Here is the third edition of Appleton area rankings for high school softball
Kaukauna (11-0)Kaukauna has outscored its last seven opponents 65-1
The team's 11-1 victory over Appleton East on April 29 snapped a six-game shutout streak for the Ghosts
The Foxes are the lone undefeated team in the North Eastern Conference and are coming off a doubleheader sweep of Oconto Falls
Vote for team of the month: Which team was the best in April? Vote for the Piggly Wiggly Post-Crescent high school team of the month
Kimberly (9-1)The Papermakers move up in the rankings and the team's offense has been on an upswing
surpassing 10 runs in five of the last six games
The Lions drop two spots after first loss of the season with 6-1 defeat at home against New Holstein
They have four games this week at Southern Door on May 5
at home against Roncalli on May 8 and at Manitowoc Lutheran on May 9
Neenah (10-3)The Rockets are back in the top 5 after going 3-0 last week with wins over Appleton East
Hortonville (11-2)The Polar Bears' win streak hits nine games
They have a big Fox Valley Association matchup with Kimberly on May 6 that could have league title implications
Appleton North (8-3)Lightning holds steady at No
2 in rankings and has three games at home this week: Appleton East on May 6
Kaukauna on May 8 and Fond du Lac on May 9
The Thunder has won 10 of its last 11 games
including a doubleheader sweep of West De Pere on May 3
The Papermakers' 6-0 loss to Hudson snaps four-game winning streak
Kimberly can rebound with FVA showdown at home against Hortonville on May 6
Chilton (10-3)The Tigers see eight-game win streak end with 11-2 loss to Kiel on May 2
Team will look to bounce back with home game against Roncalli on May 6
Papermakers are the new No. 1 after big 1-0 victory over Appleton North on April 29
followed by a 3-1 win against River Falls on May 3
Kimberly is tied with Oshkosh West for the top spot in the Fox Valley Association
Wolves notch their fifth shutout of the season with 8-0 victory over Berlin on April 29
The competition level goes up several notches with a nonconference home matchup against Xavier on May 8
Appleton North (9-3)The Lightning shakes off loss to Kimberly with a 3-0 victory over De Pere on May 3
The Hawks are tied atop the Bay Conference with Seymour with 3-0 records and are coming off a 1-0 victory over Ashland on May 3
The Ghosts get a 1-0 win over Hortonville on April 29 along with a scoreless tie against Ashwaubenon on May 1
Kaukauna has an important FVA game against visiting Appleton North on May 6
Oshkosh North 0KIMBERLY - The Papermakers scored three runs in the first inning and seven in the second inning in the five-inning Fox Valley Association win
Sawyer Deering pitched three innings to get the win
did not walk a batter and struck out eight
Grant Gloudemans pitched the final two innings
Braedon Ellefson had two hits and three RBIs
KIMBERLY - The Raiders scored four runs in the first inning in the nonconference win over the Papermakers
including two each by Shaefer Peterson and Benny Kieffer
Jace Mataczynski and Sam Manchester each hit two home runs for Hudson
Mataczynski had two hits and drove in three runs
Friday's high school results: Appleton area high school sports results for Friday, May 2
HORTONVILLE - Taiven Gass pitched a complete game to lead the Polar Bears to the victory over the Wildcats
Gary Wuest drove in the only run for Hortonville on a sacrifice fly in the first inning
Neenah 1NEENAH - The Redbirds defeated the Rockets in five innings in the nonconference matchup
Neenah scored in the second inning on an unearned run
but De Pere answered with eight runs in the top of the third inning
The inning was highlighted by back-to-back two-run hits by Brett Weckwerth and Ryan Wettstein
Wettstein broke open the game with a three-run double in the fifth inning
Wettstein finished 2-for-2 with two doubles and five RBIs
Isaac Poehlman and Weckwerth also collected two hits
Caden Krutz pitched five innings to get the win
DENMARK - The Tigers swept the North Eastern Conference doubleheader
winning 7-6 in the first game and 2-1 in the second game
Wrightstown scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning in the first game to take a 7-2 lead and held on for the win
Ryan Leahy and Caleb Podgorski each had two hits
Podgorski pitched 5⅓ innings to get the win
Eli Kapinos and David Dittmer each had two hits for Denmark
Aiden Humphreys pitched 5⅓ innings to get the win
Trevor Vande Hey had a double and an RBI for the Tigers
Waupaca 3-2WAUPACA - The Marines swept the North Eastern Conference doubleheader
beating the Comets 4-3 in the first game and 4-2 in the second game
Nik Williams pitched a complete game in the opener for Marinette
Marinette scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the win after Waupaca had taken a 2-0 lead in the first inning
Justin Kruse pitched seven innings for Marinette
EAU CLAIRE - Vada Sousek had three assists for the Papermakers in the victory
Emily Urban and Grace Peters scored goals for Kimberly
Papermakers goalie Bee Brockert had one save
APPLETON - Addison Wreath had two goals for the Patriots in the nonconference tie
Appleton East goalie Natalie Nielsen made 17 saves
DE PERE - The Lightning scored three goals in the first half in the nonconference win over the Redbirds
Aubrey Scherer and Brinley Dunsirn scored for North
Lightning goalie Ava Koleske made nine saves
BOYS GOLFFond du Lac InviteWEST BEND WEST 332
Top individuals: Anthony Pietrangelo WBW 76
The demand for on-street parking in downtown Appleton remains high and emotionally charged
the Appleton Common Council voted 14-0 to proceed with the loading zone on a six-month trial
but not before downtown business owners and customers had their say
"This loading zone was not in the original plan
and it seems like a slap in the face for businesses such as il Bar
etc.," Grand Chute resident Mary Kleefisch Klasen said in an email to the city
"Adding this at the end of the game just isn't fair."
"Poor planning on the city's part should not be taken out on these wonderful places!" Appleton resident Jan Riehl said
Trout Museum requests loading zone for children
120,000-square-foot Lawrence University/Trout Museum building is under construction at 325 E
The museum will own and occupy the first floor and requested a loading zone on the south side of College Avenue
said the loading zone is needed so buses of schoolchildren and senior citizens using walkers or wheelchairs can safely and efficiently access the building
Lawrence University will own and control the upper three floors
with the second floor housing academic spaces and the third and fourth floors housing 46 one- and two-bedroom apartments
City Traffic Engineer Eric Lom said the number of deliveries at apartment buildings has increased significantly in the past five to 10 years
"On top of the loading zone needs that the Trout has outlined
you're going to have 46 apartments that are going to need DoorDash deliveries
Amazon deliveries and all the other types of deliveries that I'm sure you can all imagine," Lom told the Municipal Services Committee
If Appleton doesn't provide a loading zone
Lom said delivery drivers will park in the bike lane or traffic lane
fearing the loss of street parking will result in a loss of business
that they won't frequent businesses that don't have close parking," she said
Rabideau suggested using Kimball Alley along the south side of the Lawrence/Trout building for loading and deliveries
Turner said the new building doesn't have a public entrance on the south side
Lom said Kimball Alley is only 16 feet wide
so any delivery would block traffic from getting through
saw no need to lose two parking spaces that are in high demand
"I'm just worried about the precedent this might set," Mollen said
and there's probably more to come in the future
I don't think it's fair to necessarily take away parking spaces when people do need to park downtown."
The trial loading zone complies with Appleton policy
which says no more than 10% of the parking stalls on any block shall be designated as loading zones
Council member Sheri Hartzheim saw both sides of the issue
"I wish I had a magic wand to make a solution occur here," she said
Hartzheim said the city and downtown developers need to do a better job planning for loading zones without cutting into the parking on College Avenue
"They put the cart before the horse," she said
"They have this big building that's going to have people living in it and people visiting the museum
we didn't realize we're going to need something to have DoorDash come.' That just feels crazy to me."
Lom said city staff have had internal discussions about making requests for loading zones a part of a development's site plan review
Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on X at @DukeBehnke
My granddaughter, Magdalene, recently had a sewing lesson at Ana’s Sewing Studio in Green Bay
For the beginner seamstress and the quilter
the growth in the studio proves that the comment is not unwarranted
Just as my granddaughter has been inspired to learn more
so are the hundreds of loyal customers who join clubs
The owner behind this success is Ana Rivera of Appleton
Rivera took quite the turn in her career when she purchased Julie’s Sewing Center in Green Bay (it was renamed after purchase to Ana’s Sewing Studio) in 2016
But it was a journey that started many years earlier
who learned to craft and sew from her grandmother
graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 2002 with a major in legal studies and focus on domestic conflict and abuse
“My grandmother insisted that I work before committing to spending that much on obtaining a law degree,” Rivera said
She moved to the Fox Valley area and accepted a job with Department of Workforce Development where she worked with clients who were looking for employment opportunities
A hard worker (she says she worked as many as three jobs at one time)
she moved through the ranks and accepted additional management responsibilities
Her off hours were spent quilting and sewing
When her grandmother gave her $5,000 as an advanced inheritance and told her to spend it on something fun
she bought her first embroidery and sewing machine
“I loved that machine and learned everything about it,” she said
Years later and still in love with her hobby
Rivera began taking lessons at Julie’s Sewing Center in Appleton
(Christensen had purchased Holtz Sewing Centers in Appleton and Green Bay.) Rivera found the shop to be welcoming
and unlike many of the other specialty shops in the same niche
The next step in Rivera’s journey came when she was talking to her aunt
and confided that her dream was to have her own sewing and quilting shop someday
but recommended that she learn the business first by working in a similar shop
why don’t you go there and see if they have any part-time jobs,” her aunt said
Rivera took that advice and was hired at Julie’s
evenings and weekends were dedicated to learning the ins and outs of the shop
“I would leave work and then spend evenings fixing machines
Some nights I would stay up almost all night because I fell in love with it.”
That love for the machines translated to success in selling them
She joked about a customer who came in to purchase a light bulb for his wife’s machine
and when he saw how enthralled his wife was with the new machines
came in the next day without her to buy one as a surprise
“He came in for a light bulb and ended up with a machine,” she laughed
“But I can only sell like that because I love these machines; I’m passionate about this.”
That passion grew as she continued to learn the business
it was fitting that Rivera would be the new owner
Rivera said that Julie had been teaching her — both the good and bad of business ownership — and Rivera was ready for the transition in ownership
They figured out the inventory cost and agreed on a price for Rivera to purchase the Appleton and Green Bay shops
An important part of the transaction was making certain that the dealership agreements would transfer so that the same top-quality machines could be sold
It wasn’t long before she was in growth mode
She took a team approach to staffing that turned out to be very effective
I have a team leader in the shops because I recognize that everyone contributes to our success
The employees are the best and work well together
I can’t afford to always have two or three people working at one time
so we need to be able to communicate without always working together.”
The teams are part of what she says are one-stop shops with an inventory of 5,000 to 6,000 bolts of fabric and the largest selection of thread in the area
She sells quilting kits with pre-cut squares and supplies
There is a schedule of classes on the website
and information on special projects and clubs
“People enjoy getting together to gather and socialize
you learn from the other students,” Rivera stated
including private lessons like Magdalene took
are part of the growth the shops have experienced
Rivera opened a store in Wausau and is now in the process of opening a fourth shop in Columbus
The goals she set in 2016 are taking shape
“My long-term goal was to open a fourth store and a sewing retreat
The retreat is almost complete (it is in Appleton where she purchased the building) and it will be a place where people can do projects and take classes
set up a booth for special events and sell their stash of fabrics
Other plans call for building a suite above the retreat center where she will live initially
She said that she sees growth within the industry as machines become more technical
Many have computers and tablets built in them and are able to perform such tasks as taking a photo from a mobile phone and then presenting options for completing the project
With that additional complexity comes the need for training that the studio provides
She says that her customers develop the same passion for the machines that she felt when she purchased her first good machine
why not go home and do something you love?” she said
“You can lose yourself in the fabrics and colors and I find that if I’m worried about something
I can get on a project and just forget about it
Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and Past District Director for SCORE
(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
A new brewery and taproom is coming to downtown Appleton with plans to preserve and utilize the building's historic features
Renovations for Vault 202 Brewery & Taproom
The over-9,000-square-foot space will be located in the space next to Chase Bank. Investors for Vault 202 partnered with Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc. for the design and execution of the renovations
revealed details about the future brewery in a news release on April 30
announcing the business will open this summer
The space will feature a main bar with a gas-fired pizza oven and ample seating
a private event space with views of the brewery equipment and a spiral staircase that leads downstairs to a bar and lounge with seating inside an existing bank vault
“Vault 202 will be a unique destination for guests to enjoy great food
and conversation in the Fox Cities,” Cindy Stuedemann
“Partnering with Hoffman has been a wonderful collaboration
and we can’t wait for the renovation to be complete so we can open our doors and share Vault 202 with the community.”
The brewery and taproom made a post on its Facebook page on April 28 revealing more of what people can expect from the business
The post confirmed that the business will offer pizza and wings in addition to craft beer brewed on site
Several of the original features of the 1962 First National Bank building will be preserved and utilized in the new design
“Vault 202 will be a fantastic addition to the entertainment landscape in downtown Appleton,” Hoffman president Sam Statz said in the news release
“It’s going to be a fun renovation project
and we’re excited for the owners to be able to open in time for Mile of Music."
Faith Huey is a business reporter for The Appleton Post-Crescent. You can reach her at fhuey@gannett.com or view her Instagram profile at @Faith.Huey.
Shrewsbury Town are the ninth club of Michael Appleton's managerial career
Shrewsbury Town boss Michael Appleton has signed a two-year contract as the club's permanent manager
The 49-year-old was appointed head coach on 26 March on a deal for the rest of the current campaign
following Gareth Ainsworth's departure for Gillingham
Appleton was unable to save Salop from relegation to League Two
a fate confirmed by other results on 18 April
but he has been in talks with the board about remaining at the club
Oxford and Lincoln City boss has won one of his eight league games in charge
"It's no secret that I wanted to stay at this football club so I'm really pleased the deal is now done," Appleton told Shrewsbury's official club website., external
"The last few weeks have been a challenge
but I've been really encouraged by how the players have responded and taken on board what I've asked of them
I've learned a lot about the group - what we need going forward and who I want to be part of the journey next season."
Michael Appleton's assistant Richard O'Donnell has also committed his future to Shrewsbury Town
Appleton had been out of work since being sacked as Charlton boss in January 2024 following a run of 10 league matches without a win
Despite being unable to halt their slide to League Two
the club have decided to stick with Appleton - who is known for his ability to work with young players - as they plan their return to the fourth tier for the first time in 10 years
Shrewsbury also confirmed Appleton's assistant
will remain in his role ahead of the 2025-2026 season
"The club has a clear vision for how it wants the team to play
And I hope in the games I've had so far
you've seen the type of football we are working to introduce," Appleton added
"The positive feedback I've had from supporters has been fantastic
That identity though doesn't just happen in a few weeks
both Richard and I are determined to build a team that will really make you proud next season."
Shrewsbury conclude their League One campaign against fellow relegated side Crawley Town at the Croud Meadow on Saturday (15:00 BST)
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Hudson 2HORTONVILLE - Gary Wuest was 2-for-3 with four RBIs as the Polar Bears used a five-run fourth inning to break open a close game in nonconference action
while Turner Kuhnke drove in a run for Hortonville
pitching five innings and allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out four
Sam Abrahamson had two hits and an RBI to lead Hudson
FOX CROSSING - The Zephyrs scored four runs in the first inning
one in the third and three in the sixth to earn the Big East Conference win
three RBIs and two runs scored; Joe Pirillo
who was 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored; and Alex Rice
pitching five innings and allowing three hits
two runs - one earned - with two walks and nine strikeouts
Nolan Sand and Jax Vogel had two hits each to lead Mishicot
CHILTON - The Raiders scored five runs in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead and cruised to the win over the Tigers
Chilton pitchers walked nine batters and the Tigers were charged with six errors
Peyton Juckem and Lucas Groeschel each had two hits for Chilton
to lead the Papermakers to the win over the Terrors
Kimberly snapped a 1-1 score in the second inning by plating six runs on seven hits
three other Papermakers - Arabella Carlson
Paige Wyngaard and Hermus - had multiple hit games
allowing four runs on two hits and 10 walks over five innings
Madison Buchinger took the loss for Appleton West
OSHKOSH - The Polar Bears took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth inning that snapped a 2-2 tie with the Spartans
Gracin Foytik had three hits for Hortonville
Grace Danoski pitched the first four innings for Hortonville to get the win
She allowed two runs on four hits and four walks
Kierra Wunderlich pitched the last three innings
giving up a run on two hits and a walk to get the save
Brooke Peters took the loss for Oshkosh North
FOND DU LAC - McKenna Thome hit an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to drive in the go-ahead run for the Cardinals in the win over the Patriots
Lillian Birschbach had three hits for Fond du Lac
Susan Vokes pitched a complete game for the win
Oconto Falls 0-10APPLETON - The Foxes got plenty of offense as they pounded the Panthers twice to sweep the North Eastern Conference doubleheader
the Foxes opened the scoring in the first with three runs and never looked back
The Foxes banged out 11 hits in the game as Brianna Dahlke and Andi Bierman each drove in three runs
while Claire Pfrang and Natalie Bromm each collected multiple hits for FVL
Natalie Bromm drove in five runs on three hits
but FVL scored 13 runs on eight hits in the second for a 14-2 edge
Olivia Fischer collected two hits for the Foxes in five at-bats
Amelia Danielczak led Oconto Falls with four hits
Addy Leja and Lylia Leja each collected multiple hits for the Panthers
Brenna Wilson and Lauren Warner scored goals for the Papermakers in the victory at the Lori Bembinster Memorial Invite
Ashlyn Krueger and Katie Owens had assists for Kimberly
Papermakers goalie Bee Brockert made four saves
LUXEMBURG - Gia Bay scored a pair of goals
including the game-tying goal in the 74th minute
as the Foxes and Spartans played to a draw in North Eastern Conference action
Emi Kuhn and Aaliyah Wallace scored unassisted goals for Luxemburg-Casco
Ashley Fameree made five saves in net for the Spartans
while Sabrina Schmidt made four saves for FVL
TRACK AND FIELDKimberly Gil Frank InvitationalBOYS
West Bend 5 (Wednesday)WEST BEND - Jaylen Kempfer scored six goals for Appleton in the victory over the Rush
Roen Willis and Elliott Olm each had two goals
Jayden Golding and Brody Olp had one goal each
Fox Valley Lutheran individuals: Kaden Kusserow 88
We asked readers of the Appleton Post-Crescent to share their favorite brunch restaurants in honor of April being national brunch month
Although the month-long holiday has come to an end
While readers praised several locations around town
hosts its Jammin Brunch Buffet every Sunday
an event that earned it several mentions from our readers
"We call it Jammin Brunch because we always have live music," said owner Nathan Vande Walle
"We offer a traditional brunch buffet and everything is homemade."
Customers can also add on bottomless mimosa and bloody mary drink specials
"I think people can tell the difference in food when it's homemade," Vande Walle said
"That's really important to us making sure we have quality food out on the buffet
but the food is what keeps them coming back."
customers can also enjoy live music performances from varying artists
The restaurant has seen live performances by artists like Jake Tell
For more information visit Uncle Mike's Food Emporium's Facebook page or umfoodemporium.com
Patty & Pablo's, 145 E. Second St. in Kaukauna, serves Mexican and American cuisine menu which earned it high praise from readers. The restaurant offers an extensive breakfast menu, including huevos rancheros, chilaquiles pancakes and waffles. Iced horchata lattes and freshly made aqua fresca are available daily. For more information, visit the restaurant's Facebook page or pattyandpablos.com
Jexi's Restaurant, 1011 Crooks Ave. in Kaukauna, has an extensive breakfast and brunch menu. Customers can find several different versions of benedicts, breakfast bowls, frittatas, omelets, crepes, pancakes and more. For more information, visit Jexi's Restaurant’s Facebook page
Spats, 733 W. College Ave. in Appleton, serves brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays only. It's brunch menu offers corned beef and hash, pancakes, breakfast burrito, omelet, steak and eggs, and more. Additionally, the restaurant offers bottomless mimosas and signature brunch cocktails. For more information visit spatsappleton.com
SAP Brunch, Brown Bag & Bakery, 708 N. Casaloma Drive in Grand Chute, which focuses on breakfast and brunch meals, offers dishes like huevos rancheros, corned beef hash, toasted bagel and cured Nova Scotia salmon, eggs benedict, pancakes and French toast. The restaurant sources many of its products from local businesses including coffee from Colectivo, meats from Haen Meats and bread from Breadsmiths. For more information visit sapbrunch.com
Mary's Family Restaurant, 2312 N. Richmond St. in Appleton, has specialized in homemade comfort meals since 1958. It's breakfast menu is served all day, every day and comes with dishes like omelets, French toast, pancakes and skillets. Readers say its pancakes are the best in the area. For more information visit marysfamilyrestaurant.com
Reach Jelissa Burns at 920-453-5107 or jburns1@gannett.com
Follow her on X (Twitter) at @burns_jelissa or on Instagram at burns_jelissa
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Theatre:
In a return to your Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
be swept away once more by the electrifying energy and soul-stirring harmonies of the Soweto Gospel Choir
an internationally renowned 20-member South African ensemble whose performances are nothing short of a cultural celebration
captivating audiences with their powerful a cappella renditions of both traditional and contemporary songs
Expect vibrant performances brimming with emotion and energy as they sing in a mix of English and African languages
The Soweto Gospel Choir’s distinctive sound is amplified by their dynamic choreography
dazzling costumes and deep-rooted connection to the rich musical heritage of South Africa
With two Grammy Awards and a long list of prestigious performances
a Soweto Gospel Choir performance is a vibrant
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is at 400 W College Ave
and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows
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based on David Lindsay-Abaire’s play of the same title
revolves around a teenage girl named Kimberly Levaco
who suffers from a condition that rapidly accelerates the aging process
Before she has had a chance to venture forth into the world as an adult
she finds herself turning into an old woman
Yet the effect is powerfully life-affirming in the way it reminds audiences of the preciousness of the time we have at hand
Full of quirky humor and social satire on grownup immaturity
the musical features a score by Jeanine Tesori (music) and David Lindsay-Abaire (lyrics) that will leave you both grinning and deeply touched
I'm your neighborhood reporter dedicated to Green Bay
(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story)
Sunrise Elementary School in Appleton marked its 25th year participating in the Kids Heart Challenge
raising vital funds for the American Heart Association
For physical education teacher Dean Lamers
this year's event held special significance after his own life-saving heart surgery
Students at Sunrise Elementary School in Appleton raised more than $26,000 for the American Heart Association through the Kids Heart Challenge
an annual event focused on heart health through fundraising and fitness
who has led the school's participation for years
this year's challenge held special significance
it extended my life big time," Lamers said
Lamers underwent heart surgery after experiencing health complications
"They took an artery from my chest and connected it directly to my heart," Lamers said
"I still cannot fathom or believe that it happened until I look in the mirror and see the scars that are left," Lamers said
American Heart Association Youth Market Director
noted that Lamers' innovative surgery resulted from research and treatments funded by students participating in challenges like this one
"His recovery time of bypass surgery is significantly less than even a decade ago
Third-grader Claire Baker understands the importance of their fundraising efforts
"I think it's important because we can actually help them so they don't suffer and they can actually go to their homes and spend time with their families," Baker said
The impact of the students' generosity isn't lost on Lamers
not even knowing the people that it affects and now they actually have someone that it affected and it helps," Lamers said
This year will mark Lamers' last at Sunrise Elementary as he looks forward to spending more time with family and friends
He hopes his story encourages people to get tested early and often for heart conditions
_________________________________________________________________
(This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI
Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.)
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She returns to court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing
The prosecutor asked for a $50,000 cash bond
The victim reported the incidents to police about two months ago
The first time was in an overflow parking lot of the high school
The alleged encounters took place between Sept
police recorded a call the victim made to Ryan
He tried to ask about the alleged interactions while he was in high school
The criminal complaint contains material that may not be suitable for some readers
Schnese further reports that he asked Rebecca about her first sexual encounter with VICTIM 1 that took place in the overflow parking lot near Appleton West
Near Appleton West?" Rebecca indicated she did not remember being in the overflow lot with VICTIM 1
Schnese reports that he looked over at Rebecca and observed that she was breathing with shallow breaths
Rebecca placed her head in her hands and said
"I did not sleep with [VICTIM 1]."
the Appleton School District issued this statement: “Rebecca Ryan was employed by the Appleton Area School District from August 29
there were no reports or allegations involving inappropriate contact with students
We are committed to partnering with the Appleton Police Department as needed to support any ongoing investigations.”
by Josh Cavender & Scott Hurley
APPLETON (WLUK) -- A memorial to Wisconsin's Vietnam War veterans was dedicated Wednesday
President of Vets & Friends Coffee House Jack Voight said it has been years in the making
I was able to negotiate an agreement with the Veterans Museum in Madison
and they gave me the graphics and I took it from there and created the wall itself
and that's what you see now," he said
The permanent Veterans Wall features the photographs and names of Wisconsinites who died in Vietnam
"It's called a face with every name
unbelievable what that person went through," Voight continued
it adds another dimension of interaction that sends a message and also has a different rapport when they see a face with a name."
Vets & Friends Coffee House sponsored the project
The 17-panel wall aims to feature photos of the 1,249 Wisconsin veterans who died in the war
Voight told FOX 11 it's important to remember those who didn't come home and remember where they came from
did not have a veteran that died in Vietnam," Voight said
Deaths that VFW Post Commander Wayne Martin said
"I know every veteran in here cannot forget
Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon
APPLETON (NBC 26) — In a statement given to NBC 26 Tuesday afternoon
the Appleton Area School District addressed the situation:
"Rebecca Ryan was employed by the Appleton Area School District from August 29
there were no reports or allegations involving inappropriate contact with students We are committed to partnering with the Appleton Police Department as needed to support any ongoing investigations," the District continued
A reporter with NBC 26 also spoke with the Outagamie County District Attorney's Office Tuesday afternoon
An office worker confirmed that Ryan is currently booked in Outagamie County Jail pending her initial appearance
but a date and time has not yet been confirmed
**Below is previous information from our initial report**
A former Appleton West High School teacher has been arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student
according to the Appleton Police Department
Police say Rebecca Ryan of Neenah was arrested on three counts of sexual assault of a child by a school staff member
Police say their investigation found the former teacher was in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student while working at Appleton West High School during the 2017-2018 academic year
"These incidents were reported to law enforcement in March of this year and investigators reacted swiftly and were able to establish probable cause to make an arrest in this case," the Appleton Police Department said in a news release
Police say Ryan is now in custody at the Outagamie County Jail
She was not employed as a teacher when she was arrested
Police believe no other evidence suggests that other students were involved or harmed
Police are encouraging anyone with information related to the case to contact them
by Scott Hurley
APPLETON (WLUK) -- A former high school teacher was arrested Tuesday for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student
Appleton police are recommending Rebecca Ryan be charged with three counts of sexual assault of a child by a school staff member
Investigators say the contact with a 17-year-old student took place during the 2017-18 school year
when Ryan was a teacher at Appleton West High School
Police say the incidents were first reported to them last month and there is no evidence other students were involved
the holiday celebrating Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire
While the holiday takes place on a Monday and you may not be able to celebrate as enthusiastically as you'd like
there are still plenty of ways to participate
The following are seven events in the Fox Cities celebrating Cinco de Mayo over the weekend and the day of
these events take place on the actual holiday
Tirado's Taqueria, 105 W. Northland Ave. in Appleton, is celebrating with dine-in specials including free chips and salsa, free soda, $3 tacos and $4 specialty tacos including lengua, cabeza, birria and tripa. The restaurant will also be selling homemade tamales. For more information visit the restaurant's Facebook page
Get adventurous with 'exotic' tacos at All Things JerkyAll Things Jerky, 1894 N. Casaloma Drive in Grand Chute, will be offering exotic tacos with the choice between alligator, antelope, bison and venison meat for $6 each or two for $10. Customers can also try the Gator Nachos with personalized toppings for $10 and deep fried Gator Bites for $10. For more information visit All Things Jerky's Facebook page.
Celebrate with the community at a Tipsy Taco block partyTipsy Taco, 129 S. Memorial Drive in Appleton, is reserving the whole block on May 4 for a day-long celebration including live music, DJ performances, drink specials and an outdoor taqueria. For more information visit the restaurant’s Facebook page
Tailwaggers Doggy Daycare, 865 S. Oneida St. in Menasha, is calling all furry friends. You don't need to be a client or check in for daycare to celebrate with Tailwaggers, which is offering dog-friendly tacos and a photo of your dog in a taco stand for $12. For more information visit it's Facebook page.
Tailwaggers Doggy Daycare, 100 Allegiance Court in Little Chute, is offering doggy margaritas, made with cucumber, broth and yogurt, for $3. For more information visit its Facebook page
El Agave, 1750 N. Casaloma Drive in Grand Chute, will feature a Mexican-style taco flight for $12 with the choice between steak, grilled chicken, al pastor, carnitas, chorizo, ground beef and shredded chicken. The restaurant will also have specials on margaritas and tequila shots and live music performances all day. For more information visit El Agave's Facebook page.
Civic Media’s John Maino, co-host of Maino and the Mayor
APPLETON, WI—(WISS)— Hundreds of people took time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War in Appleton yesterday (April 30
2025) with a solemn dedication of the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Wall
The memorial at 2508 North Richmond Street in Appleton is the only permanent wall honoring the over 1200 Wisconsin Veterans who died in the Vietnam War. Vets & Friends Coffee House, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides free meals to veterans raised the funds for and built the memorial.
Family members, friends, and veterans who served in Vietnam attended the dedication ceremony on April 30, 2025.
Terry Judkins served in Vietnam. So did his twin brother, who did not come home.
“We both enlisted. I went into the Army. He went into the Navy. He wanted to be a paramedic. So he became a medical corpsman, and darned if he didn’t get transferred into the Marines as a medic. So then you have him in the Northern part of Vietnam, and me right below him.” Judkins said. “For my mother, who was raising five children by herself, to have twins in a warzone was horrible!”
Made up of 17 aluminum panels with names, photographs, and biological information of the Wisconsin soldiers who died in the Vietnam War, the monument is 7-feet high and more than 50-feet long.
The monument, built late last year, is free to visit any time, day or night, thanks to motion-sensor lights.
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Tucked behind an unassuming two-story stucco building at 2508 N. Richmond St. in Appleton stands the only permanent wall honoring the 1,249 Wisconsin veterans who died in the Vietnam War
Anyone can visit the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Wall free of charge
because motion-sensor lights will illuminate the outdoor exhibit
doesn't know how many people have come to experience the wall
I know there have been people here," Voight told The Post-Crescent
The Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Wall has been in place since fall but will be formally dedicated during a somber ceremony at noon on April 30
The date was chosen because it marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam veterans James Marohn (representing Winnebago County)
Jerry Ott (Calumet County) and Voight (Outagamie and Waupaca counties) will read the names on the wall from their respective counties
The ceremony will conclude with the laying of a wreath
"I have no idea how many people will attend," Voight said
What does the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Wall show?The wall consists of 17 aluminum panels embedded with the names
faces and biographical information of the 1,249 Wisconsin veterans who died in the Vietnam War
"It is emotional," Voight, 79, said. "The wall in Washington just has the names
there's a different rapport with the person seeing the wall this way."
The names on the wall are grouped by county
Nearby is a locator panel with the names listed by alphabetical order and cross-referenced to the corresponding panels with their faces
The wall stands 7 feet high and is more than 50 feet long
At the center of the memorial are the U.S.
Wisconsin and Vietnam Veterans of America flags
The site also features two bald eagle statues and a fallen soldier marker that says
The wall is a replica of "Wisconsin Remembers: A Face for Every Name," a traveling exhibit that consists of indoor
historical societies and schools throughout the state
Voight wanted something permanent and outdoors
He has been working on the project for four years
Voight and his nonprofit organization, Vets & Friends Coffee House Inc.
obtained permission from the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum to embed the graphics from the traveling exhibit onto aluminum panels for the memorial in Appleton
including $25,000 from VFW Post 2778 in Appleton
He is working on arrangements to move the wall to another location if his property ever were to be sold
Army and served as a sergeant in the Signal Corps in Vietnam and Cambodia in 1969 and 1970
He is a former state treasurer and former president of the Appleton Common Council
Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DukeBehnke
by Josh Cavender & Ashley Kaster
APPLETON (WLUK) -- One of the area's largest music festivals announced its first 50 acts
to performers from Canada and the United Kingdom
Dave Willems says Mile of Music is aiming to make it’s 12th mile its most varied yet
we’ve always had artists from about 25 states or so
but to have that international flavor start to kick in -- artists from Canada
Talent buyer Ian Thomson told FOX 11 it’s a chance to show off Midwest flair
“I think it’s really cool to expand on that
to experience what Appleton has to offer and to also experience the Midwest lifestyle and Wisconsin
and then they take that back to their countries
In 2022, the festival introduced Spanish language artists to the lineup
Willems said it’s always the direction they’ve wanted to go
“We always look for having significant numbers of artists who represent different cultures
"Folks that can come here and can feel that this is a place for them.”
It's a feeling that Thomson works to curate every year
and showcase that there is something for everyone
in the entire lineup as well," he said
The 12th annual event will feature 200 artists from around the world across 40 different venues
Mile of Music is set for July 31 through Aug
And with it being only 90 days away, organizers also put a call out to volunteers and sponsors to help make the event a success
Mile of Music will be revealing more artists for the lineup to round out a total of 183 performers across 35 venues
APPLETON (WLUK) -- One of Appleton's largest annual events will be a part of NFL Draft week
Downtown Appleton will play host to "SongWalk" which mimics the four-day Mile of Music festival held each summer
"We thought it would be kind of cool to have a handful of venues that had some original music," said Dave Willems, one of the organizers of Mile of Music and SongWalk
"One of the things we're most known for is original music
SongWalk will feature two hours of live music
"[It's] a chance to give [visitors] a little bit of a taste of what happens every summer when we have Mile of Music," said Willems
Fans can also head to various restaurants and bars around the area hosting watch parties. Neenah will conclude the draft weekend with a light projection display on Saturday night
"We're very excited to showcase all of Northeastern Wisconsin on a national
and really even an international stage," said Cathy Trebatoski
marketing communication director at the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau
A former Appleton West High School teacher is charged three felonies for allegedly having sex with a student in the 2017-2018 academic year
Rebecca Ryan, 43, of Fox Crossing, is charged with three counts of sex assault by school staff
Each charge carries a sentence of up to three years in prison and three years of extended supervision
While she was previously identified as a Neenah woman
Winnebago County GIS data places her address in Fox Crossing
Ryan made her initial appearance in Outagamie County Circuit Court May 1
She is currently held in Outagamie County Jail on $50,000 bond
a now-25-year-old man told police in March that when he was a 17-year-old student at Appleton West High School
he had sexual intercourse on multiple occasions with Ryan
The man said the encounters while he was underage took place during the first semester of his senior year
The man told police the first time they had sex was in a vehicle in the overflow parking lot of Appleton West High School
which both took place in vehicles in different areas of Appleton
she said she never slept with the former student
She was not employed as a teacher at the time of her arrest
This story was updated to add new information
Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @ArseneauKelli
Oshkosh North 2OSHKOSH - Kimberly scored four runs in the first inning
three in the third and three in the sixth to earn the Fox Valley Association win
Paige Wyngaard helped power the Papermakers offense
going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored
Oshkosh North scored a pair of runs in the fifth
Olivia Borowitz paced the Spartans offense
Vote for the top athlete: Choose from golf, softball and track and field nominees for Cellcom Post-Crescent high school athlete of the week
Appleton West 0APPLETON - Lillian Birschbach drove in six runs and had a double and two home runs to lead the Cardinals to the win over the Terrors
Susan Vokes added three runs batted in with a double and a home run for Fond du Lac
Reghan Ziegler added a home run and two RBIs
CLINTONVILLE - After the Truckers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning
the Foxes answered with six runs in the fourth en route to the North Eastern Conference win
allowing three hits and one run over four innings
Abby Tate had three hits and Marley Tauferner had two to lead Clintonville
MENASHA - Trailing 3-2 in the third inning
the Bluejays struck for six runs in the third and two in the fourth en route to the Bay Conference win
Alyssa Rusch and Isabella Timm had two hits each
KEWASKUM - Claire Kollat was 3-for-4 and Libby Jahnke added two RBIs to lead the Wolves past Kewaskum in East Central Conference action
Winneconne scored twice in the first and once in the third en route to the win
Kewaskum scored once in the first and once in the second
allowing two unearned runs on six hits in seven innings
SHEBOYGAN - The Wolves scored 13 runs in the final three innings to defeat the Crusaders
Savannah Buhler drove in three runs for Hilbert
Brooke Bradley and Grace Kloehn both had two hits
Bradley’s hits were doubles and she had two RBIs
Alexa Christ scored three runs for Hilbert
Alandra Grenzer pitched the first four innings to get the win for Hilbert
Brylee Jueds and Libby Maus each had three hits against the Wolves to spoil the debut of Manawa’s new softball diamond
Lily Krenke and Briley Rosin each had two hits
Clendenning pitched a complete game to get the win for Iola-Scandinavia
Behnke pitched 4⅔ innings of relief for Manawa and took the loss
APPLETON - The Patriots won their fourth straight game with the victory over the Rockets
Rylan Winkler pitched four innings to get the win
Appleton East is 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Fox Valley Association
Neenah goes to 2-5 in the FVA and 3-6 overall
FOND DU LAC - Broden Butzin was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs
and Kaden Kresti added a double and a triple to help power the Polar Bears past the Cardinals in Fox Valley Association action
allowing four hits and one walk while striking out five
Griffin Jens came in and registered the last out
Hortonville scored single runs in the fourth and fifth before adding two in the sixth and two in the seventh
KAUKAUNA - Maddux Hermus allowed three hits in six innings to pitch the Papermakers to the win over the Ghosts
Hermus struck out 12 batters and did not issue a walk
Kimberly finished with 10 hits in the victory
West De Pere 6MENASHA - Trailing by six runs early
the Bluejays mounted an epic comeback to slip past the Phantoms in a key Bay Conference matchup
but Menasha answered with one run in the bottom of the third
Paul Schmolinske and Ethan Olszewski had two hits each for the Bluejays
Jake Olszewski picked up the win in relief
pitching two innings and allowing one walk while striking out three
but took advantage of four walks and four errors
while Alec Krejcarek scored two runs and drove in a pair as Oconto Falls earned the North Eastern Conference win
pitching six innings and allowing no runs on four hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts
five runs - none earned - with one walk and seven strikeouts
CLINTONVILLE - Trevor Vande Hey hit a three-run home run in the first inning and a grand slam in the fourth
to power the Tigers past the Truckers in North Eastern Conference play
Vande Hey finished 3-for-4 with nine RBIs and two runs scored
Caleb Podgorski was 4-for-4 with three RBIs
Jackson Leitzke was 3-for-4 with four runs scored
and Bennett Stengel was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored
Wrightstown scored eight runs in the first
Linken Korth and Owen Lorge had two hits each for the Truckers
three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to give the Tigers a 5-3 lead in their victory over the Raiders
Mike Vanden Heuvel and Kale Wagner each had two hits for Chilton
Peyton Juckem picked up the win for the Tigers with a complete game
SEYMOUR - Christian Collins hit a home run and drove in two runs for the Tritons in the nonconference loss
Jack Frelich pitched 5⅔ innings for Notre Dame
APPLETON - Ashlyn Krueger’s breakaway goal in the 72nd minute proved to be the difference in the battle of undefeated teams in the Fox Valley Association
The win leaves the Papermakers (6-2 overall) at 3-0 atop the FVA
North is 2-1 in league play and 8-2 overall
“This was huge,” Kimberly coach Andrew Sutton said
and we both have had a good start to the season.”
Green Bay West 0MENASHA - Monica Robinson scored three goals and added one assist
while Allison Guyette scored three goals as Menasha raced to a seven-goal lead by halftime en route to the Bay Conference win
Also scoring goals for the Bluejays were Saoirse Seidl Sullivan
APPLETON - The Foxes scored five goals in the first half in the North Eastern Conference victory over the Truckers
Sydney Szerkins and Kyleigh Huza each scored two goals for FVL
WRIGHTSTOWN - Emi Kuhn broke up a 1-1 halftime tie to help lead the Spartans past the Tigers in North Eastern Conference action
Casidee Jacobson opened the scoring off an assist by Kuhn
but Carlie Verbeten’s free kick at the 15-minute mark evened the score at the half for Wrightstown
Kuhn assisted on Aaliyah Wallace’s goal at the 62nd-minute mark
while Wallace assisted on Maggie Pravechek’s goal in the 65th minute
Ava Krueger made six saves in net for Wrightstown
while Ashley Fameree made three saves for Luxemburg-Casco
Kimberly wins based on fifth score of 41-44
Oneida Classic (Monday)NOTRE DAME ACADEMY 308
With one more full month to go in the school year
students and teachers are counting down the days to summer vacation
To help you figure out how many days that is
we've put together a list of when area school districts end their school year
Rebecca Loroff is an education reporter for the Fox Cities. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com
by David Go
APPLETON (WLUK) -- On a week when Green Bay hosted 600,000 visitors
Local businesses expected to see an uptick in customers during draft week
"We ramped up for everything," said Kendal Koch
owner of Mad Apple Burger & Billiard Co
And it's really a testament to what Lambeau Field did
because they really retained those customers and kept them there."
it was a fairly normal week -- sentiments that were indicative of the businesses FOX 11 spoke with
"We really didn't notice that much of an uptick," added Koch
"We got some people in that were traveling out and about
but definitely not worth the ramp-up or any of that."
yet it's better to measure their impact by air traffic than foot traffic
"We saw about a 20% increase in traffic at the airport," said Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Pam Seidl
"They said it was like another kind of heavy spring break week."
"Our hotels were a little disappointed in the pickup of rooms," said Seidl
"There were some dynamics going on there where I don't think our hotels received as many rooms as they would have hoped in a situation like this
and a little slow in the downtown Appleton area from the hospitality businesses
It was really just kind of an interesting demand cycle."
Seidl added that downtown Appleton was about normal
The city decided not to schedule non-draft events that are part of the regular calendar in Appleton
likely contributing to the relatively slow week
One business owner estimated she received more out-of-town guests
But the fact that there was virtually no news during draft week may have been good news
"Given that we're one of the retail and hospitality hubs in the Fox Valley
we added some additional staffing for that Thursday
Friday and Saturday of the draft," said Cpl
Dylan Davis of the Grand Chute Police Department
we did not necessarily need that extra staffing."
traffic violations or abnormal activity during the week -- a normal week in Appleton
"Certainly it was an extraordinary week in Green Bay," said Seidl
Little Chute 6, Marinette 4MARINETTE - Ethan Melendrez pitched five innings to lead the Mustangs to the victory over the Marines
Brock Gardner earned the save for Little Chute
Noah Faccio had two hits and drove in two runs for Little Chute
including a go-ahead RBI single in the third inning
Chase MacGregor had three hits for Marinette
Clintonville 1WRIGHTSTOWN - The Tigers scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning in the victory over the Truckers
Bennett Stengel was 3-for-3 with two RBIs for Wrightstown
Aiden Humphreys pitched six innings to get the win
Freedom 3OCONTO FALLS - Carter Heroux allowed two hits in six innings to pitch the Panthers to the victory over the Irish
Easton Engel hit a home run and a double for Oconto Falls
Chase Carriveau and Cole Bozile also had two hits apiece
DE PERE - The Phantoms scored four runs in the second inning and five in the fourth inning in the five-inning win over the Bluejays
walked three and struck out eight for the victory
Pierce Deneys and Ethan Olszewski had hits for Menasha
DENMARK - The Foxes hit three home runs in the victory over the Vikings
Brianna Dahlke hit a two-run home run in the second inning
Madison Babcock hit a two-run homer in the third inning and Olivia Fischer added a solo home run in the third
She struck out 10 batters and allowed four runs
Rebekah Dittmer had two hits and two RBIs for Denmark
NEW LONDON - Isabella Timm hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to give the Bluejays a 3-0 lead and they went on to beat the Bulldogs
Gabrielle Farr pitched five innings to get the win
Teagan Massey-Plamann pitched the final two innings for Menasha
Mary Catholic 0MISHICOT - Mishicot sent 16 batters to the plate in the first inning
in the four-inning victory over the Zephyrs
drove in three runs and scored three runs for Mishicot
Kasey Brouchard also had three hits and two RBIs
Karsyn Adair and Nevaeh Malchek added two hits each
Kiran Sanford pitched a no-hitter for Mishicot
APPLETON - Tristan Dean scored five goals for Appleton in the victory over the Ghostbirds
while Jaylen Kempfer and Jayden Golding each had one goal
Eastern Wisconsin Conference #3BRILLION 177
There's plenty of season left for girls soccer teams in the Fox Valley Association
But it certainly felt like the matchup between Kimberly and Appleton North on April 29 was a tussle for conference supremacy
with the Papermakers emerging with a 1-0 victory at Paul Engen Field
Kimberly improves to 3-0 in league play and 6-2 overall. The Papermakers reached the WIAA Division 1 state final last season and lost plenty of firepower from that team
but return a roster that's not only junior heavy but features a few standout freshmen
Freshman Ashlyn Krueger scored the lone goal in the Papermakers' victory over the Lightning
“I think we’re still grinding through the idea that we’re not last year’s team," Kimberly coach Andrew Sutton said
"We graduated so many good players and we’re starting some freshmen and playing some girls who didn’t get a lot of minutes last year
the Papermakers defense has been almost impenetrable
Junior defenders Emily Urban and Skyler Brey help lead the charge for Kimberly
"I feel like we’re all connecting," Urban said
so we have people filling in different roles and trying to find our identity
But we know we’re an aggressive team that’s going to fight until the end."
Having the players find that early chemistry was crucial
"It's about realizing that we’re not last year’s team and we have to jell and we have to play well," he said
"And we have to take every practice seriously because we don’t have a bunch of four-year starters out there."
The win over North was a positive sign for the Papermakers
who have a nonconference game against Hudson on May 2 before returning to FVA play with a game against Neenah on May 6
"I felt this might be the conference championship game," Sutton said
and nobody is going to take us lightly and nobody is going to give it to us easy
Hopefully we can build on this and be ready for some of the tough games down the road."
which has had a solid start under first-year coach Sarah Hagen
The Lightning is 8-2 overall and 2-1 in FVA play. North was 9-3-3 last season and Hagen, a former North standout and professional player, was named the head coach in July.
North is led in scoring by Brinley Dunsirn (13 goals)
Claire Zulewski leads the team with six assists
Hagen put in the time to watch the players compete on their club teams as well as at open gyms
"Hopefully they've gotten to know my personality in the offseason enough so that when we got to the preseason and to the start of the season
they were familiar with me and my coaching style," Hagen said
Hagen added she's pleased with how the team has been competitive
"I'm happy with the way we've been able to compete
from just a conference standpoint so far," she said
"Obviously Kimberly is a tough opponent and our nonconference schedule we've had a lot of success as well."
Hagen said she has a "great group of girls" to coach her first year
We have some young talent and some good senior leadership," she said
"The parents have been absolutely phenomenal
so I couldn't have asked for a better situation to walk into."
APPLETON − Sam Pitz might be the perfect description of a "late bloomer."
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end signed an undrafted rookie free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens following last weekend's NFL Draft after a solid college career playing at the University of Minnesota Duluth
Pitz described the experience of signing a pro contract as "super cool."
"Growing up I wasn't sure what sport I wanted to play
but I knew that I wanted to play something at the professional level and it ended up being football," Pitz said
The 24-year-old Pitz is a 2019 Appleton West graduate and played only two years of football in high school
Pitz was a self-described "small guy" as he entered high school
"I didn't hit my growth spurt until middle of sophomore year," he said
"Freshman year I was kind of a small guy and hadn't played football for 7 or 8 years
I played YMCA tackle football for two years when I was really young
but I was just always kind of a smaller guy
I was on JV and kind of stuck with it and worked out a little more
I gained a bunch of weight in the weight room
I also grew seven inches from my freshman to senior year."
where he was a four-time first-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference all-conference selection
He was also a 2024 American Football Coaches Association Division II first-team All-American and a 2024 Don Hansen NCAA DII honorable-mention All-American
He finished his career with 940 yards (13.2 average per catch) and 16 touchdowns in 44 games
NFL teams began noticing Pitz the past few years
with teams frequently showing up at Minnesota Duluth practices to watch him and his teammates
"It got pretty serious this past year," Pitz said
"I think every team went to our practice at least once."
Baltimore Ravens the best fit for Sam PitzPitz said he and his agent went over NFL rosters to find the best fit and Baltimore seemed a logical choice
He describes himself as a complete player at tight end who is more than willing to do the dirty work blocking as well as being able to run a variety of routes
along with using his body in man coverage to get off pressure and find holes in the zone
(my agent) was in contact with a few teams and Baltimore was the best possibility to make the 53-man roster or the practice squad," Pitz said
Pitz flies to Baltimore on May 2 for rookie minicamp over the weekend before the start of organized team activities May 27-29
"We'll have a couple of practices and some workouts with weights and conditioning," he said
"We'll have a bunch of meetings with the coaching staff
Pitz said it was "super cool" hearing from people from his high school days after he signed the rookie free-agent deal
obviously they were super excited for me," he said
"But I heard from people that I was close with back at high school and maybe haven't talked to as recently
I spent the day Saturday with some of my friends from high school and a few of my college buddies
Also super cool to spend the day with my girlfriend also
A lot of people don't get this opportunity
so I'm just going to make the most of it and hopefully stick and make a good career out of it."
APPLETON – The city took a step toward increasing its supply of housing by annexing 95 acres of farmland from the town of Grand Chute for development as single-family homes
The Common Council approved the annexation unanimously Wednesday
Mayor Jake Woodford said Appleton looks forward to providing services to the property
"As a city that's sort of pushing up against our boundaries
bringing 95 additional acres into the city of Appleton is a great thing," Woodford told the City Plan Commission
Appleton Principal Planner Don Harp said the Wisconsin Department of Administration reviewed the annexation and determined it was in the public interest
The annexation complies with the 1992 Appleton-Grand Chute Intermunicipal Boundary Agreement
which established Richmond Street (State 47) as the dividing line for future development north of Northland Avenue (Outagamie County OO)
Appleton promised not to accept annexations west of the line
and Grand Chute vowed not to challenge annexations east of the line
The Dorn property will come into the city as agricultural land
but the intent is for it to be rezoned for single-family homes
That use is consistent with Appleton's 2010-2030 Comprehensive Plan
with the notification requirements to the property owners within 100 feet of this annexation boundary," Harp told the City Plan Commission
(WLUK) -- The Appleton Police Department issued a warning Wednesday as concern continues to grows about the reckless riding of motorcycles
police investigated a serious crash when an e-bike rider took off after police tried to stop them -- only to then be hit by a car
It comes as the e-bike business is booming
"The popularity of them -- it's become most likely 50-60% of our business now
compared to what it was five years ago," said Andy Rosenthal from Cranked Bike Studio in Neenah
While it's a good way for people to get outside and ride
Appleton police say some motorized bikes they're seeing -- and the way people are riding them -- are not
Meghan Cash with the Appleton Police Department
we've continued to see behaviors changing when it comes to e-bikes on the roadway
but especially young people on e-bikes on the roadway."
a driver captured an e-bike rider pulling a wheelie while riding down College Avenue
Appleton police tried to stop a group of e-bike riders when one rider took off
"Officers are trying to make contact and because of some poor decision making
folks are fleeing from the police and they're weaving through traffic and ultimately ending up in a crash
and that's not something we need to see happen and that's something that's very preventable."
It's not only the reckless riding police are concerned about
It's also the e-bikes or motorized bikes people are riding
"The last couple of years specifically
we've seen a huge increase in the electric bicycles downtown
and now we're seeing these -- you'd call it an e-bike
you're really looking at more of motorcycle
These really high powered vehicles you straddle
E-bikes with pedals are legal for road and bike lane riding
It's high powered motorized bikes that travel faster than 28 miles per hour with a more than 750-watt motor that are illegal and not permitted on the road
Cranked Bike Studio in Neenah sells dozens of different types of e-bikes and one version of a motorized bike
Not only does the shop have the state e-bike law posted in the store
but they also make sure any buyer knows how the motorized bike is to be used
"That is for somebody who has land up north and go on the ATV trails
like going hunting or just having fun on the ATV trails," added Rosenthal
Police are working to educate people on the dangers of the motorized bikes and what's legal versus illegal for city streets in an effort to keep everyone safe
Cranked Bike Studio is teaming up with Wisconsin Bike Fed for a learn-to-bike class Friday
I'm your neighborhood reporter in Appleton
APPLETON (NBC 26) — As President Donald Trump reached 100 days into his second term
we took to the streets of downtown Appleton to ask people and visitors how they think he’s doing
Reactions ranged from praise to fierce criticism—and plenty of grades in between
(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story
President Donald Trump recently reached 100 days into his second term—and the reactions on how he’s doing are coming in strong across the country
Downtown Appleton was buzzing on a busy night when I hit College Avenue with a whiteboard and one question: How would you grade President Trump’s first 100 days on a scale of A through F
One pedestrian responded “C minus.” Another shouted
Just a few of the extremely passionate responses I was met with Tuesday night
Local student Melody Birney offered Trump a failing mark too
“I think he’s wasting our time,” she remarked
Appleton residents Sharon Weber and Jean Schlais also chimed in
Student Lennon Torres didn’t hold back either
The Trump Administration is less than an F,” Torres argued
“Immigration and all the tyrannical stuff he’s doing to our government
She also expressed disappointment at how divided the country has become
And I think it’s hard for people to acknowledge something positive if that’s not the individual that they wanted.”
it’s clear that Wisconsin voters are split on how to feel regarding Trump after his first 100 days of his second term
Por Vida Tattoo Club is now open in Appleton
hyper realism and more tattoo options to the area
Owner and artist Nestor Mero Cisneros has been working as a tattoo artist since 2009
He told The Post-Crescent in an interview that the journey leading up to opening the business has been rewarding
"I never thought I'd open up a shop," Cisneros said
"I was originally looking for an art space
walked in and my wife and I both saw the potential
I always had an idea and vision of what my own place would look like
so bringing that to fruition has been quite an amazing journey."
Originally from Chicago and a first-generation American
Cisneros has been an artist for a majority of his life
While he never knew he was going to develop a career as an artist
his adolescence was rooted in painting murals
Cisneros started off as a tattoo artist in Chicago, before moving to Appleton in 2020 after getting married to his wife, who is originally from Wisconsin. Prior to opening the shop, he worked as a tattoo artist at Big Guns Tattoo and Black Thorn Tattoo
which translates to "for life," is a nod not only towards the permanency of a tattoo
"When I first met my wife she was learning a bit of Spanish," Cisneros said
"Later on I used to tell her 'I love you for life,' you know
'por vida.' And then it kind of became a a staple saying that I would use generally
I tell people when they get their first tattoos like
While Cisneros's go-to designs are black and grey realism
he said his work is very versatile and he can do any style that a tattoo piece calls for
Cisneros said he's most looking forward to the clients that walk through the door and being part of the Appleton community
he wants to create a small gallery space in the shop to display works from local artists and host community-focused events
For more information and updates, visit Por Vida Tattoo Club's website or call the shop's number at(920) 815-3004