Issuu

Courier Hub The

Stoughton

Thursday, June 13, 2019 • Vol. 137, No. 47 • Stoughton, WI • ConnectStoughton.com • $1.25

“Our family will take good care of your family.” Family Owned, Family Operated, Celebrating 97 Years Of Service

(608) 873-4590

www.gundersonfh.com East Madison/Monona • West Madison/Middleton • Stoughton Oregon • Cross Plains • Fitchburg • Lodi • Black Earth • Mt. Horeb

adno=66907

City of Stoughton

Construction work begins SHS speed reduction among projects AMBER LEVENHAGEN Unified Newspaper Group

EMT Bill Brue receives a pair of silver coins recognizing his 40 years of service to Stoughton Area EMS.

Photo by Scott Girard

A model of service

Pair of Stoughton EMTs recognized for decades with EMS SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group

Most of what Bill Brue did as a Stoughton EMT on calls in 1979 was “load and go,” without much in the way of medical options to help patients. Ten years later, it was still the same when Ed Bailey joined Stoughton Area EMS. By 2019, with each marking an anniversary spanning decades, both EMTs have more on their plate when in an ambulance. That also means they have more opportunities to help people, including administering IVs

or giving an overdose patient Narcan, which can reverse the effects of drugs like heroin. Each received a recognition Thursday, June 6, at the SAEMS monthly meeting, with a plaque to hang on a wall and pins to put on their uniform awarded in front of their peers. “It was quite an honor,” Brue told the Hub the following day. “It was very nice.” Neither is ready to stop. “I plan on staying around as long as my health is good,” Bailey said. SAEMS director Lisa Schimelpfenig told the Hub in an email that the pair have provided a “guiding hand” to others in the department

over the years, as no two calls are ever the same and require adapting on your feet. “Over the years, Bill and Ed have provided training, guidance, time, patience and shared experiences to so many of the EMTs who have traveled with SAEMS,” she wrote. “I believe guidance is the most impactful. For those entering this field, there is only so much you can learn out of a textbook.” Schimelpfenig added that their presence provides confidence for others on calls. “I think it is important that when

Construction season has been underway for the past few weeks, and as the sunshine paves the way for crews to really dig in, a few more projects are starting next week. This includes “traffic calming” features to help reduce speed around Stoughton High School and other reconstruction that has been “desperately needed,” public works director Brett Hebert said. Commuters might have noticed some light work throughout the past month around the city, with some sidewalk, curb and gutter maintenance done on individual properties, but more work is on the way. Full reconstructions at Lowell, South Monroe and Patterson streets are well u n d e r wa y. T h o s e p r o j ects started in May and are anticipated to continue through October. Drivers should expect some detours around these areas as crews work on underground utility improvements, which include gas, water main and sanitary sewer installations. Alliant Energy has also been working on updating and replacing its materials. “The idea is to get all of

the utility work done now, because when we open the street up once, we don’t want to do it again,” Hebert said. “We want to get everything done at one time.” Another major construction project in the city is the expected completion of the Kettle Park West senior housing complex, which started last year. Single-family homes are being planned in that area but are not expected to start until the fall. For more information about road construction projects, visit the City of Stoughton website, ci.stoughton.wi.us/construction.

Jackson and Lincoln Anyone who drives near the high school knows road improvements have been needed for some time, but they can rejoice knowing work starts next week and is planned to be done before school starts. In addition to the reconstruction, crews will install traffic islands near the entrance to the high school. Two are planned on Lincoln Avenue, and one will be set on Jackson Street. Traffic islands are a small raised area in the middle of a road which marks a division between two opposing streams of traffic, with the goal to slow traffic and also help pedestrians.

Turn to Construction/Page 7

Turn to EMS/Page 12

Stoughton startup wins business competition Center document about 120 events each day. That includes diaper changes, feedings and any other events they deem significant, and that parents often want to know what SCOTT GIRARD time they happened. Unified Newspaper Group About a year and a half Child care staff in the ago, that process got easibabies’ room at Stough- er. Mariposa owner Patriton’s Mariposa Learning cia Wooldridge, along with

GrowthChart allows day care providers to cut paperwork

her husband and another business partner, created GrowthChart, a voice-activated software that allows the staff to keep their eyes on the children and avoid pen and paper for each documentation and share that information through an email to parents. A simple command to a Google Home unit covers

that task. “Whether that takes five seconds or 10 seconds, it’s still turning your back around, and things can happen in the blink of an eye,” Wooldridge said. This month, GrowthChart was recognized as the grand prize winner in

Turn to GrowthChart/Page 11

Photo by Amber Levenhagen

Segments of Monroe Street are under construction as crews work to replace roads and underground utilities. The project is expected to continue until October.

Courier Hub VISIT US JUNE 8-23

M ADISON P ARADE O F H OMES.COM

1300 HOEL AVE. STOUGHTON, WI

adno=81264

EXCLUSIVELY SPONSORED BY