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Local man swims with the dolphins Jim Ritchie suffered a near- fatal accident when he was eight years old. He was hit in the head by a baseball during a neighborhood game and remained in a coma for months. The accident left him with permanent disabilities that affect his short term memory and his sense of balance. To avoid losing his balance and falling, he uses a wheelchair. He doesn't, however, allow these problems to interfere with vacation plans, and this year he visited Discovery Cove in Orlando. Although he crammed a variety of activities into his recent trip, the opportunity to swim with dolphins was unquestionably the highlight of his vacation. Ritchie had the experience of "hitching a ride" with a dolphin. He said he hung on to the dolphin's fins "for dear life" because he can't swim that well, and the dolphin just towed him along. "It was wonderful," he said. He found it amazing how the dolphins jumped out of the water when the visitors raised their hands. They'd been trained that way, he said, and they knew they'd get treats. Ritchie's sister Kim Berman of Portland, Ore., met him in Prairie du Chien and they drove to the Twin Cities, where they stayed overnight before catching their flight to Orlando. They visited the Mall of America for the first time, and Ritchie said he was overwhelmed by its size. The trip, arranged by Lucky Mindy Tours out of the Twin Cities, caters to people in wheelchairs, and this particular visit included not only Discovery Cove, but Sea World, several stage shows and a visit to the Hard Rock Cafe, where the waiters sang Happy Birthday to him and brought him a candle. Ritchie doesn't yet have all the pictures from this trip (his sister is putting them into a scrapbook for him), and he's already looking ahead to the next vacation. This time, he's considering a cruise to Alaska. Ritchie, who lives in Prairie du Chien, has been employed at Opportunity Center since 1985. Prairie du Chien names valedictorian, salutatorians Michael Wall, the son of Ken and Judy Wall of Prairie du Chien, is the valedictorian for the Prairie du Chien High School class of 2007. Michael completed his high school career with a 4.0 grade point average. In addition to becoming valedictorian, Michael was named as a Student of the Month in January, achieved Highest Honors status throughout all terms in high school, was a member of the National Honor Society (required GPA of 3.5 or higher), was a member of the Graduation Committee (required GPA of 3.75 or higher). Michael's high school activities included: ´Biology Club - junior, senior. ´Political Science Club - junior, senior. ´Letterwinner's Club - junior, senior. ´Homecoming Committee - senior. ´Yearbook - senior. ´Golf - freshman, sophomore, junior, senior. ´Basketball- freshman, sophomore. Community and other activities included: ´State of Wisconsin Main Street Program volunteer. ´Prairie du Chien Revitalization Committee volunteer. ´Food Pantry Drive volunteer. ´United Way Blood Drive volunteer. ´Operation Santa Claus volunteer. ´Easter Egg Hunt volunteer. ´American Cancer Society - Relay for Life participant. ´Usher for Governor Doyle's visit to Prairie du Chien. "I strongly believe that becoming active in the community as a volunteer is a necessary part of life that I will continue to do throughout my life," said Michael, who plans on attending Marquette University in the College of Business Administration.
Robert Forsythe, the son of Mark and Kati Forsythe of Prairie du Chien, earned co-salutatorian honors of the Prairie du Chien High School class of 2007. Robert completed his high school career at Prairie du Chien High School with a 4.0 grade point average. He also attended the United States House of Representatives Page School in Washington D.C. from January to June of 2006, where he earned a grade point average of 3.857. Robert's high school activities included: ´National Honor Society, two years - top junior student, Food Drive worker, Operation Santa Claus worker, Christmas Caroling for the Elderly ´Political Science Club, two years - Founder and president, organized trip to state capital in Madison. ´International Club, four years - Festival of Nations participant, International Christmas in Chicago, cultural trips, trip to Spain ´Boy Scouts of America - Eagle Scout, Assistant Patrol Leader,Troup representative ´House of Representatives Page Program ´People to People Student Ambassador-traveled to Spain, Germany, France and Switzerland ´Badger Boy's State - gathered at Ripon College to learn about government at the various levels Robert was a member of the track team for one year, a member of the golf team for one year and a member of the football team for four years, earning two letters. Robert plans on majoring in international business and finance. He will be attending Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Thomas McCoy, the son of Mike and Dawn McCoy of Prairie du Chien, earned co-salutatorian honors of the Prairie du Chien High School class of 2007. Thomas was involved in numerous community and school service activities including: ´National Honor Society - Participated in community service projects such as Thanksgiving Food Drive, Operation Santa Claus, Jail and Bail, American Red Cross Blood Drive and Easter Egg Hunt ´St. Peter's Youth Group ´Southwest Wisconsin Youth Leadership Conference - co-leader of Freshmen Peer Mentoring Program ´Volunteer of Prairie du Chien Youth Basketball Program - three years Thomas was involved in many musical activities including: ´Concert Band - three years ´Jazz Band - four years ´District Solo/Ensemble - three years ´State Solo/Ensemble - two years ´Southwest Wisconsin Honor Band - one year Extracurricular activities included: ´Football - four years, co-captain 2006-07 season, All Conference 2007 ´Basketball - four years, co-captain 2006-07 season ´All Conference Athletic Scholar ´Baseball - two years ´Golf - two years ´Yearbook - two years ´Newspaper - one year ´Biology Club - one year ´Graduation Committee - one year Thomas received numerous awards including: ´Southwest Wisconsin Math Contest - second place, 2006 and 2007, Unlimited Division ´Academic Letter ´Music Letter ´Athletic Letters - football, basketball ´Most Valuable Freshman - instrumental music ´Star First District Solo and Ensemble - 2004, 2005, 2007 ´Student of the Month - 2007 ´ Nominated for All State Scholar
PdC native returns each
year to train top cyclists
The hills of the Prairie du Chien region would seem to be daunting to an average bicyclist, but that is exactly why some of the top cyclists in the state and from other countries come here each year. These are not your average Jacks and Jills, they are serious cyclists training hard. "The hilly terrain and the beauty of the area, that is why we come here," said Prairie du Chien native Jay La Bonne. La Bonne, 41, and his wife Willie, run a five-day cycling training camp each year, during which numerous men and women ride 60 to 100 miles per day up and down some of the toughest hills in the area. On Thursday, for example, Coach La Bonne and his group took on the hill leading to Pike's Peak State Park, the hill on County C leading to Wyalusing State Park, Mondell Hill and the hill on Limery Road in consecutive order. "We do base training and hill training," said La Bonne, who noted that members of the group train for various disciplines, including triathlons, road cycling and criterium cycling (cycling round and round on the same course). This year's group ranges in age from 18 to 45 and all are very well conditioned and very competitive in their chosen pursuits. La Bonne explained that some of the athletes are "Category 1," or professional level cyclists. Others are Category 2 and Category 3. Some are at the Master's Level. This year's group includes Marjan Huizing of Holland and Dave Rusnak of Clearmont, New Hampshire. Huizing is a member Team Kenda, a women's professional team, while Rusnak is a men's professional cyclist. In addition to the hills and the natural beauty of the area, members of the group also enjoy the more laid back motorists, who are much more polite than those of more metropolitan regions. "The motorists here are very respectful," said Jack Hirt, the president of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. "They are very courteous. They don't try to run you off the road." "It's incredible," agreed La Bonne. "The motorists here slow down and go around you. They don't yell at you, honk their horns or give you the finger." Hirt, who is from Wauwatosa, pointed out that the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin is currently helping to promote "Bike to Work Week" this week. He said that the statewide organization is a bicycle advocacy group and that cycling is great exercise for all ages and ability levels and helps to relieve stress. La Bonne obviously agrees that cycling is a great sport that can be enjoyed throughout one's life. He and his wife help run Speed Zone Sports Performance in Kenosha, where they also reside. La Bonne has been coaching for 20 years. He said that he began as a triathlete, and several years ago started getting into cycling more seriously as a sport unto itself. La Bonne still competes in a few triathlons as well as cycling events each year. Seneca honors its top graduates Seneca High School's Valedictorian is Kirsten Boland and the Salutatorian is Jasmine Foley. Kirsten Boland plans to attend UW-LaCrosse, and pursue a career in the medical field. She has been active in many sports activities. She was in Varsity Volleyball for four years, captain during her senior year, and All-Conference in 2006. In Varsity Basketball for three years, she was co-captain as a senior. She also played for four years in Varsity Softball, and was All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2005 and 2006 Kirsten served as Yearbook Editor and was an FFA and National Honor Society member for three years. She participated in the school play and in S-Club for four years. Salutatorian Jasmin Foley also plans to attend UW-La Crosse, but plans to major in Education. Jasmin was Senior Class president and 2007 yearbook editor. A 2005 participant in Badger Girls State, she was a National Honor Society member for two years. She participated in S-Club, cheerleading, Pep Band and the school play for four years. She was also in choir and forensics for one year. Wauzeka-Steuben announces 2007 valedictorian, salutatorian Samuel Oines has been named the valedictorian and Katelyn Hoffman the salutatorian for the Wauzeka-Steuben High School 2007 graduating class. Sam is the son of Joel and Gretchen Oines, and Katelyn is the daughter of George and Kathy Hoffman. Sam is an eight-year band member; he plays the tenor saxophone. He has also been a part of the high school choir, although usually part-time due to conflicts with his schedule. Sam has been in the National Honor Society and the Math Team for three years. He also participated in YCC (Youth Connecting Communities) and was a member of a team which produced a 2003 Reality Check Video. Being a member of the Forensics team at Wauzeka-Steuben High School for three years, Sam has won gold at state competition playing the characters of Gollum and Bilbo from The Lord of the Rings. He took it upon himself to rekindle the Drama club this year and, serving as president, he has put together a school play. He directed "Arms and the Man" on May 12 and 13 at Wauzeka-Steuben High School. In addition to an extremely high academic record, Sam is involved in all of the aforementioned activities plus served as a team Co-captain in Track for four years. Outside of school, Sam has been and continues to be active. He serves as a church musician at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wauzeka, has been a church volunteer to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, in response to Hurricane Katrina, and served as a member of the 2006 Lutheran Youth Gathering Festival Jazz Band (Tenor Sax). Sam has been very involved in his academic program and has planned well for his future. He plans to study English and Music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Katelyn Hoffman has also been in band for eight years, playing the alto saxophone and is currently in Jazz Band as well. She has been in Student Council for two years, one as vice president and the other as president. Katelyn has been in the National Honor Society for three years and serves this year as vice president. She has participated in the 'W' Club for three years and the pep club for three years. She was in YCC (Youth Connecting Communities) for two years. Katelyn was the co-editor-in-chief this year for the Wauzeka-Steuben High School Yearbook. She has also been on the Math Team for three years, serving as captain for the last two. Katelyn was a member of the Art Society for one year. Katelyn is a very active athlete at Wauzeka-Steuben High School. She has been in volleyball and track for four years, earned letters in both. In track, she has been the MVP, captain, a state competitor, Conference Co-Player of the Year, and 1st Team All-Conference. Katelyn also played Basketball for one year. Katelyn has taken all of the courses necessary to ensure success in college. She plans to attend UW-La Crosse but is undecided right now as to a major. |
