Maggie Meinen is not much on regret. Not wanting to lament on what might have been, the 2004 Altoona High School graduate decided to take a risk. Without a job, and staring an uncertain future right in the face, Meinen packed up everything she owned and headed to the West Coast to pursue her love of the stage, the screen, and the studio.

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   Altoona High School senior Brittany Gregorich has committed to attend UW-River Falls next year, where she will join her sister Tiffany on the Falcons’ basketball team.

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   Since graduating from Altoona High School in 1993, Adam Fuller has been employed in a variety of fields, but none so rewarding as his current one. As owner of Fuller Flame Works, located in Eau Claire’s Banbury Place, he uses his skill as a lampworker to blend art and functionality into a range of beautiful glass pieces.
   Fuller entered the world of glass working about 10 years ago, learning the fundamentals of lampworking glass from area artist Paul Brehm.

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   Re’s Tresses in downtown Eau Claire promises to “refresh your spirit,” “rejuvenate your energies,” and help you “reinvent yourself.” For James and Re Lant, owners of the salon and spa which opened on December 18, 2007, these words resonate beyond a salon slogan.
   “I never would have laid odds on being involved with a salon,” said James, who lived in Altoona until graduating from Altoona High School in 1982.

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   Former Altoona High School quarterback Storm Harmon will return to a local gridiron on Saturday, October 18, as his UW-River Falls Falcons will face the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds at Carson Park in Eau Claire.
   Harmon, a 2005 Altoona graduate now in his second year as the starting quarterback at River Falls, leads the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in passing yards and completions, as well as in total offense.
   He has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,073 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception this season, and has also rushed for 189 yards and two scores.
   Harmon went 18-for-28 for 163 yards and also rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ 25-20 win at Alma (Mich.) on Saturday, September 27, earning him WIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
   The Falcons’ game against Eau Claire is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m.

   On Monday, August 11, the Mahoning Valley Thunder announced that, in conjunction with the arenafootball2 League Office, Altoona High School alum and Thunder rookie linebacker/quarterback John Tackmann has been named to the af2’s inaugural All-Ironman Team. This season marks the first time that special recognition was given to the af2’s top two-way players.
   The award for Tackmann comes after he was named to the all-af2 Second Team. A fan favorite, Tackmann started all 16 games as the Jack linebacker and finished the season with 69 total tackles, ranking second on the team. “Tack,” as he is referred to by his teammates, also registered 4 1/2 tackles for loss, six passes defended, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception.
   “John was as deserving of this award as anyone in the league,” Thunder Head Coach Mike Hold said in a press release dated August 11. “He came in as a rookie and immediately became one of the team leaders. He’s not the biggest, strongest, or fastest guy out there, but he finds a way to make plays… We could always count on him for a big hit or two each game.”

   2002 Altoona High School graduate John Tackmann scored two touchdowns, including what proved to be the game-winner, as the Mahoning Valley Thunder defeated the Louisville Fire 42-41 in af2 football in Youngstown, Ohio on Friday, June 27.
   Tackmann tied a team single-season record with his 14th rushing touchdown of the year on a 1-yard run with 27 seconds left that put the Thunder ahead 42-35. Louisville responded with a touchdown with nine seconds to go, but the extra point was blocked to seal the Thunder win.
   Tackmann also had 5.5 tackles, earning his sixth Ironman of the Game award this season.

   The 2008 season has not gone according to plan for the Mahoning Valley Thunder. The Youngstown, Ohio-based arenafootball2 team has shuffled through four different starting quarterbacks, ranking 25th in the Arena Football League’s 29-team developmental circuit in both offense and defense, and fell to 2-10 with a 69-27 loss to the Green Bay Blizzard on Friday, June 20 at the Resch Center. But one of the bright spots for the Thunder has been the play of 2002 Altoona High School alumnus John Tackmann.

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   In addition to the usual joys of fall’s holiday season, this Thanksgiving will give one Altoona family a different reason to celebrate. In five months, 2002 Altoona High School alumna Rachel Morgan will return home from Morocco after serving two years in the Peace Corps, an all-volunteer organization whose members travel to host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS to information technology and environmental preservation.

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   2002 Altoona High School graduate John Tackmann will return to Wisconsin on Friday, June 20, when his Mahoning Valley Thunder play the Green Bay Blizzard in af2 football at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
   Tackmann has started all 10 games thus far at linebacker for the Thunder, being named Ironman of the Game in five of them and the league’s Ironman of the Week award in his debut. He has also played quarterback in the team’s goal-line package, leading the team with 11 rushing touchdowns.
   Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with a pre-game gathering for Tackmann’s fans being held prior to the game from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the Stadium View Bar and Grill on Holmgren Way. All fans making the trip are invited to attend.