Jailbird Sings!
After being "on the lamb" for yet another year, repeat offender Doug Adams (Director of MYS) was hauled in for questioning and arrested after only moments of interrogation. He was immediately prosecuted for the felonious crime of "telling bad jokes", and sent to the can with other underworld characters such as Lee, The Enforcer, Sprenglemeyer (Supervisor-Marathon County Shelter Home), and other corporate "mob bosses". The bail was set at a merciless $310!
Adams set forth calling in his "markers". Family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, anyone on his cell phone directory, no one would be spared to assist in this undaunting task of finding the cash to spring him from his cell. In his darkest moments Adams even called the Woman In Red (a red Bank Of Wausau sweater that is..), Jeni Zurfluh, who quickly set him up with a "Mr. Grant" (the president!). With hunger killing him, Adams even called 2510 Restaurant.
The streets were only safe for the brief hour that it took Adams to get sprung. They released him with just a sweatshirt on his back. He’s back to his non-profitable ways….and rumor has it, right back to his bad jokes.

Thanks to so many of my "partners in crime" who helped me spring from the joint so quickly! With so many children and families afflicted with birth defects (including both my son and myself), it is fun and exciting to help with the March Of Dimes "Jail and Bail" program.

Doug Adams MS, Executive Director

It is with great sadness that the residents and staff of Reynolds Group Home bid farewell to Youth Worker Joe Koenig. Joe has decided to join the family business up north, taking over the management of a

CBRF (community based residential facility) that has been run by his mother in the Minocqua area for several years. It was not an easy decision for Joe, who always enjoyed his time with the guys in both our programs.

Joe’s dedication and involvement will be missed by all. He was always willing to extend himself to introduce the boys to new activities, such as water skiing, scuba, ice fishing, and most recently physical fitness. He will be fondly remembered by all. Maybe he will consent to staying in touch with us, occasionally gracing us with a visit to share his wisdom and wit. Thanks Joe…from all of us at MYS!

Work on the updating of Prospect Place is well underway! Everyone, including Director Doug Adams, is pitching in to help out. The electrician will finish up this week with the complete rewiring of the house, and painters have finished several of the bedrooms. When completed, the house will be completely rewired, remodeled, repainted, and re-filled with compassion and joy. This is an awesome house, and will become home to 4 developmentally disabled young adults.



We’ve been receiving donations from our ever generous community to help with the remodel. Our friends at Sam’s Club have donated a leather love seat and some deck sealer, and the folks at Hallman Lindsay Paints have donated 20 gallons of interior paint, enough to finish up our painting. We certainly want to recognize and thank these generous donors. Their contributions help us as we strive for an opening of Prospect Place on April 1, 2003. We hope to be announcing an Open House to show off our new facility real soon. With the completion of our licensing at Hamilton House, we will be providing home to 4 young men there, and two more immediately at Prospect Place.

If you’re anxious to see our new facility before an open house, contact Doug at 842-3240 and arrange a time to visit.

Doug and some of the staff often take the guys from Hamilton House to the Adventure Center to hone their Go Kart Racing skills. In fact, Mark and Sam have become quite competent and confident and are issuing a race challenge to all comers! They usually go on Friday afternoons and would be happy to have you joing them…….The Race Is On!

The licensing of Hamilton House is about complete, and we’re hoping to be admitting two more residents within weeks. In fact, we’ve already had the opportunity to involve a couple of guys in the program in anticipation of their joining us. It’s been a real exciting time.

It’s been a really busy month again at Reynolds Group Home, as you might expect with eight very active guys around…The following reports are filed by the staff of RGH, and indicate some of the ongoing activities.

Home Cooking On The Road
Often the cooking here at Reynolds Group Home spoils us all. We get a variety of meals made with caring and compassion to fill the appetites of our hungry boys and the staff. There is always a sense of home from all of the meals that are prepared here. This is especially true on some special occasions when a family of one of our boys stops by and treats us all to a home cooked meal. It seems that all meals taste better when someone else is willing to make it. This time, Darrick’s mom walked in all ready to go! With grocery bags in tow, Gerry comes in from time to time and takes over out kitchen. With her other son, Forrest, and Darrick the cooking begins. This also allows them time to be together as a family, and talk over how things are going.
The aromas fill the house and everyone begins to pop their head into the kitchen to ask what is on the menu. The hunger pangs intensify as time goes on. When it is finally time to eat everyone digs in and no one leaves the table hungry. The boys especially go nuts over the Indian tacos made with fry bread! Her other meals of chili and spaghetti are big hits as well.
Having a family stop by to cook for us not only provides a great meal, but also enhances the family atmosphere we strive to preserve. It also exposes the boys to the hospitality and generosity of others. Everyone at Reynolds would like to thank Gerry and her family for sharing part of their family time with us.
Mike McCabe, Youth Worker


Last month we reported that work was continuing on our own Fitness Gym. With the painting and remodeling about done, this month the staff installed a Universal Gym, donated by the Woodson YMCA. This generous

donation was accomplished through the help of MYS staff member

Suzanne Lewitzke, former Aquatics Director of the YMCA.



The guys are totally excited about the new Universal Gym, and our new fitness program is now up and running at RGH.

Yet another successful expansion of program through the generosity of our community! Thanks again to the Woodson YMCA.

Over the past few months, the staff at Reynolds Group Home has been thinking about adding a program of teaching our guys some music. This last month we worked on cleaning out a room on our second floor to provide space for music lessons. We have obtained a keyboard and two guitars to start us off. Rick Ferree and Mike McCabe of RGH have agreed to start teaching our guys how to play the guitar. The guys at the house seem inspired to learn, and they are looking forward to the lessons. Maybe we have a future concert in the works! We will keep you posted.

So ends another busy and exciting month for MYS. March certainly promises to be every bit as hectic, and productive. While our main focus will always be on our current residents and their needs, we’re also very excited to be making great progress on our overall program growth.

By next month we’ll be able to report an opening of Prospect Place, and hopefully invite you to an Open House there. Watch our web site for updates (www.marathonyouthservices.org), and your email for an invitation to the Open House.

THINK SPRING!