Valparaiso’s Department of Public Works reminds residents that grass clippings do not belong in the trash and Public Works employees will not empty trash cans found to contain grass clippings. “Grass would add significantly to the city’s waste stream and add expense for all residents, so we must remind residents of other options for yard waste,” said Matt Evans, Public Works Director. “With a 90% water content, heavy grass clippings are too expensive to landfill—and too valuable to throw away!” he said.
The city offers the following guidelines:

• Never place grass clippings in your garbage or recycling containers.

• Use a mulching mower, or spread grass clippings underneath your shrubs. This replaces moisture and nutrients in your soil. 
  
• For Valparaiso residents who still wish to bag, grass clippings may be brought to Valparaiso Public Works, 406 Don Hovey Drive, Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 4:00 pm and Saturday 7:00 am - 3:00 pm.
  
• For Porter County residents who do not have city garbage service, grass clippings may be taken to the County's Boone Grove compost site only. For hours and directions, call 465-3694 or visit www.itmeanstheworld.org and click on “Compost” under “Services.”

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Eight lottery winners in Illinois were stunned when they went to cash their checks and they bounced. The Illinois Lottery confirms they bounced checks worth nearly ten thousand dollars. The smallest was for 847-dollars won by a Chicago woman -- the largest: more than 25-hundred dollars. That one belonged to Charles Cinquegrani from Norridge. Lotto official Mike Lang says it was human error - an employee forgot to approve the winning funds in time so the Lotto's bank - US Bank - didn't release the money when the checks arrived.  Lang says they're looking to possibly amending their procedures to minimize the likelihood that this could happen again.
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An investigation by an Indianapolis TV station into state bus inspection statistics says the number of school buses failing safety inspections went up 35-percent over the last five years, and that buses transporting students in the Gary and Indianapolis areas had some of the highest percentage of out-of-service orders. An executive with a company which serves the Gary schools tells WTHR-TV they are making plans to do better this year. State law requires each school bus be inspected by Indiana State Police at least once a year.
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Porter Co Sheriff David Lain, Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, and former Pennsylvania governor and former US Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge
Porter County was the latest Region stop.. and the sixth county... on Indiana Lt. Govenror Sue Ellspermann's “Listen and Learn” tour. On Friday, Ellspermann met with government officials from around the county at Valparaiso City Hall, and then with county business leaders at US Steel in Portage in the afternoon, talking about infrastructure issues, maximizing Porter County’s geographic and community engagement advantages, and improving relationships with the state’s Department of Local Government Finance. Following the listening sessions, Ellspermann went to the Porter County Sheriff Department's annual memorial service, which featured keynote address by former Pennsylvania Governor and former US Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge, and visited the Hoosier Bat Company in Valparaiso, meeting owners David and Debbie Cook, who’ve been making major and minor league wooden bats for more than 22 years.

Hoosier Bat Company owner David Cook showing his patented 3-wood bat.
[Photos courtesy Lt. Governor Ellspermann's office]
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Police in Hammond continue to investigate a shooting and crash in the parking lot of the Walmart in the eleven-hundred block of Fifth Avenue on the far north side of the city around 2:30 Sunday afternoon. Authorities say two men were leaving the store when two vehicles approached, and the two men ran to their car, then started shooting at the vehicles before driving off toward Chicago. Police say a parked vehicle was hit by one of the vehicles involved. Police say a store employee was grazed by a bullet, and a second person received minor injuries in the crash.
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Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an off-road vehicle accident that occurred near the 400 block of State Road 2. Officials say a 48-year-old Valparaiso woman was operating her neighbors’ ATV when she struck a fence and became airborne. Officers say she was taken to a local hospital and is being treated for severe back pain.
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Indiana Conservation Officers say a 21-year-old New Buffalo, Michigan, man suffered multiple injuries in a hit-and-run off-road vehicle accident in La Porte County. Authorities say the man was operating his ATV on the roadway around 10:30 Saturday night near 1000 North and 150 East when he was struck by a pickup truck and thrown, then run over by the same vehicle. Officials say he was taken to a South Bend hospital, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Indiana DNR 24-Hour Dispatch Center. Anyone with  regarding this accident is asked to contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources 24-Hour Dispatch Center at 812-837-9536.
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The Lake County Coroners office says they were called out to the 26-hundred block of Lincoln Street in Gary early Saturday, where a 24-year-old East Chicago man was found with a gunshot wound to the head. . Officials say the Dvae Haynes was pronounced dead at the scene, and his death was ruled a homicide. Gary Police and the Lake County Crime Lab are investigating.
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In celebration of May being National Bike Month, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore assembled a team of two-wheeled commuters who volunteered to participate in this year's Federal Bike to Work Challenge. Among them was Nick Simic, a park maintenance crew member, commutes 6 miles a day by bicycle. Last year, 2012, federal employees logged over 5,200 bicycle trips and 65,000 miles in the Challenge, saving the equivalent of over 3,000 gallons of gasoline.
During the first week of the Challenge, the team from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore logged 13 trips, 78 miles, prevented about 76 pounds of carbon from being released into the atmosphere and burned an estimated 4,000 calories. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is accessible via the Calumet, Marquette, Oak Savannah, and Porter Brickyard bicycle trails
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Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has announced the top three telemarketing calls Hoosiers have reported receiving the most. Since January, the Attorney General’s office has received more than 5,100 complaints from consumers who received a telemarketing call from either a live operator or prerecorded message.
“Indiana’s Do Not Call law protects registered numbers from receiving certain telemarketing calls,” Zoeller said. “Unfortunately, illegitimate businesses and scammers skirt the law by trying to deceive consumers with phony sales pitches. That’s why if you are on the Do Not Call list and receive a sales call or text message you can count on it being a scam.”
The next quarterly deadline to block annoying sales calls and text messages is Tuesday, May 21. Consumers can register their residential landline, cell, VOIP or prepaid wireless numbers.
Zoeller said thetelemarketing calls in these categories aim to separate consumers from their money or collect consumers’ personal information.
1. Card Services
More than 920 consumers reported receiving an automated call from a woman, who says her name is Rachel (or Kelly, Courtney, Heather, etc.) from “Cardholder Services,” offering to lower their credit card interest rates. Rachel warns that this “is your final notice,” but Zoeller says Hoosiers should just hang-up on Rachel and her sisters. If you follow through with the prompts, you will be connected with a representative who will collect an upfront payment from you without any intention of providing services or a refund.
2. Home Security
Since January, more than 370 complaints have been filed about an automated call which mentions an FBI report on the number of home break-ins and offers a “free” home security system. These telemarketers have no relationship with federal law enforcement agencies. The caller will take your information and sell it to a home security company that may charge up to $45 per month for monitoring services.
3. Prize/Sweepstakes Scams
So far this year, more than 110 consumers have received calls from a live operator that says “You have won $2 million from Publisher’s Clearinghouse. All you need to do is transfer $250 for fees and taxes via Moneygram, Western Union or GreenDot money card…”  This is a scam designed to separate you from your money. Once you wire money, it’s like using cash and it’s nearly impossible to get back.   
In Indiana, most robocalls are illegal regardless of whether or not a consumer’s number is registered on the Do Not Call list. Exceptions include calls from school districts to students, parents or employees and businesses advising employees of work schedules. It is also legal if a live phone operator first obtains your permission before playing a pre-recorded message.
Zoeller said consumer complaints help the Attorney General’s office bring enforcement actions against violators and stop unwanted calls. Since 2009, the office has obtained 57 settlements or judgments against companies that violated Indiana’s telephone privacy laws. The total awarded to the state has been more than $4.9 million and the total collected is more than $791,800. Zoeller said this money collected is used to defray the cost of enforcing the state’s telephone privacy laws.
Individuals do not need to re-register for the Do Not Call list unless their address has changed. To sign up or to confirm a number is already on the list, visit www.IndianaConsumer.com or call 1.888.834.9969.
Out-of-state area codes can also be added as long as the billing address is located in Indiana. Those consumers who are registered and receive an unwanted call can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com and clicking on “file a complaint.”
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