Latest news with #IDoWall
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Washington County Courthouse "I Do Wall;" heartwarming moments in chalk
The Brief The Washington County Courthouse has an "I Do Wall." The wall, a chalkboard, is a place where newlyweds can write their names and share their love with the community. Thousands of couples have since left their love stamps on the chalkboard. WEST BEND, Wis. - "I do." They are the two most important words a couple can say to each other when tying the knot. In West Bend, those words take on new meaning in chalk. What we know Inside the Washington County clerk's office, there is something the clerk calls the "I Do Wall." It was started in 2017 – and created as a way to make government fun and engage with the community. Washington County Clerk Ashley Reichert said the office issues about 600 to 700 marriage licenses a year. What they're saying "Pretty exciting to see it grow to what it's become today," said Reichert. "Getting married is supposed to be fun, and so this is a fun and exciting way for us to be involved in a couple's love story." Thousands of couples have since left their love stamps on the chalkboard. "We have couple's coming in from out-of-county because they've seen the "I Do Wall" on social media and want to sign it," Reichert said. Dig deeper Jesse and Sheila Treider started their journey to marriage about ten years ago. He is a war veteran and she a banker. Casual date nights eventually led the couple down the aisle in 2024. Now the pair's story includes a 17-month-old daughter as well as dogs, Barney and Oliver. The Treiders said before they said, "I do," they wrote their names on the "I Do Wall." "I think the small things in life are really the big things," said Sheila Treider. What's next The Washington County clerk said the office is moving to another side of the building soon. Reichert said there are already plans for where the "I Do Wall" will go next. The Source The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Washington County deputy resigns after accusation of stealing food from gas station
A Washington County sheriff's deputy has resigned after being accused of repeatedly stealing food items from a Richfield gas station, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. The deputy, who had been on staff for nearly 10 years, was immediately placed on administrative leave Feb. 27 after the sheriff's office was notified, according to the news release. "The actions alleged are wholly unacceptable, a direct violation of the core values that this agency stands for," Sheriff Martin Schulteis said. A preliminary interview showed concerns about "possible criminal intent," so the Washington County Sheriff's Office requested the assistance of the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office to conduct a "thorough, transparent, and impartial criminal investigation," the release said. Because of a conflict of interest, the Washington County District Attorney's Office has requested appointing of a special prosecutor to review the criminal investigation. The deputy's resignation does not impact any potential criminal proceedings. "As public servants, we are entrusted with upholding the law and protecting the communities we serve," Schulteis said. "Although the monetary loss to the business may not be significant, these alleged actions represent a profound betrayal of trust. Such alleged behavior undermines public confidence in our agency and will not be tolerated." The Washington County Sheriff's Office told a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter they cannot release any other information. A message left with the Washington County District Attorney's Office was not immediately returned. Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy. More: This couple is one of the thousands who've signed Washington County's 'I Do Wall' More: A clothing store, tap room and dessert food truck are now open in Milwaukee's north suburbs This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Washington County deputy accused of retail theft in Richfield
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This couple is one of the thousands who've signed Washington County's 'I Do Wall'
Washington County's I Do Wall — a large chalkboard at the Washington County Courthouse that couples can sign when they get their marriage license — has seen thousands of names, each couple with a different story. That's the case for Laine West and Adam Neary of Washington County. The pair ended up signing the I Do Wall on Dec. 4. But at the beginning of their relationship, marriage was the furthest thing from their mind. Here is their story. Adam met Laine in 2013 when Adam was at work and overheard a coworker talking to Laine on the phone, so he asked his coworker about her. It eventually led to their first date. But the first date took a while to happen. It got pushed back by Adam, Laine recalled. "He said his best friend's dad died, and he needed to be with his friend," Laine said. At the time, Laine said she didn't know if the excuse was genuine, but at a longtime friend's insistence, the date was rescheduled. It ended up being a double date with another couple at Buffalo Wild Wings. Laine said she still did not want to go. She had just gotten out of a series of bad relationships; she was a single mother wanting the best for her daughter and she felt she was done with dating. "I was over dating," she said. But she went — and ordered the most unromantic and greasiest item on the menu — the prime rib burger. She was eating it sloppily with grease and condiments from the burger flying all over the place. Laine recalled she was not rude to Adam, but also was not acting appropriately for a first date. Words were flowing out of her, and she was not concerned about how she was coming across. "I was not trying to impress," she said. "I was trying to be as unattractive as possible." When the double date was finally over, Adam quickly snatched the check and paid for all four of their meals. "It was a pretty hefty bill. I was impressed," Laine said. As they were leaving, he then kissed her goodbye. "I enjoyed the kiss," she said. "I felt something." The I Do Wall is an approximately 10-by-15-foot chalkboard wall outside the Washington County Clerk's office at the Washington County Courthouse in West Bend. County Clerk Ashley Reichert said the wall was created around 2017 and since then has had nearly 5,000 names on it. Each month, the chalkboard gets erased to clear space for new names. "I thought it was a pretty cool way to showcase everyone who is getting married," Laine said. "(Wedding and engagement announcements) used to be in the newspaper as a way for people to keep in touch." Couples can sign their first names, draw a heart with their names inside or, if they want, be photographed for the county's Facebook page. Reichert said the wall has garnered the attention of other Wisconsin counties and even some counties from out of the state. Some have started their own walls as a result. "It makes government seem fun," Reichert said. When it came to the proposal, Adam had it all planned out. It was Christmas of 2017. He had bought Laine a beautiful Coach purse. He gave it to Laine, and she started to feel around the pockets of the purse. So did Adam. And then he excused himself. "He forgot to put the (engagement) ring inside the purse," Laine said. While this may be embarrassing for some couples, it was something the two can find the humor in. But the couple is also serious, and Adam proved to Laine time and time again he was committed — Especially when it came to Laine's pre-teen daughter. He attended every one of her soccer games, Laine said. "Even when I could not go, he came," she said. "His personality shined." Adam took Laine's daughter and friends to a rock concert, where much of it was "screaming" to the music. Laine said he also supports her career in massage therapy, contributes to bills and has been all-around great. Laine said her daughter is now 23 and "considers (Adam) her father." For years after that first date, Laine coined it as a "near disaster." But was it for Adam? He remembered it differently: "Refreshing," is what he called it, Laine said. Adam's takeaway from Laine's behavior during the date was slightly different than Laine's. "He said later he liked that I felt comfortable eating and was not one of those dates who would just eat salad," Laine recalled. And he felt that Laine was not afraid to talk about anything. It's also possible that the near-disaster first date helped the newlyweds learn to laugh and use humor in their relationship. Also, Laine said, after that first date she did not think any future dates could be much worse. So, in some ways, the pressure was off and that date set the tone for an open and honest relationship. "He found out who I was, and that I was open and honest and not like all that fakeness," she said. And that she does not like to play games about honesty or about love. "Love a not a game," she said. Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy. More: McBrats and Teenie Beanies: West Bend woman reflects on 44 years at McDonald's More: A clothing store, tap room and dessert food truck are now open in Milwaukee's north suburbs This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: There's an 'I Do Wall' in West Bend. Here's what it's all about.
