LaPorte County employees moving due to flood

BY STAN MADDUX

Most employees in the LaPorte County Government Complex are in the process of relocating after the Haney said employees from areas like the Health Department and Prosecutor’s Office are relocating to other places inside the complex unaffected by the flooding. building was heavily damaged in a flood caused by a broken frozen water pipe.

The two inch diameter line froze after temperatures plummeted to below zero during a blizzard a few days prior to Christmas, said LaPorte County Commissioner Joe Haney.

Haney said the broken line feeding a sprinkler head was discovered Christmas Day during a routine check of the building in downtown LaPorte.

He said building checks are ordered during long weekends as a precaution.

In this case, employees did not report for work on Friday because of the hazardous travel and had Monday off since Christmas this time fell on a Sunday.

“If it wasn’t for that, we may not have known at least until folks came in which would have been on that Tuesday,” he said.

Haney said a lot of drywall from soaking up standing water on floors at each level of the five story structure along with carpeting, light fixtures and ceiling tiles will have to be replaced.

Two dozen or more computers and other pieces of equipment also seem damaged beyond repair, he said.

The amount of damage was still being tabulated but Haney roughly estimated it in the “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Fortunately, he said the county has insurance to cover the damage and will only have to pay a $25,000 deductible on the policy. Room has also been found to place them inside the nearby courthouse and across the street at the LaPorte County Government Annex building. Work stations were also being created at the Michigan City courthouse and a former county government office building at 302 W. 8th Street in Michigan City. Other employees are working from home. Haney said he hopes the repairs can be finished for all of the employees to return in the spring. The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office on the main level was impacted to a lesser degree by water running down from the upper floors.

Sheriff Ron Heeg said the damage was limited mostly to offices used sparingly by patrol supervisors toward the end of their shifts.

Just one member of his administrative staff had to relocate.

“A little bit of an inconvenience but nothing we can’t handle,” he said.

Heeg said the jail, which has about 350 beds, was not impacted at all by the flooding.

Members of the public with business to conduct at the complex are urged to call in advance to find out where the departments and individuals they need to see are located and whether contact should be carried out electronically, Haney said.

HOROSCOPE

JANUARY 5-11, 2023

AS INTERPRETED BY SANDY “STAR” BENDT

ARIES MARCH 21—APRIL 19 It’s time to put that know how to good use and hone in on your leadership skills. Use your management abilities to their fullest by getting your home and finances in sync. Turn your focus towards issues that distract you from really setting up a solid household budget and make those changes.

TAURUS APRIL 20—MAY 20 It’s very important to maintain your authenticity and avoid people pleasing at this time. You may want to discuss issues with others but it doesn’t mean you have to let them make the decisions for you. Learn how to say no with confidence and focus on your own happiness.

GEMINI MAY 21—JUNE 21 Capitalize on your ability to see potentials where others don’t. This may give you the jump on competition or those that would overlook your value as a team member. Get more recognition with others by seizing on opportunities solo and then sharing in the rewards as a team.

CANCER JUNE 22—JULY 22 Friends and relationships may be difficult this week as they reflect back to us the changes you need to make. Don’t shy away from criticism or hard to talk about subjects, especially those that really expose the truth. By letting people tell you their perspective, you may see some things that need to change.

LEO JULY 23—AUGUST 22 The energy coming your way this week is ripe with potential to overcome personal obstacles and insecurities. This is the time to face unhealthy habits and understand the stressors that may push you into maladaptive coping methods. Capitalize on the momentum of the new year and make changes.

VIRGO AUGUST 23—SEPTEMBER 22 It’s important you start focusing on the things that make you happy. Avoid getting caught up in thinking everything has to be a chore or have rigid guidelines. Rather than sticking to the book or rigid guidelines, give yourself permission to experiment more and take a new approach to things.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23—OCTOBER 22 The energy coming your way this week is all about growing and developing your career and leadership abilities, which at this time may require accepting some harsh criticism. Don’t let what people tell you upset you; let it help you. Evaluate feedback and incorporate changes without emotional attachment.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23—NOVEMBER 21 There may seem like a lot of issues to work through relationship wise this year but know that listening to partners, be they business or romantic, requires accepting criticism and compromising on plans. This is the year to join forces and become more of a team player, professionally and romantically.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22—DECEMBER 21 It’s time to start putting your money where your mouth is and actually doing the things you have been talking about. Dig in and get more committed to your financial health. Don’t be afraid to pool resources or put yourself in a more vulnerable position because the potential for success is there.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22—JANUARY 19 Get ready for some constructive criticism. Don’t get discouraged or feel put down if someone says they are not happy with something you have done. Use it to make things better or come to a greater understanding of what you are really trying to show people. It may surprise you.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20—FEBRUARY 18 Capitalize on the momentum of the new year and incorporate those resolutions with solid action this week. This is the time to trust in your strength of will and ability to follow through. Know that making changes on the mental level will affect the physical choices you make.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19—MARCH 20 Sitting on the sidelines is out this year. It’s time to lace up those boots and join the team. You may have to deal with some criticism but in the end, it will help you become more aware of your talents. Once you realize what your strengths are, you will feel more secure amongst the other players.

Corewell Health South announces top baby names in 2022

Hikers to explore lakefront ice Formations, stay for sunset

Out of 1,316 local babies born to date in 2022, Jayden and Charlotte were the most popular names this year. The BirthPlace at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals in Niles and St. Joseph, the new name for Spectrum Health Lakeland hospitals, shared that the other popular names for both genders in 2022 were:

Top 5 boy names:

1. Jayden 2. Elliott 3. Giovanni 4. Levi 5. Maverick

Top 5 girl names:

1. Charlotte 2. Isabella 3. Abigail 4. Evelyn 5. Chloe

Corewell Health South is served by a team of 28 obstetrics and gynecology and pediatric providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives; 80 nurses; and 23 support staff. High-risk pregnant women and women with chronic illnesses considering pregnancy also have local access to advanced levels of care through a partnership with maternal fetal medicine specialists at Corewell Health Medical Group West.

In 2022, Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals in Niles and St. Joseph earned a platinum designation for maternal care from the Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health for their work to improve health outcomes for mothers and combat the leading causes of maternal mortality, such as obstetric hemorrhage and severe hypertension.

For more information about the BirthPlace, visit www. spectrumhealthlakeland. org/birthplace. — STAFF

REPORTS

The Harbor Country Hikers will explore ice formations in Lake Michigan along the lakefront in New Buffalo during a Saturday, Jan. 14, hike.

The hike will begin at 5 p.m. and end after sunset. Hike Leader and Hikers President Pat Fisher will explain the water and weather situations that create a variety of ice conditions in the lake, and - cloud cover permitting - the group will remain for the sunset at 5:40 and the half hour or so of afterglow.

Twilights, Fisher said, can be “more interesting than sunsets. If the clouds don’t hide the sunset, we will witness the greatest show on Michigan’s west coast.” The hike will be shorter than most of the group’s treks, and it’s rated “easy” for physical difficulty, but the wind off the lake in January can be brutal and those who attend should plan on dressing warmly.

Though membership is preferred, all are welcome at this event. An all-terrain rollator - a wheeled walker with oversized tires for use on unpaved surfaces - is available on a first-come, first-served basis by emailing harborcountryhikers@ gmail.com. For driving directions, parking instructions and membership information, visit the group’s website, harborcountryhikers.com, or its Facebook page, Harbor Country

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PUBLIC NOTICES

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New Buffalo Township is seeking a fulltime Deputy Clerk, 35 hours a week. Experience with utility billing preferred. All interested parties should submit their resume’ to New Buffalo Township via mail to the address above, ATTN: Judy Zabicki. Applicants may also email resume’ and any questions to jhzabicki@ newbuffalotownship.org on or before Friday, Jan 20th, 2023.

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