This is an early 20th-century view of the Michigan City Harbor. This photo was taken at a time when many lumberyards operated along Trail Creek. (Museum photos)

(Click on photos to enlarge)

This is a photo of a schooner named the "John W.H. Dearborn" in Michigan City Harbor.

   “Harboring Big Ships: A Pictorial History of the Michigan City Lakefront” will be the featured exhibit at the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum in September and October, 2010. This exhibit features many historic photos of steamships, sailing ships, captains and crews, and related vintage lakefront scenes. It will depict the time when large excursion ships and schooners made their way through the Michigan City harbor, something that is not seen in this day.

   The museum’s extensive photo collection, which includes many beautiful postcards and photos of these scenes, will be on display on the lower level of the museum. Nautical artifacts, including navigational equipment, such as a sextant, will also be shown. The museum has several model ships, including the “Flying Cloud,” a tall ship model built by local resident Frederick Craven. The museum’s vintage bathing suit collection will also be on display in Exhibit Hall.

   As part of the exhibit, two special programs are planned:

   — On Saturday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., “What Lies Beneath: Shipwrecks of Southern Lake Michigan” will be presented at the museum. Jim Scholz of the Michigan Under Water Divers Club will present this illustrated talk to the public. Jim is an experienced “wreck diver” and will be doing a program showing his diving experiences in southern Lake Michigan. The program will be presented first at 11 a.m. and repeated at 1 p.m. to accommodate a larger crowd.

   — On Saturday, Oct. 23, at 1 p.m., “Lady Lighthouse Keeper: The Story of Harriet Colfax” will be presented at the museum. This first-person re-enactment of Harriet Colfax’s life as “Keeper of the Light” for Michigan City’s lighthouse will be presented by Sandy Gleim. Sandy has been involved in community theater for many years and also collects vintage clothing. She has an avid interest in history and has performed in several Living Cemetery Tours in Door Village.

   The LaPorte County Historical Society Museum is located at 2405 Indiana Ave. in La Porte, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call ahead for admission prices at 219-324-6767, or visit www.laportecountyhistory.org. Children under 12 enter free. Special presentations in October are free with paid museum admission. The facility is accessible to those with disabilities.

A model of the "Flying Cloud," built by the late LaPortean Frederick Craven, is on display at the museum.

The "Missouri" was an excursion boat that brought passengers from Chicago to Michigan City in the early 20th century.

   The workshop is open to the public and is especially of interest to parents, neighbors, teachers, child care workers, clergy, health care workers, law enforcement, and social services.

   In 2008, 119 children in LaPorte County were served in domestic violence emergency care shelters. In the northern district of Indiana, 1,170 children were served at such shelters, and in the entire state, 3,895 children were served. So approximately one-third of children served were from the northern district.

   The agenda for the workshop is: 8:30 a.m. coffee and registration; 9 a.m. presentations; 9:30 a.m. work groups; 11 a.m. report back to the group.

   Work groups will focus on:

   — How to increase awareness and education in our churches and communities

   — Working toward stricter sentences for perpetrators of violence against children

   — Bringing back control to our communities to handle cases of abuse

   — Boxing items for children at area domestic violence shelters.

   If you are able, please donate/bring: personal items/children’s toiletries; toys including infant toys, baby dolls, puzzles, board games and other games; arts and crafts supplies; books and manipulative toys; disposable diapers; baby wipes; Clorox wipes; and AA, C and D batteries. The items will be divided among the churches represented at the meeting.

   Child care will be provided at the workshop. For more information, call First UMC at 362-2443.

   He was born June 22, 1949, in Harriman, TN, to Floyd Harrison and Carrie Lee McKinney Barger.

   Dennis was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Vietnam and Korea in the Ist Cavalry. He had worked at the Indiana State Prison for 34 1/2 years as a guard and transport officer. He was a life member of Disabled American Veterans 23 and VFW 1130, was sergeant at arms for American Legion Post 83, and also belonged to the Howard County Vietnam Veterans Association, Polish Falcons, Legion Riders, 40&8, Moose Lodge, PRCU, Wednesday Pool League, and Thursday Senior Pool League of the American Legion. He was a Cubs, Michigan, Denver Broncos and Jimmy Johnson No. 48 fan. He will be missed by his dogs; Kari, Rowdy, Peaches and Ginger Snap.

   He was married to Carol Welch in LaPorte on June 16, 1973; she survives.

   Also surviving are two sons, Dennis E. Barger Jr. of LaPorte and Mike (Amy) Barger of Michigan City, IN; five grandchildren, Austin A. Barger of LaPorte, Dennis E. Barger III and Owen F. Barger of Michigan City, and A.J. and Kyle Caddo of Michigan City; three sisters, Brenda (Dennis) Metcalf of LaPorte, Elizabeth (Sam) Sellers of Hawkinsville, GA, and Mary (Jeff) Gifford of Westville, IN; one brother, Steve W. Barger Sr. of Clearwater, FL; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

   He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert Barger and son Christopher Lee Barger.

   A Celebration of Life Veteran’s Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at VFW 1130, 181 McClung Rd., LaPorte. Flag Presentation Honors will be conducted during the service with a meal to follow. Cutler Funeral Home, LaPorte, is handling arrangements.

   Contributions may be made to the Family of Dennis Barger c/o Cutler Funeral Home, 2900 Monroe St., LaPorte, IN 46350.

   Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneral.com.

   Johnson, 19, is 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs about 155 pounds, and has strawberry blond hair and blue eyes. Todd has ties to LaPorte, Michigan City and rural LaPorte County.

   If you have any information about the current location of Todd L. Johnson, please call LaPorte Police at 219-362-9446. Any information you can provide will be appreciated and you do NOT have to give your name.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Each week WNLP posts information about a wanted individual, with photos and info provided by LaPorte Police.

   He was born Aug. 16, 1923, in Mill Creek, IN, the son of Daniel W. and Mary G. (Byerley) Keller.

   Howard worked for Teledyne Casting Service for 29 years, retiring in 1985. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a former member, past commander and life member of VFW Post 2536, and was awarded as Veteran of the Year by VFW Ladies Auxiliary 2536. He was also a former member of American Legion Post 451, Moose Lodge 980, FOP 75, Blue Lodge 83 F&AM, and Orak Shrine, all of Michigan City, and Scottish Rite of South Bend, IN. He marched in many parades wtih the Orak Oriental Band. Howard was a longtime member of the Michigan City Honor Guard. He enjoyed bowling, golf and gardening.

   On Sept. 24, 1949, in LaPorte, he married Maxine English, who preceded him in death on Feb. 28, 1970. On July 1, 1972, in Michigan City, he married Luella Timm Keller, who survives.

   He is also survived by his two daughters, Diana (Harold) Eschenbrenner of Foristell, MO, and Debra (Jim) Ford of Meridian, MS; stepson Barry (Kathryn) Timm of Brownsburg, IN; eight grandchildren, Scott Eschenbrenner of O’Fallon, MO, Todd (Sarah) Eschenbrenner of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Jon Eschenbrenner of Creve Coeur, MO, Adam (Tamara) Timm of Jupiter, FL, Brian (Megan) Timm of Avon, IN, Allison Timm of Indianapolis, Kristen Timm of Knoxville, TN, and Misty (Rob) McGraw of Meridian, MS; six great-grandchildren, Jordan and Keller Eschenbrenner of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; Donovan Timm of Jupiter, FL, Addison Timm of Avon, IN, Kaden Timm of Avon, and Taylor Hollingsworth of Meridian, MS; two sisters, Alliene Renz of Rolling Prairie, IN, and Dorothy Hope of Charlotte, NC; and several nieces and nephews.

   Howard was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Rose Kellogg, Barbara Ratliff, Helen Lewallen and Aletha Shipton; and five brothers, Gerald Keller, Leon Keller, Ray Keller, Herschel Keller and Omer Keller.

   The family will receive friends on Friday, Sept. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Haverstock Funeral Home, LaPorte. A private family service will be held Saturday, Sept. 4, at the funeral home with Rev. Robert Raschka officiating. A military service will be conducted by VFW Post 2536 and American Legion Post 451 Honor Guard of Michigan City at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte.

   Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, 2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60607; or to the donor’s choice.

   Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.

The 2009 winning Name That Book team, from South Central School.

Submitted by LaPorte County Public Library

   Every fall for the past 18 years, sixth graders throughout LaPorte County have been invited to compete in the Name That Book contest, sponsored by LaPorte County Public Library. The contest begins in September when teams of students and their advisors gather at the library to receive the contest’s list of books. Students may or may not be familiar with the titles, which have either won awards or are by award-winning authors. Since the goal of the contest is to remember the most information possible about each novel, the teams divide up the list and begin devouring the stories.

   In October, the contest ramps up with a mock competition. Between 10 and 15 teams gather to size up their opponents and take a crack at practice statements. A sample statement during the actual contest might be, “A teenage boy and his mother are closer since he has been rescued and returned home. Name That Book.” (”The River” by Gary Paulsen.) But since many of the students haven’t had time to read all the books, the statements for the practice contest come from well-known children’s books and stories.

Mary Hedge

   November rolls around and the teams gather, along with their cheering supporters, in the large meeting room of the Main Library for the final, do-or-die competition. Rounds are played, with the winner of each round competing in the final round. The winning team is the one that has the best score at a certain point in the contest, not necessarily the best time. First-, second- and third-place teams are awarded a trophy for their school and every contestant gets a certificate and prize. The Friends of the Library fund the prizes, as well as refreshments for everyone after the contest.

   Librarian Mary Hedge got the idea for Name That Book from a conference she attended in the early 1990s. “The conference,” she said, “featured ideas about encouraging readers in the middle grades to get more involved with reading and the library. One of the workshops was on Name That Book contests.”

   The contest is both entertaining and educational. Students discover that reading can be fun and they enjoy the competition. They also increase their reading skills, often learn something about another culture or era, and increase spelling, grammar, and other language arts skills. In the past 18 years, many teachers and schools have returned year after year.

Erin Manering

   In 2008 and 2009, students from South Central, who were past competitors, returned as volunteer score keepers, time keepers, attendance counters, and refreshment helpers. They loved the contest, and now they love helping with the contest. Often contestants go on to join the Young Adult Advisory Board at the library or become library volunteers. Erin Manering, who is now an employee of the library, was just such a student. “I had always loved reading and visiting the library,” said Erin. “Participating in Name That Book led me to the YA Advisory Board, which opened up a whole new world for me! I love my job, and I can’t imagine a life without books.”

   For more information about the contest, call Mary Hedge at 219-362-6156.

   He was born July 2, 1952, in LaPorte to James “Pete” Cambron and Myrtle Lindsey.

   Mr. Lindsey had owned and operated Mike’s Lock & Key since 1994. He began playing drums when he was 17 years old and volunteered at benefits with his band, “State Street Blues Band.” He also performed at benefits and county homes with the “Born Again Blues Band.” Mike’s musical gift will be missed by all who performed with him and those he performed for.

   On April 4, 1970, in LaPorte, he married Judy Barnsdale-Hutchinson Lindsey, who survives.

   Also surviving are his daughter, Nicole (Brian) Johnson of Hudson Lake, IN; three grandchildren, Ashley, Wendy and Brianna; brother, Myron (Sue) Lindsey of South Bend, IN; three half-sisters, Terry, Tina and Jody; and three half-brothers, Jim, Frank and Gerrel.

   He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

   Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, LaPorte, with John Hutchinson officiating. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service at the funeral home. Cremation will take place following services.

   Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, 247 W. Johnson Rd., LaPorte, IN 46350.

   Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com

A LaPorte City firefighter uses a cutting tool to remove the roof of a vehicle so the driver could be freed.

Photos and info by Mike Kellems

(Click on photos to enlarge)

   A two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of 6th and D streets in LaPorte on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 1, 2010. One driver was transported to LaPorte Hospital with non-life-thretening injuries. The other vehicle was stopped several block away by LaPorte City Police.

LaPorte City firefighters use an ax to remove the windshield of a vehicle as they work to extricate the driver.

The driver is wheeled to an ambulance after being freed. (NOTE: The face of the driver has been blurred in this photo.)

The Walking Dead and Other Mysteries

   — Wednesday, Sept. 8, 6 p.m., Coolspring Branch

   — Wednesday, Sept. 15, 6 p.m., Main Library

Bob Cutler

   Join Bob Cutler of Cutler Funeral Home for a free evening of questions and answers about the curious lives of human cadavers. Enjoy hearing about incidents when a person is pronounced dead and spontaneously comes back to life. Sound like a scene from a science fiction movie? Bob Cutler is here to set the record straight. He will also talk about New York Times bestseller, “Stiff; The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers” by Mary Roach.

Pirate Lore

   — Monday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m., Kingsford Heights Branch

   Ahoy, mateys! Explore pirate legends and tales at this program for landlubbers of all ages. From whence did Blackbeard hail? Who was the infamous Anne Bonny? Hear o’ famous battles and pirate hangouts! Get yer answers, ask yer questions, and make a smashin’ pirate craft. Thar’ll be plenty o’ fun and a treasure o’ treats for all. Come dressed as a pirate – IF YE DARE!

Tales of the Rails – All Aboard!

Le Monnier

   — Thursday, Sept. 16, 6 p.m., Hanna Branch

   Enjoy Daniel Le Monnier as he entertains us on his banjo with history, legends and songs reflecting America’s fascination with trains. Le Monnier has been caught telling stories all his life and has taken his combination of music, wit and animation around the world from the Shanghai Children’s Palace to the Smithsonian Institute. He performed at the 53rd Presidential Inaugural and was the Chicago Bulls mascot, Benny the Bull, for 18 years. For a sneak peek, visit his website at www.banjotales.com.

Rhythm Kitchen: Hobos and Folk Music

   — Saturday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m., Main Library

   Enjoy our second annual coffee house with featured guest, former Hobo Queen Sunrise, who is an authentic hobo! Sunrise will delight you with tales of a hobo’s life – past and present, fact and fiction. Discover how she became a hobo and be entertained with folk songs that are a part of the fabric of hobo history. Free samples of delicious coffee from LaPorte’s own Maple City Roasters, too!

The Legend and Lore of Johnny Appleseed

   — Thursday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m., Main Library

   Meet Scott Mertz, a multi-talented entertainer who, for over 20 years, has performed first-person interpretations of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) for the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne, IN. His portrayal has sparked interest from Disney Studios as well as newspapers, authors, radio, and television across the country. In 1995, Educational Management Group in Arizona produced and beamed Scott’s portrayal via satellite to schools across the nation as an interactive program on Johnny Appleseed. Dressed in historically accurate clothing, and with props, Scott will weave tales involving the legend and lore of Johnny Appleseed.

Monsters of LaPorte County Lakes

Fern Eddy Schultz

   — Thursday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m., Rolling Prairie Branch

   Does a seething serpent bask on the sandy shores of Fish Trap Lake, located between McClung and Severs roads? Find out whether it is fact or fiction when it comes to monsters in LaPorte County lakes. Presented by LaPorte County Historian Fern Eddy Schultz.

Eerie Indiana

   — Tuesday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m., Union Mills Branch

   Does the “supernatural” really exist? Storyteller Alice Mathew will raise goosebumps on your arms and hair on your head as she brings the truly odd and eerie from Indiana to you. Hear stories about a LaPorte doctor who made a house call on a ghost, the historic “Diana of the Dunes” apparition, the Hoosier “werewolf” and “wampus cat,” and a library’s see-through “lady in grey.”

An Indiana Juggler in King Arthur’s Court

   — Tuesday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m., Fish Lake Branch

   Stories about King Arthur, his knights, Guinevere, and brave Sir Lancelot have circulated for nearly 1,500 years. Sooner or later, anyone who encounters Arthur asks the question, “But, was he real?” There are many different opinions in answer to that question! For now? If King Arthur was a real person … and he lived in Fish Lake, Indiana … and he asked to be entertained … what would he ask for? JUGGLING! Pretend you’re in King Arthur’s Court. Come and enjoy juggler Kevin Winslow as he wows us with amazing juggling tricks!

Sunflower Fair Fun at the Library

   — Saturday, Sept. 18, Main Library

   The library is part of the community Sunflower Fair with fun for all ages! Kids can enter the coloring contest anytime from now until Monday, Sept. 14. Just pick up an entry in the Children’s Department. Prizes are awarded by the community Sunflower Fair Committee in three age brackets. On the day of the fair, the Friends of the Library will hold the final used book sale of the season on the sidewalk in front of the Main Library from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fall Film Fest Begins!

   — Tuesday, Sept. 21, 6 p.m., Main Library

   The Fall Film Fest will begin in September with the movie “Greenberg.” Ben Stiller plays Roger Greenberg, who is single, fortyish, and in search of a place to restart his life. Rated R /108 minutes. Admission is free and so are refreshments furnished by the Friends of the Library. The Film Fest is a collaboration of LaPorte County Public Library, Michigan City Public Library, and the Purdue North Central Odyssey Fine Arts Program. “Greenberg” will be shown at Michigan City Public Library on Sunday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m., and at PNC on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. Upcoming films: Oct. 19: “Babies”; Nov. 16: “Winter’s Bone.”

   Thank you to the Friends of the Library for providing all the prizes for this year’s BACK to SCHOOL BINGO program! Everyone had fun and appreciated winning the great school supplies.

LISA NIELSEN is marketing coordinator at the LaPorte County Public Library. For more information on library programs and materials, call 362-6156 or visit www.lapcat.org.

The office of the Solid Waste District will be closed Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day. The office will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 8 a.m.