A historic piece of Lowell history is starting to come down.  Crews are in the process of taking down the old Grade School at 525 E. Main Street.  Prior to the start of the demolition work could even begin, artifacts from the historic, 117 year-old structure including leaded glass windows, bricks from the foundation and the schools nameplate were removed and given to the Three Creeks Historical Association.  According to the Times, the buildings cornerstone was removed in 2011. 
This morning,...

Porter County Community Foundation News Release: Valparaiso - The Porter County Community Foundation in partnership with Valparaiso University is sponsoring the “Spirit of Competition” exhibit at the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts from January 9 through February 7, 2013.  Created by Indiana Humanities and designed in partnership with the Indiana Historical Society, the exhibit celebrates both unknown and well-known Hoosier competitors.
“We’re really excited to bring this to Porter Cou...

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation says the designation paves the way for businesses to quickly locate new operations on property ready for development. The two sites in Plymouth and Elkhart join the list of more than 85 other 'shovel ready' sites identified by the state since 2006 that have undergone extensive title work, proof of ownership, legal and environmental review and qualify for expedited permitting with state regulatory agencies.
News Release (Jan 08 2013):
INDIANAPOLIS...

Funeral services are Wednesday for former LaPorte Mayor Carl Krentz. Krentz served as mayor of LaPorte from 1996 to 2000, and was Chairman of the Board of LaPorte-based Thanhardt-Burger Corporation. Krentz had served as a member of a number of local boards, and his obituary notice also says he was an actor/director for the LaPorte Little Theatre Club. Krentz passed away Friday at Settlers House in LaPorte the age of 84.
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Indiana Governor-elect Mike Pence today announced information regarding the 2013 State of the State address. Additional details will follow in the coming weeks.  Pence will deliver the speech January 22, 7:00 p.m. EST, at the Indiana Statehouse, House Chamber.  Inaugural events begin this Saturday (January 12) and continue through Monday. The Inauguration Ceremony is this Monday morning, January 14
For more information on Inaugural Events: www.indianaworks.eventbrite.com
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Trial began Monday in Lake County for a Gary man charged with murder and facing the death penalty in the shooting deaths of his wife and two teenage stepchildren more than five years ago. The Times reports 47-year-old Kevin Isom is also accused of the attempted murder of four of the police officers who responded to the standoff at the family's apartment in the Miller section of Gary in August of 2007.
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The city council in this far north Lake County community is downsizing, as the number of council members will drop by two by the time the next municipal election comes around in about two years. The Whiting City Council recently voted to cut their membership from seven to five. Whiting City Council President Chris Sarvanidis says the move will save the city money, and put them more in line with other similarly-sized communities.  "I looked at as many of the less than ten-thousand population...

South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority says the estimated local economic impact of sports, conventions and other events last year was about 29-percent higher compared to 2011. They say the nationally televised Leon’s Triathlon and the National Softball Association’s Girls Fast Pitch ‘B’ World Series attracted visitors to Lake, Porter and La Porte County from all over the country. Lake County tourism officials today announced sporting-event-related visitor spending on restaurants, hotels,...

Indiana lawmakers will again take up the topic of teaching cursive writing this session. Senate Bill 120, penned by Oldenburg State Senator Jean Leising, would require each school corporation and accredited nonpublic elementary school to include cursive writing in its curriculum. The measure's been referred to the Committee on Education and Career Development.  The issue became an issue last year when the state said schools didn't have to teach it... though they could if they wanted to. Leising...

House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath of Michigan City spoke before House members as they reconvened for the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly Monday, calling for a two-year moratorium on certain issues.  "On behalf of my caucus, " Pelath said," I am calling for a two-year moratorium on social issues. And you know what they are: they involve the deeply sensitive matters of who loves who, of human reproduction, and women's health."   Pelath briefly outlined areas he and the Democratic c...