HOBART

Two teens accused of four recent car break-ins

Police Officer Simon Gresser has arrested two teens believed to have earlier broken into four cars, police Lt. Steve Houck said.

The items taken from the cars was valued at approximately $500, Houck said.

The Hobart teens, one 13 and another 15, will be charged with theft through Lake County Juvenile Court, Houck said.

He said Gresser was on patrol shortly after 1 a.m. at 37th Avenue near the Family Dollar Store when he observed one of the two juveniles counting change.

Police then apprehended the two juveniles and found in their possession several of the items reported taken including a CD player, an MP3, a GPS unit and change.

The cars reported broken into included those in the 1000 block of West 39th Place, the 100 block of Walnut Street, the 400 block of North Guyer Street and the 100 block of North Wilson Street, he said.

EAST CHICAGO

Fake service workers enter senior's home

A pair of fake service workers entered a senior citizen's Indiana Harbor home Thursday, making off with some jewelry, police said.

The 90-year-old resident said shortly before 11 a.m. a man came to her door in the 4200 block of Fir Street and told her he was with the cable company.

He walked right into her home while talking, the woman said, and directed her to the back of her house supposedly to show her a bush on the property that needed to be removed.

The resident said she then noticed a second man in the bedroom area of her home and ordered both men to leave, which they did.

After they were gone, the resident noticed that dressers in two bedrooms had been opened, and five costume jewelry rings worth around $40 were missing.

Close to 60 incidents have been reported in the Calumet Region since December of men using a variety of excuses to get inside the homes of senior citizens, where they distract the resident while an accomplice steals cash and other valuables.

Police recommend that residents call 911 immediately if someone they don't know or aren't expecting comes to their door.

EAST CHICAGO

Pair of armed robberies Thursday may be related

Police are investigating a pair of Thursday armed robberies in Indiana Harbor as possibly committed by the same two men.

A resident told police he was walking at 3:15 p.m. in the 3900 block of Main Street with his girlfriend and another friend when he was pulled into a gangway by two men, one of whom put a revolver to his head.

The robbers took his cell phone, credit cards and cash as well as a bag containing personal care products the man had just purchased at a nearby discount store, before running off.

Three hours later, two residents told police they were unloading groceries from their car at 6:30 p.m. in the 3800 block of Ontario Court when two men approached, one of them pointing a pistol.

One assailant took the man's wallet as the other pushed the woman down while grabbing her purse, the residents said.

A neighbor pulled up in his car during the attack, and told police that when he got out to help, the man with the gun fired a shot at him, which missed, before both men ran off.

The suspects in both cases were described as black males, around 5 feet, 9 inches tall, one weighing approximately 150 pounds, the other around 190 pounds.

Anyone with information about the robberies can call the anonymous police tip line at (219) 391-8500.

EAST CHICAGO

Plan Commission meets in workshop 2 p.m. Nov. 3

The East Chicago Plan Commission meets in a workshop session at 2 p.m. Nov. 3 in the council chambers at City Hall, 4525 Indianapolis Blvd.

HIGHLAND

Local K of C wins award of distinction for '07-'08

The Highland Knights of Columbus Council 8080 has earned the distinction of Star Council, one of the organization's top awards, for the 2007-08 fraternal year.

The award recognizes the overall excellence in the areas of membership recruitment and retention, promotion of the fraternal insurance program, and sponsorship of service-oriented activities.

The award was presented to the membership by State Deputy Steve Ziemba at a special ceremony held Sept. 23.

HIGHLAND

Lincoln Center offers Women's Wellness Expo

The Highland Parks and Recreation Department hosts a Women's Wellness Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln Center, 2450 Lincoln St.

It offers sessions on fitness, nutrition, skincare and women's health. Admission is free. Door prizes will be offered.

For more information, call (219) 838-0114.

WHITING

School Board meets in regular, closed session

The Whiting School Board meets in regular session Monday and has executive meetings scheduled before and after that 6:30 p.m. meeting.

The executive sessions are at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. All meetings are in the administration building, 1500 Center St.

WHITING

Meeting rescheduled because of Election Day

The Whiting City Council has rescheduled its regular meeting from Nov. 4 to Nov. 5 because of Election Day.

The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Whiting City Hall, 14432-119th St.

GARY

Schools launch new effort to improve scores

The Gary Community School Corp. completed the 2007-08 school year having made improvements in the areas of English/Language Arts and mathematics, school officials said.

In a statement, Superintendent Mary Steele-Agee said it will be important that students, parents and community leaders support the Gary schools' new initiative.

Cordia Moore, executive director of Elementary and Secondary Studies, said the new initiative supports the district's five-year strategic plan and keeps the students' best interest at the forefront.

Some of the initiatives topping the list include the elimination of social promotion, immediate instructional intervention for students having difficulty demonstrating mastery of skills, double dose classes offered at the middle school level during the day in the critical areas of reading and math and on-time graduation for incoming freshmen.