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Vol. 40, No. 48
Holiday H lid St Strollll
December 3, 2025
Vande Merkt bled Blue and White Former RiversideBrookfield athletic director and coach who died last month fondly recalled By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
Doe lawyer works to bring RB back into lawsuit Amended complaint details students outreach to admin
The southeast corner of Riverside-Brookfield High School’s main gym was Bill Vande Merkt’s favorite spot. It was close to his office, and no matter what was going on during the day or in the evening, he was there, leaning against the wall, watching with rapt attention. It’s one of Tracy Sloan’s enduring memories of her father, who enjoyed a 34-year career at the school as a teacher, coach and athletic director. He retired in 1990. Sloan, a 1989 graduate, played volleyball and basketball in the gym, along with softball. “He was such a presence over there,” See VANDE MERKT on page 23
Page 11
By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
PROVIDED BY TRACY SLOAN
COOL SHADES: Bill Vande Merkt and a referee share thoughts.
Lawyers for the 20-something former Riverside Brookfield High School student, identified only as Jane Doe in court filings, have filed an amended complaint that seeks to restore RBHS as a defendant in the case by laying out more details about how some students allegedly tried to warn school leaders that something inappropriate was going on between Gary Prokes, the director of its RBTV See DOE on page 10
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