Porter County Public Library System announces summer reading program

PORTER COUNTY | “Groundbreaking Reads” is this summer’s theme at Porter County Public libraries in Hebron, Kouts, Portage, South Haven and Valparaiso. The

Region thief gets OK for late appeal

INDIANAPOLIS | The untimely death of his attorney will enable an East Chicago man sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for an eight-month Highland crime spree to appeal his convictions despite missing a key deadline.

Purdue Calumet honors top employees for 2012-13

HAMMOND | Five Purdue University Calumet employees have received 2012-13 awards for outstanding service to the university.

Valpo man charged with raping underage girl

VALPARAISO | A 31-year-old local man is charged with raping an underage girl after providing her with alcohol.

22-year-old Valpo man found shot to death in Gary

GARY | A 22-year-old Valparaiso man was shot and killed early Wednesday in Gary.

South Shore Clean Cities, BP to host grant program meeting

HAMMOND | South Shore Clean Cities, BP Oil Company and several environmental groups will be hosting an informational meeting about the Cleaner Air through Diesel Emission Reductions grant program on May 23 at the Indiana Welcome Center, which is located at 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond.

Alumnus cites education, work ethic as success keys for Purdue Calumet graduates

HAMMOND | Praising their “unique combination of a great education coupled with a work ethic that results from growing up in the ‘region’,” alumnus Jeffery Gardner expressed optimism on the afternoon of May 17 about the future for Purdue University Calumet graduates.

Jak's Warehouse celebrates with ribbon cutting ceremony

SCHERERVILLE | Schererville Chamber of Commerce welcomed JAK'S Warehouse into the community at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

James O'Connor Martial Arts collecting donations for Oklahoma residents

CHESTERTON | Here at James O'Connor Martial Arts, along with the hard-working volunteer efforts of other local organizations, are calling on our parents, students, followers, & friends to collect for the Oklahoma devastation. Mr. Padraig Martin, one of our black belts/fellow instructors …

Honor your military heroes by emailing us their photos

MUNSTER | In honor of Memorial Day, www.nwicommunities.com is celebrating the men and women that make this country the wonderful "land of the free and the home of the brave."

Truck driver charged in cop attack

MERRILLVILLE | An off-duty Merrillville police officer suffered more than 10 blows to the face and head before shooting a 43-year-old truck driver who allegedly delivered the hits.

Enviro leader touts ecotourism, partnerships

CHESTERTON | More needs to be done to help build partnerships between businesses and environmental organizations to maximize tourism dollars generated by our local natural resources, according to one local leader.

Gander Mountain shifts to firearms super center

MERRILLVILLE | Gander Mountain’s new focus on firearms debuts Friday at the Westfield Southlake Mall store.

NWI home sales continue winning streak

Northwest Indiana single-family home sales increased 26 percent in April as compared to one year ago, marking the 22nd straight month home sales have increased in the region.

Now accepting submissions for Reflections Exhibit: 2013 Photography Exhibit Theme

HAMMOND | 2013 marks the fourth annual themed photography exhibit hosted by the South Shore CVA. Since the exhibits inception it has averaged approximately 2,000 visitors to the exhibit annually and 30 photographers have been represented each year.

Opera Tenor Daniel Rodriguez mesmerizes audience with performance

MUNSTER | The 2012–2013 Northwest Indiana Concert Association series ended recently on an emotional note as Daniel Rodriguez and his wife Marla Kavanaugh led the audience in singing “God Bless America,” the song he sang as a New York City policeman at the World Series in Yankee Stadium in th…

Voice over classes at Portage Library June 3

PORTAGE | Ever been told you have a good voice, or you just heard someone on a commercial and said to yourself:” HEY! I can do THAT…”

Valparaiso Police F.O.P. sponsoring Nelson chicken fundraiser

VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso Police Department’s F.O.P. Lodge 76 will be hosting a Nelson Chicken Fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Drive collects personal care items for community

VALPARAISO | Porter County Aging and Community Services is teaming with The Salvation Army to host a personal care items drive for Porter County residents.

Beware of Tornado Relief Scammers

One of the great things about living in America is the American Spirit and the willingness of people to come to the aid of others during tragic events. The recent tornadoes in Oklahoma have already brought volunteers to the area and others will certainly follow.

Matthew Moore

Crawpuppies rock region stages

VALPARAISO | Region rock band the Crawpuppies has been hitting the stage since 1995, mixing original tunes with covers of pop rock bands and entertaining audiences throughout Northwest Indiana.

Central Park Plaza Market celebrates opening day on June 1

VALPARAISO | The Central Park Plaza Market brought to you by Valparaiso Community Festivals & Events (VCFE) will open on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 8am for the season and the day will include a grand opening celebration from 10am-1pm. During that time families will enjoy special festiviti…

Thomas Jefferson Middle School competes at National Science Olympiad

VALPARAISO | Students from Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Valparaiso competed against teams from across the country in Saturday's Science Olympiad National Tournament.

United Way’s Power of Youth Council to allocate $10,000 to local agencies

VALPARAISO | United Way of Porter County…… The “Power of Giving” grant allocations ceremony will take place at the United Way of Porter County in Valparaiso on Thursday, May 23 at 6:00 pm. The United Way’s high school council, the Power of Youth, will allocate $10,000 to area non-profits for…

Historian writing book about Hegewisch

Next time I ride the South Shore from my Hegewisch neighborhood to downtown Chicago, I will take a closer look at the Van Buren Street station.

Let the Nerf War begin

Boys from the Lansing Cub Scouts attended an overnight Nerf War event with a spy theme last month. Attendees brought Nerf guns and darts for the events and built shelters out of cardboard boxes. The event took place at St. John's Lutheran School in Lansing.

Let the Nerf War begin

LANSING | Cub Scouts from Lansing took part in a Nerf War at St. John's Lutheran School last month.

Businesses invited to bid on student art to display

HAMMOND | Hammond business owners are invited to an exhibition and auction of student artworks from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Morton High School, 6915 Grand Ave.

White Sox hosting Northwest Indiana Fan Night

CHICAGO | The Chicago White Sox will host a Northwest Indiana Sox Fan Night on Friday at U.. Celullar Field. The game begins at 7:10, and will be against the Miami Marlins.

Marian Catholic announces Students of the Month for April

CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Marian Catholic High School announces the Students of the Month for April. Departments choose students that go above and beyond their duties as student aides. The students are:

Hobart will mark Memorial Day at Doughboy Monument

Hobart Memorial Day services honoring veterans who gave their lives to our country will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Doughboy Monument, Seventh and Lincoln streets, led this year by the Hobart VFW Post. Veterans groups will place wreaths at the monument listing deceased war veterans.

Top speller

Ben Franklin Middle School in Valparaiso hosted the Kiwanis Club Spell Bowl. Immanuel Lutheran School fourth-grade student Nick Kopricina placed first in his division.

Donation to assist low-income families

Brandon Thompson and Chad Morris of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Safety and Service Committee, Burns Harbor Subdivision, present a $3,000 check to Nancy VanVolkenburgh and Tom Moeller of the Family and Youth Services Bureau’s Clinical Services Program. The donation will assist low income fa…

Donation to assist low-income families

Top speller

Hilltop Neighborhood House gets a makeover

VALPARAISO | Hilltop Neighborhood House got a makeover last month, thanks to 75 volunteers brought together by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Represented were the Valparaiso University football team, Morgan Township National Honors Society, the Valparaiso High School Vikettes, Hilltop sta…

Duneland Y now registering for summer programs

CHESTERTON | Beginning June 10, summer will come to life at the Duneland Family YMCA during the first day of Summer Day Camp.

PNC approved to offer Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

WESTVILLE | The Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) has granted approval to Purdue University North Central for the College of Engineering and Technology to offer a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. PNC students will have the opportunity to enroll in these bachelor's degree …

Hilltop Neighborhood House gets a makeover

The Probst family of Valparaiso work together to repaint and repair the Hilltop sign on Thrivent Painting Day. Lincoln Probst, age 5, and Wyatt Probst, 8, both graduated from Hilltop Neighborhood’s House’s early childhood education program.

History, heritage and honor on Memorial Day in Portage

Memorial Day has always been an important day to me. It gives me a chance to reflect on all the sacrifices men and women have made for the people in our country all through the years. Some wars I agreed with, some I did not but I was always taught that no matter your opinion, soldiers, sailo…

Lawmakers look to pare down Quinn hiring plan

SPRINGFIELD | Illinois lawmakers are taking a hatchet to Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to hire new workers in the coming fiscal year.

South Shore Clean Cities, BP to host grant program meeting

HAMMOND | South Shore Clean Cities, BP Oil Company and several environmental groups will host an informational meeting about the Cleaner Air through Diesel Emission Reductions grant program from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Drive.

New face at gambling negotiation table

SPRINGFIELD | There’s a new face at the negotiating table when it comes to a massive expansion of gambling in Illinois.

Take a tour of Highland on a bike

Children line up on their bikes to join last year's Tour de Highland. This year's bike ride is set for June 1 starting at Wicker Park, and will follow a new 10-mile route.

Master in Public Administration information session in Lockport

UNIVERSITY PARK | The College of Business and Public Administration at Governors State University is hosting a Master in Public Administration program information session from 6 to 8 p.m. June 17 at Illinois State Police Headquarters – District 5, 16648 Broadway St., Lockport.

Mobile health unit to offer free shots, physcials at T.F. North

CALUMET CITY | The St. Bernard Hospital Pediatric Mobile Health Unit will offer free immunizations and school physicals at Thornton Fractional North High School, 755 Pulaski Road, in July and August, the school district announced.

Take a tour of Highland on a bike

HIGHLAND | Register by Friday for the Highland Chamber if Commerce Tour de Highland at $10 per rider and receive a Tour de Highland giveaway and lunch. Late registration through the day of the ride June 1 is $15 per rider.

Munster teacher and coach receives Americanism Award

EAST CHICAGO | American Legion Post 369 recently presented its Americanism Award to James Colias.

Munster teacher and coach receives Americanism Award

Americanism Award recipient James Colias, center, is congratulated by, from left, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 369 President Joanne Kuss, Post Commander Noreen Komasinski, Department Commander Richard Jewell and Department Membership Chairman Marty Dzieglowicz.