At the start of the Sept. 28, 2021, State Assembly floor session in Madison, Representative Calvin Callahan (R-Tomahawk) presented a local Merrill student, Michael Dickman, with the Assembly’s Hometown Hero Award. This program provides the opportunity for state representatives to identify and recognize individuals from their Assembly Districts who make a difference in their communities and in the lives of the people around them.
“Michael is a truly courageous constituent of mine whose actions saved another person’s life,” said Rep. Callahan. “I am proud to present him with the Hometown Hero Award and encourage him to continue being the brave, young role model for others that he is today.”
One severely cold morning in February 2019, Michael was walking to school when he heard cries for help. He found Lonnie Strauss, who had fallen off a loading dock behind a remote building and had become trapped in the snow. After trying to free Strauss from the deep snow, Michael realized more help was needed. He tried to flag down nearby motorists, but when nobody would stop, he ran to a building close by and called 911. The Merrill Fire Department responded and freed Strauss, who had been in the snow for over two hours with an outside temperature of 4 degrees.
Senator Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), then Rep. Felzkowski, originally nominated Michael for the award in 2019 for his selfless actions that had been deemed lifesaving. Nominations from legislators are submitted to Majority Leader Steineke (R-Kaukauna) for consideration and award winners are invited as a special guest to an Assembly floor session at the State Capitol.