Garden grows to teach, help others at Woodland Park

Nancy Bedolla, of the Portage Township Food Pantry, plants potatoes at the newly created community garden at Woodland Park. The garden will be tended by volunteers and was funded through a $10,000 grant from Cargill AgHorizons.

Garden grows to teach, help others at Woodland Park

Larry Smith plants potatoes at the new community garden at Woodland Park while Allen Hagan and Nancy Bedolla watch. The garden will be used as a teaching aid and produce will be provided to the Portage Township Food Pantry. The garden was funded through a $10,000 grant from Cargill AgHorizons.

Garden grows to teach, help others at Woodland Park

Diane Hagan, of Portage, tends to the newly planted community garden at Woodland Park this week with the help of her granddaughter, Hope Schultz. Hagan and her husband, Allen, helped design and construct the garden which will be used for teaching and to provide produce to the Portage Townshi…

Willowcreek students clean up

Students from the Willowcreek Middle School developmental assets class gather at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk site of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore after spending most of Wednesday morning cleaning the beach as part of a community service project.

Willowcreek students clean up

Willowcreek Middle School eight- graders, Michael Montes, center left, and David Herrod, center right, tie up a couple of the more than one dozen bags of trash students in the developmental assets class collected Wednesday morning from the beach at Portage Lakefront Park and Riverwalk site o…

Portage stakeholders sketch visions of U.S. 20

Portage residents and business owners talk Monday about what they would like to see along U.S. 20 in the future. The group gathered at Woodland Park to take part in the U.S. 20 vision workshop.

Portage stakeholders sketch visions of U.S. 20

John Houseal, of Houseal Lavigne Associates of Chicago, talks to a group in Portage about the redevelopment of the U.S. 20 corridor.

Helping out a neighbor

Portage resident Jessica Alvarez, center, was presented with the Portage Fire Department Community Service Award during a recent Portage City Council meeting by Fire Chief Tom Fieffer, left, and Mayor James Snyder, right. Fieffer said on the late afternoon of Jan. 15, a fire was reported on …

Anit-abortion group holds vigil in front of Porter County Courthouse

Al Raffin, president of Porter County Right to Life, speaks to about 60 people gathered outside the Porter County Courthouse on Saturday during a Prayer Vigil for Life.

Anit-abortion group holds vigil in front of Porter County Courthouse

Al Raffin, president of Porter County Right to Life, speaks to about 60 people gathered outside the Porter County Courthouse on Saturday afternoon for a Prayer Vigil for Life.

Donnelly vists farmers, ag representatives during tour

U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly listens to a group of farmers and agricultural organization representatives Thursday morning at the Ron and Cheri Birky farm. The stop was part of his four-day "I Work for You" tour.

While county sees increase in fuel use, others see drops

While Porter County officials blamed rising fuel prices for the need to come up with an additional $250,000 last year, the larger communities in the county were able to live within their budgets.

Women escape unharmed from early morning fire, but lose everything

A mobile home at 417 Bronze in Oaktree Village Mobile Home Park was severely damaged early Friday morning in a fire. The three residents escaped unharmed, but lost nearly everything. Police officers rescued two dogs, but a third perished in the blaze.

Porter County Salvation Army in home stretch of annual fundraiser

The Porter County chapter of Bikers for Christ is helping children's Christmas wishes come true. On Monday, the group donated $1,200 to the Salvation Army of Porter County's Angel Tree program. Pictured, from left to right, are Salvation Army Maj. Jon Welch, Angel Tree Coordinator Kathy Chil…

Concerns raised about remnants of Seven Dolars Shrine

Concrete-like benches that are remnants of the Seven Dolors Shrine in South Haven have fallen into disrepair. The property is surrounded by homes in the Coventry subdivision.

Concerns raised about remnants of Seven Dolars Shrine

A statue of St. Francis embracing Jesus Christ remains at the outdoor altar at the former Seven Dolors Shrine in South Haven. Two large angels once flanked the statue. One was reported stolen in 2007, and the other was reported missing the week before Thanksgiving.

Concerns raised about remnants of Seven Dolars Shrine

A door to the Lourdes Grotto at the Seven Dolors Shrine in South Haven has been knocked down. Concerns have been raised about the deterioration of the remaining structures from the shrine.

South Shore Liqors

South Shore Liqors, formerly Old Town Liquors, 5454 Central Ave., Portage, was the site of a robbery late Saturday night. A man dressed in a ski mask ordered a clerk to the ground and left with an undetermined amount of cash.

Fire destroys second home in South Haven in a week

A Wednesday afternoon fire destroyed a home at 380 Brook Drive. The fire started in the garage and jumped to the ranch-style home. No one was injured.

Fire destroys second home in South Haven in a week

A fire destroyed a home at 380 Brook Drive Wednesday afternoon. The fire started in the detached garage and jumped to the home.

Fire destroys second home in South Haven in a week

A fire destroyed a home at 380 Brook Drive Wednesday afternoon. The fire started in the detached garage and jumped to the ranch-style home.

South Haven fire sends one man to hospital

Firefighters battle a fire Monday at 769 Heritage Road.

South Haven fire sends one man to hospital

Firefighters from multiple departments battle a house fire Monday at 769 Heritage Road. The fire sent homeowner Russell Simcox to the hospital.

South Haven fire sends one man to hospital

Firefighters from multiple departments fight a residential fire Monday at 769 Heritage Road.

Officer recognized with department awards

Portage Police Master Patrolman Aaron Chinn was honored at the recent Portage City Council meeting. Chinn, center, was presented with both the department's exceptional service and lifesaving awards from Portage Police Chief Troy Williams, left, for actions he took recently in two separate in…

Residents get glimpse into Porter's new cardiac facility

Porter Regional Hospital nurse Jodi Schoon on Saturday shows visitors at the new Center for Cardiovascular Medicine the electrophysiology lab during a community open house.

Residents get glimpse into Porter's new cardiac facility

David Benham, a registered cardiac sonographer with Porter Regional Hospital in Liberty Township, shows 3-D imaging equipment to a tour group Saturday morning at the new Center for Cardiovascular Medicine.

72-year-old Portage man shot and killed at his home

Carl Griffith Sr., 72, was found shot about 8 p.m. Thursday outside his Portage home. He was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at Porter Regional Hospital in Portage. Police are investigating the shooting as a homicide.

State grades schools; majority in region gets A or B

Second-grade teacher Rebecca Curry gives her students directions Wednesday at Central Elementary School in Portage. The Indiana Department of Education released letter grades Wednesday for all the schools in the state.

State grades schools; majority in region gets A or B

Central Elementary School teacher Rebecca Curry helps one of her students Wednesday as the class works through the morning lesson at the Portage school.

State grades schools; majority in region get A or B

Central Elementary School second-grade teacher Rebecca Curry leads her class through their studies Wednesday morning in Portage. The Indiana Department of Education released letter grades Wednesday for all the schools in the state.

State grades schools; majority in region gets A or B

Central Elementary School second-grade teacher Rebecca Curry helps students with their lessons Wednesday morning in Portage. The Indiana Department of Education released letter grades Wednesday for all the schools in the state.

Getting the scoop

Fifth-graders in James Asbury's class at Myers Elementary School in Portage created newspapers as part of their study of The Age of Exploration. Each newspaper concentrated on one explorer and his accomplishments. From left, Sophia Hernandez and Maddie Delgado's newspaper on Marco Polo earne…

County candidates square off in forum

Political candidates, from left, Republican Mike Heinold, Democrat Laura Blaney, Republican Mark Hoffman, Democrat Sylvia Graham, Republican Joe Wzsolek and Democrats Bob Poparad and Dan Whitten get ready Tuesday before a candidates forum in Valparaiso. The forum was sponsored by the Valpara…

Gubernatorial candidate makes stop at Portage's Cappo's

Democrat gubernatorial candidate John Gregg and former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh stopped at Cappo's restaurant in Portage on Wednesday to talk to diners.

Gubernatorial candidate makes stop at Portage's Cappo's

Democrat gubernatorial candidate John Gregg stopped by Cappo's restaurant Wednesday to talk to diners about issues facing Indiana.

Police use license plate reader as investigative

The Portage Police Department has recently had an automated license plate reading system installed on one of its unmarked squad cars. The system includes four cameras installed on the exterior of the vehicle which can read license plates and either record information in the database or compa…

Cooler donation could help save lives

NMLK recently donated three special coolers to the Portage Fire Department. The coolers will be used to maintain the correct temperature for intravenous fluids needed for patients in cardiac arrest. Portage Fire Chief Tom Fieffer, from left; Joe Gazarkiewicz, NMLK director of human resources…

Finders Mall finding its identity

Rick Dempsey, manager of the Finders Mall Entertainment and Activity Center, stands by the venue's concession stand. He and owner Tony Taylor are revamping the former movie theater into an entertainment venue for teens.

Off-duty Portage police officer injured in accident

Portage police officer Frank Lizak escaped serious injury Wednesday night after his police car was struck by an alleged drunk driver on Ind. 2. Lizak, who was off duty at the time, received minor bumps and bruises and was treated and released from the hospital, said Portage Assistant Chief B…

Portage councilman calls for term limits

Portage City Councilman John Cannon, R-4th, holds a news conference at City Hall to announce he will introduce an ordinance at Tuesday's council meeting to limit the terms of elected officials to eight consecutive years in office.

Gottschling presented key to city

Portage Mayor James Snyder presented a key to the city to former City Councilman Ed Gottschling on Tuesday for his years of service to the city. Gottschling was also the grand marshal for Wednesday's Fourth of July parade.

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Marc MihalicJ

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Greg Adair

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Michael Laney

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Wendell Hite

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Dennis Hollan

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Anthony Dandurand of Hebron, is one of three new police officers sworn in to the Portage Police Department on June 25.

National Transmission fire

A cloud of thick, black smoke pours from National Transmission, 5475 W. U.S. 6, in Portage. Shortly after noon Monday, fire crews from across Porter County were called in to help battle the three-alarm blaze.

Portage sues to shut down alleged biker clubhouse

Portage officials have filed suit seeking to shut down what they are describing as an illegal clubhouse, operated by the Invaders Motorcycle Club, along U.S. 20.