UPbeat News June 2000

6/29/00 - A motion for the permanent expulsion of a 14 year- old seventh grader was approved at the Monday night meeting of the Stephenson School Board. Several board members questioned school staff members regarding the future options for a student in such a situation, asking if there were programs in place to help those with similar problems. Assistant High School Principal Chris Rundle, who has experience in law enforcement, said the school does have programs that have been successful at helping other students turn their lives around. Unfortunately. they do not work for every student. Superintendent Kalhoefer added that the expulsion decision was not just based on discipline problems but the student's negative impact on other students precipitated the action.

In other business Jason Strohl was named to the position of Boys' Varsity Basketball Coach from five applicants from the Stephenson, Menominee and Marinette areas. The next School Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. on July 10.

6/28/00 - I'm sure you've noticed. The Daggett-Stephenson area got a lot sweeter at about noon on Tuesday. That's when the Mid-Couty Senior Center group got back from their early morning strawberry-picking outing. The bus was loaded with all types of containers of fresh berries. Some ordered their berries ahead of time and just went along for the ride and the lunch stop. Some, like Pat Smiltneek, ordered some and picked a lot more. He says he freeezes most of them to enjoy all year. Vi Bartels brought her daughter Ann along . Ann turned out to be a big help carrying boxes of berries to the bus and then to peoples cars, even though she and Vi had quite a few of their own to take care of. Its an annual activity that has been going on for at least 4 or 5 years and is always popular with strawberry lovers.

6/25/00 - Doreen Schlenvogt* is the unofficial coordinator of the annual unofficial reunion of the SHS Class of '42. They met at Camp Shakey Saturday night for dinner, a few drinks and lots of hearty conversation and laughter. There were 76 in the original class but 24 have died in the 58 years since graduation. I talked briefly with Margaret and Marie Broberg and their husbands who arrived early and had to leave early to go to another get-together. Margaret Chatlosh and her husband were there. She claimed this would probably be the only time this year that she would wear a dress and he noted he had given his black dress shoes their annual polishing for the occasion. Other classmates attending were Robert Anderson, John Bolen, Helen Kossel, Betty Johnson, Stella Zielonka and Marian Berger. Doreen is noted for always telling at least one joke at most any gathering. This time it was about a little boy who asked if his grandpa had been on the Ark. "No, of course not," said grandpa. "Well then, how come you didn't drown?" asked the boy. I asked Doreen if anyone laughed when she told it. "Yes," she said. "After a short silence."

*Women's names are their maiden names, the ones you knew them by back in l942.

6/23/00 - "I'll ask Jim and have him do that." "Sally and Sue volunteered to help with...." "Did anybody talk to Pete about.... He did a good job last time, I'm sure he'll do it again." The success of local events seems to depend on a few energetic people with the right attitude and good connections. It worked that way at the Cedar River Bridge Walk committee meeting and again at the committee meeting last week to plan the 4th of July celebration to be held in Daggett this year. There were only 4 men and 2 women at the Daggett meeting, but each knew 6 or 7 others who don't like meetings but are willing to do whatever it takes to help out. Thanks to their pride and involvement in the community there are four days of activities planned for all ages . The schedule will be published in this week's Menominee County Journal. It includes ball games, music and dancing, kid's games and fireworks. A new feature this year will be a "car smash." People can buy chances to use a sledgehammer to smash an old car (with windows removed). If they do a good job, like remove a bumper or a door, they can win money. It shoud be interesting...and popular.

6/20/00 - Animals have invaded the library, and the 170 young people enrolled in the summer reading program (110 at Stephenson and 60 in Hermansville) think that is just great. The theme of the six-week program is Animals and the studies, stories and crafts will help them learn more about the animal kingdom. Just a glance at the pig collection in the entrance showcase, and the overflow in the librarian's office window, is enough to encourage interest in the varieties, abilities and personalities of some of the most common species. There's even a totem-pole style gathering of pigs peeking out of a plant in the adult reading area.

Eighty-two kids braved the wet, windy weather in Stephenson this Tuesday to take part in the reading program. Participants use reading logs to keep track of the time they spend reading each week. Those meeting the 3 1/2 hour per week requirement get books, pencils and other gifts as a reward.

6/19/00 - Three women, 2 men, and a large dog met at the Cedarville Township Hall tonight to work on plans for the 14th annual Cedar River Bridge Walk to be held on the DAY BEFORE Labor Day this year. That is a switch , both because it will be on a Sunday and because past walks have always been on Labor Day. The dog has apparently been at previous meetings as he seemed quite confident things would go smoothly and everyone would know what they were doing. He found a spot under the meeting table and stretched out for a quick nap while Bonnie Fischer, in charge of the group, led discussions on the schedule of activities, publicity and the pros and cons of a Sunday event. Nels Watz, representing the fire department, suggested having firemen compete in a tug of war across "the creek" instead of having the traditional water battle. He was encouraged to look into it further. The water at the suggested spot is less than 4 feet deep so the losers would be quite safe, even if they weren't accomplished swimmers. The group meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of the month. They welcome input from the community.

6/16/00 - The annual brunch to honor St. Vincent de Paul volunteer workers was held Thursday at the Farmhouse Restaurant. About 25 women attended, all dressed in clothes they found at St. Vincents, and there were some pretty sharp looking choices. Phyllis Strohl likes variety. Last year she wore a nightgown and brought along a stuffed animal. This year she found an attractive, but more traditional two-piece outfit. Rita Bronoel loves hats and always finds a pretty one . This year is was black felt. She finds quite a few things that fit her and wears them on other occasions. When people compliment her or ask where she got them she says she just smiles and answers, "Oh, I found them at a specialty shop." The local St. Vincent Center is open two days a week. There are no marked prices but those who want to can put money in a donations box. Treasurer Dorothy Kruhmin reported that $985 was received in the past year. About $700 has been used to help 15 local families with emergency needs. St. Vincents also receives FEMA (Federal) funds. Last year they received $3,695, which all went to help l8 families.

6/14/00 - The TRIAD group (seniors working with local law enforcement) met on Wednesday at the Mid-County Senior Center in Daggett. Leaders emphasized that it is not to be a community fund-raising group unless money is needed for a particular project they are involved in. It was agreed to order 500 of the Files of Life cards to be distributed to area seniors. The cards contain detailed medical information and can be posted on a refrigerator door for use by anyone responding to a medical emergency. Details of how and when the cards will be available will be worked out at the next meeting at the Senior Center at 10 a.m. on July 12.

6/14/00 - It threatened to be a dark and dreary night in Marinette Tuesday night, but even so a lot of people turned out for the 2nd in the Sunset Concert series on Stephenson Island. It featured the Rod Scheuer Group. They started out with Latin music and progressed to things like On The Boardwalk and even a few polkas, just to be sure everyone heard something they could identify with. Next Tuesday Nashville Pipeline will entertain with country music. The concerts start at 7 p.m. and will continue to be held on Tuesday nights through mid-August.

6/12/00 - A report just received on the June 8 City Council Meeting shows residents have concerns about cleaning out or spraying ditches behind Willow Street to control mosquitos, the possibility of paving Cedar Street (which goes to the ice rink), the smell of burning refuse and possible violation of the burning ordinance, stray dogs, noise, sheep, and the feasibility of having another restaurant downtown that would stay open late in the evening and serve pizza and fast food fare. The Council agreed to follow up on the complaints and offered to look into possible solutions for the other problems .

Committee reports included a recommended $ .50 per hour pay increase for all employees for the coming fiscal year. It was approved. The Parks Committee has ordered a new sign for Erickson Park and the Building Committee has let out a request for building quotations for a new public works building. It was agreed to send a letter to the Stephenson High School Business Practice group to thank them for the work on the concession stand at Erickson Park and their help with other projects benefiting the city.

6/11/00 - Project Stephenson, a group of volunteers headed by Jean Getzen, has been busy planting flowers and pursueing ideas for making our city more attractive and enjoyable for residents and visitors. A major project for this summer is updating the playground equipment for the 2 to 5 year old age group at Erickson Park. The city received a $4,873 grant from the M&M Area Community Fund recently . Project members also put on a salad luncheon fund-raiser at the American Legion Hall on May 31 for 122 supporters. Getzen estimates the equipment, consisting of heavy plastic modular slides, tubes and other activities, will cost about $8,000. "There is no shortage of ideas of things we can do," says Getzen,"but finding funds is the biggest problem." She has resubmitted a request for a grant from the DNR for improvements to the ice rink near Erickson Park and is always on the lookout for available funds.

6/2/00 - Writers, and would-be writers, are constantly urged to keep journals of daily thoughts and events. It's supposed to improve your creativity and lead you to deep thoughts and an awareness of your "inner self." I've tried it in the past and again just recently , with little success. I won't bore you with all the entries - just enough to show you why I quit. 5/21 - Ate three little black bugs today while trying to read out on the deck. Don't know what they are but they hover around your eyes, ears and mouth waiting for a chance to get in. 5/22 - Clock radio alarm went off at midnight in another room. Hard to get at when using a walker to get around. 5/23 - Birds started singing and chirping at 3:45 a.m.! 5/24 - I like my room. 5/24 - Checked a local message board. Found ads for a "pure bread" dog, 17 emus, and a dirt bike for sale by someone with a broken back! 5/25 - I like my house and yard; should spend more time enjoying it. 5/26 - Miles Davis' birthday. Spent hours listening to his smooth jazz, on Public Radio and my own tapes. 5/27 - Crows, robins and starlings making racket in willow tree in my yard. A neighbor later told me it was because there was a big owl in the tree. When it left the rest of the birds calmed down. 5/28 - Why am I doing this? I'm trying to get rid of garbage. End of Journal.