These members of the Holmen FLL team, NOAm, are on their way to Houston, for the World Championships, running from April 17th through the 20th. Their team’s acronym name stands for “Nerds On A Mission.” They are, from the left, Cecelia Maricle, Teemu Keinanen, Wyatt Linder, Mikko Keinanen, Somerled Myers, and Georgia Maricle. Not pictured are teammate Nevaeh Prodzinski and Coach/founder - Peggy Maricle. Herald photo by Benny Mailman.

Spirited Spartan guest demo FLL team headed to Houston Holmen-based team in need of financial support to make trip of a lifetime

For their Week O scrimmage event, on the weekend of February 17th and 18th, the Sparta Robotans reached out to the Holmen community based First Lego League (FLL) team, NOAm, to come and provide …
On Tuesday, November 21st, the Green Bay Packers sent a 6-man contingency force to the Wisconsin National Guard’s Challenge Academy, out at Fort McCoy. The green and gold took a guided tour, learning about the cadets and the program. From left: running back - Ellis Merriweather (#38), linebacker - Brenton Cox Jr. (#57), safety - Benny Sapp III (#48), Challenge Academy Director – Joni Mathews, defensive end - Colby Wooden (#96),  safety - Zayne Anderson (#39), and kicker - Anders Carlson (#17). Herald photo by Benny Mailman.

Challenge Academy hosts Green Bay Packers Common ground and lessons shared

In the early afternoon of Tuesday, November 28th, six members of the Green Bay Packers were welcomed onto the military base of Fort McCoy. They arrived by helicopter and were escorted to 749 East …
Maryjane Ann Fulton stands proudly in front of the ropes-course tower and the corrective-action area. The chow hall, or dining facility, is in close proximity to this area and Maryjane says that although corrective-action may have a negative connotation, often cadets will build their strength by flipping giant tires or dragging wooden stumps, while waiting for their platoon to finish eating.

Challenge Academy hits 25-year milestone

In many of the local parades held within Monroe County, a sharply dressed and well-disciplined group of teenagers can be seen, marching to the barking commands of their instructor. They are the …

SASD Budget Workshop this Wednesday, September 20th

SASD Budget Workshop this Wednesday, September 20th The Sparta Area School District is holding a School Budget Workshop, to engage our community in the budgeting process, on Wednesday, …
I wanted this photo in the paper, as this participant was helping out and showing the baby goat to the other kids, who were a bit unsure of how to handle the baby goat. I had written two names down and forgot which name was hers, and after exhaustive efforts to reach someone to ensure the correct name would be used, I had to run without it. So here it is, front and center.

Saint Matthews holds VBS

For the week of June 12th through the 16th, right off of Highway 12, near Warrens, Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, in the town of Kirby, near Warrens, was holding Vacation Bible School (VBS) for …
Sports
MARCH MADNESS: Top storylines for the 2024 NCAA Tournament following Selection Sunday
The most magical time of the year on the sports calendar is upon us once again with the return of March Madness. Here are just a handful of the top storylines to watch in the aftermath of Selection Sunday.
West Salem senior guard Tamarrein Henderson is averaging 19.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game to help lead a Panthers team that is headed to Madison for the state tournament for a third straight year.
BOYS BASKETBALL: West Salem ably handles roster turnover, division bump en route to state return
Losing nearly your entire starting lineup to graduation and getting bumped up a division doesn't sound like the recipe for making it to state. The West Salem boys' basketball team? They took on the turnover and changes in stride and barely missed a beat en route to a third straight state tournament appearance.
Less than a week after beating Melrose-Mindoro 55-37 to cap off the regular season, the Bangor Cardinals trounced the Mustangs 76-43 in their regional semifinal rematch.
GIRLS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Bangor, Cashton advance to regional finals
The Bangor and Cashton girls’ basketball teams will each vie for a regional title and the sectional spots that come with it after winning their home regional semifinal contests to kick off the weekend on Friday, February 23.
Bangor senior Samuel Cropp came up huge in crunch time in the Cardinals' 68-66 upset win over rival Cashton, scoring eight points in the final few minutes of regulation.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Bangor's Cropp rises to the occasion, gets delayed revenge against Cashton
A broken arm robbed Bangor senior Samuel Cropp the chance to be part of the Cardinals' revenge win against Cashton in the playoffs. A few months later, Cropp played an instrumental role Bangor's 68-66 road upset of their archrivals.
Despite leading late in regulation, Tomah ultimately lost in overtime to Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln in the Timberwolves' final home game of the 2023-24 regular season.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Tomah outlasted in OT by Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln
Tomah's non-conference clash with Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln was about as even as it gets for the first 36 minutes of play. Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, it was the Red Raiders who finally created the decisive separation in overtime to claim the victory.
New Lisbon's Brayen Morey put a damper on Brookwood's senior night with a game-winning jumper in the final seconds of overtime.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Brookwood loses OT heartbreaker to New Lisbon on senior night
On a night where they celebrated their seniors and pulled off a late rally in regulation, the Brookwood boys’ basketball team had their hearts ripped out with a gutting overtime loss.