Bio: Ayers, Jean Marie (Birth - 1959)
Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Ayers, Thompson
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) December 10, 1959
Ayers, Jean Marie (Birth - 6 December 1959)
A daughter was born to State Traffic Officer and Mrs. Donald Ayers of New Lisbon, weighing seven pounds, in a Tomah hospital, December 6. She has been named Jean Marie. Mrs. Ayers is the former Carol Thompson of Neillsville. They have a son who will be three years old in January.
Bio: Tobola,
Joseph – 89th Birthday (Mar 1976)
Transcriber: Stan
Surnames: Tobola, Hedler, Rowan, Koskinen, Whirry, Lotze, Nyseth, Miller,
Polnaszek, Bogumill
----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., Wis.) 18 Mar 1976
On the occasion of the 89th birthday of Joseph Tobola, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Hedler
entertained guests at their home on Sunday, March 14, 1976: Mr. and Mrs. Tom
Tobola, Mr. and Mrs. John Rowan and family of Cadott, Mrs. Helen Koskinen, Mr.
and Mrs. Vern Whirry, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Lotze, Mrs. Elizabeth Nyseth of Eau
Claire, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Hedler and children of Cedar Falls, Mr. and Mrs. Leo
Tobola of Chippewa Falls, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Miller and girls of Stanley, Mr. and
Mrs. William Tobola and Joseph, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tobola and girls, Mr. and
Mrs. Tom Polnaszek and Mrs. Helen Bogumill of Thorp.
Bio: Lust, John A.
– U.S. Marine Private – Recruit Training (18 Sep 1976)
Transcriber: Stan
Surnames: Lust
----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., Wis.) 18 Mar 1976
Marine Private John A. Lust, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Lust of 202 East Elm
Street, Thorp, Wisconsin, was graduated from recruit training at the Marine
Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego.
Physical conditioning, discipline and teamwork are emphasized during Marine
recruit training.
Classes include instruction in close order drill, Marine Corps history, first
aid, uniform regulations and military customs and courtesies.
News: Thorp –
Jaycees Hold Charter Banquet (22 Mar 1976)
Transcriber: Stan
Surnames: Market, Vircks, Gilbert
----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., Wis.) 25 Mar 1976
The newly formed Thorp chapter of the Jaycees held its charter banquet Monday,
March 22, 1976 at the Legion Hall. Marv Market, U.S. Director of Region 1,,
presents Gerry Vircks with a gavel, which Vircks will use as the chapter’s
president.
About 60 persons attended the banquet, including members of Chippewa and Eau
Claire chapters, and Bill Gilbert, state president of the Jaycees. Gilbert
present the Thorp Jaycees with their charter and installed Vircks as the group’s
first president.
News: Thorp
Students Receive UW-Stout Honors (Mar 1976)
Transcriber: Stan
Surnames: Kobylarczyk, Kotecki
----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., Wis.) 25 Mar 1976
Two students from Thorp have been named to receive the Chancellor’s Award for
academic excellence during the first semester at UW-Stout.
They are Ron Kobylarczyk, a sophomore majoring in hotel and restaurant
management, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kobylarczyk, Route 1, and Tom
Kotecki, a sophomore majoring in psychology, and the son of Mr. Anthony Kotecki,
Route 1.
The award replaces what has been traditionally known as the Dean’s List, and is
presented to students who have a semester grade point average of 3.5 or above.
Bio: Sackmann,
Kenneth J. – Promote to Thorp Finance Assistant Mgr. (Mar 1976)
Transcriber: Stan
Surnames: Sackmann, Broeren
----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., Wis.) 25 Mar 1976
The promotion of Kenneth J. Sackmann to assistant manager of the Thorp Finance
Corporation office in Ladysmith, has been announced by Jean C. Broeren,
executive vice president.
Sackmann, who attended the UW-La Crosse, joined Thorp last year as a trainee at
the Neillsville branch.
Sackmann is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Sackmann, Route 3, Box 204, Thorp,
Wisconsin. Sackmann resides at 309 ½ W. Lake Avenue, Ladysmith, Wisconsin.
Bio: Melvin, Amy—Neillsville Author Publishes
Nonfiction Book (2024)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail:
dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Melvin
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/13/2024
Melvin, Amy—Neillsville Author Publishes Nonfiction Book (2024)
Amy Melvin, a Neillsville resident, self-published her new book “Full Speed In
Reverse: Awakening Self-Worth, Happiness and Purpose.”
By June Thompson
Amy Melvin, of Neillsville, recently published her first nonfiction book, “Full
Speed in Reverse: Awakening Self-worth, Happiness and Purpose.”
“It’s about going back—maybe you didn’t have a perfect beginning,” said Melvin.
The main reason she wrote this book is to help people find self-worth.
“It allows you to find inner happiness,” Melvin said. “It unleashes what you
were born to be: your purpose.”
Melvin got the idea to write her book years ago.
“I’m a student of people,” she said. “I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology
in 2020.”
It took Melvin a year to write her book.
“It’s for people who didn’t get their self-worth from the people who raised
them,” Melvin said. “Self-worth is missing from a lot of people, but you can
create it.”
Melvin recollected her past and how it influenced her writing. It did not take
her long to write the 116-page book. She took a year off, an unpaid sabbatical
from her employer.
“I used my past to transform my future,” said Melvin. “That’s ‘Full Speed in
Reverse.’”
Authors sometimes have writer’s block or challenges writing a book. But Melvin
did not have writer’s block. She did have challenges when she wrote the
beginning, though. She had to remember/relive tragic events in her life and
write the truth of it.
Melvin said the most important aspect of “Full Speed in Reverse: Awakening
Self-Worth, Happiness, and Purpose” is to build self-worth.
Melvin’s goal is for people to feel better about who they are; not about what
they did not get.
She mentioned self-worth, happiness and purpose have “vast meanings.”
“They are different for everyone,” Melvin said. “People don’t spend time with
themselves. We forget to focus on ourselves. My purpose is to inspire people.
“A lot of people feel that they didn’t get what they needed. These needs are
pride in self, power of ‘yet,’ and hopes and dreams. It’s about being grateful
for what you do have.”
Melvin understands people can be surviving something. She explained survival
creates a barrier to what people cannot accept. In survival mode, people protect
themselves.
Melvin’s experience gave her the insight to write this book to help others.
“The beginning is tough,” said Melvin. “Everybody goes through difficult times.
If you never give up, you’ll always be striving to be better.”
Deciding on a title for her book, Melvin wanted something referencing the past.
“Don’t be afraid of your past,” Melvin said. “Use it for something positive.”
Melvin’s goal is to be a motivational speaker. She intends to write another
book.
An excerpt from “Full Speed in Reverse: Awakening Self-Worth, Happiness and
Purpose” reads:
“This book is dedicated to the ‘uns’—anyone who feels unloved, unimportant,
unworthy, unusual and unwanted. May you never feel insignificant again. You are
here for a reason. Realize happiness by finding the most important thing
missing—self-worth. After that you’ll find self-love, and your purpose; right
where it’s always been... inside yourself. May the only ‘un’ you ever feel again
is unlimited…”
Melvin self-published her book with Amazon. She can be contacted at
happyamy75@icloud.com.
Melvin will be talking about her book at the Neillsville Public Library,
Wednesday, March 20 at 6 p.m.
For more information contact the Neillsville Public Library 715-743-2558.
News: Clark Co. -
Skiers Find Snow in “Snowless Winter” (2024)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail:
dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Mohr, Schumacher, Weyer, Syth, Diggins
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/13/2024
Clark County Skiers Find Snow in “Snowless Winter” (2024)
James Mohr (left) completed his 45th American Birkebeiner ski race in Cable Feb.
24. Upon learning this, World Cup victor Gus Schumacher (right) met Mohr to
congratulate him. Submitted Photo
During this winter of low snow and high temperatures, James Mohr had hopes of
reaching milestones in two cross country ski marathons. With only two weeks of
skiable snow at Levis Mounds, Mohr had to travel north to get his ski-legs in
shape, and even then, it was on the artificial stuff blown out of snow cannons
in Cable at the Birkebeiner trailhead.
Mohr was able to finish his 25th Noquemanon Ski Marathon at Marquette, MI, in
late January due to an “adequate” amount of lake effect snow in the surrounding
highlands. Even in traditional snow, county organizers were forced to shorten
the race from 50 to 23 kilometers, avoiding unsafe lakes and minimally covered
city trails. Though Mohr was one of the last finishers, he benefited from his
“mature” status and won a Norwegian Moen ski bell for taking first in his age
group.
“Of course,” Mohr said, “I was first only because I was the only contestant in
the 75–79 age category.”
Mohr’s main goal for the winter was to complete his 45th American Birkebeiner
race in Cable. Mohr said all winter-long organizers were hoping for a big dump
of snow and cold temperatures, but both arrived in minimal amounts, and
organizers resorted to making snow on the cold days and stockpiling it in huge
snow mountains, just in case. Until a couple weeks before the Feb. 24 race, the
“Birkie folks” still hoped to run the traditional course down to Hayward.
However, this was not to happen and instead a virtual ribbon of snow was
created, running from the trailhead along the former golf course so racers could
do 10 kilometer loops.
This is what at least two of the skiers from Clark County did on the Wednesday
and Thursday preceding the original Saturday race date. Bonnie Weyer of Loyal
and Mohr skied three loops to earn a pin signifying another year finishing what
some call “the Boston Marathon of cross country skiing.” Kevin Syth, of
Greenwood, participated in the Birkebeiner 30 kilometer open-track skate race
Thursday.
Then, on Saturday, Weyer and Mohr were able to watch Jessie Diggins, Olympic
gold medalist, and Gus Schumacher, World Cup victor and the first American to
win a gold medal in an individual race at the Junior World Ski Championships,
win their respective elite races.
“A particular joy for me this year,” Mohr said, “was having several family
members also participate in the Birkie: our son, Kurt, in the 30 [kilometer]
race, our daughter Jenny and grandson Malcolm in the 20 [kilometer] Kortelopet
race, and granddaughter Frances in the three [kilometer] Junior Birkie.
“We all stayed together in a rented condo on Lake Owen, cooking for one another,
playing board games, and introducing a couple exchange students to ‘winter.’
“My wife, Karen, and I competed our time up north by volunteering at the medal
stand on Sunday for the final classical race and having the pleasure of
welcoming the final contestant of the week as he crossed the finish line.”
When Schumacher, who had just won the Men's 10 kilometer freestyle race at the
2024 Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis, MN, Feb. 18, learned that Mohr had just
completed his 45th Birkie, Schumacher signed a poster of himself with “Jim,
let’s go for 50 (or 60).”
“We shall see,” Mohr said.
News: Neillsville
- Scouts Heard on the Air Waves (2024)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail:
dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Low, Bushman, Walter, Kruschke, Schmitz
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/13/2024
Neillsville Scouts Heard on the Air Waves (2024)
Neillsville-area Girl Scouts Karcyn, Ryann, Ava, Stella, Beverly, and Ellyn were
interviewed at WCCN and gave various historical facts about the organization and
Gil Scouts Week. Submitted photo
The Neillsville Area Girl Scouts Karcyn, Ryann, Stella, Beverly and Ellyn
appeared on WCCN to speak about Girls Scouts Week, explaining its structure and
history.
The scouts explained the levels of the Girls Scouts: sprouts are in 4k, daisies
are kindergarteners and first-graders, brownies are second and third graders, a
junior is fourth and fifth graders, a cadette is sixth to eighth graders, a
senior is 9th and 10th graders, and an ambassador is 11th and 12th graders.
The scouts explained Juliette Gordon Low, the Girl Scouts founder, organized the
first Girl Scout troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, GA. The Girl Scouts of
the USA was chartered by the US Congress on March 16, 1950.
As a Girl Scout, members “discover the fun, friendship and power of girls
together,” and the Girl Scouts helps members “relate to others with increasing
understanding, skills and respect.”
The scouts also explained the organization helps develop values to guide their
actions and provide the base for sound decision making; and adds to the
improvement of their community through their abilities, leadership skills, and
cooperation with others.
It was remarked a trip to Savannah, GA is “always a great experience” and every
Girl Scout should make it a goal to visit the organization’s birthplace.
The scouts said Girl Scouts love making new friends, traveling to new places and
trying new things, and can grow brave and strong through a wide variety of
experiences, such as field trips, skill-building activities, community service
projects, candy sales and cookie sales.
Of course, it was added there is currently a Girl Scout Cookie sale happening.
Booth sales started March 1 and will go to March 31. The scouts will sell
cookies directly to the public at area businesses such as Russell's, Hanson's
IGA, Schmitty's, Mama G's and the Neillsville American Legion.
Cookies this year are Adventurefuls, Toast-Yay! Lemonades, Trefoils, Thin Mints,
Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel DeLites and Peanut Butter Sandwich. Their
gluten-free option this year is Caramel Chocolate Chip.
The Girl Scouts also have a Cookie Share Service Project, allowing customers to
purchase cookies to be donated to women and men serving in the military and to
local shelters, frontline workers and food banks.
For assistance finding a Girl Scout, contact Tricia Bushman, Joely Walter,
Andrea Kruschke or Shelly Schmitz.
Edward DuBois contributed to this article.
