VALPARAISO -- An ironworker injured two years ago at Midwest Steel was awarded

$390,000 by a Valparaiso jury on Wednesday.

Lawrence Watson, 59, of Lowell, was injured while working on a construction

project for Pangere Corporation at Midwest Steel in Portage on May 20, 1997. He

was hit in both lower legs with a six-inch steel pipe. Although his legs were

not fractured and he underwent no surgeries, he suffers 20 percent disability

according to testimony from his treating physician, James Chen of Munster.

At the trial, attorneys for Midwest asked the jury to award no more than

$30,000 because Watson only lost 57 days of work and incurred less than $6,000

in medical bills. But Watson's attorney, Northwest Indiana injury attorney

Kenneth J. Allen, said Watson lives with constant pain and his health and

employability in the future are in jeopardy. Allen successfully argued that the

injury was preventable. Midwest is responsible for paying the $390,000.

"This was a solid victory for the Watson family in particular and for worker

safety in general," Allen said.

The decision came after a three-day trial in Porter Superior Court Judge Thomas

Webber's court.

Last chance to join South Haven cleanup

SOUTH HAVEN -- Residents can still register to participate in the community

cleanup, which ends Saturday.

North District County Commissioner Jim Biggs is encouraging homeowners to take

some time to join in South Haven's Community Pride activities such as the

contest for outside home improvements.

"If everybody would just go out and spend 30 minutes doing something on their

property to improve it, we'd see some big improvements in the appearance of the

community," Biggs said. "People tend to have more respect for communities that

are kept looking nice, and leave things the way they found them."

Lending a hand in the spring cleanup, the county's road sweeper cleaned South

Haven streets all week. And on Saturday, Able Disposal will provide Dumpsters

for residents to get rid of large waste like old windows and screen doors.

Tires and hazardous household waste such as old car batteries and aerosol or

paint cans cannot be disposed in the Dumpsters.

Contestants must submit before and after pictures of their property and can

pick up applications until noon today at Al's Valueland, Centier Bank, Fagan

Pharmacy, Rosewood Family Restaurant and Porter County Servistar.

County Commissioner Jim Biggs, Advisory Council President Daryl Bayer and

Secretary Pennie Parsons will judge the entries. Biggs will announce the

winners at noon Saturday at the South Haven Elementary School.

Owners of the most improved house will receive $200, the second-place finisher

will receive $100. The remaining entries will be eligible to win one of two

children's backyard wooden playhouses, which, along with the other prizes, were

donated by Dale and Margaret Froberg. Two picnic tables are also among the

prizes for the remaining entries.