Top honors - again - for the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. The Valpo Chamber has won the 2013 Chamber of Commerce of the Year award from the Indiana Chamber Executives Association. The Valpo Chamber, with over 700 members, is the only Northwest Indiana Chamber to have ever received "Chamber of Commerce of the Year." The Chamber also won the same award in 2005.  The award is based on the U.S. Chamber’s accreditation process for local chambers and highlights accomplishments in the areas of leadership/governance, finance, advocacy and membership development.

The Valpo Chamber received the honor during the Indiana Chamber Executives Association  Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon Friday, March 15, at the Hyatt in downtown Indianapolis.

The Valpo Chamber was selected as the "2013 Chamber of Commerce of the Year" by an independent panel of judges outside the state. The award is based on the U.S. Chamber's accreditation process for local chambers and highlights accomplishments in the areas of leadership, governance, finance, advocacy, and membership development.

Programs specifically mentioned with regard to Valparaiso being chosen were the Valpo Chamber Community Improvement Awards, recognizing local businesses for their commitment and investment in Valparaiso by improving their visual presence in the community and the Business Appreciation Luncheon, designed to thank top employers for their impact to improve and sustain a strong economic climate and employee base. The Chamber was also cited for its strong financial performance recognizing its success in new member development and consistent, high member reinvestment rates and its strong advocacy demonstrated on local, state, and national issues.

"This great honor is a testament to the staff and board leadership of the Valpo Chamber who, over time, have set the bar high for performance and effectiveness on behalf of the members," states Chamber President, Rex Richards. "Everything that we do is for the benefit of our member investors. If our members are successful, then we are successful. It's all about service."

"The staff has performed at such a high level and has delivered the most effective programs possible for the membership," says Board Chair, Jonathan Nalli, CEO, Porter Health Care System. "Our Chamber has succeeded in taking service to our members to a very high level and this statewide recognition brings great honor not only to the Valpo Chamber, but to our community, county, and region."

In addition to Chamber of the Year, the ICEA also awarded its "Communications Excellence Awards."  The Chamber received top honors of "Excellence" for the quarterly Valparaiso Magazine, annual Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide, annual U-Guide University Student Resource Guide, and the recently updated Chamber website www.valparaisochamber.org <http://www.valparaisochamber.org> ; while receiving "Honorable Mention" in the category of Annual Reports. 

"The magnitude of awards won by the Valpo Chamber was truly gratifying," adds Immediate Past Chair Jon Schmaltz, of Burke Costanza & Carberry. "To achieve this level of excellence, judged by an independent panel from outside the state, makes the Valpo Chamber the standard of excellence upon which all other chambers look to.

"The hard work and dedication of the professionals at the Chamber is apparent through the works submitted for review by the judging panel," says Shelli Williams, ICEA President. "The Valpo Chamber was up against some very well-respected competition, so to take top honors like this really says a lot."

Chamber professional designations were also given at the award luncheon. "Accredited Executive" was given to Valpo Chamber President Rex Richards while Susan Antoszewski, Marketing & Communication Specialist/Publications Editor and Kurt Gillins, Programs Director, earned the designation of "Certified Professional."

Valpo Chamber members who helped create the award winning communication pieces are: Valparaiso Magazine, Morse & Company Advertising Communications Inc., Home Mountain Printing, and Aran Kessler Photo Imaging; U-Guide, Foster Printing Service; and Website and Membership Directory, The Grossbauer Group.

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Read more: Valpo Chamber is Chamber of the Year

A crash in Lowell claimed the life of a DeMotte man Monday afternoon. The Lake County Coroners office says 41-year-old Todd Middleton suffered blunt force trauma in a motor vehicle accident at 181^st and Grand Boulevard and was pronounced dead shortly before 5 pm. Lake County Police and the Lowell Fire Department responded .
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Read more: DeMotte Man Killed in Lowell Crash

A second man has died in a Gary shooting Sunday afternoon. The Lake County Coroners office says 18-year-old Charles Wood of Gary died at a local hospital Monday afternoon after suffering a gunshot wound in the 25-hundred block of 13^th Avenue in Gary. Coroners officials on Monday also released the identity of the first victim, 19-year-old Shaqwone Ham of Gary, whose body was reportedly found in shrubs nearby. Gary Police tell the Region News Team that minutes earlier they got a report of a 15-year-old boy being approached by four people and robbed in the street within about a half-mile of the shooting took place, but that it's too soon to say whether the incidents are related.
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Read more: Second Man Dies in Gary Shooting

About 190-thousand Catholics in the region are celebrating the inauguration of Pope Francis the First this morning. Bishop Dale Melczek, of the Gary Diocese, says Pope Francis's style reflects that he is a “Pope of the People” and what type of impact that could have on Papal traditions.  Hundreds of thousands are expected for the unique international gathering. The faithful began arriving early around 6:30 this morning when the gates opened.
To hear our interview with Bishop Melczek visit Region Newsmakers On Demand here at our website.
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Read more: Region Catholics Celebrate Papal Inauguration

At an afternoon press conference Porter Regional Hospital made a partnership official. Porter Health Care System CEO Jonathon Nalli announced that the hospital has entered into a clinical affiliation agreement with Loyola University Health System. This affiliation will complement the quality care patients receive at Porter Regional Hospital by expanding access to academic research and clinical care in Northwest Indiana, according to the hospital.
Porter Health Care System CEO, Jonathon Nalli said, “We are increasing the depth of our clinical services through this affiliation. Both Porter Regional Hospital and Loyola University Health System are committed to furthering access to medical resources and patient-centered care.”
Loyola President and CEO Larry M. Goldberg said the affiliation will further Loyola's mission of broadening access to its medical services. “Now, patients from Northwest Indiana can retain the comforts and convenience of their home hospital, while benefiting from Loyola specialists and gaining access to our clinical trials.”
Loyola University Medical Center is a Chicago-based academic center. It has been named to a list of “100 Greta Hospitals” by Becker's Hospital Review and its cancer program has received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons. The American Stroke Association has awarded Loyola its Gold Performance Achievement Award for implementing a higher standard of stroke care.
Porter health Care System has two hospital campuses and seven outpatient facilities serving Porter, Lake, LaPorte, Starke, Newton and Jasper counties. With more than 350 physicians representing 50 medical specialties on the medical staff, Porter Health Care System is a leader in technology and overall patient care.
(provided by porterhealth.com)
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Read more: Porter Regional Hospital Now Affiliated with Loyola

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Senate unanimously approved a measure on Monday sponsored by State Senator Jim Arnold (D-LaPorte) to provide LaPorte residents with a process for minimizing property tax debt.
“LaPorte has faced extremely adverse circumstances with property tax collection for many years,” Sen. Arnold said. “This bill will protect our Hoosier taxpayers and offer them an opportunity to decrease their financial burdens.”
House Bill (HB) 1261 would allow eligible LaPorte County homeowners to receive deductions in delayed property taxes for all assessment dates rather than a current assessment date. Current homeowners would qualify for the tax deductions if they lived on the property during the year of the delayed assessment date or did not qualify for a similar property deduction in another county for the same date.
The measure would authorize the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance to delay payments for the March 1, 2011 or January 15, 2013 assessment dates. In addition, payments could either be made in equal installments for at least six months or in one payment at the end of six months. Certain policies would apply to delayed property taxes, such as allowing payments through credit or debit card, exemptions from sales tax for one year, and two percent discounts for payments made within 30 days.
HB 1261 also provides that these claims be specified in a tax statement.
After unanimously passing out of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the full Senate by a vote of 47-0, HB 1261 will now return to the House of Representatives where the author of the bill will have the opportunity to consider changes made in the Senate.
Sen. Arnold represents District 8 in the Indiana State Senate which encompasses the majority of LaPorte County including the City of LaPorte and the eastern part of Michigan City. It also includes western St. Joseph County and Davis, Oregon, Washington, Center and Jackson townships in Starke County.
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Read more: IN Senate Approves Tax Relief to LaPorte Homeowners

Storm sewer installation work in Valparaiso begins tomorrow morning which will require Avondale Avenue to be closed to through traffic, between Yellowstone Road and Kenwood Avenue, west of Forest Park. City officials say work is scheduled to begin at 7am, running until 5pm, this Tuesday through Friday, but that the roadway will be open to one-lane traffic outside those restriction hours. Motorists are asked to use Avondale Avenue to Kenwood Avenue to Harrison Blvd to Yellowstone Road as a detour.
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Read more: Storm Sewer Work to Close Avondale in Valpo Tomorrow

Various reports this afternoon say Oklahoma University football legend  Steve Davis was one of two people killed when a small jet crashed into a South Bend neighborhood Sunday. The other victim was identified as 58-year-old Wesley Brian Caves, the owner of a company that makes window film and paint overlay for cars in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their names were released by the St. Joseph County Coroner today. The National Transportation Safety Board is holding a news conference this afternoon. The private jet hit some homes - causing a gas leak which led to evacuations.  The small fixed wing multi-engine plane crashed right into homes after the pilot of the plane reported loss of power and hydraulics. The crash happened near the South Bend regional airport. Two other people on the plane and one person on the ground were at last word still hospitalized.
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Read more: Repts: FB Legend One of Two Killed in SB Crash

Officials say a 15-year-old Lake County girl was fatally shot in Calumet City. The teenager, reports say, identified as Ashaya Miller of Hammond, died Sunday night. No information was available from Calumet City Police at this hour.
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Read more: Hammond Teen Killed in Calumet City

Indiana House Republicans have announced they'll be sending out text message updates on certain hot topic bills as they make their way through the legislature – like the budget, online sales tax collection, drug testing, and various education matters. You can sign up at the Indiana House GOP website.
The caucus says it's an extension of transparency initiatives launched by Speaker Brian Bosma the past few years... which have included live streaming of House floor proceedings... making every house committee meeting available via the internet... and this past January, hosting the first ever “tweet seats” , believed to be a first for states, where seats were reserved for certain members of the public to tweet during the Governor's State of the State speech.
Here's the link : http://inhousegop.us
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Read more: House GOP Texting Bill Updates