Lynn13

Comments

Couldn't agree more! If you saw my earlier post, you'll see that Jeeper's "chillin out" comment got me going too. Hard to chill when the thugs are surrounding you and threatening you and your family's safety. Not sure what we CAN do, though. It is getting worse, and so many incidents are not even disclosed in this area. They can only be covered up for so long. Police can only control/deter to a certain degree. They can't be everywhere at all times. But, you're right, maybe this is a little wake-up call to the community. We need to stop being in denial and start being smarter in terms of our safety!

November 14, 2012 1:19 pm on Hobart police to tighten security in U.S. 30 corridor due to holidays, not shooting
You are so right, NWI007. Sounds like you have witnessed the trend like I have for quite sometime (30+ yrs. in my case). Used to be able to go to the mall with my girlfriends as a teenager (without parents), but you could never allow your children to do that now. My parents recall how nice the Village shopping center used to be and Woodmar Mall as well (when they were much younger), and that's exactly what's in store for Southlake/Westfield. Remember Century Mall (Merr.) which closed down? It was pretty decent in its time.

Oh, and I'm near the Winfield area and wishing we were further south. Had to even find an out-of-dist. school for our child that is safer/better academically. (Despite our address, we are not Cr. Pt. schools due to township lines). And not everyone can just sell their homes quickly and run. Still not possible for all of us in this economy. So sad...I couldn't agree with you more.

November 14, 2012 12:17 pm on Hobart police to tighten security in U.S. 30 corridor due to holidays, not shooting
Jeeper101 says, "People need to chill out. This type of thing happens every day all over the country." I've grown up in this area and have lived here for 30+ yrs., and the criminal element is ten times worse today than it was 10 or 20 yrs. ago--even just 5 yrs. ago. Hmmm, would I rather shop at the Walmart in Merr., or the one in Valpo?; the K-mart in Merr., or the K-mart in Valpo? A no-brainer for me or my family. It's about acting smarter and making better choices when it comes to safety. Bottom line is that there are more thugs and crime in some areas/shopping corridors than in others. And the blame game is irrelevant--whether you think it's mall mgmt., off-duty officers, etc. The element is here and is getting worse because of no regard for human life or morals (and no upbringing).

SSBB, I can identify w/your post. My young daughter and I experienced a scary incident in the parking lot of the mall (near major dept. store) when a group of scary thugs started heading towards us/our car from a nearby entrance. Shudder to think what might have happened had I not grabbed her hand and sprinted back to the main doors. This on a late Sat. afternoon (NEVER again!),and inside the mall, unruly/wild minors were yelling and behaving like animals. "Chill out?" Really? Maybe good advice for a 6-ft. strong male going to the mall but not smart advice for a female and her young child. Smarter choices, people, and keep your guards up, women, and your purses close, at all times!!

November 14, 2012 11:58 am on Hobart police to tighten security in U.S. 30 corridor due to holidays, not shooting
Actually, you wouldn't catch me shopping at the K-mart in Merrillville--but maybe the one in Valpo!) Ha! After all, the Merr. K-Mart is ten times scarier than the mall on a Sat. evening! I understand your point; we can't just sell our homes and run when the going gets bad. It's not that easy. And I don't have a problem going to the mall during a weekday (during daylight). However, as a female, I have to be EXTRA vigilant--walking to/from my car alone or in any retail establishment alone. I might feel safer as a 6-ft. tall male than as a 120-lb; 5'5" woman who is considered easy prey to the increasing number of thugs out there these days. Have numerous relatives/friends in local law enforcement and the statistics/stories aren't always published, many "covered up" for P.R. purposes. I am courteous to people of all races too, provided they treat me with the same respect, but the safety of myself and my family is the issue here. It's my job as both a female and parent to make "smart" choices about where/when to shop. Overreact? Not necessarily. Act smarter, yep!

November 14, 2012 1:16 am on Police: Dispute over basketball game led to fight, gunfire at Hobart mall
You summed it up impeccably! No crystal ball necessary. Speaking of "dead mall," remember Century Mall in Merr.? Not long (you're right) and Southlake/Westfield will follow suit; just a matter of time. I grew up in this area and remember as a teenager when my parents would allow my girlfriends and I to go to the Southlake mall alone for something "fun to do" on the weekend. You could never do that now. Even as an adult, I don't even like to go my myself (and certainly not in the evening!) Well-projected (but sadly), Pacman...

November 13, 2012 10:48 pm on Police: Dispute over basketball game led to fight, gunfire at Hobart mall
The "support your community no matter what; this is an isolated incident" comments really baffle me. These must be from people who haven't lived in the area for 30+ years like myself in order to see the increase in behavioral/criminal trends in our local retail centers, schools, streets, etc.

Rabbit said "don't act like a victim and they will leave you alone". Funny but when my young daughter and I were walking to our car right outside of a major dept. store at the mall and a group of rough-looking thugs starting to approach us from a nearby entrance, I wasn't willing to bet that a 120-lb. woman and her 40-lb. child could stand a chance against a big group of thugs like that. Hardly think they were looking to "leave us alone". And for Outdoorwoman who "doesn't see a problem" when visiting the mall on different days, your experience must be an isolated one. So many friends and family (including myself) on weekends there have witnessed firsthand the "wild and unruly" minors yelling back and forth w/crazy animal-like behavior and security w/police dogs; a pleasant shopping experience for sure.

So, I agree with Chicguy77, who said, "My children and their safety are more important than any pride I take in supporting our community. I will have little comfort in saying to myself "I supported my community and I didnt give in to violent people" when I'm laying one of my children to rest." Amen...Couldn't have said it any better myself! (And yes, I'll consider going back to the mall on a weekday but forget the evenings/weekends. My family's safety isn't worth whatever I need/want to buy).

November 13, 2012 10:28 pm on Police: Dispute over basketball game led to fight, gunfire at Hobart mall
Mama46307, your idea is a good one and kudos to the Mall of America for enacting their "adult supervision" policy on the weekend. However, I (unfortunately) don't think that would work in our area/at our mall. The "adults" that would be accompanying the kind of minors that are scaring people away would likely be just as unruly/wild (or possibly as dangerous) as the minors themselves. And the ratio of 1 adult to 10 youth--way too lenient in my opinion. Can't see how that would really help (at OUR mall at least).

November 12, 2012 10:05 pm on Police: Dispute over basketball game led to fight, gunfire at Hobart mall
This incident is sad but not surprising. Made the mistake of taking my daughter to the mall on a Saturday afternoon about a year ago and vowed NEVER to do it again. Unruly minors (but old enough to know better) yelling at each other and behaving wildly while security walked the aisles with a police dog. Then, upon walking to our car (parked in a close spot near major dept. store), a group of teens/"thugs" started to approach us/our car from another nearby entrance. I grabbed by daughter's hand and virtually sprinted back towards the main doors. Dread to think what might have happened had we not reacted so quickly. Yes, NWI.com can delete all comments, but (unless you live in a bubble), people know what's going on. I know I won't be frequenting the mall on an evening or weekend. No thanks!

November 12, 2012 9:41 pm on Police: Dispute over basketball game led to fight, gunfire at Hobart mall
Fast Ed is right; this is an obvious Public Relations "save"; how ironic this article appears so soon after the recent coverage of the big brawl in the wavepool and parking lot. Yes, there is a risk of bad things happening at a public venue, but one like this is "one too many" in my opinion. I do think there is an increasing trend of such incidents in Lake County, many of them not publicly disclosed or "minimized" in the press. The Celebration Station and Westfield Mall comparisons were right-on; the trend continues, and not in a good way. No thanks; I'll skip the waterpark and choose the sprinkler or pool at home for my child!

August 05, 2012 11:51 am on No drought in attendance at Deep River Waterpark
Wally, thanks for the clarification of the school bus incident; I was misinformed and shouldn't have mentioned it in my post without getting additional clarification.

However, your mention of the pleasure of the patrons at a private party at the waterpark the same night of this recent incident is totally irrelevant. A private party is just that--private--certainly not the same public mix of typical park-goers. And, judging by so many posts of parents who were actually at the park/wavepool that day, I certainly wouldn't feel safe taking my child there either. One unnerving incident like this one is "one too many" in my opinion.

FastEd, your analogy is "on-the-mark" in relation to the Southlake/Westfield Mall. Incidents there often go unreported or under-reported as well. My daughter and I had a scary incident in the mall's parking lot not long ago; will never go there again in the evenings or weekends; crazy animal-like people yelling inside the mall, trying to climb the walls and even police dogs accompanying officers amidst the shoppers!! Not a pleasant experience. Sadly, same thing will likely happen to the waterpark. (And, it doesn't matter whether a business (i.e., the waterpark) has been in operation for 17 years in "good standing" for the most part. The mall, Celebration Station, Gary schools, etc. used to be in good standing for a long time too, and look what has happened to them. Doesn't take long for a few bad apples to turn into a lot of bad apples and ruin it for everyone else!

July 31, 2012 12:14 am on 3 arrested in fights at Deep River Waterpark