United Way director resigns after five-year service run

After five years of service to United Way of La Porte County, executive director Bill Hanna resigned Tuesday night. The organization’s board of directors announced it is now searching for someone to fill Hanna’s shoes.

Read more about Bill Hanna’s contributions to United Way of La Porte County here: www.thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/12/08/news/local/doc4edeebebac7fc791317884.txt

Residents trade guns for gift cards

Fifty guns were collected in a gun drive to remove unused or unneeded weapons from Michigan City, Michigan City police said Monday.

Michigan City Police Department Sgt. Chris Yagelski coordinated the event, which was Friday and Saturday, and said it was a huge success.

Read more about the Michigan City Police Department Gun Drive here: http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/12/07/news/local/doc4edd6a983ba39933283474.txt

Local zombies thirst for television roles

Snarls, moans and a craving for brains were qualities each “zombie” had at Lakeshore Lanes Sunday night during a “zombie bowling” event.
Casandra Devries, coordinator of the Michigan City Zombie Walk, organized a bowling night for her fellow group members and received a special visit from Power Rangers creator Jack Olesker.

Read more about Olesker’s visit here: http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/12/05/news/local/doc4edc33ab6a9a3461883162.txt

Two large projects foci of commission meeting

The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission was told Monday night that the Trail Creek Corridor master plan now includes Moon Valley and Tryon Farms as areas of possible environmental redevelopment, in addition to Canada Park, the Waste Inc. site and Karwick Nature Park.

Read more from the Redevelopment Commission meeting here: http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/11/17/news/local/doc4ec1d1953266b147694189.txt

Chicago musician remembers Michigan City from childhood

The taco salad at Lindo’s Restaurant, dipped cones from the local Dairy Queen and renting Winnie the Pooh videos at the library are just some of the childhood memories Chicago musician Rachel Levitin shares with Michigan City.

This month, Rachel will return to Michigan City after a six-year hiatus from the Midwest.

She will perform for the first time in Michigan City at the Michigan City Public Library on Sunday at 2 p.m. before heading to a Chicago performance that night.

Read more about Rachel Levitin here: http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/11/17/news/local/doc4ec32757146af227127116.txt

A1-Dominant Day

So, here’s a preview of what I like about being the only reporter in the house on weekends:

I guess you can’t really understand until you see it for yourself.

Oh, and the hanging story was also mine, but only a report since I had no quotes.

A01 – November 14, 2011

Police investigate downtown shooting

Writer’s note: The story posted below is an original copy of my report on this shooting incident, which happened Friday, Nov. 4

By Amanda Jacobson

Staff Writer

Michigan City Police Department Detective Corporal Ken Drake is currently investigating a shooting that occurred late Friday at the 1100 block of Cedar Street, during a party at 313 E. 11th St. that night.

At about 11:41 p.m. Friday, MCPD received a call regarding shots fired in the area of Eleventh and Cedar streets in Michigan City. Police were flagged down by a victim, identified as Deanbra Lemont Martin, 22, of Gary, who was shot in the right shoulder. Martin was transported to Franciscan St. Anthony Health for treatment.

Det. Drake later arrived at the hospital to speak with Martin about the incident.

According to Martin’s statement, he had been headed to a “pajama party” at 313 E. 11th St. with his cousin. As the two pulled up in his cousin’s vehicle to an alley near the rear of the house, the two saw a group of people arguing.

Martin exited the vehicle and began hearing gunshots. At about the second gunshot, Martin said, he began to run away from the house.

When Martin got a few blocks away from the scene, he noticed his shirt was wet and bloody from a wound to his right shoulder. He then arrived to Virk’s BP at the corner of Franklin and Detroit streets, where he flagged down an officer for help.

Lamattia Jacques Ashley, 27, of 313 E. 11th St., where the party took place, approached an officer Friday evening after the incident, stating she was hosting the party for a friend.

She stated that a black male, known as “Donut” and identified as Johnny McSwain, entered the alleyway by her house in an SUV and began arguing with people.

Ashley said McSwain then pulled out a gun and began shooting.She said she ran for cover and did not see anything else after the initial shots were fired.

Ashley is being interviewed by police for additional information at this time.

In addition to Martin and Ashley’s testimonies, many other witnesses came forward about the gunfire that night. These are their recountings to police, gathered from Michigan City Police Department reports.

Police were dispatched to the 1100 block of Cedar Street in reference to a damaged window and television from a gunshot. The male homeowner stated the bullet went through his front window and through his television set, a 65-inch, big-screen Mitsubishi television. There was a large hole in the screen of the TV when MCPD Detective McClintock arrived. McClintock was able to remove the bullet from the TV through an access panel in the back of the device. The bullet was then placed into evidence at the police department as part of this case.

A male resident of Cedar Street advised an officer he had seen a black male running from the area of the gunshots after they were fired. The witness reported the running male was wearing a black hoodie. The witness said he saw the male drop the hoodie while running and then get into an SUV or van nearby. The vehicle then traveled east on Tremont Street. Police later recovered the hoodie, which had three small holes in the right shoulder area of the fabric.

Another male Michigan City witness, whose car was parked near the scene of the gunshots, said he heard five or six shots fired. He then found a spent round on the ground next to his vehicle. The witness also noted he had a camera and a cell phone stolen from his vehicle.

A Michigan City male living at the 1100 block of Spring Street told police he witnessed a male subject fleeing from the scene of the shots fired Friday night, as well. He had been inside his residence when he heard commotion outside. He stated he heard two shots fired near the back of his residence in the east-side alley. As he looked outside toward the alley, he heard three or four more shots fired. Then he saw a man walk out from behind his residence and get into a tan or grey, four-door, mid-size vehicle. The vehicle had been parked and running with the lights off and occupied by a driver, the witness reported. The vehicle then drove north toward Eleventh Street where it turned east onto Eleventh Street and out of sight. The witness described the fleeing male as a black male, about 5-foot-11, with short dreadlocks, wearing a black shirt and black hooded sweatshirt. In the area where the vehicle was parked, one can of Magnum brand malt liquor was found and recovered by police as evidence. Also behind the witness’ building along a fence line, a cellular phone was heard ringing from an incoming call. Police Det. McClintock collected the cell phone and placed it into evidence.

Det. Cpl. Drake is the primary detective on this case, which is still under investigation at this time.

The edited version can be found here: http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/11/06/news/local/doc4eb5ebcf4c7e5390943741.txt

Democrats sweep At-Large seats

Three Democratic candidates for Common Council At-Large seats swept the polls Tuesday, but both political parties agreed the rainy day was something they could have done without.

Democrats Tim Bietry, incumbent Joe Doyle and Don Przybylinski won the three At-Large spots, with Republican Brian Schroll failing to capture a seat.

Read more of the At-Large election coverage here:
http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/11/09/news/local/doc4ebaf040a2a8e323945296.txt

CASA event reaches goal, director thrilled

During Friday’s 17th annual wine- and food-tasting event, Harmony House/CASA of La Porte County Inc. saw its biggest turnout yet.

The event’s theme was “Imagine the CASA-bilities” and included 13 local vendors, from fine dining to specialty shops to breweries and wineries, at The Pearl Theater, 907 Franklin St.

Read more about the CASA Wine Tasting event here:
http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/11/05/news/local/doc4eb5859075ca6157882582.txt

The Pearl Theater

Harmony House/CASA of LaPorte County organized its 17th annual Wine and Food Tasting Event at The Pearl Theater in Michigan City.