Life in the Spotlight

When she was in fifth grade, Julie Whitten realized what she wanted to do with the rest of her life since she had never really enjoyed going to school until that year. Whitten instantly clicked with her teacher and realized that she wanted to have...

Even before he started to work there, Ryan McCoy was already living in the Port of Portage. He worked for another company that was based out of the Port, so he knew the ins and outs of the area. As the years progressed, McCoy was promoted to the Port...

Since high school, Alyssa Melendez has been interested in salon work. Having started her career as a receptionist, Melendez took a break from the salon but ultimately gravitated back to it. “I started at a salon in Portage, Indiana called Center of...

With all the moving parts of the police system, it is important to have someone in charge to make sure everything is running smoothly. It is even more essential that the person placed in this role is determined, responsible, and fit to be a leader....

Following a dream is never an easy feat. It takes commitment and a lot of hard work to get exactly where you want to be. Jamie Hawkins knows this experience all too well. He is a professional tattoo artist and owner of Jamie’s Custom Tattoos. While...

Connecting with students is one of the most important parts of being a successful teacher. That is why this is the main goal of Allison Tunstall, a first-year English teacher at Portage High School. She taught in different capacities for four years...

Dyan Leto is truly rooted in nature. As the City of Portage Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Leto spends most of her day immersed in all-things parks, but outside of that, Leto still finds herself spending time at one of Portage’s many parks....

Tabitha Bowe has always known that she wanted to work with and be surrounded by children. For as long as she can remember, children have been a love of hers, and now, she makes that love her job. Bowe runs a program called Drop and Go out of the...

Since she can remember, Deena Schriks has been a “people person.” Schriks enjoys working with people, being able to lighten up their day and put a smile on their face. After 18 years in a previous guest services position, Schriks was hired as the...

There are so many beautiful things about the Region–the Dunes, the lake, the trails–but perhaps what’s even more beautiful are the connections being formed between one another every single day. Jerry Czarnecki may be a new face in Northwest...