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1/2/2014
Hometown Heroes - Dawn Johns Swenson and Jewel Johns Root
One of the more powerful of these practices is equine-assisted therapy, where patients care for and ride horses. And for some like Dawn Johns Swenson, the powerfully healing and stress relieving experience with her own horse encouraged her to turn her family farm into a place where others can come to find the same comfort.
12/12/2013
Hometown Hero - Lori Volkman
For many of us, our teachers have been incredible mentors as we begin to learn about the world. Often, we strive to emulate them. Other times, they are our biggest advocates as we set out into the real world. For students of Lori Volkman at Holmen High School, their teacher is their champion and guide for their transition from high school into the working world.
10/3/2013
Hometown Hero - Robert Nordby
When you think about giving back to our community, do you think about becoming a police officer? Robert Nordby did. Officer Nordby is the newest fulltime police officer on the Bangor force as well as an active member of the community who continues to give back.
9/4/2013
Hometown Hero - Katie Kusilek
I first met Katie at UW-La Crosse’s Community Conversation on Immigration Reform back in June where she was a panelist and I was immediately impressed by her spirit and passion about the issue. I decided that she would be perfect for a Hometown Hero. The reason I was not able to do this sooner was because Katie, like most of our Hometown Heroes, likes to keep very busy.
8/15/2013
Hometown Hero - Patty Bagniewski
Here is just a small list of some of the many ways that Patty has helped to make the Coulee Region a better place: she has organized benefits to help those in need, operated food drives and chickencues for Evergreen Elementary, coordinated the Holmen’s Hope lunch program and chaired bazaars for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. She is also a teacher’s assistant at Evergreen.
7/26/2013
Hometown Hero - Mary Hvizda
This week’s Hometown Hero is a bit of a celebrity. You may have seen her on YouTube lately in a video called “Grandma Drummer” which at last count had over 3 million views. If you have not seen the video yet, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRhoHN8x_00.
7/3/2013
Hometown Hero - Dave Geske
While most of us just throw on some bug spray and call it good, Dave is the one working to ensure that those little pests do not infect us with deadly diseases. He works to educate the public on the dangers of this particular type of mosquito and manages a program that eliminates breeding areas. Despite the fact that he spends his days around the bugs that most of us would rather shoot first and ask questions later, Dave really likes his work.
6/11/2013
Hometown Hero - Patti Balacek
This week’s Hometown Hero is Patti Balacek of La Crescent, Minnesota. That’s right. Minnesota. Now normally I don’t make it a habit to choose people from outside my district let alone outside my state, but for Patti I just had to make an exception.
5/23/2013
Hometown Hero Norm Ira
Norm was nominated by Noreen Holmes, the Director of the La Crosse County Aging Unit. Norm is a volunteer driver for the Aging Unit where he helps veterans and others get to their medical appointments all over Wisconsin. He regularly drives them to Tomah VA Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and the University Hospital in Madison.
5/16/2013
Hometown Hero - Bethany Jensen
This last week, Bethany participated in the Wisconsin State Senate Scholar program in Madison. Just like past Hometown Hero Briana Schwabenbauer, Bethany was nominated by our own State Senator Jennifer Shilling for this highly competitive week-long educational program. It is designed to give students experience in policy development, constituent relations and the legislative process.