— Bruer Park is already a hub for softball but the Slinger community wants to add a dog park to the facility Friends of the Slinger Dog Park Vice President Jennie Stonehouse emailed TMJ4’s Washington County reporter to get the word out about the project sharing that it’s solely funded by donations "It's a lot of work to get all of the fundraising." She formed the volunteer board after the village approved their use of six acres to build a fenced-in dog park with two areas — one for big dogs and another for little dogs "Because we love our dogs!" Stonehouse said it's really nice to bring your dog to the dog park and meet other people." Watch: Slinger community hopes to build dog park but they need to raise a total of $150,000 to pay for the park without using taxpayer dollars "They're man's best friend and they need a place to run," Friends of the Slinger Dog Park President Bob Stuettgen said "This has been something that people have been asking for for the past 10 years at least and I thought it'll make a lot of people happy in the village." The organization will host an antique appraisal on June 7th to raise more money. People can donate or attend upcoming fundraisers found through the Friends of the Slinger Dog Park Facebook page Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip Report a typo One of Chicago’s most beloved deep-dish institutions, a pizza that’s been around the city and suburbs for more than half a century, is closing its last location. My Pie Ownership broke the news on Instagram this morning, Thursday, May 1 touting My Pie’s role in introducing deep dish to customers scattered across 25 locations in nine states The company also shipped pizza all over the country The Bucktown location had been open since 2000 That location also debuted a sandwich spinoff called Lil Guys “From our first location on Sheridan Road in 1971 to our Bucktown home since 2000 My Pi has been a labor of love,” the post reads The restaurant will make one more appearance on August 24 when Steve Dolinsky’s Pizza City Fest returns to Chicago after a one-year hiatus Owner Rich Aronson says the business had been challenging for months it became clear that the restaurant would not survive the summer My Pie flourished during the pandemic thanks to a rise in takeout and delivery with more customers also electing to have frozen pizzas shipped My Pie found itself in a tough situation with little room for tables and chairs and dine-in service Aronson says increased competition from third-party delivery services also hurt the restaurant “It’s also that I’m just getting old,” Aronson says Aronson was 4 when his father, Larry Aronson, opened the first My Pie in Rogers Park near Loyola University’s campus along Sheridan Road. His dad was shocked by the decision to close. The older Aronson had been experimenting with recipes since the ’50s, taking Pizzeria Uno’s recipe and making it his own A flagship restaurant would emerge in Lincoln Park with its familiar vertical sign hanging outside The dimly lit space featured a salad bar in the center and an enclave hiding two arcade video games where takeout customers would hear Pac-Man gobbling up pellets or Mike Haggar from Final Fight punching out bad guys The paper placemats were printed with mazes and other games for kids The Lincoln Park restaurant closed in 2008 Toppings included Chicago’s trademark fennel-heavy sausage but vegetarians also had something to look forward to with the spinach soufflé Crispy fried mushrooms rounded out the experience which endeared itself to those who avoid dairy and meat Aronson says there’s a chance they’d be open to selling the assets and recipes to someone who wanted to keep My Pie alive That’s not an immediate concern for Aronson who says he’s focused on ensuring his staff of 13 is properly supported He’s also looking forward for a reset and some time off after they close The pizzeria — there’s still disagreement over whether its name is My Pie or My Pi (some of the restaurant’s signage uses the Greek mathematical symbol and alternatively spells it My Pie while the social handle leaves out the E) — achieved neighborhood landmark status thanks to a buttery and airy crust Aronson says My Pie is the true representation of deep dish something many native Chicagoans aren’t able to define conflating deep dish with the heavier stuffed pizzas sold by pizzerias like Nancy’s and Giordano’s already confused and stuffed with pizza narratives “I just feel bad that the more balanced kind of tuxedo version of the deep dish — which is perfectly balanced and never goes out of style like a tuxedo — is kind of going away because people don’t realize that they’re different Fans have two months to get their My Pie fix in Bucktown before this classic Chicago joint calls it quits Due to recent events, you can now leave online condolences with each obituary posted on the Kutis Funeral Home website. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance – FEMA is now helping those that have lost a loved one from COVID-19. Click HERE to review the information on eligibility and requirements on the COVID-19 Funeral He passed away at his home unexpectedly on February 2nd Moose was known for his great humor and his genuine love for his friends and family Moose leaves behind many nieces and nephews and friends He is proceeded in death by his Son Jessie Slinger Father John Slinger and Grandfather Jack Fruchey Moose enjoyed spending most of his time cruising on his Harley that he loved so much and spending time with his grandchildren He was a dedicated hard worker and would take the shirt off of his back for just about anyone He was such an amazing man who most could count on John 5:24 I tell you the truth those who listen to my message and believe in god who sent me have eternal life they will never be condemned but they have already passed from death into life Services; Funeral from KUTIS AFFTON Chapel 10151 Gravois Moose you will be missed by many but 1 little girl especially your Granddaughter Carleigh will miss so much Thank you for being a GREAT PAPA to her and helping with everything My heart goes out to the family of this great man we all hurt so much when we heard you passed in my heart you will ALWAYS be l until we meet again love you forever 💟 I don’t even know where to begin this is harder than I thought it would be in my heart you will forever be My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family I will keep those good memories locked into my memory It will be hard one to get over but I understand the feeling of losing someone that is dearest to us ..Your a very strong woman and very head strong keep living.keep living to live and grasp all the great times that u can and keep in mind tomorrow is never promised and the best thing in life you still do have and that is the friends n family that depend on your smile everyday Enjoy life love you through n through I’m here for u sorry for ur loss Jason I will miss you for ever I’ll miss you coming by so we could have our heart to heart talks or just gossip He was very appreciated and is already very missed big Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" For personalized and affordable funeral arrangements choose Kutis Funeral Home - a family-owned establishment serving St 2906 Gravois Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118314-772-3000 10151 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO 63123314-842-4458 5255 Lemay Ferry Road, Mehlville, MO 63129314-894-4500 Marian Nowak of Slinger has a sign with a simple message: God and we support President Trump,” she explained She’s had it up for the last nine years with no issues she was one of several residents who got a letter from Slinger’s building inspector It said she was violating the Washington County village’s sign ordinance ‘What the heck?’” she described her reaction “Because it was up for so long.” After significant online attention and a threat of legal action by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty the village has since rescinded those violation letters The village’s board has sent its sign ordinance back to its Plan Commission to “revisit the language and the general rules” of the ordinance according to Village President Scott Stortz Slinger regulates signs within village limits But Slinger’s ordinances say election signs can’t be up more than four days after an election temporary signs can’t be up for more than seven days The village only enforces those rules in response to complaints Someone had sent the village a list of several houses with Trump signs He said the village followed its ordinance by inspecting the signs concluding they’d been up too long and issuing violation letters It was the village’s first complaint since its sign ordinance written in 2022 “Our response is not politically motivated I don’t care if the sign says ‘free cupcakes,’” he said Almost 70 percent of Slinger residents voted for President Donald Trump in last year’s election Similar municipal rules about political signs have been found unconstitutional an attorney with the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty Supreme Court decisions have “long recognized that signage is a protected form of speech under the First Amendment.” In its unanimous 2015 Reed v. Town of Gilbert decision the court ruled that sign restrictions — even if they don’t target specific political views — are unconstitutional when they’re based on signs’ content “It’s regulating it differently based on what the sign says you know — it’s a 6-foot-by-4-foot sign that can be in place for 30 days,” Burmeister explained Her firm litigated a similar case in Neenah in 2023 WILL represented a Slinger resident who received a violation letter from the village. After the firm sent the village a letter stating its ordinance was unconstitutional, the village rescinded its violation notices Stortz said discussion of Slinger’s sign ordinance “exploded” online after the letters were sent Stortz said he “made sure everybody knew” to come to the March 17 Village Board meeting to share their thoughts on the ordinance. “And out of the thousands and thousands and thousands of comments, only one person showed up to that meeting,” he said. “So, very interesting.” He called that “symptomatic of social media in general.” “It is a little (discouraging) when you’ve got so many people who are willing to rip on their own community publicly, but yet not be part of the solution,” he said. “We want them to show up, we want to see their faces, we want them to see our faces, we want to hear their comments, their concerns,” he said. “If people don’t like the rule, fine,” he said. “Help us create one that everybody likes.” Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2025, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. Watch All Subscriber Events NASCAR SERIES Kelsey and Travis Dassow have been announced at the new owners of Slinger Super Speedway ahead of the historic track's 78th season of racing. ShareTopKelsey and Travis Dassow have been announced at the new owners of Slinger Super Speedway The news was shared in a post on Slinger Super Speedway’s Facebook page with a message from the Dassows introducing themselves as the new owners of the facility “This opportunity of owning Slinger Speedway was a dream that became a reality for us,” reads the post “We believe change brings fresh perspectives and new opportunities we will keep the family tradition of Sunday night racing.” The Dassows met as racers at Slinger Speedway Kelsey Dassow was awarded the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship in 2011 and 2012 while attending the UW-Milwaukee College of Engineering "Both Travis and I both continued to be involved in the sport of racing as car and team owners of Apex Motorsports and now we are track owners Slinger Speedway has come full circle in our lives and will continue to be a part of our family and Easton [have] been racing go-karts for two years "Travis and I also own another business with Travis managing that business and I am an engineer." previous owners Todd and Elizabeth Thelen announced a sale of historic Slinger Super Speedway was pending assuring the potential buyers came from a racing background and would continue racing at Slinger Speedway Slinger Super Speedway is preparing for its 78th season of racing scheduled to begin on April 27 with the Jerry “Bear” Priesgen Memorial Slinger is the home of the Slinger Nationals a prestigious short track event with a list of winners that includes the likes of NASCAR Hall of Famers such as Alan Kulwicki two-time Daytona 500 winner William Byron and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ty Majeski Some of the best Late Model drivers from Wisconsin and beyond have also won the event The 45th Annual Cobblestone Hotels Slinger Nationals Presented by Lynch Buick-GMC of West Bend is scheduled for Tuesday Related ArticlesSale of Slinger Super Speedway Pending, Next Chapter of Racing On The Horizon Slinger Speedway 2025 Schedule Announced Ahead of 78th Season of Racing ASA STARS National Tour Releases 2025 Schedule Two generations ago they were simply late models, the fastest asphalt short track stock cars of their day, the kind the legendary Dick Trickle raced around the country from his Wisconsin Rapids base or around his home state against the likes of Joe Shear and Jim Sauter, and, yes, Johnny Ziegler less nimble and a little less powerful than their “super” counterparts Due partly to the trend of the day and due partly to circumstances, those were the cars that topped the bill for the April 27 Slinger opener, when Riddle crossed the line to win the All-Star 50 in a car that carried a touch of the neon green that made Ziegler’s cars so recognizable More: Key Wisconsin auto racing events for the 2025 season More: Five burning questions to keep Wisconsin racing fans warm while waiting for the 2025 season “We love having the late models here as a premier division as well,” said new promoter Travis Dassow the opener will be more of a dual super/limited probably more special for both and probably less divisions … Still have a $2,500-to-win limited late show but probably have a super late show as well so we can make it a big dual event.” the traveling ASA Midwest Tour co-sanctioned the Slinger super late model opener The track also is set to host the ASA STARS National Tour Both will bring drivers from around the country which along with increased purses typically leads to bigger crowds there will be just six super late model points nights and it’s hard to make these guys come out every week in a super late to make it feasible,” Dassow said This year it’s only six (super late model races) without Nationals and the STARS race “I think that number’s got to go up a couple just to keep the attraction of the super lates stuff.” Dassow and his wife, Kelsey – who met as racers at Slinger Speedway – completed the purchase of the track from Todd and Elizabeth Thelen in early March The facility underwent a facelift under the Thelens and enjoyed its biggest day in its 77-year history in 2021 when the stands were full for the nationally televised broadcast of the popular but short-lived Superstar Racing Experience series Upgrades made in the weeks leading up to the 2025 opening day include some paving suite renovation and a change to digital ticketing Although there were kinks to work out and some unknowns Dassow said he was generally pleased with the first show More cleanup and light construction is planned beyond a 2026 schedule with more emphasis on the premier division or limited late models – as a weekly headline division seems to have become more common as costs have risen Tracks such as Dells Raceway Park in Wisconsin Dells have gone to mini-series for super late models with each race becoming more of a big deal attracting top regional and even national-level competition At the same time the ASA STARS National Tour and the rival UARA series have become options for drivers even if costs can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars The shift raises the question of whether late models could replace the fastest and most expensive cars for all but special events “It’d be really hard if we were running 15 who graduated from late models and won the 2018 Slinger super late model title For this opener he was supporting brother Zach and uncle Dennis “We were seeing the car counts fall because everybody’s in a similar situation It lets me pick and choose when I want to go race Kaukauna if I want to go to the Dells or (race with the) Midwest Tour “I hope next year they bring back supers a little more Late models are the top division at Riddle’s home track Madison has super late model special events featuring the ASA Midwest Tour Riddle doesn’t give a lot of thought to what anyone might think a premier division should be at an asphalt stock car short track Late models fit his budget and a flexible schedule “We’re gonna head to the Madison opener and then after that we’re gonna just sit down as a team and see what we have the most fun doing and what makes the most sense for us to do and have fun,” Riddle said Riddle expects that by the time his season is done The nice thing about the way he goes about his racing and the division in which he competes is that it’s easy to make decisions on short notice “My favorite part about a limited late model is any weekend if we want to go race we could get out the map pick out a track and I guarantee we can find a race somewhere,” Riddle said noting a comparative lack of super late model events and rules differences “It’s a division that economically makes sense and the 30-plus car count kind of shows that We had good competition and plenty of guys that have super late model experience racing in this field So it makes me even more happy to win this.” The NFL announced today that high school football coach Bill Jacklin of Slinger High School in Slinger has been named the NFL Don Shula National High School Coach of the Year for the NFC who was selected as this season's Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA)/Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Year was nominated by the Packers for the national award All 32 NFL clubs nominated a high school coach that demonstrates the integrity achievement and leadership exemplified by Don Shula Tony Dungy and Scott Pioli reviewed all nominations and selected two Don Shula Coach of the Year Award winners head football coach at Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg "I am deeply honored to accept the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award leadership and dedication to community," said Jacklin "This achievement is not mine alone—it represents the dedication passion and hard work of every individual within our Slinger football family 'All In as One' has been more than a motto; it's the foundation of our success." Jacklin will attend the Pro Bowl Games and Super Bowl LVIII as a special guest of the NFL and will also receive a $15,000 award to his high school football program and a $10,000 cash award "The Packers are pleased to congratulate Coach Jacklin on earning this incredible honor and national recognition," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy "He is a tremendous asset to his community in Slinger just like so many dedicated high school coaches are throughout Wisconsin To receive an award named for one of the greatest coaches in football history is a testament to Coach Jacklin's leadership ability We commend his dedication to shaping the young men in his program into winners both on and off the field." Jacklin and the Slinger Owls completed their undefeated season by bringing home the school's second state football title Jacklin graduated from Slinger High School in 1988 and accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater before the 2011 season Jacklin is a 4th grade teacher at Addison Elementary School Mississippi State receiver had signed with Green Bay in January Green Bay also signs 10 rookie free agents  Former top 10 draft pick has played five years for Cardinals and Giants First-year player signed with Green Bay on Jan The free event will take place from 3 to 10 p.m. with outdoor activities for all ages offered throughout the day Drone Restrictions in Effect; Unauthorized Drone Activity Will Be Reported to Law Enforcement Free virtual event to celebrate the 2025 NFL Draft will feature Packers players and will be live streamed online Event to feature Green Bay culture and Wisconsin favorites; Day 3 starts with Bike Parade and ends with Brad Paisley concert; fans reminded to register for free entry on OnePass app Organization will oversee men's and women's national teams for Olympics in LA Fan voting will take place now through May 1 to select the winner Parking available in Brookwood Drive or Lombardi Time Square Lot; Additional road closures and detours now in effect He would continue to build the business at the small Wisconsin racetrack with a big reputation for a few more years until the right buyer with the same sort of vision came along It just happened more quickly than expected In an interview with the Journal Sentinel on Tuesday “The business has never been better,” Thelen said in the phone interview … Things kind of … just one thing leads to the next “Whether it’s Richard Petty or Aaron Rodgers we watch these athletes go through these things but we never watch business owners go through it the Illinois track that shut down after 76 seasons and was demolished to make way for a commercial development The agreement to sell came together within the past couple of months and if it goes through as planned will be done ahead of opening day April 27 Makes me think what I want to do the next five the vision was to sell it to somebody that had more ambition and energy than me and (for it to) continue on as a racetrack The initial social media post announcing the planned sale indicated the buyers have been involved in racing Thelen said he understands fans’ interest in the identity of the buyer but to protect the deal he does not plan to reveal that until the purchase is complete “The main reason we had to put something out was because the rumor mill was who raced at the track in the late 1990s and early 2000s went to work for former owner Wayne Erickson in 2005 He bought the business in 2013 and then completed the full purchase of the property in 2021 whether it was sports in high school things or college things or racing things someday I want to run this place and someday I want to own it Indications are car counts in the premier super late model class and late model classes will both be up this season Running the track is a seven-days-a-week project half the year that varies widely through the offseason The worst thing somebody coming in could do is focus on one thing You have your people in place that you manage You do have people in place to (handle details) but you’ve got to get to the point of trusting them.” Slinger Speedway got a significant facelift and many amenities were modernized under Thelen’s ownership which is coming for the first time this season “Those are the things I won’t miss, right?” Thelen said. “But it’s the people, the staff, fans, sponsors, racers.” Thelen said he has been racing in one form or another on Sundays since his karting days. A respite might be nice, but that said, he won’t just walk away. “I do have some things in motion, some smaller business ventures that I might jump into,” Thelen said. “I think on the racing side, I’ll help around Slinger Speedway where we’re needed, and kind of lay low for a while, see what surfaces on the racing side.” Slinger Super Speedway has announced its 2025 schedule, setting the stage for the 78th year of racing at the famed Wisconsin quarter-mile. ShareTopSlinger Super Speedway has announced its 2025 schedule setting the stage for the 78th year of racing at the famed Wisconsin quarter-mile The first race of the season will be the Jerry “Bear” Priesgen Memorial featuring the All Star Challenge Series and Uptown Motorcars Late Models The Jerry “Bear” Priesgen Memorial takes place on April 27 Slinger’s first Super Late Model race of 2025 will be on May 18 as part of the 8th Annual Keith’s Marina Race Against Cancer Benefitting Chix4ACause Great North Legends and Johnson & Sons Paving Bandoleros will also see the track on May 18 the ASA STARS National Tour Super Late Models head to Slinger on Father’s Day Sunday That event also marks round one of the Twin Bee $1,000 Challenge for the Raceway Bar & Grill Slinger Bees The crown jewel of the Slinger calendar each year is the Slinger Nationals The 45th Annual Cobblestone Hotels Slinger Nationals Presented by Lynch Buick-GMC of West Bend takes place on July 7-8 including the Kickoff Party and Qualifying Draw with Let’s Get Roasted including both the Super Late Models and the Uptown Motorcars Late Models The full Slinger Speedway 2025 schedule can be viewed below For events before Memorial Day and after Labor Day visit slingersuperspeedway.com or follow Slinger Super Speedway on social media March 22 (Saturday): Driver Registration (also available online) – Edward H Wolf Schleisingerville to Slinger Historical Museum; 12:30 to 2:30 April 19 (Saturday): Easter Egg Hunt (weather permitting) in the grandstand upper parking lot April 26 (Saturday): Open practice #2 (all divisions) April 27 AFTERNOON – Jerry “Bear” Priesgen Memorial: All Star Challenge Series / Uptown Motorcars Late Models May 15 (Thursday): Rookie Night (if you have one or fewer years in your current division you are welcome to join us –or– are a Bando or HSRA driver with any number of years of experience) May 18 AFTERNOON – 8th Annual Keith’s Marina Race Against Cancer Benefitting Chix4ACause: Super Late Models May 26) – 33rd Annual EH Wolf Memorial Day FIREWORKS: Super Late Models June 1: Johnson & Sons Paving Remembrance Night-honoring the “Friends of Slinger Racing” who have passed in the last year June 8: Graduation Celebration–All 2025 high school graduates get in free with school ID Spectator One-On-Ones (race your own car!) PMF Landscape Supply ASA Stars National Tour / Super Late Models Raceway Bar & Grill Slinger Bees - Round 1 of Twin Bee $1000 Challenge June 20 (Friday): SlamFest 1–Small Car Figure 8s and more June 22 – Wolter Tech College Night–fans showing a Tech College ID at the gate will receive admission for $5 June 29 – Progress Manufacturing (PMI) Independence Day Celebration with FIREWORKS: Super Late Models Marine Corps High School Racing Assn Presented by FinishLine Towing July 6 – Prelude to the Nationals: Midwest Truck Series July 7 (Monday) – Nationals Practice Day and Nationals Kickoff Party/Qualifying Draw with Let’s Get Roasted July 8 (Tuesday) – 45th Annual Cobblestone Hotels Slinger Nationals Presented by Lynch Buick-GMC of West Bend: Super Late Models PLUS Uptown Motorcars Late Models (Rain Date July 13 – Small Car Nationals: Great North Legends Raceway Bar & Grill Slinger Bees - Round 2 of Twin Bee $1000 Challenge July 27 – 7th Annual Carl Wegner Memorial: Super Late Models August 3 – Bike/Backpack/Body Panel Night for Kids: Uptown Motorcars Late Models Kids ages 6-11 check in at the Fan Center to enter to win a bike August 10 – Memorial Go-Kart Tribute Night August 16 (Saturday): Schaefer’s Service Center SlamFest 2–Big Car Figure 8s and more August 17 - No scheduled event - Severe Weather Date for SlamFest 2 ONLY August 23 (Saturday) - Slinger Kiwanis Heads UP 5K Run/Walk through Slinger (including the Slinger Speedway Pits). Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Slinger/SlingerKiwanisHeadsUP5K August 24 – Alan Kulwicki Memorial “AK77” / Wall of Fame Induction / Miss Slinger Reunion / Alumni Night (all former full-time racers get in free with RSVP!): Super Late Models Join us early for the Raceway Bar & Grill Alumni Social Hour from 5:00pm to 6:00pm September 1) – IBEW Local 494 Labor Day Celebration with FIREWORKS: Super Late Models Raceway Bar & Grill Figure 8s (If both dates rain out SLM will be added to Sept 7; SM will also be added to Sept 7 IF there is a close points battle for the championship) September 7 AFTERNOON: Uptown Motorcars Late Models Raceway Bar & Grill Figure 8s (No rain date) September 13 (Saturday): Monster Truck Throwdown. More info and tickets: https://www.monstertruckthrowdown.com/ Related ArticlesASA STARS National Tour © 2025 RTA Media Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. Jesse Bernhagen (28) sits in his car waiting to practice. Jon Reynolds Jr. stands by his car between practice sessions at the Jerry Priesgen Memorial opener. Ryan Gutknecht stands by his car between practice sessions. Alex Lopacinski (88) leans into his car between practice sessions. Racing in two support divisions, he won both the 602 Craters and sportsman features. Tom Berens drives through Turn 4 in practice. Jerry Eckhardt walks toward his car. He is still racing at age 82. Zack Riddle (14) sits in his car with the flag during opening ceremonies. Evan Hassler (38) drives through Turn 4 in a qualifying race. Clayton Storey (67) and Lowell Bennett (2) drive through turn 4 in a qualifying race. Alex Lopacinski (88), Brad Mueller (89) and Al Stippich race in the 602 Craters feature. Noah Eisenhower (5) leads Justin Okruhlica (16) and Cole Howard in the feature. Billy Braun (17) races down the back stretch during the All-Star 50. Brady Bill (70) and Billy Braun (17) race for the lead on a restart. Zach Prunty (39) and Jeff Holtz (88) sit against the Turn 3-4 wall after a crash in the All-Star 50. Jeff Holtz sits in his wrecked car as it is towed off track following a crash in the All-Star 50. (This caption was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy,) Zack Riddle (14) leads the field through Turn 3-4 in the All-Star 50. Michael Guderski (90), Max Steinhorst (52) and Jerry Eckhardt (61) race through Turn 3-4. Mike Meyerhofer (715) and Colton Morgan (39) race in the All-Star 50. Tyler Hromadka (3) and Jayden Johnson (8) race in the All-Star 50 at the Jerry Priesgen Memorial opener Sunday, April 27, 2025, at Slinger Speedway in Slinger, Wisconsin. Zack Riddle (14) takes a victory lap after winning the All-Star 50. Zack Riddle celebrates with the checkered flag. Slinger Super Speedway owners Todd and Elizabeth Thelen shared that local buyers, unnamed at this time, are in the process of purchasing the speedway to 'take the track into the next chapter of its historic existence.' The Thelens assured in their announcement that the potential buyers are also coming from a racing background and their names would not be shared until the potential sale is finalized “Having been involved with the 'business side' of Slinger Speedway since 2005 and a Super Late Model racer in the late 90's to early 2000's we knew that if we ever stepped away it needed to be under the right circumstances,” reads the statement we needed to be assured that it would remain a racetrack We are pleased to announce that local buyers are in the process of purchasing the speedway and are excited to take the track into the next chapter of its historic existence Their names will be released when the process is complete; please respect our/their decision to not release names at this time “While we wish we could have told all of our friends We are sharing this news here to lead and help facilitate a smooth transition as Slinger Speedway enters its new stage of growth.” the intention is for the potential sale to have no impact on Slinger’s 2025 schedule of races there are no anticipated schedule changes for the upcoming season We thank you for your support over the years and look forward to continuing to see you at the track.” Related ArticlesShow Me the Money Series Watch the 61st Alabama 200 on RacingAmerica.TV Saturday Kulwicki Driver Development Program Announces Semifinalists Slinger Speedway is about to change hands, owners Todd and Elizabeth Thelen announced in a social media post late Monday The potential buyers were not identified beyond general terms: local fans-turned-racers who would not only keep the facility a racetrack but “take the track into the next chapter of its historic existence.” They will be identified once the sale goes through No changes to the schedule – highlighted by the July 8-9 Slinger Nationals – are anticipated Todd Thelen was a self-described track rat in the 1970s who went to Slinger to cheer his heroes The Oconomowoc resident raced midgets elsewhere but then moved to asphalt super late models and competed at Slinger in from 1997-2002 before joining management in 2005 He bought into the business in 2013 as a promotional partner and then finally completed the process of purchasing the property from Wayne Erickson in 2021 Owning the long-running racetrack north of Milwaukee had been a dream that now is a reality. Kelsey and Travis Dassow, who met at Slinger Speedway as racers before they married, are the new owners of the track.  The couple from West Bend made the announcement Thursday night via the track’s Facebook page. “This opportunity of owning Slinger Speedway was a dream that became a reality for us,” Kelsey Dassow said in the announcement. “We believe change brings a fresh perspective and new opportunities.” The Dassows purchased the facility from Todd and Elizabeth Thelen. Todd Thelen had worked at the track in some capacity since 2005, became promoter in 2013 and bought the property from longtime owner Wayne Erickson in 2021. News of the pending transaction broke Feb. 24. Todd Thelen said at that time the transition should be invisible to fans.  Opening day for the track’s 78th season is scheduled for April 27. Travis Dassow was a rookie of the year in the old ASA circuit and more recently has worked in the business as the owner of Apex Motorsports, a super late model team. Kelsey Dassow was an Alan Kulwicki Memoriał Scholarship recipient in 2011 and ’12 while studying at UW-Milwaukee. The Dassows, who plan to continue to field race cars, also own TD Graphics, where Travis is the manager and Kelsey an engineer.  New Slinger Speedway owners, Travis and Kelsey Dassow, announced today that the United Auto Racing Association will assist in officiating the 46th Annual Cobblestone Hotels Slinger Nationals Presented By Lynch Buick-GMC. ShareTopNew Slinger Speedway owners announced today that the United Auto Racing Association (UARA) will assist in officiating the 46th Annual Cobblestone Hotels Slinger Nationals Presented By Lynch Buick-GMC Ricky Brooks and his team of UARA officials will assist Slinger Speedway officials in technical inspection and race direction for the legendary event scheduled for July 8 Dassow comes to track ownership after a successful racing career in his own right Dassow competed in virtually every Wisconsin-based Late Model tour finishing third in the 2016 Slinger Nationals and taking the championship in the ASA Late Model Challenge Series in 2007 “The Slinger Nationals is such a prestigious event in the Midwest and that we felt it needed Ricky [Brooks] and his officials to continue the national presence and show our commitment to the integrity of this race,” said Dassow “Utilizing the Wisconsin-based rules package that have been so successful we want to make sure that our racers know they are on a fair playing field and Ricky will certainly make sure of that.” Under the leadership of long-time racer and official UARA has grown to be one of the most successful sanctioning bodies in the country UARA sanctions a national Super Late Model touring series and the UARA Sportsman division The Slinger Nationals will join other events around the country that UARA currently assists in officiating “We are honored to have been asked by the Dassows to come in and be a part of such a prestigious short track event as the Slinger Nationals,” said Brooks “This has been a bucket list event for me to work UARA looks forward to teaming with the wonderful officials at Slinger Speedway to ensure the best race possible in July.” The UARA season continues March 13-15 at South Alabama Speedway with The Rattler weekend The next chapter at Slinger Speedway begins Sunday afternoon April 27 with the Jerry “Bear” Priesgen Memorial -UARA Press Release-Photo credit: Will Bellamy Related ArticlesKelsey and Travis Dassow Introduced as New Owners of Slinger Super Speedway Entry Lists: 49th Hardee's Rattler 250 Weekend at South Alabama — Political yard signs and flags continue to cause conversation with one Slinger community member calling for change Though not as many as reported in February a few Slinger residents continue to display signs and flags supporting President Donald Trump on their properties Dwight Mueller has a flag on display with the words "2024 Trump Make America Great Again" adorned around a bald eagle He was the only person to speak a the village board's meeting Monday night He would like to see them change their ordinance so as to allow people to fly any flag at anytime all year “This ordinance is not being enforced equally and only when a complaint is received," Mueller said “The village should’ve told people that were arguing over flags in 2022 to get along TMJ4 News covered this story in Slinger when one resident filed a complaint with the village stating 17 properties had not taken down political paraphernalia when they were supposed to after the presidential election He received a letter from the village that said they would not enforce the ordinance Mueller would like to see the ordinance changed and called the controversy an attack on free speech “You decided you had to try to fix a problem that does not concern the village’s main duties to clean The village board did not make a final decision nor discuss the ordinance publicly Board President Scott Stortz said they would set up another future public meeting after going through the proper legal channels if they decided to make changes to the ordinance Watch: One Slinger community member speaks out about political signs Home » Press Releases » Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty: Slinger abandons unconstitutional sign enforcement after WILL warning The News: The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) has issued a statement upon receiving notice that the Village of Slinger has withdrawn enforcement of its unconstitutional sign ordinances WILL warned the Village last week that it was preparing to take legal action if the Village did not confirm that these ordinances would not be enforced In a matter of a couple of months, Slinger Speedway the popular Wisconsin quarter-mile racetrack with the national reputation The couple from West Bend already owned another business In a 20-minute interview with the Journal Sentinel on Friday the soon-to-be-38 Travis Dassow spoke about how the deal came together and what he and his wife have planned for the future of the track that opened in 1948 Travis Dassow: As a family it’s in our blood I’ve been going to Slinger Speedway since I’ve been 4 years old It’s something my dad and I and my brother did as a Sunday night tradition me and my wife have known each other because of Slinger Speedway It’s something that we felt was going to be a great place to create a great family atmosphere and a great thing for our family to grow and … turn it into something that will last for years to come (We) always joked about it the last couple of years And it seemed like Todd was at the point where he was kind of ready  It was mid-November when we signed paperwork to move forward with it all and it took three four months to get all the banking and everything taken care of their bad … and seeing those things will hopefully teach us A: You’re going to see me more on the competition/ promotion side and Kelsey is going to be more that behind the scenes … She’s going to be more making fans happy he’ll be back running Midwest Tour races for us and (the Valento family is) not by any means any part of the racetrack … I have a couple people in place that hopefully help me with the weekly stuff on the race car side of it to take some weight off my shoulders on that side of it A: I’m really trying to streamline some things here We’re really concentrating on the family aspect of it There are going to be some announcements here with different ticket packages and things to help the family out .. And we’re really working on utilizing the Pit Pay and the Ticket Hoss apps It’s really going to try to streamline a lot of things on the fan side A: Wayne had his place and did a great job of what he did and had big races and brought in the big NASCAR guys for Nationals they brought the whole program to a different level with organization and … making it more of a steady weekly avenue That place was packed on a weekly basis and I think anybody could have run the place where Todd and Elizabeth worked really hard at keeping fans around and keeping it consistent and making sure that everything was done correctly and still had big races … That’s something that we really want to build towards We want to make the Nationals that marquee event in the Midwest and nation for that matter what will be a successful first year?A: Just building on relationships and trying to continue to carry on a lot of things (the Thelens) did We need to make sure that this place stays around for a long time to come And I think that starts with families and getting people involved at a young age A: We know that there's things that need to be updated things that need to be better for everybody We’re working on like a pavilion area where it’s not just for VIPs Those are things we’re working on right now to try to make it long term better where people want to come back and look at it not just as a race but as a great place to hang out Sunday night and enjoy themselves and make it affordable for them to enjoy themselves Q: How many people have you heard from already – competitors whoever – wanting you to do something different?A: The first text or message is congratulations.” And then the next one is “What do you think about this?” … Which is great I want to hear that stuff so we can kind of look at it all and so we can start putting a list together of things that are important … We want to hear from the fans and the racers (to) know what their thoughts are and that’ll help make our decisions a little easier on what things need to be taken care of first The victory was Slinger's fifth of the year in one-score games completing an undefeated 14-0 season in which the Owls passed every test to their resolve that the schedule presented "They're just resilient," head coach Bill Jacklin said "That's what shows you what love between players does Slinger went into the half against Rice Lake trailing 24-21 after neither team was denied the end zone in their first three possessions each Warriors quarterback Jakob Kunz started the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run which Thiede answered with his first rushing score to tie the game at 8 Lucas Peters gave Rice Lake another advantage early in the second quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run and Kobe Hendricks answered with a 1-yard plunge halfway through the quarter The two-point run to Hendricks came up short rushed in a 9-yard carry to push the Warriors' lead to 24-14 Slinger drove back down the field in seven plays capped by a fourth-and-goal conversion from the 3 as Thiede found Lucas Sonn for a score with 16 seconds left in the half Martin tied the game at 24 with a 38-yard field goal on the opening drive of the second half which Rice Lake answered with a long drive of its own The Warriors drained the remainder of the third quarter on a 15-play 75-yard drive capped by a go-ahead 3-yard touchdown run by Lucas Peters with 9:25 remaining in the fourth Gehring tallied 82 all-purpose yards and a team-leading 11 tackles in Slinger's 1998 44-20 state title win over Denmark a Gehring again played a pivotal role in an Owls state title After Rice Lake's go-ahead score in the fourth a promising Slinger drive ended with a lost fumble by Kobe Hendricks at the Warriors 28 Trailing by a score with 6:44 remaining to a team they had not stopped all day J.J.'s son Landon Gehring admitted he thought their title hopes might be dashed I personally thought it was over," Landon Gehring said Landon came up with an answer even he could not believe A Kaiden Walworth hit on Lucas Peters created another loose ball which Landon pounced on for the fumble recovery at the Rice Lake 35 and all of a sudden the ball's just right there," Landon said 'This can't be real.' and just jumped on it." After Thiede and the offense finished the drive and the Owls defense forced a turnover on downs Landon was called upon again with the game on the line Facing fourth-and-inches at the Rice Lake 30 and needing a first down to wind down the clock the Owls lined up Gehring in the Wildcat formation for a direct snap The 255-pound lineman barreled ahead for the first down sending a sizeable Slinger contingent into hysterics as the final seconds ticked away on ensuing kneel-downs Catholic Memorial falls in D3 final: Christian Collins' record-setting day keeps Catholic Memorial from sixth WIAA state football title As for whether his impact on a state title win gives him and his brother Samuel even footing or a leg up on dad, Landon still deferred to his dad. Jacklin said a photo of Landon, Samuel and the rest of the 2024 team will be hung next to one of J.J. and the 1998 team in the team meeting room. The family ties are deeper than blood, however, for coach Jacklin and the rest of this Slinger program. "These are my kids, that's what I feel like they are," Jacklin said. "Every one of them is one of my children. I treat them that way. Whatever they need from me going forward, I'm there for them, that's all that matters." A pair of accused theives who're are alleged to have stolen a four-foot emu statue from the Slinger Piggly Wiggly at 1100 East Commerce Boulevard. Image Credit: Slinger Police Department UPDATE: Shanky’s Whip liquor is offering an reward for information leading to the stolen Emu in Slinger. “In a show of solidarity, two of our flock have volunteered to become your personal home mascots,” the post reads. “Got a tip? Send it our way and help us crack the Great Emu Heist of 2025.” The bird first went missing on March 8th. Slinger Police posted pictured of the alleged thieves. SLINGER — Bird is the word this week in Slinger, where a search is on for a stolen four-foot emu statue. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Newsradio 620 WTMJ (@620wtmj) Police say on March 8th at approximately 3:20PM two unknown subjects allegedly walked out of the Slinger Piggly Wiggly on East Commerce Boulevard with the Shanky’s Whip liquor display statue A female suspect is seen on security camera appearing to place the statue in the trunk of a car before the car leaves the parking lot Shanky’s Whip posting on social media Wednesday that the bird was still missing and that the move was not a publicity stunt Anyone with information is asked to contact the Slinger Police Department MILWAUKEE --  Nehring's Sendik's grocery store on Downer Ave has temporarily closed after the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) found mouse and rat.. is voluntarily recalling its "on the vine" tomatoes over concerns of potential salmonella contamination... MILWAUKEE -- On the Monday before Mother's Day the Daisie Foundation is bringing its signature "Random acts of Kindness" event.. Slinger has 26 years of experience in product management and a strong background in technology and SaaS leadership external partners and customers to drive innovative solutions that support the company's business objectives we warmly welcome Mark to the Datapath family Mark brings dynamic vision and an impressive track record in product leadership and we are delighted to add his skillset to our senior management team," Bjorn Krylander Slinger's team will be responsible for the next generation of Datapath's solutions aimed at bringing even more flexibility and ease of use to video processing and management platforms "I am delighted to announce my new position with Datapath Datapath are known as the market leaders in video processing and content management I am looking forward to applying my experience at Datapath to ensure our customers continue to experience the class-leading solutions and high levels of service for which we are known," Slinger said in the release Get the latest news and resources from Digital Signage Today — More than a dozen residents in the Village of Slinger received letters to remove signs or flags from their properties The village received a complaint involving about 17 different addresses Watch: Showdown over political yard signs in Slinger: said they have had a Trump sign in their yard for about nine years "It's not a campaign sign or an election sign The Nowaks received a letter from the village building inspector stating that their signs violate an ordinance and need to be removed TMJ4 obtained a copy of the complaint that was sent to the village The village president said it’s the first complaint about signs in nearly three years We feel we should be able to have whatever we want on our land," Nowak explained The Nowaks and others are now on the village’s radar because the complaint was filed "This is a complaint-based system here because we don’t want to pay our building inspector to run around and hassle people," Village President Scott Stortz said Stortz said this all comes down to the length of time the sign stays up "Our ordinance talks about the length of time for signs not the content for signs,” Stortz explained The ordinance states that the sign can't be up for “seven consecutive days or 30 cumulative days in a one year period.” "Our response to the complaint is not politically motivated," Stortz said TMJ4 did try speaking to the woman who filed the complaint but we did not hear back in time for this report Stortz said he will have the topic added to the agenda for the village board meeting on March 17 "We will do our best to come up with an ordinance that makes sense but I can guarantee you we’re not going to find the perfect ordinance," Stortz explained The financial advisor whose smoothie-slinging incident got him fired by Merrill Lynch in 2022 has been handed a fine and suspension from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra).  Finra claimed in a document outlining its decision that from December of 2014 to March of 2021 Iannazzo made 368 cash withdrawals and deposits totaling $845,890 from three bank accounts Bill Jacklin of Slinger High School in Slinger has been named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA)/Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Year In his 14th year as head coach of the Slinger Owls Coach Bill Jacklin and his team brought home the school's second state football title the Owls completed a perfect 14-0 season with an exciting 31-30 victory over Rice Lake in the WIAA Division 2 state championship at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison with Slinger taking its first lead of the game with 3:29 remaining After some stout defense to force a Rice Lake turnover on downs Slinger converted a fourth and 1 to seal the game and capture the state title the strong bond they created throughout the season made their state championship win even more special "The overwhelming word we use all the time is love," said Jacklin "It's a word that's easily said but maybe not as easy to show or know what it truly means They get more excited for their teammates than themselves I went to school [at Slinger]; it's my dream job and now leading that program means the world to me If you would've been there on Friday and saw that crowd that was behind us and I'm really glad we could bring some excitement to the community." and graduated from Slinger High School in 1988 He played offensive guard and linebacker for the Owls under coach Vic Erickson Jacklin attended Cardinal-Stritch University where he participated in baseball He then earned his master's degree in principal and curriculum from Cardinal-Strich in 2002 Jacklin began coaching as a middle school coach in 1994 He coached at the middle school level for several years before moving to JV and eventually varsity as an assistant He accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater before the 2011 season Jacklin is honored to be named the Coach of the Year by the WFCA and the Packers but says it was made possible by those around him "But what I think it really means is I'm surrounded by lots of really great people and players It takes a group of young men to work together and everybody has a role to perform at a high level It's really an honor because it's your peers voting for you and that makes it that much more special." Jacklin and his staff oversee a program of 133 players with 64 of them suiting up for varsity games joined his father as a state champion this season About the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Year/Week Program: WAUKESHA − Australian filmmaker James Wan once said "I think you kind of need to acknowledge that the reason why sequels do well is because people that loved the first one come back." Led by four total touchdowns from quarterback Michael Thiede including a 21-yard touchdown run down the Badger sideline with 1:39 left in regulation the Owls survived the Badgers once more and clinched their first trip to a state title game in 26 years in a 35-28 sequel for the ages Friday "That's Michael Thiede," Owls coach Bill Jacklin said He's the heart and soul of our football team All his buddies are on defense and all they do is they're always hounding him during practice The Owls needed their signal-caller to be at his absolute best again taking on the defending Division 2 state champions and he was that and then some with his 21-yard keeper giving the Owls their first lead with just 99 seconds to play but my guys gave me chances to make throws and our receivers came down with balls that they needed to," Thiede said "Our offensive line played a hell of a game pass pro(tection) and running when we needed it We knew they were gonna get a stop eventually." It took a while for that stop to come because both offenses look unstoppable much of the night ending with a Badger score on a halfback pass from Alec Welch to Nolan Basso with just four seconds left in the half to give the defending champs a 21-14 halftime advantage Thiede connected with Santos Rodriguez on a 57-yard score less than three minutes into the second half but an aborted extra point made it a 21-20 contest controlling the ball and the clock like few can ate up the remainder of the third and 49 seconds into the fourth quarter before Matthew O'Grady plunged in for his third of three touchdown runs on the night to make it a 28-20 game Thiede dropped a dime behind the defense to Brayden Schorenberg for a 41-yard score 255-pound defensive lineman Landon Gehring began to etch his name into Slinger football lore The big body bashed his way into the end zone on a direct snap to bring the Owls back on level terms with 9:41 to play "We practiced it during the week just as a backup plan," Gehring said of the wildcat package featuring him The Owls defense finally got the one stop they needed with 5:47 left putting the ball in Thiede's hands with a trip to Madison on the line Kobe Hendricks picked up two yards on third down to set up fourth-and-1 from the Badger 23-yard line with 2:12 to play After not registering a single carry all season Gehring rumbled his way deep into Badger territory on about a 25-yard carry earlier in the drive and then proceeded to plow forward for a first down on fourth down "This is everything I dreamed of," Gehring said "My dad (former Slinger running back/linebacker JJ Gehring) was a part of the last team to make it to state and win it This season marked the first time since the 2017 season that the Warriors had lost at least four games Fast forward about a month and the Warriors are back at state for the first time since 2019 after a hard-fought 16-14 victory over Traveling Crowbar and Classic 8 Conference rival Mukwonago Both teams found the end zone in the opening quarter with touchdowns as Mukwonago's Jack Savasta took the game's opening kickoff to the house Jackson Niemiec's 18-yard touchdown run tied the game just over 90 seconds later Joey Shaw's 1-yard score made it a 13-7 game at the break Gabe Walden's 35-yard field goal made it a 16-7 game before backup running back Carter Lynch found the end zone from three yards out to make it a 16-14 contest late in the third Brady Hojnacki's interception of Mason Kelley with 5:47 to play seemingly ended any hopes of a second trip to Madison in the last three postseasons for Mukwonago Catholic Memorial will play for a state title for the 20th time in program history After Friday's 31-14 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran the Crusaders moved to 10-2 in the WIAA state semifinals CMH will play for a gold ball for the second time in the last three years and the ninth time since 2010 against Notre Dame Academy next week in Madison for the Division 3 title Dual-threat star quarterback MJ Mitchell ran for a pair of scores and led three straight touchdown drives to seal the deal for the Crusaders in the second half A win next week and the Crusaders will become six-time WIAA state football champions which would bring them into a tie with Arrowhead Homestead and Monroe for fourth in WIAA history Whitefish Bay wins state swim title: Whitefish Bay's program first title highlights area finishes at WIAA Division 2 state girls swim meet After reeling off 12 straight points against three-time defending state champion Aquinas on Friday night to stay unbeaten this season Catherine's will play for the Division 4 state title in the final game of the day Thursday night a star on the hardwood for RSC's boys hoops program including a wildcat keeper from three yards out with 7:35 to play He also caught a 10-yard strike from Eddie Vinson to tie things up late in the third quarter Other than RSC's appearance at state in 2018 the last non-Catholic Memorial team to qualify for the D4 state title game from the greater Milwaukee area was Kettle Moraine Lutheran back in 2007 “The Village’s decision today is a victory for free speech The Village should continue doing the right thing and remove the unconstitutional ordinances from its municipal code as soon as possible.” the Village of Slinger sent a letter to Dwight Mueller regarding a flag displayed on his private property This letter states that “flags displaying [] political messages or content are in violation” of Village Ordinances §§ 550-57A(7) It is WILL’s understanding that other Village residents have received similar letters letter to the Village stated that because these ordinances are content-based restrictions on speech they are unconstitutional and unenforceable the Village is rescinding the notices of violation issued by the Village Building Inspector dated on or about February 12 WILL’s Recent First Amendment Win: In 2023 WILL represented homeowners against the City of Neenah to defend against the City’s enforcement of its unconstitutional sign ordinance WILL secured an injunction and the city was forced to change its ordinance Who We Are Board of Directors Staff Individual LibertiesConstitutional GovernmentEconomic FreedomEducation ReformEqual Protection Education Health Care Regulatory Reform Opportunity