Canine program gets a boost

Munster Police Chief Steve Scheckel, left, is presented with a $500 donation towards the department’s canine program from Jeff Strack, center, vice president of Strack & Van Til Operations, and Don Erminger, district manager for Strack & Van Til’s and Almira’s Bakery. Scheckel said t…

Munster Lions roar for D.A.R.E.

Munster Lions Club President Rusty Kunz, left, presents a $2,000 donation to D.A.R.E. Officer James Ghrist of the Munster Police Department. The funds will be used to purchase curriculum supplies for the department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, which has been presented in Munste…

Snowflurry draws record crowd

James B. Eads Elementary School fifth-grade student Skylar Van Ermen, left, ties a “warm fuzzy” onto the necklace of Munster High School junior Paige Puplava, while giving her a compliment during Munster’s annual Snowflurry event last month at Wilbur Wright Middle School.

They DARE to be drug free

Fifth-graders at Elliott Elementary School in Munster marked their DARE graduation last month, front row from left, essay winner David Cohen, Daren Award winner Cameron Adams, Daren stuffed animal winner Kristina Pamucar, essay winner James Shelton, essay winner Henry Sklar, back row, Munste…

They DARE to be drug free

St. Thomas More School fifth-graders celebrated their Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduation last month at the Munster school, front row from left, essay winner Olivia Orobor, stuffed animal winner Sophia Porter, essay winner Isabella Scalzo, Daren Award winner Alyssa Nahnsen, essay winn…

Police and firefighters shop with kids

A large number of officers and dispatchers from the Munster Police Department were joined by several firefighters from the Munster Fire Department, above, Dec. 8 for the annual Cops and Kids holiday shopping program for underprivileged area children. Approximately 70) pre-selected children w…

Poster contest winner goes red

Frank H. Hammond Elementary School Principal Nancy Ellis congratulates fourth-grader Irene Tsakopoulos, who holds her winning Red Ribbon Week Post Contest entry.

Citizenship Award presented by police

Munster Police Officer James Ghrist, left, and Police Chief Steve Scheckel, right, presented Munster resident Andrew Cantu, center, with this year’s Citizenship Award during Munster’s annual National Night Out Against Crime festivities last month. The Citizenship Award is presented annually …

Going to the dogs

Munster Police Chief Steve Scheckel, left, receives a $10,000 donation towards the Munster Police Department's police canine program from Don Erminger of the Munster Lions Club. This program allows the police department to perform drug searches, track missing persons and suspects, assist wit…

Munster police honor top officer

Munster Police Chief Steve Scheckel, left, presents a medal to Munster police officer Kevin Cooley in recognition of Cooley's selection as the Munster Police Department's Officer of the Year for 2011. Officer Cooley, who has served the department since 1998, was presented with the award duri…

Snowflurry builds stronger youth

Munster High School student Miranda Guerrero, from left, and Eads Elementary School fifth-graders Maya Radjenovich and Hannah Galich, sign each other's T-shirts with positive messages during Munster's annual Snowflurry event at Wilbur Wright Middle School in Munster.

Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul

Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul, 70, of Munster, vanished after leaving her Highland practice March 21.

DARE graduates honored

Drug Abuse Resistance Education winners from St. Thomas More School, pictured with Munster Police Chief Steve Scheckel, back row from left, Daren the Lion, and DARE Officer James Ghrist, are, front row from left, essay winner Declan Urbaniak, essay winner Sofia Sanchez-Plesha, essay winner C…

DARE graduates honored

Elliott Elementary School's Drug Abuse Resistance Education winners, pictured with Munster DARE Officer James Ghrist, far left, and Munster Police Chief Steve Scheckel, far right, are, front row from left, essay winner Blake Newton, essay winner Audrey Stooksbury, Daren doll winner Morgan Sm…

Cops help kids shop

Munster Police Chief Steve Scheckel, center, in white uniform shirt, and some of his officers participated in the "Cops and Kids" program this year.

Posters earn prizes

Munster Police Department and CHOICE Community Council held Munster's annual Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest last month for all of students in Munster's public and parochial schools. The contest raises awareness about Red Ribbon Week and remaining drug-free. Individual winners were chosen fro…

Lions D.A.R.E. to help

Munster Lions Club recently donated $2,000 to the Munster Police Department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Program, which is presented in all of Munster's public and parochial schools throughout the year. Don Erminger, left, representing the Munster Lions Club, discusses the pr…

Munster invites residents to National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday

This aerial view from 2010 shows the fun to be had at Munster's National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday evening at the community pool.

Search for doctor from Munster turns to neighbor's home

An image from a Highland bank surveillance video from March 21 shows the Toyota Rav4 driven by Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul, of Munster. Neither family nor friends have heard from the doctor since she made a deposit at the Highland bank March 21. Her vehicle also is missing. Police say the crossov…

Search for doctor from Munster turns to neighbor's home

Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul, 70, of Munster, is seen making a bank deposit March 21, 2011, in Highland in a photo taken from surveillance footage. She has not been seen or made contact with family or colleagues since that day.

Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul

Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul, 70, of Munster, vanished after leaving her Highland practice March 21.

Munster fifth-graders learn a flurry of positive behavior

Eads Elementary School fifth-graders Kendal Ziel, right, and Abigail Rivera participate in one of the activities at Snowflurry by giving each other "warm fuzzies" and kind words.

Police release surveillance photos in Munster bank robbery

Munster police on Thursday released photos of a man suspected of robbing the Chase bank branch at 545 Ridge Road on Wednesday night.

Police release surveillance photos in Munster bank robbery

Munster police on Thursday released this photo of a man suspected of robbing the Chase bank branch at 545 Ridge Road on Wednesday night.

Munster residents honored during annual National Night Out Against Crime

Munster police honored residents during the Aug. 3 National Night Out Against Crime. Pictured from left to right are Munster Police Chief Steve Scheckel, Denise Witczak, Sheila Ward, James Jones, and DARE Officer James Ghrist.

Munster police seeking public's help in finding suspected purse snatcher

Munster police are seeking the public's help in identifying this man, who is suspected of taking an elderly woman's purse at the Strack & Van Til grocery store there last week.