Fundraiser Held For Family of Nicole Bliesner

People in Sauk and Iowa counties made their way to the Wintergreen, an old ski hill in Spring Green, to raise money for 11-year-old Joey Ksioszk. Joey’s mother, Nicole Bliesner, was shot and killed in January 2022. Dick Powell was the organizer of Saturday’s fundraiser.  Powell was Bliesner’s boss for five years at the Riteway Shell station. He says Nicole was his best employee, doing whatever the Shell team needed, even if it meant opening the station at 3 a.m. and bringing Joey in with her, letting him sleep in Powell’s office before school. Bliesner’s family was at the fundraiser as well. They said losing her has been a draining and emotional process, but seeing the community support Joey the way they have has left them speechless The suspect in Bliesner’s death, Timothy Sontic, pleaded no contest in July, and a judge found him guilty of homicide by intoxicated use of a firearm. His sentencing is set for October 25.