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News Release from the Porter County Sheriffs Department:  The Porter County Sheriff’s Department will be putting extra manpower out on the streets during trick or treating time to ensure the safety of all the children that are out on Halloween.  The extra officers who are out will be checking that registered sex offenders are living at the address they have reported, and are not dispensing candy if prohibited from doing so.  Officers will also be making sure that motorists are obeying traffic laws in communities that have an abundance of children out walking door to door.  This will be the 3rd straight year that the Porter County Sheriff’s Department has done this initiative.

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Read more: Extra Officers Out in Porter Co Tonight

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News release from Porter County Treasurer Mike Bucko:

The Porter County Administration Building will be closed November 6th for voting and November 12th for Veterans Day.  So pay early by mail to beat the dead line for paying your Real Estate, Personal and Mobile Home taxes in Porter County, Indiana without incurring penalties.  November 13, 2012, post marks will be considered on-time mailed payments.  On-line payment confirmation emails dated November 13, 2012, up to 11:59:59pm CST, will be considered on-time.  FREE E-Check payments and Credit Card payments.  Over the counter payments will be on-time if paid at the counter by 4:30pm November 13, 2012.  Treasurer’s Office hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm M-F except holidays. You may put your payment in the lobby RED TOP Drop Box if desired.  Envelopes will be available for payments.  Bring a self-addressed stamped envelope and put it in the payment envelope for a mailed receipt or your canceled check will be your receipt.

When mailing your payment include your tax remittance coupon to Porter County Treasurer, PO Box 2150, Valparaiso, IN 46384-2150.  Your canceled check can be your receipt for taxes. You are also able to get a receipt on line at www.porterco.org.  Post-dated checks will be returned to taxpayers and late penalties will apply if payments are then received late.

E-Check payments are FREE and you have until 11:59:59pm on November 13 to be on-time, at www.porterco.org at PAY YOUR TAX BILL (Click Here).  Enter your Duplicate Number from your tax bill.  If you do not have you Duplicate Number, change the drop down from “Pay Your Bill” to “General Search”, select “Last Name” and enter your last name only.  Click on the Credit Card or Checkbook Icon to proceed with the payment process.  Read all instructions before and during the process.  Payments are not REAL TIME. Do not look to see if the balance has changed after paying.  Just keep the receipt as proof of payment.  Only enter your Bank Routing Number and Bank Account Number when prompted, do not include your check number. When asked to enter your zip code for verification use the first 5 digits of the zip code from the mailing address on your tax bill.

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Read more: Porter Co Property Taxes Due Soon

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Lake County Sheriffs Police say twenty-three people were taken to jail in a recent “street sweeps” initiative in north Lake County. Officials say about sixty officers took part looking for criminal activity in Hammond, East Chicago, Whiting and Gary last Friday night between 6 pm and 1:30 am.

Participating departments included; Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Hammond Police Department, East Chicago Police Department, Gary Police Department, Whiting Police Department, Indiana University Police Department, Portage Police Department, Odgen Dunes Police Department, Indiana State Police, and the U.S. Marshall’s Service....

Read more: 23 Jailed in Lake County Sweep

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Get Trick or Treat hours from Northwest Indiana cities and towns by clicking our community link HERE....

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Northwest Indiana ghost stories - there are many and plenty of them -- and one person who has collected a lot of them and assembled them into a series of several "Haunted Indiana" books is Merrillville native Mark Marimen.  Marimen has authored several books, which include:

Haunted Indiana (Volume 1)
Haunted Indiana 2
Haunted Indiana 3
Haunted Indiana 4
Haunted Travels of Indiana
School Spirits
Weird Indiana (authors Mark Marimen, James A. Willis and Troy Taylor)

To hear a number of special features on Region ghost lore with Mark Marimen... including Diana of the Dunes, the Hammond Circus Train, and the Ghosts of Cline Avenue...  visit my blog here (and scroll to the audio player).

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Read more: Northwest Indiana Ghost Stories

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We are getting reports of a multi-vehicle crash in the Winfield area this morning. The crash scene is on 109th Avenue near Deer Creek Drive, which is between Randolph Street and Grand Boulevard (just west of Lakes of the Four Seasons). More information as it becomes available

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Read more: Multi-Vehicle Crash in Winfield

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Indiana's Secretary of State is warning Hoosiers to disregard letters claiming to be neighborhood voting record audits. Connie Lawson says they are not aware of any improper use of Indiana's resources to conduct such an “audit”, and does not treat lightly its role to strictly limit access to voting records. The letter lists an individual's name, address and voter participation for 2008, 2010, and 2012, as well as listing neighbors of the individual and their voter participation history. Indiana law restricts the availability of voter participation records, and only provides the information to state political parties and legislative causes; however, voter participation records can be accessed from county voter registration offices.

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Read more: SOS: Disregard Voting Record Audit Letters

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Due to the high winds, dangerous surf conditions, and rip currents, authorities are urging you to stay away from the Lake Michigan shoreline for the next several days.. The Coast Guard says residents and curiosity seekers are being asked to stay off rocky terrain, beaches, piers, because as they may appear safe, the waves and winds are strong and unpredictable, and could cause onlookers to slip and get pulled into the surf. The Coast Guard is also warning water enthusiasts to remain off the water, as conditions could prohibit them from assisting individuals in distress. Authorities say those living along the lakefront should, if you haven't already, secure your personal property, but that if they are blown into the water, do not attempt to retrieve them.

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Read more: Coast Guard Says Stay Away from Shoreline

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Operators of the Indiana Toll Road report the wind ban has been canceled for the Indiana Toll Road, effective at 4pm Central/5pm Eastern. Th ban had been in effect since 1pm Monday, for all triple, long double, and high profile oversize permit loads, excluding low profile steel haulers.

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Read more: Wind Ban Canceled for Indiana Toll Road

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Due to the high winds, dangerous surf conditions, and rip currents, authorities are urging you to stay away from the Lake Michigan shoreline for the next several days.. The Coast Guard says residents and curiosity seekers are being asked to stay off rocky terrain, beaches, piers, because as they may appear safe, the waves and winds are strong and unpredictable, and could cause onlookers to slip and get pulled into the surf. The Coast Guard is also warning water enthusiasts to remain off the water, as conditions could prohibit them from assisting individuals in distress. Authorities say those living along the lakefront should, if you haven't already, secure your personal property, but that if they are blown into the water, do not attempt to retrieve them.

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Read more: Coast Guards Says Stay Away from Shoreline