In the News

Mayor Pete Land recently swore in seven Crown Point Fire Rescue firefighters, the most in the department’s history.

The new firefighters: Brett Wisenbaugh, Ben Rosenfeldt, David Graham, Jackie Osborne, Jason Kooyenga, Joseph Bonk and Meghan Mulroe.

Wisenbaugh was born and raised in Michigan City and has 10 years of experience in EMS.

He has worked as a part-time paramedic with Crown Point Fire Rescue since 2021.

Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center, the only stand-alone rape crisis center in the state, is expanding operations.

Fair Haven, located at 2645 Ridge Road in Highland, provides free services for victims of sexual violence in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties and maintains a 24-hour, 7 days a week crisis line.

The center, founded 18 years ago by Patty Conley and Kelly Vates, both survivors of sexual violence, looks to acquire the property where its offices are and renovate and expand the facility.

To celebrate "School Lunch Hero Day," which is Friday, U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond, visited Joseph Hess Elementary School Thursday where he served food to students alongside the school's food service staff.

"I'm really here encouraging and bringing recognition to them and to what they do for the community," Mrvan said, referring to the food service staff. "I grew up in Hessville. This is a newer school, but it's great to be home where I grew up, and its great to see the enthusiasm of the kids and the administration."

U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan visited Paladin on Monday morning, a Michigan City facility providing support and opportunities to children, adults with disabilities, and seniors. The congressman announced a contribution of $1.525 million in federal funding to help the facility renovate and repurpose its existing space to be modernized, accessible, with room for more classrooms and job training opportunities.

More than one-and-a-half-million dollars in federal funding is going to help expand a community intellectual development center in Michigan City.

Paladin is a non-profit serving people of all ages with disabilities.

Congressman Frank Mrvan secured the money through a Community Project Funding request.

The project will turn a warehouse building into classrooms and offices.

It will also create a larger art room and more sensory rooms.

Gary Mayor Jerome Prince and U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, announced Monday that the Gary Police Department had secured a $1 million federal grant. The funds will go towards body-worn and car-mounted cameras for the department’s officers.

“There are 435 members in Congress and each day we had to fight and compete for these Community Project Funding grants,” Mrvan said at a press conference. “I am committed to making sure we focus on bringing dollars back to public safety and for the quality of life.”

Mayor Sue Lynch and Congressman Frank J. Mrvan announced Wednesday, April 12 the funding of two projects essential to the quality of life in Portage.“Portage is truly honored and thankful to have the support of my friend and our First District Congressman Frank J. Mrvan on this vital, federal Community Project Funding request that will be a huge benefit to the City of Portage,” said Mayor Lynch.

Federal funding for two major projects here will help traffic and sewage flow better.

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan and Mayor Sue Lynch announced a $2.36 million grant for phase 3 of the Central Avenue West reconstruction project and $1.1 million for the second phase of a sanitary sewer interceptor project.

Both projects have been in the works for years but were stalled because of financial issues. The federal share of each project is 75%.