[Photo from Hoosier Lottery]
 When Ira Zimmer of Schererville presented Hoosier Lottery officials with a $200,000 winning Mix & Match ticket he knew exactly what he was going to do with his winnings.
"I'm going to take my mother to Hawaii," said Zimmer.  "She's 96 and it's the only state she hasn't been to. I'm a history buff so I'd like to see Pearl Harbor."
Zimmer, an assistant principal at River Forest Junior-Senior High School in Hobart Township, matched five numbers on one line in the April 12 Mix & Match drawing to win the game's $200,000 top prize.  He purchased his lucky ticket at Cline Avenue Food Mart at 800 E. Hwy 330 in Schererville. He claimed his prize at Hoosier Lottery Headquarters April 23. Before Zimmer packs his swim trunks and Hawaiian shirts and heads to our 50th state, he plans to pay off some debt and put away some for retirement.
In fiscal year 2012, the Hoosier Lottery generated $211 million in surplus revenue which was used to significantly reduce the motor vehicle excise tax for all Hoosier drivers and also supported the pension funds for retired Indiana teachers, police and firefighters. Player prizes for the fiscal year totaled $533 million and $60 million was earned by Indiana retailers on the sale of Hoosier Lottery products. The Hoosier Lottery reminds all players to play responsibly.
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A Regional Silver Alert issued Monday night for a Lafayette woman last seen at a train station Sunday was canceled as of early this morning. Indiana State Police say Marsha Smith has been located. No other information has been released at this hour.
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A 21-year-old Gary man has been sentenced to ten-years in prison after admitting to shooting a man in the neck in Lake Station in January of 2011. Prosecutors say David King pleaded guilty to felony aggravated battery, saying he shot the victim in the 36-hundred block of Oregon Street after exchanging words with him, seriously wounding him. He didn't know the man, according to the plea agreement. Reports say King had been facing an attempted murder charge.
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The American Lung Association's annual "State of the Air" report out today places the Region in the 16^th most polluted area in the country for short-term particle pollution. In specific categories, Lake and Porter County got “C” grades for high ozone days – smog – while La Porte County received an F. Lake County got an F in particle pollution, while Porter County got a C and La Porte County received an A. The report says there are no monitors collecting this data in Newton, Jasper and Starke Counties.
Read the full report here: http://www.stateoftheair.org/2013/assets/ala-sota-2013.pdf
For quick-glance county-by-county data: http://www.stateoftheair.org/2013/states/
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[One of the brand names included in the recall]
The Food and Drug Administration says Natura Pet Products is voluntarily expanding its March 29, 2013 recall of dry pet foods because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The expanded recall now includes all dry pet food products and treats with expiration dates prior to and including March 24, 2014. The recall includes these brand names: California Natural, EVO, Healthwise, Innova, Karma.  Here's a link for details:  http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm348786.htm
The FDA says salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Sampling conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Salmonella in additional dry pet food and a cat pet treat. In an abundance of caution, Natura is also recalling product made in the surrounding timeframe. This action affects dry pet foods and treats only; no canned wet food or biscuits are affected by this announcement.
The affected products are sold through veterinary clinics and select pet specialty retailers nationwide and in Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Costa Rica, as well as online.
Consumers who have purchased these pet foods should discard them. For additional information, consumers may visit www.naturapet.com. For a product replacement or refund call Natura toll-free at 800-224-6123. (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM CST).
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Geraldo and Trooper Eric Rot
A runaway horse stopped traffic on the Borman in Lake Station Tuesday afternoon, and Indiana State Police troopers say if it hadn't been for the kindness of the many people who stopped to help, the outcome could have been much worse for “Geraldo”.

Geraldo, Trooper Eric Rot and Trooper Khari Walton
At approximately 4:35 p.m., the Indiana State Police received a report of a runaway horse running east bound I-80 from Colorado Street.   Troopers Khari Walton, Dan Avitia, Eric Rot and Jerry George converged on the area and found the horse lying down on the inner shoulder just east of Central Avenue. Colleen Lee of Chesterton and David Beckham of Crown Point saw the horse running on I-80 when he fell. Lee and Beckham stopped their vehicles and Lee laid down next to the horse to keep him calm so he wouldn’t dart out in traffic. Beckham stood by with Lee to help control the horse.  Our Steve Zana talked to Lee about the rescue, and you can hear his interview here at our website at News Audio on Demand: http://www.indiana105.com/index.php/news/news-on-demand.html
Trooper Rot, after he arrived, had traffic stopped eastbound so that he could walk the horse across east bound lanes over into the grassy area, behind the barrier wall on the outer shoulder so he wouldn’t be frightened by all the traffic on I-80.
Lake Station and Hobart Police Departments were instrumental in finding the owner of the horse.   Marcelino Chavez, 62 of Hammond, stated that his horse,“Geraldo”, had jumped over the fence where Geraldo is kept at 25th and Colorado and fled up the interstate. Chavez stated that the horse is used in parades.  Traffic was shut down again for Chavez to load Geraldo up into his horse trailer.
Indiana State Police at the Lowell Post say Geraldo suffered minor abrasions.
All lanes of traffic were re-opened at 6:14 p.m.
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A Region high schooler – inspired by the potential of natural phenomena to affect human health and well-being after flooding that affected northwest Indiana a few years ago – was chosen to present his research at the 2013 White House Science Fair this past Monday. A White House overview says Nathan Kondamuri, a senior at Munster High School,  sought to find ways of harnessing the power of nature to provide energy efficiently. For three years, he has conducted research on a new solar cell that creates electricity by mimicking photosynthesis, and he showcased the technology at the fair.

Nathan Kondamuri with actor Kal Penn, Actor, Producer, Host of upcoming Discovery Channel series The Big Brain Theory: Pure Genius
“As the son of a first generation immigrant, this opportunity was especially exciting for my family and I. My father and grandfather both attended President Obama’s first inaugural, and I know that my grandfather, who passed two years ago, would have been proud,” Kondamuri said.
Kondamuri was the only Hoosier selected to participate in the 2013 White House Science Fair. “I am particularly happy to represent Indiana because we don’t always get this kind of recognition like they do in some states like New York or California. We also have great teachers and schools here, and a lot can be accomplished right here in Indiana if you’re willing to put in the work,” Kondamuri added.
“I commend Nathan on his outstanding work to improve solar cell technology,” Congressman Pete Visclosky said. “Our country’s future is made brighter by young people like Nathan, who never stop questioning, never stop innovating, and never stop inventing. Northwest Indiana is fortunate to be represented by this young man at the White House Science Fair.”
Kondamuri will attend Stanford University next fall, where he says he plans to study chemical engineering and potentially computer science.
[Photos provided by Congressman Visclosky's office]
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Chicago – Two Merrillville schools are among just five nationwide to receive the COSEBOC school award, which recognizes and rewards schools that have a proven track record of effective pre K-12 education of male students of color. The Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC) announced the awards this week in advance of its annual “Gathering of Leaders” this week in Chicago.
COSEBOC is a national network of schools and highly-respected educators, researchers, policy-makers and advocates focused on sharing and promoting promising approaches and initiatives that improve education at schools with significant populations of young men of color.
“Identifying schools that have developed effective, creative and sustainable approaches and sharing those successes with other educators is the cornerstone of the work we do at COSEBOC,” said Ron Walker, Executive Director, COSEBOC. “The COSEBOC School Awards are proof and evidence of the fact that there are educational environments that work extremely well for boys and young men of color. We will now begin to work with Merrillville High and Salk Elementary to see how its practices can be replicated in other schools across the nation.”
Students and faculty from both schools will be on hand this week at COSEBOC’s 7th annual Gathering of Leaders to present their winning formula for success and achievement to educators who are attending the national meeting in Chicago.
“The Merrillville School Corporation has long maintained a strong belief and commitment to recognize diversity as a strength and positive quality,” said Merrillville Community Schools Superintendent Tony Lux. “Teachers, administrators and support staff provide unrelenting effort to provide all students, regardless of personal challenge, with the support to meet high expectations for academic success through a philosophy of Rigor-Relevance-Relationships. This belief system has become what we mean by ‘The Merrillville Advantage’.”
Superintendent Lux stressed that state test scores among boys of color at both Merrillville High and Salk surpassed the average school of all students across the state who took the state exams. That achievement is among many that met COSEBOC School Award criteria.
Merrillville High School
Over the last 15 years, MHS has experienced a dramatic demographic shift in its student population – from 14 percent student of color and 6 percent receiving free and reduced lunch to 84 percent and 53 percent respectively. As a result of this demographic shift and a racial incident, parents, school leaders, and community members came together for dialogue about diversity. The outcome of this dialogue was a community-wide recognition that Merrillville’s diversity was, in fact, its strength and declared it "The Merrillville Advantage".
Student academic success at MHS has resulted from programs such as a trimester schedule, which allows for more credit opportunities for male students of color over their high school matriculation, a ‘Failure is not an option’ motto, credit and homework recovery initiatives, and mentoring of freshmen by upperclassmen. Merrillville impresses upon students the importance of resiliency and accountability through powerful and pervasive positive messaging. Upon entering Merrillville High School one of the first things that you notice are the posters and signage on the walls, reflecting the climate and culture of the school.
Salk Elementary School
Over the past 15 years, Salk Elementary has experienced a dramatic demographic change and a significant increase in enrollment - resulting in more diverse student needs. Diversity training and dialogue became an increasingly important part of understanding of their new population. This training included the creation of corporation Study Circles.
Salk’s academic success is in part due to its use of innovative Balanced Literacy and Inquiry Math frameworks. Its focus on professional development and a “no excuses” motto ensure also student success. Salk Elementary is designed to teach positive choice making through positive behavior support and interventions. Salk instills its students with an awareness of the importance of community service by being “Bucket Fillers” and through its extensive opportunities for participation in community service projects.
Through extensive research, COSEBOC has determined that the most effective schools combine a culture of high-quality instruction, whole school community engagement and high expectations, with a focus on social and emotional development, helping students develop their personal identities through a connection to their cultural and historical legacies, and instilling in students the responsibility to serve their communities.
Along with the recognition, each COSEBOC School Award recipient will receive a $10,000 grant. The COSEBOC School Awards are supported by the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, Open Society Foundations.
The schools were selected based on a rigorous, three-stage selection process, the COSEBOC School Award’s blue ribbon panel determined that these five schools were successful in engaging and educating male students of color based on traditional measures of success, including test scores, graduation rates and college attendance.
In addition to Merrillville High and Salk Elementary, Best Academy in Minneapolis; Devonshire Elementary School in Charlotte, NC; and Thurgood Marshall Academy in Washington DC also received COSEBOC School Awards.
“These five schools are unrepentant in their belief that students can succeed and soar to great achievement levels. Each is led by a principal who is determined to build great schools. Most importantly, they know that great schools are not an accident," said Walker.
About COSEBOC
The mission of the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC) is to connect, inspire, support and strengthen school leaders dedicated to the social, emotional and academic development of boys and young men of color.
COSEBOC is a networked learning community of educators, researchers, policymakers and caring adults that support school leaders with high quality professional development so they can realize this vision of making success an attainable goal for every male student of color. For more information about COSEBOC including: standards and promising practices, membership, and professional development opportunities, visit www.coseboc.org.
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Shortly around 4:45pm this afternoon Northwest Indiana's traffic hot line began to ring off the hook with reports of a horse laying on it's side off to the left hand shoulder of eastbound I-80/94 in the Lake Station corridor.  The sight caused several motorists to hit their brakes to take in the sight in addition other drivers thought the horse might have been dead since it was on its side.  
All eastbound lanes of 80/94 were closed as animal handlers rounded up the runaway horse, which they succeeded in doing about 40-minutes later.
All lanes eastbound I-80/94 were reopenned at around 5:35 pm with very heavy volume backing up to between Cline Avenue and Burr Street.

Eastbound I-80/94 backed up at Central Avenue due to earlier runaway horse which has been successfully rounded up and removed.

Eastbound I-80/94 backed up nearly to Cline Avenue to due to an earlier incident involving a runaway horse near Ripley Street in the Lake Station corridor.
(Photos provided by INDOT traffic cams )
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The Lake County Sheriff's Office reports tips from concerned citizens led to a warrant sweep today where two subjects were arrested and detained, one of which for dealing controlled substance. Authorities report they executed a search warrant in the 100 block of South Indiana Street and arrested a 29 year old Crown Point man for dealing a controlled substance, and an 18 year old Crown Point man for visiting a common nuisance. The Sheriff's office says marijuana and cash were confiscated from the residence.
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