New sports facility set to open in the fall
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
The Clinton County Sportsplex in Aviston is scheduled to be opened this fall. Pictured are, FROM LEFT, Carter Voss, Ryan Voss, Melinda Voss and Brooke Voss. A new sports facility will be coming to Clinton County this fall.Construction has started on Clinton County Sportsplex, which will be run by Melinda and Ryan Voss.
The sportsplex will be right behind Aviston Auto Body, which the Voss' own.
The sportsplex will include two full-size basketball and volleyball courts, four batting cages, two batting simulators called HitTrax, and a 5,000-sq.-ft. turf field. The basketball and volleyball courts could be used for practice or games and the turf field can be used for practices.
Other items could be added later.
There is no age limit for using the facility.
"There are so many possibilities for what can be done in the facility," Melinda said. "You can rent batting cages for a birthday party in the winter."
There will be a gaming facility separate from the sports part in the front of the building.
The building is 15,000 square feet. The sportsplex portion of the building is 13,200 square feet.
The facility had a groundbreaking on Tuesday, July 14. D.A.L. Construction out of Albers is building the sportsplex. The main construction is scheduled to begin in the second week in August.
Melinda Voss said there is a need for a facility like the sportsplex. Their 11-year-old son Carter has gotten into baseball and trying to find a place to train in the winter is hard. Their 9-year-old daughter Brooke was wanting to start taking volleyball lessons.
"High school or grade school sports take precedence of their own gyms, as they should, so there is just not a lot of indoor gyms available," Melinda Voss said.
Melinda said Carter and Brooke are very excited about the building, and it's something she and Ryan are excited about, also.
Ryan and Melinda bought the lot where the sportsplex will be located about four years ago. They never came up with an idea of what they wanted to put there until Ryan came up with the sportsplex idea.
The sportsplex will be able to house many sports at the same time.
All of the reservations and bookings for the sportsplex will be through a managing app. The app won't be live until closer to the facility's opening date.
The sportsplex portion of the building will be a 24-hour facility.
Melinda said a lot of teams have already reached out and are excited about winter practices in the sportsplex.
They are going to try and get former or current professional players and college players to come and give some lessons. They have had individuals reach out about running camps and clinics in the facility.
"From the amount of people that have been reaching out since we have broken ground, I think this will be a good thing for the county," Melinda said.
Melinda and Ryan have gone to different events to promote the new facility. They had a float at the Albers Blast-Off parade.
Pricing for renting the facility for events has not been determined.
Follow the Clinton County Sportsplex Facebook page for updates and progress pictures of the facility.
The Sportsplex is located at 850 Steel Bridge Street in Aviston. They can be e-mailed at
"I think this will be a big asset and will be really good for the county," Ryan said.
'The Drowsy Chaperone' opens this weekend at Avon Theatre
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Clinton County Showcase will present "The Drowsy Chaperone" on Aug. 6-9 at Avon Theatre. The 36th season of Clinton County Showcase will continue this weekend with "The Drowsy Chaperone."
The show will run Aug. 6 - 9 with performances at 8 p.m. Aug. 6, 7, and 8 and a performance at 2 p.m. on Aug. 9. All shows will be at the Avon Theatre in Breese.
Sean Thomas will play "The Man in Chair" for Clinton County Showcase's upcoming production of "The Drowsy Chaperone." "The Drowsy Chaperone" is a charming and whimsical musical of the 1920s. It opens with a solitary narrator, referred to as "The man in Chair," who invited the audience into his small apartment to listen to his favorite cast recording. As the record spins, the musical comes to life right in his living room.
The plot centers around a glamorous wedding day that's humorously interrupted by a series of misunderstandings and unexpected guests. Key characters include a Broadway star bride eager to leave the stage for married life, her dashing groom, a forgetful chaperone, and a pair of bumbling gangsters disguised as pastry chefs.
With its playful pastiche of musical theater tropes, catchy songs, and lively dance numbers, the show is both a love letter to and a parody of the musical genre. It humorously explores themes of love, escapism, and the transformative power of theater.
The production is noted for its vibrant costumes, energetic choreography, and a witty script that keeps audiences laughing throughout. It's a delightful experience for theater lovers and newcomers alike, offering both nostalgia and fresh humor.
From left, John Wilson (George), Nif Klostermann (Drowsy Chaperone) and Lou Breckel (Janet Van De Graaff) rehearse for "The Drowsy Chaperone." Jennifer "Nif" Klostermann will star as the Drowsy Chaperone. Sean Thomas will be "The Man in Chair." Patrick Niemeyer will play Robert Martin, and Lou Breckel will play Janet Van De Graaff.
Sarah Niemeyer will play Kitty; Heather Holland will play Mrs. Tottendale; Steve Klostermann - Adolpho; Eric Buscher - Underling; John Wilson - George; Emma Vinson - Trix the Aviatrix; Cale Loddeke - Feldzieg; Ben Canizales - gangster one; Nick Mueth- gangster two; and Mike Nuxoll will play superintendent.
Delenn Robinson, Abby Johnson, Angela Nuxoll and Tiesha Klostermann will be the maids/ensemble.
The show is directed by Therese Melnykov and the assistant director is Beth Augistin-Niemeyer. Leah Loddeke is the vocal director. The chorographers are Sarah Niemeyer and Therese Melnykov. Eric Wennlund is in charge of lightning design and Artem Melnykov is the light board director. Alexis Strieker-Ford and Beth Augustin-Niemeyer are sound design and Sophia Mungai is sound operator. Isabelle Tripp is mic mixer. Paige Galligos, Jennifer Klostermann and Therese Melnykov are in charge of costumes. 
Chefs Nick Mueth and Ben Canizales speak with Kitty played by Sarah Niemeyer. Therese Melnykov is in charge of props. The backstage assistant is Emma Vinson. Therese Melnykov is set design and Nick Nueth is master carpenter.
Carpenters include Brian Niemeyer, Patrick Niemeyer, Mike Nuxoll, Angela Nuxoll, Steven Christ, Steve Klostermann, Jennifer Klostermann, Cale Loddeke and Artem Melnykov.
Painters are Therese Melnykov, Leah Loddeke, Lou Breckel, Tristin Brown, John Wilson and Eric Buscher.
The next Clinton County production will be "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" on Oct 2-4 and Oct. 9-11.
Playground ribbon cutting set for Monday, Aug. 10
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
There will be a ribbon cutting for the new Carlyle Grade School playground at 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10. Carlyle Grade School principal Lindsay Fark and the Carlyle Parent Teacher Organization will be hosting a ribbon cutting for the new grade school inclusive playground next week.
The ribbon cutting is set for 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10.
Fark said it will be a "snow-cones and playground afternoon."
Carlyle Grade School families and the Carlyle community are invited to come out and see the new playground. They will be able to see the playground just a few days before school starts.
The ribbon cutting ceremony and welcome will be at 1 p.m. There will be playtime from 1 to 3 p.m.
The outdated playground equipment was replaced with a safe, inclusive space for all children. Plans included accessible play features, a communication board for non-verbal students, and safer rubber mulch.
"Everyone can come and take a peak at all of the exciting things that we were doing this summer," Fark said. "The kids will be able to play a little bit in a little more relaxed environment before we start school."
High school student volunteers will be available to help supervise play.
The ceremony will open with a brief speaking moment from a few different people.
The large donors will be invited as well.
Free snow cones will be provided by Crave Shave Ice. Owner Dani Huels will put a donation jar out and any donations will be given back to the Carlyle PTO.
Fark said the playground area turned out nice.
High school art club students helped paint and touch up the blacktop activities such as four square, the big United States map, making the kickball bases brighter, and adding sensory paths to the blacktop.
Fark said maintenance director Jeremy Butts has been amazing through the process.
"I can't thank him enough," Fark said. "He has been the doer of all things and has saved us a lot of money in install, tear out, ground work, and removal of things. We are really thankful for him."
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