Top 10 Feature articles on Portage.Life in 2025 

Throughout the year, we sat down with cancer survivors, military veterans, community change-makers, enthusiastic high schoolers, and more. The residents of Portage make the most powerful impact on the community, and being able to sit down and listen to their stories puts that power on full display.

It’s special moments like these that we are particularly proud to share on the GreatNews.Life sites, including Life in the Spotlight, Survivor Series, Veteran Spotlight, Leadership Life, City in the Spotlight, Student Voices, and more.

In no particular order, here are the top 10 feature articles on Portage.Life to recap the good news in 2025!

City in the Spotlight: Portage

A hub of activity thanks to its central location between several major metropolitan areas like Chicago, a strong industrial and business scene, and immediate access to the Ports of Indiana, the City of Portage attracts people and ideas from all over the Region. The melting pot of America burns strongly in Portage, and that diversity means that no two visits to the city are ever the same.

GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Portage welcomes the season with a Winter Formal

As 2025 starts, the new year greets Hoosiers with freezing January weather. While that should be expected from this area, the problems the cold weather causes don’t get old. Cars at risk of failures, limited hot water, and frozen hair are all the trademarks of winter in Northwest Indiana. 

However, there are still some positives about the weather. While the waves of storms hit the area, there is no better time to take advantage of the abundance of snow and have fun in it. 

Celebrating 12 Years at GreatNews.Life: A year of connections, growth, and gratitude

The start of 2025 has been a whirlwind of excitement, connections, and incredible moments that have reinforced why I love what I do. From inspiring interviews to community events, professional growth, and personal challenges, this year has already been filled with meaningful experiences. As I celebrate 12 years with GreatNews.Life, I can’t help but reflect on the journey that has brought me here and the amazing people who continue to shape my path.

Survivor Series: Phoenix Bridegroom

19-year old Phoenix Bridegroom will be starting her freshman year at Ball State University this upcoming fall, but school is something she didn’t always have the opportunity to attend regularly. As a child, she battled leukemia multiple times and, as a result, was not always able to go to school.

Bridegroom was first diagnosed with leukemia around the age of 5.

A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Tammie Cain

Tammie Cain is the owner of Tammie’s Dog Services and Training, a training, daycare, boarding and grooming facility proudly serving the Portage community. It was the adoption of a pit bull mix about a decade ago that sparked Mrs. Cain her business. 

“When we adopted a pit-bull mix in 2015, I wanted to become very educated on the breed,” Cain said. “Then, we wanted to become foster dog parents. Our first foster American Staffordshire came with lifetime free training and that’s when I reached out to a trainer who helped us learn more about the breed and be more educated on how to work with dogs.

Mayor Musings: Big city success, small town feel

It has been interesting for me to realize how many people in Portage don’t know how big Portage is and has been for years. Portage is 25.55 square miles and our city’s population is 38,513.

To make some comparisons, Valparaiso is 16.39 square miles and has 34,627 people. Michigan City is 20.41 square miles and has 31,659 people. Crown Point is 17.93 square miles and has 34.884 people.

A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Emily Kozina

Emily Kozina discovered her passion for social media in college at Purdue University Northwest while working with the school’s new students in a program called New Student Orientation. In that program, she would take new students on tours of campus as part of the orientation. She was approached by the head of the program to oversee social media for New Student Orientation.

A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Mathew McKee

Mathew McKee has built a comprehensive career in education. Prior to serving as principal of Central Elementary School, one of the several elementary schools in Portage Township School District, he served in both principal and assistant principal capacities, tutored, taught, and even drove school buses.

These diverse experiences within education have only bolstered his leadership skills because he understands the nature of different roles within education by serving first-hand in them. 

A Portage Life in the Spotlight: April Shoppa

April Shoppa has close to three decades of diverse teaching experience under her belt. She has taught several grades and multiple subjects from kindergarten to fifth grade.

“I’m in my 27th year of teaching in my career,” Shoppa said. “I have taught 19 years in kindergarten, and I’m currently in my fourth year of elementary physical education.”

A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Doug Sheehy

There’s a good feeling you get about being around and talking to certain people. That’s the overwhelming feeling you get when you talk to Doug Sheehy as he’s committed to his work with the church.

Sheehy is a 55-year-old book writing, rock and roll guitar playing, unconventional pastor who has committed his life to spreading the word about the teachings and promises of Jesus Christ.