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DONKEY BASKETBALL: Local favorites entertain crowds PAGE 9
Local leaders weigh in COUNTRY on WIAA chant issue BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
An email originally sent from WIAA Communications Director Todd Clark to local athletic directors has been a hot topic lately, prompting a discussion between Middle Border athletic directors during their quarterly meeting held in January. One Wisconsin athlete’s suspension for her negative reaction to the email on social media spurred statewide student protests, and before long the issue garnered national media attention. From the perspective of local officials, including Amery Athletic Director Josh Gould, the issue seems to have taken on a life of its own. “The intent was to try and promote better sportsmanship,” says Gould. “There are no rules or regulations, they wanted to have more positive chants, rather than taunting the opponent so much.” Gould’s discussion with fellow directors pointed to an evolution in local athletics. “Cheering sections have turned a little bit more negative over the years, and one of the things we can point to is that as we’ve gotten away from cheerleaders that’s kind of changed how kids cheer at the games,” he adds. Very few local schools still have organized cheerleading squads, leaving crowds to their own devices. Gould says one possible reason for that is more girls participating in sports.
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Amery officer Brad Thompson takes cover and draws his weapon during a simulation excercise. Local officers recently took advantage of the interactive simulation tool to prepare themselves in real-world scenarios.
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Area officers hone their ‘Use-of-force’ skills BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Officers are trained to make life-saving decisions in a fraction of a second. But how does an officer get better at that? How does he or she perform flawlessly in a moment they hope to never see?
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Practice. Practice. Practice. Just as driving simulators are used to recreate dangerous, real-life scenarios for young motorists, simulators are also used to continually fine-tune the skills of law enforcement. Sixteen officers from Amery, Clear Lake and Clayton used one
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such simulator in Clear Lake last week. It’s an annual exercise that they’ve come to appreciate, and just a slice of the mandated 24 hours of training that officers are required to take annually. On behalf of Wisconsin
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Amery grad shines as ‘Next Fitness Star’
THE SUN Metzger poses mid-air for part of an eight-page spread in January’s Women’s Health Magazine.
BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
January’s issue of Women’s Health Magazine features the malevolent Jillian Michaels, of Biggest Loser fame. But inside—a friendlier, more familiar face. In an eight-page spread, readers can take on the physical challenge presented by Amery’s very own
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pumped-up powerhouse, 2004 graduate Nikki Metzger. Since being chosen among thousands to win Women’s Health’s ‘Next Fitness Star,’ Nikki has spent a lot of time behind a camera. And yes, Nikki even has her very own fitness DVD. Nikki says she was in complete shock when they announced her name live on NBC’s Today Show. SEE FITNESS STAR ON PAGE 2
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