Latest news with #ValparaisoHighSchool
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: OE launches food pantry and Duneland Y nets donation
Opportunity Enterprises is opening the Shared Table Food Pantry in partnership with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana network, according to a release. The Shared Table Food Pantry will help expand food sourcing and expand the organization's impact in Porter County. Open and free to the public, the pantry, located at OE 2801 Evans Ave., in Valparaiso, will also function as a career lab to enhance OE's efforts in preparing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the workforce, the release said. To ceremonially open the project, OE is hosting a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. June 18 at the Valparaiso site. Children and their families are invited to join in the fun at the free Safe Kids Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 13 at the LaPorte County Family Resource Center, a release said. The interactive event will include a variety of activities along with educational booths with information about keeping kids safe and healthy. The event will feature a free meal for the whole family as well as music, games, raffle prizes, giveaways and a few surprises, the release said. Safe Kids Day is a project of Safe Kids Northwest Indiana, the LaPorte County Family Resource Center, Franciscan Health Crown Point and Franciscan Health Trauma Services along with event sponsors Cleveland-Cliffs, Geminus Regional Care Group, Helping Hands In-Home Care, HealthLinc and Strengthening Indiana Families Family Resource Center. The event is scheduled to take place at the LaPorte County Family Resource Center, 1232 W. Indiana 2 in LaPorte. Registration, which is required, is available by calling 219-488-1380. The Valparaiso Family YMCA Foundation recently announced the recipients of its 2025 Foundation Scholarships, awarding a total of $15,000 to fivel high school seniors from across Porter County, according to a release. Each student was awarded a $3,000 scholarship following a competitive application process based on academic achievement, leadership, service and embodiment of the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Scholarship recipients are: Kaitlin Shideler, Valparaiso High School; Kiera McConnell, Valparaiso High School; Giszelle Pfeiffer, Chesterton High School; Josephine Lemmons, Morgan Township High School; and Steven Larsen, Hebron High School. The Sylvan Learning Center recently opened at 1605 Adler Circle, Suite G, in Portage. The center, the 21st owned by Sarah Miller and Kent Kolbow across Indiana, Florida and Maryland, got its start in 2010 in Mishawaka. Under their leadership, the Mishawaka center grew from just a handful of students to hundreds served each year, the release said. Miller plans to bring that same dedication and leadership to the new Portage center. The team includes Carmen Barnes as the Portage director and support from experienced staff across the area, the release said. The location is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For information, email or call 219-841-9450. The curtain rises on a new era for the old school auditorium at 651 W. Morgan Ave. in Chesterton, thanks to a gift to the Duneland Family YMCA from the Chamberlain family, a release said. The donation will play a pivotal role in the structural renovation of the Duneland Family YMCA Healthy Living Campus's stage, while also propelling forward a renaissance in the fine arts culture, the release said. Every member of the Chamberlain family — including Mark Chamberlain and his three daughters Elizabeth, Leslie, and Taylor — has graced the stage that will be named in their honor, the release said. To learn more about the theater renovation and other upcoming project developments at the Duneland Family YMCA Healthy Living Campus, or to support the Duneland Family YMCA Capital Campaign, visit: The MAAC Foundation, in partnership with Porter County Career and Technical Center, recently graduated its seventh Fire and Rescue Academy class, a release said. The graduation ceremony took place at the Heroes' Hangout building on the MAAC Foundation First Responder Training Campus in Valparaiso. The Fire and Rescue High School Academy is designed to provide students with both the academic foundation and practical experience required for state certifications in fire and hazardous materials response, the release said. Members of the class include: Liam Arroyo, Hobart High School; Isabel Bartkus, Chesterton; High School; Dagan Blohm, Morgan Township High School; Jaden Bradburn, Hebron High School; Magdalena Chmura, Chesterton High School; Jessica Edwards, Valparaiso High School; Brockton Franzman, Hebron High School; Kallie Goins, Hebron High School; Kole Ketchum, Hobart High School; Connor McFadden, Kouts High School; Ethan Minchuk, Hobart High School; Ethan Ruckle, Valparaiso High School; Bryce Sartin, Chesterton High School; Deven Sippel, Hobart High School; Grant Timmons, Valparaiso High School; and Micah Wells, Hobart High School. Porter County Education Services has named Erin Hawkins as the new Executive Director for Special Education through a special service agreement between PCES and Valparaiso Community Schools, a release said. Hawkins currently serves as an Assistant Superintendent for Valparaiso Community Schools and will continue to be an employee of VCS while serving with PCES, which serves seven Porter County school corporations. Since 2019, Hawkins has led Student Support Services in Valparaiso including special education and social workers after beginning her career as an elementary teacher in 2001. Hawkins will begin the transition into the new position in June with a July 1 official start date.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ohio teen pleads guilty in Porter County bomb threats; Lake County trial still pending
An Ohio teen has pleaded guilty in connection with a string of bomb threats he called into Porter County schools in 2023. Ryan Krajewski, 19, of Medina, Ohio, admitted Wednesday in Porter Superior Court to five counts of intimidation, each Level 5 felonies. If Porter Superior Judge Jeffrey Clymer accepts, Krajewski would face a three-year cap on each charge – with a sentence ranging up to 15 years total. Lawyers will argue how long his sentence should be and which parts could be served in some combination of prison, community corrections, home detention, probation, and other possible conditions he would have, including GPS monitoring. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop two counts of intimidation. His sentencing hearing is set for July 11. A charging affidavit accused Krajewski of calling in threats to Valparaiso High School, Portage High School, Wheeler High School, Union Township Middle School and the Valparaiso Police Department between Jan. 9 and Jan. 26, 2023. The alleged calls began with a voicemail at 8:32 a.m. Jan. 9, 2023, to Valparaiso High School detailing a bomb threat. 'You have four hours until the bomb goes off and I will be there,' the suspect said in the call that was among many replayed at the hearing. The second call was placed to the Valparaiso Police Department three minutes later and routed to the Porter County Sheriff's Dispatch Center where a dispatcher engaged with the suspect for approximately 15 minutes. A heavy voice distorter was used on the second call, but the caller identified himself each time as a specific VHS student, though a different one each time. The high school went into a lockdown and Valparaiso Police Detective Sergeant Mark LaMotte, who took the stand first, said he was bombarded by several distressed parents in the parking lot who had to be asked by the superintendent of Valparaiso Community Schools to move their vehicles because they were blocking ingress for emergency vehicles. That evening taunting voicemail messages were left at VHS that included racial slurs, but no threats of violence. On Jan. 17, 2023 at 11:23 a.m., a call was made directly to VHS in which the suspect said to the receptionist, 'I planted explosives in the building … I'll see you soon Jenny. You'll be at the end of my barrel.' More calls were received later that day and on Jan. 26, during which the suspect claimed he was in the school parking lot and in the school with an AR 10, a shotgun, and multiple pipe bombs at his disposal. Additional calls were placed Jan. 26, 2023 to Portage High School, Wheeler High School, and Union Township Middle School making the same threats. The entire Portage Police Department's detective bureau, 25 patrol officers, several off-duty officers who happened to be in the area, as well as emergency services personnel staged themselves down the street in the Meijer parking lot for the PHS call while nine Porter County sheriff's deputies responded to the Wheeler calls. In Lake County, Krajewski made threatening calls on Jan. 26, 2023 to Hobart High School, records allege. 'Hello. You have an hour until I come into your school and blow everything the (expletive) up! And, I'm going to shoot everybody who remains,' the message said. 'Do you understand? I'm not having a (expletive) good day here. So you can enjoy that.' That trial is set in July. At one point, he was suspected in more than 30 other 'swatting' cases, including one involving a leader of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and another involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, records show. Post-Tribune archives contributed. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
17-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Ohio teen pleads guilty in Porter County bomb threats; Lake County trial still pending
An Ohio teen has pleaded guilty in connection with a string of bomb threats he called into Porter County schools in 2023. Ryan Krajewski, 19, of Medina, Ohio, admitted Wednesday in Porter Superior Court to five counts of intimidation, each Level 5 felonies. If Porter Superior Judge Jeffrey Clymer accepts, Krajewski would face a three-year cap on each charge – with a sentence ranging up to 15 years total. Lawyers will argue how long his sentence should be and which parts could be served in some combination of prison, community corrections, home detention, probation, and other possible conditions he would have, including GPS monitoring. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop two counts of intimidation. His sentencing hearing is set for July 11. A charging affidavit accused Krajewski of calling in threats to Valparaiso High School, Portage High School, Wheeler High School, Union Township Middle School and the Valparaiso Police Department between Jan. 9 and Jan. 26, 2023. The alleged calls began with a voicemail at 8:32 a.m. Jan. 9, 2023, to Valparaiso High School detailing a bomb threat. 'You have four hours until the bomb goes off and I will be there,' the suspect said in the call that was among many replayed at the hearing. The second call was placed to the Valparaiso Police Department three minutes later and routed to the Porter County Sheriff's Dispatch Center where a dispatcher engaged with the suspect for approximately 15 minutes. A heavy voice distorter was used on the second call, but the caller identified himself each time as a specific VHS student, though a different one each time. The high school went into a lockdown and Valparaiso Police Detective Sergeant Mark LaMotte, who took the stand first, said he was bombarded by several distressed parents in the parking lot who had to be asked by the superintendent of Valparaiso Community Schools to move their vehicles because they were blocking ingress for emergency vehicles. That evening taunting voicemail messages were left at VHS that included racial slurs, but no threats of violence. On Jan. 17, 2023 at 11:23 a.m., a call was made directly to VHS in which the suspect said to the receptionist, 'I planted explosives in the building … I'll see you soon Jenny. You'll be at the end of my barrel.' More calls were received later that day and on Jan. 26, during which the suspect claimed he was in the school parking lot and in the school with an AR 10, a shotgun, and multiple pipe bombs at his disposal. Additional calls were placed Jan. 26, 2023 to Portage High School, Wheeler High School, and Union Township Middle School making the same threats. The entire Portage Police Department's detective bureau, 25 patrol officers, several off-duty officers who happened to be in the area, as well as emergency services personnel staged themselves down the street in the Meijer parking lot for the PHS call while nine Porter County sheriff's deputies responded to the Wheeler calls. In Lake County, Krajewski made threatening calls on Jan. 26, 2023 to Hobart High School, records allege. 'Hello. You have an hour until I come into your school and blow everything the (expletive) up! And, I'm going to shoot everybody who remains,' the message said. 'Do you understand? I'm not having a (expletive) good day here. So you can enjoy that.' That trial is set in July. At one point, he was suspected in more than 30 other 'swatting' cases, including one involving a leader of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles and another involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, records show.
Chicago Tribune
13-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Earth Day celebration at Expo Center features fun, environmental awareness
Northwest Indiana's annual Earth Day celebration offered up 55 vendors at the Porter County Expo Center Saturday morning in celebration of the country's 55th anniversary of the creation of Earth Day. The mood was upbeat as families with young children and folks toting free saplings mingled among gorgeous rain barrels, electric vehicles, and exotic animals while live steel pan music filled the air. Nine-year-old Abbi Wegrzyn-Sanchez, of Valparaiso, was enjoying the live animal show with her mom and three siblings. 'I actually got super pumped,' she said after leaving the stage where she got to hold a young alligator. 'When I got on the stage, I didn't even expect he was going to pick me.' Across the room, Valparaiso High School seniors from the VHS Earth Awareness Club were offering face painting to add to the fun. The club conducts recycling at the school as well as projects in the community. Student Anthony Olivarez, who's heading to the University of Colorado Boulder as an environmental studies major this fall, said the club recently helped Meadowbrook Nature Preserve clean the seeds of native plant species for distribution. 'It's cool to see the youth,' said Keri Marrs-Baron, executive director of Porter County Recycling & Waste Reduction, which sponsors the celebration. She said food waste and plastic are the two biggest trends in the recycling world right now. Her office just started a residential food collection drive offered on Wednesdays at the Coffee Creek Farmers Market. Typical food compost items like vegetable scraps are welcome, but no bones or dairy. Down the hall in the kid zone, Boy Scout Troop 907 from First Christian Church in Valparaiso is helping children build birdhouses for bluebirds. 'It's great. I love it,' said eighth grader Christopher Szevery as he helped Memphis Rugg, a first-grader at Morgan Township Elementary School, build his birdhouse. Christopher said his troop has been preparing the materials for the past month. 'Not all of them are perfect,' he said. Memphis didn't mind. 'It's cool,' he said, saying he'd put the house 'maybe in my backyard.' The fair didn't just draw children. Ariel Bribiesca, of Valparaiso, was touring with her relatives on her day off from Pratt Industries, which makes boxes from 100% recycled paper pulp right next door to the Expo Center. Her grandma, Carmen Gonzalez, of Lowell, is a repeat visitor. She said last year she 'learned about those pods that you shouldn't use in your dishwasher because they don't disintegrate all the way.' Saturday, she collected a tick identification card. 'It was really interesting,' Gonzalez said. Even those who just wanted a good shop could do so with an array of suncatchers, jewelry and art made from recycled materials, and other eco-friendly goods such as Ink Forest Eco-Friendly Screen Printing. Owner Judy Mazzuca said she's the only woman-owned and Green America green-certified screenprinter in the country. 'The pigments are suspended in oil and they're melted on top, which is why they crack and peel,' she explained of traditional plastisol screen printing. 'You also need benzene to clean them off.' The PVC used is also a known endocrine disruptor. Water-based inks, by contrast, are suspended in water, which evaporates, leaving the ink infused into the fabric, she said. For those fired up to do something about environmental toxins, the Citizens' Climate Lobby was taking names. Gary Jump, a volunteer from Illinois, was hoping to reinvigorate the Northwest Indiana chapter, which has been without a chapter leader since last year. 'You've got to go for singles, not home runs all the time,' he said of the effort to garner more individual interest and 'get Congress to pass more legislation to deal with climate change.' Earth Day is on April 22 each year. For more information on its origin, go to
