Neillsville Man Makes Mark on the Community in Unique Way
Monday, September 10th, 2018 -- 9:39 AM
-One Neillsville man is making a mark on the community in a unique way.Pete Ewing, a long time Neillsville resident, does fun activities with the Neillsville Girl Scouts. Pete talked about what he did with the girls last year and what he’d like to do this year.
"Last year, we took them up to the root beer stand and had dinner for them. And I guess they really enjoyed it. At the end, they took me outside by the sign and they took a picture of us. And all the girls sang me a song. And that kinda, pretty well gets to you. 20 little girls singing you a song. So, that makes it pretty much worth while."
"And this year, I've talked to Judy Morrow about taking them up to the American Legion and having dinner for them up there. There's 50 of them now instead of 20, makes it a little bit different. I'm hoping the fire department will be able to find time and they can interview them and tell the girls what they do. And they can also meet the legion and the legion can explain to them who they are what they do. Hopefully, that can happen this year. It's easy for me, I can talk about it and Judy Morrow pretty much is the one that has to set it up."
Pete talked about how he got involved with planning the fun activities for the Neillsville Girl Scouts.
"I think it comes from my daughter. She used to be in the Campfire Girls. And she would come home with all kinds of little projects or something that she made and be all excited about it. She made something with feathers attached to it and, I'm not sure what it is, but we've still go it."
"And, like I said, it was kinda rewarding too after and took them up there for dinner. When our kids were little we used to always go to the root beer stand for Coney Day. So, I remember that. And I wanted them to go to some place locally. Support the locals. And they enjoyed it too, they had ice cream and everything. And, like I said, at the end they sung me that song and that was pretty rewarding right there. It's a good organization and it makes me feel good to do it."
Pete ended our interview by talking about some other things he’d like to do with the Girl Scouts, including visiting our radio station.
"I'm hoping to do this WCCN thing because WCCN is a little bit part of my history too. I new Howie when he first started up above the apartments up there. He was always smiling and full of energy. And he'd be starting his program and he'd stand there and wave at us. And throughout the years, I worked for him> I worked on his houses, I worked on the Pavilion, I worked for Howie, and I worked for Wayne Grap and I worked for Kevin Grap. My son is still doing it. So, it's apart of my history."
"So, I'd like to have the girls come up here, if possible, and have WCCN show them around the grounds a little bit and give them a little history. And then give them a chance to say hello and, maybe, at the end of the program, they can sing a song. That's really neat."
"But, it's nice that the kids get to know some of these people. Like with the fire department, it's not just a department. It's somebody's grandpa, grandma, somebody's uncle, somebody's mother. It's all local people. Instead of just hearing about it, they can actually meet them. And the fire chief, or whoever, could be there and explain to them some of the problems they have too. Like when the whistle blows, not everybody can come. And the police department is the same thing."
"And I'd like them to know a little bit more about WCCN. WCCN has been here a long time and other than hearing it when you turn the radio on, it would be nice if they could come up here and get acquainted and they would have that in their memory."
Not many people know, but Pete was also the one who kept the star on the water tower lit for over 40 years during the Christmas season by providing funds to replace the old, burnt out bulbs.
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