Thursday, October 3, 2019 • Vol. 55, No. 20 • Verona, WI • Hometown USA • ConnectVerona.com • $1.25
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Verona Press The
City of Verona
Still no deal for Commons Alders unhappy with condition of site, state of negotiations JIM FEROLIE Verona Press editor
Photo by Kimberly Wethal
From left, Verona Area High School sophomore James Robinson saved the life of his cousin Ronnie Murphy, also a VAHS sophomore, on the morning school bus route on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Murphy had a seizure, and Robinson prevented him from sustaining injuries and called for help, subsequently saving his life.
Family over Fear 15 year old saves cousin’s life during seizure on school bus KIMBERLY WETHAL Unified Newspaper Group
Despite being a month and two days younger than his cousin Ronnie Murphy, Verona Area High School student James Robinson has always claimed to be his “big cousin.” Robinson has earned some clout
behind that statement, after he saved Murphy’s life on the bus last month. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, the two sophomores got on the bus near their home in Fitchburg. Shortly after, Murphy experienced a seizure. It prompted Robinson, who knew his cousin had seizures, to figure out what to do within seconds. The two boys are playful with one
another, their mothers told the Press last week, and are often goofing around. But when Murphy continued to dig his hands into his cousin’s leg and start wiping his hands on his face to get his attention, it became a sign to Robinson that he wasn’t okay. “I was like, ‘bro, what is wrong with
Turn to Seizure/Page <&n>
Under construction in all directions On the Web
Scheduling of some projects out of Verona’s control
To get more information about Department of Transportation projects, visit:
KIMBERLY WETHAL
Projects.511wi.gov
Unified Newspaper Group
Evan Touchett says it’s easy to wonder who’s got a vendetta against Verona. While those are only his thoughts, the District 4 alder told the Press, it’s hard to not have that mindset when three major highways that lead out of Verona
to the north and south have undergone significant construction projects or closed in the last year-and-a-half. With yet one more projPhoto by Kimberly Wethal ect restricting access to and from Verona starting this Hwy. M between Verona and Oregon is closed west of Fish week – County Hwy. M Hatchery Road. The road closure was moved up a week, after the first phase of construction was completed earlier than Turn to Construction/Page 12 anticipated. The
Verona Press
Four months after a local developer bulldozed the site of a former truck stop, an auto repair shop and a car wash on West Verona Avenue, it is still struggling to come to a deal with the city to put new buildings there. Monday, Verona-based Forward Development Group delivered a presentation in which it publicly explained why the city should provide $6 million in taxpayer financing for the company’s Sugar Creek Commons project. The projected $40 million venture would bring 284 apartments, a hotel and 26,000 square feet of retail space between Legion Street and the St. Vincent de Paul
thrift store. But after an hour long closed session, the Common Council had no announcement other than the mayor’s statement that negotiations would continue. It’s been more than two years since the city created a tax-increment financing district specifically for the project. A TIF district, or TID, collects taxes from all underlying jurisdictions, including the local school district, on any increases in the property value and uses that money to pay back loans or obligations that benefit the district. But the city and developer – which have two other major projects pending in Verona – have been unable to come to an agreement. During Monday’s meeting, FDG discussed a timeline based on an approval of the terms that night, in which it would start site
Turn to Commons/Page 12
‘More comfortable with death’ The first discussionbased Death Cafe set for Oct. 11 MACKENZIE KRUMME Unified Newspaper Group
When Sharon Stewart was 21 years old, her brother was killed in a car accident. Before he was embalmed, Stewart wanted to see his body to make sure he didn’t suffer; but the mortician refused. She wanted to kiss her Stewart brother while he was lying in the casket, but the funeral director discouraged it.
If You Go What: Death Cafe When: 10-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13 Where: Verona Senior Center, 108 Paoli St. Info: Sharon Stewart at sharon@spiritknoll.com “That is what I needed for my healing process,” Stewart said, but she didn’t get it. From that point forward, Stewart believed death did not have to be a sterile, taboo experience; it could be an experience steered by love, support and celebration.
Turn to Cafe/Page 5
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