PRST STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID RIPON, WI PERMIT NO. 100 MAY 24, 2018 x OSHKOSHHERALD.COM VOLUME 1, ISSUE 20 INSIDE Rusch Park trail lights in the plans Neighbors express opposition to parts of area’s master plan By Tom Ekvall Metal kids Herald contributor Traeger students help create The Oshkosh Advisory Parks Board garden sculptures accepted recommendations from a plan- Page 4 ning consultant to include lighting along the Sawyer Creek trail as part of a master plan for Rusch Park but eliminated plans Housing plans for proposed outdoor exercise equipment. Plan Commission discusses The plan now goes back to plan de- VFW building proposal signer Rettler Corp. to provide further details, including the type of lighting to be Page 3 installed. Residents for and against the park light- ing were in attendance at a May 14 meeting. Former Police Chief Scott Gruel, re- cently named to the Advisory Parks Board and attending his first meeting, said he lives in the Sawyer Creek neighborhood and will Photo by Tom Ekvall recommend approval of the master plan Students fish off the dock at the Oshkosh Seniors Center as part of a combined outdoor event with the lighting. Development of the plan between Oshkosh West and the Academy for Global Studies. had been requested by the Sawyer Creek Neighborhood Association, which had members present in support of it. Team images Fun on water forms bonds More than a dozen members who live By Tom Ekvall “The idea is to involve Oshkosh West along the trail where the lighting would be Herd players make Herald contributor students as peers and friends who will help installed opposed the project, saying that they did not want it to illuminate their back- connection to photographer With friends, any “fin” is possible. them actively participate,” she said. She said the program has been successful as yards or into their homes. A petition oppos- Page 11 A group of Oshkosh West High School ing the lighting signed by 32 residents was and Academy for Global Studies students teens get to know each other. The event has support through orga- presented by those living along the trail. got together for fishing, boat riding and John Kneer, planner for Rettler, said crafting May 18 at the Seniors Center. nizations and businesses such as Lakeside Sports results Marina, Sweetwater Performance Center the lighting could be shielded from reach- Roundup of Oshkosh Gillian Pakula, a West special educa- ing the households and they would like to tion teacher, said the event brings other and the Oshkosh Boat Club each donat- high school scores ing pontoon and power boat rides, the Ot- get citizen feedback on the design. He said students as mentors for those who have there would be 275 feet of clearance be- Page 12 special needs through buddying up in a ter Street Fishing Club providing fishing equipment for the students to take home, tween a light and the closest home. more inclusive environment. Karen Karl, who lives at 3081 Sawyer This is an annual event and the first and NTD Corp. providing lunch. The Academy for Global Studies has Creek Road, told board members that the Close finish one at the Oshkosh Seniors Center, which area is a young neighborhood with children has Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA) been involved from the start with their UW-Oshkosh baseball team first task choosing the name for the annual in strollers with the park being a nature area. accessibility to the Riverwalk and boat Eric Koehler, of 3111 Sawyer Creek comes up short in tournament docking. Pakula, who teaches adapted event: Any “Fin” is Possible. Also on hand were Parks Director Ray Drive, who distributed the survey — 20 Page 14 physical education, said the special needs properties are along the trail — said the group works on leadership and social skills Maurer and Public Affairs Officer Kate through activities and experiences. Mann, who had a command vehicle there SEE Rusch Park ON PAGE 2 for students to walk through. More area residents game for pickleball By Tim Froberg pickleball courts not only at physical fitness game, although tournaments are often 15- Herald contributor centers, but at places like condos.” to 21-point events. Only the serving side Merge tennis, racquetball and bad- There are eight pickleball courts at the can score points. minton into a single game built around a Oshkosh YMCA Tennis Center, which will The game is especially popular with wooden paddle and a perforated sphere be the site of pickleball competition in Au- older players, although millennials and that looks like a Wiffle ball. gust for the Badger State Games. The city is people in all age groups are also discovering What you get is the growing sport of recognizing the growth of the sport by add- the appeal of it. pickleball. ing three pickleball courts to Menominee “People think of it as an older person’s The game is gaining in popularity Park this summer. sport, but really it’s not,” said Counts. “In across the country and interest is high in Pickleball originated in the mid-1960s our tournaments I’m seeing people in their the Oshkosh area. as a children’s game. It can be played by 20s, 30s and 40s. It’s actually becoming a “Pickleball is big in Oshkosh and two (singles) or four (doubles) people. The sport for all ages.” it’s huge all over the country,” said Sheila object is to hit the polymer, hole-filled ball Pickleball is inexpensive to play and Counts, Oshkosh YMCA Tennis Center in an underhand motion from behind the considered a very social sport. director. “I just talked to someone in Flor- baseline on one side of the center line over Photo from Oshkosh YMCA ida and they’re adding huge amounts of a tennis-type net. The first one to score 11 SEE Pickleball ON PAGE 11 Pickleball doubles players compete at the points and prevail by at least two wins the Oshkosh YMCA recently. PAGE 2 x OSHKOSHHERALD.COM MAY 24, 2018 Leadership Oshkosh program to graduate 38 Thirty-eight students will graduate more than $10,000 in support of the Os- May 24 from the Oshkosh Chamber of hkosh Fire Department as part of its pro- Commerce Leadership Program, a nine- gram work. month session that provides current and The graduation ceremony at The -Wa emerging leaders with information about ters starts with a 5 p.m. social hour, 6 p.m. the community’s opportunities and chal- dinner and programs at 7:15 p.m. More in- lenges. formation about the program is available at More than 900 people have graduat- [email protected] or 920-303- ed from the Leadership Oshkosh program 2265, ext. 29. since 1989. Participants serve as adjunct The leadership class includes Michael members of various boards and commit- Bobusch, Choice Bank; Marie Boleman, Submitted photo tees throughout the community. Oshkosh Public Library; Andrew Bongert, The Leadership Oshkosh class of 2018 kicked off their work with a retreat at Osthoff Resort in The class of 2018 was able to raise Discovery Properties; Dave Chaimson, Ex- Elkhart Lake. perimental Aircraft Association; Michael Cory McKone, Fox Valley Technical Col- Museum; Katherine Talken, Boys & Girls DiFrisco, Experimental Aircraft Associ- lege; Daniel Mrochek, Oshkosh Fire De- Club of Oshkosh; Steven Toll, Fox Valley ation; John Dinegan, Lourdes Academy; partment; Sara Muhlbauer, Lakeland Care; Metrology; Kristopher Ulrich, Stellar Blue; Michael Donnan, Aegis Financial; Jon Erin Vacheresse, Bank First National; Amy Eiden, von Briesen and Roper; Karis Gra- Jamie Nett, The Sullivan Group; Grace -Ol iver, Pierce Manufacturing; Julie Poquette, Vanden Hogen, City of Oshkosh; Doug- ham, Bemis Co.; Jolene Heuchert, Com- las Villars, RE/MAX On The Water; Jean 923 S. Main St. Suite C munity First Credit Union; Devon Hudak, Miravida Living; Trina Procknow, Jay Man- ufacturing Oshkosh; Eric Regner, Verve, Wollerman, Oshkosh Senior Center; and Oshkosh, WI 54902 ARC Contracting; Linda Jones-Pierron, Abigayle Zubella, SBG Financial. Oshkosh Area School District; Jason Knoll, a Credit Union; Brian Schuldes, Oshkosh General information Evergreen Retirement Community; Gina Police Department; David Shadick, Os- Phone: 920-508-9000 Kundert, Grand Opera House; Anita Lind, hkosh Defense; Courtney Shears, Mercy Rusch Park Website: www.oshkoshherald.com Aurora Health Care; Karen Liu, Oshkosh Medical Center; Emily Springstroh, City of FROM PAGE 1 Corp.; Ameerah McBride, UW-Oshkosh; Oshkosh; Karla Szekeres, Oshkosh Public News tips and story ideas “low-level” lighting would draw people to [email protected] the park after the 11 p.m. closing time and Youth Leadership Oshkosh invite criminal activity, saying ‘there is no Advertising ability or history of regular police patrolling [email protected] of this park trail.” Chris Carns: 920-508-0030 graduates 24 from schools The lighting of the park had been sup- Dan McCord: 920-420-2024 ported by the Police Department. Twenty-four high school students cations manager at Oshkosh Corp. and a Paul Ellefson, of 3011 Sawyer Creek Classified Advertising graduated last month from the Youth Lead- 2006 graduate of Youth Leadership Osh- Drive, suggested that consideration be giv- [email protected] ership Oshkosh class of 2018. The yearlong kosh, was honored as the first recipient of en to an outdoor archery range, off-road 920-508-9000 program formed by the Chamber of Com- an Extraordinary Service Award given to an biking trail, benches, and maintaining cur- merce brings together students with lead- alumnus for her volunteer work. rent trail and bridges at the park. All advertisements are subject to ership potential from Lourdes Academy, The graduating class consisted of “A plan to put lighting on the path and the applicable rate card, copies Oshkosh North, Valley Christian and Osh- Lourdes Academy’s Gwendolyn Gruber, not connect it at the ends, particularly over of which are available from our kosh West.