It was a very hard decision for me to make, but after much thought, I have decided to attend graduate school this fall. I’ll be attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (my alma mater) to pursue a master’s degree in Mass Communication.

Choosing to take a different path in life is never easy, just as my decision to leave the Beloit Daily News was not an easy one to make. However, I’ve known since I entered college five years ago that I would want to pursue my education to the highest level I could. That means obtaining my master’s degree and then (hopefully) my Ph.D.

I have the goal of teaching college-level communication courses, which requires at least a master’s degree to teach at community/technical colleges. A Ph.D will allow me to teach at the four-year colleges and obtain tenure-track positions. I have a passion for the field of communication and want to pass that passion on to my students. If it hadn’t been for my communication professors, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to pursue degrees in journalism and speech or to run for the title of Miss Beloit. That’s the kind of professor I hope to be – the kind that inspires her students to pursue careers in the communication field.

While at UW-Whitewater, I’ll be working as a Graduate Instructional Assistant, which means I’ll be teaching three sections of the Speech 110 (Introduction to Human Communication) course. This is the basic speech course required of all students and focuses mainly on public speaking (everyone’s favorite thing, I know). I’ve never taught before, but I’m looking forward to my new job and all that it will teach me.

It will be hard to leave my job at the Beloit Daily News. Although I was officially hired as a reporter in the summer of 2008, I’ve actually been working for the Daily News since the summer of 2007. I began as a correspondent and then was lucky enough to get an internship here in the spring of 2008.

Without further ado, here come the very many thank yous I owe:

I cannot thank Editor Bill Barth enough for believing in me and giving me a chance at this paper. I would not be half the reporter I am if it weren’t for his guidance and wisdom. I also have to give my heartfelt thanks to News Editor Clint Wolf and Features Editor Debra Jensen-De Hart for all of the guidance and wisdom they too have given me. I’ve learned so much from my supervisors and for that I will always be grateful.

I also must thank my fellow reporters: Ashley Rhodebeck, Hillary Gavan, Holly Johns, Sam Johnson and Cheryl Scott (who left just a few weeks ago). I can honestly say that these girls are more than just my co-workers. They are my friends, and I can’t express how much I’ll miss seeing them everyday. I came into this newsroom scared to death, wondering if the other reporters would like me. Now I know my fears were completely unwarranted. They are some of the best people I’ve ever met, and I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with them.

As the city reporter, much of my job could not be done without the help of everyone at the City of Beloit. When I found out I’d be covering the city, I was very worried that I would not be up to the job. I had never covered city government before. But the city employees were quick to help me out whenever I needed, and that has continued through my time here. Everyone at the city has been very supportive and easy to work with. I will always appreciate their kindness and willingness to help. Thank you, all!

Last but not least I must thank everyone across the Stateline Area. My time here at the BDN has allowed me to meet hundreds of incredible people, many of whom will have a lasting impact on my life. Some of those people I will never forget. Another worry of mine when coming here was that people might be mean to me when I’m out reporting and searching for people to talk to. Although there’s always some people who don’t care for reporters, the majority of the people I’ve met have been incredibly nice and great to work with. I can’t tell you how much a reporter appreciates that kindness and generosity. Thank you!

Beloit has always been and will always be my home, no matter how far away I might go. I consider myself so lucky to have been given the chance to work for my hometown newspaper. As I said in my very first blog, I thought I knew Beloit before, but after working here, I’ve truly realized what a special community this is. And that goes for all of the communities in the Stateline Area.

Whitewater isn’t too far away, so you can expect to still see a lot of me around here. Thank you again to everyone who made my job so enjoyable!

Sara Siekierski

I had the opportunity to watch one of my close friends and “pageant sister” Sha-Nita Rhea, Miss Racine and a former Miss Beloit, take first runner up in the Miss Wisconsin Pageant.

Two years ago, I was the one who crowned her when she won the title of Miss Beloit 2007. I couldn’t believe I was watching that same girl Saturday night. Her months of hard work and preparation certainly paid off, and I could not be more proud of her. Although she wasn’t competing as Miss Beloit, she was still representing our community. We Beloiters should be proud.

And we have more to be proud of. Our own Miss Beloit Jessica Johnson may not have placed at the state pageant, but she did a wonderful job. A contestant is already a winner just for making it to the state level. Jessica represented our community with the utmost integrity and grace. That’s what is truly important.

Saturday night’s finals were emceed by a former Miss Beloit and Miss Wisconsin, Stephanie Klett. After the show, I heard many people say she’s the best emcee they had ever heard. And I have to agree. Stephanie was funny, charming and full of energy. She moved the show along and had everyone laughing. During the show, Stephanie performed a trumpet trio with two members of the Beloit Memorial High School jazz band: Rob Goodwin and Kevin LeBaron.

After the show, several people came up to the boys to tell them what a fantastic job they did. One man told them he’d been coming to the Miss Wisconsin Pageant for nine years, and theirs was the best performance he had heard at the pageant.

It’s no secret that Beloit is not always highly regarded by other people or communities. That is one thing I’ve always disliked and never understood. But you know what? We’re showing this state, nation, and world just how much Beloit has to offer. That was proof positive Saturday night.

It was proof this weekend with the ribbon cutting ceremonies for both the renovated Fairbanks Flats and the new Turtle Island II. And it was proof on Tuesday with the official opening of the new Kerry center and the announcement of the creation of the Hendricks Center at the old Beloit Public Library.

We’re truly a community on the move. All I have to say is: way to go Beloit!

Miss Wisconsin 1992 Stephanie Klett with Miss Beloit 2009 Jessica Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jon Wenger.

Former Miss Beloit and Miss Racine 2009 Sha-Nita Rhea smiles after taking the first runner up spot at Miss Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Jon Wenger.

And she’s not the only Beloiter making the trip. Miss Beloit 2007 and current Miss Racine 2009 Sha-Nita Rhea is competing in the state pageant for the second time.

And…Miss Beloit 1990 and Miss Wisconsin 1992 Stephanie Klett will emcee the pageant finals Saturday night. She’ll also be performing her trumpet with a couple of musicians from Beloit Memorial High School’s jazz band.

That’s a whole lot of Beloit represented at this year’s Miss Wisconsin Pageant.

Beloiters – you should be proud. No matter what you might think of pageants, the Miss Wisconsin Pageant is a big deal. Miss Wisconsin goes on to compete in the Miss America Pageant.

As a former Miss Beloit, I can certainly attest to the excitement and craziness that is Miss Wisconsin Pageant Week. There’s a lot of early mornings and late nights, complete with rehearsals, community appearances, autograph sessions and parties.

To this day, that week remains one of the best of my life. I have no doubt our Miss Beloit will return with similar sentiments.

In recent years, our Miss Beloits have made quite a name for themselves at Miss Wisconsin. Sha-Nita won the preliminary and non-finalist talent award, along with the Miss Congeniality award. Brittnay Wittnebel, Miss Beloit 2008, won the non-finalist talent award. It’s no doubt we send some great Miss Beloits up to Miss Wisconsin. Even if they don’t crack the top 10 or win the state title, our Miss Beloits are people we should be proud of.

When I won the title in 2006, I made it my mission to make sure Miss Beloit was back in the spotlight and really making a name for herself in the community. I felt Miss Beloit wasn’t someone the community knew very well, but as a representative of Beloit, she has a big job!

I’m happy to see each Miss Beloit after me make the most of her year. This community knows who Miss Beloit is now. My mom is the business manager, so I see exactly how many people want Miss Beloit to appear at their events. It’s wonderful to have that kind of support for the Miss Beloit Organization.

Tonight begins the first night of preliminary competitions for the Miss Wisconsin Pageant. Jessica will compete in swimsuit and evening gown tonight, followed by talent and on-stage question tomorrow night. On Saturday, the top 10 will be announced, and a winner will be chosen.

You can look for articles on Jessica’s Miss Wisconsin experience in Saturday’s and Monday’s papers. And if you can’t make it up to Oshkosh to cheer on Miss Beloit, you can log on to the Oshkosh Northwestern web site to watch live streaming of each competition night. The live streaming is new this year.

Best of luck to both Jessica and Sha-Nita this weekend. You two are both great representatives of Beloit!

Oh how things have changed. Call it age or call it maturity, but whatever it is, I no longer have any desire to do that. So that’s why I had to laugh Tuesday night at the things I did just to meet Danny Gokey. (Note: it did not involve pushing others or standing outside for hours.)

When I found out Danny would be doing a homecoming celebration on Tuesday, May 26, I knew I had to be there. The first event was a “Dine with Danny” dinner with all proceeds going toward his organization, Sophia’s Heart Foundation. For $25, you got a meal, free parking and the opportunity to meet Danny. The second was a question and answer session at the Riverside Theater.

My mom and I left Beloit Tuesday afternoon to travel up to Milwaukee. Since I had an address and a GPS, I figured we’d have no trouble finding the place. Wrong. Since there’s been so much construction near downtown Milwaukee, my GPS couldn’t figure out where we were. To make a long story short, we got lost and ended up parking in the wrong parking garage. Then we went into the wrong building and had to walk a block to the right one.

Thankfully, my friends at Faith Builders saved us seats at their table, so we were finally able to sit down and catch our breaths. The idea of the dinner was that Danny would walk around to each table and talk to everyone. Well, that didn’t work out as planned because it was taking too much time. So, they set up the meet and greet like a wedding receiving line, where each table walked up and got to meet Danny. At first, they were still allowing people to take photos with him. But then they banned that because it was still chewing up too much time. Unfortunately, that meant we wouldn’t get any photos.

When our time to meet Danny came, my mom stood behind me so she could snap a photo of him hugging me. I barely had any time to say anything so all I got out was “Hi Danny, it’s so nice to meet you.” He told me it was nice to meet me too and thanked me for coming. My mom got a great photo of him hugging me. Thanks, mom.

Right after that, the crew and I decided to leave for the Riverside Theater, where seats were being saved for us. Since parking was pretty much nil near the theater, we walked four blocks. It was freezing, and I had on 4.5-inch heels. For the record, I had brought flip-flops with me for the theater, but we didn’t have time to walk back to our car.

With my extremities numb and my feet blistered, I made it to the theater. While a long line stretched out along the sidewalk waiting to get in, we were able to get right in. It was pretty cool getting the VIP treatment, and we were even able to sit up in the box seats. Unfortunately, on one of my trips downstairs, I missed a step and tumbled down, twisting my ankle. It’s OK, I think, but it’s still a little sore.

Under the American Idol contract Danny isn’t allowed to sing in public until after the tour, so the event kicked off with the Faith Builders Praise & Worship Team. They were PHENOMENAL. Then Danny’s friend and another Idol hopeful Jamar Rogers sang a few songs. He was also incredible. After that, Danny was presented with some checks for his foundation and then he spoke about his wife and the foundation he set up in her honor. Then he answered a bunch of questions from fans. It was so great just listening to Danny speak about his foundation, his music, himself and American Idol. He’s a very charismatic person and actually much more outgoing than he appeared to be on Idol.

After the event we walked outside to find it pouring rain. We walked four blocks (still in my heels) while getting pelted with rain. Then my mom and I had to walk up four steep ramps to get to our car. Just when we finally settle into the car, I see a parking ticket on the windshield. We why got a parking ticket we may never know, but we did.

So, we suffered a few mishaps along the way, but I don’t regret one second of it. It was more than worth it to get a hug from Danny and the opportunity to hear him speak. I can’t wait to see where Danny takes his foundation and his music. He’s got such a bright future ahead of him, and I’m excited to follow it. Now we just have to work on getting him to come back to Beloit!

I owe a huge THANK YOU to my friends at Faith Builders for everything you did Tuesday night. I really appreciate it – you guys are awesome!

Now I want to know – what’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to try and meet your favorite celebrity? Don’t be embarrassed to tell – many of us are guilty!

Me getting a hug from Danny Gokey

I have to admit, I didn’t see it coming. I thought for sure Danny and Adam Lambert were in the top two. It’s not that I don’t like Kris Allen, but I felt Danny was the stronger of the two. But, when you give America the reigns, anything can happen.

When it was announced that Adam was the other half of the top two, I was stunned. I stood behind my camera lens hurriedly snapping the crowd’s reaction at Faith Builders church in Beloit. They looked as shocked as I did. Some of them cried. I made my way back to my seat to watch Danny’s farewell video, and I can admit that I cried a bit, too. It was heartbreaking to know he was leaving the show.

But as quickly as the disappointment had begun, it dissipated. The crowd chanted “Gokey, Gokey, Gokey,” and everyone broke into loud cheers. While on TV, Danny never once looked upset. He took it all in stride. In fact, in subsequent interviews he’s said he knew it was him going home. He was OK with that. I think he’s ready for the next phase in his life. There’s a whole big world waiting for him.

After the results show Wednesday night, Faith Builders’ members all had a positive attitude about the situation. Rather than getting angry about what happened, they rejoiced in how much had already happened to Danny since he began this journey. His life has changed. This is only the beginning of an incredible career for him. Danny has already said he wants to use his music to inspire people. He wants to do more with his foundation, Sophia’s Heart Foundation, which he began in honor of his late wife, Sophia. For him, competing on American Idol was ever about the fame or money but rather the opportunity to make a difference.

I’ve been a fan of Danny Gokey since I first heard his audition on American Idol. I never imagined I’d become so involved with his journey on the show. He doesn’t know it, but he in many ways has changed MY life. Because of him, I’ve gotten connected to a wonderful group at Faith Builders. In the time I spent doing stories on Danny, I was fortunate enough to really get to know the people at the church. From the moment I first walked in the door I felt welcome and accepted. These are people I now consider friends.

If it hadn’t been for Danny’s time on Idol, I’m not sure I ever would have met these people. It’s amazing where life can take you. This is just another reason I’m so proud to call Beloit home.

So, fellow Idol fans – did you agree with last week’s results? It’s down to Kris Allen and Adam Lambert in the final two. Who will you be voting for next week? I think I’ll be throwing my support to Kris Allen – I like the underdogs!

I’ve been a huge “American Idol” fan since its second season. I always pick my favorite contestant early on in the competition during the famous audition episodes. This year, when Danny Gokey sang his first notes of his Kansas City audition, I was immediately hooked. I just knew there was something different about this guy. Just four weeks before his audition, his wife, Sophia, passed away during surgery for a congenital heart defect. She only had a 10 percent chance of dying.

Danny’s story touched me immediately, but it wasn’t just his story that got my attention. It was the fact that even after all he had been through, he persevered and decided to audition for the show.

It was probably one of the best decisions he could have ever made. “American Idol” has changed Danny’s life. He’s said that. In an earlier blog I wrote about how I got connected with Faith Builders here in Beloit. I’ve written a couple of stories about Danny and his connection to Beloit: he used to lead the Praise & Worship team at the Beloit church. Every time I talk to those who know him, I learn even more about the singer I’ve come to idolize.

When Danny made the top 3, I immediately asked my editors if I could go to Milwaukee for “Danny Gokey Day” on Friday, May 8 with some people from Beloit. Danny was scheduled to sing at the church’s Milwaukee location. When my editors gave me the OK, I’m not sure I’ve ever been more excited in my life. At 6:30 on Friday morning, several people from the Beloit area and I left for Milwaukee.

We got to the church early to decorate. By a little after 8 a.m., the line to get in was out the door. When the doors opened at 9 a.m., hundreds of people flooded the sanctuary in an attempt to get the best seats. We had already secured seats in the third row, so I was ecstatic at the thought of being so close. But then I got even better news. Members of the media were allowed to stand right in front of the stage to take photos. As I stood just inches away from the stage, I could hardly believe I’d be that close to Danny Gokey. Being a member of the media definitely has its perks.

When he came out, I could hardly contain my excitement. Let me tell you, it was very difficult to remain professional while freaking out on the inside. I had to fight the urge to yell and scream like the rest of the fans behind me. So, I kept a big smile on my face and tapped my feet to the music. Danny only performed a few songs as time was short and he was suffering a sore voice, but I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful he sounded. I hear him sing on TV every week, but this was so much different. His performance was incredible. After singing a couple of songs, Danny stopped to talk to the audience. He spoke about Sophia and how ten months ago he was in the same room for her funeral. It’s truly amazing how far he’s come in just 10 months.

I’ve always heard with Danny that what you see is what you get. And it’s true. He’s just as humble as his friends and family say he is. He even said on stage that he’s “not that good,” and all of this is God’s doing. He has an incredibly strong faith and isn’t afraid to show it.

After his performance, Danny jumped off stage to quickly say hello to a few family and friends. I just so happened to be on that side of the stage. When he turned around to leave, I was right behind him. As he walked past me, he gave me a smile and grabbed my arm. He and I have never met, but he has heard of me. After he left, I stood there in shock for a minute. I couldn’t believe he had acknowledged me. I kept it together until I met up with my group, and then I just started to cry. I couldn’t help it! It was a very surreal experience. Danny, if you ever read this, THANK YOU for that. It was such a small gesture, but it meant a lot.

I went back to Beloit after that and spent the rest of the weekend on cloud nine. Actually, I still think I’m on it. Friday is one day I’ll never forget. It was a crazy day in Milwaukee. I’ve heard 26,000 fans attended his mini-concert at the Summerfest grounds. Kopp’s had a “Danny’s Delight” ice cream. His name was plastered on billboards and marquees. Thousands of fans followed him wherever he went.
I wrote a story about Danny’s performance at the church in Milwaukee. If you haven’t read it yet, check it out here.

Danny is not only a great representative for the Milwaukee area but for Wisconsin as well. I truly believe he deserves the “American Idol” title. Being a strong singer and performer is a big part of it, but it’s also about being a positive role model and inspiration for those who look up to you. Danny has the whole package. Whether or not he wins, he’ll always be my “American Idol.”

A quick shout-out to everyone at Faith Builders: thank you so much for taking me in and making me feel right at home. You guys are great and I feel so fortunate to have met you! This just once again proves how wonderful our community really is!

Here’s the synopsis I found on the theater’s Web site:

Set at a Catskills resort in 1960, this is the sweetly comic story of Lois and Marge, two friends from Brooklyn in search of good times and romance over one wild Labor Day weekend. Marge’s fiancé has called off their wedding. Her best friend, Lois, is determined to cheer her up and get her dating again, so they head for the Catskills and Esther’s Paradise Resort. In the course of their wild weekend get-away, the girls meet some very colorful characters at the resort. Journey back to a more innocent time and relive summers gone by with all the trials, tribulations and emotional upheavals of teenage life and love. Baby Boomers will rejoice with this musical journey down memory lane. The score showcases 18 Neil Sedaka classics, including “Where the Boys Are,” “Sweet Sixteen,” “Calendar Girl,” “Laughter in the Rain” and, of course, the chart-topping title song.

For me, it’s hard not to love a musical full of Neil Sedaka songs. One man in the elevator after the show joked that I don’t remember those songs. I don’t, obviously, but I’ve always loved the music of Neil Sedaka. The musical in itself is great, but what really made the show was an amazing group of actors and the musical ensemble. Director Jim Tropp did an excellent job of choosing a top-notch cast and ensemble. Each and every person on that stage was incredibly talented and so much fun to watch. The voices were beautiful and really brought the songs to life.

We are incredibly lucky to have this type of entertainment right here in Beloit. This is the second Wisconsin Theatreworks performance I have attended, and I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. All of the shows are put on in the American Industrial Art Gallery at the Beloit Ironworks facility. It’s amazing to see what they’ve done with the space. The intimate performance space really does make you feel like you’re watching the show in your own living room. It’s a really cool experience.

I highly recommend you go see “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”, which runs through May 17. For more information or to purchase tickets, log on to www.wisconsintheatreworks.com.

Although I’m really excited to go to California for a few days, I’m bummed I’ll miss the new Beloit Public Library’s ribbon cutting and open house on Saturday. I’ve been following the new library project since I started here last June and I really wanted to see it through to the end. But, that’s how it goes. Ashley will be there covering the open house – and I know she’ll do a great job. If you can, PLEASE attend the open house for the new library on Saturday. It runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. If you don’t know where the new library is, it’s located in the old JC Penney building in the Eclipse Center (old Beloit Mall). From the pictures, it looks like a beautiful facility! In my opinion, it’s much needed! Library usage is increasing every year, especially in a tough economy, and Beloit needs a first-class facility to accommodate the growing number of library users. Did you know this is Beloit’s FOURTH library? That’s just part of the history of the library I wrote for the BDN’s special library section – out today in your paper! Make sure you check it out – the other reporters and I worked hard to put together a great special section for your enjoyment!

Also this Saturday is BLOOM! You’ll have to forgive me for not having all the details on this great community event, but it will be out in our Step ‘N Out section today. I myself have not had the opportunity to attend BLOOM!, but I hear it’s a wonderful event and always a lot of fun. Hopefully the weather will hold up!

Alright, it’s almost time to pack things up and head to the airport for a few days of fun in the sun – although, it’s supposed to be warmer here this weekend than in LA! They had the really hot weather earlier this week, so I’m just missing that. Oh well, it’ll be fun either way!

Have a great weekend everyone!

I didn’t win, but I did place in the top 5. All of the contestants were wonderful, so I felt very honored to have been named a finalist. Congratulations to Jennifer Werth, a student at Wisconsin Lutheran College. I have no doubt she’ll represent South Central Wisconsin well at the Miss Wisconsin Pageant in June.

The big question lately seems to be “will I compete again next year?” The short answer to that is I don’t know. Next year would be my last year of eligibility to compete, since I will age out. In the Miss America system, a contestant can be no older that 24 years of age on September 30 of the year in which she intends to compete. I turn 24 next year. Yes, at 24 I age out. Makes me seem old, doesn’t it?
As to whether I’ll compete next year, we’ll just have to see where life takes me. I have some time to decide. I’d love to hold another title and carry on with the work I started as Miss Beloit, but competing can be quite a stressful endeavor.

When I was younger, I used to think losing meant I failed. I’ve now learned that losing doesn’t make you a failure as long as you are trying your best and you never give up. It was disappointing to lose the pageant, but at the same time I was proud of myself for giving it my all. I went into the competition with a good attitude and the goal to just be me. I accomplished my goal, so I did succeed in my own way.
If I don’t compete again, it’s not because I’m giving up but rather I’m moving on to a new part of my life. I’ll always have my memories of my year as Miss Beloit, and that’s more than enough for me. Competing in pageants has helped shape me into the person I am today. I’m more confident, well-spoken and a better leader because of my time in pageants. As Miss Beloit, I had the opportunity to mentor the youth in our community and really make a difference here. What more could I ask for?

So maybe I won’t ever be another “Miss,” but I’ll always be me. That’s what really counts.

I hope you’ll continue to cheer on our own Miss Beloit 2009 Jessica Johnson as she prepares to compete in the Miss Wisconsin Pageant. You’ll hear more about her in the coming months. I’m happy to say that Miss Beloit is finally becoming a recognizable person in our community. She has an important job since she’s representing you – the community of Beloit.

Alright, that’s enough of my pageant talk. Hope you all get out there and enjoy the nice weather we’re supposed to have for the rest of the week! I bet the parks will be busy.

P.S. – Did you catch my Monday story about all of the summer recreational events coming up in Beloit? There’s lots to do: http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2009/04/13/news/local_news/news1307.txt

Miss South Central is an open pageant, meaning women from across the state are eligible to compete. This is unlike a local pageant like Miss Beloit, where you must live in a specific area in order to qualify. The Miss South Central program is in its second year and is directed by Eddie Farr.

I can’t tell you all how excited I am to be competing once again. After taking some time off to finish college and establish my career, I felt I was in a good place to try for another title. I don’t know whether I’ll ever win another title, but it’s sure fun trying! I competed in Miss Fox River Valley last weekend, and although I didn’t place, I did my best and am proud of my performance. It was a great warm-up for this weekend. No matter what happens tomorrow, it’ll be a great experience!

There would be no greater honor than to have the chance to once again represent my community at the Miss Wisconsin Pageant and to continue on with the work I began as Miss Beloit. I’ll be sure to update everyone on Monday with the results.

I’d like to say GOOD LUCK to all of my fellow competitors! I’m sure you’ll all be wonderful.

Here’s the information on the pageant if anyone is interested in coming:

Miss South Central 2009
Saturday, April 11
2 p.m., Wilson Theatre at Beloit College
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door

Have a great weekend everyone!