Tyler T. Lukac

Twenty-six-year old Tyler T. Lukac was arrested early last night, May 3, after fleeing La Porte County police officers on a motorcycle. He was later found in a motel room in Michigan City and taken into custody.

The sheriff’s office issued the following statement:

“Last night (05/03/2020) at approximately 6:15 p.m. Sergeant Jeff Wright and Deputies Ryan Doperalski and Tyler Oberholtzer arrived at a residence in the 3700 east block of CR 100 South, in rural Pleasant Township.  They went to the residence to attempt to locate Lukac, who is a wanted person by the LCSO.  Shortly after arrival, a male subject was observed leaving the property on a motorcycle.  Deputies received information the subject was Lukac and began to give chase.  Deputies pursued Lukac for a short distance before terminating the pursuit in the area of State Road 4 and Boyd Boulevard.

“Following the pursuit, information was learned that LUKAC had checked into a motel on the south side of Michigan City.  Deputy Oberholtzer collaborated with Michigan City Police Department (MCPD) Officers to locate Lukac.  Officers from MCPD located the motorcycle and Lukac inside a room of the motel.

“Lukac was arrested and eventually transported to the La Porte County Jail (LCJ).  Lukac was booked into the LCJ for the following charges:

• Warrant, Dealing in a Controlled Substance (Revocation) – Class B Felony
• Warrant, Failure to Return (Failure to Appear) – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 5 Felony

“Lukac remains housed in the LCJ and is being held without bond.  Additional charges related to the pursuit and the stolen motorcycle are being sought through the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.”

Captain Derek J. Allen said that “this is an excellent example of personnel from two agencies collectively working together.  Thank you to the Michigan City Police Officers for their assistance in bringing a wanted fugitive to justice.”

Arrests and criminal charges are mere accusations.  Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Helen Marie Burgess, 88, of La Porte, Ind. passed away Sunday, May 3, 2020 at her home, surrounded by her family.

Helen was born in Jackson, Mich. on March 5, 1932 to Leonard and Marybelle Amelia (Ford) Cobb.

On May 22, 1954, in Jackson, she married Jerry, who preceded her in death.

Surviving are her daughters, Linda Bell, Deb Burgess, and Pam (Danny) Bell, all of La Porte; three grandchildren, Shelrae (Daniel) Darkis, Tony (Lissa) Bell, and Heather Bell, all of La Porte; three  great-grandchildren, Kieonn, Naru, and Isaiah; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three sisters, Mary Klassen, Louise Lynch, and Joyce Kuntz; brother, Bud Cobb; and son, Steve Bell.

Helen was a receptionist at Applegate Clinic for many years.  She enjoyed snowmobiling with her husband, traveling, and BINGO.  Most importantly, Helen dearly loved her family and helped raise her grandchildren..

Cremation has taken place with Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, La Porte.

Due to guidelines established by the State of Indiana in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, services will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Dunes Hospice, 4711 Evans Ave., Valparaiso, Ind.  46383.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.

“A solar corona?”

That’s what retired La Porte High School science teacher William Power wrote WNLP after  catching these amazing images yesterday and sharing them with us.

“Monday afternoon a rather large and beautiful solar halo appeared,” Bill wrote. “It was so large I could barely fit it in the frame. Ice crystals aligned correctly in the upper atmosphere cause this to happen.You can even see some colors produced by dispersion through the crystals.

“I used a dusk mask on a ski pole to block the sun as I took the shot lying from the ground.
All other pictures are portions of the halo,” he said.

If you have a Great Shot or more to share, send them as .jpg attachments to wnlp@whatsnewlaporte.com. Be sure to include the photographer’s name and a bit of information about each photo.

Contributed by Jennie Girton, CRPC, financial  advisor with Edward Jones, 601 State St., La Porte. 

            Mother’s Day is upon us. If you’re a mother, you’ll enjoy the recognition you get from your family on this day. And given the health concerns caused by the coronavirus, your appreciation of family may be even greater this year. As we all know, mothers have a difficult job. And many mothers also run their own businesses – another demanding task made even more difficult these days. What special challenges do women face who embark on careers as business owners?

            Of course, motherhood itself presents a major challenge. As a society, we have not achieved gender equity yet, in terms of family responsibilities, so mothers – even busy business owners – still face time constraints and interruptions from work to care for children. And it’s not just children, either – the vast majority of caregivers for elderly relatives are women, according to a study from Northwestern University. So, many women business owners may be coping with multi-generational family issues.

            You can’t change the demographic pressures you may face but, as a business owner, you can take some steps to help improve your financial outcomes. Here are a few ideas:

• Seek networking opportunities.You can find useful, and empathetic, allies in other women business owners, who may be able to direct you to valuable resources. To illustrate: Women’s businesses often lack financial support to a greater degree than men’s, and it is unfortunately not uncommon for women to be denied loans because of gender and cultural biases. But if you become active in a network of women business owners, you could find some leads to financial institutions that have showed themselves to be free of gender-based prejudices.
• Be extra aware of investment risks. Everyone should always be aware of investment risk, of course, but if you have most of your assets tied up in your business, you may need to be extra diligent. You’re already taking a fair amount of risk by just having a business, so you may need to balance this risk in your investment portfolio by choosing the mix of investments that can help you move toward your goals without subjecting you to excessive market volatility.
• Establish a retirement plan for yourself. Have you established a retirement savings plan for yourself? About one-third of business owners haven’t, and 40 percent are not confident they can retire before 65, according to data compiled by SCORE, a nonprofit organization that works with small businesses. Fortunately, you have several good retirement plan options, including an “owner-only” 401(k), a SEP-IRA, a SIMPLE IRA or even a solo defined benefit plan, which functions like a pension.
• Create a succession plan. You may need a strategy for transferring or selling your business. Do you want to keep the business in the family? If so, who do you want to take it over? Or would you prefer to simply sell it to someone else? Your decisions, whatever they are, will affect your financial picture and possibly that of your family, so you will want to consult with your tax, legal and financial advisors to arrive at a plan that works best for your needs.

You’ve got some twists and turns ahead of you on the road to financial security. But planning ahead, considering various possibilities and seizing your opportunities can help you smooth out the journey.

Compiled by Mary Hedge, La Porte County Public Library 

1920

The net growth of telephones in the seven exchanges operated by the La Porte Telephone Co. is 335. Plans are made for extensive improvement activities.

1970

Authorities try to determine if National Guardsmen acted in blind panic, self-defense, or response to a misunderstood command when they killed four Kent State University students.

1995

The Oklahoma City bombing killed 167 people, including a nurse fatally injured during the rescue and two adults who are still missing.

2010

Sheriff Mollenhauer is re-elected by more than 1,000 votes and Bob Szilagyi edges out incumbent Prosecutor Rob Beckman by a margin of fewer than 400 votes.

Jerry L. Dismore, 76, of Rolling Prairie, Ind. passed away peacefully at 5:40 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2020 at his home, surrounded by family.

He was born March 22, 1944 in Francesville, Ind. to George and Freda (Lear) Dismore.

Jerry retired in 2006 from Maple City Trucking, Kingsbury, Ind. after 40 years of service.

On April 25, 1976 in Sawyer, Mich. he married Judi (Stantz) Dismore, who survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Dawn (Al) Mitchell of La Porte, Ind. Kim (Sam) Halter of Rolling Prairie and Racquel Hanna of Sarasota, Fla.; one son, Chad Dismore of La Porte; three brothers, Walter Dismore of Monticello, Ind., Butch (Marlene) Dismore of Cassville, Mo., and Steven Dismore of Waterville, Ia.; nine grandchildren, Brittini (Aaron) Johnson, Ryan Biederstadt, Megan (Bo) Barger, Joey Brozik, Stefani Mitchell, Nick Brozik, Jacob Mitchell, Ian Mitchell and Bubby Mitchell; and 12 great-grandchildren, Ava Johnson, Audrey Johnson, Lucas Johnson, Elliot Johnson, Aubrianna Geissler, Karley Price, Emmaleigh Price, Madisyn Price, Briana Biederstadt, Al Mitchell, III, Bailey Mitchell, Wyatt Barger, and one on the way in July 2020.

Preceding him in death were his parents; two sisters, Thelma Mueller and Vicky Stacey; two brothers, Stanley Dismore and Jack Dismore; and one son, Scott Dismore.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte, (219) 362-3100,  and from 10 to 11 a.m. to Friday, May 8, followed by a service celebrating his life at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Kurt Feneley officiating.

Burial will be in Pine Lake Cemetery, La Porte.

Memorial contributions may be made directly to the family.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com.

Margaret Joan Wright, 81, of New Carlisle, Ind. passed away Saturday, May 2, 2020 at IU Health Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Ind.

She was born June 24, 1938 in La Porte, Ind. to Elmer and Margaret Hedstrom Wright.

A life-long resident of the area, Joan was a hairdresser. She married Richard Wright in La Porte; he preceded her in death 12 years ago.

Joan was a member of the Polish Falcon’s 564 of La Porte, the American Legion Auxiliary of New Carlisle, and was president of the Chicago Trail Village Community.  She enjoyed bowling and spending time with her family. For 25 years, Joan always looked forward to going to Nashville every year with her sister, Karen.

She is survived by her daughter, Brenda Kay (Scott) Lofton of La Porte; son, Don Barr of Indianapolis; two sisters, Nancy (Richard) Schwenk of Terre Haute, Ind. and Karen (Frank) Moryl of La Porte; grandchildren, Adam, Alex, and Jacob Lofton; great-grandchildren, Jayme, Amelia and Ellie Lofton; and nieces and nephews, Terri and Mike Schwenk, Aleea Perry, Alyssa(Colin) Lobo, Cameron Lobo, Matthew Moryl, Angie (Joe Wolfe) Moryl, and Chloe and Dorothy Wolfe.

Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 602 Maple Ave., La Porte, Ind. is handling the arrangements. A celebration of Joan’s life will be announced at a later date. Cremation has taken place.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Polish Falcons, 564, 216 E. Lincoln Way, La Porte, Ind. 46350.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.

The Spring 5-in-1 recycling event, hosted by the La Porte County Solid Waste District, is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at the La Porte County Fairgrounds.

Appliances, electronics, household hazardous waste, Styrofoam, and tires will be accepted; document shredding will also be available. Residents are reminded to use the main entrance to the fairgrounds.

All items are free for drop-off, said Sacha Gee-Burns, SWD’s environmental educator/public outreach coordinator, with the exception of tires. Pricing for tires is as follows:

• First four passenger car/truck tires — free per resident
• Each additional car/truck tire — $1 per tire
• Semi/tractor tires — $5 per tire
• Semi/tractor tires 5 inches or larger (tread to tread) will be charged a $75 recycling fee

In other recycling news, hours for the compost site, located at 724 Zigler Rd., La Porte, have been changed, effective immediately. Gee-Burns said that, due to the amount of material being brought in, hours will now be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The site is closed Sundays and government holidays.

Hours are subject to change.

For more information, call 219-326-0014.

“Five cruise ships and three small freighters at anchor off of Port Canaveral,” wrote former La Portean AJ Serafin of this shot taken this past weekend.

“I am a volunteer on the Air Force side of The Kennedy Space Center.  My duty is at the Cape Canaveral lighthouse. Over 30 years of boating Lake Michigan, before we had all of the electronic wonders, was my navigational education.

“I really enjoy my time at the lighthouse because I can explain to the students how navigation worked before GPS and cell phones. Just love to see their eyes when we explain how we used to do it and how we still do it when the computer goes south,” he said.

A postscript from this morning: “Currently between the UIS and Bahamas, there are about 151 cruise ships either in [port or at anchor with approximately 80 thousand crew on board. Today we have six at anchor ant two in port. Carnival announced today that it would begin cruises sometime in August.”

Richard Edwin Haughtington, 84, of Estero, Fla. passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

He was born May 25, 1935 in Michigan City, Ind. to Arthur Edwin and Geraldine Elizabeth (Flanagan) Haughtington.

Richard honorably served his country in the United States Army Reserves.

Surviving are his four children, Linda (Dean) Harmon of Michigan City, Lori Gonzalez of La Porte, Ind., Valerie (William) Dohner of La Porte and Steven (Katherine) Haughtington of Michigan City; one sister, Sandra (Willis) Johnston of Grand Ledge, Mich.; former wife, Merhth (Houck) Haughtington of Michigan City; 11 grandchildren, Kelly (Adam) Hardwicke, Kimberly Harmon, Amy Block, Nicolette, Ethan, Liam and Reed Dohner, and Samuel, Mollie, Max Edwin and Amelia Haughtington; five great-grandchildren; and close friend, Janet Johnson.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Cremation will take place. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte, (219) 362-3100 is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, 109 W. CR-700 North, Valparaiso, Ind. 46385 in memory of Richard Edwin Haughtington.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com.

LaVerne Mae Anderson, 94, of La Porte, Ind. passed away Friday, May 1, 2020 at Fountainview Terrace, La Porte.

LaVerne was born Oct. 15, 1925 in La Porte to Chester A. and Anna (Celis) Tomlinson.

On July 20, 1946 she married Bud Lester Anderson, who preceded her in death one month after their 50th anniversary.

Surviving are her sons, Bruce (Jane) Anderson and Craig (Sue) Anderson; four grandchildren, Tim and Kris Anderson, Amy (John) Boyd, and Abbie (Adam) Kramer; four great-grandchildren, Megan and Nicholas and Crew and Kellan Kramer; niece, Julie (Doug) Jeffrey Cecil; nephew, William (Jane) Nelson, Jr.; and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Janice (William) Nelson, Sr.; brother, Kenneth Tomlinson; two half brothers; and niece, Linda Baron.

LaVerne was a 1944 La Porte High School graduate.  She was a Kingsbury Elementary School secretary for 10 years and a great homemaker.  LaVerne also devoted hours to the family’s business, Anderson Construction Company, as the secretary and bookkeeper. She enjoyed reading and tending to her flowers.  LaVerne hosted all the wonderful family holidays and picnics.  Most importantly, LaVerne was so very proud of her sons.

A private family Celebration of Life service will be held with Pastor Dennis Meyer officiating.  Burial will follow at Pine Lake Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church, 102 G Street, La Porte,  Ind.  46350.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.cutlercares.com.

Erin Jo Sanders, 33, passed away at her home Thursday, April 30, 2020 of a drug overdose.

She was born Nov. 7, 1986 in La Porte, Ind.

Erin was a beloved daughter and granddaughter. She had a special bond with her grandparents. Erin was a proud 2005 La Porte High School graduate. She had a huge heart for animals, especially cats. Erin loved baking shows, driving her car, true crime mysteries, rollercoasters, haunted houses, and arts and crafts.

She struggled with life on a daily basis. It is our hope that she has found the peace that eluded her on earth when God and her grandparents welcomed her into their heavenly home.

Surviving are her parents, Ron and Nancy Sanders; her five cats, Smoothie, Gray Day, Casper, Autumn and Macaroni; and her neighbors’ cat, Jeff-Zuma.

Preceding in death were her paternal grandparents, Wilbur and Marie Sanders, and maternal grandparents, Marcel and Violet DeVolder.

Cremation will take place. There will be no service. Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte, Ind. (219) 362-3100 is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the La Porte County Small Animal Shelter, 2855 W. State Rd. 2, La Porte, Ind. 46350 and/or Fried’s Cat Shelter, 509 Ind. Hwy 212, Michigan City, Ind. 46360 in memory of Erin Jo Sanders.

We love and miss you, Erin. Rest in peace, dear daughter.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com.

Kaveh Jalinous

Kaveh Jalinous, a senior at La Lumiere School, 6801 N. Wilhelm Rd., La Porte, has been named a a 2020 Indiana Academic All-Star by the Indiana Association of School Principals.

Jalinous, a South Bend native who is set to attend Columbia University, is among the 40 high school seniors throughout Indiana who were selected from a field of 280 student nominees from the state’s public and private accredited schools.

“First and foremost, the distinction of an Academic All-Star is meant for students who excel in the classroom,” said Evan Cobb, assistant director of marketing. “Also, the awardees  are actively involved and contributing to their school and community.”

Throughout his time at La Lumiere School, an independent day and boarding school in La Porte, Jalinous has been an active student leader. During the 2019-2020 academic year, Jalinous served as the Head Prefect, the highest student leadership position on campus. “As the school transitioned to remote learning in the spring semester, he continued to provide leadership and participate in community activities beyond the scope of classwork,” Cobb said.

“Kaveh is an excellent and exceptional student, and it has been a privilege to work with him over these last three years,” Katie Wall, an art teacher at La Lumiere, said. Wall was the teacher Jalkinous wrote about in an essay, explaining who he believed deserved the Influential Educator Award. The essay was a component of the application.

“Mrs. Wall has changed the way I view learning and the world, which is both something I stated in my essay and something I hold true in my heart,” Jalinous said.

During Jalinous’ four years at La Lumiere, he excelled academically and as a student leader, but he also recognizes the importance of the community: “My experience as Head Prefect has taught me how unique and special the student body and faculty is — we’re all so different from each other, and that’s what makes the school function so well,” Jalinous said.

Each school may nominate one senior for consideration for the Indiana Academic All-Star award. The nominees are reviewed by a selection committee, which chooses the regional winners and the 40 Indiana Academic All-Stars. The evaluating criteria looks at standardized test scores, seven-semester grade-point average, academic achievements, academic extracurriculars, community service, among other things.

“My biggest take away from this award is that all of us are learners and all of us are teachers, and that education at its best is an exchange of information and ideas two ways. I certainly learn as much from my students as they learn from me,” Wall said.

The Indiana Association of School Principals program aims to honor academic excellence and provide a showcase for academically talented and driven students. In addition, the organization and fellow sponsoring organizations (DePauw University, Indiana University Bloomington, Purdue University, and Herff Jones) hope to encourage students to recognize the value of academic excellence and promote a positive image of the young people in Indiana.

Friends of the La Porte County Public Library will donate $1,000 to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana to combat food insecurity in La Porte County — but they need the help of the community.

Young people of La Porte County are encouraged to “Do Good” — support the community and “Read for a Cause,” said Kristi Chadderdon in a prepared release. They’re encouraged to read and record the minutes they spend reading.

“Let’s reach our community goal of 250,000 minutes,” said Chadderdon. “All minutes read in May count toward the goal. Students can read to a therapy dog or horse through virtual Tail Waggin’ Tutors, read for a school assignment, or just read for fun. Let’s help them record those minutes and DO GOOD,” she said.

This week the La Porte County Animal Shelter is featuring Lily, a Staffordshire Terrier.

“She is adorable and very sweet,” shelter officials wrote WNLP. “She is young, around 2 years old. She was found as a stray in LaPorte and has been here since April 17.

“She is very happy to see us in the morning and wags her tail and wiggles her whole body. Super cute.”

Safety concerns have temporarily closed the shelter, located at 2855 W. Ind. 2, but pets are still available for adoption by appointment.

The shelter can be reached at 219-326-1637; its website can be seen at https://laporteco.in.gov/departments-online/animal-shelter/.

The La Porte Police Department is now accepting applications for sworn officer positions, Chief Paul Brettin has announced.

“After a temporary hiring freeze due to the coronavirus, our city’s police force is ready to expand,” Brettin said. “We are looking into several new opportunities for growth, including a specialty street crimes unit. To bring these ideas into fruition, we need new recruits who are ready and eager to serve our community.”

Brettin said those interested should get their applications in as soon as possible in order to make the next round of agility testing, which begins in June.

Applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 35 and must provide a copy of their birth certificate. Brettin said those with questions can reach the police department at 219-362-9446.

Click here to view the application.

Compiled by Mary Hedge, La Porte County Public Library 

1920

A class of nearly one hundred candidates is received into the Protected Home Circle, a rapidly growing fraternal organization.

1970

Dr. S. S. Philbrook, Howard J. Ribordy, Vance N. Iselman, and Rosemary Hostetler were elected to the La Porte community school board.

1995

A storm with softball-size hail kills at least eight and injures more than 100 others in the northern part of Texas.

2010

The Board of Public Works passes a resolution to recommend designating the City Hall building as a single site historic district to the city council.

LaDonna R. Smith, 53, of Michigan City, Ind. passed away unexpectedly at 8:47 a.m. Friday, May 1, 2020 at her home.

She was born Feb. 18, 1967 in Michigan City to G. W. and Virginia (Davis) Plunk.

LaDonna graduated from Rogers High School in 1985. She studied business management at Ivy Tech Community College. LaDonna always had a positive outlook on life. She was a kind, loving person who was a light to all who knew her. Her favorite hobbies include painting, playing piano and singing. LaDonna loved being around family and friends, but nothing brought her more joy than being with her grandchildren. She was a loving mother, daughter and grandmother who will be dearly missed.

Surviving are her parents, of Trail Creek, Ind.; three sons, Geoffery Plunk and Ryan (Erica Hollihan) Smith, both of Michigan City, and Kenneth (Alicia Martin) Smith of Trail Creek; father of her children, Ivan Smith of Trail Creek; sister, Sandra (Jim) Dierdorf of Madison, Ind.; six grandchildren, Ryan Smith II, Geoffery Plunk Jr., Chloe Smith, Zoey Smith, Jeremiah Plunk and Ethan Smith; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding in death were three brothers, Glenn, Kenneth and Gary Plunk.

Cremation will take place. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., La Porte, Ind. (219) 362-3100 is handling the arrangements.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com.

Cherri Drayton writes, “As many people have increased their exercise routines to stay healthy and to defray boredom, I too have increased my activity. Walking outside in nature is calming and introspective. Here are a few photos that reflect the times we are living through right now:

“United Methodist Church on Easter Sunday morning. A vacant parking lot and an empty street. A gorgeous ceremonial cross stands even so. A beautiful reminder of faith and hope.”

“A blue facial mask lays on the sidewalk on Michigan Avenue. I wondered, is it discarded from frustration, or lost?”

“The sign at St. Peter Catholic Church without the need of adjectives.”

If you have a Great Shot or more to share, send them as .jpg attachments to wnlp@whatsnewlaporte.com. Be sure to include the photographer’s name and a bit of information about each photo.