Stoughton
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Thursday, July 19, 2018 • Vol. 136, No. 52 • Stoughton, WI • ConnectStoughton.com • $1.25
of Stoughton 916 Nygaard Street (608) 873-6635
Sprinting to Wisconsin
Beekeeping ordinance
A call in May propels McHone to the Badgers’ track and field team ANTHONY IOZZO Assistant sports editor
Photo by Kimberly Wethal
Local bee enthusiast John Thompson takes care of the hives at Fort Littlegreen Gardens Monday. Thompson presented to the Public Safety committee last summer a draft ordinance that was picked up and eventually evolved into an ordinance currently under review by the city attorney. The change to the zoning could would allow beekeeping within city limits.
Still ‘months’ away
City attorney reviewing details of plan to allow bees
within city limits several months after the last time it was discussed at a Common Council meeting. Local bee enthusiast John ThompAMBER LEVENHAGEN son began encouraging the city in late 2016 to change its zoning laws Unified Newspaper Group to allow bees within the city. The Talk is still buzzing about a possi- Public Safety committee discussed it ble change to the Stoughton zoning that year, and this March, it went to ordinance prohibiting beekeeping the council, which gave unanimous
support for writing an ordinance for review. That ordinance is still “several months” away, city attorney Matthew Dregne told the Hub Monday, as he is reviewing the draft ordinance sent from the committee before it moves to the Planning Commission for
Turn to Bees/Page 12
City of Stoughton
Friedl to lead restructured finance department BILL LIVICK Unified Newspaper Group
The city has restructured its finance department and promoted a finance manager at Stoughton Utilities, Jamin Friedl, as the city’s new finance director/comptroller. The Common Council
unanimously approved the changes at its meeting last Tuesday, July 10. Mayor Tim Swadley said restructuring the department will reduce redundanFriedl cies and make it more efficient. He added the new structure will provide backup at key positions by “cross training several people.” Under the arrangement,
Friedl, who had worked as the utilities finance manager since January 2017, will manage financial operations for both the city and Stoughton Utilities. The two accounting services have operated separately for as long as anyone the Hub asked could remember, and they have two different software systems for the payroll. The role of economic development director, which had been part of the finance director’s job
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description and title, has been removed. Swadley had hinted at such a change during his campaign for mayor earlier this year, but the timing became convenient when finance/economic development director Tammy LaBorde resigned in May to take another position. The council’s action also creates a new position – assistant finance director/city treasurer – and puts it, along with deputy
Turn to Finance/Page 10
The idea of joining the Badger men’s track and field team had been on Sam McHone’s mind since the start of his senior season at Stoughton High School. But it wasn’t until three months before the start of classes that NCAA McHone Division I University of Wisconsin became a possibility for the sprinter. At that point, McHone – one of the best track and field athletes in school history – had already been accepted to UW-La Crosse and had housing and a roommate set up already. But a late May call from Badger assistant track and field coach Nate Davis
changed McHone’s plans. Davis told McHone he had a good year and asked if he had plans for college yet. McHone said he did but could change them. Because UW-La Crosse is a Division III school and no scholarships are given, McHone’s commitment to the program wasn’t binding. The change went quickly. “From there, in less than two weeks, it went from that call to admissions and then getting on the team,” McHone said. “I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to go to Madison.” Now, McHone is also looking to take advantage of his educational opportunities and to make new connections and friendships. He’s considering majoring in either kinesiology or marketing and business. Kinesiology is intriguing, he said, because he grew up with a lot of weird injuries, and he was always interested in how different ways to move muscles or walk could help prevent them. That’s what really matters, he said, because he
Turn to McHone/Page 9
Furdge sentenced to 21 years in prison Robbed Home Savings Bank in Stoughton last fall KEVIN MURPHY Hub correspondent
A Madison man who went on a bank robbing “crime spree” last fall, including the Stoughton Home Savings Bank, was sentenced Thursday in federal court to 21 years in prison and ordered to make restitution of $116,160. Kenny Furdge, 25, had pleaded guilty to the Oct. 17 armed robbery of the Home Savings Bank in Stoughton, in which $137,160
was taken, and he stipulated to taking $136,039 in the Portage Bank Mutual armed robbery. Co-defendant Jay’von Flemming also pleaded g u i l t y a n d Furdge stipulated to the same armed bank robberies, and he is to be sentenced Aug. 3. I n e a c h r o b b e r y, t h e defendants used pistols when entering the banks, pointed them at tellers and demanded money, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert
Turn to Robbery/Page 5
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New director to oversee city and utilities
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