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Crown Point Fire-Rescue has Open Volunteer Position

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Crown Point Fire-Rescue is looking for some volunteers. The City's website reports the fire department is accepting applications for a volunteer firefighter. Those interested must be at least 18 years old, be a resident of Crown Point or Center Township, able to pass a medical and physical exam, have a valid driver's license, with a good driving record, complete an intensive training program, and submit to a background check. Applications, which are due by February 15th, at 4pm, can be found at...

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Highland Setting Stage for New PD Station?

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A new police station could be in store for Highland. The Times reports the Highland Town Council Monday night approved authorizing two professional appraisals of a property on the 33-hundred block of Ridge Road, which could potentially clear the way for a new police station, since this acquisition would clear the land from the Town Hall west to Cottage Grove Avenue. Published reports say town officials will revisit a 2003 study which laid out plans for a new station, measuring about 26-thousand...

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Portage Garage Burglary Uncovers Drug Sale Operation

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(Photo Courtesy of Portage Police)


Officers responding to a burglary call over the weekend ended up uncovering an illicit drug sale operation. Portage Police report they were called out just before 7am Saturday, to the 57-hundred block of Brookview Avenue, in Portage, in reference to a burglary to a garage, where officers ultimately learned a 17 year old male was selling drugs, and 18 year old Seth White, of Valparaiso, had allegedly stolen drugs from the garage. White, and an 18 year old male who admitted to driving White to...

Read more: Portage Garage Burglary Uncovers Drug Sale Operation

 

Lake Co Coroner Seeks Help in Finding Victim's Family

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Michael Bleck
(Photo Courtesy of the Lake County Coroner's Office)
The Lake County Coroner's Office needs your help in locating any possible friends or family of Michael Bleck. Coroner Merrilee Frey says they have exhausted all leads in locating any family members, after her office responded to the 52-hundred block of Hohman Avenue in Hammond, and found Bleck dead on January 4th. The Coroner's Office describes Bleck as last seen wearing a black ski jacket, blue jeans, a light blue long sleeve shirt, with...

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Fire in Hallway of E.C. Apt Complex Under Investigation

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A fire in the hallway of a eight-unit apartment building in East Chicago is under investigation at last check. Chief Inspector Henry Ventura, of the East Chicago Fire Department, says they were dispatched at 2:46 this morning to the 44-hundred block of Indianapolis Blvd, and found flames on the third floor, in front of the stairwell. Chief Inspector Ventura says the fire was contained to the hallway, and while there were no injuries, there was smoke damage, and he says the Red Cross and the...

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Valpo Looking Forward to Strategic Plan

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Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas is quoted in today's Times as saying it's “the most involved and interactive process any city has undertaken” referring to the development of a strategic plan for the city, one that will involve “extensive interaction” with residents to envision what Valpo would be a decade or two down the road. At last night's city council meeting, attendees learned the city has opted for a consulting team headed by ACP Visioning and Planning out of Columbus, Ohio, to develop that plan, with their work be...

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Latest ISP 'Road Show' at Region News on Demand

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The 15 minute talk show concentrates on public safety and informational topics with state wide interest.  The radio program was titled “Signal-10” in the early sixties when it was first started by two troopers in northern Indiana. The name was later changed to the “Indiana State Police Road Show” and is the longest continuously aired state police public service program in Indiana.  The public service program is sponsored by the Indiana State Police Alliance and Cops for Kids, a subsidiary of the...

Read more: Latest ISP 'Road Show' at Region News on Demand

 

Two Arrested After Valparaiso Burglary

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In Valparaiso early this morning, two men were taken into custody in connection with a burglary at the BP Amoco station on Calumet Avenue. Valparaiso Police say officers responded just after midnight and within five hours made two arrests on charges of burglary, criminal mischief for the broken glass, and possession of stolen property.
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Woman Killed on Bishop Ford Freeway Overnight

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Near Dolton overnight, Illinois State Police say a 27-year-old Chicago woman apparently fell from a southbound SUV on the Bishop Ford Freeway before being struck and killed by a semi. Police tell www.nwi.com  the victim was ejected at 154th Street. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV, a 28-year-old Chicago man, was reportedly taken to an Oak Lawn hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and no charges have been filed at this time.
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Gov Pence Announces Pay Raises Take Effect

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Indiana Governor Mike Pence today announced the distribution of the state's pay for performance raises that will appear on this week's paycheck. Former Governor Mitch Daniels authorized the increases last December to recognize the work of state employees throughout last year, and Governor Pence says he plans to continue to award pay raises based on employee performance. Raises granted range from three to eight percent, based on evaluations, which the overall average increase being...

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Indiana Flu Deaths Increase to 52

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The Indiana State Department of Health says flu deaths have now increased to 52, five more than the weekly report issued last Wednesday; one individual was under 18 and one was over 65. Also, two counties now have five or more deaths – Marion County has had six deaths, Allen County has had five deaths.  The Indiana State Department of Health does not report the number of deaths in each county until five deaths have occurred in a specific county.
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Gary/Chicago Airport Partnership Considered

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Is the Gary/Chicago International Airport thinking about taking on a partner? An ad hoc committee has been named to report back with recommendations in a couple of months . Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson joined Airport Authority President Nathaniel Williams announced an intergovernmental agreement Monday to pursue a public-private partnership to invest in the airport.
Here's more info from the Mayor's Office:
GARY, IND., Feb. 11, 2013– Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson joined Gary/Chicago I...

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Pilot Dental Program to Help Region Children

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A one-point-three million federal grant will fund a pilot program where dental hygienists help prevent cavities in Region kids from low-income families. Dr. Angeles Martinez-Mier , Director of the IU School of Dentistry's Division of Community Dentistry. says the program marks the first use of a change to Indiana law governing dental hygienists.  What makes it different is that in the past, Dr. Martinez-Mier said, the dentists had to be there when dental hygienists place the sealant. Now as...

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Structure Fire in East Chicago

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The Region News Team learned of a structure fire in East Chicago early this morning. The fire had Indianapolis Boulevard closed between 143rd and 144th Avenues.  At latest word, Indianapolis Boulevard had reopened.  We have no other information on the fire at this hour.
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Gas Prices Up in the Region and the US

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Triple A's Fuel Gauge Report says Region drivers are paying on average about 3-dollars-80-cents a gallon for regular unleaded in the Gary Metropolitan Area... about 55-cents more compared to a month ago... and about forty-cents more than we were paying this time last year.
Drivers around the country are feeling a pinch at the pump, with the average price for a gallon of gas going up twenty-five cents in just two weeks. According to Oil analyst Tom Kloza with the Oil Price Information Service,...

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More Reaction to Pope's Announcement

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In Rome... and the Region... people are still coming to terms with the surprise announcement Monday hat Pope Benedict XVI is retiring at the end of the month.  ABC's Tom Rivers in Rome says the Pope is the only story there, front-page news across all the papers. Milan Cardinal Angelo Scoli is considered a top candidate to succeed Benedict.

Bishop Dale Melczek of the Diocese of Gary issued a statement saying he last met with Pope Benedict last February in his study, and described the Pope as “one...

Read more: More Reaction to Pope's Announcement

   

Anti-Meth Bill Heads to House

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Legislation to further strengthen anti-methamphetamine laws across Indiana passed the full Senate Monday 44-to-4, and among things, it more strictly limits the amount of cold and allegy medicine you could buy without a prescription. Senate Bill 496 caps the amount of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine in a one-year period to 61-point two grams – described in the Indianapolis Star as enough for a daily dose for just over eight months. The bill now moves to the House.
Here's more info:
STATEHOUSE (Feb. 11,...

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Anti-Meth Bill Passes Senate, Moves to House

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Legislation to further strengthen anti-methamphetamine laws across Indiana passed the full Senate Monday. Senate Bill 496 would allow ephedrine/pseudoephedrine to be sold only at retailers participating in the National Precursor Log Exchange database, prohibits anyone convicted of certain meth-related crimes from possessing ephedrine/pseudoephedrine without a prescription for seven-years, increases the criminal penalty of those who buy more than ten-grams of certain meth ingredients, with the...

Read more: Anti-Meth Bill Passes Senate, Moves to House

   

East Chicago PD 2012 Crime Stats

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East Chicago PD
The East Chicago Police Department recently released their 2012 crime statistics, reporting a 13-percent reduction in violent crime from 2011 and a five-percent drop in property crimes from the previous year, for a six-percent decrease in total crimes overall from 2011 totals. Chief Mark Becker says he is pleased with the numbers because in 2011, East Chicago was designated as the most violent city in Northwest Indiana on a per capita basis, and now homicides, of which three were reported in...

Read more: East Chicago PD 2012 Crime Stats

   

I-80/94 I-65 Overnight Lane Restrictions Start Tuesday

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INDOT has announced overnight lane restrictions of I-80/94 and I-65 starting tomorrow night through Friday. INDOT reports crews will be out patching potholes and performing maintenance during overnight hours, and work will be rescheduled if weather becomes a factor. The work begins Tuesday at 10pm on I-80/94 eastbound lane restrictions, between the Illinois state line and the Indianapolis Blvd/U-S 41 exit.
I-80/94 Lane Restriction Schedule
Tuesday, February 12th, 10 p.m. (until 6 a.m....

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