Northern Indiana is full of people working hard every day to make their communities a better place. Since 2011, GreatNews.Life has been putting the spotlight on the people spreading this positivity in the Region with our Life in the Spotlight series. New articles are published every Wednesday, so be sure to check back often to learn more about the stories of great people doing great things in Northern Indiana.
John and Tara Piontek own JT’s Route 6 Eatery, located on US Highway 6 in Portage. Made with fresh and pure ingredients, the couple continues to roll out new dishes inspired by the community’s appetite and their own. John is originally from Portage, and …
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Jasmine Walker’s story is a testament to the power of community and a strong example of everyone’s ability to overcome adversity. Walker grew up in the Michigan City area and endured a troubled upbringing in the foster care system. It was the only home …
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Each day, clinical lead registered nurse Amber Kieklak finds herself balancing a wide array of tasks at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Between managing workflow, scheduling nurses, ensuring patient safety and comfort, overseeing patient …
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Emily Troxel, All-Star director at Indiana Ultimate in Elkhart, has been cheering since she was around 5 years old. Inspired by her mother’s coaching, Troxel found herself involved in the sport at a young age. She believes her first outing as a baby was to …
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Growing up, Ronnie Widtmann always knew what she wanted to do for a living. She was constantly playing with her friends’ hair, always trying to learn about new styles and trends, and dreamed of one day owning her own salon. Now, her dream has come true …
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Kristin “Kris” Bailey is truly a person with a servant heart. To attempt to sum up the level of care and love Bailey has for her family, friends, community, and her volunteer work is almost impossible. She is always giving to others, even in her …
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When it comes to her role as a nurse practitioner, Brianne Steffan finds much of her joy comes from the opportunities the job provides for both connection with others and work-life balance. From a young age, Steffan has maximized her time management skills …
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“I just start talking, and people tell me, ‘Oh my gosh, I can just see how passionate you are about the food pantry,” said Lou Ann Hazen, executive director of the Mishawaka Food Pantry. “I don’t really think about it, but when I talk about it, I …
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While Christopher “Chris” Harmon has stage four kidney cancer, he’s not letting it get in the way of giving back to others. He has volunteered in many capacities both before and after his diagnosis. A carpenter by trade, he is currently volunteering …
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Brandon Gadacz is the president of the Valpo Americans Baseball League. In his role, he has had the pleasure of overseeing operations within the league, and has also seen the countless hours of work from devoted volunteers. Gadacz grew up in New Carlisle and …
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