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| Dave Koenig, a crossing guard for seven years, keeps kids safe after school. |
By: Madeline Hoitink, Co Editor-in-Chief
Posted, December 8th, 2015
The Slinger crossing guards are very important to our school district. They offer their time two times a day for a total of about 3.5 hours in order to keep the kids of Slinger safe. They are paid by Slinger schools and the village of Slinger for their part-time jobs. Currently, there are four crossing guards that rotate between four various positions in Slinger: Slinger Elementary School, Four Corners- Washington/175, St. Peter’s, and Kettle Moraine Drive at Water Street. Every year, Slinger assists with thousands of crossings. In 2012 alone, the crossing guards helped with 5,761 crossings at Polk Street at Beine Drive, 4,660 crossings at East Washington Street at Kettle Moraine Drive, 6,774 crossings at East Washington Street at Beine Drive, and 12,669 crossings at Kettle Moraine Drive at Water Street. Throughout 2013, the crossing guards assisted with 6,829 crossings at Slinger Elementary, 4,529 crossings at Four Corners, 6,189 crossings at St. Peter’s, and 11,846 crossings at Kettle Moraine Drive at Water Street. According to the Slinger Police Annual report, the crossing guards helped with over 29,000 crossings in the 2013 school year. I had the opportunity to talk with two of Slinger’s four crossing guards, Marie Wiedmeyer and Dave Koenig.
Marie Wiedmeyer has been working as a Slinger crossing guard for almost 12 years. She came across this job as she was looking for a part-time job and took the opportunity immediately. Wiedmeyer loves working with children and observed that crossing-guards have nice vacations that line up with Slinger schools’ vacations, so she knew that this was the perfect job for her. Wiedmeyer has gotten to know many of the young kids and families in Slinger and enjoys the ones who talk to and thank her. “I even know that a family down the street is expecting a baby soon,” Wiedmeyer exclaimed. Wiedmeyer commented that the most challenging part about being a crossing guard is “not being afraid to get out there and stop cars.”
Dave Koenig decided to be a Slinger crossing guard 7 years ago because it was something to do, and it would allow him to stay active. Koenig loves the vacations during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and summer that this job offers. “The hardest part about being a crossing guard would have to be keeping the kids safe and not getting hit by cars,” said Koenig with a laugh.
The crossing guards are a very important part of Slinger’s community, so make sure to give them a friendly wave when passing and to thank them every time they help you out!
