Reporter Joins the Thorp Courier

The Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI)
December 5, 2007
Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Hello Thorp Courier readers,
 
As I’ve recently come aboard at the Thorp Courier as Reporter/Writer, I’d like to introduce myself to you.  My name is Dawn Bernard, and I reside near Cadott; I have lived in the Chippewa Valley area for seven years now.  Originally, I am from southwestern Wisconsin, about ten miles SE of Prairie du Chien (between Patch Grove and Bagley).  In case anyone has heard of it and to more precise, we lived in an unincorporated village named Brodtville.  I grew up in a family of seven with two older sisters and two older brothers.  Much of my family now lives near La Crosse, except for my father who lives outside of Gays Mills, Wisconsin and my oldest sister who lives near Decorah in NE Iowa.
 
Since I was young, I’ve been interested in art and have always loved to draw and paint, especially rendering people.  I also enjoy working three-dimensionally with ceramic sculpture/pottery.  Throughout school I took all of the art classes available, played alto saxophone in band, and was involved in sports including track, cross-country, and basketball.  Junior high years were spent in Decorah, Iowa, and I remember playing half-court basketball for the first time.  We won’t get into that, though?!
 
After graduating from Seneca High School (a small, rural school SE of La Crosse) in 1990, I attended Viterbo College in La Crosse.  During the first two years, I majored in Art Business (commercial art) and upon a growing interest to teach, changed majors to Art Education.  I graduated in 1996 with a Bachelors of Art Education, WI certified PreK-12.
 
My first year teaching was at a high school in Rosenberg, Texas about 30 miles SW of Houston with a school population of 1500 students.  I was there one year but missed the four seasons and family and moved back to Wisconsin.  Teaching positions that followed include K-12 Art Teacher with in the Cornell School district and Middle School/High School Art Teacher (grades 7-12 and grades 4-5) at Columbus Catholic School in Marshfield.  I had also substitute taught for about three years in the following school districts: Chippewa Falls, Stanley-Boyd, and Holcombe.
 
In February 2006, I opened an Art Store & Gallery near Holcombe.  I owned and operated the business until this past August.  Products and services offered included art supplies, prints, custom matting/framing services, month art classes and individual lessons, my original art (portraits and landscapes, and miscellaneous art forms mixed in), and a variety of art by 25 other local artists.  I enjoyed servicing and getting to know my customers, but had to make the decision to close after a year and a half as the revenue wasn’t exceeding the costs of operation.
 
In addition to art, other interests include reading, tennis, variety of music, language arts, writing, history, 1800’s rendezvous re-enactments, current events, comedy family, friends, animals (especially dogs), and traveling when possible.
 
In conclusion, I will enjoy covering a variety of news in and around town.  I look forward to getting to know you and the Thorp community.