Stoughton
Thursday, January 3, 2019 • Vol. 137, No. 24 • Stoughton, WI • ConnectStoughton.com • $1.25
Stoughton Area School District
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Stories to watch in 2019
Big decisions for Stoughton Riverfront, KPW, downtown projects could advance; Will Trailers stay?
Photo by Amber Levenhagen
Shannon Boyd, a Stoughton High School sophomore, works on a coaster for a project she submitted to a state Fab Lab competition.
State of a-maze-ment SHS student’s design vies for Wisconsin Fab Lab honors
Unified Newspaper Group
Shannon Boyd has already learned one of science’s great lessons – sometimes it’s an accident that spurs the greatest discoveries. And if the Stoughton High School sophomore ends up winning the state Fab Lab competition next month, she
can thank the mistake of taking a flyer this semester on what she thought was a “fabrics” course. She hasn’t looked back since. “I saw the 3D printers and that giant ShopBot, and I thought, ‘Well, there’s something you wouldn’t think is used to make jewelry,’” Boyd told the Hub. “I thought I’d be designing clothes and making jewelry (but) I’m
so happy this isn’t sewing.” Instead, Boyd is now representing the school in a Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) competition between 14 digital fabrication laboratories in the state, with a clever design and a real chance to finish on top.
Turn to Fab/Page 7
Moms raise more than $44K for SASD eating,” Kotlowski ‘There are children who fall through the gaps, without said. these children do not qualify for free and Pressing forward, over the next seven years, the reduced meals and may go without eating.’
‘Chip in for Meals’ fund supports lunch program
– Chris Kotlowski
AMBER LEVENHAGEN Unified Newspaper Group
In 2011, when Chris Kotlowski heard from her son there was a student who didn’t go to class because he didn’t have lunch or supplies, she knew something needed to be done. “I heard of this boy who needed help, so we wanted to raise money to donate
to the school district to use toward anyone in need,” the mother of three said. Kotlowski and her friend Monique Olson rallied a group together locally, and within two weeks raised $1,300 through a golf outing fundraiser. After that first year, the two met with
Courier Hub
Stoughton Area School District officials to “learn more about the challenge that they face in meeting the needs of our students.” “We learned that there are children who fall through the gaps, these children do not qualify for free and reduced meals and may go
two raised over $44,000 to benefit the Chip in for Meals program that helps buy lunch for students who need that extra help. The fundraisers have changed over the last few years, with this year’s “Gobble Wobble” Thanksgiving day relay raising over $2,000, all of which goes directly into the Stoughton Area School District’s meal fund. But what remains is the
Turn to Meals/Page 2
1. Riverfront, Riverfront, Riverfront 2. KPW homes, nearby growth 3. Whitewater Park 4. City/school committee to present recommendations 5. City’s expansion into bank building 6. Stoughton Trailers expansion, potential move decline. New development at KPW for several dozen homes could start this summer, with developers looking for government appoval this spring. The city plans to try again for the million-dollar whitewater park grant, which it missed out on last year but is confident it will hear good news this
Turn to 2019/Page 10
Seeking some help Committee hopes to hire consultant on growth questions SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
Since they started more than a year ago on a search to find ways to bring and keep more young people to Stoughton, a committee of city and school district elected officials have used a recent UW study as a guide. Now, they’re hoping to hire one of its main researchers to help them in their task. Last month, members from the ad hoc committee comprised of members of the City Council,
Stoughton Area School District and Chamber of Commerce met with Randy Stoecker, lead researcher on the 2018 UW study “Gaining and Maintaining Young People in Rural Wisconsin Communities,” as well as Amanda Hoffman. As a graduate student, Hoffman conducted most of the interviews with people in dozens of communities. Now working professionally, she’s interested in working with the group on a similar study on Stoughton, something committee co-chair Jonathon Coughlin told the Hub Friday is a “major step forward” for the group’s efforts. “We found a potential
Turn to Growth/Page 3
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SCOTT DE LARUELLE
Stated simply, news in 2019 around Stoughton could be dominated by debate over new developments and old buildings. With projects proposed along the Yahara riverfront, Kettle Park West and downtown, Stoughton’s future could begin to take shape later this year. Also, the fate of several older structures, such as the blacksmith shop, former Stoughton High School “1892” building and the riverside former power plant could be decided. Growth will likely be a topic throughout the year. A joint city-school board c o m m i t t e e w i l l l i ke l y make recommendations to both bodies this spring on ways to attract and retain young families, with a goal to help the district stop its recent enrollment
Stories to watch 2019