Latest news with #PatrickNelson
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Couple from across Lake Michigan meet on the SS Badger car ferry and now have a family
MANITOWOC – The S.S. Badger has its very own 'meet cute' story. Patrick Nelson started working for Lake Michigan Carferry, which owns the Badger, in 2004, the summer of his senior year of high school in Michigan. 'I started working at the Badger because I was on the high school track team,' he said. 'LMC often recruits track and cross country runners from local high schools to work as auto attendants. I thought to myself, 'I can do that: Get paid to run. No problem.' It was fun.' His future wife, Nicole Nelson, took a job on the ferryboat the summer of her senior year as well. She is a 2012 graduate of Lincoln High School in Manitowoc. Both started as auto attendants — crew members who help load and unload vehicles onto the ship — on opposite sides of Lake Michigan and a few years apart. The co-workers eventually met, and Nicole asked Patrick out. The couple were married in 2020, and now have a daughter, Roxanne. All these years later, Patrick still works aboard the Badger — and has the important job of steering the ship. He worked as an auto attendant for three years and served as a deckhand for another three. He attended classes at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan. He also attended Grand Valley State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in special education. He usually works during overnight Badger trips from June 20 to Sept. 1 or on weekends. During the offseason, he is a special education teacher and track coach at a Michigan high school. Read more: SS Badger will travel to Sturgeon Bay shipyard for repairs in late April Nicole and her sister Marissa followed their older sister to jobs on the Badger. In 2021, they took on co-supervisor positions. Their dad and Marissa's boyfriend also work on the ship. 'I have met so many people and have developed so many friendships over the past 22 years,' Patrick said. 'Of course, the passengers are the best part of the job. I really enjoy having conversations with them. Every summer, we get to see many of the same people and meet new people. The Badger becomes a part of their lives.' During the offseason, the couple and their daughter live in Custer, Michigan, about 13 miles east of Ludington. Nicole also works at Home Depot and takes culinary arts classes. In the summer, while Patrick spends a lot of time on the Badger, Nicole lives with her parents in Manitowoc. She could bring their baby girl to the Badger office while she worked. What's it like to ride the Badger? Ride aboard SS Badger a throwback to bygone era 'Last year, I was able to bring her into the office frequently and it worked out pretty good,' Nicole said. 'Now, she's nearly a year old, that may be a bit more of a challenge. Luckily, she has wonderful grandparents on both sides of the lake who are willing to help.' Who knew the Badger could also be a Love Boat of sorts? Owned and operated by Lake Michigan Carferry, the Badger makes four-hour runs from Ludington, Michigan, to Manitowoc and back. The spring season runs May 16-June 19, summer season is June 20-Sept. 1 and fall season is Sept. 2-Oct. 12. For tickets and more information, go to or call 1-800-841-4243. Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@ or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling, on Instagram @PGPatti and Bluesky @PGPatti This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Couple meet on SS Badger, live summer life in Michigan and Manitowoc
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Windsor Park: Northern Ireland's home ground to be renamed in sponsorship deal
The Irish Football Association (IFA) has confirmed that Northern Ireland's home ground will be renamed the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park after the agreement of an eight-year sponsorship deal. Clearer Twist is a product from County Antrim company Clearer Water, who also hold naming rights over the Irish Cup. The final of that competition, won by Dungannon Swifts for the first time on Saturday, was the most recent game held at Windsor Park. Northern Ireland's next game at the 18,500-capacity south Belfast venue - which is also the home of Irish Premiership side Linfield - will be a friendly against Iceland on 10 June. IFA chief executive Patrick Nelson said the association has "sought a naming partner for our beloved home for many years". "But a partnership which met all the requirements wasn't available until now," added Nelson. "Our relationship with the Clearer Group is already one of collaboration and teamwork and this new partnership enhances that. "And, the Irish FA, as a non-profit organisation, will invest these vital funds back into football at all levels of the game in Northern Ireland."
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Great news' - NI set to co-host 2035 Women's World Cup
Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson says it is "great news" that the United Kingdom is set to host the 2035 Women's World Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland submitted a joint expression of interest in March to hold the World Cup across the home nations and Fifa has now said it is the only "valid bid" for is understood that Windsor Park, Northern Ireland's National Stadium, will be put forward as a stadium for the tournament. "We look forward to hosting games at the tournament and playing our part in what I have no doubt will be a fantastic tournament," said Nelson."There's still a lot of hard work to be done along with our partners in bringing it all together, however this will be a brilliant opportunity to show the world what Northern Ireland and Belfast have to offer." Unlike the men's Euro 2028 finals, Windsor Park is set to be included in the bid to host the Women's World Cup tournament. The south Belfast stadium has a capacity of 18,500, which is 1500 seats shy of the Fifa's criteria to host group games and some knockout matches. This is a precedent for stadiums that do not have the stated 20,000 capacity requirement to be used with three stadiums at the 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand falling under that Windsor Park should be able to accommodate the increased number, with potential space for more seating behind the goal in front of the Kop stand and in each corner of the North Ireland was included in the home nations' bid to host the men's Euro finals in 2028, and gaelic games stadium Casement Park was put forward to host matches as Windsor Park fell under the 30,000 capacity threshold. However, the redevelopment of Casement Park was delayed to the point where it eventually was pulled from the bid, which means Northern Ireland will not host matches at the Euros, but could still play a role by hosting a training base for a nation at the finals. The criteria to host the Women's World Cup is smaller than the men's Euros, which means there is a more realistic chance of Northern Ireland and Belfast hosting a global tournament coming to the number of teams to feature at the 2035 World Cup, it will be raised to 48 for the 2031 World Cup in the United number of automatic qualifiers, but again, the more teams in the tournament means a higher chance of qualification even if automatic spots are limited.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Harry: A tunnel in the Great Escape
At the North Compound, I visited the Harry Tunnel Monument. This monument is a tribute to the Great Escape, which inspired the 1963 film 'The Great Escape,' starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and many others. On the Harry Tunnel Monument are the names of the 76 prisoners if war who attempted to escape through the tunnel. The names in black are the individuals who were recaptured and executed for trying to escape. The blue names are those who were recaptured and sent back to POW camps. The green names are the three who successfully escaped. Among the blue names is Bob Nelson, whose son, Patrick Nelson, attended the 80th anniversary of the Long March. When I asked how he felt being in his father's footsteps on this trip, Patrick Nelson said, 'It was very emotive when we set off. I really did have to picture in my mind those guys (who) set out and left in the middle of the night in the freezing cold without any proper clothes and not knowing what was going to happen next.' In the north compound of Stalag Luft III, prisoners dug a tunnel they named 'Harry' to escape. The tunnel was 330 feet long, descended 30 feet, and had a diameter of only 2 feet. Construction of Harry and two other tunnels began in May 1943. The second tunnel, 'Dick,' was discovered by the Nazis that summer, while the third, 'Tom,' was used to store supplies for the construction of Harry. The prisoners used wood from their beds and huts to build the tunnels, and they removed the excavated dirt by filling their pockets and scattering it around the campgrounds. The objective was for 200 men, in groups of 30, to escape through the tunnels. From there, some would head toward the railway, and others would travel by foot. As they attempted to exit through the tunnels, however, an Allied raid in Berlin caused a power outage that left the men in complete darkness. Seventy-six men managed to escape, but four were immediately captured. Others, disguised as German civilians, continued their journey. Unfortunately, many did not get far and ended up back in POW camps, where they faced interrogation. Tragically, on Hitler's orders, 50 of the escapees were executed. Bob Nelson was a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. His story began in North Africa, where his assignment was a mission to bomb Tobruk, Libya. Unfortunately, he failed to return to base in Egypt when one of the engines of his Wellington aircraft seized and caught fire. While the rest of the crew managed to bail out of the plane, Nelson was unable to do so and crashed into the Sahara Desert, ultimately falling into the hands of the Nazis. The Germans flew him over the Mediterranean Sea, traveling through Greece and several other locations, before ending up in Stalag Luft III. Before the war, Nelson had worked as an engineer, which enabled him to contribute significantly to the Great Escape project. He was pivotal in designing the air pumps and the trolleys used to transport dirt and equipment throughout the tunnels. After Bob Nelson escaped through the tunnels, he and another POW evaded capture for two days outside the camp. However, local farmers found them while they were attempting to hide in some straw inside a barn and used pitchforks to scare them out. Those same farmers then took them to Halbau, Germany, now known as Iłowa, Poland. Halbau was one of the first stops during the 80th anniversary commemoration. Following this, Nelson and a few others were interrogated by the Gestapo for about three weeks. Eventually, Nelson and the rest were sent back to Stalag Luft III. Patrick Nelson was able to visit the Harry Tunnel Monument and see his father's name engraved on it. He explained that he had heard his father's stories throughout his life, and the experience was profoundly moving for him. After participating in the march to commemorate his father, Patrick could better envision what his father and the other soldiers endured — the darkness of the night, the cold of winter and the starvation they faced. He believed that the soldiers' realization that the war was almost over was crucial in keeping their spirits up. Patrick also discussed the significance of the Great Escape and the Long March, which many people are unaware of. 'I'm really delighted to see that it has been commemorated with this march, which will help secure its future. I'm glad that I can pass this knowledge down to my son,' he said. Kate Dean was another participant in the Long March commemoration. She and a few of her family members walked to honor her grandfather, Albert Henry Comber, who served as a flight lieutenant navigator in the Royal Australian Air Force. He managed to escape from several prisons in Italy before the Germans captured him and sent him to Stalag Luft III. He was also an artist, which allowed him to forge identification documents for soldiers in the camps. Just as he prepared to escape through the Harry tunnel, Nazi guards caught Comber. Dean said learning about her grandfather's experiences made her feel 'proud of him' and empathetic toward the trauma he endured. Her motivation for participating in the commemoration was to honor him, deepen her understanding of his life, and connect with other families whose fathers and grandfathers faced similar journeys. She aims to raise awareness of soldiers facing these challenges while serving their countries. When asked what people should know about these topics, Kate Dean replied, 'A lot of people know about the Great Escape and not so much about the Long March.' Kenneth McCaleb established the McCaleb Initiative for Peace to provide opportunities for students such as Raylyn Downey and me to visit places affected by war. The initiative aims to foster a better understanding of the experiences of those who lived through these conflicts and how society worked to bring them to an end. Editor's note Kylee Trevarrow is a senior at Missouri Southern State University who will graduate this spring with a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in anthropology. She recently traveled to Germany and Poland to participate in an event commemorating the Long March of 1945 with her professor, Steven Wagner, and a classmate, Raylynn Downey. The opportunity was given to them by the McCaleb Initiative for Peace at MSSU. This initiative was established in 1998 by Kenneth McCaleb and his wife, Margaret Baughman McCaleb, to examine the causes of war and discuss ways in which war can be prevented. Since its establishment, the initiative has provided many students with the chance to travel to sites of past wars, study the devastation they caused, and report their findings to promote peace and help prevent future wars. McCaleb was one of the prisoners of war who survived the 62-mile Long March. During this trip, the MSSU group had the chance to meet the family members of several of these POWs and learn the stories of their fathers and grandfathers. This is the third article in a series on their trip.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What role could NI play in 2035 Women's World Cup?
On Wednesday, the Football Associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales expressed their intention to submit a joint bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup. While the tournament is 10 years away and at this stage, this it is only an expression to bid with the joint UK is likely to have rivals, it is hard not to become a little bit excited about Northern Ireland playing a role in hosting the World Cup. With the proposed bid announced on the same day as the Irish FA's new five-year strategy for women's and girls' football, IFA CEO Patrick Nelson said the association would be "delighted" to co-host the tournament. "Women's and girls' football is growing rapidly in Northern Ireland," said Nelson. "This opportunity to serve the world, coming on the day we launch our new women's and girls' strategy, will encourage and excite even more girls to dream of wearing our green shirt on home turf at the greatest of all competitions." So, what role could Northern Ireland play in hosting the tournament? Home Nations to make joint bid to host 2035 Women's World Cup New strategy for women's and girls' football launched by IFA England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland successfully bid to host the men's Euro 2028 finals. Northern Ireland's involvement in that process somewhat evaporated when it emerged the country will not be able to host matches in that tournament. The national stadium at Windsor Park did not meet Uefa's criteria to host matches, with it's 18,500 capacity well short of the required 30,000, and the proposal to redevelop gaelic games stadium Casement Park in time for the tournament fell through. With that in mind, it would be understandable if there was some scepticism surrounding Northern Ireland's role in the Women's World Cup. At this stage, no stadia has been named in the proposal for the joint bid but, unlike the men's Euros, it is understood that Windsor Park will be put forward as a potential stadium for the Women's World Cup. While a capacity target of around 20,000 has been earmarked as the number to meet Fifa's criteria - just 1500 seats more than currently available at Windsor Park - at the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia in New Zealand, there were two stadiums with a similar capacity to the Belfast's National Stadium and one with a much smaller capacity. The Perth Rectangular Stadium, where the Republic of Ireland faced Canada in the group stages, had a capacity of 18,727 for the tournament, while the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand held 18,000. The smallest venue used in the World Cup was the Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide, which had a capacity of just 13,557 but hosted group stage and last-16 matches while it was a similar story in the 2019 World Cup in France, when stadiums in Montpellier, with 19,300, and Grenoble's stadium, with 18,000, met Fifa's requirements. In terms of qualification, for the 2023 World Cup both Australia and New Zealand both automatically awarded a place in the tournament as co-hosts. Just like with Euro 2028, with four nations it is unlikely all would automatically qualify, but it has been reported Fifa could consider expanding the number of teams at the tournament to 48 to bring it into line with the men's tournament. Again, with the tournament so far in the distance and the number of teams to be decided, qualifying routes for the finals will not be confirmed until closer to the tournament. It was announced in February that a National Training Centre near Ballymena is set to be opened by the Irish FA in 2028 and, regardless if Northern Ireland qualify, it could open another avenue for some form of participation in the tournament. Given the bid is only an expression of interest at this stage, and the tournament is still 10 years away, there are still plenty of if's, but's and maybe's. But, after the disappointment of the men's Euro 2028 bid, it would be quite an achievement to bring one of football's biggest tournament's to Northern Ireland.
