A project sign announcing the coming I-65 and 109th St. interchange project that will open up a new entrance from the interstate to Crown Point, Winfield, Lake of the Four Seasons, and Porter County.

I-65 bridge passing over 109th St. with the Crown Point water tower in the background near 113th.

Looking east toward the I-65 bridge on 109th St.  A horse stable is on the left and a church is on the right.

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Technorati Tags: 109th St, Crown Point, economic development, I-65, Lake County, transportation

Will the Republicans take over the Lake Co. Commissioners’ offices?

Opines Rich James:

There’s heavy-duty talk that Thomas McDermott might file in the 2nd District, where Democrat Gerry Scheub is the incumbent. And there is equal hype about Duane Dedelow running in the 3rd District and likely facing incumbent Frances DuPey in November. She filed on Wednesday, even though she has been saying for three years that she wasn’t running again.

It’s in the 2nd District, that encompasses south county, where things are most contentious. …

Tom Sr. is smooth. No one knows that better than Tom Jr., who knows his dad can win. Tom Sr., you may recall, walked into Hammond 25 years ago and started knocking on doors. A year later, he stunned the city’s well-entrenched Democrats and became mayor. …

Dedelow filled out the last three years of Tom Sr.’s term, then won two of his own in what today remains a Democratic city.

If the Lake County Council keeps pushing the Lake Co. income tax idea, it might propel the GOP back into power in south Lake districts.

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Technorati Tags: Duane Dedelow, Frances DuPey, Gerry Scheub, GOP, Lake County Commissioners, Thomas McDermott

The two law enforcement agencies haven’t decided which will be in charge of the investigation, according to Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter.  It could also mean the Lake County Commissioners select other printers.

Lake County officials are investigating whether two bidders for government printing contracts illegally joined forces in an effort to freeze out a third company vying for the work.

County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said Thursday he had been notified of allegations that Hammond printing companies A-1 Union Graphics and Sheffield Press Printers & Lithographers had colluded in their bids for 2007 contracts.

“Right now the information we have is incomplete,” Carter said. “The situation definitely deserves further investigation. We have been in contact with the Attorney General’s Office to determine which agency will proceed with that investigation.”

Officials from A-1 and Sheffield could face civil or criminal charges if it is determined they violated Lake County’s non-collusion agreement, Carter said.

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Technorati Tags: investigation, Lake County

Before voting to veto the income tax Dec. 19, (Commissioners Gerry) Scheub and (Fran) DuPey said they were embarrassed to be Democrats because the Democratic-controlled County Council had not allowed residents to voice their opinions on the tax proposal.

Scheub threatened to leave the Democratic Party if the council did not allow testimony before Friday’s vote to override the veto.

“I just hope there are a thousand people there Friday,” Scheub said after learning testimony would be allowed.

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Technorati Tags: COIT, Fran DuPey, Gerry Scheub, Lake County Commissioners, Lake County Council, Lake County income tax, politics