1014solar - solar in the home

Solar panels can boost a home's energy rating and make it more attractive for resale.

Chesterton's Margaret Shinn

Chesterton's Margaret Shinn played No. 1 doubles in the regular season and No. 3 singles in the postseason as a junior.

061012_BBH_3A_STATE_CHAMP Baseball Il state championship

Marian Catholic pours gatorade on head coach Phil Wail following its Class 3A state championship in June.

S'ville attracting new homes, businesses

Schererville officials participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking last August for the new community center at Scherwood Park. The new building could open as soon as this spring.

Top-tier entertainment a bargain across NWI

The Northwest Indiana Symphony orchestra performs a free concert at the park grounds in Cedar Lake July 21.

Top-tier entertainment a bargain across NWI

Conductor Kirk Muspratt leads the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra in a free concert at the park grounds in Cedar Lake in July.

EC superintendent: Support kids through intervention

Beatrice Herrera looks for family and friends Sunday during the East Chicago Central High School commencement.

Highland's Aby Madrigal

Highland's Abigail Madrigal, pictured, and twin sister Vani have advanced to today's IHSAA quarterfinal round of the state doubles finals.

2011 Crown Point Corn Roast

Libby Brown, 2, of Crown Point, enjoys corn during the 2011 Crown Point Corn Roast in downtown Crown Point.

Yogi Ferrell

Dancing with the Local Stars 2011

Joel Palascha, coordinator for community affairs for U.S. Steel-Gary Works and partner Beth Coberg compete in the Dancing with the Local Stars event at the Merrillville Radisson in this Feb 24, 2011, file photo.

Randy Maksimik

Randy Maksimik didn't score until Lake Central got to state last season. However, the defender does have a background as an offensive-minded player. He manned the forward position up until his freshman year, when coach Jereme Rainwater switched him to defense.

football basketball

Because of the NFL lockout, Antwaan Randle El, of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has returned home to Chicago often during the offseason, including in April for Coca-Cola McLegends game at Thornton High School.

Newest national trail sends in the marine

Erik Sprenne with the Northwest Indiana Paddlers Association speaks to people on a canoe after leading a May 21 paddling tour down the Little Calumet River to raise awareness of local paddling spots. The new Lake Michigan National Recreation Trail, dedicated last weekend, adds to their options.

No relief

Willy Love, of South Bend, cools off on June 7 at Deep River Water Park.

Guarding and honoring our heroes

Gavit graduate and Marine Corps. Captain Anthony Doukas is welcomed home by Indiana Patriot Guard member Darrel "Slick" Sills outside of Petros Restaurant in Hammond in this Feb 17, 2011, file photo. Doukas had just returned from a 7-month tour in Afghanistan.

Riley Choate admits to horrific acts in death of 13-year-old son

Lake County sheriff's officers escort Riley Choate, a former tenant of a mobile home park in Gary's Black Oak neighborhood, into a police car after finding human remains under a shed behind Choate's former home in 2011.

Mike Tilley, Kankakee Valley

Kankakee Valley's second baseman Mike Tilley, trying to cut off Andrean's Tyler Ochi during a conference game this season, has played all four of his seasons of Kougars baseball on the varsity squad.

Riley Choate admits to horrific acts in death of 13-year-old son

Lake County sheriff's officers escort Riley Choate, a former tenant of a mobile home park in Gary's Black Oak neighborhood, into a police car Wednesday after finding human remains under a shed behind Choate's former home in 2011. The remains were those of his son Christian.

Lake County works hard, plays harder

Bert Pass distributes the ultra special barrel aged varieties of Dark Lord to winning customers in April during the annual Dark Lord Day at the Three Floyds Brewery in Munster.

Hammond, PotashCorp continue talks

Land was being cleared in March in north Hammond in hopes of landing a deal with Canadian fertilizer giant PotashCorp. The city continues to negotiate with PotashCorp to locate a $100 million transfer facility at Gibson Yard, according to Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.

Homeless given flu shots

Pharmacist V.J. Damasius prepares to administer flu shots to the needy in March at the First Baptist Church homeless shelter in Hammond.

Major construction projects are major bright spots

A train carrying molten iron passes in front of Blast Furnace No. 7 at ArcelorMittal in East Chicago.

ArcelorMittal posts $780M loss in 4Q

A train carrying molten iron passes in front of Blast Furnace No. 7 at ArcelorMittal in East Chicago. The world's largest steelmaker still is recovering from the recession and a collapse in demand for its steel used in buildings, bridges and cars. (Tim Hunt, file | The Times)

POTW Jan 30-Feb 5 - Blizzard

Lake County Highway Department driver Roger Ohlenkamp walks through deep snow to prepare a chain to tow his snowplow out of a ditch in Crown Point on Feb. 2. The truck ended up in a ditch due to another driver who would not move.

Roof collapses onto future Special Olympics training center site

The roof of a future Special Olympics training center in Crown Point lies in a mangled heap Thursday. Snow from this week's blizzard did the damage.

Princess German, Preseason All-Area

Princess German, Bowman Academy, poses for a photograph for The Times girls basketball preseason all-area photo shoot.

NWI.NOW

Tracy Hall explains his photovoltaic system, which converts DC power from his roof mounted solar panels into usable AC power, at his Munster home on Oct. 2, 2010. Hall's home was part of a region wide tour to display solar energy homes.

1226_BEARS_MOORE Bears Jets Game

Jets guard Brandon Moore puts on a hat on the sidelines of Soldier Field during a game against the Bears on Dec 26, 2010, at Soldier Field.

Morton's Jerry Watson

Morton wide receiver Jerry Watson, right, and Hobart linebacker Julian Collazo scramble for the ball after Watson fumbled a pass on Oct 8.

Local task force, industry collaborate on security

A train carrying molten iron passes in front of Blast Furnace No. 7 at ArcelorMittal in East Chicago. The blast furnace will be used for an energy efficient-project that involves installing a new 550-ton boiler.