Ross Township Trustee - Eric Blackmon

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Pirate Voyage Continuation event has been postponed.

As many of you know, the Town of Merrillville recently experienced a major setback as a result of the devastating tornado that impacted our community. Our thoughts remain with all of the residents, families, and businesses affected by this disaster as recovery efforts continue.

At this time, we are currently without power, making it impossible to safely and effectively proceed with the event as planned.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued support. The safety and well-being of our guests, volunteers, and community members remain our highest priority.

We are working diligently to determine a new date and will share updated information as soon as it becomes available.

Thank you for your understanding as we navigate these challenging circumstances together. Please continue to keep the Town of Merrillville and all those impacted by the tornado in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,
Pirate Voyage Committee

06/12/2026

We have free tarps for roofs and properties at the fire department warehouse located at 18 W. 73rd Ave. Strack and Vantils is also giving away free lunch from 11:00 AM- 5:00 PM.

06/04/2026

PUBLIC DISCLAIMER

We would like to clarify that our organizations along with Jams and Jokes July 4th Taste of Northwest Indiana will no longer host this event.

While we were previously involved in discussions regarding this event, we have mutually decided not to move forward with participation this year. We appreciate the efforts of Jams and Jokes and acknowledge that they have successfully hosted great events in the past; however, Due to reasons beyond our control it has been canceled.

Please note that any questions regarding ticket purchases, vendor fees, sponsorships, refunds, event logistics, or any other event-related matters should be directed exclusively to the event organizers. Our organizations are not responsible for and assume no liability for any transactions, agreements, commitments, or communications associated with this event.

For individuals interested in vendor opportunities for our current event, please contact (219) 769-2111 for additional information.

We appreciate your understanding and continued support of our organizations and community events.

Sincerely,

The Town of Merrillville &
Ross Township Trustee’s Office

06/03/2026

Due to the weather forecast for this Saturday, we want our first ever Pirate Voyage Continuation to be a great experience for all those involved. With that being said, we have made the decision to reschedule the event until next Saturday, June 13, 2026. The time will remain the same, and the event will be held indoors at our event center. We hope this is not an inconvenience for anyone. We look forward to seeing you all next week. Thank you for understanding.

06/02/2026

We are delighted to announce that, with the summer camp now officially commenced, our team will be stationed at Hidden Lake Park, commencing tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, an anticipation of the arrival of our summer camp participants. Please ensure that your child/children arrives by 8:45 AM as the camp will operate from 9 AM to 12 PM. Parents are expected to be present for pick up at 12. Should you have any additional questions, please contact our Ross Township Trustee office at 219-769-2111 or 219-444-9384 for assistance. 

05/23/2026

We are delighted to announce the completion of our first movie in the park series at Hidden Lake Park, showcasing The Mitchell’s versus the Machine. Eric A. Blackmon Sr. , and staff would like to extend their gratitude to all attendees. The weather was ideal and the movie was a success. We were happy to see everyone who came out and enjoyed themselves. Thank you for being a vital part of the Ross Township community. We anticipate your presence at our next showing enjoy your holiday weekend. 

05/22/2026

As we commemorate Memorial Day, our office will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026, in tribute to our fallen soldiers and loved ones. We will resume our normal business hours on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. We wish you a safe and enjoyable weekend and day off.