Fifth-graders competing for first

A youthful look at city government

PORTAGE | Mackenzie Barcelli said she had no idea her hometown was also the hometown to industry that produced everything from bulletproof armor to machines for Build-a-Bear.

Portage High School Youth Government Day

Portage Mayor James Snyder meets with Portage High School seniors Tuesday morning during the annual Youth Government Day. The students were elected by their peers to serve for a day in various city government positions, as mayor, clerk-treasurer, and council members. They met with department…

Student government

Portage Fire Chief Tom Fieffer, left, talks Tuesday morning with Portage Mayor James Snyder and Portage High School senior Morgan Eastridge at Portage City Hall. Morgan and other PHS seniors participated in the annual Youth Government Day to serve as mayor, clerk treasurer, council people, a…

Student government

Portage High School seniors sit in the City Council chambers Tuesday morning as they prepare to spend the day with city department heads during annual Youth Government Day. The students were elected by their peers to serve as mayor, clerk-treasurer, department heads and city council people f…

Portage High School Youth Government Day

Portage High School senior Mackenzie Barcelli talks with Portage 4th District City Councilman John Cannon, center, and Portage Mayor James Snyder Tuesday at Portage City Hall Tuesday morning during the annual Youth Government Day. Cannon had served as mayor in 1986 when he participated in th…

Wizards visit Portage for hoops fundraiser

Portage High students recognized nationally for artwork

PORTAGE | Three Portage High School students were recently recognized for their works of art in the 2013 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Crisman Elementary principal named tops in region

PORTAGE | Crisman Elementary School Principal Scott Hufford doesn't want to take a lot of credit for recently being named the Indiana Association of School Principals District 1 Elementary Principal of the Year.

Portage High School seniors donates $3,000 for upgrades

PORTAGE | The Portage High School class of 2013 will leave a significant imprint on the school as they depart its halls.

PHS JROTC members step up to help one of their own

PORTAGE | Niko Melendez was all smiles when he entered the Portage High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps classroom.

Portage High School to become part of Microsoft academy

PORTAGE | Portage Township Schools will expand its technical offerings at both the high school and middle school levels next year.

PHS JROTC members step up to help one of their own

Niko Melendez, 20, shares a laugh with students in a JROTC class Friday at Portage High School. Melendez is a 2010 graduate of Portage High school. He visited PHS Friday to thank JROTC kids who are helping with two upcoming fundraisers for him to help him buy a lift for his van.

PHS JROTC members step up to help one of their own

Portage High School JROTC members Josh McClellan and Jennifer Leary hold an applause sign above Niko Melendez, 20, a 2010 graduate of Portage High School. He visited the class Friday to thank them for helping him raise money to buy a lift for his van so he can get to school.

PHS JROTC members step up to help one of their own

Niko Melendez, 20, talks to a JROTC class at Portage High School Friday during a return visit. Melendez is a 2010 graduate of Portage High school, spent three years in the JROTC program, and now attends Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso.

PHS JROTC members step up to help one of their own

Niko Melendez, 20, gathers for a group portrait with a JROTC class Friday at Portage High School. He's is a 2010 graduate of Portage High school, spent three years in the JROTC program, and now attends Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso. He has cerebral palsy and is need of a lift for …

Munster, Lake Central high schools ranked top Indiana schools in U.S. News report

Ten Northwest Indiana public high schools received top ratings in the U.S. News and World Report 2013 Best High School rankings released this week.

OFFBEAT: Star Plaza's 'Streetlamp' singer Shonn Wiley ready for Broadway

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Legally Blonde, Portage High School musical

Portage High School's Erin Lichnerowicz plays exercise queen Brooke Wyndham during a dress rehearsal of "Legally Blonde, The Musical!" at PHS auditorium.

'Legally Blonde the Musical' on stage at Portage High School

Erin Lichnerowicz, left, plays exercise queen Brooke Wyndham, who is in jail for allegedly killing her husband. She's talking to Matt Kiley, who plays Harvard Law School teaching assistant Emmett Forrest, while Rachel Stewart, playing Elle Woods, a sorority girl enrolled at Harvard Law Schoo…