Garage Politics

They're opinionated, conservative and strict constitutionalists. And they'd be proud to tell you that.

They're The Group – a semi-formal political discussion group that meets monthly in Brian Garrow's garage in Appleton about 2-3 blocks from my place. They discuss local and state politicians and issues and decide who they will support in upcoming elections.

It's grassroot politics at its best.

Peter Stueck, far left, a candidate for Wisconsin's 57th Assembly District, speaks while being interviewed by The Group, a small political discussion group, that gathers at the garage of Brian Garrow in Appleton, Wis., Wednesday evening, July 9, 2008.

Vested member Chuck Schmidt, right, asks a pointed question of Stueck during the interview Wednesday evening.

Junior golf

Erik Thulien cringes after narrowly missing a putt on the 15th hole during second round play of the Fox Cities Amateur junior golf tournament at Reid Municipal Golf Course in Appleton, Wis., Wednesday, July 16, 2008.

A.J. Selig punches out of a bunker on the 16th hole.

Lost lovers no longer lost

Another photo from our series of stories about the reunion of Don Spooner and Shirley (Brown) Kerber who were torn apart by World War II and separated for 66 years. With an open-ended plane ticket, Shirley came to Appleton to see Don for the first time on June 21. She hasn't left.

Don Spooner puckers up for a smooch on reunited love Shirly (Brown) Kerber at Waverly Beach in Menasha, Wis., Thursday afternoon, July 10, 2008.

Bird Bath Invitational

The Bird Bath Invitational.

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 teams with each having between 0-80 members.

I think somebody needs to start having tryouts and cuts!

Another year of covering the youth swim meet. Trying to make different pictures than last year... not sure if that really happened...

There's the good and the bad...

I love my job. I get to experience some really great things. Unfortunately bad things come with that: crime, accidents, death, disasters. Life is a wide gamut of happenings...

On my way back to the office from an assignment in Wisconsin Rapids, I was called about a possible fatal accident on the freeway on the north side of the city. I didn't have a radio with me so I didn't have much information other than an approximate location.

It was a situation where you really don't have a way of getting information at the scene. It's in the median of a highway – it's loud, you can't cross, authorities won't really go out of their way to help you this early in the investigation. All you can do is shoot what you see and ask questions later.

Back at the office we got the official press release from the state highway patrol and the gravity of the situation set in. What we thought was a collision between two cars actually turned out to be a collision between a single car and a pedestrian who entered the roadway.

According to the release, a man blew out a tire, pulled onto the shoulder and then got out of his vehicle to remove debris from the road. At that moment he was struck by an oncoming car driven by a 16-year-old girl.

It bothered me.

Usually you view a crash in terms of whose fault it is. You can point a finger. You can condemn somebody's actions as irresponsible or reckless.

This time I really didn't know who to feel more sorry for. The man was killed while trying to do something responsible. And the whole experience will certainly occupy the mind of that teenage girl for a long-time... the crash being something she may not have been able to avoid.

Authorities investigate the scene of a fatal collision between a teenage driver and pedestrian on southbound US 41 east of Ballard Road and west of Hwy. 441 in Appleton, Wis., Friday afternoon, July 11, 2008.

Rack 'n' Roll

Cal Peterman of Grand Chute wheels his bike away from the No. 8 bus at the Appleton Transit Center in downtown Appleton, Wis., Tuesday afternoon, July 8, 2008. Valley Transit says that usage of their Rack 'n' Roll bike program is up 79 percent.

Mid-Western Rodeo in Manawa

This is the third year in a row I've covered the Mid-Western Rodeo in Manawa. I feel like I come out of it every year with the same pictures, but I got a couple different ones this year. Finally some decent bucking action and a detail I've never shot before.

Bareback rider James Earl Carter of Ellsinore, Mo., hangs on for the ride during competition at the Mid-Western Rodeo in Manawa, Wis., Saturday afternoon, July 5, 2008.

Fireworks on the 4th

Last time I shot the Appleton fireworks was when I was an intern. I got a better shot this year. Next time, if possible, I want to see how well I can shoot the show from the top of the Post-Crescent building, much in the same style as the lunar eclipse I shot in winter.

Fireworks explode in the sky over Memorial Park in Appleton, Wis., Thursday evening, July 3, 2008.

Grappling Club

From a story about a fight club in Grand Chute. Photo was nixed because it didn't mesh with the story's lede about dude (and a few dudettes) beating the crap out of each other.

Olivia Arbogast-Holton, 11-months-old, hangs out ringside while mom, Amanda, background at right, trains at the Fox Valley Grappling Club in Grand Chute, Wis., Wednesday afternoon, June 25, 2008.

Lost lovers reunite

From our stories by Maureen Wallenfang:

"He fell in love with her in the summer of '42, in the months before he went off to war.

Don Spooner, then 21, and Shirley Brown, then 17, spent their last day together on the shores of Lake Michigan. He snapped one last wistful photo of 'Shirl,' as he called her, sitting on the sand.

She was his first true love, but he didn't propose because he didn't know when, or if, or in what condition he would return.

'We talked about getting engaged before I went overseas, but if I came home without an arm or a leg, it wouldn't be fair to her,' he said.

They wrote for about a year while he was an Army medical corps driver stationed in New Hebrides in the South Pacific's Mariana Islands.

But communication broke off when he became ill with malaria and hepatitis, and was shipped to a hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. 'I pert near died,' he said. Mail traveled very slowly, by boat, and he wasn't able to write for many months.

He was gone for a total of three years, and after they lost contact, she made the decision to move on and married another.

The two never spoke over the next six decades, but it wasn't the end of their long-ago love story.

Last month, Spooner discovered two 78-rpm records in his old army trunk. The records, plus some caring co-workers and modern technology, helped connect the dots.

On Saturday, the two will see each other again for the first time in nearly 66 years."


I felt fortunate to spend some time with the couple on the first day they had seen each other since they were separated by war.

"'I felt like the years had just disappeared,' [Shirley] said about what she felt when [Don] answered the door. 'It was like seeing him again in the old days.'

There were no tears, but plenty of smiles and a few jokes about perhaps ordering an oxygen tank. They sat on a couch in his living room holding hands."

Covering the farm market...

I don't know what it is about farm markets, but sometimes they can be difficult. It's just a marketplace. Just people selling things.

When you're really into the local/organic-produce-thing on a personal level, it's even harder. A great farm market is not necessarily a photogenic farm market. Athens, Ohio has a great farmer's market. But I don't find it to be photogenic at all.

Appleton's farm market is really more than decent, both in respects to buyer experience and photogenicity (oh yeah, I made that word up!). Look below and tell me those aren't the most perfect looking strawberries you've ever seen in your life...

Laura Hauer of Appleton, a senior at Lawrence University, plays Telemann's "Fantasie" on the violin for the masses at the Downtown Appleton Farm Market in Appleton, Wis., Saturday morning, June 21, 2008.

Pat Vik of Appleton walks through the Downtown Appleton Farm Market with a fresh bouquet in Appleton, Wis., Saturday morning, June 21, 2008.

Green onions sit on display for sale at the Downtown Appleton Farm Market in Appleton, Wis., Saturday morning, June 21, 2008.

Strawberries of Neenah's Oakridge Farm photographed at the Downtown Appleton Farm Market in Appleton, Wis., Saturday morning, June 21, 2008.

Chickenfest

I have no idea how a festival called "Chickenfest" originates in Dairyland. Oh well...

Friends Alex Curtin, 6, second right, and Adasen Parrett, 8, far right, both of Darboy, participate with other children in a Chicken Dance contest at Chickenfest in Darboy, Wis., Friday evening, June 20, 2008.

Back to the raceway

I love shooting at the Wisconsin International Raceway. I just wish I was a lot better at it!

For kicks, I shot the kiddie big-wheel race which is held on the oval. However, the race is only about 30 yards long. I would love to see the race changed to include the entire 1/4-mile track distance. Then it would really become a test of endurance and skill for the little squirts. Imagine trying to negotiate a 30º bank on a big-wheel...

My meager attempt at an action shot:

Neenah's Tim Arnoldussen (A-76) spins out in a turn ahead of Oshkosh's Al Cottrell (00) in a Super Stock qualifier at Wisconsin International Raceway in Buchanan, Wis., Thursday evening, June 19, 2008.

Flag Day...

It's kind of a big deal [here].

Appleton's Flag Day Parade is the oldest in the United States (since 1950). It attracts about 60,000 street-level spectators now (about 1/6 of the three-county population). Appleton's population is only 72,000.

Members of the Wisconsin Society of the Sons of the American Revolution bear historic flags east on W. College Avenue at N. Superior Street in the 58th annual Flag Day Parade in Appleton, Wis., Saturday afternoon, June 14, 2008.

Wisconsin members of the Disabled American Veterans organization salute passing American flags during the 58th annual Flag Day Parade from the front of The Radisson Paper Valley Hotel where their state convention is being held in Appleton, Wis., Saturday afternoon, June 14, 2008.

State Baseball - Championship game

Recently, Kimberly rarely comes up short in state final games. They've proven to be fierce competitors. It seemed like they had the baseball state championship in the bag, but in end they were outplayed by Kenosha Bradford.

Kimberly High School's Will Randerson (25) walks onto the field with teammates to shake hands with the opposing team after the Papermakers lost to Kenosha Bradford High School in the WIAA Div. 1 championship game at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis., Friday afternoon, June 13, 2008.

Kimberly High School's Jayme Wells (5) lands safely at second base for a stolen bag before the tag of Kenosha Bradford High School's Pete Djurickovic (23) in the third inning.

Kenosha Bradford High School's Dustin Proud (7) breaks up the double play under the throw of Kimberly High School second baseman Chris Seidl (11) in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Kimberly High School's Tyler Wolf (7) clenches his medal while taking a moment to collect himself in the dugout after the Papermakers' loss to Kenosha Bradford.

Nuisances...

We did a story about a particular apartment complex in the Town of Menasha that had a particularly high frequency of calls for law enforcement last year.

It's a difficult story to illustrate, particularly in the middle of the day when there aren't any people around to hook up with.. The only real option is to show signs of neglect. Many might argue that those are not truly related issues, but if you've studied urban sociology you'll know that the neglect of property (be it damage, cleanliness, even fully-covered windows) are all signs, causes and effects of other social problems like drugs, domestic abuse and altercations, and other disturbances.

It's a bit of a stretch on a daily story but there aren't always many in-depth options on short notice. This isn't the photo we used for the story, but another from the take.

The Villa de Faire apartment complex in Town of Menasha, Wis., shown Tuesday afternoon, June 10, 2008, had 188 service calls from police in 2007.

Thank God for creative subjects...

There are days now and then where you're just not feeling creative... your creativity is like a fountain in a town square – and as you approach you find that it's dry as a bone – just discolored by impurities of the water and the corrosion of the pennies nickels and dimes people have been throwing into it hoping for a miracle.

Sometimes you simply feel defeated before you even pick up your camera. Well, at least sometimes I do.

Living Well covers can be very challenging to shoot. Personally it makes me respect photographers whose jobs it is to shoot for magazine covers. You have to keep in mind that you're really composing a nearly square picture in a rectangular camera frame, that the masthead and lots of headlines will be placed over your picture.

On a day that I wasn't feeling too hot, I got handed an assignment for a Living Well cover story about stay-at-home dads. I was to photograph Phillip Kerwin and his three kids at home in Neenah. Phil was really cool and overly energetic right off the bat. He became even cooler when he started riffing on really good ideas for posed cover photographs.

My favorite: "Why don't I get inside the jungle gym with the kids on top and it'll be like this symbolic thing like being in a cage.

"Sure," I said with a smile. And we went with it.


I'm not Annie Leibovitz. I'll never claim to be. I'm really not generally good at portraits. This isn't a very dynamic photo, but it filled the assignment's need and it was kind of fun in the end. Because of the publication's format, the cover shots tend to be somewhat formulaic, lots of color, simple, people, some clean space for words.

Thankfully, we're usually able to stick around and shoot some candids for the inside pages.

Phillip Kerwin plays with two of his three children, Agii, 4, left, and Joe, 9, in their back yard in Neenah, Wis., Wednesday afternoon, June 4, 2008.

The sky is falling...

We've had some very rough weather lately. This was the first time our newsroom has had to evacuate to the basement.

A tree branch protrudes through the ceiling as Donna Allen mops up rainwater seeping through one of two holes in the roof of her home after severe storms downed a large tree in her and her husband, Gene's, Doty Island backyard in Neenah, Wis., Thursday evening, June 12, 2008.

Challenge Academy changing lives of troubled youth

From our story by Kate McGinty:

"In the chaos and uncertainty of tearful separations, as their shaved hair is dropping to the floor, the teens are given one order: Do not utter a word for two weeks.

Hours earlier, the teens had been dropped off at Fort McCoy, the military base they would call home for more than five months. They exchanged their clothing for camouflage pants and black lace-up boots. They picked up canteens to clip at their waist.

They kept only one item of nonmilitary clothing: a pair of tennis shoes for their rigorous workouts, including the 5:45 a.m. drills with jumping jacks, push-ups and stretches in the cold, dead grass between the barracks. And in those drills, if they didn't move quickly enough or push hard enough, they would be forced to stand still holding a weighty sandbag.

One father, as he dropped off his son, turned to him and said: "If you want to last, just keep your mouth shut and listen."

The prospect of joining this boot camp was so intimidating that, on the day they were dropped off, one teen refused to get out of the car and turned it around to return home.

But for the 158 teens who remained, they were prepping for tough lessons in academics, military life and sobriety.

They were about to swear in as cadets in the Wisconsin Challenge Academy's 20th class, which graduates Thursday."

This is the briefly told story of Cadet Jentz at Challenge Academy: what his days entail and his hope for change in his life.

Xavier wins girls' state soccer title

More state finals fun... this time comin' at 'ya from Milwaukee..

Xavier High School's Chelsea Colling (11), right, jumps into the arms of teammate Alicia Bartosic (14) after Colling's 50:02 game-winning goal against Catholic Memorial High School in the Division 2 state final at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Saturday afternoon, June 7, 2008.

Xavier High School's Ally Gresl (8), left, and Caitlin Weber (2), right, help goalkeeper Maddie Drusch, background, defend against the corner kick header by Catholic Memorial High School's Monica Gonyo (23) in the second half of the Division 2 state final at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee, Wis., Saturday afternoon, June 7, 2008.

Graduation Day

I've been kept busy covering some local high school graduations recently. They're fun... I guess. I wouldn't want to go back to high school if you paid me, though. Such drama...

Appleton West High School graduating seniors process past the front of the high school before their commencement ceremony in Appleton, Wis., Thursday evening, June 5, 2008.

St. Mary Central High School graduated seniors Jack Rew, left, Adam Lepper, center, and Justin Bessette, right, huddle around Kathy Bergholz for a group hug after Bergholz, a staff member at the school, was recognized for being a special influence in the students' lives at the school's graduation ceremony in Town of Menasha, Wis., Wednesday evening, June 4, 2008.

"I am your master."

I almost didn't even include this picture in the photo gallery. Part of me hates it. Part of me says, "you made a noble attempt."

Kimberly baseball heading to State

I was deeply concerned at this game. Baseball... God knows I love it... but darn... you'll stand there for 5 innings and nothing will happen. You might even have a score of 6-6 and nothing has happened as far as making pictures is concerned.

Thankfully this brave right-fielder gave his all for a foul ball and raked his face through the gravel warning track. Now that's dedication!

Of course, shortly after the attempt, his coach yelled from the bench that had he really been sprinting he would have caught it. Nothing's ever good enough is it?

Appleton North High School right fielder Steve Lichtfuss (6) slides into the gravel warning track in an attempt to catch a foul ball in the seventh inning against Kimberly High School in the WIAA sectional final in Appleton, Wis., Tuesday, June 3, 2008.

Kimberly High School's Luke Van Handel (17) gets congratulated by teammates after scoring a tying run (6-6) in the third inning against Appleton North High School in the WIAA sectional finals in Appleton, Wis., Tuesday, June 3, 2008.

State Track and Field

For the past few days I have been in La Crosse, Wis., covering the state finals for prep track and field. It's my last assignment before going home after a week on the road. I enjoy going and seeing new places but at a more leisurely pace than this past week has been.

Here's a few shots from the sports coverage.

Runners, including Hortonville's Nic Cass break away from the starting line of the 1600M run during the WIAA Track & Field State Championships in La Crosse, Wis., Friday, May 30, 2008.

State champion for 2008, Appleton East senior Heidi Baerenwald throws in the final flight of the shot put competition at WIAA Track & Field State Championships in La Crosse, Wis., Saturday, May 31, 2008. Baerenwald set a Division 1 state record with a throw of 46 feet, 3 1/2 inches.


From left, Seymour's Caitlin Gardner, Justine Mehojah, Alaina Murphy, and Kelsey Quist celebrate their first place finish in their heat of the 1600M relay at the WIAA Track & Field State Championships in La Crosse, Wis., Friday, May 30, 2008.

Live from the 45th parallel

Well almost live... the Internet is a little spotty up here.


CADOTT, Wis. – Heading north into the Northwoods, I have found that there's some novelty to being exactly smack-dab-in-the-middle of two geographically notable places. I think it probably takes a special type of person to appreciate it...

When you live in Wisconsin it's terribly easy in the winter months to fall into the false belief that you're a heck of a lot closer to the North Pole. Truth be told: In Appleton, we're closer to the equator.

This sign in the small rural town of Cadott – oh who am I kidding, anything north of Eau Claire is a small rural town – signifies its claim to fame... being very, very near the 45th parallel. The sign, which is located in the town's Lions Park is actually 3 miles south of the actual 45ºN latitude line.

As I proceeded north from the sign, I switched my car's GPS to display the actual latitude and longitude readout – it's accurate to about 6 feet.

Maybe I'm a complete dork, but approaching the 45th Parallel was like approaching 100,000 miles in a car. As the display changed to read 45º00'000", I looked at the nearest street sign...

Sure enough: 45th Parallel Road.

Live from the Leinie Lodge

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. – Of all the beers out on the market these days, I've taken a liking to the Leinenkugel brand made right here in Wisconsin.

On my way up to Clam Lake, Wis., I saw a sign which reminded me that the company's brewery is near Eau Claire – on the way. It's my "day off" today, so I decided to do something fun. I took a brewery tour.

Leinie's brewery is northeast of Eau Claire. It produces roughly 1500 barrels of beer every day. A barrel holds roughly 31 gallons, which is roughly 331 servings. That's a lot of hangovers! (I'm kidding, mom...)

It was a really fun experience and even got to sample a few varieties I hadn't felt comfortable spending money on.

Trivia... the first person to answer the question fully and correctlyy wins... well you don't win anything but you win the honor of being the winner:

Question: What is the origin of the Native American head on the Leinenkugel's logo on its current beer line-up?

And did you know?

-The brewery adds only a 5 gallon bucket of honey to it's batches of weiss beers? That amounts to a whole 1-2 drops of honey in every bottle. But hey, it's local honey at least!

-The brewery produced a handful of varieties of soda as well as a "non-intoxicating" brew during prohibition.

-Draft beer has more flavor than bottled beer because kegs are not sterilized with hot water.

-Farms in Chilton, Wis., southeast of Appleton, is one of two suppliers of barley for Leinenkugel's dark beers.

-Leinenkugel used to grow its own hops until a fungus outbreak in the soil made the region incapable of growing hops. They are now grown in the Yakima Valley region of Washington state.

-The batches of brewers' yeast can be reused up to 12 times.

-After being used for the brewing process, the grain particles are picked up by local farmers for use as feed.

Memorial Day

A color guard from the American Legion Post 38 walks east on College Avenue in downtown Appleton during the annual Memorial Day Parade, Monday, May 26, 2008.

A tattered American flag flies behind the Spirit of the American Doughboy statue on S. Memorial Drive in Appleton, Wis. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2008.