TEEN'S SUICIDE STUNS COMMUNITY

A talented junior at Lake Mills High School came home and shot
herself to death after being caught at school with a marijuana pipe.
"The parents want the community to know what happened and know there
are people and counselors they can talk to," Police Chief Kathleen
Hansen said Friday.

"They want teenagers to know they should go for help if they are
feeling depressed or feel peer pressure, so something like this does
not happen to other families." Emily Wedel, 17, was the daughter of
Frank and Susan Wedel of Lake Mills. She was one of a set of triplets
and also had an older brother.

At school, she was active in sports, music and other activities.

Hansen said that Wedel died at home Thursday at about 4 p.m. of a
self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

"The family does not know what happened or what pressure she was
under. They don't know why she was depressed," the chief said.

"The cause of the death was not drug-related, but there was an
incident earlier in the day that was a shock to the family.

"She was caught at school with a new marijuana pipe. She had used it
and was caught, but there had never been any other incidents like
this before."

Hansen continued: "She was a very gifted child, very musical, in
dance and as a singer. It has been a shock to the community. She sang
before games and was an athlete on the basketball team. She was
involved in cross country, soccer and other activities."

As the news spread through the community Friday evening, parents and
students gathered at the high school, where counselors were available.

All girls games were canceled for the evening.