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PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The EagleHerald
Friday, December 27, 2013 • 22
FROM PAGE 21
“
ROSSLEY:
EagleHerald/Rick Gebhard
Ron Jackson started the forensics team at Menominee High School a decade ago. Through his guidance, the team has been very successful. They are pictured working on “Fat Kids on Fire.” The facial expression made by Jackson is that of identifying with the poor kid who has to give up his Chef Boyardee pasta. (Color reprints: www.ehextra.com)
A way with words Jackson built Menominee’s forensics team By ALISA FOX EagleHerald staff writer [email protected] MENOMINEE — Forensics has become an award-winning club at Menominee High School and it is completely thanks to Ron Jackson, forensics coach and English teacher He started teaching at Menominee High School in 1993 and he started the forensics team a year later. “I went to him (the superintendent at the time) and said ‘I’d like to do this,’” Jackson said. “I told him to give me about four years and I’d have a good program going. It actually only took us about a year and a half to get a pretty good program.” Forensics utilizes competitions in various categories to motivate students to become proficient in public speaking. These categories include sales, storytelling, multiples (skits with more than two students) and informational speaking. A couple of categories require students to pick a subject at random and prepare a speech about that subject within the specified time limit, usually no longer than 30 minutes. A member of his high school and college forensics teams, Jackson realized the value he believed the students could gain by being involved with the forensics team. “I think you know about our school’s reputation for the athletics, but there are a lot of
Ron Jackson ■ Favorite authors: Ray Bradbury and William Shakespeare ■ Personal hero: Willie Nelson ■ Quote to live by: “I always tell the kids that if you love what you do, it’s never work.” ■ Hobbies: “Well I spend most of my free time grading papers, seriously,” Jackson said. He also spends time painting, going to art shows and raising money for forensics.
“
“He just has the passion for helping kids. He is always looking to improve kids and the pieces they are doing. He always challenges your or puts out the idea that there is always something new to try.” Garrett Dietz Menominee High School junior other kids who are equally gifted in other areas,” Jackson said. “Without the arts, they don’t get the chance to blossom. The things you learn in forensics, you can take with you the rest of your life.” He added that he believed the superintendent of the school, when he proposed the idea, realized what the students could gain from it as well. “I started in high school,” Jackson said. “My senior English teacher was the forensics coach. It really opened me up. Before that, I was really kind of a shy and quiet person. In college, I was the national champion in the humor and after-dinner speaking categories.” Despite funding cuts to the program, Jackson and his students, along with more than a few parent volunteers, raise funds all year to cover materials and traveling costs. “I used to have a different attitude,” Jackson added. “I used to think I’d quit if the school ever cut our funding because the athletic department doesn’t have to fundraise for their travel costs. Now, I think it brings them together and they appreciated it (the forensics team) a little more.” With all the work that goes into preparing students for competitions in their individual categories, Jackson said he enjoys the creative process the most. “You get to create,” he said. “You get to put the pieces together with the speeches and the visuals. It’s the cre-
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ation that I think is the most fun.” Even though preparing a forensics team isn’t always fun and games, Jackson said he works hardest at putting his students in a position to be successful. “The toughest job sometimes is finding the right category for them,” he said. According to Garrett Dietz, a junior at Menominee High School and a third-year participant on the forensics team, Jackson is quite successful in his endeavors. “He just has the passion for helping kids,” Dietz said. “He is always looking to improve kids and the pieces they are doing. He always challenges you or puts out the idea that there is always something new to try.” Dietz spent his first two years in forensics joining in the multiple category. This year, he is trying his hand in
sales. “I love creating something out of nothing or very little,” he said. “You really get to interpret things as your own and Mr. Jackson really makes things fun and interesting. He spends countless hours working, especially on forensics.” Even the volunteers notice how much effort Jackson puts towards the students on the forensics team. “I like how he (Jackson) interacts witht he kids,” said Debbie Thoune, a forensics volunteer. “He brings out the best in all of the students. The team itself is 25 kids that you would never think would be friends or a group because they are so different, but they are a team and they cheer each other on. It’s a very good program. It’s good for self-esteem and for confidence.” Thoune previously had two students at Menominee High School and both were involved in forensics all four years. “My son is a leader and I attribute that to forensics,” Thoune said. “Mr. Jackson always goes above and beyond. He’s kind of that unsung hero type. He doesn’t like to have that attention on him but he deserves a lot of credit. The forensics program is what it is because of him.”
recalled. “The girl was nervous and I said ‘I’ve got your dog.’ It was fun just seeing the dog get back to its owner.” Another highlight of his career he says was getting an alleged “pet shop” on Marinette Avenue closed. He said he began inspecting the business when he saw a Saint Bernard in a cage, then he discovered Labrador puppies being kept in fish tanks and goats illegally up for sale. “I got so upset when I saw how all those animals were being treated I got hold of the state veterinarian,” Rossley said. “We went through the whole store and wrote up every violation there was in it. “There were so many violations, there was no way he was going to pay all those fines. The judge and city attorney made a deal with him and said if you agree to get rid of all the animals and never have another pet shop in the city, we’ll dismiss all but a few of these charges. They made the deal.” Another memorable moment, he said, was when he helped the Marinette County Sheriff’s Department investigate a report of several dogs being neglected in Amberg. “These two ladies, they had over 50 dogs,” he recalls. “Deputy (Zac) Albrecht and the people from the Menominee Animal Shelter were up there all day picking these dogs up, they were running all over.” Rossley said he’s enjoying retirement. His last day of work was at the end of August and it became official in October. “I was just getting ready to turn 65 and I figured I’ve been in the workforce for over 45 years between the Army and working for the city,” he said. “It’s time to let the younger generation take over. “Mary Cherry took over (as public safety officer). She used to be a dispatcher. So far from everything I’ve heard she’s doing a good job. I’m glad they made a good choice.” He said he misses the people he worked with, but not getting up on cold and rainy mornings to “climb underneath some elderly woman’s
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EagleHerald www.ehextra.com
Dr. Kim Herrild Town & Country Veterinary Clinic trailer to help get her cat out.” Beside missing his fellow employees, he misses interacting with the staffs of Town and Country Veterinary Clinic and the Menominee Animal Shelter. For many years, all the stray cats and dogs he found were taken to Town and Country before a new state law required dogs be taken to the Menominee Animal Shelter so they had a a “bigger run area,” Rossley explained. “The people at Town and Country are probably the most professional you’d ever deal with,” he said. “When we’d come with an emergency like a dog hit by a car, they’d stop what they were doing and work on the animal right away. “They were fabulous people to work with. The whole staff out there would do anything for you. They really care.” The Town and Country staff also misses Rossley. “Joe was as conscientious, caring and level-headed a public official as we have ever worked with,” Dr. Kim Herrild said. “Whether dealing with an acutely injured animal or a kitten up a tree, he handled all situations in a calm, easygoing, predictable manner. Joe had a great smile and easy laugh. We miss him greatly.” Rossley said there was never a day in his career with the city that he felt like quitting. “I enjoyed every day I worked over there,” he said. “A long time ago a person told me to take it one day at a time, that no matter what, you can’t control what’s going to happen the next day. I just live by that (attitude).”
Serving Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
906-864-4650
e-mail: [email protected]
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“Joe was as conscientious, caring and level-headed a public official as we have ever worked with.”
and INSTALLATION AVAILABLE
• AVAILABLE BY DAY, WEEK OR MONTH • BARE RENT OR WITH OPERATOR • 12 CRANES •• 8-175 TON CAPACITY • TIP HEIGHT TO 320 FEET
The EagleHerald
Friday, December 27, 2013 • 22
FROM PAGE 21
“
ROSSLEY:
EagleHerald/Rick Gebhard
Ron Jackson started the forensics team at Menominee High School a decade ago. Through his guidance, the team has been very successful. They are pictured working on “Fat Kids on Fire.” The facial expression made by Jackson is that of identifying with the poor kid who has to give up his Chef Boyardee pasta. (Color reprints: www.ehextra.com)
A way with words Jackson built Menominee’s forensics team By ALISA FOX EagleHerald staff writer [email protected] MENOMINEE — Forensics has become an award-winning club at Menominee High School and it is completely thanks to Ron Jackson, forensics coach and English teacher He started teaching at Menominee High School in 1993 and he started the forensics team a year later. “I went to him (the superintendent at the time) and said ‘I’d like to do this,’” Jackson said. “I told him to give me about four years and I’d have a good program going. It actually only took us about a year and a half to get a pretty good program.” Forensics utilizes competitions in various categories to motivate students to become proficient in public speaking. These categories include sales, storytelling, multiples (skits with more than two students) and informational speaking. A couple of categories require students to pick a subject at random and prepare a speech about that subject within the specified time limit, usually no longer than 30 minutes. A member of his high school and college forensics teams, Jackson realized the value he believed the students could gain by being involved with the forensics team. “I think you know about our school’s reputation for the athletics, but there are a lot of
Ron Jackson ■ Favorite authors: Ray Bradbury and William Shakespeare ■ Personal hero: Willie Nelson ■ Quote to live by: “I always tell the kids that if you love what you do, it’s never work.” ■ Hobbies: “Well I spend most of my free time grading papers, seriously,” Jackson said. He also spends time painting, going to art shows and raising money for forensics.
“
“He just has the passion for helping kids. He is always looking to improve kids and the pieces they are doing. He always challenges your or puts out the idea that there is always something new to try.” Garrett Dietz Menominee High School junior other kids who are equally gifted in other areas,” Jackson said. “Without the arts, they don’t get the chance to blossom. The things you learn in forensics, you can take with you the rest of your life.” He added that he believed the superintendent of the school, when he proposed the idea, realized what the students could gain from it as well. “I started in high school,” Jackson said. “My senior English teacher was the forensics coach. It really opened me up. Before that, I was really kind of a shy and quiet person. In college, I was the national champion in the humor and after-dinner speaking categories.” Despite funding cuts to the program, Jackson and his students, along with more than a few parent volunteers, raise funds all year to cover materials and traveling costs. “I used to have a different attitude,” Jackson added. “I used to think I’d quit if the school ever cut our funding because the athletic department doesn’t have to fundraise for their travel costs. Now, I think it brings them together and they appreciated it (the forensics team) a little more.” With all the work that goes into preparing students for competitions in their individual categories, Jackson said he enjoys the creative process the most. “You get to create,” he said. “You get to put the pieces together with the speeches and the visuals. It’s the cre-
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ation that I think is the most fun.” Even though preparing a forensics team isn’t always fun and games, Jackson said he works hardest at putting his students in a position to be successful. “The toughest job sometimes is finding the right category for them,” he said. According to Garrett Dietz, a junior at Menominee High School and a third-year participant on the forensics team, Jackson is quite successful in his endeavors. “He just has the passion for helping kids,” Dietz said. “He is always looking to improve kids and the pieces they are doing. He always challenges you or puts out the idea that there is always something new to try.” Dietz spent his first two years in forensics joining in the multiple category. This year, he is trying his hand in
sales. “I love creating something out of nothing or very little,” he said. “You really get to interpret things as your own and Mr. Jackson really makes things fun and interesting. He spends countless hours working, especially on forensics.” Even the volunteers notice how much effort Jackson puts towards the students on the forensics team. “I like how he (Jackson) interacts witht he kids,” said Debbie Thoune, a forensics volunteer. “He brings out the best in all of the students. The team itself is 25 kids that you would never think would be friends or a group because they are so different, but they are a team and they cheer each other on. It’s a very good program. It’s good for self-esteem and for confidence.” Thoune previously had two students at Menominee High School and both were involved in forensics all four years. “My son is a leader and I attribute that to forensics,” Thoune said. “Mr. Jackson always goes above and beyond. He’s kind of that unsung hero type. He doesn’t like to have that attention on him but he deserves a lot of credit. The forensics program is what it is because of him.”
recalled. “The girl was nervous and I said ‘I’ve got your dog.’ It was fun just seeing the dog get back to its owner.” Another highlight of his career he says was getting an alleged “pet shop” on Marinette Avenue closed. He said he began inspecting the business when he saw a Saint Bernard in a cage, then he discovered Labrador puppies being kept in fish tanks and goats illegally up for sale. “I got so upset when I saw how all those animals were being treated I got hold of the state veterinarian,” Rossley said. “We went through the whole store and wrote up every violation there was in it. “There were so many violations, there was no way he was going to pay all those fines. The judge and city attorney made a deal with him and said if you agree to get rid of all the animals and never have another pet shop in the city, we’ll dismiss all but a few of these charges. They made the deal.” Another memorable moment, he said, was when he helped the Marinette County Sheriff’s Department investigate a report of several dogs being neglected in Amberg. “These two ladies, they had over 50 dogs,” he recalls. “Deputy (Zac) Albrecht and the people from the Menominee Animal Shelter were up there all day picking these dogs up, they were running all over.” Rossley said he’s enjoying retirement. His last day of work was at the end of August and it became official in October. “I was just getting ready to turn 65 and I figured I’ve been in the workforce for over 45 years between the Army and working for the city,” he said. “It’s time to let the younger generation take over. “Mary Cherry took over (as public safety officer). She used to be a dispatcher. So far from everything I’ve heard she’s doing a good job. I’m glad they made a good choice.” He said he misses the people he worked with, but not getting up on cold and rainy mornings to “climb underneath some elderly woman’s
YOUR VISIBILITY. To advertise, call us at 715.735.6611
EagleHerald www.ehextra.com
Dr. Kim Herrild Town & Country Veterinary Clinic trailer to help get her cat out.” Beside missing his fellow employees, he misses interacting with the staffs of Town and Country Veterinary Clinic and the Menominee Animal Shelter. For many years, all the stray cats and dogs he found were taken to Town and Country before a new state law required dogs be taken to the Menominee Animal Shelter so they had a a “bigger run area,” Rossley explained. “The people at Town and Country are probably the most professional you’d ever deal with,” he said. “When we’d come with an emergency like a dog hit by a car, they’d stop what they were doing and work on the animal right away. “They were fabulous people to work with. The whole staff out there would do anything for you. They really care.” The Town and Country staff also misses Rossley. “Joe was as conscientious, caring and level-headed a public official as we have ever worked with,” Dr. Kim Herrild said. “Whether dealing with an acutely injured animal or a kitten up a tree, he handled all situations in a calm, easygoing, predictable manner. Joe had a great smile and easy laugh. We miss him greatly.” Rossley said there was never a day in his career with the city that he felt like quitting. “I enjoyed every day I worked over there,” he said. “A long time ago a person told me to take it one day at a time, that no matter what, you can’t control what’s going to happen the next day. I just live by that (attitude).”
Serving Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
906-864-4650
e-mail: [email protected]
COMPLETE STEEL FABRICATING FACILITY • 10’ X 40’ CNC PLASMA TABLE • CNC LASER TABLE • RETAIL STEEL SALES
CONTRACTOR’S EQUIPMENT RENTALS • AIR COMPRESSOR 175 & 1050 CFM • RT FORK LIFTS 6,000-9,000 lbs. • MAN LIFTS – 45’, 60’ & 85’ • ELEC. SCISSOR LIFTS – 20’ & 30’ • RT SCISSOR LIFT TO 50 ft.
MACHINERY MOVING and SETTING • FORK LIFT CAPACITIES 4,000, 8,000, 12,000, 20,000, and 32,000
• TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE • STORAGE AVAILABLE • RIGGING EQUIPMENT DELIVERY
CRANE RENTALS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS, YOU MUST INCREASE.
“Joe was as conscientious, caring and level-headed a public official as we have ever worked with.”
and INSTALLATION AVAILABLE
• AVAILABLE BY DAY, WEEK OR MONTH • BARE RENT OR WITH OPERATOR • 12 CRANES •• 8-175 TON CAPACITY • TIP HEIGHT TO 320 FEET
