Brodhead
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017
Parkview’s spelling bee winners announced ...................... 2 Albany student signs with New York college ............................. 5 John Deere Tour Days coming soon ......................................7
Former Brodhead man journeying for charity and awareness
By Siara Schwartzlow
EDITOR
Former Brodhead resident Dennis Schulze is on his way to Lambeau Field via his wheelchair to raise money and awareness for various causes. In June of 2012, Schulze was in a severe motor vehicle crash. Rescuers had no choice but to amputate part his leg in order to remove him from his semi-truck. He faced only a 40% chance to live, and after eight surgeries, another portion of his leg was amputated, this time above the knee. Shortly following the accident, Schulze lost his father to Alzheimer’s, and he lost his mother a year later to cancer. His cousin, Ryan Copeland, was also killed in the line of duty as a police officer in a K-9 unit in McFarland. This succession prompted Schulze to do something to help other people. His current journey is taking him to Lambeau Field. Along the way, he is speaking with concerned passersby and raising awareness for things that he is passionate about. Five particular charities he is focusing on are LEDR (Law Enforcement Death Response), March of Dimes and specifically, Mason’s Angels, in honor of his five-year-old cousin Mason Bar-
trum, Alzheimer’s research, lung and brain cancer research, and St. Jude Research Hospital. Schulze’s 170-mile trek began late last week when he departed from Janesville. “The best part is the amount of people that keep stopping and wanting to see if he’s OK,” Joan Sohn, a friend who’s following behind Schulze in her car, said. “It’s unreal. Right away, they want to give him money.” Schulze won’t take their money, though; he said he doesn’t want to take advantage of people feeling sorry for him. He wants those who see him to visit his Facebook page and donate to one of the causes he’s fighting for instead. “The people who stop and don’t know me – they see us; they still want to stop. I tell them who I am and what I’ve done, and I tell them I’m not taking any money,” Schulze said. “If you read my story and my story touches your heart, now you have a reason. I don’t want anything. I’m out here doing this for people with cancer.” For Schulze, seeing people come together is just as important as raising awareness. In a recent interview, he noted how meaningful it is for people to stop and talk to him – just to make sure
Three Monroe teens deceased, one woman injured in Green County crash By Siara Schwartzlow EDITOR
Three Monroe teenagers, ages 16, 16, and 15, have died following a severe traffic crash that took place south of Monroe on Feb. 10. One woman is in serious condition at the UW Hospital. On Feb. 10 at 2:20 p.m., the Green County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-car accident at the intersection of Melvin and Clarno roads in Clarno Township, south of the City of Monroe, according to a press release. Upon arrival, units extinguished a fire on one of the vehicles. A westbound sedan was traveling
on Melvin Road and failed to stop at the intersection. The sedan collided with a northbound truck, according to a release. The driver of the sedan, a 16-yearold Monroe male, was pronounced dead at the scene. His two passengers and the driver of the truck, a 35-year-old Monroe woman, were airlifted to the UW Hospital in Madison. The two passengers in the sedan succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at the hospital on Saturday. The driver of the truck is in serious condition. Speed is considered a factor in the crash.
COURTESY PHOTO Brodhead Independent-Register
Dennis Schulze takes a break from his Lambeau Journey for a photo with two officers of the Fort Atkinson Police Department. The police offered him an escort through the town.
he’s OK. “Usually, all you hear of is the bad stuff in the world,” he said. Regardless of his accident, he is determined to make a difference and make the world a brighter place. “There’s good in the world,” he said. Lastly, Schulze’s journey is one that can inspire others, regardless of their personal circumstances. “I’ve got one leg above the knee,
and I’m out there doing this in a wheelchair and trying to help the people who can’t even get into a wheelchair. They can’t get out of bed,” he said. “I’m out there trying to show that people with disabilities can do things like this.” Through his experience, Schulze has developed a slogan to help inspire people and to help raise awareness: “Let’s all pull together
for those who can’t walk together.” Schulze would like to say, “Hi,” to his sister Deb Foster and her family, and his children, Denny and Justina. “Dad loves you,” he added. For more information or to see a list of Schulze’s charities, visit his Facebook page: Dennis’s Lambeau Journey.
Chief Wickstrum to retire from Orfordville Police Department Chief Dave Wickstrum, who served over four decades in the law enforcement field, announced last week that he would be retiring from the Village of Orfordville Police Department at the end of April this year. Wickstrum has been Chief in Orfordville since 2005, which was his second tour of duty with the Village as Police Chief. Wickstrum served Orfordville from 1984 to 1987, leaving to assume the Chief’s position in the City of Brodhead, where he served as Chief until 1999 when he accepted a position as Chief Deputy at the Green County Sheriff’s Department. Wickstrum, a Marine Corps Viet Nam Veteran, began his law enforcement career after his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in 1973. Wickstrum served with seven law enforcement agencies in capacity as an officer, a sergeant, and an investigator, as well as a Chief of Police for three police agencies, the Village of Union, Il, the City of Brodhead, and the Village of Orfordville. He was also the chief deputy for the Green County Sheriff’s Department. In addition to his long-time police experience, Wickstrum was a li-
censed EMT and fireman and served tours with the Muscoda and Orfordville Fire Departments and was a charter member of the Brodhead Area EMS. Wickstrum also spent some time as a police instructor at Blackhawk Technical College instructing police ethics. Wickstrum said his public service career has been a fantastic journey and that he was blessed to have a position of trust to protect persons, as well as having a part in shaping communities and improving relations between law enforcement and those who were served. As a leader, he was also able to encourage and mentor young officers to achieve their fulfillment as law enforcement officers and was also able to help develop safety programs for children, adults, and senior citizens. When asked about his plans following retirement, Chief Dave said that he would like to get more involved with the organizations he belongs to: The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. He also expressed interested in communicating and ministering to senior citizens as a representative of his church.
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