Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Gary’s weeklong blackout became a full-blown health emergency

Also check out Craft & Farmer's Market on the Gary Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Saturday August 22nd Patch AM
Saturday August 22nd Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Greetings Gary! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Gary's weeklong blackout became a full-blown health emergency
  • Why the Gary Air Show was canceled and what happens next
  • Fort Wayne volunteers are loading trucks with supplies bound for Gary

Also on today's calendar: Craft & Farmer's Market and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the longest word in the dictionary? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Gary Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Gary Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Gary. Advertisement

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 82 and low of 62 degrees.
  • Sunday: Mostly sunny and less humid, temps: high: 77, low: 56.
  • Monday: Mostly sunny and delightful, with a high of 79 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. 'Electricity Is Health Care Infrastructure Too': Nurse Advocate Raises Alarm Over Gary's Prolonged Power Outage (shinemycrown.com) — Gary residents are facing a prolonged power outage after the August 11 storm, with thousands still without electricity and medically vulnerable neighbors scrambling for oxygen, refrigerated medications, and safe housing. A nurse advocate is urging officials to treat the blackout as a public-health emergency, as Gary schools remain closed, medical facilities struggle, and families describe living in constant "survival mode" while waiting for full restoration.
   

2. SSCVA may lose less money than anticipated on Gary Air Show cancellation (chicagotribune.com) — Gary residents should know this year's Gary Air Show was canceled so the city can focus resources on storm recovery, but organizers say sponsor support may keep financial losses low. SSCVA leaders hope contracts and force majeure clauses will limit costs and are already planning a bigger comeback show with the Thunderbirds next year. Lake County's hotel tax collections also just hit a record, signaling strong regional tourism.
   

3. Fort Wayne groups organize relief efforts for Northwest Indiana storm victims (wane.com) — As Gary continues to recover from severe storms and long power outages, volunteers in Fort Wayne are collecting water, flashlights, fans, diapers, and cash specifically for Gary residents. Donations are being dropped at a local tattoo shop, and organizers plan to drive supplies to Gary on Sunday, asking for truck owners to help get essentials into hard-hit neighborhoods.
   

4. 47 of 56 bodies found at South Chicago Chapel identified: Medical examiner (nbcchicago.com) — Cook County officials have identified 47 of 56 sets of human remains discovered in poor conditions at South Chicago Chapel, and one of the named deceased is 47-year-old Tommie Lee Carter of Gary. Families of 45 victims have been notified as investigators continue unraveling what went wrong at the funeral home, a case that now directly touches at least one Gary family.
   

5. Community Connection - August 21, 2026 - Tina Cosby with Illisha (praiseindy.com) — Thousands of Gary residents are still without power after devastating flooding, and local groups like the Red Cross and the Help in the Heartland campaign are stepping up with relief. A recent Community Connection episode spotlights how neighbors are coping, debates over honoring Black military history, and upcoming fundraisers and state fair events that aim to support scholarships, community programs, and local vendors.
   

📸 Around Gary

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Gary

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Gary Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Friday Flyday
    This morning is cool and fairly clear. The beach is quiet (#1). Thursday's sunset featured clouds that morphed through a variety of colors (#2 - 5,… (Nextdoor Miller Beach)
  • ATTENTION NEIGHBORS‼️WILL BE HERE TIL 6:30 PLEASE DM IF YOUR ON YOUR WAY‼️ IF YOU HAVE A TRUCK AND WANT APPLIANCES STOVE, MICROWAVE, WASHER, DRYER, ALL APPLIANCES WORK!
    DINETTE TABLE 2CHAIRS, ALL ARE GOING TODAY ALSO 3PIECE LIVING ROOM SET, BAR WITH TWO STOOLS SET! 2OTTOMANS, I WILL POST PICS! FIRST COME FIRST SERVE!… (Nextdoor NW Gary)
  • Hersha Hospitality Management posted a job opening for Night Auditor in Merrillville. Apply here.
  • Outback Steakhouse - Bloomin' Brands, Inc. posted a job opening for Assistant Kitchen Manager in Merrillville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gary here.

Ok Gary! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Smiles, because it has a mile between "s". (Thank you Sharon M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Gary