| .::
Home |
.::
Newspaper Articles ::. |
|
Posted Aug. 20, 2003
By Troy Laack Beat the Heat, a group that helps teens build hot rods to race against police officers on an official track, needs sponsors for a chapter at Howards Grove High School. There are 15 to 20 youths interested in the Howards Grove Chapter of Northeast Wisconsin Beat the Heat, said Na-than Hatch, president of the newly founded nonprofit corporation. “The primary purpose is to give students an alternative to the streets,” Hatch said. Students will work on restoring a car throughout the school year, Hatch said. Police officers will drive the restored car and students will use their own cars in quarter-mile drag races at the Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna during the summer. If enough money is raised, students will restore a second car that they will drive. “Typically, the things I run into, they have nothing to do, so then they’re looking to do other things,” said Mark Hinterberg, Howards Grove High School principal. “If we can find avenues for kids to do productive things with their time, I think it’s beneficial.” Beat the Heat was established in 1984 and it has chapters in 27 states and Canada, Hatch said. It’s run by police officers during their off hours and it doesn’t use tax dollars. Officers will promote traffic safety, drug awareness and community relations during the program. Jason Liermann is vice president for the group, Matt Spence is treasurer and Adam Walter is secretary. Hatch and the others are also are officers with the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department, but the sheriff’s department is not affiliated with the chapter, Hatch said. Students will use the high school shop during after-school hours to get whatever car is purchased back into shape, Hatch said. The high school also is allowing students to use its graphics department to put together a newsletter. “It’s exciting,” Hatch said. “It pretty much has taken every minute of my waking hours.” Beat the Heat aims to address the problem of youths who drag race on public highways, he said. “Hopefully, this will steer people away from that,” Hatch said. “It’s dangerous and illegal.” Beat the Heat vehicles have to meet certain standards before they can race, he said. The Howards Grove chapter also will carry a $1 million insurance liability policy. Byte Head Software, Professional Supply and Larry and Pamela Sommersberger, all of Sheboygan, and Valley Pressure Cleaning of Kaukauna have already contributed to the Howards Grove chapter. Contributions can be made in the form of money, labor, time or materials. To find out more about Beat the Heat, call Hatch at 803-9645 or visit the group’s Web site at www.beattheheathowardsgrove.org. Send contributions to Beat the Heat, 2314 N. Ninth St., Sheboygan, WI 53083.
|