Thursday, October 19, 2017 • Vol. 53, No. 22 • Verona, WI • Hometown USA • ConnectVerona.com • $1
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APPOINTMENTS WITHIN 24 HOURS!
Getting back the faith New pastor looks to bring more people back to church HELU WANG Unified Newspaper Group
Photo by Scott Girard
After Darth Vader and his storm troopers entered the library, people gathered around to take photos and get a closer look.
Vader visits Verona
The Empire did not strike anything during its visit to the Verona Public Library Saturday, Oct. 14, but Darth Vader and his storm troopers — along with a host of other “Star Wars” characters — did pose for plenty of photos. The library’s “Star Wars Reads Day” featured a set of characters from the 501st Legion — Wisconsin Garrison, and also offered kids a chance to make “Princess Leia hair,” design a droid or create “Yoda ears.”
Verona Area School District
New VAHS class a ‘hook’ for history ‘Sports and History’ class popular in inaugural semester Unified Newspaper Group
When President Donald Trump began berating NFL players kneeling during the national anthem on Sept. 24, Sara Asendorf and Jeff Behringer knew they’d have to adjust their curriculum for the following Monday. Luckily for them, though, it was not too big of a deviation from what they already had planned for the three sections of the Sports and History class at Verona Area High School. “We were already going to have a great discussion on race and sports … because we were learning about Jackie Robinson,” Asendorf said. “It was perfect.” Paying attention to current events goes well with
the class, which has three sections being taught in its inaugural semester. Because of that, the teachers often offer time at the beginning to discuss what’s happening now – whether that’s the result of the Packers game the day before or some controversial comments from an NFL quarterback. Asendorf, Behringer and Justin Scanlon, who also teaches the class, have developed the curriculum on their own, with a bit of experience on their side. Asendorf took a similar class in high school in Minnesota, though she stressed that they’ve done things differently in designing the Photo by Scott Girard VAHS version. The classroom features posters of historical events, includ“We wanted to make ing where they intersect with sports, like this photo of Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists in a “Black Turn to History/Page 16 Power” symbol at the 1968 Olympics. The
Verona Press
Turn to Pastor/Page 7
Marks completes first Ironman World Championship in Hawaii ED FINK Verona Press correspondent
Verona native Russell “Rusty” Marks finished Saturday’s Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, ahead of more than 1,000 of the best triathletes in the world. A n d h e h a d n ’t eve n planned on being there until a few months ago. The 40-year-old Verona native, who works as a triathlon and running coach in New York, finished the grueling 140.6 mile circuit of swimming, bicycling and running in 11 hours, 36 minutes, 5 seconds – 1,346th out of 2,364 competitors.
He told the Press on Sunday by telephone his appearance in the annual event stemmed from helping to prepare four athletes for t h e i r f i r s t Marks Ironman, in July in Lake Placid, N.Y. He decided to participate while he was at it and and qualified for the World Championship in the process. “I wanted to experience it with them without stealing their thunder,” he said. “I actually didn’t tell them
Turn to Ironman/Page 12
Verona Area Performing Arts Series presents
Dailey and Vincent Show
Dubbed by CMT as the Rockstars of Bluebrass
Sat., Nov. 11, 2017 • 7:30pm VAHS Performing Arts Center 300 Richard St., Verona
Tickets available at www.vapas.org, State Bank of Cross Plains-Verona, Capitol Bank-Verona or call (608) 848-2787
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SCOTT GIRARD
The Rev. John Sasse, attired in a black cassock, rushed into his office, weaving his way through unopened shipping boxes and finally reaching his desk. The pastor for the Catholic parishes of Saint Andrew and Saint William since mid-July, Sasse has been so tied up with daily Mass, funerals, weddings and serving two churches that he hasn’t had a chance to unpack. An Indiana native, the 49-year-old Sasse traded positions with previous priest, the Rev. William Vernon, who has moved to St. Clement Parish in Lancaster, a 5,000-population community near the Mississippi River. So far, Sasse said, it’s been a good move. “Everything is going pretty well,” Sasse said. “People are very nice here, and the staff are very
helpful and getting me adapted.” Ryan Hartberg, Pastoral Council member of Saint Christopher Parish, said i t ’s f o r t u nate to have another great priest, who always “makes himself busy.” Sasse Since Oct. 9, in addition to regular Sunday Mass, Sasse has offered extra Mass at 7 a.m. from Monday through Friday at Saint William, which makes it more “convenient” for people to worship. “He’s very committed to educating and sharing the importance of sacraments,” Hartberg said. With about 800 families and two more days of Mass in Verona, Sasse has been putting in 12-hour days Tuesday to Sunday. He is also always on call for emergencies, such as the sacrament of anointing of the sick, and conducts other sacraments like baptisms and weddings.