“Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind.” The words may belong to Valentine Davies, the award-winning writer of Miracle on 34th Street, but the sentiment rings true for all of us.
Metro Milwaukee maintains a competitive strength in the educational attainment of its workforce and its concentration of knowledge workers, especially scientists and engineers, which outpaces the nation and many peer metro areas.
The State Bar of Wisconsin is inviting journalists in Wisconsin to get the latest rundown on some of the hottest topics in modern constitutional law that are shaping the present and the future.
About a year ago, Simon Mehring came home from a high school journalism conference with an idea. Mehring, now a junior at Stoughton High School, had learned about an Illinois law that protects student media from censorship. He also found out that Wisconsin doesn’t have such a law.
Joanne Marie Gidley, 88, a noted contributor to Wisconsin's newspaper industry, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Cardinal Ridge Assisted Living in Green Bay.
She served as editor of both the Cathedral High School and College of St. Scholastica student newspapers before beginning her journalism career at the Catholic Herald, where she worked as a reporter from 1955 to 1958. After a hiatus to raise her family, she rejoined the workforce in 1977, working in several tourism and advertising roles that allowed her to continue her passion for writing. She also served as a contributor for the Superior Telegram.
Larry Landgraf, who had an extensive career in newspaper advertising, died on Thursday, Nov. 16, in Middleton. He was 98.
A graduate of Hayward High School and UW-Madison, he joined the retail advertising department of Madison Newspapers in 1949. He remained with the company for nearly 50 years, retiring as advertising director in 1989 and from the newspaper in 1998. Landgraf was a past president of the Madison Area Sales and Marketing Executives, Wisconsin Newspaper Advertising Executives Association, and Madison Advertising Federation.
Rick Berg, a Madison native and Isthmus columnist, died on Saturday, Nov. 11, at UW Hospital in Madison. He was 73.
A 1968 graduate of Fort Atkinson High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from UW-Madison in 1974. He worked in local and state government in Wisconsin for more than 30 years. Berg was a former Madison school board member and former Dane County Republican Party chairman. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor, and also worked as a speechwriter for Gov. Tommy Thompson. Throughout his career in government, he maintained his roots in journalism, writing dozens of pieces for Isthmus, from his conservative perspective.
April Ziemer, who has served as editor of the Amery Free Press for the last five years, has left the newspaper. Ziemer, whose previous background included photography and customer service, joined the Free Press in July 2018.
In her farewell column, Ziemer said she plans to start her own company. She noted a heavy workload that pulled her away from family and other commitments and increasing vitriolic attacks on social media contributed to the decision.
Median teacher pay in Wisconsin has fallen on an inflation-adjusted basis over the last decade, with retirements and limited pay increases both playing key roles.
Regular and faithful readers of my meanderings will recall that my name does not come up with the mention of fashion icons.
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