(La Porte, IN) - A five million dollar grant has been secured for construction of a new YMCA in La Porte.

The grant from the state has been accepted by the city’s Board of Public Works & Safety.  The site of the new YMCA is at New Porte Landing just outside Fox Park.

City Planner Craig Phillips said it’s a great location because of what’s offered in the surrounding area such as trails.

“Things like trails, housing, shopping opportunities being nearby and the possibility of additional residential (construction) in the nearby area in the future.  It’s a good location for his project,” he said.

Phillips said the grant will pay for site development and infrastructure.  The YMCA and Health Foundation of La Porte are raising funds to cover the cost of constructing the building.

A date for starting construction has not been set.

Mayor Tom Dermody said he would like the see the old YMCA location downtown turned into affordable senior housing.

Overnight lane closures will start this week on a stretch of Interstate 94 that includes La Porte County.

According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, the lane closures will occur between Indiana 49 and the U.S. 20/35 exit.

Alternating lane closures will happen between Indiana 49 and U.S. 421 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting on or after Tuesday to set up a new traffic configuration. 

In the new traffic configuration, INDOT said eastbound traffic will return to the eastbound side of I-94 with two lanes shifted to the right starting on or after Wednesday.

Starting on or after the evening of July 25, westbound traffic will be shifted to utilize counterflow lanes on the eastbound side of I-94 starting near U.S. 421.

Westbound traffic will then switch back over to the westbound side around mile marker 29. This configuration will be in place through late August for resurfacing operations.

Alternating lane closures on I-94 are also planned between U.S. 421 and U.S. 20/35 during the overnight hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.   Overnight work will start on or after Wednesday through Saturday morning and then resume the following week, according to INDOT. 

This work is in relation to the full bridge deck replacement on Bleck Rd over I-94, which includes restrictions on I-94.

Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic layouts over the course of the next two weeks, especially during overnight hours. INDOT encourages drivers to consider safety for all by slowing down, using extra caution and driving distraction-free when travelling in and around all work zones.

(La Porte County, IN) - A man is facing allegations of drunk driving after slamming into a tree in La Porte County last night.

Richard Chambers, 59, was booked into the La Porte County Jail on Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.

La Porte County Police said the crash happened in the 6800 block of N. Range Road. Chambers told investigators he hit the tree after swerving to miss a deer.  His alleged blood alcohol level was .299-percent or more than three times the legal limit.

Police said the accident was discovered by a pair of Door Dash drivers who told investigators they spotted Chambers in the back seat trying to get out of the vehicle.

(La Porte County, IN) - A downstate man was arrested in La Porte County for having a large amount of dispensary marijuana products from Michigan.

Adam Musick, 44, of West Lafayette was jailed Sunday evening on a charge of Level 6 felony possession of marijuana.

According to La Porte County Police, an officer spotted the man traveling at a speed noticeably higher than other motorists in the area of U.S. 421 and Indiana 2 in Westville.

Police said the officer began following the man who was pulled over after making an unsafe lane movement and tailgating.  Four dispensary bags containing a number of THC vapes, THC infused gummies and raw marijuana were allegedly recovered from the vehicle.

Police said the products were valued at slightly more than $1,000.

Musick is also being held on a warrant out of Illinois charging him with failure to appear in court on a previous undisclosed charge. 

(Michigan City, IN) - A 13-year old boy is charged with seriously wounding another teenager in Michigan City by stabbing him.

According to Michigan City Police, the boy is charged Level 3 felony aggravated battery and two counts of Level 5 felony battery.

Police said the stabbing happened late Saturday afternoon at a home in the 900 block of Ohio St. where a 19 year old man was found with a life threatening puncture wound to his back.

He was transported to Franciscan Health hospital.

Police said the suspect was located inside the residence and arrested once multiple items of undisclosed evidence was found during a search of the home.  He was being held in the La Porte County Juvenile Services Center.

Police said the stabbing occurred following an argument between the victim and suspect.

(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City High School has hired a new principal.

Lucas Snyder will take over this upcoming school year. Snyder previously was principal at Barker Middle School since 2020. Prior to that, he was a teacher, coach, and assistant athletic director at the high school.

MCHS was under interim leadership following the abrupt resignation of former principal Mohamed Mroueh in March.

Replacing Snyder as principal at Barker Middle School will be Todd Dermody. Dermody spent the past three years as Dean of Students at Watervliet Middle and High School in Michigan. Prior to that Dermody was a math teacher at Krueger Middle School.

(South Bend, IN) - The Indiana State Police Trooper who was shot in the line of duty last Friday is now home with his family.

One week after being shot three times outside of Michigan City, Sgt. Justin Heflin walked out of South Bend’s Memorial Hospital Friday. Dozens of law enforcement officers and other well-wishers formed an honor guard and saluted Heflin and his family as they walked by. Heflin saluted back and waved before getting into a car.

Along with a video on Facebook of Heflin’s departure, State Police offered a statement on his behalf:

“After a week of strength, determination, and support from friends, family, and the community, today marks a huge step forward. Sgt. Heflin is grateful for the exceptional care he received and for everyone who has kept him in their thoughts.

While the road to full recovery continues, being home is a milestone he’s been looking forward to and one he doesn’t take for granted.”

On the morning of July 10, Heflin exchanged gunfire with a suspect, Kevin Myers (54) of La Porte, following a car chase. Myers later shot and killed himself. Heflin underwent successful surgery for multiple gunshot wounds and is now back home completing his recovery.

(La Porte County, IN) - West Nile Virus has turned up in La Porte County.

The County Health Department made the announcement on Thursday that a pool of mosquitos sampled on June 30 tested positive for West Nile, as confirmed by the Indiana State Department of Health.

Health officials say the species most likely to transmit the virus prefers to breed in containers. So watch for bird baths, clogged gutters, empty flower pots, and any other places of standing water. Also these infected mosquitoes prefer to bite around dusk and dawn. So be extra vigilant with bug repellant at these times of day.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 20% of people infected with West Nile Virus develop flu-like symptoms, which usually start within a week of being bitten by an infected mosquito. Less than 1% of infections result in severe illness that affects the central nervous system, requires hospitalization, or results in death. People most at risk of severe illness are the elderly and those with serious chronic medical conditions.

For additional information, contact Kristine Happel Collin with the La Porte County Health Department at 219-326-6808 ext. 2200 or 219-874-5611.

(St. Joseph County, IN) - A motorcyclist was in critical condition after crashing into a roundabout following a Thursday afternoon pursuit in St. Joseph County.

Police said the motorcycle was traveling at excessive speeds and disregarding traffic signals in the area of Cleveland Road and Hickory Road when an officer attempted to stop his vehicle.  The motorcyclist failed to stop, though, and fled but the pursuit at some point was terminated.

Police said the motorcycle continued on at high speeds on Brick Road before hitting a curb and losing control in the roundabout.

The name of the driver, so far, has not been revealed.

(La Porte County, IN) - Country music star Dylan Scott helped raise money for a La Porte County Police officer recovering from being shot multiple times in May.

Scott, who performed Thursday night during the La Porte County Fair, autographed two guitars that sold for over $15,000 during an auction.

Normally, the fair board uses the proceeds from auctioning off guitars autographed by the headline performer at the fair each year for scholarships. 

This year, the board decided to give the proceeds this year to Samuelson and his wife, Quinn, to help them financially during what’s anticipated to be a long recovery.

Mike Kellems of La Porte was taking pictures for the fair board when he received a chance to interact with Scott before he took the stage in front of more than 3,000 people.  He said Scott also talked to a number of police officers, who mentioned Samuelson during their conversations.

“He could not have been more personable.  Could not have been more caring and concerned not only about Deputy Samuelson but about police officers in general.  Just a genuine person,” he said.

Scott also made a recording with the police officers shouting “Sammy Strong” for the 33-year old Samuelson, whose alleged gunman is facing charges such as attempted murder.

(La Porte, IN) - A lengthy prison sentence has been given for the death of a La Porte woman from a drug overdose.

Michael Hart received a 32 year prison sentence yesterday in La Porte Circuit Court for Level 1 felony dealing in a controlled substance causing death.

Authorities say the 27 year old Michigan City man sold Bailee Hoops the drugs that claimed her life nearly two years ago.  The 30 year old Hoops was found dead at a home on Kingsporte Lane from overdosing on fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Hart told investigators he purchased the drugs in Chicago and he had known Hoops for a long time.

(New Buffalo Township, MI) - Police say distracted driving is to blame for another motorcyclist in the area killed from being struck from behind by a passenger vehicle.

This one happened Thursday about 11:30 a.m. (Central Time) on U.S. 12 just west of New Buffalo.

According to Berrien County Police, the motorcyclist slowed down to turn left onto Lubke Road when hit from behind by a distracted driver.  The 45 year old man from Niles later died at the hospital from a head injury.  So far, his name has not been disclosed.

Police said the other driver, a 39 year old woman from Missouri, suffered minor injuries.

How she was distracted was not revealed but police say she failed to notice the motorcycle stopping in front of her despite the motorcycle having its left turn signal activated.

Last weekend, a driver hit two motorcycles from behind in Wanatah, killing the driver of one of those motorcycles.

(La Porte County, IN) - One man doesn’t seem to mind the 90 degree temperatures, so much, despite manning a barbecue grill during this week’s La Porte County Fair.

The 600 degree heat from the grill has raised the outdoor temperature to as much as 119 degrees where Mark Baker stands to cook ribeye steak sandwiches, hamburgers and all-beef hot dogs as a vendor at the fair.

“There is no staying cool.  We do it because we love it,” he said.

Baker said the tubs of cool water along with fans at his food stand help but he steps away at times for another cook to take over so he can find some shade or an air conditioner before resuming his duties.

“Everybody needs to hydrate and be safe out here.  They really do,” he said.

(La Porte County, IN) - A smoky haze has moved into the area from the wildfires in Canada.

The smoke is evident in places like Stone Lake Beach in La Porte where conditions seemed mostly cloudy on what should have been a sunny day.

“There’s just a haze across everything,” said Mark Parkman, a farmer from the Westville area.

Parkman said there’s also a noticeable smell of smoke.

“It smells like you’re burning brush or you got a fire going,” he said.

According to weather forecasters, the haze from the wildfires moved into the Midwest and Northeast with help from a cold front.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Rolling Prairie area boy has a calf positioned to do well in the judging at next year’s La Porte County Fair.

Reed Howard’s Black Angus Holstein heifer, “Raven,” won first place in the prospects show for young cows in her category.

“Pretty good,” is how the New Prairie Middle School student responded when asked how the top billing performance in the show ring felt.

The 170 pound cow born in December of 2024 will move up to the adult category during the showing in next year’s fair when she is expected to start giving milk.

Howard, who soon turns 12, said he helps take care of his family’s 20 or so other cows at home by doing things like feeding them a mixture of hay and grain that includes corn.  He also washes the animals.

(Indianapolis, IN) - An air quality action day has been issued for the area today.

According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, a primary factor is some of the smoke from wildfires in Canada moving into this part of the state.

Fine particulate matter in the smoky air along with ozone levels from 90 degree temperatures are expected to be in the unhealthy range.

The advisory includes La Porte, Michigan City and other parts of northern Indiana.

(La Porte County, IN) - Some modern-day pioneers had to do without electricity for a while yesterday at the La Porte County Fair.

A power outage in 90 degree heat impacted Pioneer Land along with several food and beverage vendors.

Pioneer Land Manager Darla Quinn said there are fans running in the 1800’s- like village during the fair to help volunteers working the buildings stay cool.  The fans along with an air conditioner in the Quilt Cabin quit running until power was restored about two hours later.

“It got hot fast,” she said.

It appears a problem with a transformer caused the temporary outage.

(La Porte County, IN) - A South Central High School student has a female pig named a grand champion in the show ring today during the La Porte County Fair.

“It was an honor to win this,” said Madison Scarborough, 17.

Her 225 pound pig, “Ivey,” was declared the Grand Champion gilt after Scarborough showed the animal before judges in the show arena.

“I think she looked really good out there,” she said.

Scarborough, who has shown grand champion pigs during past fairs, said she was surprised at her finish this morning but it was something she worked toward in previous shows this year with the pig.  Her family raises crops in Dewey Township and keeps just enough pigs to show during the fair.

The Reserve Grand Champion gilt was awarded to Morgan Paschen, who’s also a 17-year old student at South Central School.  Paschen said she was surprised because “Loretta” did not perform as well during other shows this year.

“It was really nice to come here and do well,” she said.

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man convicted of causing a fatal alcohol related motor vehicle collision several years ago is charged with being impaired in a recent crash.

Eric Adair, 29, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 5 felony operating while intoxicated.

Police said Adair on Sunday hit a parked car in the 300 block of Rockwood St.  The impact caused his Dodge Durango to roll onto its roof.  Police said a responding officer spotted Adair walking away from the crash site while carrying multiple items in his hands.

He was taken to the La Porte County Jail with an alleged blood alcohol level of .22-percent.

According to court records, Adair was given a six-year prison sentence in 2022 for Level 4 felony operating while intoxicated causing death.

Police said Adair crossed the center line on U.S. 35 north of La Porte and struck a vehicle driven by Nathan Blunt head-on.  The 32 year old Blunt later succumbed to his injuries.

Adair could face anywhere from a one to six year sentence.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City man could face a lengthy prison term on charges of dealing cocaine.

Quevin Garrett, 29, is charged in La Porte Superior Court 1 with Level 2 felony dealing cocaine.

According to court documents, Garrett in May was involved in the sale of crack cocaine for $1,100 in the 200 block of S. Court.  Police said Garrett retrieved the crack cocaine from that location and gave it to the buyer.

Garrett arrested last week on a warrant was still being held in the La Porte County Jail on $50,000 bond.

He could face anywhere from a 10 to 30 year sentence.  

(Westville, IN) - A traffic stop for erratic driving in Westville Tuesday resulted in the arrest of the driver on drug related charges.

Kaitlin Mannia, 36, of La Porte was booked into the La Porte County Jail on charges of Level 4 felony possession of methamphetamine along with Class B misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

La Porte County Police said Mannia about 4 p.m. swerved into the opposite lane in the area of Flynn Road and Jefferson St. and stayed there for several seconds before returning to the proper lane.

She then nearly caused a collision from braking hard and was weaving while traveling slowly before stopping for the officer, police said.

Police said Mannia had 10 grams of methamphetamine along with glass smoking pipes containing burnt residue and a small amount of marijuana.

(Michigan City, IN) - A petition drive is underway to try and cancel the memory of a former public official in Michigan City serving a 100 year prison sentence for child molesting.

Michigan City resident Carlie Dunn is collecting the signatures to bolster her chances when she takes her request before the Michigan City Park Department and the Michigan City Port Authority in the coming weeks.

Specifically, Dunn is requesting the name of John Rudisell be removed from plaques including those marking the construction of the bathhouse at Washington Park Beach and nearby Millennium Plaza along Trail Creek.

Rudisell was the city’s Port Authority Harbormaster when charged and later given two 50-year prison sentences in 2001 to be served consecutively on two Class A felony counts of child molesting.

According to authorities, it’s believed Rudisell actually had close to 20 male victims during at least a 13-year period, including some boys molested dozens of times.

“I think this is something the community can get behind,” she said.

Authorities said the now 64-year old Rudisell lured the boys by asking their parents if they could perform yard work on his Michigan City area farm where he kept exotic animals like Bengal Tigers.  The parents trusted Rudisell because of his position as harbormaster and reputation as a stellar member of the community.

Rudisell was also an adult volunteer with the LaPorte County 4-H program.

Dunn, 33, said she never heard of Rudisell or the plaques until recently.  She quickly decided it’s not right for him to continue being honored and his name remaining an open source of shame for the community.

Dunn said her concern is mostly about the impact on his victims if they happen to see his name on the plaques during any trips they might take to the lakefront.

“I wouldn’t want that person to be reminded of the horrific abuse they’ve had to endure,” she said.

In 2004, Ron Meer said he was on the city council when approached by relatives of some victims asking for the removal of Rudisell’s name.

Meer said he later presented a resolution calling for the removal and it was unanimously passed by the city council but the name, for whatever reason, was never eliminated from the markers.  At the time, Meer said he received extreme “pushback” from board members with the Port Authority and Park Department, who felt removing Rudisell’s name would be “altering history.”

Meer said the issue seemed to have been mostly forgotten by the time he became mayor about eight-years later and was never revisited during his two four-year terms.  He expressed support for Dunn’s efforts.

“This guy does not in any way, shape or form deserve to be on any monument with recognition,” he said.

According to authorities, Rudisell paid the boys as much as $150 to engage in sex acts that sometimes involved more than one boy at a time.  He also seduced them with alcohol, marijuana and pornographic movies, authorities said.

Dunn also said her request is a chance for the city to save face years later and make things right with the victims.

“What does that say about us as a community that we’re still memorializing this individual?  I think we should be on the side of the victim and think about what that does to them.  How does that make them feel,” she said.

Dunn said her plan is to go before the Port Authority Board with her request on August 3 and Park Board on August 5.

Currently, Rudisell is downstate in the Pendleton Correctional Facility, according to the Indiana Department of Correction.  His earliest release date is listed as February 21, 2050.

(La Porte County, IN) - One of four people injured when their motorcycles were struck a car in La Porte County has died.

Ryan Harrison, 42, was operating a 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle struck from behind Saturday, June 11 by a 2005 Mazda passenger vehicle on U.S. 421 in Wanatah, according to La Porte County Police.

Police said the car also hit a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle traveling in front of Harrison.  Harrison and his passenger, Amber Harrison, 41, were airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Mr. Harrison succumbed to his injuries the next day, police said.

The driver of the other motorcycle, Levi Bridges, 42, and his passenger Amber Bridges, 41, were taken by ambulance with undisclosed injuries.  All of the motorcyclists were from the Lafayette area.

The driver of the car, Daniel Quiroz, 19, of Portage was not injured.

Investigators were waiting for the results of blood tests to determine if alcohol or drugs were factors in the collisions.

(La Porte County, IN) - An annual fund raiser for scholarships during the La Porte County Fair will go toward a La Porte County Sheriff’s Deputy recovering from gunshot wounds.

Traditionally, the guitar used by the headline performer during the fair is auctioned off with the proceeds going to scholarships.

Fair Manager Don Stoner said three $1,500 scholarships were awarded last year from the proceeds.

This year, Stoner said the guitar used by country music star Dylan Scott, who performs in the grandstands Thursday night, will go out for bids with the proceeds going to help officer Jon Samuelson and his family.

Currently, Samuelson, 33, is in a rehabilitation facility after shot in May by a gunman at Franciscan Health outside Michigan City.

The suspect, Sharrod Grafton, Jr., 22, of Chicago is charged with attempted murder.

Police said Samuelson stopped to assist Grafton, who he thought was a disabled motorist, and took him to the hospital as requested.  Samuelson left but soon returned after informed Grafton was a suspect in the theft of his mother’s car at gunpoint.

The officer was shot three times during a scuffle with the suspect in the emergency room area of the hospital.

(La Porte County, IN) - It appears a man who shot a police officer multiple times was hit by one of the rounds returned by the officer before taking his own life with a gunshot.

La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson said an autopsy shows Kevin Meyers, 54, suffered a gunshot wound to the back apparently fired by the officer during a gunfire exchange.  She said the bullet from the officer apparently went through the back of the cab of the stolen pick-up truck Meyers was driving and the seat he was in before entering his back.
             

Swanson said he then fled to the area of Joliet Road and Wozniak Road where the wounded Meyers stepped out of the truck and entered a corn field.   That's where he was later found deceased from a single shot to the chest fired from his AK-15 assault rifle.

She said the bullet in the back lodged in some fatty tissue was not a factor in his death.

Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit said the Friday morning chase began near Four Winds Casino outside New Buffalo when a police officer tried stopping him for driving a suspected stolen vehicle.

He said the pursuit ventured the short distance into Indiana on some side roads before returning to Michigan where the suspect fled westbound on Interstate 94.  At one point, Heit said the fleeing driver stuck the barrel of what was described as a rifle out the driver’s side window and fired at least one shot.

Heit said officers from Michigan stayed with the pursuit across the state line until law enforcement from multiple departments in Indiana were positioned to take over the chase.

“Once it went into Indiana further and they had enough units, we backed off and continued to monitor it but it never came back close to Michigan,” he said.

Several minutes later, the pursuit went southbound on U.S. 421 near Michigan City where a collision between the suspect and state trooper soon happened outside a Speedway station.

ISP Sgt. Glen Fifield said numerous shots rang out, including some by the officer returning fire.

The officer, Sgt. Justin Heflin, 40, was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend where he was listed in stable condition prior to surgery.

After the gunfire exchange, Fifield said more than 100 officers were involved in a manhunt for the suspect whose pick-up truck was located with help from a police helicopter.

Swanson said Meyers was driving a pick-up truck stolen the previous day from a Michigan City car dealership.   She said he removed a license plate from another vehicle at the casino and placed it on the stolen pick-up truck just before the pursuit.

According to court records, Meyers was serving a three year sentence on work release in La Porte County for auto theft.  A warrant was recently issued for his arrest for failing to return to the work release facility at night as required.