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Uncategorized Blog

Racine Case Kicks Off Football Filled Weekend on WRJN

The #3 Seed Racine Case Eagles start the football weekend on WRJN with a WIAA Playoff battle against #2 seed Mukwonago.  We’ll have live coverage starting at 6:30 Friday night, with Dick Graceffa on the call.  Last week, WRJN listeners heard a classic when Case came back to beat Oconomowoc in the first round of the playoffs.  Listen live on the airwaves or find WRJN on the Civic Media app.

Keep the app handy for Saturday night football with the Wisconsin Badgers.  College football can be heard through the Civic Media app, with pre-game on WRJN starting at 4:30pm.  The Badgers look to bounce back with a Big Ten matchup in Iowa.

You can hear the Green Bay Packers only on the airwaves, 1400AM, 99.9FM in Racine, and 98.1FM in Kenosha. Pre-game for the contest with Detroit starts at 1pm, with Wayne, Larry, Kuhn, and the kick-off at 3:25.  After it’s over, stick around for the post-game show, which includes interviews from the podium and the players. Post game runs for roughly two hours after the game ends. 

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Blog

It’s not “divisive” when calling out racism in political campaigns. It’s needed. Especially when it comes to Van Orden.

By Chad Holmes

This past weekend, like many of you, I tried to relax and get away from the work grind by getting in front of a television and watching some football. The Green Bay Packers on Sunday to be specific. However, with less than a month away from the election, it’s impossible to get away completely. Certainly when it comes to Congressman Derrick Van Orden.

Derrick Van Orden is not my congressman. I live in the 7th Congressional District, as does everyone who lives in Marathon County. My congressman (and I use the my very loosely) is Tom Tiffany. Derrick Van Orden represents the 3rd Congressional District. The reason why I have to sit through many Derrick Van Orden political commercials, and his oppenent Rebecca Cooke, is because the 3rd District has Portage and Wood County as part of it. The Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids media markets are served by TV stations out of Wausau. To get to voters in Point and Rapids the campaigns need to buy spots from Channels 7, 9, 12 and the FOX channel….what number that is I have no idea. So those of us in Marathon County and other counties not in the 3rd get to learn a lot about Van Orden and Cooke.

It wasn’t a surprise I saw many, many political spots when sitting down to watch the Packers face the Rams Sunday. It was expected. I have seen Derrick Van Orden’s “racial dog whistle” spots many times. Maybe I just saw it one time too many yesterday. Recently Van Order had a spot titled “One of Them.” It featured pics of the “liberal elite” such as President Biden, former Speaker Pelosi, Senate majority leader Schumer and California Governor Newsom. None mentioned by name. Then the spot claimed Cooke was “handpicked” to win back the House and “trusted to elect liberal heroes like Mandela Barnes.” Large photo Barnes. Looks darkened. Then they add another black face in House Minority leader Jeffries on the other side of Cooke to finish the spot with the words “she’s one of them.” Disgusting.

The latest Van Orden ad drops the white faces and focuses on linking Cooke strictly to Mandela Barnes. That’s the spot I kept seeing yesterday. It’s more “Us vs. Them”. The kind of stuff we saw over and over again in the 2022 Senate race between Barnes and Senator Ron Johnson. The biggest difference is in 2022 Johnson had the “sense” to let his 3rd party allies put out the most racist and disgusting of the ads, including darkening of the then-Lt. Governor’s picture. The Van Orden spots end with the words “I’m Derrick Van Orden and I approve this message.” Standing next to a bunch of old white guys who look like law enforcement. Nice little kicker there Derrick. He is trying to remind everyone he is “us” standing next to the white guys while Cooke is “them” pictured next to Barnes and Jeffries.

Van Orden isn’t the only GOP candidate ramping up the use of racial language. It goes right to the top. It was reported today that Donald Trump told right wing radio host Hugh Hewitt that you can tell whether migrants are predisposed to committing murder by “their genes.” “We got a lot of bad genes in our country right now,” Trump added. This is 2024. That’s the kind of thing said in the years post-Civic War. Pure racism.

We need stop seeing the media using terms like “sharpening attacks” and other passive language to avoid saying the truth: these are racist attacks on millions of our people. This is not a time to “both sides” what we are seeing and hearing everyday. Over and over again. Even when trying to get away from it all with a football game. It’s dangerous. It needs to stop but if it doesn’t stop it needs to be called what it is.

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Blog

Trying to figure out Tommy Thompson

By Chad Holmes

There are many things in politics that make sense and those that don’t. Earlier this week Donald Trump became the first Republican nominee for President to campaign in Dane County since Bob Dole in 1996. Among the state GOP dignitaries who were there to show their support of the former President were former Governor Scott Walker and 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Tim Michels. Senator Ron Johnson is one of Trump’s biggest state supporters. None of those names are surprising. The one state GOP leader that still makes me shake my head for his support of Trump is former four-term Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson. Not only does Thompson support Trump but he was the lead speaker introducing Trump this week in Dane County. Tommy even laughed at the call (and insult) Trump gave when he called to tell Tommy to “get the hell off the stage.”

Why? I keep asking why and finding little in my search for answers. Just a couple of weeks ago Civic Media had plenty of coverage from the Cap Times Idea Fest in Madison. Leading political figures were among the many types of folks who spoke at the event. One of which was Tommy Thompson. After reading what he told the audience at Idea Fest I am more confused on why Thompson, at the age of 82, would make one of his last political battles a fight to get Donald Trump back into the White House. In fact, the reasons he put out at Idea Fest make absolutely no sense.

From a story at civicmedia.us that discussed Thompson’s appearance at Idea Fest: “he noted his support for Trump was in part a push to urge his own party to work across the aisle to tackle the serious problems facing Wisconsin and the United States as a whole.” What? If Thompson wants a leader who will urge the current MAGA Republican Party to work across the aisle that person wouldn’t be Donald Trump in any way, shape or form. It’s crazy to think that Trump will change who he is at this late point in his life.

Thompson also, as Civic Media noted in it’s story of the event appearance, “At various points in the evening, Thompson endorsed a range of ideas that might strike the uninitiated as out of character for a Republican.” Some of the ideas Thompson pushed would be laughed out of a MAGA Republican Party meeting. Thompson proposed converting a state prison into a university to give inmates a path to success after incarceration and hiring retired judges to re-try cases within the correctional system with the hope of reducing sentences and freeing people earlier. The GOP and it’s 3rd party allies are putting out disgusting commercials right here in central Wisconsin against 85th Assembly District Democratic nominee Yee Leng Xiong saying he wants to open up all the jailhouse doors to release dangerous criminals. If Yee Leng Xiong made the same proposal as Thompson (which is very much worth consideration) the Republican Party would be spending many thousands of dollars calling him “soft on crime.”

Thompson also finished with a very reasonable statement that would have no favor in Trump’s Republican Party: “There are good ideas from Democrats and good ideas from Republicans,” he said. “In this state and this country … I want you to work as hard as you possibly can for your candidate, Kamala. I’m going to work for my candidate, Donald Trump. But at the end I want to come together because this country has serious, serious problems and we cannot afford to continue to be so partisan and so political that we don’t talk to each other.”

I am still as confused as ever on why Donald Trump is Tommy Thompson’s candidate. Thompson has to know of Trump’s dictatorial tendencies, his racist history, his felony convictions and more. Is it a desperate attempt at relevance? I don’t know. However, I do know that Tommy Thompson has to be held to account for his work, his hard work, to put a dangerous demagogue back in office. Saying he worked with Democrats in the past doesn’t cut it. Thompson is putting party, and maybe himself, above country and it’s a disgrace that should stick to him now and forever.

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Blog

Too much hubris, not enough humility in Wausau ballot drop box controversy.

By Chad Holmes

Throughout Tuesday, like any storm, the winds started to blow harder and harder. At first the thought was “did Mayor Diny really dress up as a DPW employee to move a ballot drop box on a Sunday?” Yep, it really happened and there were pictures and video to prove it. On the surface it appears the mayor has overstepped his bounds in moving the drop box to his office. There are a lot of upset constituents, city hall workers and public officials. There will be plenty of investigation and decisions to be made on what happened on Sunday and much more to be said. However, at this point, I want to talk about a trend I have seen for a while in candidates and officials: hubris.

Self-confidence can be a good thing. It can also lead to problems. Reading some of the mayor’s comments concerning his decision to unilaterally remove the ballot drop box it comes across as a person who has no doubt he thinks he’s right. The mayor also said the people who he talked to don’t like drop boxes. It reminded me of an interview I had a couple of months ago on my program with a Republican candidate for the state assembly where he said everyone he had talked to agreed with his positions. My first thought was “everyone”? There are more than a few things I believe I am correct about. However, I am not delusional enough to think “everyone” agrees with me. It seems as though, in recent years, many on the right are certain of their beliefs and that “everyone” or at least every “real American” agrees with them. Whether Trump, Cory Tomczyk, and even radio personalities it can lead to some dangerous situations thinking you are right about everything.

According to public reports, Mayor Diny did have conversations with the clerk about the drop boxes. Apparently, in the end, the mayor’s suggestions were not heeded and the drop box was not removed. Sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some right? Not in this case. The mayor decided not to take no for an answer. He “knows” he is right. Hubris. That’s not the way our government works. One point that council president Lisa Rasmussen made really caught my eye. Rasmussen said to the Wausau Pilot and Review: “One concern I have heard from people so far is worry that there could be no accountability for this action, that if any other citizen had done the same thing, they would have been immediately answering to the police, and or facing some consequences.” There has been many examples in recent years where it appears that the rules are different for different people. Whether because of social status, economic status, race or other factors people aren’t treated equally under the law or under the rules of our society. That is a problem.

We will learn more about what happened and whether or not the mayor broke any rules or laws by his actions on Sunday. However, a little less “hubris” and a little more “humbleness” by everyone might go a long way.

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Blog

Wausau Pilot and Review wins again in court vs. Cory Tomczyk. That is a win for the press and community.

By Chad Holmes

Last week, for the second time, a court dismissed a defamation case filed by State Senator Cory Tomczyk against the Wausau Pilot and Review. Last year a Marathon County Circuit Court judge dismissed Tomczyk’s suit and now it’s an appeals panel that told the Mosinee businessman turned state Senator his claims have no merit. Whether this is the end of this sad tale is to be determined as Tomczyk says he will be determining his options after the latest ruling.

If the goal is justice, then this case should be over. If the goal is to bankrupt one of the few journalistic options the people of central Wisconsin has to get information about their governmental representatives and policies then Tomcyzk may keep tilting at this windmill. In the ruling written by appeals judge Lisa Stark it was stated that Tomczyk failed to provide evidence to buttress his claims of “actual malice” and “reckless disregard” in the Pilot’s reporting of Tomczyk using an anti-gay slur during a 2021 meeting where the “Community for All” issue was being discussed.

After becoming a major voice in the “CFA” debate, Tomczyk ran for the state Senate and won the Republican primary over Mosinee mayor Brent Jacobson by positioning himself as a Donald Trump-like MAGA candidate who truly represents the people of the 29th District and then defeated Democrat Bob Look in the very-GOP leaning district. During a joint appearance at UWSP at Wausau in October of 2022 Tomczyk ran as an election denier, comparing our elections to “Putin’s Russia”. He talked about the lack of integrity of the justice system, wanting 2020 protesters jailed while January 6th defendants were just “supporting their candidates”. Talked about the radical policies of Governor Evers and Mayor Rosenberg and the horrible “Democrat” policies and how “average citizens” and “average Americans” hate those policies. “Average Americans” = conservatives. Then called Democrat policies “treasonous” and that Democrats “don’t want law and order and safety. Democrats want chaos. Democrats want confusion. Democrats want instability. They want this so they can they try to convince the ‘sheeple’ that they have the only solution. They can fix the problem. It’s b—s–t.” Can see why he has been continuing this suit for the last couple of years. Don’t cross him.

So on one side there’s a journalist who has covered the news for years in our area. The other is MAGA state Senator who throws verbal bombs at people who are left of him on the political spectrum. The courts have now, multiple times, said his suit has no merit. One would think that a media source, one that claims they believe in “law and order” would see the merit of standing with the Pilot and the courts. Nope, the operations manager/morning show co-host of the right-wing radio station down the street puts out a commentary titled “A Eulogy for American Journalism.” He stands with Tomczyk and against the Pilot. Wow. The people that want to kill American journalism aren’t the ones who won in the courts last year and last week. The costs of this crusade of Tomczyk’s have nearly bankrupted the Pilot, and would have, except for the support of their readers.

I look forward to discussing this case and whole story with Wausau Pilot and Review editor/founder Shereen Siewert later in the week.

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Those Were The Days

1984 Air Guitars

A recent poll confirmed that parents and grandparents greatly embarrass their children when they play air guitar. There was a time when playing air instruments was cool. Back in 1984 we had contests to see who the best imaginary players were. I remember being the m.c. for a big contest at Reedsburg High School. They also had a competition for the best ‘flying v kick’ like David Lee Roth from Van Halen. This week in ’84 that group’s song Jump was the number one tune on radio. It was an exciting time to grow up. The social network was the family home phone. Sometimes we were still on a party line. Up to eight families would sometimes be on the same circuit. Long distance rates were cheaper after 6:00 pm. If I wanted to call a young woman from Bear Valley, I had to call late. I needed to coil the long phone cord to the other side of the file cabinet so that I could have a little privacy when I was talking to my lady friend. It was the early years for MTV and pop culture was totally influenced by the styles that we saw on video. There were many British artists that became instant stars because of the 24-hour exposure that the network provided. Some of my faves from March of 1984 include Talking in Your Sleep-Romantics, Back Where You Belong-.38 Special, Middle of the Road-Pretenders, Radio Ga Ga-Queen, Nobody Told Me-John Lennon, They Don’t Know-Tracy Ullman, The Language of Love-Dan Fogelberg, New Moon on Monday-Duran Duran, and That’s All-Genesis.

Saturday night during Those Were the Days, I will be spinning the hits from early 1984 and music from all of the eras that we play. Trivia games return and we will be cranking out the hits until the midnight hour. I hope you enjoyed our archived flashbacks last weekend following local sports. It was great to spend some time with my darling granddaughter, Oaklee, as she turned four. She seems to like vinyl records! Perhaps someday she can cohost Those Were the Days on WRCO FM 100.9 and WRCO.com!

Phil

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Obituaries

Glendelon G. Thompson, 94, L’Anse

Glendelon G. Thompson, age 94 of L’Anse, MI passed away Monday, July 13, 2026 at Bayside Village, L’Anse.

Private family services will be held.

Glendelon’s obituary may also be viewed and condolences sent to the family at www.reidfuneralservicechapel.com

The Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse has been entrusted with the arrangements.

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Obituaries

Vanessa Hastings, 30, L’Anse

Vanessa L. Hastings, age 39 of L’Anse, MI passed away unexpectedly on Friday, July 10, 2026. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L’Anse.

Vanessa’s obituary may also be viewed and condolences sent to the family at www.reidfuneralservicechapel.com

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Obituaries

Sally Louise (Schmaus) Gagnon, 83, Rockland

Sally Louise (Schmaus) Gagnon, 83, of Rockland, Michigan, passed away peacefully at her home on July 13, 2026. She was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, and her presence will be deeply missed.

Sally was born on February 4, 1943 in Ontonagon, Michigan to George and Hilda (Stark) Schmaus. She attended Roger Clark School in Rockland, MI. Sally married the love of her life Henry Elias Gagnon on February 6, 1960 in White Pine, MI.

Sally served as a homemaker raising her five children until 1975 when she and Henry purchased Henry’s Inn. Sally was a memorable personality in the Rockland community and far beyond.

Sally was well known for her wit and sense of humor and being a stubborn Finlander- German. She had a talent for riling up snowmobilers and other patrons at Henry’s Inn. She entertained the regulars, professional NFL players, NASCAR drivers and others with, “This ain’t Burger King, you get it my way…”

She contributed many articles to the Ontonagon Herald which included her unique humor. Sally was fascinated by the weather and served as a weather reporter for Rockland Township for many years. She was known to do the Heikki Lunta snow dance and rejoice the First of May.

Some of her favorite things included Bayfield/Madeline Island vacations with the family, The Minnesota Vikings, Margaritas with the Senioritas, vacations with Butch and the late Suzie Picotte, playing late night Eucher, and winning big at the casino.

Sally is survived by: her beloved husband of 66 years Henry; Siblings: George Schmaus, Jr. and Shirley Kemppainen;

Children: Tony (Cindy) Gagnon, Tina Heitman, Jenny (Dave) Kanniainen and Joy Devitt;

Grandchildren: Mandy (Shawn) Meyer, Max Gagnon, Cassandra (Nate) Duus, Bobbi Ross, Drew Gagnon and great-grandchildren: Sally and Noah.

Sally was preceded in death by her Parents: George and Hilda, siblings: Eino and Bernard, sons: Gene and Henry Jr., and son-in-law Steve.

A celebration on Sally’s life will be announced and held at a later date.

Her family would like to thank Leah, Cassie and the rest of the Aspirus Hospice Team who helped Sally uphold her wishes of comfort in her home at end of life.

To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.

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Obituaries

Gladys Elaine Perttunen


Gladys Elaine Perttunen, a resident of Lansing and former Winona resident, passed away on June 13, 2026, while vacationing in Florida.

She was born in Winona, Michigan, to Edward and Martha (Savikoski) Manninen on January 30, 1936.

Gladys had the typical small farm community life until moving to Detroit with her family. She graduated from Central High School in Highland Park and began working as a comptometer operator at the A&P offices.

She met her husband, Harry Perttunen, and they were united in marriage on October 1, 1955. They raised four sons and a daughter in Highland Park, Farmington and Howell, Michigan.  After Harry’s death in 1987 Gladys moved to Walled Lake. There she met many friends in her new community. She lived in Lansing for the last ten years.

Gladys worked many years in retail positions, and it culminated with her dream job at Hallmark Cards prior to retirement.

During retirement, Gladys had many interests and activities, including writing her memoir, poetry writing, watching theater, lighthouses, hot air balloons, and flower gardening. One of her biggest thrills was going on a hot air balloon ride. Her favorite holidays were Thanksgiving and Christmas as the family would get together.

Also, Gladys enjoyed traveling as much as possible, including cruises with her sister Kathy and her husband Alan Briscoe.  Gladys enjoyed exchanging letters/cards and talking on the phone with friends. She corresponded with an old A&P coworker and a penpal from ‘Grit’ days.

She was predeceased by her parents, husband Harry, sons Russell and Dwayne, brother and sister-in-law Wesley (Marilyn) Manninen, brother-in-law Alan Briscoe, and several nieces and nephews.

Gladys is survived by sons Jeffrey Perttunen and Darryl Perttunen, daughter Lori (Fritz) Esslair, daughter-in-law June Perttunen, grandson Jason (Irene) Perttunen, great grandchildren Emma and Elliot, granddaughter Amy Perttunen, sister Kathy Briscoe, and many friends and relatives.

A memorial service for Gladys will be held 5:00 pm on Wednesday July 15, 2026, at the Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Mt. View Chapel of South Range, with Rev. Bucky Beach to officiate.  Friends may call on Wednesday July 15, 2026 from 12:00 noon until time of services at the Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Mt. View Chapel of South Range.

Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Greenland, at 11:00 am on Thursday July 16, 2026.

To view Gladys’ obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Mt. View Chapel of South Range is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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Obituaries

Raymond Edward Lasanen, 73, Bootjack

Raymond Edward Lasanen (73) a resident of Bootjack, passed away on Sunday, July 12th, 2026, at UP Health System – Marquette in Marquette surrounded by his family. 

Ray was born on July 14th, 1952, to Wesley and Florence (Spath) Lasanen in Hancock. He attended Lake Linden High School and graduated in 1970. He started his career as a commercial fisherman and later worked for Michigan Technological University for 34 years, retiring in 2017. Ray also worked on many sea walls over the years. 

He was united in marriage to Cheryl Ann Jurmu on June 25th, 1977. Ray and Cherie most recently resided in Bootjack. 

Ray was a member of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church. In his free time, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, fishing, sauna nights and completing projects. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wesley and Florence Lasanen; granddaughter, Sophie Grace Klein; Father-in-law Clifford Jurmu; Mother-in-law Carol Jurmu; Brothers John and David Lasanen; Sister Sharon Limanen; Sister-in-law Sandy Lasanen; Brother-in-laws David and Daniel Jurmu.  

He is survived by his wife, Cherie of 49 years and 7 children; Amy (Thomas) Seeger of Florida; Thomas (Lana) Lasanen of Traprock; Tricia (Matt) Klein of Wisconsin; Liisa (Ben) Peterson of North Carolina; Loretta Lasanen of Bootjack; Brian (Lori) Lasanen of Painesdale; Melissa (Erik) Anderson of Laurium. Grandchildren Lilly, Emma, Alex, Lyle, Alena, Easton, Ellie, Aubrie, Vera, Ethan, Abby, Madi, Devin, Kora, Simon, Axel, Annabelle and Owen. 

Brothers Robert (Debbie) Lasanen; Dennis (Cindy) Lasanen; Sisters Annie (Kenny) Helminen; Jeannie (Billy) Dunstan; Judy (Yogi) Kilpela; Mary (Les) Brewer.

Brother-in-law Doug (Janelle) Jurmu; Sister-in laws Peggy (David) Lewis; Sarah (Alan) Anderson.

As well as multiple nieces, nephews and cousins. 

A visitation will be held for Raymond on Thursday, July 16, 2026 from 4:00-8:00pm at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Calumet, Michigan. 

There will be a second visitation on Friday, July 17, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Calumet, Michigan. 

Following the second visitation, there will be a funeral service at the church at 1:00pm with Pastor Mark Halonen to officiate. 

Burial will take place at the Lake View Cemetery in Calumet.

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com 

Categories
Those Were The Days Blog

A Short Story From 1983

In the summer of 1983, I was working as a farm hand, part-time mobile d.j., all-star slow pitch softball right fielder, part-time community theatre actor, and eligible bachelor extraordinaire. As I remember, it was very warm that year. When I hear Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant, it takes me back to a hot night in Madison. You could hear that song playing on car radios everywhere as the vehicles moved along with windows down. I did not grow up wearing shorts unless it was a for a workout or a sports practice. There were not a lot of stylish shorts for farm boys who were worried about looking ‘geeky’. Shorts were not smart to wear during hay making and so my legs looked like a pail of vanilla ice cream. I am pretty sure, though, walking around in the city of Madison wearing new blue jeans in 90-degree heat looked a bit nerdy. Going to the mall was the thing to do in the 80’s. Every shopping facility had a record store, Spencer’s novelty gifts, Cinnabon, a food court, an arcade, Radio Shack, and Buddy Squirrel’s nut shop. I could spend a whole day and night just wandering around the mall. My friends who were also wearing tight pants on hot days and nights would loiter and watch the beautiful young ladies walking with goofy looking guys. We would wonder what she saw in that fellow. In later years when I had an actual date, I realized that other fellows were wondering that about me and my gal. This reminds me of a song by Joe Jackson called Is She Really Going Out with Him? (‘Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street’)

Saturday night during Those Were the Days on WRCO, I will be counting down the Top 40 records from July of 1983. Some of the most iconic artists of the 80’s will be represented including Journey, Prince, Men at Work, Def Leppard, David Bowie, Styx, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, Bryan Adams, Loverboy, and Flock of Seagulls. MTV had made it to Sextonville that summer and there were many groups that got a big push by the music channel. This motivated me to pay attention to the best dance songs so that I knew what to purchase at the Music Shop in downtown Richland Center.

I will not be taking your requests this weekend. We have special family plans. During the first hour, Chris Simonson and his wife Heather will do a guest d.j. appearance. They had the top bid during this year’s Passages radio fundraiser and they receive the chance to play an hours’ worth of their favorites. Chris will be staying after school after Saturday’s with Simo. Have fun and I hope you enjoy this weekend’s Those Were the Days on WRCO FM, WRCO.com and the Civic Media app. Wear your short pants and dance to the music.

Phil

Categories
Obituaries

William “Bill” Boutwell, 77

William “Bill” Boutwell, a devoted husband and loving father, passed away at the age of 77 on July 1, 2026.
Bill was born to William and Toni Boutwell in Ashland, Wisconsin. He attended Michigan Technological University where he earned degrees in Chemistry and Engineering Administration. While a student at Michigan Tech, Bill met the love of his life, Mary King. They were married in Calumet in 1968.
After working for the Environmental Protection Agency in the Twin Cities, Bill and Mary moved to Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, where Bill worked for Erie Mining Company and where they raised their family. He later held management positions at Georgia Pacific and Minnesota Power. Shortly after Bill retired from Minnesota Power in Cohasset, Minnesota, he and Mary moved to Laurium, Michigan, where Mary was born and raised.
Bill’s greatest joy was his family. He was a loving husband to Mary and an incredibly proud, supportive father to his three children Brett, Brandy, and Bart. He shared his love of downhill skiing with his children and spent many days and weekends with his family skiing in Minnesota and Upper Michigan. He also enjoyed spending time on his boats fishing on the Iron Range or cruising on Lake Superior. An amateur radio (HAM) enthusiast, Bill was also known as KB0BK to his friends in the amateur radio community in the Midwest and around the world.
As the years went on, he found great joy watching his grandchildren Madison, Emma, Josie, and Eloise grow into amazing individuals. He cherished every moment spent with them.
He will be remembered as a kind, smart, and caring man who deeply loved his family, his dog Cameron, and erecting HAM radio towers.
Bill is survived by his children Brett (Tonia), Brandy (Lynn Rosen) and Bart (Heather Grovum), and his brother Sam Boutwell (Sandy). He is also survived by his grandchildren Madison, Emma, Josie and Eloise. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife Mary who passed in 2024.
KBOBK has gone silent key, but his signal will remain in our hearts forever.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com

Categories
Obituaries

Raymond Lasanen, 73, Bootjack

Raymond Lasanen, age 73, a resident of Bootjack, passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2026 at UP Health System Marquette. 

A visitation will be held for Raymond on Thursday, July 16, 2026 from 4:00-8:00pm at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Calumet, Michigan. There will be a second visitation on Friday, July 17, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm at the First Apostolic Lutheran Church in Calumet, Michigan. Following the second visitation, there will be a funeral service at the church at 1:00pm. 

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com

Categories
Obituaries

Roger Rintala, 76, Hancock

Roger Rintala, age 76, a resident of Portage Pointe in Hancock, Michigan passed away on Saturday July 11, 2026 at Potage Pointe.
A full obituary and service details will be published at a later date.
Erickson Crowley Peterson is assisting the family. 

Categories
Obituaries

Sharon and Edward Bourdeau, Lake Linden

Sharon and Edward Bourdeau both passed away earlier this year. 

Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lake Linden on Wednesday, July 22 at 8:00 AM for both Sharon and Edward.  Burial of their ashes will take place immediately following Mass at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lake Linden.  The Pearce Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.