Storm Cleanup Winds Down + Free Homework Help + 3 Titans Teams Play for State

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👻 Have you seen the Highland Halloween Guide only a few days left… wait there are also a couple of events for after Halloween too….

Check back next Thursday for the winner.

Last week’s winner: TIE between home-brewed pot of drip coffee and an iced coffee or energy drink regardless of the weather.

(Missed it? Check out last Thursday’s Throwdown here)

Highland’s massive cleanup from the Aug. 11 storm is entering its final stretch.

Looks Great Services has completed its debris pickup, while the Town of Highland is continuing branch-pile pickup through Friday, Oct. 30. At the Oct. 26 Town Council meeting, officials reported that crews collected 140,262 cubic yards of downed trees and debris over 57 work days. Another 40,932 cubic yards of wood chips were hauled to a recycling center.

Stump grinding is still underway, with about 150 of 677 stumps completed so far.

The town is also replacing concrete damaged by the storm, and that work is already underway. Residents with affected areas have been asked to move vehicles away from the curb so contractors have room to work.

The tougher question is what happens to parkways torn up during tree and stump removal.

Town officials said FEMA will not reimburse Highland for stump grinding or restoring damaged parkways, and Public Works Director Mark Knesek said his department does not currently have the staff or funding to take on parkway restoration as leaf season begins.

For now, homeowners may need to fill and reseed damaged parkways themselves. Council members discussed possible ways the town could help, including purchasing black dirt in bulk for residents to pick up, and expect to revisit the issue at a study session.

Storm-related costs have already climbed well above $4 million. Highland expects FEMA to reimburse 75% of eligible costs, with the town preparing its first reimbursement request.

Meanwhile, GoServ Global, the volunteer disaster-relief organization that has helped more than 250 Highland households, is wrapping up its local deployment Friday, Oct. 30. The group’s documented volunteer hours can also help offset part of Highland’s share of eligible storm-recovery costs.

For residents still looking at a torn-up parkway months after the storm, the cleanup may be winding down - but the restoration question is not settled yet.

Stuck on homework? Help is just a click away.

The Lake County Public Library offers free online tutoring through Tutor.com, with live help available from 4 to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Students can connect with a real tutor from home for help with homework, writing papers, studying for tests and more. It works on computers and mobile devices.

Access is available through the library using an LCPL library card or eligible eLibrary Card.

Get started at Tutor.com/LCPLIN.

We’re getting ready to build the official 2026 Best of Highland Food & Drinks ballot, but first we need your nominations.

Who has Highland’s best pizza? Wings? Breakfast? Burgers? Coffee? Sandwiches? Soup? And all the other local favorites worth recognizing?

Nominations close Sunday, Nov. 1.

You don’t have to nominate someone in every category. Add the Highland restaurants and food businesses you think deserve a spot, then we’ll use the nominations to build the ballot.

🗳️ Official voting opens Nov. 10 and runs through Nov. 30.

Highland Pop Warner will have three teams playing for State Championships this weekend at the Crown Point Sport Plex.

The 9U Titans get things started Saturday, Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. on Field A against Michigan City.

Then on Sunday, Nov. 1, the 8U Titans face Hanover Central at 9 a.m. on Field B, followed by the 12U Titans against Hammond at 2 p.m. on Field A.

The 8U team enters the championship after winning its semifinal matchup last weekend and keeping its undefeated season alive. The 9U and 12U teams had already secured their spots in their championship games earlier in the postseason.

Highland Pop Warner is encouraging fans to fill the sidelines in blue and gold as all three teams try to bring State titles home to Highland.

📍 Crown Point Sport Plex