OUR PHOTO OF THE WEEK The Burmesch Variety Store in downtown Random Lake has been owned and operated by members of the Burmesch family for 60+ years.  John Burmesch (middle) and owner Paul Burmesch (right) were working at the store counter on Friday, when Josh Ramel stopped in to buy some snacks.

Burmesch Variety Store Remains a Random Lake Downtown Institution

Finding the correct words to describe Burmesch Variety Store and what it means to the Random Lake community is a difficult task.  But it’s easy to say that this all-purpose store has become synonymous with Random Lake and its residents over the years.  Burmesch Variety Store is as old as the unique tin ceiling and as new as the solid new counter and energy efficient lighting that were installed this year.

Paul and Debbie Burmesch are the co-owners but the store has been part of the Burmesch family for just over 60 years.  The building’s history as a center of Random Lake commerce goes back before 1925, when M. J. Hamm was operating it as the Palace of Sweets.  On Feb. 5, 1925 the Random Lake Times announced that pharmacist William C. Curry of Tomah would be opening a drug store in this building on Carroll St.  Editor Henry C. Scholler noted that “a drug store will fill a long felt want” in the community.

The “Random Lake Pharmacy” opened on March 5, 1925, and Curry operated it until June 1927, when it was sold to the Lone Pine Fox & Fur Co.  Curry pursued a new position with a company in Kiel, and Al Altenhofen ran the store for a short while.  On July 28, 1927 it was announced that Carl B. Giefer of Fond du Lac, a licensed druggist with 23 years of experience, had purchased the business.  The Marquette University alumnus operated the pharmacy while his wife, Elsie, took care of the rest of the store.  The Giefer Drug Store was a successful business for many years, but Mr. Giefer died at the age of 52 on July 13, 1944.

Mrs. Giefer continued to operate the business, discontinuing the prescription department and expanding the mercantile stock.  Andrew J. and Matilda Burmesch purchased the store on April 29, 1947.  For the previous 22 years he had been manager of the Random Lake Cooperative Association, but this was a new opportunity.  The name was changed to the Burmesch Variety Store and weekly ads immediately began to appear in the Random Lake Times newspaper.

The couple had two children, Celestine, who married Sheboygan dentist Dr. John Leider, and Lee, who married the former Virginia Jung (from Random Lake’s well known beer brewing family).  Andrew and Matilda Burmesch operated the store for the rest of their lives.  Mr. Burmesch was known as a champion card player, especially in games like sheepshead and skat.  Occasionally Grandpa would welcome some of his close friends, such as George Krier, J. P. Feider and Fr. John Koenig from Holy Cross, to the upstairs living quarters for a card playing session.

Andrew Burmesch died on Feb. 26, 1961, and in 1962 the store was purchased by his two children.  The new name became the Burmesch & Leider Variety Store — and all of the grandchildren of Lee and Celeste got their own opportunities to work behind the counter.  Grandma “Mimi” Burmesch died on May 18, 1972.

Lee Burmesch already was an important part of Random Lake’s business community.  In May 1939 he had opened Random Lake Frozen Foods with lockers in a former cheese storage building.  A store addition was built in 1960 (today’s site of the Random Lake Pizzeria).  Lee Burmesch sold his meat business on June 2, 1974.

Burmesch Variety Store has always been a family business.  “We were all working in grade school already, both here and at the meat market,” Paul Burmesch recalls.  In 1980 Lee Burmesch bought out his sister’s share and the store name went back to the Burmesch Variety Store.  Paul Burmesch purchased the store from his father in 1984.  He was the sole owner until marrying Debbie in 1993.  Paul continues to be Random Lake’s “Route 1 mail carrier” so the store’s two long running employees are Sue Rusch (daughter of Celestine Leider) and John Burmesch (son of Lee Burmesch).  Sue has been a full-time employee since 1964, and John has staffed the store since 1980.

“I’ve been here for a long time,” recalls Sue Rusch, who easily remembers the 1960’s, when Burmesch Variety Store and the Chippewa Bar were prime hangouts for young people.  “I can remember when lots of kids came in for a Cherry Coke, and on Friday nights when farmers would stop in for a malt.”

Now Paul and Debbie’s children, Angie Sauter and Jeremy Sauter, work at the store on certain days.  “My granddaughter, Lexi (Alexia Dutton), also enjoys helping and we welcome her help too,” says Paul.  “I don’t want to forget my three other brothers, Bill, Dan and Mike, and my sister, Margaret — we all worked here through the years.”  The same could be said for Sue Rusch’s siblings, Jacque Frank and Mark Leider.

“It’s nice to know the people who come in,” says Paul Burmesch.  “You know almost all the customers by name.  Being in business here is kind of neat.  My grandpa, William G. Jung, was brewing Jung Beer and my other grandpa, Andrew Burmesch, was selling it here in the store.”  Burmesch Variety Store is open 365 days a year.  Weekday hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closing Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at noon).  The store merchandise can be listed in about a dozen categories:

Over-the-counter drugs.
Coffee, cappuccino and hot chocolate.
Soft drinks, beer, wine and liquor.
Grocery items including milk and eggs. Some unique local products, like Grove Charcoal, are included.
Ice cream cones, malts, shakes and sundaes.
Snack items like candy bars and chips.
Greeting cards.
Office supplies.
Poster boards and wrapping paper.
Daily and weekly newspapers.
Film, camera supplies and film development service.
Dry cleaning through Troy Cleaners of Sheboygan Falls.
Wisconsin Lottery (scratch-offs and online games).
Continuing the tradition begun at the old Giefer Drug Store, Burmesch Variety Store is the ticket outlet for many raffles, church dinners, community organization fundraisers, school plays, etc.

For more than 60 years local folks have made Burmesch Variety Store part of their lives, whether it’s sitting at the counter to discuss the news of the day, enjoying an ice cream cone, or just shopping for a few household items.  Today’s Burmesch family members want to keep the tradition going while also making the store an important stop for new members of the community.

Village of Random Lake Closes Some Sidewalks

The Village of Random Lake has closed the sidewalks along Orth Dr. and Lake Breeze Ln.  The sidewalks will be closed until further notice because of the snow depth.  The village crew must focus its efforts on keeping the streets clear of snow.

Residents are reminded that parking is not allowed on any village street between 2:45 a.m. and 7 a.m. until April 1.  Vehicles found on the streets during that time will be ticketed by the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department.

Snow is to be removed from sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall.  The ordinance says the entire width of sidewalk must be cleared (not just a shovel’s width).  Snow is not to be shoveled or blown onto any village street regardless of whether or not it has been plowed.

RLHS to Hold Financial Aid Information Night on Jan. 12

“Whether your student is looking at a four-year college or university, a two-year college, or a technical college after high school, the information in this program will be of benefit to everyone,” says RLHS counselor Ann Fowler.  “Even if you feel your family's income is too high to qualify you for any financial aid, there is a great deal of useful information in this program.”  In order to receive financial assistance for any post-high school education, families need to fill out the FAFSA form.  Questions can be directed to Fowler at 920/994-2606.

National Flag Day Foundation to Hold Valentine Dinner Auction

The National Flag Day Foundation will hold its annual Valentine Dinner Auction on Sat., Feb. 7, at the Americanism Center & Museum in Waubeka.  The silent auction opens at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 7:15.  The voice auction begins at 8:30.  Tickets are $50.  For more information call Jack Janik 262/692-2398.

Random Lake Association Announces Valentine's Day Fundraiser

The Random Lake Association's 2009 Silent Auction & Dinner will be held on Sat., Feb. 14, at the Five Pillars Supper Club.  The Valentine’s Day event begins with a 5 p.m. cash bar social hour, and dinner will be served at 6 p.m.  A silent auction runs from 5-9 p.m., and music will be provided by “Frequency Sounds.”

The $20 ticket price will include dinner, music, and door prizes.  This is the RLA’s major fundraiser of the year.  Persons who would like to donate items for the auction should contact coordinator Ted Neitzke at 920/994-2964.

The next Random Lake Association Board meeting will be held on Wed., Jan. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeview Community Library’s Brockmeier Room.  For more information contact RLA President Rich DeLuca 920/994-4865.

CLC Honors Choir to Present Concert on Jan. 8

The Central Lakeshore Conference Honors Choir will give a free concert on Thurs., Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. at the UW-Sheboygan Fine Arts Theatre.  Representing Random Lake High School are Cassie Misgen, Katie Venturini, Cassie Trott, Lauren Stemper, Ben LaFleur, B.J. Decker, Austen Jentges and Brian Winker.  Students from Ozaukee High School include Sarah Murphy, Alyssa Elsila, Emily Utecht, Amanda Nordby, Nick Dupey, Mitch Lauters, Ben Brouillette and Jeremy Nelsen.  The guest conductor will be Greg Carpenter, director of choirs at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Greater Random Lake-Adell United Fund Reaches 61% of Goal

The Greater Random Lake-Adell United Fund has collected about 61 per cent of its goal.  As of Fri., Nov. 21, with just five and a half weeks until the end of the year, the United Fund has received $18,851.  The 2009 campaign goal is $31,100.

Some 236 envelopes have been returned from the 2,558 that were mailed in September.  “We would like to thank all who have given so generously,” says United Fund President Hope Lewitzke, “But we need more help.  We’re in the beginning of some very tough financial times.  Jobs are being lost, retirement and pension plans have been diminished with the volatile stock market, and we’re all a little worried about what the future has in store for us.  It is natural to want to turn inward to protect ourselves, and our families.  But this is the time we need to reach out to those in our community who are most in need.

“When we pull together, when we show we care about those in trouble, we gain strength individually and collectively,” she said.  The agencies that receive support from the Greater Random Lake-Adell United Fund are working in the local community to assist those who may need a little help getting by.  “When their needs can be met, they become stronger and in a position to help someone else,” Lewitzke said.  “It is a circle that comes back to us as a wonderful place to live and raise our children.”

Families who cannot find the United Fund mailing can contact Hope Lewitzke at 920/994-9221 to request another copy.  There are also envelopes and donation boxes at the three local banks:  National Exchange Bank in Adell, Harris Bank in Random Lake and West Bend Savings Bank in Random Lake.

Donations of any amount will help the United fund.  “Please know that any contribution is a worthwhile contribution,” Lewitzke said.  “Every dollar will be put to good use.”  A few individuals who contributed early in the campaign have assisted with a second donation.

The Greater Random Lake Adell United Fund is proud to be a volunteer organization. All of the money contributed goes directly to the community agencies the fund supports:

Random Lake Ambulance — $3,000.00
Adell First Responders & Batavia First Responders — $2,250.00 each
Medical Research — $1,500.00
American Red Cross — $3,000.00
Visiting Nurses Association & St. Nicholas Home Health Care — $1,000.00 each
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts — $1,800.00
Friends of the Lakeview Community Library — $2,000.00
Random Lake Area Interfaith Food Pantry — $500.00
Mental Health America in Sheboygan County, Inc. — $1,000.00
Sheboygan County Salvation Army Red Shield Free Clinic — $3,000.00
REACH Helpline of Sheboygan County — $500.00
Arts Support Group of Greater Random Lake — $400.00
Adell & Random Lake Centers for Senior Citizens — $1,000.00 and $250.00, respectively
4-H Camp Riversite — $1,000.00
Family Connections, Inc. — $250.00
Family Resource Center of Sheboygan County — $500.00
Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization Bridgeway Project — $2,000.00
Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Sheboygan County — $1,000.00
Sharon S. Richardson Hospice & Palliative Care — $500.00

“The only costs we incur are for the printing and postage on the once a year contribution mailing,” the president says.  “Have you noticed the two new signs in front of Harris Bank and National Exchange Bank?  We would like to thank National Exchange Bank in Adell for generously donating those signs.  We would also like to recognize and thank Glen Laubenstein for the restoration of the original sign, which is now located at West Bend Savings Bank.

“Please help us support the agencies that service the Random Lake School District.  If you can’t give a monetary contribution, please consider a gift of your time to any of the many community organizations that keep this a wonderful and safe place to live. We all have something to offer to keep our community strong,” she adds.

Cheerleaders Keep Busy at Random Lake High School

Cheerleading remains an important part of student life at Random Lake High School.

The cheerleading squad for the 2008 football season included Allison Arndt, Ashley Arndt, Madelene Birenbaum, Brianna Borkenhagen, Amanda Conroy, Victoria Edmonds, Vanessa Harrier, Arielle Huiras, Cady Kocher, Taylor Raschke, Bianca Schneider, Mariah Shaver, Erica Trice, Katie Venturini, Amanda Welsch and Ashley Wilke.

The cheerleading squad for the 2008-09 basketball season includes Allison Arndt, Ashley Arndt, Madelene Birenbaum, Victoria Edmonds, Alexia Horstmeier, Arielle Huiras, Cady Kocher, Taylor Raschke, Bianca Schneider, Mariah Shaver, Elizabeth Theis, Jessica Treppish, Erica Trice, Katie Venturini and Amanda Welsch.

The RLHS cheerleading advisor is teacher Sara Bornheimer.  The cheerleaders are preparing to enter a competition to be held in Long Beach, Calif.  America’s Best Long Beach Nationals will be held on Feb. 28 and March 1.

It's Another Busy Season for RLHS Chamber Singers

The Chamber Singers, Random Lake High School’s musical ambassadors, have had another busy Christmas season.  The Chamber Singers present a cappella renditions of favorite carols while dressed in period costumes from the Dickens era.

The 2008 Chamber Singers include Heather Bialk, Madelene Birenbaum, B.J. Decker, Anthony Deutsch, Kristen Heller, Josh Heup, Alexia Horstmeier, Austen Jentges, Leesa Klatt, Abby Kumrow, Ben LaFleur, Cassie Misgen, Mike Misgen, Austin Ross, Lauren Stemper, Michael Treu, Cassie Trott, Tony Vander Velden, Katie Venturini and Brian Winker.  The Chamber Singers, now directed by Leslie Langan-Gluck, were established in the fall of 1977.  Their final appearance will be Sun., Jan. 4, during the 9 a.m. worship service at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Random Lake.  Other tour stops:

Fri., Dec. 5 — Night of Lights in Random Lake.

Fri., Dec. 12 — Gables on the Pond in Random Lake, Heritage Nursing Home in Port Washington, Sheboygan North High School for a combined performance with the North Show Choir, also Memorial Mall and Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan.

Sun., Dec. 14 — Grace Bible Church, Adell.

Sun., Dec. 21 — Zion United Methodist Church, Batavia.

Tues., Dec. 23 — Beechwood Rest Home in Beechwood, Paragon Day Services in Plymouth, Cedar Landing in Elkhart Lake and Rocky Knoll Health Care Facility, Plymouth.

RLHS to Present 'Never Mind What Happened, How Did It End?'

Random Lake High School will present the play, Never Mind What Happened, How Did it End?, on Jan. 16-17-18.

Ann and Kevin are in love, and must make decisions and choices that all young people must make.  Ann's flamboyant, movie star grandmother is back in Fort Tyler and is ready to lend a hand in the decision-making process (whether they want her help or not) And she has lots of other help as well.  Grandmother’s memories force her to recall a time in her own life when she faced the very same decision.  And with her daughter, Donna, as well.

After many witty and thought provoking moments and memories, the audience sees how Ann and Kevin come to their decision with the help of the past generations.  In other words, the audience will see not only what happened, but also, how it ends.  The all-school winter play deals with the age old problem of how to tell parents that you've met that "special someone."  And how memories can help in a decision process.

“We realize that things really aren't that different from generation to generation,” says director Rick Samson.  “It's a fun look at life — now and from memories in the past.”  Production dates for Never Mind What Happened, How Did it End? are Fri., Jan. 16, at 7 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 17, at 7 p.m.; and Sun., Jan. 18, at 1 p.m.  Tickets ($5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens) will be available at the Random Lake High School office and at Burmesch Variety Store starting Friday morning, Jan. 9.

Senior Citizens Invited to RLHS Lunch, Play Matinee

The Random Lake High School students involved in this year's winter play called Never Mind What Happened, How Did it End? invite the senior citizens of the Random Lake School District to a luncheon on Wed., Jan. 14.  The menu is yet to be determined.  Lunch will be served at 11 a.m. in the new commons in the high school prior to the dress rehearsal of the play, which will be presented at 12:15 pm in the Random Lake High School auditorium.  Total cost of the meal and the show is $3.00 and can be paid at the door.  Please make a reservation by Mon., Jan. 12, by calling Kim Bullard at 920/994-4342.

Community SHARe Seeks More Projects

Community SHARe is looking for more projects.  Community SHARe is a group of volunteers from the Town of Sherman, Adell and Random Lake that volunteer to do projects for folks who are unable to complete jobs themselves.
 
Some of the projects already completed by the group are the Earth Day cleanup, mailbox repair, window washing, leaf raking, bush trimming, screen porch repair and painting.  If you or someone you know has a project that could be completed by Community SHARe volunteers, please contact District Administrator Tom Malmstadt at 920/994-4342 or Deb Hamm at 920/994-4651 to be placed on the list of projects.

You Can Receive the Entire Sounder Online

Subscriptions to The Sounder in PDF form can be purchased from ArcaSearch, a division of the Colormax company in Paynesville, Minn.  "Readers around the world can access The Sounder in its entirety within a day after it's published," says editor Gary Feider.  "We also are building an online archive that can be utilized by our digital subscribers."

ArcaSearch is endorsed by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and many other state newspaper associations.  The ColorMax team is focused 100 per cent on its core service -- digital content delivery and digital archive services.

"We will continue to offer our free Internet site, which has been available since 1999 with brief news and sports stories," Feider said.  "We know that more than a hundred people view that site every day.  We expect that many of these people will take advantage of the opportunity to read the entire paper, cover to cover, including all the photos, display ads and classified ads."  The site offers 3-month, 6-month and 12-month subscriptions which can be paid by credit card.  For more information visit the Complete Online Edition Web Site.

We Welcome Your Subscription

The online version of The Sounder includes highlights but not everything from our weekly newspaper.  Subscribing to The Sounder will bring you a photographic record of our community together with editorials, letters to the editor, the weekly "Clergy Comment," weddings, engagements, births, college and high school honor roll information plus many other articles of interest.  Let us know if you would like to receive a free sample copy of The Sounder.  Delivery by U.S. Postal Service costs $20.00 per year in Sheboygan, Ozaukee and Washington Counties; $22.50 per year elsewhere in Wisconsin; $25.00 per year elsewhere in the U.S.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Obituaries

Claytus P. Ziehr, 87, of 113 Wind Sail Ct., Random Lake, formerly of Fredonia, died on Dec. 30, 2008.  A native of Wisconsin Rapids, he graduated from Port Washington High School.  After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he was a retail lumber dealer at Neuens Lumber Co. of Fredonia for 56 years, and co-owned the company from 1978-94.  See Jan. 8 Sounder.

Minnie (Mueller) Bretschneider, 90, died on Dec. 29, 2008 at Gables on the Pond in Random Lake, where she was a resident.  The Grafton native was a homemaker in rural Fredonia for most of her life.  See Jan. 8 Sounder.

Elroy Liermann, 88, formerly of N1011 County Rd. HH in the Town of Scott, died Dec. 28, 2008 at the Sheboygan Progressive Care Center, where he was a resident.  The Beechwood native lived and farmed in the Town of Scott.  He also worked at the Beechwood Cheese Factory in Beechwood, the Gehl Corp. in West Bend, and Borden's Cheese Co. in Plymouth, retiring in 1983.  See Jan. 8 Sounder.

Minnie Mae (Brehm) Dulmes, 88, of Adell, died on Dec. 23, 2008 at Cedar Grove Gardens.  A native of Colby, she graduated fro Central State Teachers College in Stevens Point in 1942.  She was a special education teacher at Lightfoot School in Sheboygan Falls for many years prior to her retirement.  See Jan. 1 Sounder.

Vernon R. Arndt, 80, of 651 Grand Ave., Random Lake, died on Dec. 22, 2008, at his home surrounded by his family.  The Random Lake native worked at Badger Tag & Label Corp. in Random Lake as a machine operator and later became a supervisor.  He retired in 1992 with 40 years of dedicated service.  See Jan. 1 Sounder.

Dorothy C. (Phipps) (Dettmann) Schuch, 88, died peacefully at home at Prairie Gardens Assisted Living, Sun Prairie, on Dec. 16, 2008.  A native of Valders, she married Random Lake native Dr. Ralph W. Dettmann in 1942 and they lived in Fond du Lac.  He died on Sept. 25, 1966, and she married Harold P. Schuch on Aug. 12, 1975.  See Dec. 25 Sounder.

Michael J. "Moses" Beisser, 51, died peacefully at his home in the Village of Howard (Brown County) on Dec. 4, 2008, surrounded by his family.  He grew up in Batavia but his family later moved to the Green Bay area, where he graduated from high school.  Mr. Beisser was a skilled woodworker, and was employed in the construction field his entire life.  See Dec. 11 Sounder.

Joseph Eugene Schneider, 76, a longtime resident of Random Lake, died on Nov. 25, 2008 at Banner Del Webb Medical Center in Sun City West, Ariz.  He was a current resident of Sun City West.  A native of the Random Lake and Fillmore areas, he went into the contracting business by himself in 1959, building many homes and apartment buildings.  From 1979 to 1996 he and his wife Joann owned and operated Random Liquor Sales.  See Dec. 4 Sounder.

Valerie A. (Hundt) Averill, 64, of Sheboygan Falls, formerly of Fredonia, died on Nov. 22, 2008 surrounded by her loving family.  A Milwaukee native, the former Valerie Dotzauer worked for the Gehl Company as a registered nurse for over 25 years.  See Nov. 27 Sounder.

Francis "Fritz" Bichler, 70, of W4228 County Rd. K, Dacada, died on Nov. 21, 2008 at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, Sheboygan Falls.  The Dacada area native was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 139, for over 45 years, working as a crane operator.  See Nov. 27 Sounder.

Anna M. (Schilling) Dalske, 79, of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Batavia, Wis., died on Nov. 15, 2008, in Florida.  A native of Germany, she married West Bend native Leander Dalske (who was serving in the U.S. Air Force) and came to the United States in 1951.  She worked at the West Bend Co. and at the Samaritan Nursing Home, West Bend.  See Dec. 18 Sounder.

Timothy J. "Tim" McKee, 25, of the Town of Farmington, died on Fri., Nov. 14, 2008, from injuries received in a two-car accident.that occurred at 7:03 a.m. at the Washington County intersection of County Rd. H and Orchard Valley Rd.  A 2002 alumnus of Kewaskum High School, he was employed by Hartmann Sand & Gravel of Fredonia.  On Oct. 11, 2008, he married Jennifer Detloff of West Bend.  See Nov. 20 Sounder.

Shirley J. (Nachtrab) Krier, 84, formerly of Plymouth and Random Lake, died on Nov. 13, 2008 at Rocky Knoll Health Care Center, Plymouth, where she had resided for the past few months.  The Milwaukee native, who served as a U.S. Navy pharmacist's mate during World War II, was a homemaker in Random Lake and later worked for Krier Foods in Belgium and for Video City in Random Lake.  See Nov. 20 Sounder.

Nancy Ann (Reece) Redman, 53, of 404 Emerald Hills Dr., Fredonia, died on Nov. 13, 2008 at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, Sheboygan Falls.  A native of Ann Arbor, Mich., she worked for seven years in the advertising department at Worcester Publishing Co. in Worcester, Mass.  See Nov. 20 Sounder.

Vinette H. (Terwilliger) (Hatzinger) Deppiesse, 90, a resident of Gables on the Pond in Random Lake, died on Nov. 8, 2008.  The Waukesha native owned and operated the Chippewa Bar in Random Lake with her first husband, Anton J. Hatzinger, who died in 1962.  After marrying her second husband, Leon Deppiesse, she worked at Burmesch & Leider Drugstore in Random Lake and Allen-Edmonds Shoe Factory.  See Nov. 13 Sounder.

Edward M. Wagner, 79, of 35 E. Shore Dr., Random Lake, died at Columbia St. Mary's Ozaukee Hospital in Mequon on Nov. 7, 2008.  The Milwaukee native was employed at Eaton Corporation (formerly known as Cutler-Hammer) in Milwaukee, retiring as an engineer in 1991 after more than 35 years.  The Wagners lived in Random Lake for 16 years.  See Nov. 13 Sounder.

Douglas J. Mamayek, 48, of W3838 County Rd. K in the Town of Holland, died Nov. 6, 2008 at Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee Campus in Mequon after a battle with colon cancer.  The Milwaukee native started working at the family hardware store on National Ave. when he was 16.  He eventually took over, becoming the proud owner of Mamayek Ace Hardware.  See Nov. 13 Sounder.

Leona M. (Didier) (Egerer) Kaker, 96, of the Sheboygan Senior Community died on Nov. 2, 2008 at the Sharon S. Richardson Hospice, Sheboygan Falls.  The Dacada area native was a farm wife near Port Washington until the death of her first husband in 1946.  After moving to Milwaukee she worked at Plankington Packing and at Schlitz Brewery, marrying again in 1955.  See Nov. 6 Sounder.

Sports

(For high school schedules, click on Ram and Warrior mascots above)

Girls' Basketball

(Dec. 16) at Random Lake 58, Kiel 37.  Kelly Schulz led the Ram attack with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Stefanie Dieringer contributed 11 points.  Krista Navis added 10 points and 10 assists.  "Overall it was our most complete game of the year," said Ram coach Ryan Faris.  "Our defensive pressure was the difference."

(Dec. 13) at Random Lake 39, Sheboygan Christian 25.  The Rams led from the start and earned their first victory of the season.  "It wasn't pretty but we'll take it," said Ram coach Ryan Faris.  "The first part of our schedule was pretty brutal but today we got the job done."  Christian finished with 36 turnovers and Random Lake had 29.  Faris praised Ashley Maxon, Beth Hafeman and Jessica Helminger for their defensive play against Eagle standout Elizabeth "Bizl" Egerer, who finished with 14 points.  Krista Navis hit 10 for the Rams.

(Dec. 12) at Ozaukee 39, Cedar Grove-Belgium 30.  The Warriors raised their Central Lakeshore Conference record to 3-0.  Cedar Grove cruised to a 12-10 lead in the first quarter, but the Rockets got only one basket by Rachel Slotman in the second quarter.  Meanwhile the Warriors scored 13 in the second quarter for a 23-14 halftime lead.  "A big second quarter was the difference in the game," said Ozaukee coach Lee LeMahieu.  Erin Hartnett scored eight in the second quarter and she finished with a game high 18 points and six rebounds."  See Sheboygan Press photo gallery that followed the Dec. 4 Ozaukee vs. Sheboygan Christian game.

(Dec. 12) at Oostburg 74, Random Lake 45.  New head coach Lisa Immel's squad began the drubbing with a 27-8 first quarter, and by halftime the score stood at 43-17.  Julie Raeder scored 23 for the Lady Dutch, while Amanda Huibregtse hit 13 and Karly Telschow 10.  Stefanie Dieringer and Chelsea Witkowski each scored 13 for Random Lake.

Boys' Basketball

(Dec. 20) Ozaukee 68, Random Lake 62.  The young Ozaukee boys’ basketball team looked like they owned the Bradley Center when they dispatched Random Lake, 68-62.  The Warriors have now won six of the last seven meetings between the two schools although Random Lake holds a 46-41 edge.  This was the first time the teams played for the new traveling trophy, “The Jersey,” which now is displayed at Ozaukee High.  The Warriors will have to defend it on Thurs., Feb. 12, when they next play at Random Lake.  A three-pointer by Random Lake's Quin Holeman tied the game at 39-39 with 2 minutes, 12 seconds left in the third period, but the Warriors surged ahead and the game got no closer than four points.  Sophomore Alex Janke scored a varsity career high 26 points for the Warriors, who also got 12 from Brandon Turenne, 11 from Mike Janke and 10 from Tyler Meeuwsen.  Jacob Navarro led the Rams with 16 points, while Spencer Plier scored 15 and Jake Miller 12.

(Dec. 18) at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah 64, Ozaukee 41.  The Resorters gained a 16-6 lead in the first quarter and kept rolling from there.  Alex Brown poured in 26 points to lead Elkhart Lake, including eight in the fourth quarter.  Dane Blake contributed 14.  Brandon Turenne scored 11 for the Warriors, including 7 of 9 free throws in the second period.  Ozaukee got 10 points from both Alex Janke and Jason Richter.  See photo gallery from the Fond du Lac Reporter that followed the Nov. 26 Ozaukee vs. Horace Mann High School game at North Fond du Lac.

(Dec. 16) Random Lake 49, at Kohler 45.  The Random Lake boys’ basketball team buried its long and ugly 27-game losing streak at "The Hangar."  “The guys are working hard to reach their potential,” said head coach Steve Murphy.  “The general direction is forward.  They’re a great bunch of kids.  It’s great to see them have some success.”  The last time Random Lake won a boys’ basketball game was Feb. 15, 2007 (54-50 over Kohler).  The Rams’ last road victory was Dec. 6, 2005 at Cedar Grove-Belgium.  Random Lake posted a 15-4 advantage in the first quarter.  They may have had an inkling that the night would be special when Jake Miller beat the first quarter buzzer with his long shot from behind half court that dropped through the net.  With less than a minute to go the Rams held a 47-45 lead.  Miller and Mark Weyker made single free throws for the final score.  Miller led the Rams with 14 points and Weyker grabbed 12 rebounds.  Kohler's Ryan Stefanczyk scored 11 of his game high 22 points in the fourth quarter.

Wrestling

(Dec. 20) Random Lake's Justin Mudlaff Takes 1st in Marty Loy Classic.  Justin Mudlaff earned first place and Nick Mudlaff was third, leading Random Lake to a 14th place finish in the Marty Loy Classic held at Fond du Lac High School.  First place went to Wausau West with 283 points, while Muskego was second with 230 in the 25-team meet.  Justin Mudlaff began his run to the 112-pound championship by pinning Campbellsport’s Chet Floyd in 3 minutes, 22 seconds.  Next he shut out Mosinee’s Jordan Schraufnagel, 7-0.  Mudlaff posted a 14-0 major decision against Kyle Scherkenbach of Muskego.  In the finale he blanked Kasey Einerson of Lodi, 7-0.  Nick Mudlaff gained third place at 119, starting with a 17-2 technical fall against Muskego’s Ryan Zainer.  Next he posted a 10-4 decision against Gordon Johnson of Hudson.  Mudlaff lost a 9-7 decision to Pulaski’s Justin Enderby.  The freshman nailed down third place with a 3-0 victory over Evan Cavey of Janesville Parker.  Finishing eighth for Random Lake were Mark Meyer (103) and Mason Anklam (215).

(Dec. 18) at Ozaukee 42, Cedar Grove-Belgium 39.  Ten matches were actually wrestled in this Central Lakeshore Conference dual match with each side winning five.  Cedar Grove gave up two forfeits while the Warriors gave up one.

(Dec. 13) Warriors Post 3-2 Record in Sheboygan Falls Multi Duals.  With six Sheboygan Falls wrestlers finishing 5-0, the Falcon wrestling team had little trouble winnings its own multi-dual tournament.  Oconto ended up 4-1 for second place, while Ozaukee took third at 3-2.  Marcus Lubner (119 pounds) and Vince Cardarelle (160) posted unbeaten records for Ozaukee.  Patrick Leonard (140) finished 4-1, while Alex Thill (125), Brady Watry (130) and Josh Lange (189) were 3-2.  “We have a relatively young team,” said Warrior coach Jerry Hoffmann.  “The goal is to make continued improvement as the season progresses.  We saw that on Saturday.”

(Dec. 12) at Random Lake 45, Ozaukee 21.  The Rams took advantage of four forfeits for 24 team points.  Of the nine matches that were wrestled, Random Lake posted a 5-4 record.  “The highlight of the night was a great matchup between Justin Mudlaff and Marcus Lubner at 119 pounds,” said Ram coach John Hatfield.  “Justin is a returning state champ and Marcus is a state qualifier from last year.  Justin won, 8-1, and there were a lot of good scrambles and counters.  No back points throughout the whole match — just tough wrestling.”  Other Ram winners included Nick Mudlaff (125), Dan Pieper (160), Mason Anklam (189) and Taylor Verbanac (285).  The Rams kept possession of “The Mat” for another year, and it was Alumni Night.  The Rams wore the new singlets which have been donated to the school district in memory of Jim Theis by the Theis Family.  Winning the four matches for Ozaukee were Matt Stockwell (130), Patrick Leonard (145), Vince Cardarelle (152) and Adam Esser (215).  “We were pretty pleased with the effort our kids turned in,” said Warrior coach Jerry Hoffmann.  “Marcus Lubner and Brady Watry wrestled well against the Mudlaffs.  We have too many open weights to compete with Random Lake on a team basis.”

Bowling

Each week The Sounder publishes the outstanding bowling scores recorded at Globe Lanes in Random Lake and at the Belgium Bowling Center in Belgium.  Last week's leaders both came from Globe Lanes:  Bryan Lorge with an 814 series (268-267-279), and Lori Miller with a 678 (211-201-266).

New This Week
WRJQ Internet Polka Radio -- This internet station in Appleton has free polka music 24 hours a day.

Past Editor's Picks
Missingmoney.com -- States and provinces attempt to find the owners of unclaimed money or property.
C-SPAN's Lincoln 200 Years -- Feb. 12, 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth.  Learn more here...
Veteran.com -- A new non-political online community for America's military veterans.
Smart Growth -- Learn more about this joint Adell, Random Lake and Town of Sherman program.
Wisconsin Maritime Museum -- Manitowoc has the state's largest maritime museum.
Power Reporting -- Thousands of great free research tools for journalists.
Wisconsin Citizen Corps -- Organizing volunteers to improve readiness in Wisconsin.
Marquette Interchange Updates -- Check before driving to Milwaukee (for the next few years)
Enjoy Horicon Marsh -- Many people visit at this wildlife area in the fall.
New Wisconsin Travel Guide -- A service of the state Department of Tourism.
VA Kids -- Young people can learn what it means to be a war veteran.
Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce -- The business view of Sheboygan County.
Savorwisconsin.com -- Find Wisconsin food and agricultural products.
Blood/Breath Alcohol Concentration Calculator -- Don't mix drinking and driving!
Milwaukee River Basin Partnership -- Random Lake is part of the Milwaukee River Basin.
T-Baum Foundation -- Local organization helps young adults with life-threatening illnesses.
National Marrow Donor Program -- Find out how you can help.
Road Conditions, Work Zones, Repair Schedules -- Info from the Department of Transportation
Polka Bob's Polka Radio Locator -- Invaluable information for you polka lovers.
Jung's Beer Trays -- Collector information from Random old brewery.
Smart Growth Online -- Learn about the national "anti-sprawl" campaign (Wisconsin too).
The Wheeler Report -- A fine source for Wisconsin government and political news.
Sacred Space -- Spend 10 minutes in prayer and meditation each day with the Irish Jesuits.
Translate with Babel Fish -- AltaVista offers this handy translator for several languages.
Sheboygan County Government -- All the details about county government.
Wisconsin Scanner Frequencies -- CityFreq offers this invaluable resource for scanner fans.
Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau -- What's new in West Bend and beyond.
Wisconsin.gov -- The new State of Wisconsin e-government portal.
All About Wisconsin Lakes -- This Department of Natural Resources site tells it all.
Movie Reviews with Families in Mind -- Is that film appropriate for the kids?  Sponsored by the U.S. Catholic Conference.

Here's One Last Random Glance

'History on the Move' Returns to Random Lake

The series “History on the Move” by the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center returns to Lakeview Community Library, 112 Butler St., Random Lake, during 2009.  The first session on Thurs., Jan. 8, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., features “Sheboygan County’s Role in Wars and its Yankee Settlers.”  The facilitators will be Marge and Larry Pearce.  The slide show and discussion program is free, and the public is invited.  The next session on Thurs., Feb. 5, will be “Politics in Sheboygan County,” from the collection of Elmer Koppelmann.  For more information contact the library at 920/994-4825.

For Complete Details and Much More, Read The Sounder

News | Obituaries | Sports | Editor's Picks