Roundabout work

Work crews install a new storm sewer on Roosevelt Road on Tuesday in the first phase of the five-points roundabout project at Roosevelt, North Calumet Avenue and Vale Park Road. The project is expected to be completed by fall.

Roundabout work

Storm sewer pipes await installation on Roosevelt Road. More than 80 percent of the cost of the two-lane roundabout is being paid using federal funds.

New art walk sculptures arrive in Valpo

William Walther watches as a crew places his sculpture "To Hope" on concrete pads along the Valparaiso Art Walk.

New art walk sculptures arrive in Valpo

Artist James Havens polishes the stainless steel finish on his work "Big Dance," which sits next to the main entrance to the Valparaiso YMCA. It is one of the 15 sculptures on the city's art walk.

New art walk sculptures arrive in Valpo

Artist Todd Kime works to mount his sculpture "Bounce" along Cumberland Crossing Drive Thursday as part of Valparaiso's art walk.

New art walk sculptures arrive in Valpo

Ken Thompson, rear, of the Midwest Sculpture Initiative, and workmen position the work "To Hope" by William Walther near the corner of Cumberland Drive and Vale Park Road as part of the Valparaiso art walk's new series of sculptures.

Valparaiso Woman's Club

Valparaiso Woman's Club, 102 Washinton St., Valparaiso

PHIL WIELAND: Big wind brings blowhard Wielando's annual visit

It's an ill wind that blows no good, and this week's storm blew in the no-goodest prognosticator of them all: The Amazing Wielando.

Valparaiso police officers recognized

The Valparaiso Police Department honored three officers Monday at the Valparaiso City Council meeting for their efforts during a hostage crisis on May 25. From left, Detective Sgt. Jeff Balon, Officer Jerame Simpson and Officer Keith Perez were recognized.

Service honors brave who preserved land of free

Linda Kolarik and Michael Wooden place a wreath in front of the Vietnam War Memorial on Saturday during Veteran's Day ceremonies at Stoney Run County Park in Leroy.

William Kadar

William Kadar, a World War II veteran and former German prisoner of war, looks at photos with his granddaughter Arleen Haas.

Valpo officials get preview of St. Mary clinic

The main entrance to the new St. Mary Medical Center Valparaiso Health Center now under construction at Ind. 49 and Burlington Beach Road.

Greg Stephan

Chip Yanta

Cindy Mundell

Nancy Harrington

Little Free Library

Mary Beth Witcher, of Valparaiso, looks at a book at the Little Free Library outside her home on Park Avenue across from Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Residents may borrow books at no cost, and they are encouraged to leave books for others to read.

Tree is not company for development's paving plans

A 100-year-old cottonwood tree, which sits in the middle of Glade Street in Valparaiso, is heaving the street. The owners of the private drive have approached the city about changing traffic within the development.

Tree is not company for development's paving plans

A huge cottonwood tree is buckling the pavement on Glade Street in Valparaiso.

Gene Wiggins

Former Valparaiso Technical Institute instructor Donald Eugene "Gene" Wiggins

Historic road

Lori Cravens, left, and Candy Yurcak prepare to film an interview for movie a dealing with areas historical roads.

David Peeler

David Peeler, candidate for Hebron Town Council At-Large

Jeff Grogan.jpg

Jeff Grogan, Hebron Town Councilman

Jeff Grogan

Jeff Grogan, candidate for Hebron Town Council

A model firefighter

Valparaiso firefighter/paramedic Stephanie Hart is one of the female firefighters who will be featured in a calendar produced by America's Female Firefighters Inc., a national nonprofit organization. The calendar helps raise funds to benefit burn victims.

Portage, Valpo municipal elections likely to bring new faces

Residents of Portage and Valparaiso are likely to see new officials in municipal office next year as some candidates already have announced intentions to run.

Man, 68, killed in apparent hit-and-run in Hebron

HEBRON | A pair of shoes and a jacket were the first hint Kimberly Smith had that her father might be the person lying in the middle of Main Street, the apparent victim of an accident early Wednesday morning.

Public works director has found his passion

Matt Evans, Valparaiso public works director.

Kras remembered for humor, dedication

Mike Kras speaks Wednesday at Valparaiso City Hall in a ceremony honoring his son, Matt Kras, who died in May. The city built a garden in memory of Matt Kras, who was the city's stormwater engineer.

U.S. 30: The region's road

From the developed corridors on the Indiana-Illinois border to open space near the LaPorte County line, a person could live his or her whole life on U.S. 30 in the Calumet Region.

Meeting minutes from 150 years ago showing signs of age

The book containing the minutes from meetings dating back to 1857 is showing signs of age as the pages slowly deteriorate from the acid in the paper and are in danger of being lost forever. Phil Wieland | The Times

Sharon Swihart hopes to preserve Valparaiso record books

Valparaiso Clerk-Treasurer Sharon Swihart examines a book with the meeting minutes from 1857 to 1865 when the city was still a town. It is one of seven books of old records she hopes to have preserved. Phil Wieland | The Times

PHIL WIELAND: Tea Party column generates another protest

Reactions to last week's column about the Tea Partiers was pretty evenly split between those who thought I was a bonehead and those who thought I was a complete idiot.

PHIL WIELAND: Tea Partiers need to rally around reality

The Tea Party rallies in Valpo and Crown Point remind us of the importance of free speech, even if the speech has no basis in reality.

PHIL WIELAND: Indiana's policy on health care is sick

Every year Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, tries to pass a law banning smoking in most public places, and every year, like his comic strip namesake, the legislative Lucys snatch the ball away and laugh when he falls flat on his backside.

PHIL WIELAND: 'Wichlinski Beats Obama' is no 'Dewey Beats Truman'

The Republicans should have a virtual elephant stampede of candidates eager to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012, but they need look no further than former Porter Township Trustee Bob Wichlinski.

PHIL WIELAND: Nothing noble about these knights

How can we defeat the foreign terrorists when we can't eliminate our own home-grown varieties of misguided morons?

PHIL WIELAND: Roundabout got you going in circles? Here's help

Valpo finally found someone who admits he likes the roundabout. He was immediately taken out and Tasered into a coma.

PHIL WIELAND: Bureau hopes U.S. will come to its census

An army of 3.8 million people is about to invade the nation, and it is taking no prisoners.

PHIL WIELAND: Valpo the first stop on the RDA PR tour

The selling of the Regional Development Authority in Porter County kicks into high gear this month, and for once Gov. Mitch "Mitch" Daniels is not the salesman.

PHIL WIELAND: Santa's in a tight spot to get toys to the tots

'Twas the night before Christmas and poor Santa's condition was grim.

PHIL WIELAND: RDA paranoia real or just Harperboly?

Greetings, wordsmiths. Today's vocabulary lesson is the word "harperboly."

Fair adds touch of class to the bathrooms

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | Who can blame the Porter County Fair for putting on airs? And I'm not referring to the air emanating from the manure bins behind the cattle barn.

Porter County Fair doesn't have everything -- yet

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | It's hard to believe that a fair that offers entertainment as vast and varied as the Balloon-A-Tics, the Midway of Magic and Mike and His Trike could possibly have overlooked anything to entice the public, except a cure for zucchini.

Exhibit puts a new spin on energy savings

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | The Porter County Fair is advertising itself as more eco-friendly, which doesn't mean it is recycling the same entertainment. At least, not entirely.

PHIL WIELAND: Gen. Harper rattling his saber against RTA

The war against the proposed Regional Transportation Authority is on, and Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper has met the enemy. It is Valparaiso.

Valpo's roundabout could relieve official's Dyer concern

The great thing about roundabouts is the apparent plethora of "experts" to consult, most of whom offer advice for free.

For Earth Day, take a tree to lunch

I will celebrate Earth Day today by giving the planet a big hug because, of all the planets I've lived on, it is my favorite.

Charles 'Charlie' Bowman, Valpo businessman, dies in Michigan

VALPARAISO | Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church for Charlie Bowman, 89, longtime business partner of Orville Redenbacher and their popcorn empire.