Dion Block, Director of Operations, for Waverly Beach Bar & Grille and Banquets joins host Rick Sense to talk about one of Calumet County's true treasures, Waverly Beach.

Waverly Beach Bar & Grille is known for serving up some of Wisconsin’s best lunch and dinner favorites including the popular Wisconsin fish fry. Waverly is also known for having one of the coolest beach-bar venues and atmospheres north of Florida as it is situated on the north end of Wisconsin’s largest inland lake, Lake Winnebago. Dion and Rick discuss this atmosphere, the amenities, and Waverly Beach hosting its annual Sturgeonfest 2026, happening on February 14th.

Jackie Hering, the guest on Episode 70, makes a return visit to the Travel Calumet Original Podcast on an abbreviated Episode 71, as she joins host Rick Sense to discuss her winning the US and World Snowshoe Championship events at the 2025 World Snowshoe Championship presented by Nicolet National Bank and hosted by Ariens Nordic Center.

Jackie is one of the elite athletes from all around the world that competed in the event organized by the North Country Sports Council, held December 19th-21st, in Brillion, Wisconsin.

Jackie, a professional triathlete, has competed at an elite level in numerous sports, including snowshoe, where she is a former US Snowshoe Racing National Champion. She also has competed in Ironman all over the world and is known for recording the fastest time ever by an American woman in an Ironman event, done earlier in 2025 in Hamburg, Germany.

Jackie Hering, one of the elite athletes that will be competing in the 2025 World Snowshoe Championship Presented by Nicolet National Bank, the North Country Sports Council, and in partnership with Ariens Nordic Center the weekend of December 19th-21st, joins host Rick Sense for Episode 70 of the Travel Calumet Original Podcast.

Jackie, a professional triathlete, has competed at an elite level in numerous sports, including snowshoe, where she is a former US Snowshoe Racing National Champion. She also has competed in Ironman all over the world and is known for recording the fastest time ever by an American woman in an Ironman event, done earlier in 2025 in Hamburg, Germany.

From Madison, Wisconsin Jackie is competing at the 2025 World Championship next month at Ariens Nordic Center on home turf and we at Travel Calumet are excited to see a local athlete compete for the world championship in December!

The Travel Calumet Original Podcast focuses on the holiday season as the organizers of the 30th Annual Chilton Christmas Parade of Lights join host Rick Sense on the program. Jerry Mallmann of Chilton Furniture and Terry Friederichs & Paula Mortimer of Friederichs Abstract & Title Service are the program's special guests.

Paula, known by most everyone in the Chilton Area as Elf Mort, shares her Christmas spirit and enthusiasm while Jerry, Terry, and Rick all try to keep up in this great discussion about the 2025 edition of this iconic Chilton and Calumet County institution, the Chilton Christmas Parade of Lights, taking place on Saturday, December 6th at 5:30pm.

So, grab some egg nogg, put another log on the fire, pull up your favorite comfy chair, and tune in the Travel Calumet Original Podcast on your favorite podcast channel, and join us for this special holiday show.

Dan Ariens, Chairman and CEO of AriensCo in Brillion joins host Rick Sense on episode 68 of the Travel Calumet Original Podcast to discuss the recently, AriensCo published, “The Nature of Business” - its Corporate Conservation Report. The report is a beautiful and interesting review of the efforts underway at AriensCo to reclaim local native biodiversity. Dan discusses the work, planning behind the efforts, the impact it is having on tourism in our area and how it is important to the quality of life in Calumet County and beyond.

Matt Dougherty, Executive Director of the North Country Sports Council, joins host Rick Sense to discuss the upcoming World Snowshoe Championship Presented by Nicolet National Bank, to be held December 19th-21st, at Ariens Nordic Center in Brillion.

The World Snowshoe Championships draws elite athletes from around the world. In 2024 the event was held in central Spain with athletes participating from not only Spain, but also the US, Italy, France, Great Britain, Argentina, India, Canada, and Sweden.

As part of this year's World Snowshoe Championship Presented by Nicolet National Bank, the North Country Sports Council, in partnership with Ariens Nordic Center, is adding the US Snowshoe Championships and an Open Championships competition to the docket, allowing snowshoe enthusiasts and fans three days of snowshoeing. This year’s prize money is the largest purse ever offered for a snowshoe event in North America, further elevating the competition’s prestige.

Part 2 of 2 - Episode 66 (Part 1 is Episode 65)

In episodes 65 and 66, host Rick Sense and his guests delve into the dramatic arts in Calumet County as they discuss the upcoming production season of the Chilton School District’s vibrant performing arts programs and why these programs are a great reason to travel to Chilton to take in a performance and enjoy the amenities of Calumet County to make it a total evening experience.

Joining in the discussion are:

• Charlotte Deehr – to talk about the Chilton High School musical production of The Little Mermaid & talk about Trunk-or-Treat at Chilton Elementary School
• Jenie Farrell – to discuss the Engler Center for the Performing Arts Student Leadership's production of the play, Cabin Chronicles and ticketing and community development
• Kim Tiegs – to share about the Chilton Elementary School’s musical production of 101 Dalmatians KIDS
• Addy Hanson and Michelle Kochan – from Chilton Middle School to discuss the musical production of Matilda JR.
• Aaron Juhl – from the district’s Music area to discuss the productions and the role music will play in them all.

Part 1 - Episode 65; Part 2 - Episode 66

Part 1 of 2 - Episode 65 (Part 2 is Episode 66)

In episodes 65 and 66, host Rick Sense and his guests delve into the dramatic arts in Calumet County as they discuss the upcoming production season of the Chilton School District’s vibrant performing arts programs and why these programs are a great reason to travel to Chilton to take in a performance and enjoy the amenities of Calumet County to make it a total evening experience.

Joining in the discussion are:

• Charlotte Deehr – to talk about the Chilton High School musical production of The Little Mermaid & talk about Trunk-or-Treat at Chilton Elementary School
• Jenie Farrell – to discuss the Engler Center for the Performing Arts Student Leadership's production of the play, Cabin Chronicles and ticketing and community development
• Kim Tiegs – to share about the Chilton Elementary School’s musical production of 101 Dalmatians KIDS
• Addy Hanson and Michelle Kochan – from Chilton Middle School to discuss the musical production of Matilda JR.
• Aaron Juhl – from the district’s Music area to discuss the productions and the role music will play in them all.

Part 1 - Episode 65; Part 2 - Episode 66