Landscaping in Laporte, CO

LAPORTE COUNTY — The LaPorte County Sheriff's Office says a vehicle crash near Heston took the life of one person Sunday night.

This happened on County Road 1000 N near CR 125 E.

The crash remains under investigation.

Full details were released by the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office:

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a single vehicle fatality crash that occurred Sunday evening, September 25, 2016.

Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to CR 1000 N near CR 125 E at 7:50 PM (CST) and upon arrival found a beige 2006 Mazda had left the roadway and impacted a tree on the south side of CR 1000 N.

The driver of the vehicle was found pinned in the car and was deceased when deputies arrived.

The passenger in the vehicle was also pinned in the vehicle and had to be extricated by firefighters.

The driver was identified as 21-year-old Joseph A. Hixon, Jr. of Michigan City, Indiana.

The passenger was identified as Savannah E. Marquez, age 20 and also from Michigan City, Indiana.

Savannah Marquez was transported to the hospital by La Porte County Emergency Medical Service with non-life threatening injuries.

Deputy Jim Fish, who was investigating the crash, reported that the Mazda, being driven by Joseph A. Hixon, Jr. was traveling east on CR 1000 N at a high rate of speed and after cresting a hill near Beverly Lane the vehicle lost control and left the south side of the roadway striking a tree.

At the time where was a vehicle traveling westbound on CR 1000 N; the occupants of that vehicle witnessed the eastbound Mazda lose control and heard the impact with the tree.

Based on witness statements as well as evidence found at the scene, Deputy Fish determined that the Mazda was traveling at approximately 80 miles per hour just prior to impact; there were approximately 165 feet of skid marks left by the Mazda prior to the impact with the tree. The speed limit in that area is posted at 45 miles per hour.

La Porte County deputy coroner Jessica Hagler pronounced Joseph Hixon dead at the scene; the cause of death was determined to be massive blunt force trauma.

Kankakee Township Firefighters assisted at the crash scene along with the La Porte County Emergency Medical Service and the La Porte County Coroner’s Office.

LAPORTE — An Indiana man has been arrested and charged with stalking and harassing Taylor Swift for several months.

Mitchell Taebel, 36, was booked into the LaPorte County Jail on June 2 on charges of stalking, intimidation, invasion of privacy and harassment, according toLaPorte County Jail records.

Taebel has been accused of sending threatening messages from March to May of this year to Swift, her team and management.

The affidavit from LaPorte Superior Court does not name Swift, but has multiple references to the singer throughout the document. This includes mentioning Swift’s management team, 13 Management; the Eras Tour, which is her current tour; Joe Alwyn, one of her recent boyfriends; and a song off Swift’s latest album.

According to the affidavit, Taebel sent a voice message to Swift through Instagram on March 29 saying “he would happily wear a bomb if he cannot be with his soul mate.”

He later sent messages to those closely related to Swift, including her father and dancers, the affidavit says.

The affidavit says that on May 5, Taebel traveled from Long Beach, Indiana, to Swift’s home in Nashville and was escorted away from the property by security. He then went to Nissan Stadium, where Swift was performing that night.

Before the show, Taebel was placed on a security threat/concern list so he wouldn’t be able to purchase any ticket for the show, the affidavit says. However, he was able to purchase a ticket through a third-party company and entered the stadium. He was recognized by security and was escorted off the site by security and venue personnel, according to the affidavit.

A temporary restraining order, requested by 13 Management’s legal counsel, was granted on May 11 and served to Taebell on May 13.

But the affidavit said Taebel violated the restraining order and continued to send messages to Swift through the month until at least May 18.

A $15,000 bond was set on June 1 for the stalking charge. Online court records indicate his next court appearance will be July 27 at 8:30 a.m.

CNN has reached out to 13 Management, Swift’s team and Taebel for comment.

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FUSION is celebrating 25 years of helping more than 200 homeless families find stability in their lives.

In the fall, FUSION will expand its capacity to serve 20 families at a time by purchasing a 20th transitional housing unit. These fully furnished residences are discreetly tucked away in Federal Way and Northeast Tacoma.

In addition to lifting people out of homelessness, FUSION brings together people from all walks of life. The charity’s annual summer arts festival – scheduled this year for Aug. 1 – not only raises more than $100,000 for homeless families every year, but also forges connections with local artists and like-minded community members.

Peggy LaPorte co-founded FUSION with some friends in her kitchen back in 1993. She marvels at the charity’s longevity, and she consistently credits the loyal volunteers and donors who make it all possible.

Below are highlights from a recent conversation with LaPorte about FUSION’s past, present and future.

When did you realize FUSION was here to stay?

I had no idea that it would be such a strong organization and we would have developed to the degree that we had in the past 25 years. I had no idea we would still be operating as all-volunteer. I give all the credit truly to the volunteers who have been there from the very beginning and have given countless hours of time. They are truly passionate volunteers who care about our mission. Not only that, it’s the amount of support that we have received from this community of people who donate and come out to help us. It’s overwhelming when I look back over the past 25 years to see the number of families that have been served, the growth.

Where do you see FUSION’s direction in the next five years?

We’re always looking at ways to expand and provide for the needs of homeless families. What’s a concern today is that there is not enough emergency housing for homeless families. We want to work on that problem. I believe it’s a group effort. It’s going to take a lot of work, not just with FUSION, but with other non-profits.

Why does art play a prominent role in FUSION’s fundraising efforts?

When FUSION began, we were looking for a unique fundraiser, like a summer garden party on the lawn — something different than what Federal Way had at the time. It was also important to us to recognize artists in our community. They have an opportunity to be highlighted at the event. They can actually share their gifts and help us. It’s a win-win for both of us.

The annual summer arts festival always has a fun theme such as ‘Under the Big Top’ and ‘Give My Regards to Broadway.’ Do you have a favorite after 25 years?

Each one is unique from the other. We keep thinking, ‘how can we improve on the last one,’ and we always do. This year we really want to celebrate 25 years, and we want to celebrate the volunteers who make it possible and the community, we want to thank them. This is a monumental achievement and we want to celebrate all of that.

FUSION is part of Federal Way’s culture. How did it get that way?

FUSION offers an opportunity for people to become involved in many ways so they can share their gifts. There are many ways of giving back and volunteers can get involved in any kind of work such as sharing accounting skills, or working at the boutique and greeting customers, or working on the board of directors, or working on our housing units, furnishing them and cleaning them, collecting furniture. There are so many ways to be a part of it. That has helped to bring in a lot of different people who have different talents and they find a way to share those talents. That’s what helped make our organization successful. It’s truly the volunteers and the community support.

Special to The Tribune

St. Joseph County was not alone in celebrating the news Tuesday morning that General Motors would build its EV battery complex with its partner Samsung SDI on about 650 acres of agricultural land at Larrison Boulevard and Indiana 2 just east of New Carlisle.

Officials in neighboring LaPorte County expecting benefits to the local economy from the plant also seemed happy with the decision.

Matt Reardon of the Center for Economic Development, Planning and Government Affairs for LaPorte County:

Reardon said a percentage of the workforce will almost certainly be from the LaPorte area and that means additional money coming back in wages and county income tax dollars paid on those earnings.

Reardon also said local contractors and subcontractors may be involved in the construction while some of the materials needed for operating the plant could be from local suppliers.

Reardon said he also believes a plant that size will shed light on the opportunities available for similar-sized major companies to locate at nearby Kingsbury Industrial Park, which he said will soon be served by two major rail lines, CSX and Canadian National, once a new rail bridge over Travis Ditch and an additional switch for directing trains in and out of the park are installed.

The LaPorte County Commissioners gave the green light for that work to begin last week, and Rearson said it could be finished before the end of the year.

“Kingsbury is prepared for that level of investment," he said. "We’re ready to go.”

Bert Cook, executive director of the LaPorte Economic Advancement Partnership:

Cook said LaPorte County could gain new housing and residents as plant workers move in to be closer to their jobs.

That could result in population growth, which is a major focus of LaPorte Mayor Tom Dermody, said Cook, pointing to Dermody's goal of increasing the city’s stagnant population from about 22,000 to 30,000 by 2030.

"The growth of the population is something LaPorte has placed a premium on. LaPorte will be able to compete for those opportunities,” Cook said.

Cook also said more new housing also means additional property tax revenue for local governments.

Obviously, Cook said, St. Joseph County is the major winner, primarily because of collecting all of the property taxes generated by such a large facility, but he said there are gains to be expected in the surrounding areas, too.

“Anytime neighboring communities have success like that, I think it has spillover positive effects in all of the other communities that are near, and we are obviously very close," Cook said. "I think there will be some really great impacts created here.”

Manchester City have accepted a bid from Al Nassr for Aymeric Laporte, sources have told ESPN.

The offer, as yet undisclosed, has met City's valuation of the centre-back and he is free to discuss terms with the Saudi Pro League side.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Laporte is with Pep Guardiola's squad in Athens ahead of the Super Cup against Sevilla.

Al Nassr are hoping to make the Spain international their latest big-name signing following the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozovic and Alex Telles.

City have been open to offers for Laporte this summer after the 29-year-old slipped down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium last season. The club have also signed Josko Gvardiol -- another left-footed centre-back -- for €90m this summer, further reducing Laporte's opportunity for regular games.

Guardiola also has John Stones, Rúben Dias, Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji as options in the centre of defence.

Meanwhile, sources have told ESPN that City are still waiting for offers for João Cancelo. The Portugal full-back was not part of the squad for the win over Burnley and will be allowed to leave the club if the right bid comes in.

City have discussed a loan deal with an obligation for a permanent transfer with Barcelona but, according to sources, the Spanish side are yet to make a formal offer.