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Stoughton
Family Owned, Family Operated, Celebrating 97 Years Of Service
Thursday, December 26, 2019 • Vol. 135, No. 28 • Stoughton, WI • ConnectStoughton.com • $1.25
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Once lost, now found
Stories of the Year 2019
Detective work, ‘divine intervention’ bring home family memento SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
Photo by Mackenzie Krumme
A storm that knocked down a portion of the 100-year-old building known as the blacksmith shop on Oct. 20, 2018 led to months of litigation and an eventual settlement between the city’s Redevelopment Authority and Earth Construction. The blacksmith shop was demolished on Thursday, Sept. 19.
Blacksmith Saga Ends Demolition of building some considered historic clears path for redevelopment over the historic value of buildings in that area – south of South Street between Fourth and Eighth streets – left the how and when up in the air. That changed this fall, when the city’s Redevelopment Authority decided it had no choice but to tear down one of the last remaining buildings on the city-owned property, known as the blacksmith
Turn to 2019/Page 12
Stories of 2019 1. Blacksmith shop comes down after extended saga 2. City Hall moves across the street into new building 3. Fire chief, library director retire 4. Wrestling team repeats as state champs 5. Kittleson house demolished after two-year controversy 6. Dunkirk voters pass rural preservation plan 7. (tie) Yahara River Grocery Co-op closes 7. (tie) Riverfront, whitewater park plans continue 7. (tie) Tru by Hilton hotel starts contstruction 10. County establishes Lake Kegonsa task force
There were no marker signs, no helmet requirements. I t wa s D e c e m b e r 1 9 6 9 , a n d Nitzsche and the other two founding members of the fledgling Viking Snowdrifters Club maintained its MACKENZIE KRUMME trails with bed springs pulled behind Unified Newspaper Group sleds. The club has since grown to 80 Roger Nitzsche remembers when families, many of whom are third Stoughton’s snowmobile trails were generation members. marked with painted tin coffee cans “It is unbelievable the amount sitting on the tops of sticks. of growth, enthusiasm and interest
Courier Hub
“It was emotional and I’m not a cryer, and I just had tears running down my face the whole time.” Kasting and a trainee pilot were killed in a crash in Corpus Christi Bay on Dec. 28, 1978, when their jet apparently experienced engine failure and they were not able to safely eject. For Simons, her pilot father exists mainly in the hazy memory of preschool youth, with just a few items and photographs to hold on to. “Sometimes it gets confused on what were the actual memories and what
Turn to Found/Page 15
Inside
Still blazing a trail after 50 years Viking Snowdrifters celebrate a half century of promoting, maintaining
Photos contributed
Brandi Kasting Simons holds a photo of her late father, John, and wears his former Naval aviator’s jacket, which was given to her this month by Stoughton reisdent Doug Bar, whose late wife was dating Kasten at the time of his death.
the club generated the next several years,” Nitzsche wrote in a recent letter to the club. As the club celebrates 50 years, technology and safety have improved while the club has maintained a sense of camaraderie, several members who spoke to the Hub on Dec. 14 said. Nitzsche still talks weekly with another one of the co-founders, Larry Severson. Both are now in their 80s.
Wrestling highlights year in SHS sports Page 8
Turn to Snowdrifters/Page 16
ANY DRAIN - ANY TIME Start the New Year with a New JOB! Now hiring-Paid Training Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Municipal
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Serving Dane & Rock Counties Since 1948! Terra Herale Owner
608-256-5189
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W
hile many people hoped to see some construction on the city’s riverfront in 2019, our top story was related, but opposite – it was the demolition of the century-old blacksmith shop there. It’s generally been agreed over the past few years the city should revamp the former industrial area across from Mandt Park into a residential district, but disagreements
Christmas 1978 passed like a typical holiday in the Navy town of Kingsville, Texas for LCdr. John Kasting. When not serving as an instructor pilot at the Naval air station, the 34 year old Vietnam veteran spent time with his girlfriend, Ruth Ellen Barrow, a nurse who worked at the base. And when he could, he spent time with his 4 year old daughter, Brandi, who lived with his ex-wife. All those connections were cut forever three days later when Kasting was killed in a plane crash. Or so it seemed for more than four decades. A few weeks ago, Brandi Kasting Simons of Temple, Texas received an unusual message on her Facebook page. She was about to discard it when something caught her attention. “The first thing (I saw) was ‘this is not spam,’ so my first thought was, ‘this is spam,’” Simons said with a laugh. “Then they mentioned my dad’s name … we chatted for the rest of the day.
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December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
ConnectStoughton.com
Stoughton Area School District
Photos by Connor Wood
Students and staff line up in preparation for the big moment.
Book it: Dessert is served Kegonsa students pie staff in the face for fundraiser
Kegonsa kindergartener Beatric Goplen and librarian Kristin Rosenberg face off after the teachers were pied at the assembly.
Serving Dane County Buyers and Sellers Since 1992. May I help you?
Menu Choices Are: Prime Rib and Lobster $24.75 | Prime Rib and Shrimp $19.95 Shrimp Dinner $16.95 | 5oz. Lobster Tails (2) $24.95 10oz. Prime Rib $17.50 | 10oz. Tenderloin $16.95 6oz Tenderloin & Shrimp $18.50 | Baked Chicken Dinner $13.75 All dinners come with baked potato or mashed potatoes, vegetable, full salad bar, and a glass of champagne.
Call ahead for reservations: 608-873-9042 Walk-ins welcome Without reservations all items may not be available
Happy New Year 2020
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THANK YOU FOR A GREAT YEAR! We appreciate your business and look forward to seeing you in 2020!
Restaurant
THERE WILL BE NO PICKUP ON 12/25 & 1/1
Not Just Koffee
355 E. Main St. Stoughton, WI
All residents normally serviced Wednesday-Friday will be delayed by one day (both weeks). Monday & Tuesday routes will not be delayed; residents will still have pickup on Tuesday, 12/24 & 12/31.
(608) 873-6717
**Regular Business Hours: M-Sat: 5am-8pm, Sun: 5am-2pm
New Year’s Eve Day & New Year’s Day 5am-2pm
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! adno=127147
Paul Lawrence 608-516-2392
Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.
New Year’s Eve Celebration Serving dinner from 4:30 to 8:00 pm
Finish Your Year Out and Start Your New Year In The Koffee Kup
www.pellitteri.com (608) 257-4285
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Physical education teachers Andy Martin (left) and Melinda Dozois (center) and music teacher Lissa Benson prep themselves to be pied in the face.
Elementary school kids can be an excitable bunch. But there’s nothing quite like the squeals of joy and the astonished looks on their faces when they get to throw pies in their teachers’ faces. From getting duct taped to walls to covered in slime, educators these days let their kids do a lot to them – but it’s all in good fun, and at Kegonsa this holiday season, it was for a good cause. On Friday, Dec. 20, a volunteer group of 14 staff members were pied in the face by eager students, as a reward for raising $500 to buy 59 books for Kegonsa
families in need. Kegonsa school library “wizard” Kristin Rosenberg wrote in an email to the Hub that the “really cool” thing about the timing is that the fundraiser was running during the school’s book fair, so staff helped her identify students who could benefit from a free book. She created “golden tickets” for these students’ homeroom teachers to give them, and they could come to the book fair and pick their own book. Thirty-nine students picked books, and Rosenberg bought 20 more for other students in need with the money left over.
VFW Badger Post 328, Inc. 200 Veterans Rd., Stoughton
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December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
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Nominations are due for Citizen of the Year is Dec. 29
Pumpkin Patch preschool getting a new building New location will be on 1940 Jackson St., constructed by July 2020 EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group
Pumpkin Patch preschool is moving into a new building next year, at 1940 Jackson St. An assisted living center on the Jackson Street property was demolished on Thursday, Dec. 19, to make way for the new $1.2 million space that will provide Pumpkin Patch preschool students and staff with a modern space to learn and play, Natalie Richter, the Pumpkin Patch’s director told the Hub. She said the nonprofit preschool has been subleasing its 4,815 square foot building at 900 W. Wilson St. from Martin Luther Christian School, which leases through the Stoughton Area School District. However, the school doesn’t intend to renew its lease, which expires in 2023, as it has its own plans to build. That meant it was time for Pumpkin Patch Preschool to find a new home, Richter said. The 7,658 square foot facility is being built by Ultimate Construction, LLC. Pumpkin Patch has been working closely with the company on the concept, she said. The preschool has been a
part of the Stoughton community for 40 years. Amanda Potratz, volunteer chair on the Pumpkin Patch Preschool parent-led board, said what separates Pumpkin Patch from other preschools is its parent cooperative approach to learning – parents are incentivized to volunteer around the school and help raise funds for it. The school also has a small community focus and a play-based curriculum for its 87 students ages 2-6, Richter said. Potratz said the location of the new space ensures a more communal feel – it’s located next to a public park and relatively close to apartment buildings and condominiums. She said that will mean more walking field trips in nature for the kids. Pointing to the design plans on her desk, Richter said the building will have vinyl siding that offers a modern aesthetic. The City of Stoughton wanted it to match the Jackson Street neighborhood with a white and gray color scheme. The roof will have fiberglass shingles and will feature some stone and masonry work. There will be landscaping around the outside of the building to make way for trees, bushes and a playground for the kids. The playground will have a 6 foot fence around its perimeter. T h e n e w b u i l d i n g ’s
Pumpkin Patch 900 W. Wilson St. Suite 2 (Soon to be 1940 Jackson St.) 873-3380 pppsstoughton@gmail. com mypumpkinpatch.org interior will feature spacious classrooms and a gym Pumpkin Patch students will have 24/7 access to. Potratz said this would allow youngsters to have a chance to engage in more physical activity. The interior will be equipped with two 4k classrooms, a wrap around room for early arrivals and late pickups, a 3 year old preschool room and a 2 year old preschool room. Wide halls will allow students and staff easy maneuverability. The 2 year old preschool room is a new amenity the current building doesn’t supply, Richter said. Richter said Pumpkin Patch is still looking for funding for the project – including $23,000 just for a security system. Potratz said the school is at $4,600 so far. To that end, Pumpkin Patch has hosted some fundraisers. Last year’s celebration raised around $2,600, Potratz said.
Demand extends city taxi service RENEE HICKMAN Unified Newspaper Group
With an additional vehicle, Stoughton Public Transit’s shared ride taxi service will be extending its hours. “We’re trying to extend the hours because of the demand,” Mayor Tim Swadley said at a meeting of the Common Council on Dec. 10. City finance director Jamin Friedl pointed out on a random Tuesday alone there were 111 rides. Ald. Sid Boersma (Dist. 1) said that while he supported the increase in hours, there was a growing need for transport within the city and to Madison and other
locations. He hoped to consider the possibility of buses or other types of mass transit at future meetings, a sentiment Swadley agreed with. The state Department of Transportation contracts with the Running, Inc. company for the service. It picks up 50% of the cost, and the rest is recouped in fares. The fares will not increase for riders, staying the same at $4.50 per ride for regular rides and $3.50 for seniors or people who are legally disabled, with fees of $1 per mile outside the city limits. Renee Hickman can be contacted at renee. hickman@wcinet.com.
Courier Hub Citizen of the Year Citizen of the Year nominations are due Sunday, Dec. 29. and Lynne Diebel for her conservation work with Badfish Creek and contributions to other local conservation efforts. The deadline for nominations is Sunday, Dec. 29. The newspaper will announce the winner in late January. Nominations should include your name and contact information, the nominee’s name and an explanation of the nominee’s contributions to the community throughout 2019. To make a nomination, email communityreporter@wcinet.com, fill out a form at ConnectStoughton.com or call 8459559. Email Unified Newspaper Group reporter Scott De Laruelle at scott.delaruelle@wcinet.com.
Spring election filing deadline nears Candidacy documents due Jan. 7 KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
Anyone interested in running for public office in local or regional races has until Jan. 7 to file all of their candidacy papers. For the City of Stoughton, Stoughton Area School District, the Town of Pleasant Springs and Dane County Board of Supervisors, the deadline to turn in all required documents is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7. There are a few townships throughout the county that rely on a caucus system to decide candidates for the Tuesday, April 7, spring election. The towns of Dunn and Dunkirk won’t
have any elections this spring, and the Town of Rutland will decide candidates with a caucus in January. Most races require declaration of candidacy and signatures from residents who live in the respective district in order to file for the election. Other races require the candidate to file campaign and personal finance statements. Jon Coughlin will not be re-running for his SASD seat, nor will Janiece Bolender, a supervisor for the Town of Pleasant Springs. County Sup. Bob Salov has also filed non-candidacy papers. To confirm the requirements for each race, contact the clerks for the city, town and school district. For Dane County Board of Supervisors, visit clerk.countyofdane.com.
SELL IT NOW…in the Classifieds! 873-6671 or connectstoughton.com
Holiday deadlines Wednesday, December 25, 2019 Great Dane Shopping News Display Advertising: Wednesday, December 18 at 3pm Classified Advertising: Thursday, December 19 at Noon
Thursday, December 26, 2019 Community Papers Display & Classified Advertising: Thursday, December 19 at Noon
Wednesday, January 1, 2020 Great Dane Shopping News Display Advertising: Monday, December 23 at 3pm Classified Advertising: Thursday, December 26 at Noon
Thursday, January 2, 2020 Community Papers Display & Classified Advertising: Thursday, December 26 at Noon
Our offices will be closed December 25, 2019 and January 1, 2020
845-9559, 835-6677 or 873-6671
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Photo by Emilie Heidemann
The above building at 1940 Jackson St. was demolished on Thursday, Dec. 16, to make way for the future location of the new Pumpkin Patch preschool.
The Stoughton area has plenty of people whose efforts deserve to be highlighted and appreciated, and you can help make that happen. Every year, the newspaper recognizes someone whose presence in Stoughton made a noticeable and positive impact on the quality of life in the community. Once again, our readers have a chance to weigh in on who should be honored as the 2019 Stoughton Courier Hub Citizen of the Year. Last year, the Hub’s Citizen of the Year was Stoughton High School educational assistant Barbara Lowe, a longtime volunteer at the Stoughton Opera House, FFA and a variety of local causes. In 2017, it was AnneMarie Oakland, founder of “Lunches For Vikings,” a summer lunch program that connects area churches and volunteers with kids in need throughout the Stoughton Area School District. Other recent winners include SHS student Ian Bormett, who used the school’s Fab Lab to design an artificial hand for a local boy, Sonny Swangstu and Kendall McBroom for their work on remodeling the Stoughton Youth Center building,
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December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
Opinion
ConnectStoughton.com
Letters to the editor policy Unified Newspaper Group is proud to offer a venue for public debate and welcomes letters to the editor, provided they comply with our guidelines. Letters should be no longer than 400 words. They should also contain contact information – the writer’s full name, address, and phone number – so that the paper may confirm authorship. Unsigned or anonymous letters will not be printed under any circumstances. The editorial staff of Unified Newspaper Group reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and appropriateness. Letters with libelous or obscene content will not be printed. Unified Newspaper Group generally only accepts letters from writers with ties to our circulation area. Letters to the editor should be of general public interest. Letters that are strictly personal – lost pets, for example – will not be printed. Letters that recount personal experiences, good or bad, with individual businesses will not be printed unless there is an overwhelming and compelling public interest to do so. Letters that urge readers to patronize specific businesses or specific religious faiths will not be printed, either. “Thank-you” letters can be printed under limited circumstances, provided they do not contain material that should instead be placed as an advertisement and reflect public, rather than promotional interests.
What is Community Voices? The Hub welcomes Community Voices opinion columns in addition to letters to the editor. Community Voices pieces can exceed our normal 400-word limit and open to anyone with a strong connection to our community, but they go through a much more stringent review and editing process than standard letters to the editor. In some cases, Hub staff have asked community leaders to write columns to help inform our readers, and in other cases, community members with an interest in writing thought-provoking pieces or delving into a particular topic ask the Hub for an outlet other than letters to the editor. If you are interested in working with our editorial staff on occasional or regular Community Voices columns or would like a single essay to be considered, please contact editor Jim Ferolie at stoughtoneditor@wcinet.com.
Community Voices
‘Dr. Lou’ shows how communities can build strong character, purpose
W Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 • Vol. 138, No. 23 USPS No. 614-600 Periodical Postage Paid, Stoughton, WI and additional offices. Published weekly on Thursday by the Unified Newspaper Group, A Division of Woodward Communications, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send Address Corrections to The Stoughton Courier Hub, 133 Enterprise Dr. Verona, WI 53593.
Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday Phone: 608-873-6671 • FAX: 608-873-3473 e-mail: stoughtoneditor@wcinet.com Circulation customer service: (800) 355-1892
ConnectStoughton.com This newspaper is printed on recycled paper.
General Manager Lee Borkowski lborkowski@wcinet.com Sales Manager Kathy Neumeister kathy.neumeister@wcinet.com Advertising Catherine Stang stoughtonsales@wcinet.com Inside Sales Suzy Schleeper insidesales@wcinet.com Circulation ungcirculation@wcinet.com
Classifieds ungclassified@wcinet.com News Jim Ferolie stoughtoneditor@wcinet.com Sports Adam Feiner ungsportseditor@wcinet.com Community/Business Emilie Heidemann ungbusiness@wcinet.com Reporters Kimberly Wethal, Mark Nesbitt, Mackenzie Krumme, Neal Patten, Scott De Laruelle, Renee Hickman
In memory UNG Reporter Amber Levenhagen (1994-2019)
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hen Lou Falligant heard about the physician’s assistant program from a friend, he was sold immediately. At the time, there were only 10 physician assistant programs in the country, and all were in their infancy. Yale had a grant for their program, and Lou was able to get a full scholarship to Yale. Now, Lou, a Stoughton resident, works at UW Health Cottage Grove Clinic, where he’s been for the past 10 years. He and his wife Lee have five children and seven grandchildren, and he tells me that Lee fostered good core values in the kids, including a strong work ethic and kindness. Lou seems to have an endless amount of patience, and he seems to facilitate an atmosphere of strength and stability. Patients trust him and call him Dr. Lou. They have faith in his ability and know he cares. A big reason for that is that he grew up in a strong community that helped him build character and purpose. Lou grew up on a farm between Stoughton and Edgerton on the Yahara River near Fulton. He knew all of the neighboring farmers very well. Many of them were third-generation families in one home. Most of the farm families went to the same church in Fulton. Lou’s parents were not raised on farms, so the locals helped them with advice and shared equipment with them. If there was an injury, illness, or death in the community, they all sprang into action to help with milking, harvesting and food. He said growing up on a farm, it was understood that everyone had to contribute to keep the farm working and healthy. There were always a lot of chores and everyone had to work together and get along to get the jobs done on time. There wasn’t time for complaining or feeling sorry for themselves. It was a community. They divided the work, they shared resources, and together they succeeded. It helped to
build a strong work ethic and develop communication skills. Lou’s first job as a physician’s assistant was Zarth with a general practitioner in Buffalo County. The doctor he worked with had to do everything; he worked in the clinic, hospital, emergency room and nursing home. He even did surgeries. Lou worked 80 hours a week, and it was exhausting, but he learned a lot and there was a lot of job satisfaction. He fondly remembers this old physician as his mentor. Lou has had a variety of positions including teaching in a physician’s assistant program in Madison for a year. He worked at Madison General Hospital in direct patient care and had administrative duties as supervisor of cardiology and operations manager. He even survived the merger between Methodist and Madison General Hospital. That, he told me, was his most difficult job. There was a lot of anger and animosity, and he frequently had cardiologists in his office venting. He listened calmly and empathized. The cardiologists realized the merger wasn’t his decision and he couldn’t do anything about it, but he tried to help them with their struggles and tried to help them feel at home. Lou is a good communicator and liked management. He is able to flow around people instead of bowling them over. He is able to get along with CEOs as well as regular staff and have them feel like he cares about their needs. He later worked for Dean Clinic as a combined clinical administrator float and family medicine PA and director of advanced practice providers for 16 years. This was a good job until he was directing over 200 advanced practice providers, and this is when he decided
And he knows that growing up in a farm community and learning the importance of working together helped him to become the person that he is. he really needed direct patient contact to be happy. He would be retired by now had he kept doing only administrative work. He keeps coming back for the patient care and the interaction with staff. Lou loves what he does, he told me, and he tries to convey that to the patient when he is with them, that he genuinely does care and wants to do the right thing. He also looks for ways to have fun at work; if you spend your whole day not liking your job, not liking where you are, thinking management stinks and complaining about it, it drags everyone down. His advice is to look for ways to have fun at work and build relationships – the kind you look forward to every day. Most importantly, he says, get your compliments from the patients and let them be your job satisfaction. To Lou, it’s the eye contact, touching, hearing what they have to say and knowing you made a difference, then getting the hand shake and a hug that makes it all worthwhile. And he knows that growing up in a farm community and learning the importance of working together helped him to become the person that he is. If you want to develop strong family values and a good work ethic, he says, grow up on a farm and raise your kids on a farm. There, everyone has to contribute to make it work, and everyone knows that, you can’t be self-centered in this type of situation. Brenda Zarth, RN, lives in Stoughton.
ConnectStoughton.com
December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
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Photo by Emilie Heidemann
From left, Charles Vervoort, Mayor Tim Swadley, Dan Manson and Sharon Manson discuss community issues at the Stoughton Area Senior Center “coffee with a mayor” event in July.
Senior center seeks volunteers Photo submitted
Stoughton Yoga held a Teen Tuesday yoga series at the studio from Jan. 8 through Feb. 5. Teens who participated in each of the five classes were given a yoga mat to continue their practice at home. The next Teen Tuesday series will be held April 2 through April 30. For information, email info@stoughtonyoga.org.
Stoughton Yoga offers vision board class Jan. 1 The Stoughton Yoga Studio wants to help participants visualize where and who they want to be. To ring in the new year, they are hosting a “create a vision board” class open to the public. From 2-3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at Stoughton Yoga Studio, 123 E. Main St., instructor Margaret Plotkin will supply all the materials
necessary for participants to get crafty. A vision board is a collage project where the creator uses cut out material to help visualize future goals. No art experience necessary. For information and registration, email info@stoughtonyoga.org. Contact Mackenzie Krumme at mackenzie.krumme@wcinet.com.
If You Go What: Create a vision board When: 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 Where: Stoughton Yoga Studio, 123 E. Main St Info: stoughtonyoga.com
The Stoughton Area Senior Center is searching for volunteers. Local seniors find friendship, support, and learn new things that enrich their lives by engaging in a variety of programs, services, and opportunities presented by the center. The center is currently seeking volunteers in several areas: To provide weekday support in the kitchen. Duties include assisting in the packaging of meals to be delivered to home-bound older adults residing in the Stoughton area, and assisting in the serving and clean-up of a noontime meal served weekdays. Help is needed any day of the week from 9:45 am to 1 pm, or on a substitute/ on-call basis. Substitute Meals on Wheels drivers to pick up meals from the Senior
Center and deliver to area residents. Receptionists to help at the front desk on Thursday afternoons and Fridays. Loan closet cleaners to maintain equipment for use by the community. Volunteers to provide enrichment by sharing interests, talents and skills by leading a class, workshop, facilitate support groups, giving talks or musical performances. The senior center is especially seeking artists and craftspeople to lead workshops in the Art Space, currently scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month from 2 to 4:30 pm. The Stoughton Area Senior Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information and to submit an application online visit stoughtonseniorcenter.com.
Urgent need for RSVP drivers Local transportation program seeking volunteers
Photo by Amber Levenhagen
The 2016 Holiday Light Display, presented by the Stoughton Fire Department, was illuminated on Dec. 1 at Stoughton Rotary Park off Jefferson Street. The display is sequenced to holiday music broadcasted over 88.5 FM. New additions to the light show bring the total to over 100,000 lights.
Rotary holiday light show ends Jan. 1 25 feet, with more than 120,000 LED lights. Set up and organization is done through the Stoughton Rotary Club and the Stoughton Fire Department. The light show will continue until Wednesday, Jan 1. For information, search Rotary Club of Stoughton on Facebook. Contact Mackenzie Krumme at mackenzie.krumme@wcinet.com.
If You Go What: Rotary holiday light show When: 5:30 p.m. every evening Where: Rotary Park, 324 S. 6th St. Info: Search Rotary Club of Stoughton on Facebook
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At Stoughton Rotary Park, 324 S 6th St., holiday lights will shine and dance to holiday tunes. Every evening at 5:30 p.m. attendees can tune in to 88.5 FM and watch as the lights flicker with the holiday music. Guests are welcome to enjoy the show in their car or by strolling through the park. Last year’s display included 62 holiday trees ranging from 4 feet to
Stoughton has an urgent need for volunteer drivers to provide seniors with meals and rides to medical appointments, according to a news release. Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Dane County and the Stoughton Area Senior Center partner together to offer transportation for seniors, veterans and veterans’ families to important medical appointments and home delivery of meals to seniors. “The Stoughton area, like all Dane County
communities, has a growing senior population,” a news release states. “Losing personal transportation is a challenge for many people as they age, which can leave them isolated and struggling to maintain their independence.” Volunteer drivers decide how often, when and where they wish to drive during the service hours, which are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Volunteers receive mileage reimbursement and extra liability insurance, according to a news release. For information on volunteering contact Mary Schmelzer at 441-7896 or mschmelzer@rsvpdane.org. Contact Mackenzie Krumme at mackenzie. krumme@wcinet.com.
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Stoughton Courier Hub
December 26, 2019
ConnectStoughton.com
Coming up
Community calendar
Tax aide volunteers
Community meal
The City of Stoughton and the state Department of Revenue are looking for tax aide volunteers. Tax aide volunteers help prepare free basic income tax returns with electronic filing for the upcoming tax season. The program aides people with disabilities, seniors and people with lower incomes who can’t afford tax preparation services. To apply visit revenue.wi.gov and search VITA. Fo r i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l C i n d y McGlynn at 873-8585.
‘Magic Silver’ A Norwegian children’s movie is playing at Livsreise Norwegian Heritage Center 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at 277 W. Main St. The movie is about Princess Bluerose, who goes on a journey with her friend to save her father, Blue Gnome King, and rescue the “magic silver” which brings daylight to the Earth each day. The movie is 83 minutes long, is in Norwegian with English subtitles and is geared towards children 6 years and older. The movie debuted in Norway in 2009 and has been nominated for several children’s film awards. For information, call 873-7567. Baha’i Faith
For information: Alfred Skerpan, 877-0911 or Gail and Greg Gagnon, 873-9225 us.bahai.org Stoughton study classes.
Bible Baptist Church
2095 Hwy. W, Utica 873-7077 • 423-3033 Sunday: 10 a.m. - Worship; 6 p.m. - Worship
Christ Lutheran Church
700 Hwy. B, Stoughton 873-9353 • e-mail: office@clcstoughton.org Sunday: 8 and 10:30 a.m. Worship Family express with Sunday school: 9:10 a.m.
Christ the King Community Church 401 W. Main St., Stoughton • 877-0303 christthekingcc.org Sunday: 10 a.m. - Worship
Visit First Lutheran Church, 310 E. Washington St., for the free monthly “Our Daily Bread” meal from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29. T h e m e a l w i l l b e s e r ve d a t 4:30 p.m. and includes lasagna, salad greens, garlic bread, assorted fruit salads, assorted desserts and beverages. No carry-out meals are available. For transportation to dinner, call 873-1705 by noon Dec. 29. Rides are provided free of charge within the Stoughton Area School District. This month’s meal is sponsored by Stoughton United Methodist Church For information, call 873-7761.
Covenant Lutheran Church
1525 N. Van Buren St., Stoughton • 873-7494 covlutheran@covluth.org • covluth.org Saturday: 5:30 p.m. Worship Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Worship, 10:30 a.m. Fellowship
Ezra Church
Stoughton Baptist Church
First Lutheran Church
St. Ann Catholic Church
310 E. Washington, Stoughton 873-7761 • flcstoughton.com Sunday: 8:30 and 10 a.m. Worship
Fulton Church
Good Shepherd By The Lake Lutheran Church
11927 W. Church St., Evansville 882-4408 Pastor Karla Brekke Sunday: 10 a.m. Worship and Sunday School
616 Albion Rd., Edgerton 561-7450 • albionsdb@gmail.com forministry.com/USWISDBGCASD1 Worship Saturday 11- Sabbath School 10 Corner of Williams Dr. & Cty. B, Stoughton • 873-6517 Sunday: 10:30 a.m., 6 p.m. Worship
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Cooksville Lutheran Church
Seventh Day Baptist Church of Albion
515 E. Main St., Stoughton • 834-9050 ezrachurch.com Sunday: 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
1844 Williams Drive, Stoughton • 873-9106 Saturday: 6 p.m. Worship Sunday: 10 a.m. Worship
825 S. Van Buren, Stoughton 877-0439 • Missionaries 957-3930 Sunday: 9 a.m. Sunday school and Primary
Blood drives
There are two opportunities to donate blood in the next two weeks. The first blood drive is set to take place from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the Stoughton Fire Department, 401 E. Main St. The second will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, at Skaalen Nursing and Rehab Center, 400 N Morris St. For information about the Dec. 31 event, contact Darlene Arneson at Arnesonfamily5@gmail.com. For ‘Julebukking’ The Sons of Norway Julebukking information about the Jan. 3 event, carolers will be singing through the call 873-5651. streets of Stoughton 5-9 p.m. Mon- Memory Cafe day, Dec. 30. The next Memory Cafe will be Julebukking is a Scandinavian traheld from 9:30-11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. dition where people wear masks and go door to door singing Christmas 7, at Stoughton Hospital, 900 Ridge songs – those who answer the door St. attempt to identify who is wearing A Memory Cafe is a place where the disguise. individuals with memory loss and Participants should meet at the their care partners can get together in Mandt Lodge, 317 S. Page St. at a safe, supportive and engaging envi5 p.m. to get organized and head out ronment. The Memory Cafe encourto sing to the public. Non members are welcome to join ages friendship and acceptance, and the julebukking event. There will be participants can share conversation in a gathering with refreshments after- a relaxed atmosphere. wards. For information, call 873-8585.
9209 Fulton St., Edgerton 884-8512 • fultonchurch.org Saturday: 8 a.m. prayer breakfast Sunday: 8 and 10:30 a.m. Worship Coffee Fellowship: 9 a.m. Sunday School for all ages: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Varsity (High Schoolers): 12-3 p.m. AWANA (age 2-middle school): 3-5 p.m.
Christian Assembly Church
For information, contact Darlene Arneson at Arnesonfamily5@gmail. com.
1860 Hwy. 51 at Lake Kegonsa, Stoughton 873-5924 Sunday Worship: 8 and 10:30 a.m. Education hour for all ages: 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study: 9:15-9:45 a.m.
LakeView Church
2200 Lincoln Ave., Stoughton 873-9838 • lakevc.org Sunday: 9:30 a.m. Worship
323 N. Van Buren St., Stoughton 873-6448 • 873-7633 Weekday Mass: Nazareth House and St. Ann’s Church Weekend Mass: Saturday - 5:15 p.m.; Sunday - 8 and 10:30 a.m.
United Methodist of Stoughton 525 Lincoln Avenue, Stoughton stoughtonmethodist.org Stoughtonumc@Wisconsinumc.org Sunday: 8 a.m.; 10 a.m. - Full Worship
United Pentecostal Church of Stoughton
1501 E. Main St., Stoughton • 608-513-2600 Pastor Rich Thomas • rthomas@cgcmadison.org upcstoughton.com Sunday Worship: 10 a.m., Thursday Bible Study: 7 p.m.
West Koshkonong Lutheran Church 1911 Koshkonong, Stoughton Sunday: 9:30 a.m. - Worship
Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church 2633 Church St., Cottage Grove Sunday: 9:30 a.m. worship 11 a.m. Bible study
Thursday, Dec. 26
• Public works committee meeting canceled
Friday, Dec. 27
• 9-4:30 p.m., Children’s Art Day, library, 873-6281 • 7 p.m., Jackie Marie and Frank “Lefty” James performance, The Otis Sampson American Legion post 59, 803 N. Page St., 205-9090
Saturday, Dec. 28
• 1-2:30 p.m., Holiday showing of “Magic Silver,” Livsreise Norwegian Heritage Center, 277 W. Main St.,
Sunday, Dec. 29
• 3-6 p.m., Starfinder gaming event, Gemini Games, 193 W. Main St., 719-5077 • 4-6 p.m., Community meal, First Lutheran Church, 310 E. Washington St., 873-7761
Monday, Dec. 30
• 2 p.m., Family movie afternoon, library, 873-6281 • 5-9 p.m., Sons of Norway Julebukking, Sons of Norway Mandt Lodge, 317 S. Page St., 873-7209
Tuesday, Dec. 31
• 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Stoughton Community Blood Drive, Stoughton Fire Department, 401 E. Main St., Darlene Arneson at Arnesonfamily5@gmail.com • 1 p.m., Creative writing (last Tuesday of every month), senior center, 873-8585 • 4-8 p.m., All-star Karaoke New Year’s Eve Celebration, The Otis Sampson American Legion Post, 803 N. Page St., 2059090 • 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Bad Habit Band performance, The Otis Sampson American Legion Post, 803 N. Page St., 2059090 • 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., New Year’s Eve 2020 Party, Viking Lanes, 1410 Hwy. 51. 873-5959 • End of day, Holiday light contest voting ends, on Facebook at Holt Real Estate Team’s page
Wednesday, Jan. 1
• 2-3 p.m., Create a Vision Board, Stoughton Yoga, 123 E. Main St., 572-3555 • City offices, senior center and library closed
Friday, Jan. 3
• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Blood drive, Skaalen Nursing and Rehab Center, 400 N Morris St., 873-5651
Sunday, Jan. 5
• 9:15-11:15 a.m., Stoughton Area Democrats and Progressives meetup, library, stotondems@gmail.com
Monday, Jan. 6
• Stoughton Area School District classes resume • 7-9:30 p.m., Stoughton Area School District board meeting, 320 North Street, 877-5000
Tuesday, Jan. 7
• 9:30-11 a.m., Memory Cafe (first Tuesday each month), Stoughton Hospital, 900 Ridge St., 873-8585
Food pantries City of Stoughton Food Pantry
The City of Stoughton Food Pantry, 520 S. Fourth St., is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It will also be open from 4-6 p.m. Thursday evenings and the first Saturday of the month from 9-11 a.m.
SUMC Food Pantry
The Stoughton United Methodist Church Food Pantry, 525 Lincoln Ave., is open from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesdays. It will also be open from 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays.
Personal Essentials Pantry
The Personal Essentials Pantry (PEP), 343 E. Main St., is open from 1-5 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each Month. The pantry will be closed on holidays and if SASD is closed due to weather.
Support groups
221 Kings Lynn Rd. Stoughton, WI 53589 (608) 873-8888
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Who Are Your Brothers and Sisters?
www.anewins.com
LIFE CELEBRATION CENTERS
873-4590
adno=16871
1358 Hwy 51, Stoughton Pete Gunderson Mike Smits • Dale Holzhuter Martha Paton, Administrative Manager Sara Paton Barkenhagen, Administrative Assistant Paul Selbo, Funeral Assistant Alyssa Halverson, Funeral Dir. Apprentice
www.gundersonfh.com
A brother or sister is much more than someone who shares the same parentage. A brother or sister is someone who loves and supports you, who has your back when enemies surround you and gives you shelter when no one else will. Holy men and women have always reminded us that the “family of man” makes us all brothers and sisters. The Bible tells us repeatedly to treat widows, orphans and immigrants well, for they are God’s children and thus our brothers and sisters. Mystics and saints have taken this one step further in telling us that all of creation is God’s handiwork, and thus both the animate and inanimate parts of nature are also quite literally our brothers and sisters. Modern science elegantly demonstrates that we are all made of the same basic stuff; the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in every cell of our body is the same material from which the stars and planets are made, and the DNA which maintains our bodies is shared by every creature on the planet.We share more of that DNA with our human brothers than with our non-human ones, but it’s all the same basic stuff. Treat the earth and all of its inhabitants as your brothers and sisters, for we are all children of the same God. – Christopher Simon
Diabetic Support Group • 6 p.m., second Monday, Stoughton Hospital, 873-2356 Dementia Caregivers • 2 p.m., second Thursday, senior center, 873-8585 Crohn’s/Colitis/IBD Support Group • 5:30 p.m., third Wednesday, Stoughton Hospital, 873-7928 Grief Support Groups • 2 p.m., third Wednesday, senior center, 873-8585 Low Vision Support • 1-2:30 p.m., third Thursday, senior center, 873-8585 Parkinson’s Group • 1:30-2:30 p.m., fourth Wednesday, senior center, 873-8585 Multiple Sclerosis Group • 10-11:30 a.m., second Tuesday, senior center, 873-8585
Submit your community calendar and coming up items online: ConnectStoughton.com ungcalendar@wcinet.com
ConnectStoughton.com
December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
7
An edible tradition that really hits the spot Library hosts gingerbread house crafting event Nearly 20 students turned out for an evening of crafting and treats at the library. O n T h u r s d a y, D e c . 1 9 , t h e l ow e r l eve l o f the library students used marshmallows, colorful icing, gingerbread cookies and gummies to craft a
On the Web To view more photos visit
ConnectStoughton.com gingerbread house. At the end of the event, students were able to treat themselves to their creation. Contact Mackenzie Krumme at mackenzie. krumme@wcinet.com.
Photos by Mackenzie Krumme
Students used gummies, icing, gingerbread cookies and marshmallows to build a gingerbread house.
Connor Ruyle has a taste test of his gingerbread house at the Stoughton Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Eliott Olson contemplates how to decorate her gingerbread house while she waits for icing.
Giovanni Stassi using white icing to paste together his gingerbread house during the teen event.
Through the lens of Mrs. Dickens Photo by Mackenzie Krumme
Catherine Dickens, played by Jessica Michna, explains to the audience her husband’s, Charles Dickens, love for her sister Mary Hogarth, during “The Women of Dickens” on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the senior center.
Charles Dickens, who is famous for works such as “A Christmas Carol” and “Oliver Twist” wrote his first theatrical at age 9, Mrs. Catherine Dickens told audience members at the senior center. Played by Jessica Michna, Catherine walked the 35 attendees through her life with the famous 19th century author on Wednesday, Dec. 18 during the “The Women of Dickens” presentation. In period era costume, Michna switched between different characters including Catherine, Charles Dickens wife; Nancy, from
“Oliver Twist;” Miss Hav- “They become so real on the isham, from “Great Expecta- page.” tions” and Betsey Trotwood, Contact Mackenzie Krumme from “David Copperfield.” at mackenzie.krumme@ “Although the characters wcinet.com. are fiction.” Michna said.
Happy Holidayswo!nderful
Wishing all of you the most forward to holiday season ever and we look 0 season 202 serving you in the upcoming care needs. with all of your landscape and tree Tim Andrews Horticulturist LLC “Caring for our Green World since 1978” www.tahort.com • tahort@gmail.com (608) 795-9948
Ask The Stoughton
MORTGAGE BANKING
SENIOR CARE
Q. How can I spot depression in elders? A. We all have days in which we are sad or have thoughts of hopelessness – but for many, it goes beyond
Stephen Rudolph FACHE, CSA
that. Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is, by definition, a medical illness characterized by a chronic sense of sadness and loss of interest in activities. Depression can often dictate the way in which you feel, think, and act – and if not treated, it can lead to everything from alcohol and drug abuse to attempted suicide. It’s estimated that 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. More than two million adults 65 years of age and older are faced with depression of some kind. Signs of depression are easy to overlook in older adults, as they’re often mistaken for other signs of aging. Studies show that when depressed, seniors may not clearly display typical signs of sadness such as crying. Instead, they tend to withdraw from the people they care about and the things they once loved to do. Signs to watch for: Irritability, withdraw, decrease in cognitive ability, increased pain and digestive problems. If you recognize any of these signs in your senior loved one, talk to him or her about what he or she is feeling. Although you may receive some resistance initially, it’s important to let him or her know that you’re there to help. From there, it’s vital that you inform his or her primary health care provider or mental health expert to have symptoms assessed professionally.
579 D’onofrio Dr. #10, Madison, WI 53719 (608) 218-4861 • www.comfortkeepers.com
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Kathleen C. Aiken
Q. When is the first payment due? A. This depends on when you close your home loan and if you pay prepaid interest at closing. For example, if you close late in the month, chances are your first mortgage payment will be due in just over 30 days. Conversely, if you close early in the month, you might not make your first payment for nearly 60 days. That can be nice if you’ve got moving expenses and renovation costs to worry about, or if your checking account is a little light.
To apply online, go to: associatedbank.com/kaiken 117 King St. • Stoughton, WI 53589 608-873-6755 kathy.aiken@associatedbank.com
If you would like to join our Ask the Professional Section, contact Catherine Stang at (608) 873-6671 to find out how!
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Piper Grant carefully melds the roof of her gingerbread house together with white icing.
8
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Courier Hub For more sports coverage, visit: ConnectStoughton.com
Sports
Adam Feiner, sports editor
845-9559 x226 • ungsportseditor@wcinet.com
Mark Nesbitt, assistant sports editor 845-9559 x237 • sportsreporter@wcinet.com Fax: 845-9550
Sports Stories of the Year
1. Another magical run on the mat Stoughton entered the 2018-19 season as the defending team state champions, having finally toppled Kaukauna from the top of the Division 1 heap. Instead of cowering in the face of pressure, the Vikings embraced the target on their backs en route to a second straight D1 crown. Stoughton won its fair share of tournaments and duals during the regular season, and per usual, hit its stride with the state series on the horizon. The Vikings won the Badger Conference meet with a record 383 points, more than 100 better than runner-up Waunakee and 105 clear of Badger South rival Milton. Several wrestlers set themselves up for deep runs in the individual state tournament, and two delivered with gold medals Feb. 23 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
File photo
Stoughton’s Nicolar Rivera has his arm raised after winning the 106-pound title at the Division 1 individual state File photo tournament Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Kohl Center in Madison. Stoughton’s Hunter Lewis won his second straight Division 1 He earned a 15-2 major decision over Kaukauna’s Jaden individual state title on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Kohl Center Verhagen in the championship match. in Madison. He defeated Elkhorn’s Daniel Stilling 8-7 in the Nicolar Rivera became the and ranked sixth in the nation 138-pound title match. program’s 16th undefeat- according to IntermatWresStilling 8-7 in the 138-pound Rivera’s and Lewis’ titles ed state champion, earning tle.com. a 15-2 major decision over Hunter Lewis capped his championship match. Lewis gave Stoughton its 50th and Kaukauna’s Jaden Verhagen Stoughton career with a sec- ended the season 55-1 and is 51st individual state winners, in the 106-pound final. Rive- ond straight individual title, now competing at North Car- one ahead of Mineral Point ra finished the season 58-0 defeating Elkhorn’s Daniel olina State. for the most in state history.
Luke Mechler (160 pounds) and Brooks Empey (195) placed second in their respective weight classes. Mechler finished the season 57-5, and Empey was 56-8. Cade Spilde capped his career with a fourth-place finish at 160 pounds. Stoughton then turned its attention to team state. The Vikings came in as the top seed, and immediately backed it up in wins over Arrowhead (50-21) and Kaukauna (45-18) on March 2 to set up a showdown with Mukwonago. The Indians proved no match for Stoughton, as the Vikings celebrated its second straight title with a 42-24 victory on March 3 at the UW Field House in Madison. Stoughton finished the season 21-0 in dual competition and ranked 48th in the country. —Adam Feiner
2. Kotlowskis blast way to state 3. Bunnell drafted by Braves Stoughton senior Myranda Kotlowski and junior Caylie Kotlowski powered the Stoughton girls golf team all season, and enjoyed some of their best rounds on the biggest stages. Myranda capped her high school career with a two-round total of 153 at the Division 1 state tournament on Oct. 15 at University Ridge Golf Course in Verona. She started with a 4-over-par 76 in the first round, and closed with a 77 in the second round to finish in a tie for fifth place in her first state appearance. Caylie settled into a tie for 34th place at state with a two-round score of 175, bouncing back from an 89 with an 86.
The cousins qualified for state by finishing first and second at the DeForest Sectional on Oct. 8 at The Oaks Golf Course in Cottage Grove. Caylie fired a 4-over-par 75 to win the individual sectional title, and Myranda was a stroke away from forcing a playoff with her younger cousin. “Those two are an example of hard work paying off,” Stoughton coach Stephen Stokes said at the time. “I’ve coached a lot of different things over the years, and they are two of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever coached. To be able to finish 1-2 against some of the best players in the state is really impressive.” —Adam Feiner
Photo by Adam Feiner
Stoughton senior Myranda Kotlowski plays in the Division 1 state tournament on Oct. 15.
Cade Bunnell realized his lifelong dream June 5 when he was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 40th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft. Bunnell, a 2015 Stoughton High School graduate, played his freshman season at Kansas State, then transferred to Madison College for his sophomore year. He finished his collegiate career at Indiana and graduated last spring with a liberal studies degree. Bunnell was huddled around a TV with his Hoosier teammates at an apartment in Indiana watching the draft. The Hoosiers had a record six players selected in the draft. He was drafted as a second baseman, where he said he feels comfortable. But he’s open to playing some third base. Bunnell hit .196 with a home run and three RBIs in 29 games and eight starts for the Hoosiers, who won the Big Ten championship. He finished the season with a .963 fielding percentage. Bunnell was assigned to the Braves’
Photo by Carter Waldron/Indiana Athletics
Cade Bunnell, a 2015 Stoughton graduate, was drafted in the 40th round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves out of Indiana University.
Gulf Coast League rookie ball team after graduating from Indiana. He hit .141 with a home run and four RBIs and posted a .385 on-base percentage in 26 games. — Mark Nesbitt
4. Bormett, Clark make history 5. Vikings party like it’s 1975 Stoughton’s Sofia Bormett and Conner Clark made Stoughton High School history with their performance at the Division 1 state meet. Bormett became Stoughton’s first state champion in 2018 by winning the 200yard freestyle. She finished fourth in the event with a season-best time of 1:54.56 at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium on Nov. 15. Bormett owns the school record with a time of 1:53.30, which she set at state in 2018. She also took seventh in the 100 free at the 2019 state meet (52.85), .54 seconds away from earning a medal and just shy of the lifetime-best time (52.28) she set at the 2018 sectional. Stoughton competed in a program-best five events at state in 2019. The Vikings finished 19th out of 37 teams with 53 points. On Feb. 15, Clark became the first SHS boy to medal at the state meet in 24 years. He earned the final spot on the podium in the 100-yard butterfly with a sixth-place time of 53.96.
Photo by Mark Nesbitt
Stoughton junior Sofia Bormett dives in to swim her leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay at the Division 2 state meet Nov. 15 at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium. Bormett competed in four events at state.
The Vikings qualified for state in a program-best five events and finished 24th with 31 points. Stoughton’s last state medalists were John Green, who finished second in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and Chad Dean, who took fourth in the 100 breaststroke in 1995. — Mark Nesbitt
Monona Grove dominated the decade in the Badger South Conference, having won nine of the last 10 titles coming into the 2019 football season. Stoughton hadn’t won a conference crown since 1975. Parity reigned in the Badger South this past season, as the Vikings made history Oct. 18. Stoughton blasted Monona Grove 48-27 in the final week of the regular season to clinch a share of the conference championship with Milton. Players rang the victory bell on the west end of Collins Field, surrounded by fans who had waited decades to witness the moment. S t o u g h t o n ’s d e f e n s e dominated Sauk Prairie to the tune of a 26-13 win,
Photo by Adam Feiner
Stoughton senior quarterback Adam Hobson (left) runs for a 47-yard touchdown as senior wide receiver Konner Knauf (6) blocks Monona Grove’s Dylan Matuszak on Friday, Oct. 18. but the Vikings’ high-powered offense was slowed by snow and mud in a 14-7 loss to Monroe. The Vikings finished the season 8-3, and had 18 players selected to the all-conference team. Senior Adam Hobson was named the Offensive
Player of the Year, a firstteam quarterback and second-team kicker. Jack Nelson was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year for the third season in a row, and Brooks Empey wa s t h e C o - D e f e n s ive Lineman of the Year. —Adam Feiner
ConnectStoughton.com
December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
9
Wrestling
Quartet of Vikings wins Badger State titles ADAM FEINER Sports editor
Four Stoughton wrestlers won titles at the Badger State Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Five Vikings also competed at the Mount Horeb Invitational on Saturday. Stoughton improved to 13-0 overall and 3-0 in Badger South dual competition with a road win over Fort Atkinson on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Badger State Invitational Rose Ann Marshall won the 113-pound title in the girls tournament, while Nicolar Rivera (126), Luke Mechler (160) and Brooks Empey (220) won their weight classes in the boys tournament. Marshall, who has competed in duals against boys this season, pinned Two Rivers’ Jaelee Messman in 26 seconds, then won by 16-0 technical fall against Holmen’s Jaida Harshman in the quarterfinals. She won a 10-1 major decision over Florence’s Caitlyn Kelley in the semifinals, then won a 14-4 major decision over Poynette’s Gwen Golueke in the championship match. “I just worked on the technique I’ve been working on in practice,” she said. “I got the feel of what moves worked and what one didn’t. I approached it the same way I wrestle guys.” Rivera won the 106-pound title at the Badger State Invitational last year, and cruised in his four matches Saturday. He pinned Wisconsin Dells’ Mikolaj Amaya in 59 seconds; won by 19-3 tech fall against Two Rivers’ Nolan Hansen, pinned Neenah’s Dante Caiani in 2:24 and pinned Fennimore’s Luke Blair in 1:16 in the championship match. “Trips and ducks worked for me,” he said. “Tall guys are usually easier to trip.” Mechler dominated with his aggressive style. He pinned Viroqua’s Aaron Dipietro (15 seconds) Fennimore’s Nick Blaschke (1:55) and Waunakee’s Kaden Hooker (16 seconds) and won by 19-4 tech fall against De Pere’s Michael Alexander in the championship match. “I get out there every match looking to score points and go 100 miles per hour from the first whistle to the last,” he said. “I’m looking for pins, but some kids are just hard to pin. That just means I have to secure my pin combinations earlier instead of getting turns and takedowns.” Empey pinned Mineral Point’s Daniel Nordstrom (55 seconds), Darlington’s Bailey Schilling (1:45) and De Pere’s Kyjaun Vengrowsky (59 seconds) on his way to the 220-pound crown. “I just tried to outwork everybody and be sharp,” Empey said. “I haven’t gone a full match yet this year, so I need to keep working on my conditioning in practice.” Chance Suddeth finished runner-up at 106. He pinned Waunakee’s Jayden Freie (58 seconds) and Mineral Point’s Lucas Sullivan (5:47), but lost an 11-3 major decision to De Pere’s Shane Corrigan in the championship match. Gavin Model placed third at 145. He pinned Iowa-Grant/Highland’s Colton Cutts in 56 seconds and won 5-2 over Neenah’s Drake Hayward in the quarterfinals, but lost to Two Rivers’ Matt Bianchi 3-2 in the semifinals. Model pinned Fennimore’s Aidan Nutter in 4:26 in the thirdplace match. Heavyweight Griffin Empey took fourth. He pinned Wisconsin Dells’ Aaron Huff in 1:10 and won by 16-0
Photos by Adam Feiner
Stoughton’s Rose Ann Marshall (top) controls Florence’s Caitlyn Kelley during their 113-pound match at the Badger State Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Marshall was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the girls tournament. tech fall against IGH’s Josh Bowen, then lost via pin to Darlington’s Leif Bredeson and by 3-2 decision to Lake Geneva Badger’s Kyle Freund in the third-place match. Trenton Dow (138) placed fifth with a 3-1 record. He pinned Brookfield East’s Seth Desmore in 1:04, but lost 7-1 to Two Rivers’ Bailey Thelen in the quarterfinals. Dow bounced back to pin IGH’s Andrew Winders in 3:05 and win 7-1 over Neenah’s Austin Lewis in the fifth-place match. Brandt Spilde (182) also took fifth. He bounced back from an 8-6 loss to Fennimore’s Logan Klaas with pins of Neenah’s Davin Munoz (3:24) and De Pere’s Zane Seiner (1:44). Alex Wicks (132) finished seventh with a 2-2 record. He pinned Kettle Moraine’s Charlie Weber in 1:12, then lost via tech fall to Baldwin-Woodville’s Jordan Bonte and via 10-8 decision against Fort Atkinson’s Aiden Worden. Wicks pinned Milwaukee Marshall’s Marchell Barnes in 1:50 in the seventh-place match. Coltin Suddeth (120) pinned Viroqua’s Preston Buroker in 54 seconds, but lost his lost three matches to place eighth. Trent Carpenter (170) beat Fennimore’s Mason Miles 16-14 and pinned Fort Atkinson’s Eli Kohler in 3:04 after losing in the first round. He lost to Brookfield East’s Aaron Botsch in the ninth-place match. Jacob Gibson (152) beat Brookfield East’s Lucas Mandella 8-1 after being pinned by Waunakee’s Berhett Statz. He lost to Fennimore’s Kaden Hahn 6-3 in the consolation bracket. Bryce Bennett (113) was pinned in the first period by Badger’s Josh Stritesky and De Pere’s Collin Hansen. The host Vikings finished second in the 22-team boys tournament with 221 points. Fennimore won the team title with 243.5 points. “We had some outstanding performances, and some where we have
Stoughton’s Brooks Empey (middle) has his arm raised after pinning De Pere’s Kyjaun Vengrowsky in the 220-pound championship match at the Badger State Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Empey won all three of his matches by pin. to go back to the drawing board” Stoughton co-coach Dan Spilde said. “That’s what’s great about these tournaments. Sometimes with duals, it can hide your faults. Now we know more about what we need to fix.”
Mount Horeb Invitational Stoughton 220-pounder Luke Pugh finished second with a 2-1 record. He pinned Mount Horeb’s Joey Behling in 3:48 and won a 6-1 decision over Edgerton’s Matt Cornett, then lost via pin to Madison Memorial’s Gyurme Dakpa in the championship match. Tony Hohol (285) placed fifth with a 4-1 record. He pinned Brodhead/ Juda’s Jacob Miller in 1:48, then lost via pin to Edgerton’s Reed Farrington. Hohol bounced back with pins of Evansville/Albany’s Tucker Peterson (2:31), Whitewater’s Zach
Porter (1:56) and Dodgeville’s Brighton Judd (35 seconds). John Harman (170) finished seventh with a 3-2 record. He lost 9-2 to Oregon’s Karl Brooks, but bounced back with pins of Verona’s Tag Snell (1:00) and Eavan Overland (54 seconds). Harman pinned Dodgeville’s RJ Veinberg in the seventh-place match after falling to Brodhead/ Juda’s Cole Hoesly. Ryan Lamers (182) took eighth with a 1-3 record. He pinned Deerfield’s Sid Jackson in the consolation bracket. Niko Jemilo (160) was pinned by Verona’s Spencer Lokken and Madison West’s Daniel Brown.
and received four forfeit victories against the Blackhawks. Mechler (160) pinned Ryan Heidel in 39 seconds, and Brooks Empey (220) pinned Mika Gutoski in 1:22. Carpenter (170) pinned Koehler in 2:54. Model (152) won by 16-1 tech fall over Bryan Carrera-Ramos. Wicks (132) won an 11-1 major decision over Worden, and Griffin Empey (285) won a 12-3 major decision over Dorian Burhans. Ramsey Winton (106), Chance Suddeth (113), Rivera (126) and Dow (138) received forfeit victories. Brandt Spilde (182) lost a 3-0 decision to Thomas Witkins, and Stoughton 55, Rudy Detweiler (195) lost by injury Fort Atkinson 21 default. Marshall (120) and Preston The Vikings won six matches Doughtie (145) lost via pin.
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December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
ConnectStoughton.com
Boys hockey
Bauer delivers for Vikings in overtime MARK NESBITT Assistant sports editor
Stoughton senior forward Jared Bauer made sure the Vikings closed 2019 with a bang. Bauer scored the game-winning goal in overtime to propel the Vikings to a 6-5 home win over Greendale on Friday, Dec. 20, at Mandt Community Center. Stoughton lost to Oregon 8-1 at home on Tuesday, Dec. 17, and lost on the road against two days later.
Stoughton 6, Greendale 5, OT
Bauer and Brody Hlavacek were the stars in the Vikings’ victory over the Ice Force. Bauer scored the game-winning goal off assists from Parker Milbauer and Deven Johnson at the 4:47 mark of overtime. Hlavacek scored four goals, with his first coming off a pass from Jack Sanford at the 10:07 mark of the first period. Moments later, he scored off a pass from Tyler Peterson. Greendale scored three goals in the second period, but Hlavacek tied the game off an assist from Milbauer just 1:06 into the third period. Greendale scored five minutes later to regain the lead. Hlavacek scored off a pass from Johnson to tie the game at four at the 9:04 mark. Sanford scored on the power play a little more than a minute later before Greendale scored the equalizer. Photo by Mark Nesbitt The Vikings (2-5, 1-4 Badger South) outshot the Ice Force 49-30. Stoughton junior defenseman Zach Wahlin (left) looks to clear the puck from the Vikings’ net against Oregon on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Mandt Community Center. The Vikings lost 8-1. Stoughton senior goaltender Quinn Ziemann had 25 saves. added three assists. the 3:21 mark. The Cheesemakers the net haunted the Vikings in a help us tremendously.” Oregon outshot Stoughton Peterson and senior forward loss to the rival Panthers. then scored six unanswered goals. Monroe 10, Stoughton 4 Hlavacek scored two short-handStoughton committed six penal- 45-24 and only committed three Ben Wiedholz fired shots on the Cheesemakers sophomore Cade ed goals late in the second period to ties, which led to a pair of pow- penalties. Senior forward Lasz- power play, and Orosz tipped in Janecke netted a hat trick against cut Monroe’s lead to 7-3. er-play goals for Oregon. lo Orosz scored two goals and the rebound at the with 8:19 left the Vikings. Stoughton’s Jack Rilling scored a “Usually we don’t open up dished two assists. Junior forward in the first period. Monroe (8-1, 2-0 Badger South) power-play goal at the 12:47 mark The Panthers exploded for four the center of the net that much,” Adam Franken had two goals for exploded for five goals in the first of the third period. Stoughton coach Brett Quale said. the Panthers, while senior for- goals in the second period. Frankperiod. Cooper Dryfus scored 37 “Kids get lazy or just mentally ward Colton Eyers and sopho- en scored his first goal off assists seconds game, but Sanford tied it Oregon 8, Stoughton 1 Defensive breakdowns around space out. Cleaning that up will more defenseman Kaden Peterson from Wiedholz at the 3:35 mark. off a pass from James Hanson at
Girls basketball
Stoughton can’t keep pace with rival Panthers ADAM FEINER Sports editor
Photo by Adam Feiner
Stoughton’s Micah Zaemisch (left) dribbles in transition during the second half against Oregon on Thursday, Dec. 19, at Oregon High School. She scored six points in the Vikings’ 67-44 loss.
Stoughton faced a double-digit deficit early in the first half of its Badger South Conference road game against rival Oregon on Thursday, Dec. 19. The Vikings could have folded, but instead fought back to take a brief lead. The Panthers, however, bounced back before halftime and cruised in the second half to win 67-44. Oregon (5-3, 3-1 Badger South) made its first five shots of the game to lead 13-3, but endured a long drought that allowed Stoughton to climb back into the game. The Panthers went 17 possessions and more than 12 minutes without a field goal as Stoughton’s defense settled in. “We did a nice job of getting ourselves back in it,” Vikings coach Brad Pickett said. “We did a better job defensively of contesting shots and getting back in transition. Our intensity definitely picked up.” Stoughton (2-5, 1-3) used
a 10-0 run to take its only lead of the game. Victoria Ashworth made a layup in transition, Delaney Seidel converted a three-point play, Myranda Kotlowski knocked down a jumper, and Ashworth slashed into the lane to tie it at 18 with a little more than four minutes left in the first half. Mya Davidson split a pair of free throws to give the Vikings a 19-18 lead at the three-minute mark. Oregon rallied to lead 23-19 at halftime, then started the second half on a 16-2 run to distance itself from Stoughton. The Vikings went almost eight minutes without scoring, as Ashworth snapped the drought with a pair of free throws at the 13:02 mark of the second half. Ava Loftus paced Stoughton with 11 points. Ashworth, Davidson and Dela n ey S e i d e l a d d e d s i x points apiece. Oregon had 13 players score. Kaitlyn Schrimpf poured in a game-high 19 points, and Liz Uhl cracked double figures with 10.
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December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
11
Football
Nelson signs NLI with Badgers MARK NESBITT Assistant sports editor
Jack Nelson signed his National Letter of Intent to play football for the University of Wisconsin on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Stoughton High School. He plans to follow in the footsteps of others w h o b e c a m e l eg e n d a r y linemen for the Badgers. His father, Todd, was an offensive lineman at UW in the late 1980’s. “ I t ’s a d r e a m c o m e true,” Jack Nelson said. “To be honest, it doesn’t feel much different. I just signed a piece of paper and it doesn’t change anything really. I’m really excited. I’m looking forward to pushing myself.” Nelson will graduate early from Stoughton, then play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 4 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. He will start classes at UW on Jan. 21. The 6-foot-7, 275-pound left tackle committed to the Badg e r s d u r i n g h i s s o p h omore year. Nelson is rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN Recruiting Database and 247sports.com, and is ranked 122nd in the nation by 247sports and 146th in the 2020 ESPN 300. Nelson is four-year letterwinner and starter for the Vikings, and was a captain on this year’s
Photo by Mark Nesbitt
Stoughton senior Jack Nelson (second from right) signs his National Letter Intent to play football at the University of Wisconsin on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Stoughton High School. He is joined by his brothers Barrett, Max and Will. Jack is the son of Todd and Sarah Nelson. team that won the program’s first conference championship since 1975. The first-team all-stater was the recipient of the
Joe Thomas award winner, given to the state’s top senior offensive lineman, and the Badger South Conference’s
Lineman of the Year for the third straight season. “His work ethic and determination to perfect his craft along the
offensive line has really strives to get better. been a sight to see in my “On and off the field, he four years here,” Stoughton football coach Dan is what you want in a stuPrahl said. “Jack always dent-athlete.”
Boys swimming
Boys basketball
Stoughton drops pair of Badger South duals Balanced Vikings by Monona Grove two days previous.
McFarland 109, Stoughton’s Evan Schmidt set his Stoughton 61
Assistant sports editor
second school record last week, but the Vikings’ boys swimming team lost two Badger South Conference duals on the road. The Vikings fell to McFarland 109-61 on Thursday, Dec. 19 and were edged
Schmidt won the 200-yard freestyle free in a school-record time of 1:51.52, and touched the wall first in the 500 free (5:02.62). Stoughton’s Conner Clark took first in the 200 individual medley (2:06.45) and the 100 butterfly (55.07).
Monona Grove 92, Stoughton 78 The Vikings won three events in a loss to the Silver Eagles. Jordan Barthuly touched first in the 100 backstroke (1:03.15), Schmidt won the 500 free (5:09.75), and Clark finished first in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.08).
GIrls hockey
Olson shines for Icebergs in pair of road losses MARK NESBITT
in the Rhinelander Tournament.
Assistant sports editor
Wisconsin Valley Union 3, Aeryn Olson scored two goals last Icebergs 2, OT
week, but the Icebergs girls hockey co-op dropped a pair of games. The Icebergs lost an overtime nail-biter 3-2 to Wisconsin Valley Union on Friday, Dec. 20, at Ice Hawks Arena in Stevens Point. The Icebergs were coming off a 4-1 Badger Conference loss to the Rock County Fury on Thursday, Dec. 19, at Edwards Ice Arena in Beloit. The Icebergs (0-8-1) will look to pick up their first win when they play Northland Pines on Friday, Dec. 27,
The Icebergs got off to a fast start, but Cadie Ash scored a goal at the 5:14 mark of overtime to hand the co-op a loss. The Icebergs got on the board first when Izzy Newton scored off assists from Sydney Schipper and Kylie Babcock just 3:05 into the game. Olson scored a go-ahead goal at the 9:26 mark of the second period to give the Icebergs a 2-1 lead. Wisconsin Valley Union’s Lyndsey Glodosky tied the game a little more than three
ADAM FEINER Sports editor
Stoughton came into its Badger South Conference home game against Watertown ranked sixth in Division 2 in the WisSports.net Coaches Poll. The Vikings backed up their ranking with a 79-65 victory over the Goslings on Friday, Dec. 20.
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Anika Einbeck had a goal and two assists to lead the Fury past the Icebergs. Olson scored on the power play goal off passes from Schipper and Newton at the 11:47 mark of the first period, but Rock County netted four unanswered goals. The Fury outshot Icebergs 45-19. Icebergs goaltender Aren Gruner had 41 saves.
Adam Hobson poured in a game-high 23 points for Stoughton (6-1, 3-1 Badger South), which led 40-33 at halftime. Cael McGee chipped in 19 points. Reece Sproul and Luke Fernholz scored 13 and 12, respectively. Cade Oiler paced the Goslings with 19 points. Oliver Meyers added 15 points, and Payton Foltz cracked double figures with 10.
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(608)-338-1170 www.madcitybaths.com 1New orders only. Minimum purchase required. Does not include material costs 2 Financing available with minimum purchase and approved credit. Mad City Windows & Baths, Inc. is neither a broker nor a lender. Financing is provided by third-party lenders unaffiliated with Mad City Windows & Baths, Inc., under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lender, all subject to credit requirements and satisfactory completion of finance documents. Any finance terms advertised are estimate only. Ask for details. New orders only. Not valid with any other offer, or previous job.3 With in-home estimate and product demonstration to homeowner(s). Limit one per household. Gift card given upon completion of demonstration to be mailed in by homeowner(s). Salespersons do not carry gift cards for security reasons. Allow 2-3 weeks after demonstration to receive gift card. Gift card valued at $50.
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12
December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
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2019: Stoughton City Hall moves across the street as fire chief, library director both retire Continued from page 1 shop. Throughout the debate – including negotiations for what was hoped to be a settlement with the demolition contractor – and after it came down, the RDA worked on getting a master developer for the 10-acre area, a story that finished seventh on our list. Another demolition, of an abandoned downtown building known as the Kittleson House, finished fifth on the list because of how complicated and controversial it was. We had a tie for the No. 2 story. One was City Hall moving across the street into a former bank, clearing space for the Stoughton Opera House to expand under the clock tower. The other was the retirements Photo by Kimberly Wethal of the fire chief and library Signs in front of the building announcing the location of City Hall are in place on Friday, April 26, 2019. City staff moved into director. McFarland State Bank’s former downtown location this week from the Opera House after the bank donated it to the city last year. Coming in fourth was a second consecutive state title for the Stoughton High School wrestling team after a 30-year drought for the perennial wrestling juggerHub reporter dies in car accident naut. Two of those wresOn the afternoon of Aug. 9, Hub employtlers earned individual titles ees received the news that would flip and five medaled. t h e i r l iv e s u p s i d e d ow n – r e p o r t e r A m b e r At No. 6 was the choice Levenhagen had been involved in a car collision on Town of Dunkirk voters Interstate 94 that she wouldn’t survive. made in a referendum to tax The loss of Levenhagen shook the newsroom – in themselves to start a rural addition to a passionate and hard-working reporter preservation plan, someand employee, she supported and cared for everything Town of Dunn resione on staff. Coworkers said the loss of her persondents will be familiar with. ality was just as devastating as the loss of her work Three stories tied for ethic. seventh. In addition to the Levenhagen, 25, had become well known in riverfront planning, we had Stoughton as a community reporter, winning multhe demise of the last localtiple statewide awards for her coverage, including ly owned grocery store, a rookie reporter of the year. In May, she was prothe Yahara River Grocery moted to handle Stoughton and Oregon governCo-op, after 11 years, and ment, along with her burgeoning leadership role on the construction of the Tru Hub reporter Amber Levenhagen reacts to seeing the Syttende the Unified Newspaper Group team. by Hilton hotel on the west Mai King and Queen’s face printed on a Fosdal’s cookie on May side of the city, near the Wahlin Foundation donates $150K for SHS 19, 2019. Going to Fosdal’s and gameplanning Syttende Mai Walmart Supercenter. coverage, as well as eating a cookie with the King and Queen turf Rounding out the top 10 In October, Stoughton Trailers got an award for its on it, was an annual tradition for Levenhagen and colleagues. was Dane County’s deci“positive influence on the state economy,” including a sion to create a task force to program history added to its list of accomplish$75,000 donation to the charity of their choice. deal with flooding problems Company officials announced Oct. 15 they would ments Oct. 18, the final week of the regular season. with Lake Kegonsa after The Vikings defeated defending Badger South apply that money – and match it – to donate $150,000 volunteers had to put up toward artificial turf for Stoughton High School’s Col- Conference champion Monona Grove 48-27 to sandbags this year. finish 7-2 and win the program’s first conference lins Field. Stoughton Area School District athletic director Mel championship since 1975, clinching a share of the 1. Blacksmith Dow called the donation a “gracious surprise” and a title with Milton. shop comes down The Vikings beat Sauk Prairie 26-13 in the first continuation of the company’s ongoing support of the The demolition of district’s academic and athletic programs. He said arti- round of the Division 3 playoffs, but fell to Monroe Stoughton’s blacksmith ficial turf would benefit younger students and might 14-7 in the second round. Stoughton had 18 players shop in September put an reduce the number of injuries from a wet, muddy grass selected to the Badger South All-Conference Team, end to years of uncertainty field, and would support a broad range of sports and led by quarterback Adam Hobson (Offensive Playsurrounding the building’s er of the Year) and Wisconsin recruit Jack Nelson activities. fate and opened the door (Offensive Lineman of the Year). for redevelopment on the Legion Post 59 turns 100 city’s Yahara riverfront. Still a young, rosy-faced teenager, Stoughton’s Otis Public works garage The city’s public works department moved out The century-old building Sampson’s brief life ended in the muddy, shell-pocked also known as the Mandt battlefields around Verdun, France, in the fall of 1918, of its century-old former service station on Fourth Street and into an 89,000 square foot, $8 million Foundry finally fell Sept. during the bloody climax of World War I. 19 after months of litigation More than 100 years later, he remains forever young facility on the east side of the city in January. With about 70 percent more space, the department between the city’s Rede– frozen in time in his olive drab Army uniform, bearvelopment Authority and ing a confident grin – as he welcomes visitors to “his” can now fit all 104 vehicles inside and the County Hwy. A building is far more energy-efficient than its demolition contractor Earth American Legion Post 59 in Stoughton. Construction LLC. Both On Sept. 14, the proud post that bears Sampson’s predecessor. parties had argued that the name celebrated in his honor and that of the hundreds Visit from a superstar other was responsible for of servicemen and women of the area who also have Hundreds of people waited in line for hours in windstorm damage that served their country. An honor guard presented the Stoughton this year to get an autograph from one of occurred in October 2018. flags, Stoughton Mayor Tim Swadley read a procla- the biggest stars in the NBA. After months of mediamation and Steve Grady and vice-commander Larry Giannis Antetokounmpo, a forward for the Milwaution sessions, talks finally Johnson gave presentations on the post’s history. kee Bucks, visited Kunes Country Buick-GMC for just broke through in July and under two hours in March, about two months before Football team wins conference title the blacksmith shop was The winningest senior class in Stoughton football getting named MVP of the 2018-19 season in a landdown two months later. slide. With the final building of the Highway Trailer complex out of the way, the RDA was one step closer to blacksmith shop rose the property in 2012 to use crumbling and determined the demolition moratorium starting its planned residen- around 1910 for Moline for the RDA’s riverfront from other five buildings unsafe – forcing the city tial redevelopment north Plow Company as part of redevelopment, but when in April 2017, and the to close it to traffic – Ald. of the Yahara River, which six buildings that eventual- the RDA finally voted to following summer, OrfordGreg Jenson (Dist. 3) would be between Fourth ly would become known as demolish the Highway offered a compromise, say- ville-based Earth Construcand Eighth streets. ing the city should save just tion dismantled them. the Highway Trailer comTrailer buildings in March A desire among many plex at 501 E. South St. The RDA also began 2017, the Common Council one building and the blackpeople to preserve the smith shop featured the They would see changing to look into the costs of blocked the move in a 6-5 building’s historical signifimost unique architecture of stabilizing the building vote. cance had staved off demo- usage until its final abandonment in 1997. The City in August to shore up the With part of the complex the six buildings. lition for several years. The brick walls of the of Stoughton purchased The council removed structure’s exposed shared closest to South Street
Honorable mentions
wall, but before it came to any conclusions, an October windstorm ravaged the building’s northwest corner and with it, the city’s preservation hopes. The building sustained another partial collapse in January 2019, and the council removed the demolition moratorium in February. The saga finally came to a close with the building’s removal in September. With the blacksmith shop gone, the entire Highway Trailer property is now open for the prospering of planned apartments, townhouses and criss-crossing city streets.
2 (tie). City Hall moves across the street
The City of Stoughton made a big move this year. In May, the majority of city staff vacated the offices in the Stoughton Opera House building and moved across the street just to the west into the former McFarland State Bank building at the corner of Forrest and Washington streets. City Hall had been housed in the Opera House for 118 years. B u t w h e n M c Fa r l a n d State Bank donated its building to the city in 2018 after building a new branch in the Kettle Park West development on the city’s west side, that conversation became less of a dream and more of a reality. The decision to accept the building was a contentious decision that made our Top 10 list for 2018. The 10,000 square foot building spurred debate between alders, who were concerned about likely contamination of the soil on the site, as a gas station had previously been on the land. At the time of the move, city staff were looking forward to what the space would offer them. The old space was often cramped, making city offices dual-purpose when performances demanded it and requiring employees to share desks. The move gave city staff their own offices Scott Wegner and desks, along with a front desk, that keeps all o f t h e s e rvices on the same floor. City staff did lose one thing during Richard MacDonald the move – the ability to hear performer soundchecks during the day. “People don’t seem to forget about the yodeler,” Opera House director Bill Brehm told the Hub in October 2018. “At around 11:30 a.m., the finance department would be treated to a yodeling soundcheck … they always knew when it was Maggie May time.” — Kimberly Wethal
2 (tie). Fire chief,
Turn to 2019/Page 13
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December 26, 2019
13
Stoughton Courier Hub
2019: Vikings wrestling team wins 2nd straight state title; Kittleson House demolished Continued from page 12
library director both retire
Stoughton turned over two high-profile positions in 2019 with the retirements of library director Richard MacDonald in April and fire chief Scott Wegner at the end of the year. Wegner, whose last day is actually Jan. 2, has served the Stoughton Fire Department for 38 years, having succeeded Marty Lamers when Lamers retired in 2015. Wegner, who joined the department as a volunteer in 1981 and was later hired as fire motor pump operator/inspector, told the Hub in November he was sick of winter and looking forward to traveling to places with warmer climates. MacDonald had been with the library for nine years and remains in Stoughton, where he has The Stoughton High School wrestling team captured the program’s second straight state championship this year. put more time into playing music and exploring different and unusual ways to tie his ties. Jim Ramsey followed MacDonald at the library, coming from Middleton, where he had been the head of adult services. He started April 1, a few days before MacDonald’s last day, and the history buff from Beloit told the Hub he was attracted by Stoughton’s interest in its heritage and its smalltown feel. No successor has yet been named for the fire department, as the city is still conducting interviews. — Jim Ferolie
4. Wrestling team wins team title again
Stoughton High School had gone 30 years without a team state wrestling championship before the 2017-18 team broke the drought. This year, the 2018-19 team followed suit, backing up their season-long No. 1 ranking with a second straight state title. Stoughton defeated Mukwonago 42-24 in the team state final March 3 at the UW Field House in Madison to finish the dual season 21-0 and ranked 48th nationally, with seven wrestlers ranked in the top 10 in the state in their respective weight classes. “That Mukwonago team is really good,” co-head coach Dan Spilde said at the time. “They run up 50 and 60 points on everybody. For our team to find 42 points against that team, I think that speaks volumes of what this team was made of and what they wanted to accomplish.” The Vikings earned the top seed at the team state tournament, defeating Arrowhead 50-21 in the quarterfinals and Kaukauna 45-18 in the semifinals on March 2. Stoughton’s performance came on the heels of another impressive showing at the individual state tournament. Five Vikings took home medals, as current sophomore Nicolar Rivera (106 pounds) and 2019 graduate Hunter Lewis (138) won titles. The two state titles pushed Stoughton ahead of Mineral Point for the most individual
Submitted photo
— Scott De Laruelle
7 (tie). Last local grocer lost
Photo by Kimberly Wethal
The house on the corner of East Main and Fourth Streets is demolished by a backhoe on Monday, April 1. Owners of the property, Dennis and Amy Kittleson, fought to have the building demolished after it sat vacant for years, but a moratorium put in place by the Common Council in March 2017 to prevent the demolition of the Highway Trailer building a few blocks away prevented it from being torn down.
Rural scenes like this around Dunkirk are why many people choose to live there, and why nearly two-thirds of voters cast ballots in April approving a non-binding referendum to begin a town rural preservation program. state champions in state history with 51. It was the third time in the last four years, and eighth time overall, that the Vikings had at least two individual state champions. Stoughton had a record three champions in 1988. The Vikings kicked off the 2019-20 season with another milestone, as Spilde earned his 400th career dual win against Monona Grove/ McFarland on Dec. 6. “It’s kind of just another win, but that’s not to take it lightly,” he said. “Each dual and match is different. You just have to be grateful when the wins pile up. I’ve been around a bunch of great
athletes, and we’ve had a lot of fun with a lot of groups.” — Adam Feiner
5. Kittleson House demolished
To the delight of many who regarded the Kittleson house as an eyesore – including its owners – it came down April 1. The demolition of the abandoned house at 315 E. Main St., across from the library, came after it became victim to city politics. Alders worried the removal of the home would have an impact on the city’s downtown character and placed a
moratorium on demolitions. The home’s removal was further complicated by its status on the National Register of Historic Places and its location within the Main Street Commercial Historic District and later, plans for what would replace it. The property had sat empty for seven years prior in April and would have cost $300,000 to restore, Dennis Kittleson told the Plan Commission two years ago, saying that wasn’t feasible. The Common Council approved allowing the home to come down in July 2018, and the Plan Commission shortly afterward a site plan for the property, after rejecting it three separate times. On the cloudy spring morning when the home was demolished, dust flew all over as the building’s structure easily crumbled at the will of a backhoe. In the place of an home, grass now grows at the corner of Main and Fourth streets. — Kimberly Wethal
6. Dunkirk approves rural preservation plan
On April 2, Town of Dunkirk residents overwhelmingly approved an advisory referendum vote 353-219 to create a Rural Preservation Program. The program, later
past two years, including the last March 31. Town chairman Norm Monsen said a 2004 survey done as part of the town’s Smart Growth plan came back with nearly 90 percent of respondents listing preserving Dunkirk’s rural character as most important. A survey mailed to all town residents in July 2018 indicated 70 percent were in favor of a referendum and raising taxes for the program. Monsen said development pressure has placed made the need for a land preservation program urgent. “In the last 10 years, we’ve watched what has happened in places around Dane County and the country, and efforts by local governments to preserve farmland,” he said. “We’ve got some of the best farmland in the world and some of the best farmers in the world, and they do such a good job of caring for the land.” If a resident wants to apply for the program, a commission would create a ranking system to see whether the land would qualify, and for how much money. The landowner would be paid the difference between the “farm value” and “development value” of the land.
approved by the Town Board, taxes residents 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to set aside money to purchase rights to keep farmland and open spaces from being developed. Several years ago, the town had formed a committee, consisting of town supervisors, Plan Commission members and other residents, to explore the idea. The Rural Preservation Monthly Committee held four well-attended educational forums on the proposed referendum in the
The only local grocery store in Stoughton closed this June leaving three large grocery chains to fill the void – Walmart Supercenter, Pick N Save and Aldi. The 11 year history of Yahara River Grocery Co-op, which opened in March 2008, is sprinkled with highs and lows. It lost $160,000 in the first seven months of operation, thenaccomplished a 30 day, $32,000 fundraiser in 2009 and finally turned a $7,000 profit in 2013. But organizers expressed concern the following year the Walmart Supercenter would have an impact, and over the last two years, it failed to turn a profit. Board members and staff made significant changes throughout YRGC history to make it profitable, including a store-wide redesign, termination of the first general manager, eliminating the
Turn to 2019/Page 14
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December 26, 2019
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2019: Construction begins on Tru by Hilton hotel; Task force created to study water levels approval in 2016, much of the outcry over city contributions to the KPW development had died down. “It’s a done deal, and we can’t go back at this point,” said Ald. Regina Hirsch (D-3) said then. FDG told the Common Council in 2016 that it had commissioned a market study of the hotel market in Stoughton the prior year, and discovered that Stoughton needed another hotel in addition to the existing Quality Inn and Suites and Days Inn. Yet the developer allowed the permit to expire and had to obtain a new one in January 2018. There has been no word on whether or when the convention center originally proposed alongside the Tru will be built. The center was to hold up to 300 people and include a stage and amphitheater.
Continued from page 13 5% member discount and increasing grab and go deli sales by 30%. In April, a letter to co-op members announced the upcoming closing. “We believe the co-op is clearly insolvent,” it said. Board members had previously discussed issues of limited parking and other grocery competition being factors in the decision. In the initial stages of the co-op, organizers cited losing Main Street Market, a local grocery store at the current Dollar General location which closed in 2006, as pushing YRGC forward. — Mackenzie Krumme
7 (tie). Riverfront plans continue, developer chosen
— Renee Hickman
10. County creates Kegonsa task force
Tru by Hilton’s construction site in Kettle Park West on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
include a number of drops for kayakers, as well as a surfing wave. The city hopes that the plan will bring in a huge number of visitors, as the surfing wave would be the only one of its kind in the Midwest. A group from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and parks director Dan Glynn completed an economic study last year which estimated that visitors to the park could bring in up to $30
Scott W. Hanson Scott W. Hanson, age 59, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 after a long illness. He was born in Stoughton on Sept. 29, 1960. Scott was preceded in death by his father, James “Red” Hanson on Nov. 23, 2018, and his beloved dog “Ren.” Survivors include his m o t h e r, Vi rg i n i a “ G i n ny” Hanson; sister, Lynn (Bob) Hanson-McAllister; brothers, Garry (Mary Beth) Hanson, Steve (Beth) Hanson and David (Kris)
Photo by Kimberly Wethal
Photo by Bob Kluge
Left, Dane County executive Joe Parisi talks with Sunnyside Street resident Lisa Kast in 2018 after people along Lake Kegonsa dealt with flooding. This year, the county started a million annually in spending task force to work on the issue. to the city if visitors come from as far as Milwaukee begun on the adjacent con- FDG received $4.5 million and Chicago. vention center that was origi- in taxpayer funding toward nally proposed with the hotel. the Kettle Park West Devel— Renee Hickman Forward Development Group opment, which includes the representative Dennis Steink- area’s Walmart Supercenter, 9. Construction said the hotel would be a senior housing facility and begins on Tru by raus smaller than most Hiltons and surrounding improvements. Hilton hotel aimed at customers with a The hotel itself did not get After years of delays, “millennial mindset.” additional tax-increment developers broke ground on The Tru by Hilton is the financing. a Tru by Hilton in Kettle Park most recent addition to a By the time the Tru by West on Nov. 14. development that spurred Hilton’s plan went before Construction has still not controversy in 2014, when the Common Council for
After 11 years in business the Yahara Grocery Co-op at 229 E. Main St. closed in June.
Scott W. Hanson
Hanson; nephews, Tylor (Chelsea) Hanson, Corey (Isabelle) Hanson, Max McAllister, Rob Heibel, and
Dan (Meredith) Heibel; and special cousin, Dale (Diane) Hanson. There will be no funeral as Scott requested. Memorials may be made in Scott’s name to the charity of the donor’s choice. We love you, and will miss you Scott. Mom, Garry, Lynn, Steve and David. Please share your memories of Scott at CressFuneralService.com. Cress Funeral Service 206 W. Prospect Street, Stoughton 873-9244
In response to unprecedented flooding in the summer of 2018, the Dane County Board formed a 13-member task force in February to study water levels in the Yahara chain of lakes for several months and prepare recommendations. In April, the group submitted those recommendations, and the county released a technical report that identified opportunities to address flooding by increasing the flow of water through the lakes, including Kegonsa, which has flooded several times in the past decade. County Executive Joe Parisi announced a sediment-removal project planned for stretch of the Yahara River between Lakes Monona and Waubesa that’s restricting water flowing south through the lakes. With a cost of $2 million, the project is one of six sites the county is planning to target in coming years to “improve water flow, flood storage capacity, and fish and wildlife habitat in the Yahara Lakes,” according to a county news release. Later phases will include the Lake Kegonsa area. This year’s work was bid out this summer, and work in future years will be carried out as the county secures permitting. Water comes into the Yahara Chain of Lakes faster than it goes out – taking two inches of rain over two weeks to leave the system, according to a county news release. — Scott De Laruelle
Sidney Owen Anderson Jr. Sidney Owen Anderson Jr. age 8 1 d i e d Tu e s d a y Dec. 17, 2019, at home surrounded by his family. He married Gloria Thronson and they reside in Cooksville. Arrangements are pending a t Wa r d - H u r t l e y Funeral Home Evansville. A full obituary will follow after the holidays.
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City officials continued to hammer out a plan for the redevelopment of the downtown waterfront this year, choosing a developer and forging ahead with plans for a whitewater park despite setbacks with its grant applications. Two years after Appleton-based Tanesay withdrew itself from the project citing discord among city leaders, the city’s Redevelopment Authority put out a call this summer for another master developer to turn the former industrial land into a housing development that could feed into the city’s retail-heavy downtown. Numerous developers expressed initial interest in the project, but two pulled out and three others were rejected, leaving Curt Vaughn Brink, LLC as the last one standing. The RDA accepted a letter of intent from the company in September. The plan submitted by Brink includes a series of residential and commercial buildings, as well as a brew pub looking out along the river. The removal of the century-old blacksmith shop eliminated one of the last barriers to redevelopment. More adrenaline-inducing plans are being made down the river and toward the Fourth Street dam. The city is working with Colorado-based Recreation Engineering and Planning to design a whitewater park where tourists and local river rats alike can paddle or float down the river. The plan, which would reshape the Yahara River as it runs through the city, would
ConnectStoughton.com
December 26, 2019
was told to me and seems like memories,” she told the Hub last week. “Of course, he’s always been a hero in my mind, because he’s my dad and I didnt know him, so I can make him be what I want him to be.” After Kasting’s death, Barrow was given a few of his personal items as a remembrance, including his Navy flight jacket and footlocker. She later married another Navy man, Doug Bar, and the two eventually relocated to Stoughton as they enjoyed more than 36 years together, before she died in April 2018 at the age of 66. “My wife was very spiritual, and after John passed away, she prayed to God she would find another man that was as kind and that could be her soul mate,” Bar told the Hub. “Then boom, I popped into the picture.” Bar was going through s o m e m e m e n t o s a f ew weeks ago when he came across the jacket. He knew about Kasting, of course, who Ruth had told him many stories about, to the point he felt he knew him. “She told me he’d been married and had a child and I guess it was a pretty bitter breakup,” he said. “Talking
Legals STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT DOOR COUNTY CASE NO. 19-CV-159 CODE NO. 30404 SUMMIT CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff, v. THE ESTATE OF ROSWITHA ANNA FLACH DENNIS SAID DOOR COUNTY, Defendants. SUMMONS THE STATE OF WISCONSIN To Each Person Named Above as a Defendant: YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Plaintiff named above has filed a lawsuit or other legal action against you. The Complaint, which is attached, states the nature and basis for the legal action. Within 40 days after (December 16, 2019), you must respond with a written answer, as that term is used in Chapter 802 of the Wisconsin Statutes, to the Complaint. The court may reject or disregard an answer that does not follow the requirements of the statutes. The answer must be sent or delivered to the court, whose address is Clerk of Circuit Court, Wood County Courthouse, 400 Market Street, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin 54494, and to Plaintiff’s attorney, whose address is, Bates Legal Group, LLC, PO Box 1473, Wausau, WI 54402-1473. You may have an attorney help or represent you. If you do not provide a proper answer within 40 days after (December 16, 2019), the court may grant judgment against you for the award of money or other legal action requested in the Complaint, and you may lose your right to object to anything that is or may be incorrect in the Complaint. A judgment may be enforced as provided by law. A judgment awarding money may become a lien against any real estate you own now or in the future, and may also be enforced by garnishment or seizure of property. Dated this 31st day of October, 2019. Bates Legal Group, LLC, Attorneys for Plaintiff Summit Credit Union By: /s/ Justin J. Bates Justin J. Bates State Bar No. 1066128 PO Box 1473 Wausau, WI 54 473 (715) 843-5599 Published: December 19 and 26, 2019 and January 2, 2020 WNAXLP *** LEGAL NOTICE Mini Warehouses 1118 East Street in Stoughton, WI. Storage unit #06 disposal of contents owned by Vidal Hernandez. Date of disposal January 2nd 2020 at 1118 East Street in Stoughton, WI. Property Description: Car-Lincoln LSV8, dishwasher and speakers. Seifert-Pauls Partnership, LLP Published: December 19 and 26, 2019 WNAXLP *** PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The City of Stoughton Plan Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 6:00 o’clock p.m., or as soon after as the matter may be heard, in the Council Chambers, Public Safety Building, 321 South Fourth Street, Second Floor, Stoughton, Wisconsin, 53589, to consider a proposed Conditional Use Permit Application by Dale Resch for an Outdoor Storage use at 1000 East Street, Stoughton. Additional information including a location map can be found at: http:// stoughtoncitydocs.com/planning-commission/ For questions regarding this notice please contact Michael Stacey, Zoning Administrator at 608-646-0421
with Brandi, the only thing she had left was his shaving kit; everything else was pretty much sold at a garage sale.” He mentioned the jacket to friend Julie Nygaard, who suggested he try to locate Brandi to give them to her. He was skeptical, but Nygaard was persistent. “I said ‘After 40-plus years, there’s just no way, but she said, ‘You have to find this person and give her the jacket, because it’s really hers,’” he said. All he had was her first name and a hunch she still lived in Texas, but after going through some more items, he found a letter from Kasting’s mom that seemed to confirm that. One evening, Nygaard found a Facebook page for a Brandi Kastin Simons in Texas, and scrolling through photos, saw one of her standing in front of a Navy jet with the caption, “honoring my father.” “I looked at that and said, ‘Oh my gosh, could that be her,’” Bar said. “And it was.” For Simons, the whole experience of reconnecting with her long lost dad was surreal but “amazing.” That included getting to know more about Ruth, the woman who could have been her stepmother and
Michael P. Stacey Zoning Administrator Published: December 19 and 26, 2019 WNAXLP *** PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The City of Stoughton Plan Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, January 13, 2020 at 6:00 o’clock p.m., or as soon after as the matter may be heard, in the Council Chambers, Public Safety Building, 321 S. Fourth Street, Second Floor, Stoughton, Wisconsin, 53589, to consider a proposed rezoning request as follows: A map and descriptions have been provided for parcels of land within the plat named, “The Meadows at Kettle Park West” including lands within a proposed certified survey map (CSM) at Kettle Park West, Stoughton, WI. The properties are as follows: Map ID #1 Rezone from RH (Rural Holding) to SR-5 (Single Family – 7200SF lot area): Block 3 (Lots 1-7); Block 4; Block 5; Block 8; Block 9; Block 10. Map ID #2 Rezone from RH (Rural Holding) to PD-GDP (Planned Development — General Development Plan for Traditional Neighborhood with alleys): Block 1 (Lots 1-24); Block 2; Block 6; Block 7. Map ID #3 Rezone from RH (Rural Holding) to MR-10 (Multi-family Residential -10 units per acre): Block 1 (Lot 25) Map ID #4 Rezone from RH (Rural Holding) to I [Park] (Institutional-Park): Block 3 (Outlot 1) Map ID #5 Rezone from RH (Rural Holding) to I [Stormwater] (Institutional-Stormwater): CSM # (Outlot 2) Map ID #6 Rezone from PD to PDGDP (Traditional Neighborhood): Kettle Park West Plat – Part of Outlot 7, Kettle Park West Plat – Outlot 6 Map ID #7 Rezone from PD to MR-10: Kettle Park West Plat – Outlot 5, Kettle Park West Plat – Outlot 4 Map ID #8 Rezone from PD to I [Stormwater]: Kettle Park West Plat — Part of Outlot 7, CSM 14057 Outlot 1 The map and related materials are available online at www.cityofstoughton. com/planning See “Rezoning The Meadows at Kettle Park West” For questions regarding this notice, contact Michael Stacey, Zoning Administrator at 608-646-0421. Published: December 19 and 26, 2019 WNAXLP *** NOTICE TOWN OF PLEASANT SPRINGS CAUCUS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the electors of the Town of Pleasant Springs, in the County of Dane, State of Wisconsin, that a Town Caucus for said Town will be held at the Pleasant Springs Town Hall, 2354 County Road N, in Pleasant Springs on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. to nominate candidates for the offices to be voted for at the Spring Election to be held on April 7, 2020. Candidates will be nominated for the following offices, for a term of two years, which expire in April of 2022: Town Supervisor No. 3 Town Supervisor No. 4 Please note that, upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of disabled individuals through appropriate aids and services. For additional information, or to request this service, contact the Town Hall, 2354 County Rd N, Stoughton, WI, 53589-2873. Office hours are Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Telephone: (608)873-3063 e-mail: clerktreasurer@ pleasantsprings.org Maria Hougan Clerk/Treasurer
lifelong friend. “I would have never, ever, ever thought about it,” she said. “I was always interested in her, because I always heard stories about her. I wish I could have met her. I know I did when I was a child, but I don’t remember it.” And for Bar, there’s some closure involved in something he explained simply as “divine intervention” in how everything unfolded. “There’s no other way -20 years ago, there would have been no way to find her,” he said. “And just the emotions Brandi felt, because it was just out of the blue — she said ‘I can’t believe anybody knew about me’ and would reach out to her with something of her daddy’s she could hold.” And while she has her dad’s jacket to proudly wear, Simons also noticed something else — his handwritten name inside the jacket. Which gave this “tattoo kind of person” an idea to make Christmas 2019 one she’ll remember her dad with forever. “ I w a n t m y d a d d y ’s name for Christmas, in his handwriting,” she said of her next planned tattoo. “That’s his handwriting and I thought that’s kind of special.”
Posted: December 5, 2019 Published: December 26, 2019 WNAXLP *** STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, DANE COUNTY, NOTICE TO CREDITORS (INFORMAL ADMINISTRATION) IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT N. THOLO Case No. 2019PR893 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: 1. An application for Informal Administration was filed. 2. The decedent, with date of birth July 14, 1951 and date of death October 28, 2019, was domiciled in Dane County, State of Wisconsin, with a mailing address of 3056 Shadyside Drive, Stoughton, WI 53589. 3. All interested persons waived notice. 4. The deadline for filing a claim against the decedent’s estate is March 20, 202. 5. A claim may be filed at the Dane County Courthouse, 215 S. Hamilton Street, Madison, Wisconsin, Room 1005. Electronically signed by Danell Behrens Deputy Probate Registrar December 17, 2019 Jonathan M. Hajny 221 Kings Lynn Road Stoughton, WI 53589 (608) 877-4081 Bar Number: 1014429 Published: December 26, 2019, January 2 and 9, 2020 WNAXLP *** STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, DANE COUNTY, NOTICE TO CREDITORS (INFORMAL ADMINISTRATION) IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HOWARD D. NELSON Case No. 2019PR872 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: 1. An application for Informal Administration was filed. 2. The decedent, with date of birth October 27, 1935 and date of death November 8, 2019, was domiciled in Dane County, State of Wisconsin, with a mailing address of 2216 Colladay Point Drive, Stoughton, WI 53589. 3. All interested persons waived notice. 4. The deadline for filing a claim against the decedent’s estate is March 20, 2020. 5. A claim may be filed at the Dane County Courthouse, 215 S. Hamilton Street, Madison, Wisconsin, Room 1005. Electronically signed by Danell Behrens Deputy Probate Registrar December 17, 2019 Michael D. Rumpf PO Box 1 Cambridge, WI 53523 (608) 423-3254 Bar Number: 1015663 Published: December 26, 2019, January 2 and 9, 2020 WNAXLP *** NOTICE TOWN OF PLEASANT SPRINGS This is to notify anyone it may concern that Cynthia S. Christofferson, agent for Thundercat Fireworks & Pyrotechnic Display Company, Inc., d/b/a Thundercat Fireworks, located at 2771 County Highway N, Cottage Grove, WI, 53527, has applied for a Class “A” Retailers Liquor License for the sale of intoxicating liquor, for off premises consumption, for the sale of Liquor and Wine, in the Town of Pleasant Springs, Dane County, Wisconsin, for the period from July 16, 2019 through June 30, 2020. /s/Maria Hougan Clerk/Treasurer Published: December 26, 2019 WNAXLP
Miscellaneous
LOST DOG. Have you seen Katie? Very shy, Black-Tan, Female, Yorkshire Terrier is missing. Please do not chase her. Please text or call us at 608-4695439 or 608-469-5440 if you have seen her or have any information. $2000 Reward if brought home safely. For more info., see our FB page: BRING KATIE HOME.
FOR SALE. Oak Firewood. Dried for 2 years. The Best! Face cord $150. Delivery available. 608-217-6662.
Help Wanted
WE BUY Junk Cars and Trucks. We sell used parts. Monday thru Friday 8am-5:30pm. Newville Auto Salvage 279 Hwy 59 Edgerton 608-884-3114
HELP WANTED: full time beef farm help. Call 608-558-3024. HOMEVIEW SENIOR CARE, LLC is looking for dependable, compassionate caregivers to join our team. We provide exceptional non-medical in-home care for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities in the Evansville area. Flexible schedule, paid training, immediate openings. Background check and references required. Send resumes and inquiries to: homeview.senior.care.llc@gmail. com. To see all requirements, visit: https:homeviewseniorcare.comparttime-in-home-non-medical-caregiver
Services A&B ENTERPRISES Light Construction Remodeling No job too small 608-835-7791 RECOVER PAINTING currently offering winter discounts on painting, drywall and carpeting. Recover urges you to join in the fight against cancer, as a portion of every job is donated to cancer research. Free estimates, fully insured, over 20 years of experience. Call 608-270-0440. SNOW PLOWING Residential & Commercial Fully Insured. 608-873-7038 or 608-669-0025
Pets Ask about our Christmas Specials! STANDARD AKC Poodle puppies Champion blood-lines. Health & color coat tested. Temperament tested. Service dog potential. Home raised. Pet price $1,200. Serious inquiries only. Call or text 563.495.0926 or email info@hollyspoodle.com www. hollyspoodles.com Look up Windsor Poodles on Facebook. CUTE! Cavapoos, Cockapoos, 2 Shorkie Teddys, 2 Yorkies, Poochons, Mini & Petite Goldendoodles, 3 Wheaton Terriers, 2 Whoodles, Papillions, $795 to $1,595 or more. Shots, dewormed, certified health guarantees by Licensed Vet, experienced, caring, prudent, helpful training advice. www.SpringGreenPups. com (LLC). Lic #484991 Brenda 608574-7931. GERMAN SHEPHERD puppies, black and tan with red outlines, farm raised, 8 weeks old, vaccinated, wormed, with health papers. $375 each. Joesph Glick, 4370 Ivey Rd, Mineral Point, WI. No Sunday Sales. Labrador RETRIEVER puppies, black and yellow, AKC, shots, de-wormed, dew claws removed, micro-chipped and vet checked. 608574-6204. License #267233.
SEASONED SPLIT OAK, Hardwood. Volume discount. Will deliver. 608609-1181.
Wanted
Rentals GREENWOOD APARTMENTS. Apartments for Seniors 55+, currently has 1 & 2 bedroom units available starting at $810 per month,includes heat, water, and sewer. 608-835-6717 Located at:139 Wolf St., Oregon, WI 53575 STOUGHTON 2-BEDROOM 2 unit building. Parking for 1 car per unit in back lot. No Pets. Rent $760. Available. 608-332-6013. ROSEWOOD APARTMENTS for Seniors 55+. 1 & 2 bedroom units available starting at $810 per month. Includes heat, water and sewer. Professionally managed. Located at 300 Silverado Drive, Stoughton, WI 53589. 608-877-9388
SELF-STORAGE lock-and-leave dry metal pole barn, gravel floor, rural Verona, 4000 sqft, only $400/month. 608-848-2345. UNION ROAD STORAGE 10x10 - 10x15 - 10x20 - 12x30 24-7 Access Security Lights & Cameras Credit Cards Accepted 608-835-0082 1128 Union Road, Oregon, WI Located on the corner of Union Road and Lincoln Road
Office Space For Rent OFFICE/RETAIL Space for rent in Downtown Oregon. Available now. 1274 sqft, $1062 per month or 480 sqft, $400 per month. Heat included in rent. Contact 608-333-4420 or 715891-4784 for showing and further information. OFFICE SPACES FOR RENT In Oregon facing 15th hole on golf course Free Wi-Fi, Parking and Security System Conference rooms available Kitchenette-Breakroom Autumn Woods Prof. Centre Marty 608-835-3628 VERONA OFFICE Space for Rent. 1000 sqft. 3 separate offices, reception area, bathroom, storage, offstreet parking and room for your sign on the building. Call or text Mike at 608-577-3766.
Real Estate
Storage Spaces For Rent ALL SEASONS SELFSTORAGE 10x10 10x15 10x20 10x25 10x30 Security Lights-247 access OREGON/BROOKLYN CALL 608-444-2900 DEER POINT STORAGE Convenient location behind Stoughton Lumber. Clean-Dry Units 24-HOUR LIGHTED ACCESS 5x10 thru 12x25 608-335-3337 FRENCHTOWN SELF-STORAGE Only 6 miles South of Verona on Hwy PB. Variety of sizes available now. 10x10=$65-month 10x15=$75-month 10x20=$85-month 10x25=$95-month 12x30=$120-month Call 608-424-6530 or 1-888-878-4244 NORTH PARK STORAGE 10x10 through 10x40, plus 14x40 with 14' door for RV & Boats. Come & go as you please. 608-873-5088
New Factory Built Homes: 3 BR, 2 BA put on your foundation. $59,980. HORKHEIMER HOMES. Hazelton, IA. 800-632-5985
Livestock FOR SALE: Scottish Highland cattle, different ages. 608-348-8132. WANTED: CONSIGNORS for the upcoming PAPA Alliance Black hided Feeder Calf and Yearling sales at Bloomington Livestock Exchange, Bloomington, WI. Sale date is January 3. Call and get on the early listings. No dairy crosses. For information contact Greg May 608-574-0719 or BLE 608-994-2020.
Farm RENT SKIDLOADERS MINI-EXCAVATORS TELE-HANDLER and these attachments. Concrete breaker, posthole auger, landscape rake, concrete bucket, pallet forks, trencher, rock hound, broom, teleboom, stump grinder. By the day, week, or month. Carter & Gruenewald Co. 4417 Hwy 92, Brooklyn, WI 608-455-2411.
RASCHEIN PROPERTY STORAGE 6x10 thru 10x25 Market Street/Burr Oak Street in Oregon Call 608-520-0240
Antiques BUYING US Gold & Silver Coins and Collectibles. Call 608-988-6406 Rick Miles Coin. CLASSIFIED AD DEADLINE IS Noon Friday for The Great Dane and Noon Monday for the Courier Hub unless changed because of holiday work schedules. Call now to place your ad, 873-6671 or 835-6677. THEY SAY people don’t read those little ads, but YOU read this one, didn’t you? Call now to place your ad, 873-6671 or 835-6677. ALL ADS SUBMITTED SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY PUBLISHER OF THIS PAPER. DANE COUNTY’S MARKETPLACE. The Courier Hub Classifieds. Call 873-6671 or 835-6677.
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Continued from page 1
Lost & Found
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Found: Daughter gets jacket 40 years later
Stoughton Courier Hub
16
December 26, 2019
Stoughton Courier Hub
ConnectStoughton.com
Snowdrifters: Club grows from 8 members to 80 families
Now and then
Continued from page 1 The club maintains 38 miles of public trails that connect snowmobilers from Oregon, Utica, Waubesa and Rock County. That’s the most of any other snowmobile club in Dane County, and all the work of clearing the paths, insuring the trails and working with property owners is done by volunteers. The group also plans annual snowmobile trips all over the state, sometimes riding 300 miles in one day. Ron Mckittrick, the club’s president, said without the club, the trails in Stoughton would not exist. Every year, they raise money and put in physical labor so people all across Wisconsin can enjoy the winter sport, even though some years riders have as little as one week of riding because of weather conditions. But members who spoke to the Hub agreed the thrill of riding in the winter on a trail they maintained is well worth the work. Jim Blouin, who has been a member since 2010, said the club gets good feedback from riders on how well the trails are maintained and marked. Riders often stop and give donations right on the trail. He said the club always welcomes new faces to help with maintenance, and members are happy to watch others enjoy the trail. “ W h e n y o u ’r e r i d i n g during daylight hours and you see somebody’s mom come by with three kids on the snowmobile and they’re just plodding along,
December 1969
• 8 members in the Viking Snowdrifters Club • Unknown distance of unmarked trails • 1,100 miles of snowmobile trails in Wisconsin • Roger Nitzsche, Palmer Jacobson and Larry Severson board members • $1,000 for a sled, snowmobile suite and trailer for transportation • $5 to join the club
December 2019
Photo submitted
• 80 families in the Viking Snowdrifters Club • 38 miles of trail • 24,000 miles of snowmobile trails in Wisconsin • Ron Mckittrick, president; Jay Chandler, vice president; Jeremiah Bennett, membership coordinator • $17,000 for a sled, snowmobile suite and trailer for transportation • $25 a year to join the club
The Viking Snowdrifters Club has been promoting and maintaining trails for snowmobilers near Stoughton for 50 years. Here snowmobilers are on a group ride through Dane County.
Photo submitted
Snowmobile riders of the Viking Snowdrifters club meet on Lake Kegonsa in the early 1970s. that makes it worthwhile,” Blouin said. “That right there makes your winter – and anybody will tell you that.” Membership director Jeremiah Bennett joined the group around 2007. He said the first time he rode a snowmobile was
when he was 2, and he remembers falling asleep on the front of his grandparents’ sled while they rode through the woods. “There’s places in Wisconsin that nobody will ever see unless they’re on a snowmobile,” Bennett said. In the early days of the
club, during the prime winter months, 100 sleds would park on Lake Kegonsa on the north side to make a stop at Sunny Side Restaurant. Back then, Nitzsche said, it cost about $1,000 to purchase a sled, snowmobile suit and trailer to transport – or less than half the cost of the least inexpensive new car on the market. Today, that price has risen The Viking Snowdrifters emblem has remained relatively the to roughly $17,000. But it’s an experience same for the past 50 years and the club still has some of the unlike any other, Mckittrick original patches that were made in December 1969. said. “When you’re out riding at night and the moon is out, you can stop, shut your machine off and it’s just What: Blizzard Blast Raffle, benefit to the Easter Seals dead silent. It just kind of Wisconsin gives you chills, Mckittrick When: 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 said. Where: Rex’s InnKeeper, 301 N Century Ave, Waunakee Contact Mackenzie Info: vikingsnowdrifters.com Krumme at mackenzie. krumme@wcinet.com.
If You Go
Photos by Mackenzie Krumme
Maintaining the trails takes time, money Each year, the Viking Snowdrifters Club maintains 38 miles of trails. Members use a Bombi trail groomer with a 4-foot drag to manipulate the snow and smooth the trail. And they remove brush and fallen trees. They also put up signs, meeting state regulations, warning riders of upcoming turns, stops and bridges. The club must hold a $2 million insurance policy in case any rider who uses the trail has an accident. But one of the biggest jobs of maintaining the trails is keeping the property owners whose land the
trails runs through happy, said Snowdrifters vice president Jay Chandler. The club must communicate with the owners each year to get permission to create a trail running through their land. They also have to encourage all riders to stay on the marked trails in order to respect the property. “You have to communicate with them saying, ‘Can we still go? Is everything alright?’” Chandler said. “We reimburse for crop damage. When people drive off the trail, that (money) comes out of the club.”
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The Viking Snowdrifters celebrate 50 years this month and volunteer members promote and maintain trails for riders all across Wisconsin. From left; Jay Chandler, vice president; Jeremiah Bennett, membership director; Roger Nitzsche, co-founder; Todd Skavlen, third generation member; Ron Mckittrick, president; and Jim Blouin, long standing member.
Call or Mail inquiries with contact information to:
S2426 Bundy Hollow Rd La Valle, WI 53941 All inquiries will recieve a prompt response
samuel schrock