NIPSCO announces 2024 grant winners

In celebration of Earth Day, NIPSCO recently announced 21 nonprofit organizations have won an Environmental Action Grant that will be used to support projects and education efforts, a release said. Funding is provided by NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation.

This year’s grants provide between $500 to $5,000 to each organization, for a total of $78,700, the release said. This year’s grant recipients include: The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, Festival de la Monarcha, East Chicago; St. Mary’s College, Campus Canopy Project’s Living Exhibition; LaPorte County Park Foundation, Habitat Restoration Project; Indiana Audubon Society, Chasing Melody, Lake and Jasper counties; Blue Heron Ministries, Lupine Meadow Expansion at Headacres Farm, Steuben County; Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center, Nat’s Nature Club; ACRES Land Trust, Lee Family Perfect Lake Nature Preserve Habitat Restoration, Steuben County.

Others include The Outlet Youth Center, Youth Programming, Fulton County; The Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse, Summer Youth Environmental Education, Gary; Indiana Land Protection Alliance, Safety and Woods Worker Training Course; Sisters of the Holy Cross, Pollinator and Monarch Waystation Habitat Establishment; Town of Chesterton, Coffee Creek Park Pond Improvements; DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District, Invasive Species Education and Removal; East Chicago Sanitary District-Stormwater Department, Rain off McShane, Rain Barrel Project; Monarch Joint Venture, Cedar Swamp Pollinator Project, Steuben County; Little River Wetlands, Native Habitat Restoration, Allen County; Noble County Public Library, Rainscaping Education; Speaks for the Trees and More, Summer Nature Camp, Allen County; St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative, Flow the St. Joe; NICHES Land Trust, Sustainability Outreach; and Augsburg Lutheran Church, Pollinator Habitat, Porter.

Lowell-based troopers honored

Troopers from the Lowell District state police post received awards recently during the annual Indiana State Police Awards Ceremony at the Indiana Government Center in Indianapolis, according to a release.

Superintendent Douglas G. Carter presented Trooper Joshua M. Luckey, a two-year veteran, with the 2023 District DUI Award for the Lowell District. Luckey had 113 OWI arrests in 2023, which also placed him as the second highest in the state, the release said. Trooper Dennis L. Griffin, who was the 2023 Trooper of the Year, also placed third for OWI arrests with 111 in 2023. Both Luckey and Griffin were awarded the Life Award for DUI for placing in the top 5, the release said. Carter also presented Cpl. Kimberly M. Zelnis and Cpl. Bobbie (Butch) J. Crowder Lifesaving Awards for their roles in performing CPR and administering NARCAN to an unconscious male that had been a passenger in a vehicle that had pulled into the Lowell State Police Post for help, the release said.

Major Jerry W. Williams, 1st Sgt. Terrance F. Weems, 1st Sgt. William H. Jones, Sgt. Dwayne Dillahunty, Lake County Supervising Prosecuting Attorney Tim Brown, ISP Attorney Jeffrey J. Pitts, and Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, were awarded Meritorious Service Awards for each of their roles in the recent partnership between the Indiana State Police and the Gary Police Department under former Mayor Jerome A. Prince, the release said.

Ivy Tech Lake County faculty named

Every year, each campus at Ivy Tech Community College selects one full-time faculty member and one adjunct faculty member to be honored with the President’s Award for Excellence in Instruction, which honors their accomplishments both in and out of the classroom, according to a release.

Heather M. Clark, chair of the Humanities program, is the full-time faculty winner and Chris Ward, adjunct professor in the Human Services program, is this year’s adjunct honoree.

Clark has been with Ivy Tech for nearly two decades. She teaches English and history courses. Ward has been an adjunct professor in the Human Services program at Ivy Tech Lake County for 4 1/2 years. He is a licensed social worker and is a Lead Behavioral Therapist working with adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the release said.

Casino donates $500K to Lake Ridge schools

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana recently donated $500,000 to Lake Ridge New Tech Schools for the renovation of Lake Ridge New Tech Middle School gymnasium and other high-need projects, according to a release.

Replacement of worn and outdated wooden bleachers is planned, as well as the resurfacing of the gymnasium floor, replacement of the audio system, acoustic wall padding and scoreboard panels and interior painting, the release said. At the Longfellow Elementary School, the donation is expected to fund 27 new teacher desks, 550 new student desks, library furniture and other projects, the release said.

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs named at PNW

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) recently announced Marie Mora will join the university as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, effective July 15, according to a release.

Mora was selected following a national search. She most recently served as deputy provost at Metropolitan State University of Denver, the release said. A labor economist, Mora has been invited to share her research expertise on Hispanic/Latino socioeconomic outcomes with institutions and agencies across the country, including the White House, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Bureau of Labor Statistics, the release said. As PNW’s chief academic officer, Mora will oversee PNW’s six programmatic colleges and the academic programs they offer, the Office of International Programs and Partnerships, retention efforts, institutional effectiveness and the Office of Sponsored Research.

New officer joins Valparaiso Police

The Valparaiso Police Department has added a new officer with the swearing-in of David Jolliff, according to a release.

During the ceremony in City Council chambers, Chief Andrew McIntyre welcomed Jolliff to the police department family, recognizing the training and experience he brings with him to Valparaiso. Jolliff arrives at VPD with 13 years of law enforcement experience, having served with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department (Missouri) since 2011, the release said. Jolliff is a 2011 graduate of the Missouri Law Enforcement Academy, held at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, the release said.