Former Lake County Clerk and Coroner Thomas Philpot had his request to be released on bond, pending appeal of his criminal convictions, denied today, according to published reports. Philpot surrendered himself to a federal prison in Michigan earlier this month to begin serving an 18-month sentence for paying himself more than 24-thousand dollars in bonuses from federal child support incentive funds while he was County Clerk. He was convicted last August on theft and public corruption charges.
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Read more: Philpot Denied Release on Bond Pending Appeal

VALPARAISO, Ind. — Cargill’s Greater Indiana Farm Service Group received the 2012 Spirit of Cargill Award for its work with Housing Opportunities.
The Spirit of Cargill Award is given to businesses that best exemplify the legacy and passion of the company’s founder, William Wallace Cargill. 
The recognition included a $5,000 check that the Greater Indiana team will present to Housing Opportunities on Tuesday, March 26^th.  Housing Opportunities is a HUD-approved and state-certified housing agency serving Northwest Indiana. It provides housing and access to food pantries for individuals and families in the six-county area of Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, Starke and Pulaski counties.
In 2011, about 70 Cargill Greater Indiana employees helped refurbish an old hotel in Valparaiso that is used as a housing center and food bank for the homeless.
“The organization helps motivated people by providing them not only with shelter, but education to help them be successful and be able to provide for their families,” said Tim Kay, a Leadperson with Cargill in Aylesworth.  “Just shy of 450 hours were contributed to this project and each one was very much worth this cause.”
In addition to working on the hotel, the Greater Indiana team donated $6,250 to Housing Opportunities and that was matched with $6,250 from the parent company. 
Cargill’s Greater Indiana Farm Service Group is a network of grain elevators and farm service centers in Aylesworth/Kouts, Bremen, Burns Harbor, Lafayette, Lapaz, Linden and Tipton.
An innovator, business leader, family man and philanthropist, W.W. Cargill was recognized for his devotion to his community and his genial and optimistic nature that led his business and person life.  
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Read more: Cargil Donates $5,000 Check to Housing Opportunties

Lake Station Police say they take any statement seriously when it involves schools and guns – and announced today that case summaries regarding chalkboard and Facebook comments have been turned over to the Lake County Prosecutors office for review. Police say as they were investigating a highly-publicized chalkboard image circulated on Facebook that had comments like “the guns are loaded” allegedly written by a veteran high school teacher, Facebook comments about solving problems and needing guns were brought to their attention. Lake Station Police Chief Kevin Garber says it appeared to officers that an administrative staff member at Edison High School, a teacher at Edison Senior High, and a teacher at Polk Elementary participated in the online conversation.
Lake Station Police say for the past three weeks, detectives have interviewed over 55 students and several staff and administrators of the Lake Station School Corporation.
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Read more: Prosecutors Office to Review Chalkboard Comments

The phone system at Chesterton Town Hall reportedly crashed on Monday, but officials say they hope to have it up and running by Friday, according to published reports. Until then though, the reportedly 20 year old telephone system is inoperable.
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Read more: Phone System Out at Chesterton Town Hall

A suspect in an alleged stabbing in Portage this morning was apprehended this afternoon. Portage Police Sgt. Keith Hughes says the reported incident occurred in the 61-hundred block of McCasland Avenue, north of the toll road. Sgt.Hughes says they determined the suspect that gotten south of toll road, to his apartment, in the 61-hundred block of Canden Avenue, and while awaiting the SWAT team's arrival, the suspect was seen exiting an adjoining apartment building, and apprehended. The suspect, according to police, sustained injuries during the stabbing incident, and was taken to Porter Regional Hospital, along with another man found at the initial scene.
Sgt Hughes says at this point they are still gathering information, speaking to witnesses, and commended the actions of all involved who helped resolve this incident.
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Read more: Suspect in Portage Stabbing Incident Apprehended

A longtime correctional officer at the Westville Correctional Facility has been arrested on a felony trafficking charge. Officials say when the 40-year-old Merrillville woman, who was hired in July 2000, reported for work at the start of her shift Saturday evening, she was found to possess a cellphone allegedly intended to be delivered to an offender. The incident is still under investigation.
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Read more: Westville Correctional Officer Arrested

Governor Mike Pence joined executives from Celadon Trucking Services today to announce the company's plans to locate a driver training school in Indianapolis, creating up to 500 new jobs by 2022. The company, which provides long-haul, dry van truckload service throughout North America, plans to invest $5.7 million to build a training facility near its Indy headquarters. In addition to the drivers school, the building will house dorm rooms, a cafeteria, workout room, basketball/racquet court, Wi-Fi and driver training road course. Construction is expected to be complete by this fall.
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Read more: Driver Training School Bringing 500 Jobs

Officials stress airport safety won't suffer when the Gary/Chicago International Airport control tower closes April 21^st. Gary is one of nearly 150 control towers being shut down by the Federal Aviation Administration beginning April 7^th, as part of the sequester cuts. Gary's interim airport director says the FAA informed him of the actual closing date this past weekend. The airport itself is staying open.
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Read more: Gary Tower Closing Soon

Indiana Governor Mike Pence has issued a statement regarding the death of Hoosier soldier Sgt. Tristan Wade. Pence said he and the First Lady send their sympathies to Wade's family and friends and continue to pray for the safe return of the brave men and women in our armed forces. Government officials say the 23-year-old Sgt. Wade died Friday from a home-made bomb in Afghanistan
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Read more: Indiana Soldier Killed

A missing statue has been found. Valparaiso Police Saturday received the report of the theft of a pewter statue, called “The Concrete Finisher”, missing from the grounds outside the Industrial Revolution restaurant off US 30 – a statue valued at 10-thousand dollars. Police say Monday afternoon they learned the statue was seen in the area of Ransom and Froberg Roads, and police located the statue there undamaged. It has since been returned to the restaurant, and the case remains under investigation. The restaurant features a number of statues outside, many of them on top of the building itself.
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Read more: Missing Statue Found