Region News

Flash is not supported on this device. If you wish to listen to this audio, you must download and play an mp3 using an mp3 player on your device. CLICK HERE

Press the play button to hear the latest news from THE REGION.

Porter Health Care System Named Company of the Year

Z107

E-mail

(Photo Courtesy of the United Way of Porter County)
Porter Health Care System was named "Company of the Year" by United Way of Porter County at the 2013 United Way Volunteer of the Year Awards State Banquet held March 7^th at the Fountains Banquet and Conference Center, Carmel.
“With health as one of United Way’s primary impact areas, it was an honor to nominate Porter Health Care System, which has been recognized for the award-winning medical care it provides to Northwest Indiana,” stated Sharon A. Kish, President of United Way of Porter County. United Way annually invests in three core initiatives which serve as the building blocks for a good quality of life: Health, Education and Financial Stability.
Led by CEO Jonathan Nalli, and CFO Cheryl Harmon, who serves as United Way’s current Board Chair, Porter Health Care System is committed to United Way efforts. Jonathan and his wife, Cathleen, chaired United Way’s 2011/12 Annual Campaign, which raised $1.8 million in Porter County. This past year, Porter also hosted United Way’s 1^st Annual CEO Leadership Breakfast in the new Porter Regional Hospital before it opened. With standing room only, the event was a great start to their campaign. In addition, Porter served as the Premier Sponsor for United Way’s Annual Golf Classic in its 1^st year at Sand Creek Country Club, and will serve again this year in 2013.
“Porter Health Care System is a great advocate for volunteerism,” added Kish. In 2012, the company served as the Corporate Steward Sponsor for the United Way Regional Volunteer Center. Among the sponsored activities is the Regional Day of Caring, which attracts more than 2,000 volunteers each year.
# # #...

IN House Passes Bill to Help Kids of Disabled Vets

Z107

E-mail

INDIANAPOLIS – Thanks to the efforts of State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon (D-Munster), legislation designed to assist Hoosier veterans interested in pursuing a college degree now contains language that helps the children of those who were disabled during their military service.
            On a 93-0 vote today, members of the Indiana House approved Senate Bill 177, which contains a series of provisions assisting veterans who wish to attend a state-supported college or university once they have completed their service.
            Among those provisions is a proposal from Candelaria Reardon that ensures that any child of a veteran with any form of service-related disability will be able to attend college without paying any tuition or fees. The benefit covers students pursuing an undergraduate degree and covers a four-year period.
            “This change corrects an egregious error made by the Indiana General Assembly back in 2011, when it was decided to scale back this plan in an effort by the previous administration to cut costs,” Candelaria Reardon said.
            “Up until 2011, any child of a veteran with any level of disability was able to attend college and have 100 percent of tuition and fees remitted over a four-year period,” she continued. “The change from 2011 reduced the level of benefits, which meant some children would have to pay for a portion of tuition and fees.
            “I felt that change reneged on our commitment to take care of those who give so much to take care of the rest of us, particularly when you consider that at the same time the Republican majority in the Legislature was cutting this benefit for disabled Hoosiers, they were also cutting corporate taxes,” Candelaria Reardon said. “This year was a perfect time to restore a sense of fairness to this issue.”
            Senate Bill 177 also provides that combat veterans can receive in-state tuition if they choose to go to a college or university in Indiana within a year of being discharged from their service. The bill also enables veterans to pursue a higher education with their tuition and fees frozen at a fixed rate over four years.
            “It is very easy for us to talk about demonstrating a commitment to those who place themselves in harm’s way, but I think now is the time to put those words into definitive actions that tell our veterans that we care for them, and we are willing to do everything we can to thank them for their service and help both them and their families,” Candelaria Reardon concluded.
            Senate Bill 177 now returns to the Indiana Senate to see if members there concur with changes made in the House....

Gary PD Seek Help in Wednesday Shooting Incident

Z107

E-mail

Gary Police say that anyone with information regarding a Wednesday afternoon shooting in the 22-hundred block of West 17^th Avenue is encouraged contact them and ask for Detective Lorenzo Davis. Public Information Officer, Corporal Gabrielle King, says a 74 year old woman and a 22 year old man were shot and hospitalized, and at last check the 22 year old, identified as Richard King, had been released.
# # #...

16 Year old Homicide Suspect Remains At-Large

Z107

E-mail

A 16 year old male suspect remains at-large at last check, regarding a double homicide that claimed the lives of two brothers, and for an armed robbery that took place minutes before the shooting. Gary Police Public Information Officer, Corporal Gabrielle King says17-year-old Johnte Crawford, who is in custody, and 16-year-old Donnell Wilson, who is at-large, each faces two-counts of murder and one-count of robbery armed robbery, for the two separate incidents that began with the robbery in the 15-hundred block of Ellsworth Place Sunday afternoon.
# # #...

Brief Lockdown at Gary HS Over Missing Gun

Z107

E-mail

In Gary today, officials say Lew Wallace STEM Academy was on lockdown for about twenty minutes after one of the school security officers realized he didn't have his gun. Reports say the missing weapon was not related to a fight that broke out between students today. The officer reportedly went home where he located his weapon, and the lockdown was canceled.
###...

Butler Moves On While Valpo Knocked Out of Tourney

Z107

E-mail

Valparaiso fought hard but just could not overcome Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament today, falling to the Spartans, 65 to 54. Senior guard Ben Boggs led the Crusaders in scoring with 15 points. Also in NCAA Tournament action this afternoon were the Butler Bulldogs, who defeated Bucknell 68 to 56, and move on to face the winner of the Davidson verses Marquette game.
# # #...

Foul Play Not Suspected in Strangulation Death

Z107

E-mail

The Lake County Sheriffs Office says foul play is not suspected in the strangulation death of a Schneider woman. The Lake County Coroners office says the manner of death was pending for 41-year-old Tracy Ritter-Loitz. Lake County Police responded to a medical call to the woman's Schneider residence in reference to a medical call. Tri-Creek EMS was on scene treating Ritter-Loitz, who was subsequently transported to a local hospital, where she died Monday night.. The case remains under investigation.
###...

How Tweet It Is: Twitter Turns Seven

Z107

E-mail

Here in northwest Indiana, a statue has its own Twitter account... that would be the bronze likeness of Orville Redenbacher at downtown Valparaiso's Central Park. And that's not that unusual for the social-media-revolutionizing machine. Twitter turns seven years old today (Thursday). On March 21, 2006, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey sent the first social-media tweet, typing "just setting up my twttr". He spelled it T-W-T-T-R and used only 24 of the allowed 140 characters. Fast-forward to today, the company's Elaine Filadelfo says 200 million users tweet 400 million times a day and just over every two days there are a billion tweets sent.
###...

Powerball Jackpot Now $320M

Z107

E-mail

Powerball continues to climb. The jackpot is now an estimated 320-million dollars for Saturday night's drawing after no one matched all the numbers. Hoosier Lottery officials it's is the largest in the game since last November's historic $587.5 million run ended with jackpot winners in Missouri and Arizona.
Indiana leads the nation in Powerball jackpot wins with 38. A Hoosier Lottery player laid claim to the very first Powerball jackpot win in the first Powerball drawing in April 1992. Two of the game's top ten ranking jackpots -- $314.3 million and $295 million -- were also scored in Indiana.
###...

Kouts Council Vacancy Filled

Z107

E-mail

Kouts has a new councilwoman. 36-year-old Nicole Markovich will fill the remaining term of Democrat Orville Jefferson, who left his at-large seat on the town council to become the town's building inspector. Markovich was the only person to file for the vacancy.
###...

Broken Rail Delays South Shore

Z107

E-mail

Traffic-Advisory
A broken rail is delaying westbound South Shore trains today, according to officials with Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. NICTD issued this advisory this morning:
Westbound South Shore Trains originating out of the Shops/Carroll Avenue are expected to be 15-20 minutes late due to a broken rail causing red signals west of our 11st Station in Michigan City. Please be at your departing station on time incase delays are shorter than expected.
###

...

Lake, Starke Counties: Unhealthy

Z107

E-mail

The healthiest county in the state is Hamilton, just outside Indy, according to a newly-released study. Porter made it into the top 20; Lake County, however, was at the other end, at number 81. One Region county, Starke, ranked just five spots above the bottom of the list. That's according to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s annual report, which not only ranks the health of all 92 Indiana counties but the overall health for every county in all 50 states using a formula to measuring health and longevity.
Health indicators used in the study include smoking, obesity, and alcohol use as well as income and education.
For all the county rankings and data click here: http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/indiana/2013/rankings/outcomes/overall/by-rank
###...

IUB Police Chief Dies Suddenly

Z107

E-mail

Chief Keith Cash (Photo provided/IU)
Indiana University Bloomington Police Chief Keith Cash passed away suddenly Wednesday evening. The university issued a news release saying the " entire Indiana University Bloomington community is deeply saddened and shocked by the unexpected death of IU Police Chief Keith Cash, who passed away at approximately 6:20 p.m." Wednesday at Bloomington Hospital of natural causes.
Cash, a 29-year veteran of the IU Police Department, was named chief in October 2010 after serving as an operations captain on the force for nine years. During his time as chief, Cash, 50, oversaw a police force of approximately 100 officers and staff responsible for the public safety of IU's flagship campus.
"Keith served Indiana University with enormous distinction and honor for nearly three decades, culminating in a highly successful, and all too short, tenure as chief," IU President Michael A. McRobbie said. "Keith's love for this university, and the Bloomington campus in particular, was apparent to all who knew him. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family members. He will be greatly missed, and we all grieve at the loss of such a wonderful man."
Cash, a native of Jeffersonville, Ind., earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice from IU Bloomington and in 2004 graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy. Cash was honored in 2011 by IU student media with the Trevor R. Brown Award, given annually to the IU Bloomington staff member who demonstrated respect and support for the First Amendment and student media.
Cash also was an instructor at the IU Police Academy and a guest lecturer in criminal justice and other classes at IU Bloomington. He served on the board of the Indiana Association of Indiana Chiefs of Police and was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"Keith was ideally suited for the role of police chief of one of the largest college campuses in the United States," said Mark Bruhn, associate vice president for public safety and institutional assurance. "Keith was admired and respected by the entire police force and, on a personal note, I will be forever grateful for his wise counsel. Our hearts go out to his family and friends."
IU Executive Vice President for University Regional Affairs, Planning and Policy John Applegate added, "Keith had a deep understanding of the IU Bloomington campus and community, as well as an appreciation of the unique challenges of ensuring the safety of the more than 40,000 students who call IU Bloomington home each year."
Cash is survived by his mother, Judy Cash; father, Tom Cash; brother Mike; and brother and sister-in-law Steve and Nancy Cash. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Deputy Chief Laury Flint, who will serve as acting police chief until a permanent successor is named, called Cash "the type of leader you can't replace and a true mentor to me and other members of the force."
"Keith was as fine an officer as I have had the honor to work with during my more than 30 years with the IU Police Department," said Jerry Minger, who oversees the police forces on all IU campuses in his role as public safety director. "I have lost a dear friend, and the IU community has lost one of its best advocates and protectors. The entire IU Police family mourns the loss of Keith Cash."
###...

Two Teens Charged in Double Homicide

Z107

E-mail

Gary Police say two teenagers have been charged in connection with a double homicide that claimed the lives of two brothers. The suspects have been identified as 17-year-old Johnte Crawford and 16-year-old Donnell Wilson. Both are facing murder and robbery charges. The Lake County Coroners office says 19-year-old Shaqwone Ham and 18-year-old Charles Wood were both found with gunshot wounds in the 25-hundred block of 13^th Avenue Sunday afternoon; Ham was pronounced dead at the scene and Wood died Monday.
###...

Schneider Strangulation Death Investigated

Z107

E-mail

The Lake County Coroners office says the manner of death was pending for a 40-year-old woman who died from strangulation in her home in Schneider, a community of less than three-hundred people in far south Lake County. Authorities say Tracy Loitz was pronounced dead at an area hospital Monday night. The Lake County Sheriffs Department is investigating. No other information was available at this time.
###...

Two Hurt in Possible Drive-By Shooting

Z107

E-mail

Two people, a 74-year-old woman and 22-year-old man, were injured in what police say may have been a drive-by shooting yesterday afternoon in the 22-hundred block of West 17^th Avenue in Gary, though the incident remains under investigation. One of the victims reportedly has been released from the hospital. No other details were available at this hour.
###...

Food Bank of NWI Has New Exec Dir

Z107

E-mail

The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana has a new executive director. Angie Williams is leaving the organization to take a position with a local nonprofit; Arleen Peterson will succeed her. Peterson was vice president of education services for Indianapolis-based Simon Youth Foundation, an organization that provides educational opportunities for students at risk of dropping out of high school.
###...

Bears Break Off Talks with Urlacher

Z107

E-mail

ESPN reporting that the Chicago Bears have broken off contract talks with linebacker Brian Urlacher, making him a free agent. No agreement could reportedly be reached between the two sides.
# # #...

Porter Co in Top 20, Lake County # 81 in Health Ranks

Z107

E-mail

INDIANAPOLIS—Hendricks County joins Hamilton and Boone counties as ranking the highest in health outcomes, according to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s annual report, ranking the health of all 92 Indiana counties. The fourth annual County Health Rankings, released today, rank overall health for every county in all 50 states by using a standard formula to measure how healthy people are and how long they live.

Nationally, the data revealed that unhealthy counties have more than twice the rate of premature deaths than healthy ones and childhood poverty rates are twice as high in unhealthy counties. The Rankings allow counties to see how they compare to other counties within the state based on a range of factors that influence health including high school graduation rates, obesity, smoking, and family and social support. This year’s Rankings include new measures, such as how many dentists are in a community per resident.
“Statewide, we know that we have major improvements to make in infant mortality, childhood immunizations, obesity and smoking,” said State Health Commissioner William VanNess, M.D.
“The annual County Health Rankings provide us with an additional data set to show exactly where Indiana communities are struggling, as well as providing resources to assist them with their improvement plans.”
The Rankings include a snapshot of each county in the state with a color-coded map comparing each county’s overall health ranking. There are also new county-level trend graphs detailing change over time for several of the measures, including children in poverty, unemployment and quality of care.
“We all have a stake in creating a healthier community and no single sector alone can tackle the health challenges in any given community,” said Patrick Remington, M.D., MPH, professor and associate dean at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Collaboration is critical. The Rankings are sparking action all over the country as people from all sectors join forces to create new possibilities in health—county by county.”
According to this year’s Rankings, the 10 healthiest Indiana counties based on health outcomes are: Hamilton, Hendricks, Boone, Dubois, LaGrange, Wells, Brown, Tippecanoe, Whitley and Putnam.   The 10 counties with the lowest health outcomes are: Lawrence, Vermillion, Sullivan, Orange, Jennings, Starke, Blackford, Fayette, Crawford and Scott. For more about information or to view the report, visit www.countyhealthrankings.org.
Last year, the Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Hospital Association, and the Indiana Business Research Center launched the Indiana INdicators website (www.IndianaIndicators.org). This free data resource is available to help Indiana communities perform community health needs assessments, guide the development of community improvement plans and much more. IndianaINdicators.org provides the most current Indiana health-related data and information at the state and local levels in an easy to search and sort format and can be used as a supplement to the annual County Health Rankings information.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measurable, and timely change. For 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter (@RWJF) and Facebook (facebook.com/RobertWoodJohnsonFoundation).
About the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute
The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute is the focal point within the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health for translating public health and health policy research into policy and practice. The Institute strives to:
·        Address a broad range of real-world problems of topical importance to government, business, providers and the public;
·        Promote partnerships of inquiry between researchers and users of research, breaking down barriers between the academic community and public and private sector policy makers;
·        Make useful contributions to public health and health policy decisions that improve the health of the public. For more information, visit http://uwphi.pophealth.wisc.edu/.
# # #...

Gutierrez Found Guilty, Sentencing Set for April 19th

Z107

E-mail

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
A 33 year old Hobart man was reportedly found guilty Wednesday of child molestation. Published reports say Arthur Gutierrez faces anywhere from 20 to 50 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 19^th. He reportedly was facing a similar charge last August in an unrelated case, which resulted in a hung jury.
# # #...

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

Share this post

More Articles...