RACINE, WI – Area teen Ryan Swanson is planning to announce the employer he will work for this summer during a one-hour special on ABC Family Thursday night, Racine Journal Times‘ Hank Kleinschmidt has learned. Independent sources tell Kleinschmidt that associates of Swanson contacted the network, requesting that Swanson make his announcement during a 8 p.m. CDT special.
Swanson to make decision Thursday night on ABC Family.
Those sources said that Swanson’s representatives requested they be allowed to sell sponsorship for the one-hour special, with the proceeds going to the Humane Society of Wisconsin, and that ABC Family agreed to the proposal but had not been told what Swanson has decided.
Swanson has yet to indicate where he’ll be working for the next 2 months. It was believed that Swanson’s former employer, the Racine Parks Department, was a prohibitive front-runner, yet recent developments indicate his decision is still in flux. Swanson visited with five employers all offering unique opportunities, including the local Culver’s (grill technician), Racine Country Club (caddy), and a local Citgo (overnight cashier). Representatives from these employers visited with Swanson at his parents’ house over the weekend.
Early Tuesday, it appeared that Swanson might be leaning towards Culver’s, where high school classmate Brandon Morris is a fry cook.
“Those two could work, like, really well together,” said ABC Teen Reporter Nikki Fiorella . “With Morris’ experience and Swanson’s natural talent that combination could give Racine one of the best Culver’s franchises in southeastern Wisconsin!”
Added Fiorella, “Totally.”
Various reports indicated that the Racine Parks Department was working on a deal with the Kenosha Parks Department to bring turf management star Kevin Crowley to the RPD in hopes the addition of Crowley would entice Swanson to stay with his previous employer. Both Swanson and Crowley were aware that such a deal was possible, and Swanson tried to recruit Crowley to the RPD several times in the past few weeks, sources told Kleinschmidt. However, at this point, travel reimbursements for Crowley appear to be the sticking point preventing this deal from being executed.
While most people close to Swanson remain quiet with regard to the decision, Swanson’s uncle Jeff spoke with reporters late last night.
“I just want him to make a decision and go work somewhere,” said Jeff Swanson. ”I mean, he had 9 months to think about where he would go and the summer is almost half over. What the hell is he waiting for? Pick a damn job.”