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thens MCPL Book Club

The Athens Book Club will discuss “The Maid” by Nita Prose, a New York Times Bestseller and a Good Morning America Book Club pick, on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. The Athens branch library hosts book discussions every month. Call 715-257-7292 for more information.

Senior Card Group

The Senior Citizens card group met on December 14 for weekly card playing at the Athens Area Fire and Ambulance Hall.

Two games of Sheepshead were played. Norbert Lake won the first game, with Dave Perrodin coming in second. Steve Klockziem won the second game, with Pat Frank in second. Low score went to Butch Boris.

Newcomers are encouraged to come play Sheepshead every Thursday from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the Athens fire hall.

E dgar Edgar Woman’s Club

The Edgar Woman’s Club held their annual Christmas party on December 12 at the Edgar Family Restaurant. Sixteen members enjoyed a delicious meal. The members exchanged gifts.

Door prizes were won by Debbie Gauerke, Carol Hagen, and Inez Halverson. The traveling prize was won by Cathy Myszka. Thank-you cards were read from places where books from the book sale were shared.

The next meeting will be held at the Edgar Village Hall on March 12. New members are welcome.

Edgar Book Club

The Edgar Book Club will discuss “The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir” by Jennifer Ryan, a work of historical fiction about the power of music, set during World War II, on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 12 p.m. Call 715-352-3155 for more information. The book club meets at the Edgar branch library.

After School Art

Kids and teens are invited to the Edgar branch library on Wednesday, Jan. 10, and on Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for dedicated art time. The activity is free, with a variety of art materials provided, and no registration is required. Call 715-352-3155 for more information.

Lego Block Party

Families are invited to the Edgar branch library on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a Lego Block Party. Free blocks will be provided, and no registration is required. Call 715-352-3155 for more information.

M arathon Marathon Book Club

The Marathon City Book Club will discuss “Devil in the White City” by Erick Larson, the story of the real architect and serial killer who each shaped the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, on Monday, Jan. 8 at 5:45 p.m. Call 715-4432775 for more information. The book club meets at the Marathon branch library.

S tratford College note

Isaac Thompson has graduated from the College of Engineering and Applied Science at UW-Milwaukee, with a bachelor of science degree in engineering.

Stratford Book Club

The Stratford Book Club will discuss “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell” by Robert Dugoni, a coming-of-age story about a boy born with red pupils, on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. Call 715-687-4420 for more information. The book club meets at the Stratford branch library.

High School Honor Roll

Honors Ninth grade: Ali Bohman, Ella Dennee, Samuel Dickinson, Carter Foster, Ava Gillette, Gunner Hernandez, Bailey Knapp, Dakota Knetter, Savana Kops, Madelynn Kroening, Montana Mielke, Rhyan Millard, Austin Niehaus, Lucas Sauter, Benjamin Schar, Garrett Smazal, Amanda Stack, Caylin Van Der Leest, Brody Weber, Ava Wenzel Tenth grade: Jonathan Avin-Melgarejo, Carley Ehrike, Maddie Fischer, Lucas Forrest, Drew Gage, Parker Glenn, Javen Lyons, Mason Miller, Matthew Mueller, Austin O’Neil, Seth Ostricki, Gracie Rehm, Baylee Winkler, Zander Zawislan.

Eleventh grade: Gavin Berens, Kayla Capserson, Xander Curtice, Cree DeFoe, Garrett Drexler, Taylor Gawlikoski, Alizabeth Griepentrog, Collan Johnson, Emiliano Jaurez-Cordova, Vance Kielman, Lillyan Kildahl, Brandon Knetter, Cayden Leonhardt, Perla Martinez Gonzalez, Reid Miller, Scott Robus, Emily Rundle, Emma Syring, Jasmine Weiland, Daisy Yoder. Twelfth grade: Andrew Austin, Braden Bloom, Ryan Brubaker, Jacob Dahlke, Madelyn Danielson, Brandon Gebelein, Hannah Gilbert, Landon Gilbertson, Lucas Gudgeon, Gavin Leonhardt, Saliza Pilsner, Libby Schade, Landon Schallock, Margaret Schmidt, Roman Schmidt, Adam Serwe, Gavin Zoellick. High Honors Ninth grade: Olivia Ballerstein, Madelyn Berdan, Joshua Bosmans, Tyler Budtke, Carely Cano-Aguilera, Manny Carrion, Nathan Cordes, Ava Dehlinger, Amber Drexler, Connor Finke, Gavin Gawlikoski, Camryn Gresham, Kolton Haupt, Jaela Jochimsen, Aaron Knetter, Connor Kreft, Dylan Lewerenz, Owen Lueck, John Mews, Devin Moore, Kaden Ostricki, Carly Pankratz, Hayden Polzin, Chloe Post, Emmercyn Schiller, Breleigh Shanks, Brianna Sherden, Avery Skaya, Dylan Strasser, Christopher Stuttgen, Carter Trowbridge, Jovanni Verdone, Mario Verdone, Jenna Weigel, Jaden Weis, Alexis Wiesman, Jacob Woodford, Lila Yoder.

Tenth grade: Trygve Aschenbrenner, Alaina Bangart, Thomas Bangart, Alyssa Bargender, Brady Berg, Coltan Breit, Amanda Budtke, Ryan Christopherson, Colin Cournoyer, Lily Dabbert, Hailey Fecker, Hayden Fecker, Eire Fisher, Erika Frick, Mason Hollatz, Mathias Kaiser, Alex Krieg, Gracie Krummel, Dawnyel Martin, Aleydi Martinez-Torres, Kaylie McHugh, Sylvia Mc-Meeken, Gavin Meyer, Jaeger Ormond, Kaylee Ostricki, Cody Randow, Calvin Rasmussen, Jack Remus, Isabelle Schill, Gracie Schmidt, Robin Serwe, Riley Spindler, Madelyn Stein, MyKayla Stueber, Brody Thomer, Tria Tubbs, Brooks Vanderhoof, Hailey Wiesman, Lucy Zaleski, Emily Zuelke.

Eleventh grade: Jesse Bauer, Addison Bauman, Cooper Bosmans, Drew Bruesewitz, Cristina Cano-Aguilera, Gavin Cepress, Alec Chapel, Trenton Cournoyer, Andrew Dickinson, Kassedey Downey, Kaden Foster, Aidan Hadlock, Ethan Heeg, Lydia Junemann, Matthew Kolb, Dylan Lange, Claire LaPointe, Abbigail Lewerenz, Carter Lueck, Keirstyn Mannigel, Samantha Mielke, Mckenzie Novotny, Mason Oertel, Laney Pankratz, Laurenz Plattner, Emma Roeper, Emerson Roy, Jett Schoenherr, Kalyn Schueller, Maggie Schwabe, Breleigh Skaya, Paige Spindler, Maci Stueber, Alex Trowbridge, Jack Tubbs, Mette Utzon, Mason Wavrunek, Walker Weis, Derek Wiese, Caleb Wrensch, Garrett Zuelke.

Twelfth grade: Carlie Berens, Cassandra Cano-Aguilera, Abbigail Dennee, Brandon Drexler, Peyton Drexler, Rachel Fischer, Matthew Folz, Payton Glenn, Addison Grabow, Ashley Hollatz, Austyn Johnson, Sailor Kauffman, Koehler Kilty, Xsavior Knapp, Riley Kroening, Misty Krug, Makenzie Kuehnhold, Brianna Landwehr,

See PEOPLE/ page 5 People

Continued from page 5

Jarrett Landwehr, Dylan Leffel, Ailya Manecke, Ashton Martin, Nathan Remus, Brady Schmidt, Ashlyn Solinsky, Mekhia Terry, Cole Tichy, Blake Weber, Sadie Weigel, Carissa Weis, Kressa Wenzel, Henry Zaleski, Landon Zawislan.

MAREA minutes

The Nov. 20 Marshfield Area Retired Educators Association (MAREA) meeting was called to order by President Doreen Schultz. Following the Pledge to the Flag, the minutes were corrected and approved. Ruby Thomas explained the treasurer’s report and it was placed on file for audit. Committee Reports Community Action: Ruby Pinter stated that today’s donations go to Super Socks. Cindee Loos accepted more shoes for S.O.L.E.S for Jesus. Shoes may be brought to all meetings.

Health: Kathleen Hasenohrl encouraged all of the members to exercise. She spoke about the reasons to exercise and how even a little amount of physical activity will help body and mind. She further explained that when you do physical activity you should pay attention to your heart rate.

Legislative: Curt Hanson reported on the school business regarding the Third Friday report that happens in all school districts and its impact on school funding. He talked about the declining enrollment of students statewide.

There are several bills being written about transgender students. Another bill facing the government concerns the obstruction of basic government functions in the refusal of raises for public employees. The Department of Public Instruction is looking at a bill that would allow school superintendents to be an unlicensed business person.

Membership: Doreen Schultz reported that Trina Tiffany has set up a Facebook page for MAREA. It is a private page for the group. The membership directory was also distributed to the membership.

Pension: Carol Subera said the Social Security Department in the United States has overpaid some recipients who now must repay that amount of overpayment. She also reported on the WREA building in Madison, and the report sent out about paying off the mortgage.

Public Relations / Sunshine and Shadows: Carol Ballerstein stated that she had sent several cards to members who are shut-ins for Thanksgiving. There was a discussion about sending cards for Christmas to several elderly members. Cards will be brought to the December meeting for members there to sign.

Scholarships: Ruby Pinter explained that she will be sending out letters to current winners to remind them to send in their grade report so that their $500 scholarship could be sent to them. It is also time to get letters out to schools for the 2024 scholarship application.

Volunteer Hours: Cindee Loos distributed new forms for volunteer hours. Next year that report needs to be sent in by Sept. 1.

WREA Foundation: Dorothy Dietsche reminded people of the Foundation donation box that was sent around. The next collection date will be at the January 2024 meeting.

EducationCommittee:Someoneisneeded to fill this post. Doreen Schultz talked about what she did for teachers during the recent Education Week at the Athens schools. Jerome Sjostrom talked about how he had seen several billboards state that ‘’Teachers make all professions possible.” Old and New Business Sally Lucas talked about the meeting to be held on April 22, 2024, at Marshfield High School for new retirees or those teachers thinking of retiring. The meeting will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A committee will need to be organized to help with all the logistics for that meeting. The WREA will be helping out as well.

The next regular meeting will be the Christmas Party. No official business will be conducted at the meeting. Trina Tiffany will host the party at her home.

Invitations and directions for the event were distributed. Since members will not be at The Country Aire, it was discussed that the money the group would spend on the luncheon there be donated instead to the Scholarship Fund. Festivities will include holiday music and games.

Happy Birthday song was sung for the November birthdays. Cindee Loos was installed as the new Secretary for MAREA. Meeting program The guest speaker was Betty Herrell, who works with optometrists at the Healthview Eye Clinic in Colby. She was the Paraoptometric of the Year in 2022. She is part of the VOSH, Volunteer Optometic Services to Humanity International, who do mission work throughout the world. She is especially knowledgeable about the trips she has taken to the Dominican Republic. She explained how eye diseases and abnormalities that occur in that country are because of poor eye care.

Trips to the Dominican Republic provide eye glasses that were donated through the Lions Clubs. People young and old come to obtain a pair of glasses that are as close to their required eye correction so they at least see better when they leave than when they came to the clinic. Her passion for helping these people was very evident. Betty intends to go back to the Dominican Republic in 2024.