Thursday, August 8, 2019 • Vol. 135, No. 6 • Oregon, WI • ConnectOregonWI.com • $1.25
Oregon School District
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Oregon Observer The
Town of Rutland
Offender placement took 2 years 66 year old was convicted in 1985 of two attempted assaults AMBER LEVENHAGEN Unified Newspaper Group Rendering courtesy Bray Architects
The design of the new elementary school incorporates more natural light, as shown in this rendering of the cafeteria. A planned courtyard can be seen on the left side, one of several features designed to incorporate a natural look within and around the building.
‘Inviting spaces’ in new places Collaborative spaces, natural connections a focus in new elementary school SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
The designs for the Oregon School District’s new elementary school under construction off County Hwy MM in Fitchburg put an emphasis on creating “inspiring learning spaces.” They incorporate modern elements while keeping true to existing district standards for elementary schools. In addition to several playgrounds, there are three inner courtyards, a butterfly garden and several dedicated
collaboration areas designed for staff to make presentations to larger groups, or for multiple classrooms to work together on projects. Solving problems collaboratively is an important part of the district’s focus for the future, and those educational ideas are embodied in the new design of the approximately 130,000 square foot building, with dedicated spaces for collaboration and small group instruction. There is also a focus on natural aspects, from the site location itself to outdoor classroom and garden areas to facilitate the district’s ongoing focus on green and healthy initiatives. The school will be the first “net zero” school building in Wisconsin, said Nathan Schieve of Bray
Architects, meaning it will create more energy than it produces. While the building will feature technologies already in use in the district like LED lighting and solar panels, he said the “size and careful coordination of each system” in the new school will enable it to have the “net zero” designation. After the successful referenda last fall to pay for the land and school, district officials established a 19-member design team comprising staff and administrators to work with Bray Architects. The idea was to develop design concepts that would be consistent with the district’s stated goals and values, district superintendent Brian Busler
Turn to School/Page 7
Village of Oregon
Businesses explain failures, policies for alcohol checks AMBER LEVENHAGEN Unified Newspaper Group
Some owners and managers told the Village Board on Monday they’re frustrated with their attempts to pass alcohol compliance checks. Three businesses failed the June compliance checks, Senor Peppers, Ace’s Main Tap and Mulligan’s, all for the second time within the last year.
The Oregon Police Department also identified “problematic” behavior in other businesses, such as scanning IDs multiple times before rejecting a sale. Owners of the three businesses were asked to talk to the Village Board Monday night to discuss how they will take action to prevent this issue from happening again. All businesses said they have revisited policy about how to train new
employees and some have even taken the initiative to implement new technology that could help their servers make the right decision. Magaly Richter, owner of Senor Peppers, said she has gotten an app for the server’s iPads that scans IDs and alerts the user if the customers are underage or not. It can also register if the ID is fake. The app isn’t free, but she said she doesn’t care if
she has to pay extra to keep people safe. “I don’t want anymore of this; I feel so frustrated,” she said. “I want to cover my business and my license and I don’t want anything to happen to the kids.” The board didn’t take any action, but trustees offered a few suggestions to prevent compliance issues from happening again. This
Turn to Compliance/Page 14
It’s taken two years for the Dane County Department of Human Services to find a home for the convicted sex offender who will be placed in Rutland within the next week. The man’s identity has been obtained through court proceedings and shared by local government entities, but because he is a patient still undergoing treatment and subject to confidentiality laws, the state Department of Human Services could not confirm it and the Observer is withholding
Highlights • Sex offender is 66, served 37 1/2 years for 1985 attempted assault of two women • He has been waiting to be placed in supervised release program for two years • He has been at Sand Ridge since 2014, having been committed after his 2013 scheduled release from prison his name. The placement is part of a supervised release program for people who have
Turn to Placement/Page 13
Village of Oregon
Brewery proposed Netherwood Brewing Company up for review SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Netherwood Brewing Company is up for a conceptual review at the Village of Oregon Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8. The proposal, which would locate the brewery at 201 Concord Dr., across from Headquarters, comes from Headquarters owner Jamie Bush and Supreme Structures president Dan
Bertler, according to the commission agenda. The review is a chance for the developer to get feedback from commissioners on the initial designs, but there will not be any vote yet. The drawings included in the packet show a twophase project that would include outdoor seating, an area for yard games, a tasting room and several small brew kettles. There would also be a covered porch with seating, the plans show. The inside and outside would be connected by glass garage doors, and the
Turn to Brewery/Page 10
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