MANITOWOC – Grace Stanke, Miss America 2023, will be a featured guest and performer at the 2023 Miss Harbor Cities Scholarship Competition at 5 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Capitol Civic Centre, 913 S. Eighth St., Manitowoc.
The Miss Harbor Cities Scholarship Organization said in news release that Stanke will appear on stage and perform her classical violin performance of “The Storm” by Vivaldi, for which she won a talent scholarship during night two of the preliminary competition at Miss America.
Stanke, the release said, will also speak about her platform, “Clean Energy, Cleaner Future,” as she advocates for STEM education and careers.
Stanke is in her senior year at University of Wisconsin-Madison studying nuclear engineering. She was formerly Miss Harbor Cities’ Outstanding Teen 2017, Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2017 and Miss Wisconsin 2022.
In addition to Miss America, Miss Wisconsin 2022 Kylene Spanbauer will co-host the competition with Courtney Hansen, director of tourism for the City of Manitowoc (Visit Manitowoc) and former Miss Wisconsin 2016.
Spanbauer previously served as Miss Harbor Cities 2022 and was first runner-up to Stanke at the 2022 Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Competition in Oshkosh in June 2022.
Upon Stanke being crowned Miss America, Spanbauer assumed the role of Miss Wisconsin in December 2022.
Spanbauer will also perform her baton twirl performance at the event.
Spanbauer was the University of Iowa’s “Golden Girl” feature twirler for five years and also former Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2016, when she won the preliminary talent award at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen and placed in the top eight.
To celebrate Spanbauer, the Miss Harbor Cities Organization will be hosting a special meet-and-greet with Miss Wisconsin from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Mertens Lounge at the Capitol Civic Centre Feb. 19. Tickets to this event are $5 and can be purchased online in advance at missharborcities.org or at the door.
The 2023 scholarship competition will also honor Miss Harbor Cities’ Teen 2022, Anna Gruesen, winner of the Athletic Excellence Award at Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2022.
The event will culminate with the crowning of Miss Harbor Cities 2023 and Miss Harbor Cities Teen 2023. Contestants for the 2023 competition are listed at missharborcities.org.
Following the competition will be a coronation reception from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mertens Lounge at the Capitol Civic Centre, celebrating the contestants. Miss America and Miss Wisconsin will also be in attendance. Tickets to this event are $5 and can be purchased online in advance at missharborcities.org or at the door.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at cccshows.org or by calling the Capitol Civic Centre Box Office at 920-683-2184.
Stanke will also attend a public reception at Point Beach Nuclear Plant, 6610 Nuclear Road, Two Rivers, from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 20.
Here is more news from throughout Manitowoc County in your weekly dose.
▶ Maritime Museum nets $28K donation as part of ‘28 Boats, 28 Days’ campaign:Wisconsin Maritime Museum has announced a lakeshore resident, who wished to remain anonymous, has made a significant donation to the museum’s “28 Boats, 28 Days” campaign, which is running throughout February.
The campaign seeks to raise funds for the upcoming dry docking of the museum’s World War II submarine USS Cobia.
According to a news release, the donation of $28,000 was made to the museum on Feb. 8. The release said the donor saw the museum’s social media fundraising campaign and recognized the need to preserve the USS Cobia and the importance it has in the community.
For the “28 Boats, 28 Days” campaign, the museum has been asking for $28 donations in honor of the 28 Manitowoc-built submarines.
Karen Duvalle, USS Cobia curator, said in the release, “It is wonderful to see this donor’s commitment to preserving Cobia for years to come.”
The museum is now asking donors to match this donor’s contribution.
“We are extremely grateful for this generous donor’s donation,” said Emily Shedal, Wisconsin Maritime Museum development coordinator, in the release. “Now, we hope to keep the momentum going.”
The “28 Boats, 28 Days” campaign celebrates the men and women who built the 28 Manitowoc submarines as well as the men who served aboard them.
Each day in the month of February, the museum has been highlighting a Manitowoc-built submarine on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/WIMaritimeMuseum/.
The campaign includes a special prize drawing with all donated proceeds going toward the upcoming drydocking of USS Cobia. Participants can earn an entry for every $28 donated toward the USS Cobia Preservation Fund.
Prize drawing is for a winner’s choice of a USS Cobia swag package or one ticket for a below-deck experience aboard USS Cobia during the USS Lagarto remembrance ceremonial engine start on May 6. No donation is necessary for participation. See contest rules here.
Information about USS Cobia’s Dry Dock Project 2025 is here.
And an online donation form is here.
Wisconsin Maritime Museum is at 75 Maritime Drive, downtown Manitowoc. Call 920-684-0218 for more details.
▶ The Haven’s Shamrocks for Shelter fundraiser is March 11: The fourth annual Shamrocks for Shelter St. Patrick’s Day event to benefit The Haven of Manitowoc County will be from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. March 11 at Knox’s Silver Valley Bar & Banquet, 1222 S. Alverno Road, Manitowoc.
The free community event will include a non-competitive bean bag tournament, bucket raffles, silent auction items, a Lucky Leprechaun board, food and entertainment from the Charlie Bucket Band. People are encouraged to wear their favorite St. Patrick’s Day attire.
Food will include brats, burgers, corned beef sandwiches and Knox’s homemade chips. The band will perform 2-6 p.m.
Registration for the bean bag tournament is available at The Haven, 1003 S. Marshal St., and at Knox’s Silver Valley. Sponsorships for the event are also sought by March 3. For more details, call The Haven at 920-652-9110.
The Haven men’s homeless shelter has served more than 417 men in the past eight years.
▶ Boys & Girls Club invites community to inaugural social March 4:Boys & Girls Club of Manitowoc County is inviting the community to experience what it’s like to be a club member during an inaugural Bright Futures Club Social from 4 to 7 p.m. March 4 at the club’s facility, 3651 Dewey St., Manitowoc.
Admission is $20 and tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.bgcmanitowoccounty.org/clubsocial or in person at the club during office hours, which are 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays.
According to a news release: “Enjoy a fun evening at the club and see what they have to offer the youth of Manitowoc County! There will be food and beverages, games, trivia, club tours, raffles, and more! This is a great opportunity to hang out at the club and learn more about how they are doing whatever it takes to help kids unlock their full potential. Those who choose to support this fundraising event ensure that the children served by the club continue to be provided with fun and educational opportunities, learning experiences, nutritious meals, experiential field trips, support from caring staff, and so much more.”
Sponsorships for the event are still available. Those interested can contact Callie Brice at cbrice@bgcmanitowoccounty.org or 920-905-5544.
Boys & Girls Club of Manitowoc County began serving youth in February 2022. It operates in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley in Appleton.
▶ Two Rivers welcomes new assistant police chief and city clerk/human resources director: Two Rivers Police Department has announced that Detective Lt. Melissa Wiesner has been promoted to assistant chief of police. The promotion was effective Feb. 10.
The department said in a news release that Wiesner was recommended for the position to the Two Rivers Board of Police and Fire Commissioners following a selection process. The commission then unanimously approved the promotion during its Feb. 9 meeting.
Wiesner was hired with the Two Rivers Police Department in March 2002 as a patrol officer. She also served Two Rivers Police Department in special assignments of school resource officer and investigator prior to her promotion to detective lieutenant in 2017.
Wiesner also represents the department on a state level as a Wisconsin Law Enforcement Death Response Team Board member and Wisconsin Department of Justice Peer Support Training Team member. On the national level, she represents the department as an ALICE instructor.
Wiesner earned her associate’s degree in police science/criminal justice from Fox Valley Technical College in 2001. She is a 2006 graduate of Silver Lake College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a 2009 graduate of Lakeland University with a master’s degree in community counseling.
In 2022, Wiesner became an FBI National Academy Session 283 graduate, where she also received a criminal justice graduate certificate from the University of Virginia.
Meanwhile, City of Two Rivers announced Amanda Baryenbruch has been appointed as the city’s clerk and human resources director. She starts in the position Feb. 14.
“We are very happy to have Amanda joining our management team at the City of Two Rivers,” said City Manager Greg Buckley in a news release. “She is an outstanding young professional who has shown a commitment to public service, to advancing her skills and to implementing new technologies to improve customer service.”
Baryenbruch, a Newton resident, joins the City of Two Rivers after serving the past two years as deputy city clerk for the City of Manitowoc. Prior to that, she served as an administrative support specialist in the Manitowoc clerk’s office. She is filling a position that’s been held by Jamie Jackson since October 2020. Jackson is leaving Two Rivers for a position with the Luxemburg-Casco School District.
Streetwise reporter Patti Zarling shares the big developments to expect in Manitowoc County in 2023 in her look ahead. Click here for the full article.
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