In South Haven, Porter County Sheriffs Police are investigating an armed robbery at a Speedway gas station at US 6 and State Road 149 Tuesday night. Reports say there were no injuries and police were searching for the suspect.  Police say at approximately 10:05 PM, the suspect entered the station and confronted the clerk as she came out of the back room. The suspect pointed a handgun at the clerk and made her open the register and give him an undisclosed amount of USC. The suspect is described as a black male, 5'9" with a large build, wearing blue/black pants, black shoes, tan gloves, dark blue nylon winter coat with a green collar and 2 red stripes running horizontally across the center of the back. The suspect also was wearing a black ski mask over his face. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Department Detective Bureau at 219-477-3140. Anonymous tips can be called into WeTip at 1-800-782-7463. WeTip offers up to a $1,000 reward for information aiding in the arrest and conviction of any suspects involved.
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There's a lot of interest in how accrued interest from the sale of the county hospital six years ago might be spent... it's up to nearly eleven-million dollars. Porter County Commissioners have forwarded a request to the County Council requesting one-and-a-half million dollars go toward building a new animal shelter, at State Roads 130 and 149... and another million and a half on constructing an educational center at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, which is at US 6 and Meridian Road.
Earlier this year, the county agreed to put 600-thousand dollars of the interest money into buying and renovating the Legacy Banquet Center on West Lincolnway in Valparaiso for Porter County PACT alternative sentencing, community service, counseling and related programs for offenders and former offenders.
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Candlelight vigils were held in Merrillville, Valparaiso, and communities around the state last night, representing 92 counties in the effort to bring awareness to protecting children against child abuse. Jane Bisbee, Regional Manager of the Department of Child Services in Lake County, says the number of assessments in Lake County has gone up. "The Indiana Child Abuse Hotline takes all of our calls of abuse or neglect, and then they're transferred electronically to the local level, and then we assign them to the case managers here in the Lake County office," Bisbee said.  She said they now have over two-thousand children who are now under the jurisdiction of the Lake County court system.  Louella Richey, Director of the Porter County office, says the toll-free Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotlinel is 1-800-800-5556. "We know that Indiana's future depends on our kids," Richey said, "and it's our responsibility to take care of them."
You can hear more of our interviews with Jane Bisbee and Louella Richey at News Audio on Demand at regionnewsteam-dot-com
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Gary State Representative Charlie Brown led the Indiana House of Representatives in congratulating the Bowman Academy with a Senate Concurrent Resolution for winning the 2A Boys Basketball State Championship this year. Brown says the Bowman Academy boys basketball team—which won the Class 1A Championship in 2010—is the first team in Indiana history to win state titles in multiple classes. Last year, they placed second in the Class 2A title game.
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Pickets in Peotone at a meeting on the proposed Illiana Expressway last night during an open house coordinated by the Illinois Depatment of Transportation and Indiana Department of Transportation. Residents were expressing concern that the proposed east-west highway between I-65 in Lake County and I-55 in Illinois would cut them off from certain routes. A concern over access roads has been voiced in Lowell, too. There's another Tier Two public meeting open house scheduled this week, and it'll be at Lowell Middle School, 19250 Cline Avenue, Thursday, April 18, 2013 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Lowell Town Council President Edgar Corns talks about this issue, and other community topics, in a recent Region Newsmakers interview that can be heard online here at our website.
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Emergency managers like Director of Porter County Emergency Management Russell Shirley stress the importance of being vigilant, all the time, in light of the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon Monday.    "When you're there, you're having a good time, you're not thinking about that kind of stuff," Shirley said. "What you need to do is be more aware of your surroundings. The adage now is, 'If you see something, say something', and that's obviously never been more true. If you see something suspicious, say something to somebody -- let us know that you see something suspicious because the public really is the 'eyes and ears'." Shirley says the public is going to see more than what the police, or the fire, ems, emergency responders are going to see.  You can hear more of our interview with Russell Shirley at News Audio on Demand here at our website.
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The discovery in a rural area of northwest Indiana of a body described as severely decomposed has turned into a homicide investigation. Porter County Sheriffs Police say an autopsy Tuesday showed the adult male suffered an apparent gunshot wound, and revealed that the victim was white or Hispanic. Authorities say the body was found in a drainage ditch near County Roads 500 West and 1000 South in Boone Township, south of Hebron, and anyone with information or who may have seen suspicious activity in the area is asked to call Porter County Sheriffs Police Commander Jeff Biggs at 219-477-3141.  Anonymous tips can be phoned into WeTip at 1-800-782-7463. Police say WeTip offers up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of any suspects involved.
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A Highland woman is among the more than 170 people injured in the Boston Marathon bombings that killed three people. Beth Roche was taken to the hospital for her injuries. She was in Boston to see her daughter, Rebecca Roche, participate in the race. Rebecca Roche says she crossed the finish line about thirty or sixty seconds before the two bombs went off and says her mother and some friends were injured  in the impact, and are recovering from surgery for broken bones.
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(Pierre Greer, Photo Courtesy of Michigan City PD)
Police in Michigan City say two subjects have been taken off the Michigan City Top Ten Most Wanted List, as they have been recently apprehended. Officials say Denquise Hart, who was wanted on a probation revocation for receiving stolen property is now in custody, and on Tuesday, police arrested Demetrius Howell without incident, who was wanted for escape and several other failure to appear warrants. Of course this now opens up two spots on the top ten list, which Michigan City Police say is now held by 26 year old Pierre Greer, of Chicago, wanted for felony forgery and identity deception. The other subject added to the list is 33 year old Beecil Minley, of Michigan City, wanted on a felony charge of dealing cocaine.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. —The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today presented Senator Donnelly of Indiana with the annual Spirit of Enterprise Award for his support of pro-jobs, pro-growth policies during the second session of the 112th Congress.
“In the face of high-stakes politics and difficult choices, Senator Donnelly provided America’s job creators with a strong voice in Congress,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. “This award recognizes Senator Donnelly for consistently demonstrating his support for pro-growth policies.”
The Chamber’s prestigious Spirit of Enterprise Award, in its 25^th year, is given annually to members of Congress based on key business issues outlined in the Chamber publication How They Voted. Members who support the Chamber’s position on at least 70% of those votes qualify to receive the award.
According to the scorecard, Senator Donnelly received a 91% rating with the Chamber this year and collectively holds a 66% ranking during his tenure in Congress.
The Chamber scored Congress on 8 Senate and 12 House votes in 2012, including reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the establishment of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia, and the reauthorization of surface transportation legislation. Also scored were votes to repeal onerous provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, improve the process by which regulations are promulgated, and better secure the United States from cyber threats.
To view a complete list of the 2012 Spirit of Enterprise recipients, please visit www.uschamber.com/soe.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers.
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