12/28/10 - Hallgren Family Receives CCB's Good Samaritan Award

The final honor of what was a banner year in 2010 was accorded the Hallgren family of Medford when they were given CCB's Good Samaritan Award last December 28th. The award honors "individuals, groups, or organizations who through their kind deeds towards persons served by our organization best exemplify the compassion of the Good Samaritan as told us in the scriptures".

The late Ken Hallgren, in his 25 tenure as President and CEO of Hurd, Inc. started funneling work projects to BRI as early as 1978, and started a corporate relationship with us that continues to this day. He and his wife, the late Darlene Hallgren, were solid supporters of BRI for many years, and were significant donors to ur capital fundraising drive that resulted in the construction of our present building in 1999. Ken and Darlene, along with their sons Brent and Brian, formed B&B Engineering over 30 years ago. That company formed a partnership with BRI that also funneled work projects to our clients for most of that time, until it was bought by Frontline, Inc. last year. Hurd and B&B Engineering remained two of our most solid and reliable sources of subtracting work for most of our history. This would not have been possible without the persistent support of the Hallgrens, through good economic times and bad.

In addition, Brian served on our Board of directors for six years. He served as an officer during three of those years. Brian also served on our building committee in 1998-99. This committee oversaw the construction of our current building. Brian also assisted me with our marketing strategy in 2006, and was instrumental in helping us "turn the corner" on returning work to our facility after a five-year drop-off. And finally, when we began our annual fundraising drive in 2007, Brian helped me to formulate our initial mailing list.

Ken and Darlene and their numerous family members, along with Brian and his wife Elaine, and Brent and his wife, Juleen, have proven to be Good Samaritans of the highest order. We cannot thank them enough for their service through the years.

A luncheon honoring the family was held at Phil and Eleanor's Supper Club in Medford. In attendance, besides me and the family, were Bill Anderson, CCB's CFO, who made the formal presentation to the Hallgrens; Laura Lundy, the President of our Board of directors; and Joe Wacek, the Director of Diversified Services in Siren, and Interim Director of BRI during my recent medical leave.

Shown with me at the luncheon were (left to right): Nancy, Juleen, Brent, Brian and Elaine Hallgren. I would also like to express to Randy and Anne Brost our sincere appreciation for opening the restaurant for us and providing us with their usual excellent food and good will. They are truly great supporters of our programs as well.

10/14/10 - Stacey Rieck Appointed to RFW Board of Directors

BRI's Business Manager, Stacey Rieck, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Rehabilitation For Wisconsin (RFW). This is a statewide, non-profit, advocacy organization that BRI belongs to, along with over 50 other workshops throughout the state. The RFW Board is responsible for working with agency staff to oversee the RAM Program (wayside maintenance), facilitate an annual statewide training conference centering on disability issues, operate educational programs, and seek operational grants and additional funding. This is a unique honor both for Stacey and for BRI.

9/23/10 - Hallgren Families to Receive CCB's Good Samaritan Award

Our congratulations go out to the Hallgren Families of Medford who have just been chosen to receive Catholic Charities Bureau's Good Samaritan Award. This would include Brian and Elaine, Brent and Juleen, and the late Ken and Darlene.

Ken was instrumental in opening doors for BRI in the local manufacturing community. He saw to it that subcontract work was directed to our facility from as early as 1978. As President and CEO of Hurd Windows and Doors, he was an early and passionate advocate for putting people with disabilities to work at BRI for over 25 years. He and Darlene along with their sons, Brent and Brian, also founded B&B Engineering over 30 years ago. That company has been a great neighbor of ours in our present location in the industrial park. Brent and Brian, who operated B&B, ensured that work from their plant was funneled to BRI for many years. Following the company’s recent sale to Frontline, Brian has stayed on as a consultant, which ensures that the workflow to BRI will continue. Brian has also served on our Board of Directors and our Building Committee (which helped plan and construct our current building). In addition, at various times he has helped upgrade our marketing and fundraising efforts.

Brian, Elaine, Brent, and Juleen, will receive the award from CCB at a luncheon to be held in their honor in the near future.

9/23/10 - BRI Receives Wal-Mart Grant

BRI has recently received a nice grant from Wal-Mart. We will use it to help fund the expansion of our Day Services area into the front yard. Thanks to the folks at Wal-Mart for pitching in and enriching the community once again.

9/2/10 - BRI Kitchen Receives Food Safety Award

The BRI Kitchen has earned the Taylor County Food Safety Award for 2010. This acknowledges that they have met all the criteria which includes earning a perfect score on the last annual food inspection for critical food violations. The award will be publicly recognized in September. Congratulations to Kathy and her staff. Keep up the good work!

8/23/10 - In Memory of Reiny Klingbeil

Reiny Klingbeil, one of BRI's original founders, passed away on August 23, 2010, at the age of 86. He was a tireless advocate and supporter of the disability community in our county for nearly 50 years. He was also the father/guardian of Dan, who has been one of BRI's Day Service participants since 1978.

In 1968, Reiny and his wife, Audrey, and a group of other parents of children with disabilities started a day program at the former VFW hall on Luepke Way in Medford, across from the millpond. Several years later, Reiny, along with Pearl Ruesch, Jane Bauer, and Darlene Nowak, contacted Catholic Charities Bureau (CCB) about assisting them to set up a workshop and a residential facility for adults with disabilities. Brian Soland, who was then the Associate Director of CCB (currently CCB's Executive Director) fondly remembers meeting with this group in Pearl's kitchen to plan out what would later become the Taylor County Achievement Center and the Eastwood Group Home. These four key people have come to be known as BRI's founders. The Achievement Center opened its doors in October 1973, and Eastwood opened in 1975.

Reiny remained a strong supporter of BRI's programs throughout his life. In 1981, he helped us with our Prime Manufacturing Project, which produced redwood lawn furniture, employed people with disabilities in paid work for the first time, and resulted in the center's being incorporated and renamed Black River Industries. Reiny would often drop in to BRI just to see how things were going, and to visit with Dan. He did many small favors for Dan's peers that went unnoticed by most of us, but which were a joy to those who received them. Through the years he often donated equipment such as hospital beds and Hoyer lifts to our facility.

In 1986, he and Audrey began investigating residential alternatives for their son. Since Eastwood Group Home had been built prior to ADA, and was not accessible to wheelchairs, a new setting was required for Dan. With the assistance of Taylor County Human Services, an apartment as found for him, as well as a live-in care provider, Carol Cedarholm. Carol soon moved in with Dan, and to this day she is still his care provider. This was in effect the first adult family home in Taylor County history, to be followed by dozens more over the past 25 years or so.

Reiny also served on the BRI Board of Directors from 1989-95, a time of extreme growth and change. In 1999, when we started planning construction of our current building, Reiny was always available to offer his sage advice.

Reiny was an artist who restored pump organs and pianos, as well as stringed instruments. Some of his work was displayed last year at the Perkins Place Gallery in Medford. He was a tremendously gifted gardener, who often shared his expertise during gardening seasons. He was an amazing carpenter who built things like you just couldn't believe.

Following his retirement, he also regularly visited old friends at the nursing home, and played cards with them. He was avid about politics if you ever dared to bring up the subject. He had a dry wit that was unforgettable. He was the ultimate family man. When Audrey became ill in later years and moved into the Gilman Nursing Home, Reiny brought the same devotion to seeing to her needs as he did to Dan.

He was many things to many people, but we will remember him mostly for helping to bring the disability community out of the dark ages. Appropriately enough, Reiny was awarded CCB’s Good Samaritan Award last fall, culminating a life of service to others. The award is intended to honor individuals who through their kind deeds towards persons served by our organization best exemplify the compassion of the Good Samaritan as told us in the scriptures. Mr. Soland himself returned to Medford to present the award to the man whom he had joined in Pearl Ruesch’s kitchen all those years ago to get the ball rolling for all of us. For Reiny’s compassion and dedication, we can all be eternally grateful.

7/6/10 - BRI Receives Knights of Columbus Donation

Black River Industries received a very generous donation from the Rib Lake Knights of Columbus. Proceeds from this donation will go towards the Day Services Expansion. Thanks so much to them for their contribution and continued support!

6/21/10 - 2010 Golf Outing Results

Black River Industries' 6th Annual Golf Outing Fundraiser was held on June 21st at the Black River Golf Club with more than 80 golfers participating. First place in the men's division went to the Black River Golf Club team of Lee Eggebrecht, Todd Medenwaldt, Rob Keefe, and Tim Rau, followed by the teams of TDS Telecom and Doug Pinkston. The women's division was won by the Rural Mutual Insurance team of Laurie Peterson, Shirley Werner, Bonnie Bauer, and Sally Drake, followed by the Wild Chicks team. The Krug's West Side team of Shirley Kleist, Carol Willman, Austin Robida, and Andy Lehman took first place in the mixed division, followed by the Klinner Insurance team.

6/16/10 - Kathy Lemke Receives Extra Mile Award

Kathy Lemke received CCB's Extra Mile Employee Award at a luncheon in her honor at Phil & Eleanor's Supper Club. Brian Soland, Executive Director of CCB and Patti Jenson, CCB Board member, presented the award to Kathy. Stacey Rieck, BRI's Business Manager, read her letter of nomination. Others in attendance were Paul and Elise Thornton; Deacon Joe Stefancin, BRI Board member, Holy Rosary Church; Father Gerard Wilger, Holy Rosary Church, who gave the invocation; Janice Winger, BRI; and friends and family of Kathy's: Rhonda Brunner, Dennis and Joanne Brandner, Shirley Kleist, and Narda Lichtl. Congratulations to Kathy on winning this well deserved award. Thanks also go out to Anne and Randy Brost for going out of their way to open their restaurant just for Kathy, and presenting us with an excellent meal.

6/9/10 - Thomas Cook Awarded CCB's Distinguished Service Award

Thomas Cook, Executive Director of Rehabilitation For Wisconsin (RFW), accepted CCB's first Distinguished Service Award at the June Board of Directors' meeting at CCB. RFW is the statewide advocacy group to which BRI belongs. Thomas and RFW have led the way in the recent political struggle with the Department of Health and Family Services to preserve the right of people with disabilities to make informed choices as to where and how they work. Mr. Cook has brought a wealth of knowledge and energy to his position. We at BRI can all be thankful for his efforts on our behalf.

4/22/10 - Kathy Lemke Announced as Recipient of Extra Mile Award

Black River Industries has received a great honor. Kathy Lemke, our FSI Supervisor, has been awarded the Extra Mile Employee Award by Catholic Charities Bureau. Kathy has worked at BRI for the past eight years. During this time she has gone above and beyond the call of duty many times to make life better for the people with disabilities and elderly citizens we serve every day. Kathy founded our golf tournament six years ago, and ran it for the first five years of its existence. This event is now one of our major fundraisers, and has brought in nearly $25,000 to help fund our programs over the years. In addition, Kathy wrote the original Kraft grant that funded half the cost of our new walk-in cooler/freezer. It took us two years to raise the full amount of money needed to complete the project. This was accomplished through raising money in last year's golf tournament and our other fundraising efforts. Kathy's persistence in seeing the project through paid off this winter when the new unit was finally installed. This great new addition to FSI will improve our ability to provide over 50,000 quality meals to nearly 800 people a year. Kathy will be recognized in a luncheon to be held in her honor later this spring, hosted by Brian Soland, Executive Director of CCB. She will also be honored at this year's 6th annual golf outing. Please join me in congratulating Kathy for this prestigious award.

3/1/10 - BRI Receives AnnMarie Foundation Grant

BRI staff and clients would like to thank the AnnMarie Foundation for their generous grant award. The money will be put toward the matching share of our most recent bus purchase that will be utilized in our programs for both elderly and disabled transportation.

11/13/09 - BRI Receives Weather Shield LITE Foundation Grant

The staff, clients, and Board of Directors at BRI would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Weather Shield LITE Foundation for their recent donation to BRI. The full amount of the grant will be applied toward equipment upgrades in the Day Services and Work Services Programs. We appreciate that even in these hard economic times, foundations such as this are still able to reach out to organizations like ours.

11/11/09 - BRI Receives Mid-Wisconsin Foundation Grant

Our thanks go out to the Mid-Wisconsin Foundation for a very generous grant we were just awarded. The money received from this biennial grant is the final piece in the puzzle that will allow us to complete the walk-in cooler/freezer project for FSI. This was a two year fundraising effort. We couldn't have gone on much longer with our current unit. I know I speak for Kathy and her staff in thanking the Foundation, and the other grantors and donors for making this possible. Our kitchen produces over 50,000 meals a year. The Foundation's grant will touch many lives.

8/27/09 - Reiny Klingbeil Honored with Good Samaritan Award

Reiny Klingbeil of Medford was honored with Catholic Charities Bureau's (CCB) prestigious Good Samaritan Award at a luncheon held at the Sports Page on August 27th. The award recognizes individuals for "the compassion and kindness they have shown towards the persons served by CCB in an effort to improve their quality of life". Participants in the award ceremony included (left to right) Paul Thornton, BRI Director; Mr. Klingbeil; Peggy Dittrich, BRI Board President; Brian Soland, CCB Executive Director; and Patti Jenson, CCB Board member.

6/22/09 - Golf Outing Results

Over 70 golfers competed in Black River Industries' (BRI) 5th annual Golf Outing held at the Black River Golf Course on June 22nd. Proceeds from the tournament have been earmarked for the purchase of a new walk-in cooler/freezer for the Food Service Industries component of BRI. Corporate sponsors of the tournament included Catholic Charities Bureau, TDS Telecom, Kraft Foods, and Schierl Tire & Service. The Mid-Wisconsin Bank team took first place in the men's division, followed by teams from TDS Telecom and the Black River Golf Course. The Rural Mutual Insurance team took first place in the women's division. The Krug's West Side team took first place in the mixed division, followed by the Klinner/Pflughoeft team. Director Paul Thornton noted that BRI is extremely grateful for all the support from the teams, sponsors, and donors. Next year's tournament will again be held at the Black River Golf Course on June 21, 2010.

6/11/09 - BRI, Headwaters & DSI Receive Partnership Award

BRI, Headwaters and Diversified Services, have all been awarded Partnership Awards by the Wisconsin State Use Board. The awards recognize the workshops, Elbeco Garment, Inc. (which supplies us with the uniforms we sew), and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The award letter stated that the "State Use Board believes this kind of contractual partnering creates a basis for economic growth and good works by improving standards of living and advancing causes important to the well being of Wisconsinites".

6/11/09 - Reiny Klingbeil Announced as Recipient of Good Samaritan Award

Reiny Klingbeil has been awarded the CCB Good Samaritan award. The award is presented to individuals in recognition of the compassion and kindness they have shown towards the persons served by the Catholic Charities Bureau in an effort to improve their quality of life. Reiny is one of the founders of BRI, was instrumental in the very early years of the local disability movement, has served on the BRI Board of Directors, and has been a great friend and supporter of ours for decades. Reiny will receive the award in a ceremony slated for early August.

12/1/08 - BRI Awarded Grant for Buses

BRI was awarded funding for two new accessible buses by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The funded amount for these vehicles was nearly $80,000. They will arrive in 2009 and 2010.

5/1/08 -BRI Receives Lean Manufacturing Grant

In 2008, BRI received a grant for Lean Manufacturing training from the North West Manufacturing Outreach center (NWMOC) at UW-Stout. This enabled us to better utilize space in our production area and ultimately increased our production capabilities. Our leads are able to spend less time doing projects that our clients can do, and our projects are completed before their expected due date.