Popcorn Festival up for best community celebration

Sierra Couwenhoven, 10, left, and Skyler Bobbitt, 5, have their faces painted by Dean Pearson, left, of Hammond, and Brittany Writt, of North Judson, during the 2012 Popcorn Festival.

Rudy Clay dead at 77

Rudy Clay

Rudy Clay dead at 77

Rudy Clay pictured on Dec. 27, 1986.

Rudy Clay

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Gary Mayor Rudy Clay applaud during a campaign rally for Indiana Democrats at Wicker Park Social Center in Highland in 2008.

Former sheriff wants Portage mayor to apologize for police call

Former Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez, left, and Portage Mayor James Snyder.

Columnist Philip Potempa 2012 Spring From the Farm Cooking Show at Lake County Fairgrounds

Times Columnist Philip Potempa displays his finished recipe for "Elephant Ear Cheesecake" during his "Spring From the Farm Cooking Show" in 2012 at the Lake County Fairgrounds. This year's free show is April 26 in Crete, Ill.

Rough road to recovery for Griffith boy

Griffith resident Blake Loudenber, pictured here in March 2012 when he was 8, continues to recover from surgery that gave him a new kidney.

Mock Hostess Ho-Ho Sheet Cakes at 2013 Teibel's Valentine's Day Charity Luncheon

A line of Mock Hostess Ho-Ho Cakes, baked by Times Columnist Philip Potempa's mother Peggy, line tables at Teibel's Restaurant in Schererville last month for a 2013 Valentine's Day charity luncheon.

Times Columnist Philip Potempa with Parents Peggy and Chester and Actress Mitzi Gaynor in March 2010

Times Columnist Philip Potempa (left) is joined by his parents Peggy and Chester Potempa and singer/actress Mitzi Gaynor backstage at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville in this March 2010 file photo.

A mound of a problem

Gary Jet Center owner Wil Davis is urging Gary/Chicago International Airport officials to proceed with eliminating the railroad embankment seen behind him in this 2008 Times photo at the end of the main runway. But he wants them to hold off on undertaking the largest borrowing in airport his…

Construction to start at Munster hospital

MUNSTER | This 2009 photo shows the exterior of the then-new Emergency Department at The Community Hospital in Munster. A $33 million vertical expansion of the department is expected to get under way this week.

Reggie Wayne

Reggie Wayne, Colts

Times Columnist Philip Potempa with psychic Irene Hughes in May 2012

Times Columnist Philip Potempa visiting with psychic Irene Hughes in May 2012.

Psychic Irene Hughes dead at age 92

Psychic Irene Hughes, shown speaking at Annie's Tea Room in Crete, Ill., at an August 2007 event, died Friday. She was 92.

Psychic Irene Hughes dead at age 92

Psychic Irene Hughes, shown at home in 2004, has amazed the masses with her accurate predictions. Hughes died at 92 on Friday morning.

Psychic Irene Hughes dead at age 92

Psychic Irene Hughes is shown in a promotional photo from September 1975.

Jerry Ross at NASA Johnson Space Center

Astronaut Jerry Ross, a Crown Point High School graduate, leads a personal tour of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in this April 12, 2007, file photo.

Roz Howell, Hobart football

Roz Howell, wife of late Hall of Fame coach Don Howell, raises a fist before leaving the field as honorary captain for the Brickies during the last home game at the Brickie Bowl on Oct. 17 of 2008.

Winds destroy landmark Munster cross

The cross at St. Thomas More church is a Munster landmark.

oh Fuudge

Oh FUUDGE Relay Race

Robert Sullivan, CEO & President, Fifth Third Bank (left to right) Times Columnist Philip Potempa and Barry Axler, President, Chicago Rotary in 2011

Robert Sullivan, CEO & President, Fifth Third Bank (left to right), Times Columnist Philip Potempa and Barry Axler, President, Chicago Rotary, prepare care packages to be mailed to U.S. Troops during an event on Nov. 11, 2011, at Chicago's Union Station for Veterans Day 2011.

Ciao Bella

Joe Scalzo, owner of Schererville's Ciao Bella, is preparing to welcome guests to a "Wild Game Dinner" scheduled for Nov. 13.

Comfort dog Prince to retire at end of school year

Prince, the Portage High School comfort dog, shown during the 2009 PHS graduation ceremony, will be retiring at the end of the school year.

Elvis Fantasy Fest in Portage

Stacey Gray of Auburn, Ill., takes a photo of her friend Linda Ippolito with a cardboard cutout of Elvis at the 2011 Elvis Fantasy Fest in Portage.

Former Portage officer helps save woman after crash

Former Portage Police officer Bill Smith, seen here in a 2010 file photo with his canine partner Fax, is being credited with saving a woman's life this past weekend in Fishers, Ind., where he is now a police officer.

Kitchen Tour

Left to right, Tricia Galocy of Portage, Kim Galocy of Rensselaer, and Debbie Keilman of Hobart visit the Keller home during the 2010 Tri Kappa Kitchen Tour and Tasting.

Tour and Tasting

Guests enjoy the Beckham kitchen in Crown Point during the 2010 Tri Kappa Kitchen Tour and Tasting.

Future is now

Dave Griffin works with catcher Tommy Leonelli at his baseball and softball complex in Griffith. Griffin is teaming up with fellow former professional player Bill Bryk, Andrean head coach Dave Pishkur and Andrean pitching coach Jim Nohos to hold the Northwest Indiana Futures exposure camp an…

Fatal workplace accidents rise in Indiana in '11

Workers pour concrete in the westbound lanes of Borman Expressway. In Indiana, 122 people suffered fatal injuries at workplaces in 2011, according to preliminary data as part of the annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. The total in 2010 was 118.

What presidential race? Indiana not 'battleground' state this year

People reach for signs and flags during a rally for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama at Wicker Park in Highland on Oct. 31, 2008, just days before the election. With Romney polling comfortably ahead of Obama, the campaigns are not expected to hold such rallies in the region this year.

Michael Jackson's children

Michael Jackson's children Blanket, from left, Prince and Paris, far right, visited the city of Gary and Jackson's boyhood home in August 2011.

Katherine Jackson

Katherine Jackson attends a ceremony in honor of her son Michael in 2010 at 2300 Jackson Street in Gary.

Harvey Miller of Miller's Mart Market and Department Store

Harvey Miller, shown in this August 1996 photo in his Miller's Market grocery store in Valparaiso, ran both his family supermarket and department story more than half a century.

E'Twaun Moore high school jersey

East Chicago Central grad E'Twaun Moore hoists his high school jersey during a ceremony to officially retire his number at the school on Feb. 25, 2011.

Bauer's loss is Northwest Indiana's gain

State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, is interim leader of the Indiana House Democrats after a vote Thursday to remove state Rep. Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, as House minority party leader.

Shakeup in Ind. House Dem leadership could put Hammond rep on top

State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, left, may become interim leader of the Indiana House Democrats after a vote to remove state Rep. Pat Bauer, right, as House minority party leader.

GOP challenger accuses Van Til of pay for play

Eric Krieg, left, the Republican nominee for Lake County surveyor, accused the incumbent Democrat George Van Til of engaging in "pay-to-play" politics on Monday.

E'Twaun Moore jumper

Celtics' guard E'Twaun Moore warms up before the Feb. 16 game against the Bulls at the United Center.

Lake bridge will span history

County officials hope to give the 1920s-era Range Line Road Bridge over the Kankakee River southeast of Lowell to the Kankakee Valley Historical Society.

David Neville Olympic medals

Pictured are the bronze (400) and a gold medal (1,600 relay) won by track star David Neville III in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

David Neville's fans

Olympic medalist and 2002 Merrillville grad David Neville III is surrounded by fans at a student convocation after returning from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Columnist Philip Potempa and Glen Campbell in 1993

Times columnist Philip Potempa is shown with Glen Campbell backstage in 1993 at his Glen Campbell's Goodtime Theater in Branson.

Sam Moore

Hobart football player Sam Moore, class of 2011

Sam Moore, Hobart football

Hobart football player Sam Moore, class of 2011

Hammond Hall of Fame inductions

Greg Jancich, longtime baseball coach at Morton and a Whiting graduate, is retiring after 49 years at age 76.

Thomas McDermott Jr. and George Van Til

Lake County Democratic party Chairman and Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., left, is calling on Lake County Surveyor George Van Til to drop off the general election ballot.

2011 Crown Point Corn Roast

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

EDITORIAL: Short-term hangar leases won't fly

Three Airbus A320s and a parts-stripped Boeing 737 in this 2010 file photo are lined up on the apron near a Gary Jet Center hangar used by Popovich Aviation. Gary Jet Center Owner Wil Davis and the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority are in negotiations over a lease of the ground on…

EDITORIAL: New Dunes group offers needed support

The shuttered Good Fellow Lodge at Indiana Dunes National Park, shown in this 2009 photo, could be renovated with the help of the new Dunes National Park Association.