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His music has the power to soothe, move and improve
Prairie du Chien man lends his voice, energy and playing in order to lighten and
brighten the lives of others
Since the beginning of man, it has been known that music is powerful. Most of us
don't really think of music in terms of its power, but its influence is such
that most of us listen to some form of music nearly every day. In fact, music
has the power to shape people's lives, especially when combined with faith, as
is the case with a Prairie du Chien man who has used his voice and instrumental
talents for the past 25 years to help those in need. "Music has charms to soothe
the savage breast. To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak," said English
dramatist William Congreve (1670-1729). Earl Fullmer knows Congreve's famous
quote to be a truism. For the past quarter century, Earl has seen the amazing
changes music has made in his many clients. Earl uses "therapeutic applications
of music" to help senior citizens and other adults who have a variety of
physical and mental challenges. "The Heavenly Father gave me a voice," said Earl
about his work and purpose in life. "I'm doing what the Heavenly Father wants me
to do." Earl uses his deep, booming voice, his guitar and mandolin skills, and
his talents on harmonica, drums and other instruments to help people in a
variety of settings. In addition to being the music program coordinator at Lori
Knapp Inc., Earl also performs for senior citizen groups and at nursing homes.
He currently works at two such facilities in Iowa and three in Wisconsin. Earl
works with the developmentally disabled and the chronically mentally ill. He
also conducts individual therapy sessions. "I try to address their needs," said
Earl, who noted that music can get people to focus and to learn cause and
effect. Music helps maintain or improve fine and gross motor skills or bridge
the communication gap with nonverbal clients. Earl has taught daily living
tasks, such as folding clothes, through the use of rhythmic music. "Live music
is much more effective than recorded music because of the bonding between
performer and participants," said Earl, whose energetic and animated style gets
everybody involved. Many of Earl's clients play along on an array of drums and
percussion instruments, shakers, musical toys, triangles and keyboards, anything
that can be grasped and manipulated easily. "It's just awesome, I don't know how
to explain it," Earl said of the socialization power of music. "Even the staff
reacts to what the clients are doing. It's a great tool." Earl recalled one
recent performance that had a group of senior ladies singing along and dancing.
Afterwards, a lady grabbed Earl's hand and told him she loved his music. Earl
found out later from the staff that up until then, the lady never liked nor
participates in anything. "Any kind of reaction is participation in the
activity," Earl said. "The smiles on their faces will let you know it's a good
thing for them." Earl performs folk, bluegrass, gospel, hymns, 50s and 60s rock
and classic country. His voice can range from soothing to raucous as he picks
away on his guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin, or ukulele. Earl said he is also
working on an instrument called a snozelen, by which he can employ light as well
as aural stimulation to his clients. Vibro-tactile stimulation through the use
of large drums or amplified instruments are used with deaf or severely hard of
hearing clients. Alzheimer's patients are also helped through Earl's musical
talents, as well as patients who otherwise don't receive much physical movement
in their limbs. "The sense of music is one of the last things to go," Earl said.
"It sparks good memories, calms an agitated patient and brings out moments of
lucidness." While participating with Earl, senior citizens often remember and
talk about things from their past that were brought to mind by old songs. A
recent group loved it so much that they talked about Earl's performance and
participation with them for several days afterw`rds. The staff expressed
amazement with the enthusiasm and Earl will definitely be going back for return
engagements. "It's extremely rewarding to see people feel better about
themselves," Earl said. "The human rewards far outweigh any kind of monetary
reward I get from it." Earl said that through his work with the elderly, he is
learning more period music in order to make a more full and satisfying
connection. "Earl isn't just someone who shows up and plays. He is their friend,"
says caregiver Barb Simon of Lori Knapp. "Everyone's included. It's great to see
their personal growth through the music." Simon said that people with even
limited physical activities can often times participate by keeping time with
their foot or tapping their finger. Simon said that Earl's music is always a
group effort at Lori Knapp. "There's physical, there's emotional, there's
everything," Simon said. "It sometimes looks like controlled chaos but there's a
real bonding." Simon also praised Earl's work outside of Lori Knapp, which has
included a stint as a guitar-playing Santa Claus to help raise money for The
Relay For Life, as well as work with the Cub Scouts, Badger Camp and other
children's groups. "He really has a heart for children as well as the people out
here," said Simon. "He takes the time. His work with kids is awesome." Earl said
that he got his start quite by accident in 1979 when he took a guitar to work
one evening. At the time, Earl worked with youth who were emotionally disturbed,
who had behavioral disorders, or were juvenile delinquents. Earl knew only one
song and two chords at the time, but when he began to tune his guitar, everyone
got really quiet when normally the unit would have been quite rowdy. Earl then
began to hold a "music club" two or three times per week, which became very
popular among the youth, who later went on to perform in musical shows two or
three times a year. Through his expanding musical gifts, Earl was able to manage
40 kids by himself. Earl then began to go to workshops on music therapy and has
continued his education in therapeutic applications of music. In his spare time,
Earl performs at area bluegrass festivals, which he says have forced him to
become more proficient with his instruments and more varied in his music.
Barb Simon sums up Earl's calling quite nicely, "Earl is loved and respected by
all of us."
Cummuta and Stuckey top Wauzeka-Steuben class of '04
Jessica Cummuta has been named the valedictorian and Kelsey Stuckey the
salutatorian at Wauzeka-Steuben High School. Jessica is the daughter of Connie
Cummuta. Kelsey is the daughter of Mary and Allen Stuckey. Jessica was a
two-year member of the Student Council, one year as secretary/treasurer and one
year as class secretary/treasurer. She has also been involved in the National
Honor Society for three years. Jessica has participated in the Math Team (as
captain), choir, Drama Club and qualified for W Club for four years. She served
as senior editor on the yearbook staff for one year and as the
secretary/treasurer one of the four years she was in Pep Club. Jessica was in
FFA for one year and in FCCLA for four years. While in FCCLA, she served as
recorder/vice president, Regional Representative, and received three gold medals
at state and one gold medal at nationals. In Forensics, Jessica advanced to
district three years and won a silver medal at state one year during her
four-year membership. Jessica was also involved in four sports for four years;
cheer and dance, volleyball, basketball, and track & field. She was Best All
Around, MVP and captain of cheer and dance, was most improved for JV and Varsity
in volleyball, received the Hornet Award in b asketball, and was captain for two
years in track & field. Jessica also received an All-Conference Honorable
Mention in Track & Field. Other honors for Jessica have been receiving the
scholar athlete award for three years, an All-American Commended Scholar, Who's
Who among American High School students and on the National Honor Roll for one
year. She also won the National Science Merit Award two times. Jessica plans to
major in Physics and Chemistry at UW-Madison. Kelsey was a two-year member of
the Student Council, one year as president, and two-year member of the yearbook,
one year as an editor. She was a four-year member of the math team and the Pep
Club, one year as president, and band in which she was first chair trumpet.
Kelsey was also in the National Honor Society, forensics, and Drama Club for
three years. For four years, she was a member of the W Club, and received the
Scholar Athlete Award. Kelsey was also on the Honor Roll for four years running,
a tutor for two years, in Jazz Band four years and Irish Band two years, was a
tutor for two years and a teacher aide for one year. She was also in volleyball
for four years earning an All-Conference Honorable Mention, Captain, Co
All-Around MVP, and the Hustle Award. For four years she was in both basketball
and softball and served as captain at one point on each team. Kelsey volunteers
with summer recreation, Sacred Heart Parish, Wauzeka American Legion, and
Wauzeka Lions Club. She plans to attend Winona State University this fall and
major in nursing. Kelsey hopes to become a nurse anesthetist.
Fisher, Dingbaum top Seneca Class of 2004
Alison Lynn Fisher, daughter of Chuck and Barb Fisher of Eastman, has been
named valedictorian of the Seneca High School Class of 2004. Alison has been
involved in Track and Field, Forensics, High Quiz, School Play, S-Club,
Principal's Advisory Committee, National Honor Society, Math League, SHARE Youth
Leadership and Choir. She is the Vice-President of the Principal's Advisory
Committee (which functions similar to a Student Council), and was the captain of
the High Quiz team. She lettered in track her sophomore year and went to state
three years in a row in forensics. Alison has been on the Highest Honor Roll for
her whole junior high and high school careers and is a National Merit
Scholarship commended student. Outside of school Alison has been involved in 4-H
and her parish youth group. Alison has worked at the Spring Lake Inn since her
sophomore year, and since the beginning of her senior year has worked at both
the Spring Lake Inn and Fort Mulligan's all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Alison
will attend UW-Madison next fall, majoring in Medical microbiology and
immunology. She plans to attend medical school to be a pediatrician.
Mark Dingbaum has been named salutatorian. Mark is the son of Roger and Sheri
Dingbaum of rural Eastman. His extracurricular activities include: S.H.A.R.E.
Youth Leadership member and advisor, Seneca Teens Against Tobacco Use member and
advisor, Seneca Traveling Troupe member, senior class president, National Honors
Society president, solo & ensemble music contest state qualifier, high
school choir, high school band, honors choir, honors band, pep band, large group
choir festival, large group band Festival, jazz choir, jazz band, school play,
Spanish Club, Art Club, yearbook editor, forensics state qualifier and creator
of the Seneca School of Promise Initiative. Mark's non-school related activities
include: Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Regional Scholar, Badger Boys State
participant, Crawford County Youth Leadership Committee member, chair of the
Statewide Youth Leadership Council, participant in the CARE Youth Leadership
Conference, motivational speaking, Alliance for Wisconsin Youth Advisory Council
co-chair, Wisconsin Annual Sharing Conference planner and presenter, FACT
(Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco) of Wisconsin, Project Forward training
participant, Crawford County's Promise creator and implementer, Crawford County's
Promise station editor, Youth Press of Wisconsin News editorial board member,
National Search Institute Healthy Communities - Healthy Youth Conference
participant, St. Patrick's church choir member and cantor. Some examples of
community service projects that Mark has worked with include: Seneca's Annual
Wellness Day, holiday gift baskets, Christmas caroling, statewide youth
teleconferences, tobacco prevention presenting, tobacco compliance checks, Arts
for Prevention mural painting, Jump Rope for Heart, CARE youth booths, Youth
Leadership Committee, lock-ins, Relay for Life, team building activities, First
Lady Volunteerism award selection committee member, Sept. 11 Memorial, grant
writing, mock crash, and community clean-ups. This fall Mark will be attending
the University of Iowa in Iowa City to double major in Political Science and
Journalism/Mass Communication. After his undergraduate studies, he plans on
joining AmeriCorps as a Promise Fellow to work with national service efforts
through America's Promise. After completing a year of service, Mark plans on
attending law school.
City police officers, state DCI agents seize meth lab in Prairie du Chien
trailer court
During the evening of May 12, officers from the Prairie du Chien Police
Department and Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation agents seized a
methamphetamine lab and chemicals from a mobile home in the 900 block of Penny
Court. Gregory McFarland, 18, was arrested and is being held in the Crawford
County Jail. As of presstime, McFarland had not yet been formally charged but
charges requested by the police department include manufacturing methamphetamine,
party to a crime, possession of drug paraphernalia and knowingly possessing
methamphetamine manufacturing waste. Charges have also been requested against
six other individuals.
McFarland is being held on a $10,000 cash bond and his initial appearance is
scheduled for 2 p.m. in Crawford County Circuit Court on May 17. The laboratory
was neutralized and removed by specialized private contractor and the scene was
later declared safe and habitable by Crawford County Public Health Official
Gloria Wall.
Peddle-powered trailer saves gas, brings home bass
A boy peddling along on his bicycle is far from an unusual sight. But, a boy
peddling along while pulling a boat and trailer? Prairie du Chien is perhaps the
only place in Wisconsin where one can witness that. Last summer and this spring,
Bluff View student Jordan Panka, 12, an enterprising young fisherman, has been
seen peddling his boat to and from the Campion Boat Landing in his quest for
lurking lunkers. In fact, 25 years ago in Prairie du Chien may be the last time
that residents can recall a boy getting his boat to his favorite fishing spot
through the use of peddle power. That youngster of yesteryear was none other
than Jordan's father Thomas Panka Jr. Thomas recalled that when he was about 13,
he built a boat trailer out of 2x4s and wagon wheels in order to get from land
to river. Twenty five years later, Thomas' experiences helped inspire a second
generation boat trailer, this one made out of 3/4-inch pipe. Father and son
built the trailer during a couple of days last year and the tradition has been
carried on, as Jordan has put the trailer to good use on numerous occasions. "He's
got his miles out of it already," said Thomas, who noted that Jordan recently
passed his Department of Natural Resources Boater Safety Course and now can use
a motor on his aluminum 12-foot, V-bottom boat. In recent weeks, Jordan and his
friends have been pulling their share of nice-sized smallmouth bass out of the
river, from hot spots undivulged, of course. Thomas, who has been welding since
high school and now works for Gencor-Bituma of Marquette, said that the
lightweight metal trailer was designed to fit well with Jordan's bicycle. "It's
pretty well balanced. It doesn't pull bad at all," Thomas said. "Most of the
weight is on the center of the bike." Along with the peddle powered boat
trailer, another family tradition that continues for the Panka's is the love for
fishing.
"We go fishing a lot when I can get off work," said Thomas, who like most of
us learned fishing from his father. "We fish for panfish mostly, bluegills and
crappies. Sometimes we go for bass or northerns."
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