Sallie Strobel has been named Crossing Guard of the Year by the West Bend Optimist Club.
She’s been a crossing guard for the city for 25 years and has spent a majority of her career at Decorah School at the intersection of Sylvan Way and Green Valley Place.
“The children are the key,” said Strobel. “There are kids that just come up to you and give you a hug. It’s just wonderful.”
Strobel said the intersection is very busy, especially in the afternoon. “The kids really listen,” she said. “And they always need help with their backpacks or their shoes. It’s fun.”
During the awards luncheon Optimist President Shanna Leider presented Strobel with a plaque. “We duly appreciate everything you do, a job well done,” said Leider.
West Bend Police Chief Ken Meuler commended Sgt. Tracey Heterberg for his work organizing the crossing guards and he said “Sallie helped make things easy.”
“She rarely calls in sick and when she needs to change a day, she’s never last minute – she calls in early and makes everybody’s job easy,” said Meuler.
“Sallie completed 25 years as a crossing guard but probably the best story was when a high school girl came by, years later, and thanked Sallie for when she crossed her safely to school. That shows me how much the kids really appreciate her.”
Strobel said she had many, many stories about being a crossing guard including the time when three kids found a loose dog and said they thought it belonged to the neighbor so they went to tie it up in the neighbor’s backyard.
“Turns out,” said Strobel. “The next day I found out it wasn’t their dog. Their dog was inside the house.”
Strobel said all the “kids were good” and she acknowledged, “yes… there will always be dawdlers.”