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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021
VOL. 161 • NO. 19
Brodhead forensics students speak up, stand out By Katelyn Black CORRESPONDENT
MARY HOOKHAM PHOTO The Independent-Register
Bonnie Zee says one thing was constant about her 46 years as town of Albany clerk — she always enjoyed working with residents and members of the town board.
Happy to help Town of Albany clerk was a ready resource for more than four decades By Mary Hookham CORRESPONDENT
Helping people is just in Bonnie Zee’s nature. As retiring town of Albany clerk, Zee has learned to adapt to new technology and more responsibilities, but working with her residents and her board has always been her favorite part of the job. “All the years I’ve worked here, I’ve always had the best people to work with,” Zee said. “That part is what I’m really going to miss.” Zee will officially be retired this month after serving 46 years as clerk of the town of Albany. When Zee started
the job in 1975, there wasn’t as much going on, so after the meetings, she and the board — which included her father-in-law — would eat popcorn and visit, she said. The town had about 600 residents back then. Now there is more to do at each meeting as well as learn technology and new rules. As a result of several new subdivisions, the town’s population has doubled. Her humility and willingness to help always have been assets to the board and residents, her colleagues said. Being accurate in all she does has also been crucial to the success of the board. “Clerks run the towns but they never admit to it,” said Abel Schultz, town of Albany chairman.
See HELP, Page 4
BECKY MALKOW PHOTO The Independent-Register
Cardinals run up another victory
Brodhead-Juda’s Braden Cook runs for a first down in the Cardinals’ 48-7 home victory against Fennimore on April 23. The team remains undefeated in the spring season. See page 6 for a story and more photos.
For Brodhead High School teachers Erika Klecker and Stephanie Hurt, this year was full of new challenges to tackle — not only in the classroom during school hours, but after the final bell, too. Hurt and Klecker became faculty advisers for the Brodhead forensics team for the first time, and it was pretty much anything but a typical season. Instead of going to in-person competitions and performing for a panel of judges like usual, each of the seven participating students recorded a video her piece for three separate virtual events — subdistricts in February, districts in March and state in April. The students were then given the chance to take the feedback from the judges and improve their pieces between each competition. Six of the seven participants ended up going to state, where Kiara Quimby and Hannah Shickles finished with gold medals, Abigail Mills, Amanda Visger and Cheyenne Hodgson finished with silver medals and Emily Olmedo finished with a bronze medal. Despite the virtual format, Visger, a junior, said she tackled this season just like any of the other six seasons in which she has participated — with confidence and practice. “Just as a sports player
PHOTO SUBMITTED The Independent-Register
Brodhead High School forensics participants made a strong showing in the recent state competition. Pictured in the back row from left are Amanda Visger, Hannah Shickles and Emily Olmedo. In the front row from left are Cheyenne Hodgson, Abigail Mills and Kiara Quimby.
would put hours into practicing for a game, putting in the repetition helps prepare for public speaking. As an individual activity, whatever works best for one individual doesn’t mean it will work for another,” Visger said. “For me, reading childhood books or even reading the newspaper as a news reporter helps me improve my performing aspects. “If you mess up, just have confidence. It’s OK to slip on a few words and forget what
Let the sunshine in By Mary Hookham CORRESPONDENT
a few full-time employees, Coleman said. “Once complete, they will positively impact the environment and generate enough clean, low-cost energy to power thousands of homes,” he said. Locally, Alliant Energy provides electric service in Albany and Orfordville. Alliant Energy will lease
sentence was last said, act like it was correct and keep on going.” Visger plans to finish her high school forensics career strong next year and continue with public speaking into college. “It has been a dream of mine to perform and use my voice to portray emotions that many don’t know how to express,” she said. “If someone can’t use their voice, I’m not afraid to express my voice.” Like Visger, Klecker and
Hurt are already looking ahead to the future. “Both of us had very positive experiences with forensics in high school and we wanted to help create that same experience for our students,” Hurt said about she and Klecker. “We are looking forward to continuing to build the forensics program and to encourage more participation in the coming years.” Forensics is open to all high school students.
Solar projects will produce clean energy, shared revenue for local communities the land for the solar projects, so landowners will receive lease payments throughout the 30-year duration of each project. When the project is decommissioned, the land will return to its original state, Coleman said. The costs of solar projects are low while the benefits are high, Coleman said. Solar energy costs less to operate
and maintain, and installation costs are at an all-time low. Those savings will go to customers. Communities where the projects are located will see increased tax revenue. For example, the Albany project will bring in an estimated shared revenue total of
As part of Alliant Energy’s Clean Energy Blueprint initiative, the company is adding 1,089 megawatts of solar energy to the electrical grid in Wisconsin by the end of 2023. Two of the planned 12 solar projects will be in southern Wisconsin. See PROJECTS, Page 4 A Green County project near Albany in the town of Decatur will create about 50 megawatts of energy while a town of Beloit project, called the Paddock project, in Rock County will provide 65 megawatts of energy. Construction for both projects will begin in 2022 and end late in 2023. “Solar energy helps reduce Alliant Energy’s dependence on fossil fuels,” said Chase Coleman, communications partner with Alliant Energy. The town of Decatur project will occupy 400 acres while the town of Beloit one will use 500 acres. Both developments will create new local tax revenue that will add thousands of dollars in annual shared revenue for Brodhead, Green County, Beloit and Rock County. Project construction will provide jobs PHOTO RENDERING COURTESY ALLIANT ENERGY The Independent-Register and upon completion, each This is a projected view of the town of Decatur solar project planned by Alliant location will employ at least Energy. The location is along County Highway E near Albany.