Candidates for First Lady include Shannon Marcouiller, April Walenski and Jenny Nickels. Mr. Niagara nominees are Mark Marcouiller, Ken Walenski and Mike Nickels.

The community can vote at Forward Financial Credit Union or Nicolet Bank in Niagara through 4 p.m. Friday, June 27. Cost is $1 per vote.

There is no limit to the number of votes — the Women’s Club encourages ballot stuffing.

Royalty will be crowned at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the Niagara Lions Club Community Picnic at Heights Park.

APRIL WALENSKI

The Niagara Women’s Club thanks all who participate in this year’s fundraiser. Proceeds from the contest will be used to support many of the club’s efforts and events including scholarships for two graduating seniors and its annual East Egg Hunt.

The club has been hosting the Niagara Royalty competition for more than 20 years in coordination with the Niagara Lions Club Community Picnic.

Tiffany Hametner and Gordon Behnke are last year’s reigning royalty.

The 2025 Miss Niagara, Elesia Sweig, also will have her coronation at the picnic June 28, where she will receive her crown and sash from 2024 Miss Niagara Mallory Sanicki.

The Miss Niagara competition has been organized and sponsored by the Niagara Lions Club since 1968.

JENNY NICKELS

This year’s Niagara Royalty candidates are:

— Shannon Marcouiller was born in Texas and raised in Aurora, Wis., but Niagara is her home. She considers it to be a great place to stay and raise her family.

She is married to Mark and they have six children: Casey, Mark Jr., Domenic, Brittany, Cory and Miranda. They are grandparents to Matthew, Giovani and Apollo, with one more coming in October.

She is employed as a store manager at Northwoods IGA.

Shannon has been an active member of the Niagara Lions Club and has been involved with coaching her children’s sport teams.

MARK MARCOUILLER

When she is not working or chasing her 2-year-old grandson who lives and works with them, she enjoys golfing, gardening and spending time with her family.

Her traveling “lunch dates” with her husband are her treasured time.

Her proudest achievement has been raising her kids in the community and watching them become wonderful adults.It has given her a real sense of accomplishment, she said.

When asked what she loves about the community, she said “the people. This is a close-knit community, where you know everyone.”

She also feels “safe” here and loves the beauty the area provides.

KEN WALENSKI

— April Walenski grew up in Escanaba and came to Niagara with her family when she was a sophomore in high school. She graduated from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a degree in psychology and human development and met her husband, Ken.

After their marriage, they lived in Green Bay until nine years ago, when she began thinking about returning to Niagara. On a visit to her parents, she found a home for sale. It was tugging at her heartstrings but before they could put in an offer it sold. Walenski was finally successful in purchasing the house after more than a year of persistently making offers to the new owner.

She is involved in St. Anthony Catholic Church and coaches SAY Soccer along with her husband.

She enjoys fundraising for worthy causes. She joins Ken as a Christmas character every year, making many visits around the area. She is also very creative and creates the family’s themed Halloween costumes and rides.

Boating and fishing — even learning to bait her own hook — are among her other hobbies.

MIKE NICKELS

She said what she likes best about Niagara is “the people — their willingness to be there when help is needed is so impressive.”

Her proudest accomplishment is their children, followed by being able to purchase their home across from her parents.

— Jenny Nickels grew up in Marinette, Wis., and moved to Niagara in 2015. She is married to Mike and they have a son, Jeffrey. Nickels has an associates degree in police science and has worked with the Marinette County Sheriff Department as a dispatcher. She is currently employed by the City of Niagara as the deputy clerk/treasurer, water and utility billing clerk, and administrative assistant for the Niagara Police Department.

She and her husband are leaders of the Niagara Boy Scout Troop and coach their son’s sports teams. She is a member of the Main Street Makeover Committee, vice president of the PTO, and a member of the National Night Out committee, which coordinates an annual tri-county event at the Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College site in Aurora, Wis., on the first Tuesday in August to highlight emergency services in the area.

Fundraising for worthwhile causes is also important to her, as is spending time at the lake with her family.

Her proudest achievement is her son and the person he is becoming. She loves the fact he enjoys the same activities they do and doing them with his parents.

When asked what she likes best about Niagara, Nickels highlighted the friendly and supportive small-town atmosphere, the opportunities to participate in various community programs and all of the Lions Club activities.

— Mark Marcouiller was born and raised in Niagara and thought it was the perfect place to stay and raise his family. He is married to Shannon — see above — and has six children and three grandchildren, with another arriving in October.

Marcouiller is currently employed at Northwoods IGA, formerly known as Marcouiller’s IGA, as the meat department manager.

When asked what his proudest accomplishment in life was, the former store owner said “keeping the Marcouiller name going through the store that was in the family for 105 years.”

He is a member of the Niagara Lions Club and the Oak Crest Monday Night Golf League, where he not only golfed but coordinated the tee time schedule. Marcouiller also volunteers at the local food pantry, has coached children’s soccer teams and has participated in decorating St. Anthony’s Church for the Christmas season.

His hobbies include golf, gardening, and chasing grandkids. He and Shannon enjoy going on “lunch dates” in communities outside the immediate area.

When asked what he likes about the community, his reply was “the friendliness of the people. You can wave to everyone and no one is afraid to stop and chat.” He also loves the beauty of the area and complimented the Beautification Committee on their contributions, especially the flowers.

— Ken Walenski grew up in Green Bay, Wis., and is married to April — see above — with two children, Mary and Alex. Seven years ago, the family moved to Niagara, where April’s parents resided. Walenski began to work for the Niagara Public School System as a bus driver and custodian. He is known for having a big smile and being “the most fun” bus driver around.

He does maintenance for St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Walenski is a member of St. Anthony Church and is involved in community events, including entertaining children as a Christmas character, and dressing up for Halloween with his family in themed costumes, from The Greatest Show in Niagara to Harry Potter. He has been involved with coaching his kid’s many activities and fundraising for worthwhile causes.

In addition to his fishing and hunting hobbies, he is quite a comedian and enjoys entertaining kids.

He said his proudest accomplishment is finding a job he loves that he can continued to do until he is ready to retire.

He said the best thing about Niagara “is the people. They are always there to help if needed and are friendly and welcoming.”

He feels that the area is known for being peaceful and quiet. Traffic is much lighter compared with the city, he said.

— Mike Nickels, formerly of Norway, moved to Niagara in 2012. He is married to Jennie — see above — and they have a son. He has an associate degree in corrections from Bay College and is a sheriff’s deputy with the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office.

The couple restarted the Boy Scouts program in Niagara and currently lead the group. He also coaches, referees and umpires youth sports in the community.

Nickels is involved with the Tri-County National Night Out Committee that organizes the annual event at the NWTC site in Aurora.

His proudest accomplishment is his son, Jeffrey, and enjoys spending time with him and watching him grow up.

What he likes best about Niagara are “all of the activities for the kids and the generosity of local people in providing parks and game fields for them.” He appreciates the fundraisers that support youth sports opportunities.