News & Notes: June 5

School librarian makes bold move

West Allis - A successful fundraiser meant Woodrow Wilson Elementary School's librarian had to shave his head.

Brendan Kelly had previously challenged the students to raise $4,000 to help the school through the PTA They did, after a May 31 Walk-a-Thon topped off fundraising.

Fifth-grader Logan Rademan, who was the top money-raiser, got to shave Kelly's head in front of the whole school last week.

St. Baldrick looking for more 'victims'

West Allis - For those who always wondered how they might look with a shaved head, here's an incentive: going bald could raise money for childhood cancer research.

West Allis Mayor Dan Devine says the upcoming St. Baldrick's Day event could always use more participants.

So far, the mayor, Alderman Michael May, city planner Steve Schaer and Mark Satterfield from West Park Place have volunteered to have their heads shaved to collect pledges for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which gives more money in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the United States government.

The fundraiser is open to everyone. Since 2000, more than 240,000 volunteers, including more than 24,000 women, have been shaved at cancer at events in dozens of countries and in every state. Thanks to donations from friends and family, the "shavees" have raised more than $146 million for lifesaving research.

The St. Baldrick's event will be at 6 p.m. June 21 at Benno's Genuine Bar and Grill in Downtown West Allis. The website for the foundation isstbaldricks.org.

Area students win honors at leadership conference

West Allis - Eight West Allis-West Milwaukee high school students placed in the top five at the Health Occupations Students of America state leadership conference held recently at the Wisconsin Dells.

Five came in with second place finishes. Katherine Hibbard and Rebecca Simet, both of West Allis Central, took second in the CPR/first aid event; Wendy Watkinson, Central, took second in extemporaneous writing; Mitchell Mares, Central, was second in extemporaneous speaking, and Jessica Rampetsreiter, Nathan Hale, was second in veterinary assisting.

Kimbery Kay, Central, took third in the concepts of health care knowledge test; Bria Meier, Samantha Stiehm, Mitchell Mares and Wendy Watkinson, all of Central, took fourth in the HOSA Bowl event; and Rebecca Krizan, Central, took fourth in the dental terminology test and fifth in the medical assisting event.

Rebecca Simet, Katherine Hibbard, Wendy Watkinson and Rebecca Krizan of Central and Jessica Rampetsreiter of Hale, will compete in the HOSA national conference in Orlando, Fla., this month.

Vest-A-Dog announces every police dog protected

Greenfield - Wisconsin Vest-A-Dog, a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charity based in Janesville, announced that through the help of donors and volunteers, the group has purchased a bullet- and stab-proof vest for every police dog in the state of Wisconsin.

In fact, it outfitted police dogs in both Greenfield and West Allis.

Only recently, veterinarian Marla Lichtenberger, owner of the Milwaukee Emergency Center for Animals, Greenfield, started a foundation to buy vests for police dogs. But she said her foundation also seeks to help small police departments be able to afford dogs that help police find suspects and illegal substances.

In addition, more vests will be needed soon because they have an eight-year expiration date. Some of the first vests Vest-a-Dog gave out will expire soon.