Christopher Hedges » Gary Indiana

Gary Air Show 2010

Christopher C. Hedges — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:34:05 +0000

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds fly over Portage’s Lakefront Park during the 2010 Gary South Shore Air Show.

Technorati Tags: Air Force, F16, Gary South Shore Air Show, Portage Lakefront Park, Thunderbirds, USAF

8 shot in Gary. Social media breaks story.

Christopher C. Hedges — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:17:25 +0000

Northwest Indiana social media reports about a shooting at a Gary skating rink on Friday beat the traditional news media to the story.

Local Twitter user Gioperation asks the local newspaper about reports that were circulating on Facebook and Twitter that eight children were shot at a Gary, Indiana skating rink about 10 a.m. Saturday morning:

@nwi any truth to the 8 kids shot last night at the Gary skating rink- couldn’t find it in your newspaper online.

A search of the local newspapers in Northwest Indiana and Chicago Breaking News on Saturday morning showed no reports of the Friday evening shooting.

Writes Gioperation about not finding the news of the skating rink shooting this morning:

@Chris_Hedges do you know why there is not reports of the shooting last night at the skate rink in Gary last night- buzzing on FB!

Gioperation in a response to one of my questions said that he had first heard of the Gary skating rink shootings via Facebook:

@Chris_Hedges Here is the one that started it all – http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=361015320488&id=1207179871

About 5 p.m. this evening, the Northwest Indiana Times reports the Gary, Indiana skating rink shooting incident via the Associated Press.

Authorities say eight teenage boys were shot while leaving a Gary skating rink where they were attending a concert.

The AP report about the 8 teens shot at the skating rink originated at the Post-Tribune sometime today:

Gary Police Cpl. Gabrielle King said Saturday “all chaos broke loose” when a fight broke out during the event and security advised attendees to leave Skate World, 4415 W. 5th Ave. in the Commons shopping center.

King said no arrests have been made. …

Police identified the wounded as: Shaquille Hughes, 15, shot in right side; Marcus Ratliff,14, shot in right wrist; Justin Bodley, 16, shot in the leg; Junan Washington, 18, shot in left ankle; DaVonte Biddings, 16, shot once in back; Marquel Croock, 16, shot in stomach; Kesean Philon, 14, shot in left leg; Stephan Danzy, 17, shot in left leg.

Technorati Tags: crime, Facebook, Gary, Indiana, Northwest Indiana, police, social media, Twitter

Gary Church Donates $36.5K for Police Salary

Christopher C. Hedges — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:36:54 +0000

The financial crisis facing Gary, Indiana has inspired Embassies of Christ Church to donate $36,500 to pay for a police officer’s yearly salary, reports the Post-Tribune’s Michelle L. Quinn.

Don’t count Gary, Indiana out just yet when its church-going citizens are willing to chip in money to pay for a police officer’s salary.

Technorati Tags: economy, Embassies of Christ, Gary Indiana, police

Will Gary Indiana Survive Its Economic Crisis?

Christopher C. Hedges — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:52:18 +0000

A government audit raises the question of whether Gary, Indiana will be able to continue operating in light of its financial crisis and current taxation situation. Auditors also found problems with Gary, Indiana’s control of its money, notably credit card purchases weren’t sufficiently documented, reports the Post-Tribune.

From the Post-Tribune report about the 2007 State Board of Accounts audit:

“The amount of budget reductions that would be required for the city to fully implement the current tax legislation raises substantial doubt about the city’s ability to continue as a going concern,” auditors wrote in the report.

The report states that Lake County, Indiana might have to take over government operations if Gary’s fiscal crisis isn’t addressed by the Distressed Unit Board.

Great cities have come and gone throughout history. Is it only a matter of time before Gary, Indiana becomes one of those cities of old that once were?

Technorati Tags: Gary Indiana, Northwest Indiana