to Schererville railroad crossings

New delineators were installed near the 213th Street crossing in Schererville. The work was recently done to create a quiet crossing there. The delineators start about 100 feet away from the tracks and are there to prevent motorists from driving around railroad gates.

Airport Road bridge dedicated in honor of Tuskegee Airman

The new bridge on Airport Road near the Gary/Chicago International Airport will be named the Quentin P. Smith Tuskegee Airman Memorial Bridge. The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority paid the $11.6 million tab for building the bridge, which is part of the $166 million airport ru…

Airport Road bridge dedicated in honor of Tuskegee Airman

Gary/Chicago International Airport board President Nate Williams, from left, Lake County Commissioner Roosevelt Allen, Quentin P. Smith Jr. and Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson unveil one of the signs for the new bridge on Airport Road. The bridge was dedicated in honor of the late Tuskegee A…

Airport Road bridge dedicated in honor of Tuskegee Airman

Gary/Chicago International Airport board Vice President Marion Johnson presides over a ceremony Friday dedicating the new bridge on Airport Road in honor of the late Tuskegee Airman Quentin P. Smith. The new overpass will be called the Quentin P. Smith Tuskegee Airman Memorial Bridge.

Marc Chase

Investigative Editor Marc Chase

Kids give valiant effort at Porter County Spelling Bee

Evan Szabo and Nick Koprcina are the final two spellers in the fourth-grade level at the Porter County Spelling Bee held Thursday at Ben Franklin Middle School in Valparaiso. Nick won the bee with Evan finishing as runner-up.

Kids give valiant effort at Porter County Spelling Bee

Fourth-graders await their turns at the Porter County Spelling Bee held at Ben Franklin Middle School in Valparaiso Thursday.

Kids give valiant effort at Porter County Spelling Bee

Fourth-grader Nick Koprcina seems to look for divine help at the Porter County Spelling Bee held Thursday at Ben Franklin Middle School in Valparaiso.

Latino students, adults stage protest at Hammond Area Career Center

Concerned parent Angie Enriquez speaks with Clark High School Principal Robert Wilson outside of the Area Career Center in Hammond. Students and parents were protesting the hiring and firing of Latino teachers in the Hammond school system.