060813-nws-BNI 060813_nws_bni_04.jpg

Valedictorian Tommy Abbott plays "Good Riddance," more commonly known as "Time of Your Life" by Green Day, after his speech during the 90th commencement at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond on Friday, June 7, 2013.

Walkers in Gary raise money to help women and children

Walkers begin the annual Sojourner Truth House walk Saturday in Gary. The song "Eye of the Tiger" was played as participants stepped off.

Walkers in Gary raise money to help women and children

Pamela Wade dances while warming up for the annual Sojourner Truth House walk Saturday at Froebel Alumni Park in Gary. Participants raised nearly $70,000 for the organization, which provides a variety of services for homeless and at-risk women and their children.

Putting the class in commencement

Juliana Abrica double checks Valedictorian Thomas Abbott before entering the 90th commencement at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond.

Putting class in commencement

Edward Rivera plays an electric guitar version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Friday's 90th commencement exercises at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond.

Andrean High School celebrates Baccalaureate Mass

Andrean High School seniors pray the Our Father during the annual Baccalaureate Mass at Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Merrillville on Thursday.

Andrean High School celebrates Baccalaureate Mass

Andrean senior Haley Schrager hugs friends during the annual Baccalaureate Mass at Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Merrillville on Thursday.

Dogs, cats find homes on 'pets day'

David O'Connor, of Valparaiso, holds Walker on Sunday while the Rev. Roger Bower, pastor of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, blesses the pet during Celebration of Wildlife at Sunset Hill Park in Liberty Township.

Dogs, cats find homes on 'pets day'

Mark Seeger, of Valparaiso, helps Sofia Guzman, 6, of Portage, hold a 4-year-old alligator Sunday during a Celebration of Wildlife at Sunset Hill Park in Liberty Township.

Bishop ordains eight men as Gary diocese deacons

Bishop Dale Melczek welcomes newly ordained deacon Miguel Arredondo, of East Chicago, into the ministry at Saturday's ceremony in Gary.

Bishop ordains eight men as Gary diocese deacons

Bishop Dale Melczek lays his hands on deacon candidate Stephen Grandfield, of Ogden Dunes, during an ordination ceremony Saturday at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary.

Bishop ordains eight men as Gary diocese deacons

Deacon Duane Dedelow, of Hammond, left, helps newly ordained deacon Daniel Lowery, of Highland, put on his vestments during Saturday's ordination at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary.

Andrean's Jack Musgrave

Andrean's Jack Musgrave carded a career-best 73 at the Lake Central Invitational on May 18. Musgrave will lead the 59ers into the highly-competitive Lake Central Sectional on Friday.

BTK_VAL_REG_05.jpg

Chesterton's Billy Biehl finishes ahead of Crown Point's Tom Cierniak in the 3200-meter relay at Friday's Valparaiso Regional.

BTK_VAL_REG_02.jpg

West Side sprinter Jonvae Johnson finishes ahead of Hammond's Malik Myles (left) and Lake Central's Charles Sykes in the 100-meter dash preliminary at Friday's Valparaiso Regional.

BTK_VAL_REG_03.jpg

Bowman Academy's Marsalis Gibson wins his heat in the 100-meter high hurdles during Friday's Valparaiso Regional.

BTK_VAL_REG_01.jpg

Hobart pole vaulter Nick Stack clears 13 feet in Friday's Valparaiso Regional.

BTK_VAL_REG_04.jpg

Hebron's Blake Wallace competes in the long jump during Friday's Valparaiso Regional.

Citywide garage sales attract shoppers in Hobart and Whiting

Tony Arduino joins neighbors Saturday during the annual Whiting townwide garage sale.

Cal College celebrates commencement

Graduates are led into the athletic center Saturday to begin the Calumet College of St. Joseph 51st annual annual commencement in Hammond.

Cal College celebrate commencement

David Bochnowski, left, and Joi Patterson (right) help confer an honorary doctor of humanities degree on Bishop Dale Melczek during the Calumet College of St. Joseph annual commencement Saturday in Hammond.

Brooke Baker-Runyon, Andrean

Brooke Baker-Runyon coached Andrean to the Class 3A state championship last June. The IHSAA draw for the 2013 state tournament was released and the 59ers will open against Rensselaer at the Kankakee Valley Sectional.

15 students compete Saturday in Science Olympiad

Thomas Jefferson Middle School eighth-grader Allison Skadberg, from left, and Valparaiso High School freshmen Nick Bluhm and Tim Henderson adjust the weights on their Rube Goldberg machine for the mission impossible competition at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in preparation for the Nationa…

15 students compete Saturday in Science Olympiad

Valparaiso High School freshman Abby Mitchell works on her mouse trap vehicle named Apollo at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in preparation for the National Science Olympiad.

15 students compete Saturday in Science Olympiad

Thomas Jefferson Middle School eighth-grader Zuri Bryant, left, and Valparaiso High School freshman Megan Rahn put together a hydrometer to test water quality at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in preparation for the National Science Olympiad.

Walkers celebrate lives touched by hospice

Walkers begin the Visiting Nursing Association's 12th annual Stroll for Hospice on Sunday in Valparaiso.

Walkers celebrate lives touched by hospice

Shawna Tubbs, left, and her daughter Kiley Tubbs, both of Valparaiso, sign a marker that will be placed along the Visiting Nursing Association's 12th annual Stroll for Hospice in Valparaiso.

Valparaiso's Kyle Meihofer

Valparaiso's Kyle Meihofer has been medalist at two 18-hole prep events this spring, second in the other two tournaments.

Black Pearl Bakery

Owner Michelle Vogt has added a doggie treat truck to sell her Black Pearl Bakery dog products.

Black Pearl Bakery

Michelle Vogt sells her Black Pearl Bakery products from a new van at the Independent Cat Society Black Cat Strut event in Valparaiso on April 29.

Runners strut their stuff for animal shelters, rescues

Daisy is prepared for the rain as she accompanies her owner, Maria Sisco, in the one-mile dog walk during the Black Cat Strut 5K and dog walk Sunday at Sunset Hill Farm County Park. The event raised $13,000 for the Independent Cat Society.

Runners strut their stuff for animal shelters, rescues

Runners complete the 5K run in the rain during the Independent Cat Society Black Cat Strut on Sunday at Sunset Hill Farm County Park.

Rebuilding Together Valparaiso binds community

Aaron Ingram makes some roof repairs at 404 Elmhurst in Valparaiso during the annual Rebuilding Together project Saturday.

Rebuilding Together Valparaiso binds community

Valparaiso University student Mickey Suber fills a whellbarrow with mulch while helping landscape the yard at 359 Chicago St. in Valparaiso during the annual Rebuilding Together project Saturday.

Rebuilding Together Valparaiso binds community

Sam Mueller, right, and Madeline Shepley do yard work at 404 Elmhurst in Valparaiso during the annual Rebuilding Together project Saturday.

Valparaiso's Bobby Jacobs watches his drive on No. 9 during the

Valparaiso's Bobby Jacobs watches his drive on No. 9 during the Marquette Invitational at Municipal Golf Course in Michigan City on Saturday. He finished with an 82.

Chesterton's Brandon Martin watches his drive on No. 10 Saturday

Chesterton's Brandon Martin watches his drive on No. 10 Saturday during the Marquette Invitational at Municipal Golf Course in Michigan City. He was fourth overall with a 78.

Lake Central's Evan Zondor sizes up his putt on No. 10 Saturday

Lake Central's Evan Zondor sizes up his putt on No. 10 Saturday during the Marquette Invitational at Municipal Golf Course in Michigan City.

Chesterton's Jonathan Gross putts on No. 10 Saturday

Chesterton's Jonathan Gross putts on No. 10 Saturday during the Marquette Invitational at Municipal Golf Course in Michigan City.

Lake Central's Matt Meneghetti putts on No. 11 Saturday uring the Marquette Invitational

Lake Central's Matt Meneghetti putts on No. 11 Saturday during the Marquette Invitational at Municipal Golf Course in Michigan City.

Valparaiso's Kyle Meihofer lines up his putt on No. 9

Valparaiso's Kyle Meihofer lines up his putt on No. 9 Saturday during the Marquette Invitational at Municipal Golf Course in Michigan City. He was third overall with a 76.

Andrean's Joey Noworyta watches his shot on No. 9 Saturday

Andrean's Joey Noworyta watches his shot on No. 9 Saturday during the Marquette Invitational at Municipal Golf Course in Michigan City.

Valparaiso's Sam Miller, Munster's Ryan Yates

Valparaiso's Sam Miller, left, gets picked off at first base by Munster's Ryan Yates during the first inning against Munster at the U.S. Steel Yard on Friday night. The Vikings did end up winning the game.

Munster's Scott Shaner, Valparaiso's Alex Bales

Munster's Scott Shaner, left, forces out Valparaiso's Alex Bales during the first inning at the U.S. Steel Yard on Friday. The Vikings got the win with a big start to the game.

Valparaiso's CJ Gear

Valparaiso's CJ Gear misses a fly ball during the first inning against Munster at the U.S. Steel Yard on Friday. The Vikings did get the win though.

Valparaiso's Sam Miller

Valparaiso catcher Sam Miller makes a diving catch for an out during the second inning against Munster at the U.S. Steel Yard on Friday. The crisp play was an example of how the Vikings won their season opener against the Mustangs.

Munster's Scott Shaner

Munster's Scott Shaner, left, tries to turn two after first forcing out Valparaiso's Alex Bales during at game at U.S. Steel Yard.

Women's dugout canoe, lake voyage featured in museum exhibit

Amy Lukas, right, and Mary Catterlin talk Sunday about their dugout boat, Mekeba, carved from a cottonwood tree, along with other items they used to circumnavigate Lake Michigan last summer, during a new exhibit at the Porter County Museum of History in Valparaiso.

Women's dugout canoe, lake voyage featured in museum exhibit

Mary Catterlin, right, started hand-carving a cottonwood tree into a dugout canoe, then she and friend Amy Lukas, left, circumnavigated Lake Michigan in the boat this past summer. The boat is now on exhibit at the Porter County Museum of History.

Bowman's Antonio Pipkin and Justin King celebrate semistate crown

Bowman players Antonio Pipkin, leftl, and Justin King celebrate the Class 2A Northern Semistate championship won on Saturday at Huntington North High School. Coach Marvin Rea was at Monday's state press conference in Indianapolis for the IHSAA's 103rd boys basketball state tournament.