Stoughton
Thursday, December 7, 2017 • Vol. 136, No. 20 • Stoughton, WI • ConnectStoughton.com • $1
Can for a Cone! December 10 - December 31
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On Wed., December 13 from 4-8 p.m., 10% of total store proceeds will benefit the Stoughton Food Pantry!
Remembrance
Johnson was ‘heart, soul of Stoughton’ Former mayor, city employee, volunteer died Nov. 29 BILL LIVICK Unified Newspaper Group
One of the city’s most ardent and dedicated supporters, former Mayor Helen Johnson, left a legacy of public service and community achievement when she died last week at the age of 81. Friends and colleagues remember Johnson as a consensus-builder who could bring out the best in people. She served and Johnson represented the city for almost three decades – 19 years as an elected
Inside Read Helen Johnson’s obituary Page 13 official and nine years as an employee. “She always put Stoughton first and was a great ambassador for the city,” said city native Peter Sveum, who knew Johnson well. Johnson died Wednesday, Nov. 29, at her home after struggling with poor health for a few years. “She had been not feeling well for quite some time,” said Mayor Donna Olson, who described Johnson as her friend and
Turn to Johnson/Page 14
Police: Man said he intended to kill Bruno, 49, was charged Nov. 30 with first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon for the incident that left Kim Gaida, 46, dead three AMBER LEVENHAGEN days earlier. He faces life in prison without parole if Unified Newspaper Group convicted of the charges. Ted Bruno told police he He is set to appear at a preliminary hearing at felt like he 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec stabbed his 12. Stoughton Bruno, who had been roommate renting a room at Gaida’s about 30 1432 Felland St. home, times before also told police Gaida walking had attacked him first away and and threatened to kill him then coming Bruno before the two began fightback to finish him off, according to ing with knives, according a criminal complaint filed Turn to Murder/Page 14 last week.
Bruno allegedly said he returned to stab roommate again
Photo by Amber Levenhagen
Ryleigh Rummelhoff visits with Santa, who was wandering around Main Street between appearances throughout Stoughton as part of the Victorian Holiday celebration this weekend.
Stoughton celebrates Victorian Holiday Stoughton celebrated the 25th annual Victorian Holiday last weekend. Hundreds attended the events, from cookie decorating and visiting with Santa to carriage rides down Main Street and holiday themed performances, informally kicking off the holiday season. Some long-loved events returned, such as the Tour of Homes, which served as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Stoughton, Oregon and McFarland. The Madrigals performed
Inside Victorian Holiday photos Page 7 several times throughout the weekend, between the library, the Stoughton Village Players Theater, and caroling along Main Street. Other holiday performances were highlighted during
the festive weekend, such as Ho Ho Joe and the Stanton Holiday Show at the Opera House and Liquid Courage at the library. Some events will continue throughout December. Livsreise will display its Norwegian holiday trees and Selbuvotten mittens and the light show at Rotary Park will also continue. Contact Amber Levenhagen at amber. levenhagen@wcinet.com.
State reports school district ‘meets expectations’ Sandhill again tops local schools in DPI’s report cards SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
The Stoughton Area School District is meeting expectations, as judged by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The district’s overall score of 71.3 dipped a bit from last year’s 72.6, t h o u g h t wo o f i t s five schools rated as “exceeding expectations,” according to
2016-17 DPI report cards — statewide performance Rating Significantly exceeds expectations Exceeds expectations Meets expectations Meets few expectations Fails to meet expectations DPI’s 2016-17 report cards, released Nov. 21. The annual report cards are based on state standardized tests students took in April and are intended
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to help districts “use performance data to target improvement efforts to ensure students are ready for their next educational step, including the next
grade level, graduation, college and careers,” according to a DPI press release. District director of curriculum Judy Singletary and several building principals talked to the Stoughton Area school board Monday night about the test results and how they would be used going forward. She said the report cards are one of the ways the district determines academic success – including classroom assessments and other tests, such as STAR and Fountas and Pinnell.
Turn to SASD/Page 5
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