Wausau Daily Herald - Town Chatter: Expectant mom directs shower gifts to friends

Matson asked her guests -- instead of bringing gifts -- to donate $5 to a fund for Keyshon Ivey, the 1-year-old son of Holly Mecikalski and her boyfriend, Randal Ivey. Keyson has short-gut syndrome and faces many medical procedures and possibly a transplant. The shower raised $250; $150 was given to Mecikalski to help with medical bills and $100 will be used to start another fundraiser that Matson is planning for Keyshon in the near future.

Matson said she also received plenty of gifts from her generous guests. Gerald Morris, Wausau, author of the popular "Squire's Tales" series, will have a new series of books out this May. The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great" is the first book in "The Knights Tales" series for middle-grade readers. Morris depicts the tales of Sir Lancelot in a humorous manner to attract young readers to the traditional tale.

The 96-page book is writen for grades one through five and sells for $16. While the rest of us were trying to find ways to relax during spring break, Chelsea Lorge and James Brodzeller joined in on a 200-mile walk across Wisconsin. Both are D.C. Everest Senior High School graduates and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point students.

Lorge and Brodzeller were among 11 walkers from UWSP and the school's Environmental Council participating in the annual Eagle Walk to support the Wisconsin chapter of the Nature Conservancy. Around $2,000 was raised by the five walkers who completed the trek and the six who walked part of it, according to Katie Adams, one of the Eagle Walk organizers. This was Brodzeller's first year participating in the walk.

He said he made the mistake of wearing hiking boots instead of walking shoes and really could feel it in his shins during and after the walk. The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin has protected more than 139,000 acres of forests, wetlands, prairies, lakes and streams since 1960. Gannett Company website. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, updated April 11, 2007.

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