YourFamily_February2023

Wedding Stories from Local Couples

Q & A by Ashley Snyder

YF: What are your names?

Mary: Bob and Mary Pierce

YF: When did you meet?

Mary: We meet in school as kids and attended a one room schoolhouse together.

YF: What is your wedding date?

Mary: November 3, 1962.

I was 17 and Bob was 21.

YF: Where was your wedding location?

Mary: Methodist Church in Lancaster, WI.

YF: What food did you serve at your reception?

Mary: We had a very cheap reception. We served cake, coffee, and ice cream. We did have a big spread for our 25th anniversary.

YF: What was your first dance song?

Mary: We didn’t have a rst dance.

YF: Did you go on a honeymoon?

Mary: We didn’t have a honeymoon, but I won a trip to Las Vegas for our 20th Anniversary. For our 60th Anniversary, we celebrated over Thanksgiving this past year.

YF: What advice can you give newly married couples or people considering getting married?

Mary: Everybody’s life is different. Stay tuned into each other and try to keep your marriage young. Simple moments and time together can be the best. You have to choose to be together.

YF: Do you have a favorite trip or memory you both share?

Mary: Going to Las Vegas was a big moment for us. It was the rst time we ew in an airplane and we were in a big city. We also went to Green Bay, WI salmon shing and had a lot of fun. It was just fun getting sh and spending time together.

YF: What are your names?

Katie: Michael White and Katie Williams

YF: Where are you from?

Katie: Michael is originally from Benton, WiI, and I am originally from Cassville, WI.

YF: How long have you been together?

Katie: We have been together for 41⁄2 years.

YF: When did you get engaged?

Katie: We got engaged on December 26, 2021, while on vacation with Michael’s family in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

YF: When is your wedding date?

Katie: Our wedding is Friday, June 16, 2023.

YF: Do you have a theme for your wedding, color of dresses/tuxes?

Katie: The bridesmaids are in dark mauve dresses and the personal attendants are in mauve dresses. The guys will not have full suits but will have

blue pants, ivory shirts, suspenders, and dark mauve long ties. Michael and our nephew will have ivory ties. Our theme would be considered rustic.

YF: Have you picked a dress?

Katie: I do have my dress! I found it at I Do Bridal in Galena, IL.

YF: Any tips for other brides on wedding planning?

Katie: My advice would be during wedding planning, try to stay ahead and get things done as soon as you can. This has helped me stay on track and enjoy the wedding planning process.

YF: Do you plan on taking a honeymoon?

Katie: Yes, we plan to go on a honeymoon, but haven’t decided quite yet where we want to go.

YF: What is the thing you are most excited about for planning your wedding day?

Katie: I am excited to marry my best friend and celebrate our big day with all our family and friends!

Kenadee Weigel

Pro le by Lisa Ban eld

School: Platteville High School

Parents: Ryan and Traci Weigel

Siblings: A 19 year old sister named Kaelyn and a 12 year old brother named Keegan.

Pets: A ve year old German Shorthaired Pointer named Otis.

Favorite Food: If I had to choose one thing to eat for the rest of my life, it would most likely be a turkey sandwich.

Q&A with Kenadee Weigel

YF: Who is your role model?

Kenadee: My role model is my dance teacher, Hana Hansen. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved to dance. It was not until Hana became my teacher in 5th grade that I started seeing dance in a new light. Hana has taught me how to express myself through the sport of dance, how to spread the love of dance within myself and others, and the technical skills and tips of dance one needs to be a competitive dancer. Hana always makes me feel as if I have a purpose and that dance is my gift. I have been dancing under Hana’s instruction for 8 years. Last year, she provided me with the amazing opportunity to teach under her through her studio HD Academy. This year I am teaching four different classes; clogging, jazz,

and hip hop to ages ranging from 5-11 years. Watching the children that I teach rehearse and perform their routines on and off stage is an amazing experience. It is reassuring when all of your hard work and countless hours of lesson planning and choreographing comes to life on a stage, not to mention seeing young dancers enjoying this fine art as much as I do. I owe all of these feelings and moments to Hana as she has guided me through them, and taught me how to be the best dancer and teacher I can be.

YF: What did you want to be when you were in kindergarten?

Kenadee: In kindergarten, I wanted to become a teacher. Both of my parents are currently educators, and I have always looked up to them

and admired their roles. As a child I spent lots of time before and after school with my mom as she prepared her classroom, created activities, and set up learning centers. While mom was working in her classroom, I would often pretend as if I had a class full of students and was teaching them math equations on the board.

YF: What do you want to be now that you are grown up?

Kenadee: Last spring, I decided that I wanted to get a head start with college courses and this fall I began taking classes at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore. Next fall I will be attending the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. I plan to earn a bachelor’s degree in Radiation Therapy with a Radiological Technology Emphasis. I aspire to become a Radiologist Technician. I also would like to continue to share my passion and knowledge of dance through instruction either privately or in a studio setting.

YF: Who is your favorite teacher?

Kenadee: My favorite teacher is Ms. Droessler, the 8th-grade ELA teacher at Platteville Middle School. She played a huge part in my enjoyment of 8th-grade year. Her classes were always so fun and she treated all of her students as her own. You could often find us exchanging salutations by saying, ¨Gurl¨ in the hallways. She will forever have an impact on my educational journey.

Famous TV Couples Match Up

Draw a line to match up the couples

YF: What is your favorite classroom subject?

Kenadee: My favorite subject is Science. Throughout high school, I enjoyed taking different science classes to enhance my learning. These classes have helped me choose my future career path and will benefit me in my college journey.

YF: What advice would you give to incoming Freshmen?

Kenadee: I would tell all incoming Freshmen to make the four years you have in high school the best they can be because time flies by. It is important to take advantage of all the opportunities that high school allows. Get involved in as many clubs and activities as you can, attend events affiliated with PHS, and most importantly have fun and enjoy your years spent at Platteville High School.

YF : What is your best memory of high school?

Kenadee: My four years of high school have been enriched with endless keepsake memories. It is almost impossible to describe one specific event as my favorite memory as I thoroughly enjoyed pretty much everything. Each year, I vastly enjoyed the time spent in the student section at highschool games, special occasion dances, pep rallys, assemblies, and post game gatherings at McDonald’s.

Valentines Day gift ideas for animal lovers

A stuffed teddy bear, a heart-shaped box of chocolate and a bouquet of red roses have long been staples of Valentine’s Day giving. While these can make ne gifts, this year those who want to shake things up a bit can offer alternativess that cater to their loved one’s ideals. In lieu of stuffed animals, these community- and conservation-inspired ideas may be well received.

Adopt an animal

Collecting stuffed animals may be a replacement for wanting a pet of one’s own. If the conditions for getting a pet are favorable, meaning recipients have the money, space and time to properly care for a pet, then couples can extend their love to a companion animal. This is one gift that shouldn’t be a surprise, as it is a commitment that requires both people be on board. Visit animal shelters together to choose your pet.

Did you know?

Pet ownership is rewarding in various ways, and those rewards could be one reason why pet owners are welcoming additional pets into their homes, even if only temporarily. According to the 2021-2022 biennial APPA National Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Association, 11 percent of pet owners also foster pets. The sel ess act of fostering saves the lives of an untold number of animals each year, as shelters confronting overcrowding may not have the resources necessary to keep pets healthy until they nd an adoptive parent. For example, the ASPCA notes that neonatal (zero to four weeks) and pee-wee (four to eight weeks) kittens are extremely vulnerable and do not often survive without round-the-clock care. Overburdened shelters with limited resources are not always capable of providing such care. In such instances, shelter-sponsored fostering programs teach foster caregivers how to care for kittens so they can survive the rst eight weeks and stay healthy enough to be spayed or neutered and ultimately adopted.

mcg.metrocreativeconnection.com

Happy Tails Adventures of Oz

Dental health is a very important part of your pet’s overall health, and dental problems can cause, or be caused by, other health problems. Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian for early signs of problems and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy. Have your

Support a conservation group

If animal adoption is not the right step at this time, offer a romantic partner a stake in the welfare of an animal facing endangered or critical status through symbolic adoption. Various organizations enable people to make donations toward the conservation of animals in the wild. Support large cats, birds of prey, and others through a charity such as the World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation and Defenders of Wildlife.

Take a trip

Visit animals in the wild by planning a trip to a national park in North America or other areas around the world. If schedules or nances prohibit a trip at this time, purchase entry tickets to a conservation center or nearby zoo that specializes in certain breeds of animals. Even local wildlife rehabilitation hospitals may offer tours or enable people to foster injured or orphaned animals.

Plan a day around wildlife

Make this Valentine’s Day memorable with an entire day immersed in nature and wildlife. Plan a hike through a nature preserve; pack a picnic to enjoy midday. Make a donation in a spouse or partner’s honor at a park that he or she holds dear. Consider sponsorship with a plaque on a bench or fund educational classes at a learning center. The recipient will enjoy seeing his or her name displayed.

Donate toys

In lieu of gifting a stuffed animal to a romantic partner, consider purchasing stuffed animals or toys and donating to a favorite charity, like a children’s hospital in his or her honor. Deliver those items in person and spread a little extra love on Valentine’s Day.

Animal lovers may appreciate Valentine’s Day gifts that highlight their passion for domesticated pets and wildlife. mcg.metrocreativeconnection.com

Some pets become irritable when they have dental problems, and any changes in your pet’s behavior should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. Always be careful when evaluating your pet’s mouth, because a painful animal may bite.

Source: American Veterinary Medical Association