S.P.O.T.S. (Students Performing on Tough Situation) has been a part of the Brown County community for 20 years. Each year S.P.O.T.S. members create and act in scenes on subjects that students need to talk about. These range from bus safety for kindergarteners to dating abuse and drug use at the high school level.

After each scene they stay in character to answer questions. Then they break character and talk based on their experiences. They hope to help other students make better decisions and think about their actions.

Over the last 12 years S.P.O.T.S. met and practiced in the St. Peter’s Church. Director Sheldon Rieke said before they had the St. Peter’s church they were in small office down town and would practice in any space available. Leaving St. Peter’s was difficult but necessary.

“This is a step up for us. St. Peter’s was good to us but it was old space,” Rieke said. He said the church had accessibility issues. Their new location on Valley Street will give them ease of access and greater space to practice theatrical work.

Right: Everything S.P.O.T.S. had stored in the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church needed to be moved four blocks to the Valley Street location. This included several play props. S.P.O.T.S. member Owen Wilkins helped moved the Haunted House props.

Moving out of a longterm location can be difficult, but fortunately several S.P.O.T.S. members and parents helped relocate office equipment, tables, chairs, paperwork and props. The S.P.O.T.S. was able to move everything to the new location within a few hours.

“Many hands make light work,” Rieke said.

Now housed in their brand new location, S.P.O.T.S. can get to work on its next projects. Rieke said that since this is the 20th year of S.P.O.T.S. he is looking to schedule a special reunion event next year. He had idea while working at the Optimist Club Cheese Curd stand. A S.P.O.T.S. member from the first year of the organization talked to him and was excited to know the group was still in operation.

Rieke is putting the word out to any former S.P.O.T.S. member from the last two decades to contact him by email at hchynua@newulmtel.net.