3-time Grammy winner coming to Kohler, plus more Sheboygan County news in weekly dose

SHEBOYGAN - A three-time Grammy Award-winning choir is coming to the Kohler Memorial Theater this October.

Soweto Gospel Choir, of South Africa, is returning to North America with a concert that commemorates the South African freedom movement and the United States Civil Rights movement.

The choir will perform the concert at the Kohler Memorial Theater, 260 School St., Kohler, at 8 p.m. Oct. 7. Tickets are $50-$55 for adults and $25-$28 for students and are available by visiting KohlerFoundation.org/Tickets or calling the Kohler Foundation at 920-458-1972.

Hailing from Soweto, a town outside of Johannesburg and home of Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s democratic movement, Soweto Gospel Choir brings a powerful blend of African gospel, freedom songs and international classics.

The performers have shared the stage and collaborated with artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, U2, Diana Ross, Peter Gabriel, Chris Martin, John Legend, Pharrell Williams, Jimmy Cliff, Ben Harper, Angelique Kidjo, Robert Plant, Celine Dion, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hugh Masekela and Josh Groban.

The choir was formed in 2003 at the end of the apartheid era and during South Africa’s return to democracy.

During its show in Kohler, the choir will perform a series of South African freedom songs and music from the Civil Rights era in the show, which is titled “Hope — It’s Been a Long Time Coming.”

For more about the choir, visit SowetoGospelChoir.com.

Welcome to your weekly dose.

Start your week here in weekly dose, a roundup of local community news. Here are some more stories to catch up on:

► Oostburg State Bank gives $11K to help erect new scoreboard: Baseball and softball are getting a fresh new look in Oostburg thanks to the help of a local business.

Oostburg State Bank has announced a donation of $11,000 to the Oostburg Athletic Association for a new scoreboard.

The scoreboard, which was erected earlier this summer, is in the outfield of Veterans Park baseball diamond in the heart of Oostburg.

The park is home to Oostburg Athletic Association’s baseball and softball teams.

“Part of our dedication to the community is making sure kids have access to safe and fun activities,” said Eric Glewen, president and CEO of Oostburg State Bank, in a news release. “Oostburg State Bank is thrilled to be able to support the Oostburg Athletic Association in their mission to keep kids happy, healthy and strong.”

► Lincoln-Erdman Elementary teacher wins Helen Pouch Memorial Classroom Grant Award: Brenda Gephart, a fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln-Erdman Elementary School, was honored as a Wisconsin winner of a $500 Helen Pouch Memorial Classroom Grant Award, given through the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mitzi Schwertfeter, Plymouth DAR Chapter Grant Committee chairperson, presented the award to Gephart and Amanda Bartelt-Schermetzler, the Lincoln-Erdman Elementary principal.

Local classroom grant applications are sponsored through the Plymouth DAR Chapter and are open annually to kindergarten through grade 12 classroom teachers. The memorial classroom grant award supports DAR’s education mission to directly benefit children, supporting teachers with funds for projects, which they may use to purchase materials that enhance children’s learning experience in their classroom.

The next grant application process will begin in February 2023. Inquiries can be sent to Schwertfeger at mitzi.schwertfeger@frontier.com.

► Barn Dance set for Sept. 17: Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership’s 11th annual Barn Dance is set for Sept. 17 at Saxon Homestead Farm, 15621 S. Union Road, Cleveland.

The event offers a chance for LNRP partners, stakeholders and community residents to gather and celebrate water and land conservation initiatives. It also serves as a fundraiser for LNRP and will mark the group’s 20th anniversary.

The event starts at 5:30 p.m. An assortment of appetizers will be provided by David Hansmann from Generations of Plymouth and Tom Tittl of Wild Wood Pizza. Beer, wine, soda and water will be available. A variety of games, a silent auction and other activities are planned.

After a short program showcasing some of the recent successes of LNRP and its partner groups, attendees will be able to kick up their heels to the sounds of the Bazooka Joe band.

Advanced purchase of tickets is encouraged since the barn’s capacity is limited. Admission is $35 per person in advance or $40 at the door. All proceeds benefit LNRP, which is the parent organization of 16 watershed groups, regional networks and community partners.

For more info or to register, visit https://www.lnrp.org/barn-dance or contact Tom Mlada, LNRP executive director, at 262-573-8736 or tom@lnrp.org.

► Parade of Homes will be Sept. 15-17: Sheboygan County Homebuilders Association’s 27th annual Parade of Homes will be 4-8 p.m. Sept. 15-16 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 17.

The parade will feature five new homes in Sheboygan County. People attending can talk to the builder to learn and see everything firsthand they have to offer.

Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door, with free admission for kids 3 and younger.

Advance tickets can be bought at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/schba-parade-of-homes-2022-tickets-401334731987 or at one of these businesses: Bitter Neumann Appliance Mattress & Furniture, 827 N. 14th St., Sheboygan; Drexel, 274 Cemetery Road, Kiel; Dulmes Décor, 822 N. 14th St., Sheboygan; Falls Glass Service, Inc., 433 Monroe St., Sheboygan Falls; Johnson Financial Group, 815 Woodlake Road, Kohler; Macco’s Floor Covering Center, Inc., 3112 S. Business Drive, Sheboygan; Oostburg Lumber Company, 1218 Center Ave., Oostburg; Precision Floors and Décor, 24 S. Highland Ave., Plymouth; Sheboygan County Home Builders Association, 637 Walton Drive, Plymouth; Village Realty and Development, 765C Woodlake Road, Kohler; Waldo State Bank, 119 N. Depot St., Waldo; or Werner Homes, 4539 S. Taylor Drive, Sheboygan.

Here is the parade route:

1. Posthuma Homes, 714 Meadow Ridge Lane, Plymouth;

2. Werner Home, 218 N. Sixth St., Sheboygan Falls;

3. Hillcrest Builders, N6861 Rivermor Drive, Sheboygan;

4. Paceline Construction, W1776 Aspen Trail, Sheboygan; and

5. Werner Homes, 2814 Granite Court, Sheboygan.

More info is at schba.org.

Last week's top headlines

1. Here's how Sheboygan Lutheran responded when a grad reported that a teacher had sexually groomed, assaulted her

2. Sheboygan Lutheran grad reported her former teacher for grooming. The school district named him Teacher of the Year.

3. A 1-in-67 million golf shot? No problem for Appleton teenager, who scores two aces in 20 minutes

4. Sheboygan County Fair's history hasn't always been a bed of roses. A cross was burned there in 1927.

5. Sheboygan County schools get creative to overcome pandemic challenges. They say respect for teachers is key.

Our impact

The Sheboygan Press — part of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin — strives to make a difference in our community. Read our 2021 Community Impact Report.

Get your dose — stay connected

Start each week with your dose of local community news here. For updates during the week, come back to sheboyganpress.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

News tips

Send tips to news@sheboyganpress.com. See our contact page.

Thanks for reading!

We appreciate your readership! Support our work by subscribing.

Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Grammy winner coming to Kohler Memorial Theater in Sheboygan County