Life in the Spotlight

Born and raised in the city of La Porte, Regina Smelser continues to be active in her community through her work with Alzheimer's. After leaving home to attend college at Ball State University, Smelser returned to her hometown where she met and...

On January 1st, 2012 at the age of 28, La Porte native Blair Milo was sworn in as one of the town's youngest mayors and only its second-ever female mayor. In August of that year, she stopped by Ideas in Motion Media to tell us how life in office was...

Born and raised in Michigan City, Indiana, Mick Pawlik has always been a dedicated man. Dedicated to his wife of 34 years, Patti, their two children, Kristen and Donnie, and his two grandchildren, Landen and Laney, as well as being dedicated his...

Monica Komasinski has come full circle. She is giving back in great lengths to the community that once gave so much to her. La Porte County gave her strength, spirit, and roots, and she has given La Porte County service, leadership, and family. She...

Ryan Bolger is an artist- it is in his soul, it is how he lives his life, and it is his entire being. He speaks about his art with a passion that is absent in many people. La Porte County and the whole of Northwest Indiana has been fortunate enough...

Ingrid Voelker is a rarity in today’s world. She is a woman with a true spirit of service that avoids instant gratification. She can be a “lightning bolt” that gets the job done with tenacity and razor sharp instincts, or she can be a soul...

Karen Schmid has combined a broad perspective with a personal touch that has taken Purdue University North Central to new levels of student enrollment, rigor, and academics. She tapped into the institution’s potential and since then has been making...

Vera Jones is a problem solver. She saw a lack of intellectual stimulation and “green” initiatives at Krueger Middle School. She answered by combining her passion for education and the environment and restructured the way kids are taught through...

La Porte is used to seeing the Tonagels lead the Slicers to success on the basketball court, but Ben Tonagel has traded that role in for a new one—LPHS principal. Tonagel is in his first year as principal after spending three years at the helm of...

Andrew Tallackson- survivor, writer, producer, pianist, editor, and most importantly father. He wears many hats; each one with skill and finesse. Tallackson can serve as inspiration to us all as he handles any hardship with an inextinguishable...