(Photo Courtesy of the Cook County Sheriff's Office)
A 52 year old Ford Heights, Illinois, dispatcher faces a felony theft charge for buying stolen fire department equipment and then pawning it. The Cook County Sheriff's Office reports Varndell Hurrings, of Sauk Village, was arrest Thursday at the Ford Heights Fire Department. The Sheriff's Office says an investigation began in late January after the fire department notified police of the theft of a hydraulic unit used to power the "Jaws of Life", valued at 41-hundred dollars. Authorities say last month they learned the unit had been sold to a Chicago Heights pawn shop for 80 dollars the same day it was reported stolen. An investigation determined Hurrings bought the unit from another person who has since died, knowing the item had been stolen, and then sold it to the pawn shop.
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Read more: Ford Heights, IL Fire Dispatcher Charged with Felony Theft

Police in Highland say they have taken two separate reports in the last week of a man allegedly exposing himself to girls on the bike path near the high school. Police say the subject is described as a while male in his late twenties to early thirties, 5' 10'' to six-feet tall, approximately 150 pounds, with very short blonde hair (nearly bald), brown eyes, with no glasses or facial hair. Highland Police say in one reported incident, the subject was seen wearing red sweatpants and a white t-shirt, and in another, wearing black sweat pants with white stripes and a white t-shirt. Anyone with information is asked to contact Highland Police.
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Read more: Reports of Man Exposing Himself on Bike Path Near Highland HS

(Photo Courtesy of the Times)
A 30 year old man was arrested early Friday morning after causing an accident while fleeing police. Shawn Flowers is charged with resisting law enforcement, leaving the scene of an injury accident, operating while intoxicated, disorderly conduct, and reckless driving. Authorities report just after midnight, Flowers was clocked at driving over 80 miles per hours in a 35 mile per hour zone, near Indiana 130 and 149. Police say Flowers had a blood-alcohol level nearly one-and-a-half times the legal limit, and struck a Jeep while trying to elude officers. The Times reports the driver of the jeep was not injured in the crash, but a passenger in Flower's vehicle reportedly suffered a broken ankle.
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Read more: Alcohol a Factor in Pursuit That Led to Crash

A 19 year old Valparaiso woman is charged with felony attempted robbery for an attempted purse snatching. Valparaiso Police report the incident took place on April 15th, in the parking lot of K-Mart, in the 28-hundred block of Calumet Avenue. Authorities say through security camera footage, they were able to identify the subject who tried to grab a woman's purse.
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Read more: Attempted Purse Snatcher Arrested Friday

A recorded phone call between Dustin McCowan and an unknown person, that included threatening remarks about prosecutors, was not enough to get the 20 year old's sentence overturned Friday. McCowan had his first appeal denied by Porter County Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa after determining there was no threat. McCowan, who maintains his innocence, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the death of his former girlfriend, 19 year old Amanda Bach.
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Read more: McCowan Appeal Denied

Officials mark construction start for Gary Black Oak phase II sewer improvement project  This afternoon, Rep. Peter Visclosky (IN-1), officials from Gary, Ind., and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a groundbreaking ceremony in Gary, Ind., to mark the construction start for the Gary Black Oak phase II sewer improvement project.
"For so many years, the Black Oak area has not received the attention it deserves as a part of Gary," said Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. "This sewer project is another example of how this administration is letting residents know that we have not forgotten about you, and expect to make improvements in Black Oak and all over the city."
"As one of the council persons who represents a portion of the Black Oak area, I am elated to see this project move forward," said Councilwoman Mary Brown. "I am sure that our residents will be very pleased to see that these enhancements are being made."
“On behalf of the Sanitary District, the City of Gary, and the Black Oak Community, and as the president of the Gary Sanitary Board of Commissioners, I would like to express our appreciation to Congressman Peter Visclosky for having made this project possible,” Commissioner Richard Comer, Gary Sanitary District Board of Commissioners, said. “This is the culmination of a two-phase project in the Black Oak Community that will have great impact on relieving much of the flooding conditions in this community. This could not have materialized without Congressman Visclosky's intervention.”
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, CHICAGO DISTRICT
111 N. Canal (Suite #600), Chicago, IL 60606
www.lrc.usace.army.mil
This project is authorized under the Water Resource Development Act’s Section 219 project authority, which allows the Corps to assist local governments in planning, designing, and constructing water- related projects. Projects under this authority are cost shared at 75 percent federal and 25 percent nonfederal. The local sponsor is Gary Sanitary District’s Storm Water Management District.
“The Corps is proud to be a partner in this project that will help reduce the risk of roadway and basement flooding in this highly-traveled and busy business section of Gary," Col. Frederic Drummond Jr. said.  Construction will include installing approximately 1,500 linear feet of 30-inch storm sewer, and storm inlets and catch basins on the southwest side of Gary. It also includes full reconstruction of 25th Avenue between Calhoun and Burr streets. The flow from this area will be drained into an existing manhole on Burr Street which will direct the flow south.
“The 25th Avenue stormwater interceptor project continues the vital work to improve the quality of life for residents of the Black Oak area,” Rep. Peter Visclosky said. “It is a project that creates new jobs and enhances our ability to manage heavy rains in Northwest Indiana. I thank the Gary Sanitary District; the City of Gary; the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District; Industrial Environmental Services, and the concerned community who have strongly advocated for the Black Oak-area stormwater infrastructure improvements over the years.”
Field construction work is projected to begin in May 2013 and completed in November 2013. The contract was awarded to Industrial & Environmental Services of Gary, Ind., on Dec. 28, 2012, for $1,145,970.

(l to r) Col. Frederic Drummond Jr. Commander U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, Richard Comer, Gary Sanitary District Board of Commissioners, gary Mayor, Karen Freeman-Wilson, Mary brown, 3rd District Councilwoman, Rep. Pete Visclosky at today's groundbreaking of the Gary Black Oak Phase ll Sewer Imrpovement Project.
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Gary Mayor, Karen Freeman-Wilson welcomes guests to groundbreaking

Indiana 1st District Congressman, Pete Visclosky at groundbreaking ceremony

Richard Comer, Gary Sanitary Board of Commissioners addresses Mayor Freeman-Wilson, Mary brown 3rd District Councilwoman, Rep. Pete Visclosky and Col. Frederic Drummond Jr., Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District.

Raining at the site of the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Gary Black Oak Phase ll Sewer Improvement Project located just west of the TA Truck Stop at Burr St. and 25th Avenue, Gary.
(photos courtesy Jay Stevens)
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Read more: Groundbreaking for Phase ll of Black Oak Sewer Project

Cook County, IL – Extra patrols by Cook County Sheriff’s police will be taking place this weekend as part of an ongoing effort to keep streets safe and help prevent crime, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said today.  The saturation patrols will be county wide and run from 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4 through Sunday, May 5 and 9 p.m. Sunday, May 5 to 3 a.m. Monday, May 6.  The extra patrols are funded through a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
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Read more: Cook Co Sheriff's Dept Saturation Patrols this Weekend

Fire crews were still on the scene of a vehilce fire that stopped all traffic going eastbound on the Borman (I-80/94) near Indianapolice Blvd.  Traffic tipsters were reporting a passenger car was fully involved shortly after 5pm this afternoon.  The right lane has just been reopened but eastbound I-80/94 remains backed up to nearly the Bishop Ford.  Drivers should expect delays until past Indianapolis Blvd.

The smoldering vehicle can be seen on the right hand shoulder that caused police to close the right lane eastbound I-80/94
(photo courtesy of INDOT)
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Read more: Backup on Eastbound 80/94 Toward Indianapolis Blvd.

Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann was in Lake County today meeting with elected officials and business leaders as part of her statewide “Listen and Learn Tour”. After a meeting with area elected officials and a diner stop--during which the Lieutenant Governor spoke with Lake County constituents--she attended a round-table meeting with county business leaders and business owners at Merrillville's Albanese Confectionery, in an attempt to understand the needs and concerns of local economic development. Elspermann says the tour, with stops in all 92 counties, is an opportunity for the Governor's Office and local government and economic-development teams to get on the same page.
Elspermann says local business leaders and Lake County economic development officials stressed the need for more skilled workers. After a tour of the Albanese candy factory, the Lieutenant Governer praised the company as a model for Indiana business and manufacturing.
As a native of southwest Indiana, Elspermann plans to spend the bulk of the next three weeks in northern Indiana to better understand differences in economic concerns in each area of the state.
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Read more: Lt Gov Ellspermann Listens and Learns in Lake County

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller recognized Burke Castanza & Carberry today for their outstanding contributions to the fifth annual March Against Hunger food drive.
The firm accepted a trophy, known as the “Attorney General’s Cup,” for winning the large firm division by donating $7,153 and 1,675 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. The trophy was presented and participants were recognized during a formal award ceremony today in Merrillville.
"All food drive participants deserve recognition for their efforts to serve their local communities by selflessly giving their time and money to a worthy cause," Zoeller said. "Too many Hoosiers, including children, face hunger on daily basis and it’s heart-warming to see the members of my profession step up in such a big way.”
The fifth annual food drive competition was between 44 participating law groups from Indiana and Kentucky. To help coordinate the donations, Zoeller teamed up with the Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA) and the nonprofit group, Feeding Indiana's Hungry (FIsH), which is the umbrella organization for 11 regional food banks.
"As a fellow lawyer, I am particularly proud of the fact that lawyers from all corners of the state rose to the occasion to serve Hoosiers in need," said ISBA President Daniel B. Vinovich. “It’s opportunities like this annual food drive that allow us to serve beyond our clients."
In total, the March Against Hunger food drive generated $55,455 and 10,065 pounds of food for food banks statewide. Zoeller said this year’s monetary and food donations combined is the equivalent to 143 tons of food.
“We are grateful for the participation and generosity of so many Hoosier lawyers, as well as for the leadership of our state's attorney general to raise awareness of hunger,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, FIsH Executive Director.  “One in six Hoosiers is at risk of hunger, and for Hoosier children just one in four. The pounds contributed through the food drive this year will provide the equivalent of nearly 240,000 meals to Hoosiers in need, with nearly 1 million pounds donated since the program was created in 2009.
This year’s “Attorney General’s Cup” will be presented to the firm in each of the six categories that collected the most donations:

• Sole proprietor
• Small firm (2-11 persons)
• Medium firm (12-21 persons)
• Large firm (22-49 persons)
• X-large firm (50+ persons)
• Public/non-profit firm

The 11 regional food banks that serve Indiana and are members of FIsH include: Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana Inc., Food Finders Food Banks, Gleaners Food Bank, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Food Bank of Northern Indiana, Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank and Tri-State Food Bank Inc. Also, Freestore Foodbank of Cincinnati and Dare to Care Food Bank of Louisville also participated and serve some Indiana counties.

Winning Lawfirm, Burke Costanza & Carebrry, LLP.  Attorney, Paul Leonard Jr. next to Attorney, Ann Marie Woolwine (L of Cup) Meagan Sikes, of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana (r of Cup) and next to Indiana Attorney General, Greg Zoeller.

Paul A. Leonard, Jr., Attorney at Law at Burke Constanza & Carberry LLP accepts "Attorney General's Cup" from Indiana Attorney General, Greg Zoeller.

 
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Read more: Merrillville Law Firm Awarded Attorney General's Cup