Westchester 3 Precinct Information

07/21/2025

Look what is happening! The Town of Chesterton is renovating the Townhall and Fire Department as well as adding on to the CFD. It is an amazing project for our town, residents, and firefighters. The new Townhall boasts a new community room that residents can use. 💙

07/21/2025

07/21/2025

GoFundMe created to assist the family of the late Przemek Kubas

A GoFundMe has been established to assist the family of the late Przemek Kubas, who passed too young on July 9, 2025.

The GoFundMe has been organized by Kristen Opperman:

“We want to thank all who have reached out to offer condolences and want to help in any way they can. We are so grateful for the food already brought and prayers being offered. While Megan and the boys navigate this profound loss, the last thing we want is for her to worry about any upcoming expenses. Przemek and Megan were working so hard to make their dreams happen as a family; their businesses were just taking off and they worked so hard to make their house a home. His absence is irreplaceable and Megan and the boys will be forever changed. Przemek wasn’t just there for the major events but every game and moment in between to guide the boys and teach them. Megan is taking time off from her cleaning business to mourn and any prayer sent or dollar offered will help ease the burden. We thank you so much.”

To donate, please go to
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-megan-and-boys-after-przemeks-loss

05/22/2024

Thank you Chief!

CPD Chief Richardson launches PSA series on scams

In 2023 the Federal Trade Commission received 2.6 million fraud reports resulting in losses of $10 billion.

Of those fraud reports, imposter scams account for $2.7 billion of those losses, including losses suffered by Chesterton residents.

“The Chesterton Police Department responds to several fraud-related calls weekly,” Assistant Chief Cisco Rodriguez reports. “Some are informational, but we've also taken reports where residents have unfortunately lost thousands of dollars.”

“Scammers in particular target seniors, exploiting their loneliness, social isolation, and cognitive decline,” Rodriguez noted. “Education is our best defense against these crimes.”

With that in mind, Police Chief Tim Richardson is launching a social media campaign spotlighting a different kind of scam every month. Please share these posts with your elderly loved ones and talk to them about the importance of safeguarding their personal and financial information.

This month: Imposter scams—responsible for most fraudulent losses in the U.S.—involve scammers posing as relatives, government agencies, or company representatives. A common example is the "Grandkid and Family Scam," in which scammers pretend to be a relative in urgent need of money.

HOW THE GRANDKID AND FAMILY SCAM WORKS

*A scammer calls an unsuspecting grandparent, pretending to be a grandchild, and asks, "Do you know who this is?" to elicit a name.

*The scammer claims to be in trouble, needing urgent financial help for medical expenses, bail, or travel.

*To seem credible, the scammer may have someone impersonate an official, such as a police officer or doctor.

*The scammer asks for money via specific account transfers, wire transfers, or even home pickup.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

*Don't trust caller ID, which can be manipulated. Hang up and call back using a known number.

*Don't provide any information. Make the caller give you details.

*Verify the caller's identity by asking specific questions or using a family code word.

*Hang up and immediately consult with other family members.

*Verify any supposed officials by calling their organization directly.

*Ask detailed questions and repeat them later to catch inconsistencies.

*Never send money or provide financial information without verification.

*Avoid payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency.

ALWAYS REPORT SCAMS AND ATTEMPTED SCAMS

If a scammer targets you or a loved one—even unsuccessfully—report it immediately:

*Call the Chesterton Police Department at 219-926-1136.

*Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

*Or call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-382-4357 or 1-866-653-4261.

“Reporting scams helps protect others,” Rodriguez says. “Most scams originate from foreign countries, making local investigations challenging. Reporting to the FTC is crucial, even if no money was lost. Please like, share, and discuss our posts with your parents, grandparents, neighbors, and friends. By spreading awareness about how scammers operate, we can help protect your hard-earned money. Together, we can combat these scams!”

For more tips and information on registering for consumer alerts, go to ftc.gov/ConsumerAlerts

05/22/2024

Very exciting to have a veterinarian clinic so close to my home. I am thankful for our town’s Plan Commission. I do believe they have a great vision for our beautiful town and they do the best they can with the information they have. It might seem silly to male them have a sidewalk now, but as we continue to grow...those things will matter.

Chesterton Plan Commission schedules public hearing on veterinary clinic but signals concerns about proposed PUD ordinance

The Chesterton Advisory Plan Commission voted unanimously at its meeting Thursday night, May 16, to hold a public hearing in June on a proposed planned unit development ordinance for Dr. Christopher Brahos’ veterinary clinic at the northwest corner of Meridian Road and C.R. 1050N.

Planners did so, but not without first expressing serious concerns over two of the key proposals in that ordinance.

The clinic would be built at an angle on the 17.32-acre property, with an entrance on C.R. 1050N. “Whether (the location) is good or bad, there weren’t many places to put the building because the wetland delineation is fairly substantial,” Brahos’ attorney, Greg Babcock, told the Plan Commission. “That’s the best spot.”

Over the first three years, Brahos foresees himself being the clinic’s sole veterinarian, although as the practice begins to thrive he plans on adding two more to the practice. Hours of operation would be standard: 8 a.m. to 4 or 6 p.m., including office hours on Saturday or every other Saturday. The clinic would be provided with approximately five “large-dog runs,” 10 to 15 “small-dog cages,” and 10 to 15 cat cages, and would offer “vacation-style boarding” for regular clients only.

Brahos’ timeline, assuming the permitting process is a smooth one: Groundbreaking in late July or early August, with substantial completion—“weather depending,” he said—in March 2025.

Other details:

*For stormwater management, Brahos is interested in building “a swale system, not necessary a detention pond,” Babcock said. “We’ll move water in the same direction it has been moving, toward the ditch, north by northwest.”

*A sanitary sewer line would be bored under Meridian Road and run to a manhole at Chesterton High School, on the east side of Meridian Road.

*Per the Town Code, tree removal would be as limited as possible. But, Babcock allowed, “We’ll be removing trees to build the building, about 4,000 square feet. We’ve got a parking lot that goes there too.”

The proposals which appeared to stick in the Plan Commission’s craw are two:

*Brahos is seeking a minimum of a five-year grace period for installing an 1,160-foot sidewalk along the west side of Meridian Road, from C.R. 1050N to the end of his property line. That would leave a 160-foot gap between Brahos’ sidewalk and the one installed several years ago by the property owner at 1840 S. 11th Street: As it happens, a gap on property owned by the Norfolk Southern. “I don’t know if there’s ever going to be a sidewalk on those 160 feet,” Babcock said. “Just being honest with you. We would be willing to connect to (a future sidewalk there). If that’s going in, we’re going in. We’d get our Army Corp permit and put it in, standard concrete.”

*Brahos is also seeking, in a Phase II—once his practice has expanded—a second access drive off Meridian Road, right-in/right-out only. “There’s an indication staff is considering that,” Babcock said. “We would like to retain that ability to do that. Remember, in the ordinance that would be phased anyway. It’s not going to start out right away, from a cost perspective. If we do do that, (staff) wants language for right-in/right-out and a decel lane when you’re going south on Meridian.”

DISCUSSION

The Plan Commission began its discussion by asking Town Engineer Mark O’Dell for his comments.

O’Dell had a two. First, he indicated that staff is actually opposed to a second access drive off Meridian Road. “I’m not sure if the staff is agreeing on the right-in/right-out,” he told the Plan Commission. “We were pretty adamant that we don’t want the entrance on 11th Street. I’m not sure if there was a misunderstanding.”

Second, O’Dell told Babcock that staff would want to see a specific provision in the PUD ordinance for stormwater detention. “You talk about a swale,” he said. “We’re not saying it’s not going to work but we need a reference that you’ll still provide detention. So that way you’re not locking yourself into a swale, in case it might have to be something else.”

Planner Sharon Darnell opened the discussion and addressed both sticking issues: A temporary sidewalk waiver; and the second drive. “The additional traffic along 11th Street is what department heads are fearful of,” she noted, then added that—had the wetland delineation been smaller or different—it might have made sense for a right-in only entrance from Meridian Road and an exit-only onto C.R. 1050N. “But through no fault of ours or yours, but discovered by your engineering, your placement is a burden. And that is an issue for me.”

As for the temporary sidewalk waiver, “For me, that’s a dealbreaker,” Darnell told Babcock. “You’ve got to complete the sidewalk. When the first sidewalk (fronting 1840 S. 11th St.) was insisted on, people said it would be ridiculous. ‘It’s just going nowhere.’ And now here you are. There are things that are going to continue, and unless we lay the groundwork, it falls on the back of this town to replace these things that other people who came before us thought weren’t essential.”

Planner Dane Lafata concurred with Darnell. “A lot of the issues you brought up were the same ones the homeowner (at 1840 S. 11th St.) brought up,” he said. “And you’ll notice the sidewalk is there. The 160 feet is something we’ll have to deal with.”

“We’ve already contacted (Norfolk Southern) and we’re working through that process,” O’Dell added.

Planner Dan Marchetti also flagged the sidewalk waiver and second drive. “You’ve identified a five-year window for the sidewalk,” he said. “I think that’s too long. And then the road cut onto Meridian maybe isn’t the best idea.”

Planner Cassie Hammar—familiar as she is with the school traffic on South 11th Street—spoke against the road cut as well. “The morning traffic. The afternoon traffic. You’ve got new drivers. You’ve got angry parents trying to get their kids dropped off before they get to work. I mean, that’s a mess over there.”

Planner Tom Kopko was equally blunt. “I think, along with everybody else, the sidewalk’s a non-starter if you don’t do that. I think we’ve been working very hard to get sidewalks in. I don’t want to set a precedent. And I don’t see any need now for a road cut on Meridian. You can always come back and ask for it, but that’s not something I’m interested in now.”

THE VOTE

Those concerns notwithstanding, the Plan Commission did vote unanimously to hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m Thursday, June 21.

Below: A proposed site plan for the veterinary clinic which Dr. Christopher Brahos is seeking to build at the northwest corner of Meridian Road and C.R. 1050N

05/22/2024

Blood drive today!

Red Cross Blood Drive scheduled for TODAY Wednesday May 22 at Chesterton town hall has been CANCELED

The Red Cross Blood Drive which had been scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m. TODAY, Wednesday, May 22, at the Chesterton town hall has been CANCELED.

The Town of Chesterton was notified shortly after 10 a.m. that the bloodmobile is having mechanical issues.

Donors with appointments today will be notified by the Red Cross and may reschedule their appointments at redcrossblood.org

Thank you.

05/22/2024

Congratulations Hana!

05/22/2024

Hopeful it will be a beautiful weekend!

Indiana Dunes State Park beach to open for swimming on Memorial Day weekend

The beach at Indiana Dunes State Park will open on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday through Monday, May 25-27.

The beach will then close briefly but re-open for the season on Friday, May 31, and remain open—depending on weather and water conditions—through the Labor Day weekend.

Be safe, folks, and have fun!

05/22/2024

Westbound US 12 to close at 249 overpass on Tuesday May 28

Westbound U.S. 12 will close at the Ind. 249 overpass on or after Tuesday, May 28, the Indiana Department of Transportation is announcing.

Superior Construction Company will be installing structural steel beneath the overpass, between the U.S. 12 ramps to and from Ind. 249. Motorists westbound on U.S. 12 will have access to northbound Ind. 249 (Port of Indiana) but not to southbound Ind. 249.

The closure will remain in effect through mid-June.

“Motorists should seek alternate routes,” INDOT said. The official detour will follow Ind. 149 and U.S. 20.

01/12/2024

Chesterton town hall declared WARMING SHELTER beginning TOMORROW Friday Jan 12

With a system of heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions barreling down on Duneland—to be followed by plummeting temperatures—Chesterton Town Manager Dave Cincoski has declared the town hall, 726 Broadway, a 24/7 WARMING SHELTER, beginning at 6 a.m. TOMORROW, Friday, Jan. 12.

The town hall will remain available as a warming shelter through Sunday, Jan. 21.

At the moment the National Weather Service is forecasting total accumulations in excess of six inches, accompanied by wind gusts as high as 50 miles per hour. Then, on Saturday, Jan. 13, temperatures will begin falling rapidly, from a high of 32 to a low of 6. Expect single-digit temps through Tuesday, Jan. 16, with overnight lows below zero.

Conditions at the Chesterton town hall are spartan but there are plenty of chairs and restroom facilities. The town hall is located at the northeast corner of Broadway and North Eighth Street. Enter the building, then look for the double doors directly ahead.

Stay warm, Duneland, stay safe. The next week or so looks to be, if not a calamity, at least an ordeal.