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Clintonville track and field joins the podcast as the Team of the Week. Athletes include (L to R) Allysin Booth, Riley Hauser, Jason Bilek and Taylor Young.

The show must go on

By Erik Buchinger

New London wrestler Maddie Ruckdashel: 1:52

Team of the Week – Clintonville track & field: 9:23

Hortonville Teacher Power Rankings: 16:00

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or SoundCloud.

Music was downloaded from Accelerated Ideas and Audionautix.

Sponsors: Klein Automotive, Nicolet Coffee, New London Press Star, Clintonville Tribune-Gazette

The post Prep Sports Weekly Replay podcast appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Q&A with head coach Melinda Hull

By Erik Buchinger

Number of years as head coach: First.

Returning varsity athletes: Elise Sturgill (11), Erin O’Connell (12), Lauren Winkler (10), Kate Christian (11), Bree Barrington (12), Camry Bigalke (12), Coral Bricco (12).

Athletes to watch: Elise Sturgill (11), Erin O’Connell (12), Lauren Winkler (10), Kate Christian (11), Bree Barrington (12), Camry Bigalke (12), Tess Ruckdashel (10), Lauren Stroesenreuther (10).

Team goals/expectations: Our team goal is to be a top team in the conference. One game at a time.

Team’s strengths: Team chemistry and experience.

Team’s weaknesses: We have a lot of athletes that can play multiple positions, which is great, but when it comes to filling specific positions, they need to get comfy playing that one position. And learning everything they need to know and what to do in specific situations.

Team(s) to beat in conference: Seymour, West De Pere and Shawano.

Biggest games on the schedule: Well we have an awesome non-conference schedule. It is very tough especially in the beginning of the season. Some of these teams we don’t see at all because they are in different divisions or other teams we wouldn’t see till tournament time. But it’s nice to have good tough schedule because then the girls know the expectations and level we have to perform at.

What you want your athletes to get out of this season: I want my athletes for this season to go out every game like it is there last. There are two things in life that you can control, and that is your effort and attitude. Every game I want them to give 110 percent effort and have a great attitude. Go out, play the game, work together as a team and have fun.

Why fans should be excited for this year’s team: We have a great group of student athletes this season. A lot of returning players that have knowledge of the game and lots of softball experience. They have been playing together since they have been little. They are constantly laughing and having a great time. They make coaching and being around them on a daily basis an amazing experience. Someone on the team is always able to put on smile on my face.

The post New London softball preview appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Q&A with head coach Nick Firari

By Erik Buchinger

Number of years as head coach: First.

Returning varsity athletes: Jarrett Colla (12), Jack Goerlinger (12), Dylan Reissman (10), Cameron Zeinert (10).

Team goals/expectations: Our expectations are to go out and compete each meet. We’ve talked a lot about maintaining mental focus and discipline each round we play. If we do that, I expect the guys to grind each round, not give away shots, and that will put them in position to excel.

Team’s strengths: We have four returning starters from last year that I expect to help lead this team. We have a lot of underclassmen on this team, and I expect our returning starters to provide an example that our new guys can follow.

Team’s weaknesses: The lack of experience some of our new golfers do not have playing golf at a competitive level. I don’t see it as a weakness though, but as an opportunity to grow. I look forward to seeing the growth in all our players as they gain that experience.

What you want your athletes to get out of this season: I want this team to build their mental stamina, compete on every shot, play with integrity and enjoy their time this season with their teammates. If we do those things, the season will be a success.

The post Clintonville boys’ golf preview appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Q&A with head coach Paul Everett

By Erik Buchinger

Number of years as head coach: 10th.

Returning varsity athletes: Lauren Mertz (12), Brenna Welch (11), Halli Schnneiderwendt (10), Sophie Vicchiolo (10), Sarabeth Trzeciak (12), Mariah Maas (11), Maggie Tews (12), Calli Schiebe (10), Sydney Herman (12), Mady Pahl (12), McKenna Gervais (10), Makayla Mashlan (10).

Athletes to watch: All players on the varsity squad are players to watch. Additional varsity players: Jenna Bovee (9), Abigail Gaulin (9), Reilly Frazier (9), Megan Ongemac (12), Madison Heuttl (11), Amelia Linder (9),Elayna Lippert (10).

Team goals/expectations: Team goals for the season are to improve on last season and to continue enjoying the sport. Expectations are to always do our best.

Team’s strengths: Team strengths are we have a young squad whose willingness to work hard and learn is very strong.

Team(s) to beat in conference: With the FVA being a tough conference, all teams are the teams to try and beat.

Biggest games on the schedule: All teams in the FVA are big games. Also, New London is our local rivals.

What you want your athletes to get out of this season: I want the team to come away from the season enjoying their success from playing the best they can in every game. It’s not all about wins but playing to your potential.

Why fans should be excited for this year’s team: Our fans are always excited to see our team play. The team is working hard but having fun at the same time.

The post Hortonville girls’ soccer preview appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Waupaca County sheriff’s report April 9

• April 8 – Caller from 300 block of High Street, Clintonville, reported his truck was damaged. He said someone gave him a ride home the previous night, and he had no idea what happened to his truck.

• April 8 – New London caller reported his adult daughter was suicidal and had been calling relatives to give away her children.

• April 8 – Waupaca caller reported her husband may be suicidal. He left home on foot and she wants him to return because she is home alone and pregnant.

• April 8 – Caller from the 400 block of Jefferson Street, Waupaca, reported she loaned her ex-boyfriend $50. When he told her he did not have the money to pay her back the next day, he threatened to make her disappear.

• April 8 – Caller from the 1300 block of Dexter Road, New London, reported a man was in the middle of the road with an open intoxicant, trying to start fights.

• April 8 – New London caller reported finding drugs in the bedroom of her 18-year-old son who had been hospitalized for attempting suicide. He was out with friends and police arrived. Later, the same woman called 911 and reported her son was angry because the police had taken his drugs.

• April 7 – Caller from the E9300 block of Church Road, New London, reported a 15-year-old boy ran away.

• April 7 – Caller from the N2600 block of Woodland Drive, Waupaca, reported a mailbox was smashed and the post found under a neighbor’s car.

• April 7 – Caller from the E3200 block of Casey Road, Waupaca, reported a smashed mailbox.

• April 7 – Caller from the E3300 block of Casey Road, Waupaca, reported someone hit their mailbox with a baseball bat.

• April 7 – An ambulance was called to Gill’s Landing outside of Weyauwega in response to a person who fell into the Wolf River and needed treatment for hypothermia.

• April 7 – ThedaCare-New London reported someone broke into 12 lockers.

• April 7 – Caller from the 200 block of East Cook Street, New London, reported her 20-year-old son was outside, kicking at her door and trying to get into her house.

• April 7 – Caller from the 500 block of Partridge Drive, New London, reported her ex-son-in-law stole her phone.

• April 7 – Top Value Inn, North Shawano Street, New London, reported a homeless, intoxicated man came to the hotel and would not leave.

• April 7 – Caller from 1100 block of Division Street, New London, reported a man and a woman in their late 20s exited a gold van and tried to break into a nearby building. As they left, they yelled obscenities at some girls playing nearby.

• April 6 – Caller from E2300 block of Julie Lane, Waupaca, reported the theft of some deer mounts.

• April 6 – Kwik Trip, West Fulton Street, Waupaca, reported a $42 gas drive-off.

• April 6 – Caller from the N2500 block of Zastrow Road, Waupaca, reported two women were harassing him.

• April 6 – Goodwill store in Waupaca reported a former team member threatened to shoot up the place after he was dropped from the team.

• April 6 – Caller from 100 block of Sumner Street, Weyauwega, reported a package with $200 in merchandise had been stolen from her porch.

• April 6 – An 83-year-old resident of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King reported the theft of $80.

• April 6 – Caller from the 100 block of North Main Street, Waupaca, reported a man sleeping in the stairwell.

• April 6 – Caller from the the 200 block of East Union Street, Waupaca, reported he had not slept in several days because there were bed bugs in his apartment.

• April 5 – Caller from the N2700 block of High Street, Waupaca, reported he had been hospitalized for more than a month and when he returned home, he discovered someone had broken into his safe and stolen cash and a checkbook.

• April 4 – Caller from the 400 block of Scott Street, Waupaca, reported a 7-year-old boy at her door who said his parents went to the store and never came back.

• April 4 – A black winter coat was reported stolen from the Waupaca Recreation Center.

• April 3 – Caller from the 700 block of East Beacon Street, New London, reported someone was beating on her door and playing with the door knob. She was in the bathroom with the door locked.

• April 3 – Kwik Trip, West Fulton Street, Waupaca, reported a $100 counterfeit bill.

• April 3 – Caller from the N6800 block of Hoyord Road, Scandinavia, reported an iPad was stolen from an unlocked car.

• April 3 – Caller from the 1300 block of Stone Ridge Drive, Waupaca, reported coming home for lunch and finding a man in his apartment on the couch and refusing to leave.

• April 3 – Banjos Bar, West Fulton Street, Waupaca, reported an intoxicated man was passed out in the alley.

Traffic
• Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash shortly after 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 7, on State Highway 22 in Dayton.

Lucile Peterson, 87, Waupaca, was stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of County Trunk QQ and State 22 when she pulled out and broadsided a vehicle driven by Dylan S. Nyman, 26, Waupaca.

Nyman was northbound on State 22 when the accident occurred.

Both drivers were transported via ambulance to ThedaCare-Waupaca.

The post Calling 911 appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Richard Adam Zehfus, Columbus, age 91, passed away on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at the Columbus Community Hospital.

He was born on November 7, 1926 to Adam and Lena (Mueller) Zehfus in Janesville. Richard attended Spencer College in Milwaukee. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Richard was married to Joan Reines on October 15, 1949 in Reedsburg. Richard was an accountant at Wolf River Sausage Company for many years and later worked for a Portage automobile dealership. He was an avid Packer fan and a legacy season ticket holder for 40 years. Richard enjoyed fishing, deep sea fishing with his grandson, his pipe, beer and cruising the lake on his houseboat.

Richard is survived by one son Steven (Debbie) Zehfus of Benton Harbor, MI; one daughter Mary (Mark) Oestreich of El Cajon CA; seven grandchildren: Adam, Carrie, Joshua, Trevor, Kristin, Tyler and Kira; seven great-grandchildren; one brother John Zehfus of Sheboygan. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joan in 1991, son Rodger in 1997 and a grandson Walter Oestreich in 1998.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, with visitation starting at 11:00 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbus. Rev. Dietrich Gruen will officiate. Full military honors will follow. Inurnment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Weyauwega. The Jensen Funeral & Cremation, Columbus is serving the family. jensenfuneralandcremation.com

The post Zehfus, Richard Adam appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Joyce M. Hitzke, age 80 of Clintonville, passed away April 9, 2018 in Clintonville.

The post Hitzke, Joyce M. appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Barbara G. Spiegel, age 68, of Tigerton passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2018 in Appleton.

The post Spiegel, Barbara G. appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Dock built specifically for handicapped

By Holly Neumann

One more project is now complete at Manawa Area Veterans Freedom Park, thanks to Shadows on the Wolf’s donation of a fishing pier.

“When John Smith approached us last summer about this, it wasn’t even a question,” said Kevin Conradt, president of Shadows of the Wolf. “When it comes to a veterans memorial, we donate. When it comes to a handicapped pier, we will build it and donate it to you.”

According to Conradt, a significant number of people can often be seen fishing from the shore line.

“Anyone can fish from the shore,” he said.” With a handicap pier, it gives even more people the opportunity to enjoy it and it is more of an adventure when you can fish over the top of the water.”

Mayor John Smith said the donation from Shadows on the Wolf brought a tremendous sense of relief.

“It was one of our projects that we could just put into place,” he said. “Other projects require engineering which involves cost and time. Cost being the most sensitive concern as we have a long way to go to complete the park.”

Smith noted there are still a lot of other projects remaining in the park prior to completion.

“Things as simple as raking up the bark from around the shelter house and placing it around the trees to any assistance that can be offered either financially or with personal talents to help us complete the remaining projects,” he said.

Conradt encouraged others to become involved.

“You need people, clubs and organizations to reach out,” Conradt said. “If each organization reaches out to help with a projects like this, it makes it easier for them to reach their goals.”

What is the next step for Manawa Area Veterans Freedom Park?

“On the memorial side, we are still accepting names to have engraved into our walls,” said Smith. “The next engraving session is set for early to mid-May. We encourage anyone who would like to have a loved one’s name on the wall to get that information to us as soon as possible.”

In the next few weeks, concrete sidewalks will be poured.

The park currently has the shelter ready for rental.

“The shelter house is 80 feet by 40 feet with a kitchen, all abilities accessible bathrooms and if need be, we have side curtains that can be rented for early spring festivities that may require some wind block,” said Smith.

As the summer progresses, visitors should find expanded parking lots, a bridge to connect the family side to the memorial, with the goal of having the parking lots blacktopped by the end of summer.

That leaves the splash pad and playground equipment to be completed.

“We have a great deal of work to do, as well as a great deal of funds to be raised,” said Smith.

Upcoming fundraisers include Taste of Wisconsin on April 10, the freedom shoot and dinner banquet on May 19, drawing for the tractor raffle at the Thresheree on July 29 and the big cup Challenge golf outing in August.

“We are also trying to establish a mini-triathlon that we are slating for June 16,” Smith said. “This is a short time frame, but we are hoping to see it come to fruition and be another successful event in the city of Manawa.”

The post Pier donated to park appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Peter Randall Hendricks passed away shortly after his birth into the arms of Jesus on Friday, April 6, 2018.

He is the son of Marina Goza and Erik Hendricks.

Angels danced the day you were born.

Peter is survived by his parents: Marina Goza and Erik Hendricks; his siblings, Kaylee and Daniel; grandparents: Jamie Kellow, Jeff Goza, Annette Goza, Randall (Nancy) Hendricks, and Bonnie Hendricks; aunts and uncles: Zach (Melina), Jalee (Joel), Cassidy (Matt), Jeremy, Autumn, and Jason (Kim); and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Virginia (Jim )Kellow; and a cousin Sam.

Private services for Peter will be held by the family. He will be laid to rest in St. Mary Cemetery – Humboldt at a later date. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send a condolence to Peter’s family.

The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Vincent 3rd Floor Labor & Delivery, Hospital Chaplain, and Accent Photography by Kim for all their kindness and care for Peter and his family.

The post Hendricks, Peter Randall appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

James “Jim” A. McCormick, age 76 of Clintonville, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones Sunday evening, April 8, 2018.

James Allan McCormick was born on January 19, 1942 in Green Bay as the son of the late Timothy and Myrna (Wilson) McCormick. He graduated from Wrightstown High School in 1960. On September 17, 1960, Jim was united in marriage to Judy Bowers. The couple raised their son, Jerry, and divorced in 1985. In the early 1960s, Jim started working for a men’s clothing company called Unishops, which was affiliated with several chain stores in the East and Midwest. He was promoted to regional manager, and supervisor, and moved many times spanning a handful of states including Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and New York. After the business receded East due to tragedies to its ownership, Jim moved his family to Clintonville in the mid 1970s. He drove truck for a furniture manufacturer and began driving for Arco Auto Carriers out of Chicago in 1978 where he delivered defense vehicles around the country. In 1980 Jim began his own independent trucking business. Jim and his son Jerry also had a small auto repair business in Clintonville from 1984-1988. Jim continued trucking during this time until the early 1990s when he became part owner of The Trading Post in Weyauwega. After selling The Trading Post he purchased the Knight Club tavern in Clintonville and renamed it Bits ‘n’ Spurs which he operated until his retirement in 2012. Jim met Bonnie Nielson while working at his establishment in 2007 and the couple became engaged and have resided in Clintonville ever since. In his spare time, Jim bought and sold horse equipment, loved to camp with Bonnie, and enjoyed listening to country music, especially Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash. Some of his favorite memories were of his teenage years building hotrods with the help of his dad.

Survivors include: his fiancée, Bonnie Nielson; son, Jerry (Beth) McCormick, Clintonville; grandsons, Jake (Samantha Holtz) McCormick, Clintonville; Luke (Sydney Weisse) McCormick, De Pere; sisters, Mary Ehnerd, Wrightstown and Pat (Dennis) Driessen, Cincinnati, OH; brother, Mike (Connie) McCormick, Kaukauna; Bonnie’s sons, Mike (Stacey) Nielson, Clintonville; Adam (Stephanie) Nielson, Shawano; Brian (Megan) Nielson, Clintonville. Also numerous other family members and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law Bob Ehnerd.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 13, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, 53 N. Main Street, Clintonville with Rev. Aric Fenske officiating. Internment will follow at the Graceland Cemetery in Clintonville. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established by Jim’s family. They would like to extend their most sincere thanks to the staff at ThedaCare at Home Hospice for the excellent care Jim received. www.eberhardtstevenson.com

The post McCormick, James “Jim” A. appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Gordon ‘Gordy’ Schumacher, 79 of Scandinavia, WI passed away Monday, April 9, at Crossroads Care Center in Weyauwega.

He was born in Elgin, Illinois on May 14, 1938, a son of the late Loretta (Feabrantz) and Arthur Schumacher. Gordy graduated from Burlington High School in Burlington, Illinois in 1956. He married Sandra Orban on June 4, 1960 in Elgin, Illinois. After a trip to help a friend move to Waupaca, WI, he found his dream home on a 60 acre farm in Scandinavia, WI and moved his family there in 1976. He worked at Millcraft Homes and then continued driving truck for various companies for a total of over 40 years. In ‘retirement’, Gordy kept busy hauling pickles for Roger Johnson, cars for Neuville Motors and potatoes for Tooter. Gordy was a hard worker. Farming the land, keeping pigs and raising a family. He enjoyed helping people, plowing snow and spent many hours dedicated to helping with the Waupaca Miracle Tree and the group ‘Walleyes for Kids’. He enjoyed fishing ‘Up North’ with his son-in-law Greg, and grandsons, Dylan and Kyle and crusin’ on the Pontoon. Cutting grass at the farm and drinking coffee with his buddies at Too-Dars in Iola, and spending time with the grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra Schumacher of Scandinavia; sons, Gregg (Toni) Schumacher of Iola, Gary Schumacher of New London; daughter, Sheri (Greg) Seubert, of Weyauwega; grandchildren: Brandon (Sorcia Rock) Graham, Holmen, WI; Jon (Laura) Schumacher, Manawa, WI; Bryan (Amber) Schumacher, Glendale, AZ; Justin Schumacher, Fort Campbell, KY; Aiden Rock, Plover, WI; Dylan and Kyle Seubert, Weyauwega; great-grandson, Calvin Arthur Schumacher, Glendale, AZ. He is also survived by other relatives and many friends. Gordy was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Loretta; father and mother-in-law, Louis and Evelyn Orban; a brother, Roger and a sister, Shirley Gahlbeck.

A Memorial Service will be held at Scandinavia Lutheran Church at 12 noon on Friday, April 13th, with Reverend David Eisele officiating. A Memorial Visitation will be held Friday at the church from 10-12 noon prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. Register book and online condolences may be sent by visiting voiefuneralhome.com.

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Florence M. Fenske, 93, Oshkosh, passed away on Friday, March 30, 2018 at Ascension Mercy Hospital with her loving daughters by her side.

Born Florence M. Patrikus on July 28, 1924 in Clintonville, the daughter of Joseph and Selma (Witt) Patrikus. Florence married Edmund Erickson in 1946 and he preceded her in death in 1979. In 1983 she married Herman Fenske. He preceded her in death in 2000. Florence grew up on the family farm and attended Clintonville Public Schools. After graduation, she moved to Oshkosh where she was employed with Universal Foundry as a secretary for many years, where co-workers affectionately called her Flossie. After the foundry shut down in 1984, she worked seasonally for Miles Kimball and Fernau’s Greenhouse to stay busy. She was a lifelong member of Most Blessed Sacrament Church. Florence had a great sense of humor and was rarely in a bad mood. She enjoyed traveling, camping, and dancing polkas in her younger years, sewing, gardening, baking, reading and crafting. She always had a project to work on. Florence was a good cook and many times had a new dish to treat family and friends, too.

Florence is survived by her daughters, Joan Erickson and Julie Erickson, both of Oshkosh. A brother Jerry (Sue) Patrikus, Shawano; sisters-in-law, Betty Patrikus, Green Bay and Kay Patrikus, Appleton; nieces, nephews, other relatives and special friends, including a nephew Don Williams, who was Florence’s Mr. Fix-it Man. She was also preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Roger Robert, Reuben (Virginia) and Donald; sisters-in-law, Adeline (George) Williams and Rosella (Ken) McLean and a brother-in-law, Ray (Erna) Erickson.

Funeral Services were held at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home-Westside.

The family would like to extend a special Thank You to the staff of Ascension Mercy Hospital, Second Floor, for the care that was provided to their mother during her time there.

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Mildred Caroline Ritchie Gore, age 95, of New London, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, April 8, 2018 at Care Partners in Hortonville.

Millie was born on March 14, 1923 in the Township of Bear Creek to the late Fred and Lena (Hanson) Gehrke. She attended Silver Creek grade school and Clintonville High School. At the age of 14, her mother passed away, at which time she became the primary caregiver for her family. On February 14, 1950 she married Zona Ritchie. Together they owned a country store and later a family farm. They spent 21 years together. He preceded her in death in September 1971. Millie spent 12 years with Don Gore and they married in 1985. He preceded her in death in August 1987. She had a strong work ethic that began early on working various jobs. Millie was a member of various community card clubs, the ladies auxiliary, she was a quilt maker, wedding cake maker and above all she was a compassionate caregiver, who loved people and opened her door to anyone. She raised seven children, while running a family farm. As the children got older, she went back into the workforce. Her jobs included working at Glass Fab, The Pine Tree Supper Club and also Hillshire Farms, from where she retired. In retirement, she remained active playing cards, traveling, volunteering, and baking. She was known throughout the community for sharing her amazing baked goods! Millie was the president of an employee union, also president of Royal Neighbors and was awarded the “Key to the City” on her 90th birthday. She also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and was in charge of Monday Night Card Club. Millie was a lifelong member of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New London.

Millie is survived by her seven children: Shiela (special friend Dennis) Kahler, Barry (Cindy) Ritchie, Patty (Jon) Lathrop, Joan (Russell) Fenske, Bernie Ritchie, Marcia (Doug) Flease and Norma (Jim) Gerhardt; grandchildren: Justin (Brooke) Kahler, Alisa (Timothy) Christianson, Aaron (special friend Sarah) Ritchie, Jessica (Jamie) Daun, Jess (Nicki) Lathrop, Jason (Brenna) Lathrop, Joshua (Robin) Lathrop, Katie Fenske, Kimberly (special friend Clay) Fenske, Anton, Noah and Nick Ritchie, Ashley (Travis) Schulke, Amy (Zach) Bellile and Andrea Flease and Eric, Alex, Isaac and Owen Gerhardt and great-grandchildren: Everett, Beckett, Tyler, Aurora, Trista, Avery, Carson, Dakota, Jovie, Brayson, Jaden, Jordan, Alana, Arah and Emerson. Millie is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends. Millie was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Zona; her second husband, Donald; granddaughters, Crystal Ritchie and Andrea (Vruwink) Ritchie; son-in-law, Ralph Kahler; brothers, Robert and Harold (Laverne) Gehrke; in-laws, Elmer (Meta) Ritchie, Vera (Bert) Lorge, Donald (Lillian) Ritchie, Mathias (Eva) Ritchie, Leonard (Hilda) Ritchie, Ray (Sylvia) Ritchie, Odena (Ferrell) Reed and Mark Griffin.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Millie will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New London. Fr. John Kleinschmidt will be officiating. Visitation will take place directly at the church from 8:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. Burial will be in Most Precious Blood Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. The Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London is serving the family. www.clineandhansonfuneralhome.com

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to those who provided Millie with transportation and entertainment to various community activities. A special thanks also to Christopher Klimek PA-C from ThedaCare and also the staff at Care Partners in Hortonville for their wonderful care and compassion shown to our mother.

“Mom, now we know why everyone calls heaven so beautiful- because it has our mother. We miss you!” -Millie’s family

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Joyce M. Hitzke, age 80 of Clintonville, passed away Monday, April 9, 2018 at Kindred Hearts, Clintonville.

Joyce Mae Hitzke was born April 21, 1937 in the Town of Harrison near Iola, to the late Theodore and Leona (Fietzer) Loken. She was united in marriage to Norman Hitzke on August 20, 1955 at Hitterdahl Lutheran Church, Iola. Over the years, Joyce worked for Schultz Brothers, Hanson Glove Factory, and Pries Apparel. Joyce was blessed with two daughters, Jodi and Marsha. In 1972, the family moved to the Hitzke home farm where Joyce stayed busy helping with field work, maintaining the garden, and upkeep on their large yard. Joyce was a long-time member of Christus Lutheran Church, Clintonville, where she helped often with meals and salad luncheons. Time spent with family was something which Joyce cherished most; she was always thought of by her family as a wonderful, selfless mother and grandmother. Joyce will always be remembered by friends and family for her bright, loving smile.

Survivors include: daughters, Jodi (Duane) Boyer, Clintonville and Marsha (John) Christoph, Iola; grandchildren: Tyler and Zach Boyer, Clintonville and Alexa Christoph, Iola; sisters, Judy (Dennis) Biedermann, Iola and Mae Lou Loken, Texas; brother, Ken Loken, Clintonville; and sister-in-law, Mary Loken, Clintonville. Also numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Norman; a brother, Gene Loken; sisters-in-law, Joyce Lozier, June (Kenneth) Wege, and Dorothy (Joe “Bud”) Daley.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Christus Lutheran Church, Clintonville with the Rev. Brian Crocker officiating. Interment to follow at Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville. Friends may call on Thursday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville is assisting her family with the arrangements. An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.

The family would also like to thank all of the staff at Kindred Hearts, as well as Dawn, Erin, and Jen with Compassus Hospice for all of the loving care shown to Joyce.

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Cop finds pot on teen passenger, arrests adult driver

Matthew A. Lins, 29, Waupaca, is charged with felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child and bail jumping, as well as misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

On April 4, Waupaca County Deputy Bryan Strobusch pulled over a vehicle with a loud exhaust on Tower Road in Waupaca.

Lins was the driver and a 16-year-old boy was the passenger.

According to the criminal complaint, Strobusch noticed the aroma of marijuana.

When he searched the teen, Strobusch reported finding a glass pipe packed with pot and some marijuana in a plastic sandwich bag.

Strobusch also found a glass pipe with pot residue in the center console, the complaint says.

Lins was released from custody on a $5,000 signature bond. He faces up to six years in prison if convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a child.

On Sept. 8, 2015, Lins was convicted of three misdemeanor counts of theft, placed on two years of probation and ordered to pay $2,178 in restitution and court costs.

He also entered into a deferred prosecution agreement for two felony counts of burglary that were charged as part of the same case.

Terms of the agreement included that he not commit any more crimes and that the bond set when he was initially charged remain in effect.

On Sept. 12, 2017, a review hearing extended Lins’ probation and agreement for one more year.

On March 28, 2018, Lins was convicted of misdemeanor charges of bail jumping and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was assessed $1,148 in fines and court costs.

Lins is scheduled to appear in court on April 20 to determine if his deferred prosecution agreement will be revoked.

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Project may require drawdown

By Bert Lehman

Repairs to the Pigeon River Dam, scheduled for this year, will be pushed back to 2019 and may require lowering the pond’s water level.

Bidding for the Pigeon River Dam repairs was scheduled to open at the April 3 Clintonville Street Committee meeting, but that was postponed to April 20.

At the meeting, Clintonville Public Works Director Kray Brown informed the committee that when the city met with contractors interested in bidding on the repair project, the contractors brought up some major issues.

Committee member Jim Supanich said the dewatering and cofferdam portion of the project are delaying the bid process.

He said six companies were interested in providing the city with a bid. Of those companies, four decided not to submit a bid in the initial offering because of the dewatering.

The two companies that are willing to provide a bid normally do dam projects that range in cost from $1 million to $50 million.

“The impression is that the two quotes we are going to get are way out of our budget line,” Supanich said.

Past estimates have placed the repair costs in the $350,000 to $450,000 range.

This has forced the city to explore other options when it comes to repairing the dam.

Supanich said one of the other options available is to lower the water level of the pond.

“That’s what we’re really considering at this point,” Supanich said.

An addendum was issued to the bid request to include lowering the water to the pond bed, or halfway down, Supanich said.

He added that the city has been in contact with the Pigeon River Association about the situation.

Supanich told the committee that there are some advantages to a water drawdown.

“If we do the drawdown in the winter the chances are we can freeze out a lot if not all of the weeds,” Supanich said. “Second of all, the Pigeon River Association is looking at doing some type of dredging.”

He said the Pigeon River Association was researching hydraulic dredging, but a drawdown would allow a different method, which would be less costly.

Supanich said the disadvantage of a winter drawdown would mean it would last nine months. Another issue would be restocking the pond with fish.

Supanich stressed that nothing has been decided, and everything is still open for discussion.

The current plan for the dam repairs is to bid the alternative and apply for a grant with the hope that some of the repair costs will be covered by the grant. That application is due in May.

“From that point on we’re going to have to make some hard decisions on how we’re going to go forward,” Supanich said.

Brown said the city would host informational meetings during the process. He said the actual repairs to the dam would take place in 2019, not this year as scheduled.

Supanich said that applying for the grant this year meets the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ requirement that the city address the dam repairs this year.

“Some work has to be done on the pond either way to keep it viable because there are two problems developing,” Supanich said. “With the amount of weeds that we have in there the oxygen content in the pond is falling and as it continues to fall we’re going to lose the fish anyway. The other end of it is all of the deep holes, which some of the predator fish like, are silting up. … So we have to deepen the pond, and if we can choke off the weeds with the freeze-out, we’ll raise the oxygen content. We’ll make better fishing. The pond will look much better.”

There will be much discussion throughout the entire process, Supanich said.

“We have to make sure that people understand and feel comfortable that a drawdown of the lake is going to help everybody,” Supanich said. “And that’s what we have to strive for. To make sure they understand the benefits of what’s going to come out of this.”

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10 may relocate to work at GLK plant

By Scott Bellile

Ten employees at New York’s shuttering GLK Foods plant have considered moving to Wisconsin to continue their jobs in Bear Creek.

New London Mayor Gary Henke and City Administrator Kent Hager visited the prospective residents at GLK Foods in Bear Creek on March 23 to, as Hager put it, give them “a hard sell” on New London.

“They asked about availability of apartments because obviously if you’re moving from upstate New York to mid-state Wisconsin, you may not want to buy a home right away,” Henke told the New London Economic Development Committee on March 27. “You may want to live somewhere and see what the community’s like and so forth. And obviously we’ve got a lot of apartments available.”

Jacci Carlson, director of human resources for GLK Foods, told the Press Star the sauerkraut company invited New London city officials to present to 15 New Yorkers – 10 employees and five spouses – because New London is similar in size to the western New York communities where the workers live.

New York’s GLK plant is located in Shortsville, a village of 1,400 residents. But Shortsville is located within 10 miles of three communities slightly larger than New London: Canandaigua, Farmington and Victor. Their populations range from 10,000 to 15,000 people.

During the workers’ visit, they looked at the School District of New London.

They also got glimpses of Hortonville, Greenville and Appleton, Carlson said.

“I think they were very impressed [by] how many different communities roll right into each other especially when you’re looking at the Fox Valley,” Carlson said. “Bear Creek is in the country and they were happy with how close New London was to Bear Creek and also Clintonville, how close they were. But also the Valley is very close. It’s only 35 minutes away. So they were impressed with the full opportunity of the area communities they could choose from.”

The 10 employees’ fields include management, quality assurance and production, Carlson said.

They departed New York for Wisconsin by bus March 22 and returned home March 24.

“I’m just very impressed [with] their dedication to GLK Foods and that they do want to continue to be employed with us and that makes us very happy as a company,” Carlson said. “I think that’s wonderful for them to take many hours – 13 hours one way here, 13 hours back – just to be able to visit our plant in Wisconsin.”

Headquartered in Appleton, GLK Foods announced in February it will close the Shortsville factory this year and consolidate operations in Bear Creek.

Production will cease in September while shipping and receiving activities will last through November.

The Shortsville plant employs 48 people and is GLK Foods’ only other production facility.

The Bear Creek facility, which currently employs 120 people, will undergo a $15 million expansion and add jobs.

“We of course made a few comments about we have room in our industrial park if [GLK Foods happens] to run out of room in Bear Creek and would like an auxiliary plant,” Henke said with a laugh. “You always got to get that in there. But they’re really expanding.”

The post New Yorkers consider New London appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Author and Vietnam veteran Doug Bradley will present “What’s Your Song?” at 7 p.m. Friday, April 20, at the Waupaca Middle School auditorium.

Bradley will discuss his book, “We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War.”

Rolling Stone rated this work by Bradley and co-author Craig Werner as the No. 1 Best Music Book of 2015.

Reviewers described the book as “intimate and deeply informative, with a scope that encompasses both the war itself and the way that music has helped raise awareness of veterans’ issues long after its end.”

Bradley was drafted into the U. S. Army in March 1970. He served one year as an information specialist at U. S. Army Republic of Vietnam (USARV) headquarters near Saigon.

In addition to his extensive writing on Vietnam, Bradley teaches a course on the war with Craig Werner, professor of African-American studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Sponsored by Waupaca VFW Post 1037 and the Waupaca County Veterans Service Office, the program is free and open to the public.

The post Songs inspired by Vietnam appeared first on Waupaca County Post.

Q&A with head coach Joe Messina

By Erik Buchinger

Number of years as head coach: Seventh.

Returning varsity athletes: Caitlyn Griffin (10), Emma Blum (10), Megan Duch (10), Megan Kable (10), Meghan Besaw (10), Sage Trumbower (10), Samantha Pfefferle (10), Sarah Watling (10), Bryanna Brost (11), Brylee Barrington (11), Paige Faucher (11), Cassandra Rieckmann (12), Erika Dorow (12), Lexia Sakowski (12), Morgan Spoehr (12), Sailor Thompson (12), Sarah Vigil (12), Shania Krake (12).

Athletes to watch: Bryanna Brost (12), Shania Krake (12), Sailor Thompson (12), Erika Dorow (12), Morgan Spoehr (12), Sara Vigil (12), Meghan Besaw (10), Emma Blum (10), Marissa Messina (10), Samantha Pfefferle (10), Sarah Watling (10), Lindsey Spoehr (9).

Team goals/expectations: We, as a team, want to come out and be competitive in each and every game. The ladies want to grow from last year and be good opposition to all the teams that we play.

Team’s strengths: We have gained some good technical players and brought back some players that were injured last year to fortify our team. We look to fill the gaps from last year with these returning and new players.

Team’s weaknesses: We are still quite a young team as far as varsity goes, but you would never know it with heart these girls have.

Team(s) to beat in conference: Seymour, Xavier and West De Pere.

Biggest games on the schedule: Each and every game is big for us. We didn’t have the best season last year, and we really want to improve on that.

What you want your athletes to get out of this season: I want all of them to enjoy the season and have fun playing the game. I want them to learn that hard work and persistence can pay off.

Why fans should be excited for this year’s team: Because these ladies are fun to watch and be around. I believe they will be something very special this year.

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