Special recognition will be bestowed on 24 honor students at the May 31 commencement ceremony for the Sparta High School Class of 2008.

 The Saturday event begins with class achievers, those who earned at least an A- average(a 3.667 GPA or higher) in course work, escorting their parents into the evening's venue. That could be at the Memorial Park football field or the school's new gymnasium if the weather doesn't cooperate.

 In alphabetical order, honor students include: Kevin L. and Kyle R. Andersen, sons of Scott and Lori Anderson, Kelsey R. Anderson, daughter of Jefferey and Patty Anderson; 

 Haley M. Berz, daughter of Randy and Amy Berz; Briana M. Brookshaw, daughter of Chris and Garlynn Brookshaw; Jessica Brown, daughter of Michael and Teresa Brown; 

 Lukas Brown, son of Dr. Thomas and Gina Brown; Sarah Brueggen, daughter of Clayton and Sandra Brueggen; Shannon D. Clark, daughter of Bret and Marianne Clark; David M. Cochran, son of David L. and Julie Cochran, 

 Sadie L. Cornforth, daughter of Terry and Marty Cornforth; Brent Flaten, son of Brad and Joela Flaten; Holly A. Freeman, daughter of Hollis and Debbie Freeman; Seth S. Harelson, son of Steve and Patty Harelson, 

 Natalie Hemmerich, daughter of Dr. Mark Hemmerich and Dr. Jill Stebbins; Alissa Hirsch, daughter of Vince and Tammy Hirsch; Adam J. Kress, son of John and Marge Kress; 

 Nathan K. Miller, son of Kent and Beth Miller;  Zachary T. Molland, son of Thomas and Lisa Molland and Tammy and Steve Hillyer; 

 Kaei L. Palubicki, daughter of Robert and Kathi Palubicki; Eric K. Schmidt, son of Warren and Dawn Schmidt; Adam M. Simpson, son of David and Theresa Simpson; 

 Jayme K. Steinhoff, son of Jeffry and Kathleen Steinhoff; Jesse J. Thornsen, son of Craig Thornsen and Debbie Penfield.

 Donned with honor cords, leading academics in the class will seat their parents and then join the traditional procession of graduates for the 8 p.m. rite. Another insignia of distinction, an honor stole, will be worn by National Honor Society members.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat May 8, 2008 issue

 The Sparta Park Board will tackle a controversial issue concerning the Sparta Farmers Market when it gathers for its monthly meeting tonight (Monday).

In April, a group asked the board to consider moving the Farmers Market to Blyton Veteran's Park on Montgomery Street for the 2008 season.

In addition, the group informed park board members it is considering constructing a permanent stand in the park to display market items, along with a small storage unit at the corner of Montgomery and Spring streets.

In a letter sent to the neighbors of Blyton Park, Sparta Parks and Recreation Director Brad Gilbertson outlined the proposed plan, and asked their opinion on the proposal.

"The park board felt the new location would be a great fit for the Farmers Market, and hope that you agree with us as well," said Gilbertson.

Gilbertson asked neighbors with opposition to contact his department with their concerns about the proposed plan.

"If there is no opposition to the location change, then the move and structure will proceed as planned," he said.

"If there are concerns from neighbors, the idea will be brought back to the park board meeting on Monday, May 5, for further review," Gilbertson continued.

The matter has been included on tonight's agenda because there was plenty of opposition from neighbors.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald May 5, 2008 issue

 Despite contending with the second wettest April on record, the Water Street renovation project in downtown Sparta was able to remain on schedule.

"The contractor is well within the schedule, and I'm pleased with the amount of work they've gotten done," said Sparta Director of Public Works Jordan Skiff.

The project, a complete restructuring of the street and surface and utilities, began in the city's business district April 10.

While Skiff admits that rainy weather can cause problems for street construction projects, he said is hasn't hurt Sparta so far.

"The biggest thing (wet weather) does is slow down the utility crew, and that's exactly the place we're at right now," he said.

"The crews trying to do the sewer and water installation can't do it if it's too wet," Skiff continued. "The good thing is, the contractor has three utility crews, and that's unprecedented in my time here. It's helped them to stay on schedule despite the weather."

Skiff said the project, which is being completed by A-1 Excavating of Bloomer, is expected to last through the summer and into the fall.

"The contractor is allowed until mid-September, but he's hoping to be done by late August," Skiff said.

"If we run into a lot of bad weather days, that will extend (the contractor's) official time," he continued. "But he's trying to get it done as soon as possible."

The $2.5 million project includes new storm and sanitary sewer and water lines, as well as new historic street lights and traffic lights at the intersections of Oak and Montgomery streets.

Skiff said the city's portion of the bill is about $662,000, but that will be offset by a $170,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

Overall, Skiff said he's pleased with the way the project is moving along so far.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat May 1, 2008 issue

 After a lengthy and difficult discussion, the Sparta School Board voted Thursday to retain a half-time band position as well as the home/school liaison position as part of the 2008-2009 staffing plan.

 The plan proposed by the administrative team and brought forth by Super-intendent John Hendricks called for a reduction of 1.25 positions at the middle school, affecting a seventh grade teacher and a part-time band teacher; a 1.25 reduction at the high school, affecting a science teacher and a part-time band teacher and the reduction of the home/school liaison position.

 The plan also called for the increase of a first grade teacher at Lawrence Lawson, a first grade teacher at Southside, an ELL teacher, a Montessori teacher at the middle school, a guidance counselor, and a .5 position in music, art and physical education. 

 With the exception of the band and home/school liaison positions, the plan remains the same. However, the board's decision did not come easily and three versions of the plan were voted down before approval was eventually met.

 Over 75 people attended last Thursday night's meeting, which lasted over three and a half hours.

 During the public input session, five people, including three high school students, spoke on behalf of retaining the band position, currently held by Joseph Gantzer.

 Student Adam Frei asked the board members how many of them were in band during their high school careers. At least six of the 11 board members and administrators sitting at the head table raised their hands. 

 "We deserve the same chance you had," remarked Frei.

 In the center of the controversy was the plan to replace a grant-funded guidance position with the home/school liaison position.

 Chris Severson is the guidance counselor whose position focuses on alcohol and drug abuse awareness and prevention as well as suicide prevention. Karen Wall is the home/school liaison. A large portion of her job is assisting homeless children and leading them to available services. 

 The staffing plan called for Severson's position to be retained by the school district, rather than using quickly dwindling grant money. While the district has re-applied for grants to fund the position, it's not a guarantee that the district will receive them. Rather than take that chance, the audience urged the board to replace that position with the home/school liaison position.

 Eight people spoke on behalf of retaining the home/school liaison position, held by Wall for the past 12 years. One person remarked that both positions were important, but no one spoke adamantly in favor of the guidance position. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald April 28, 2008 issue

 Ground breaking was held last weekend for a second Habitat for Humanity house in Sparta.

 The house is being built at the corner of John and Walrath streets for the Mitchell family.

 The Mitchells include Kathleen, 44, and her three children, Rocky, 23; Nichole, 18; and Will, 15.

 The Mitchells have lived in Sparta since the early 1990s, and in the Fairview apartments for the past several years. Kathleen has worked at Woodman's in Onalaska for the past nine years.

 Like many families, the Mitchells have struggled to make ends meet. Rocky suffers from seizures, so medical bills have been quite high and health insurance is a big financial burden. 

 "Habitat for Humanity is not a hand out, it's a hand up," said Mitchell's sister Sue-An Carey of Deerfield, IL, who attended the ground breaking ceremony, along with sister Brenda Carey-Mielke of Kenosha and parents George and Elizabeth Carey of Sparta.

 Habitat spokesman Ron Olson reiterated that fact by reminding folks that a Habitat house is not a free house. 

 The benefit of a Habitat for Humanity house is that there is a no-interest loan and payments, including property taxes and homeowner's insurance, are low enough to be affordable.

 Monthly house payments range from $425-475, according to Olson.

 "Habitat manages the books and has an escrow account. We pay the taxes when they are due," said Olson.

 The taxes are included in the monthly payment, making that bill one less headache for the homeowner. 

 Homes cost anywhere from $70,000 to $82,000 to build, but are assessed between $100,000 and $110,000.

 The difference is the homes are built through donations and volunteers. 

 Many local contractors volunteer, offer their services at a reduced rate and provide materials at cost. Others donate building supplies, and monetary donations come from all over. People have even donated the lots on which the homes are built.

 "It's endless," said Olson, of the help people provide, which includes volunteers to build the house.

 And without those donations, Habitat would cease to exist. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat April 24, 2008 issue

 A former Monroe County jailer, accused of having sex with an inmate, escaped the maximum sentence that could have been handed him, but he will still be serving at least 18 months behind prison bars.

 Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Todd Ziegler last Thursday sentenced 61-year old David Schaldach to 18 months in prison followed by one year of extended supervision, after the defendant pleaded no contest to an amended charge of misconduct in public office.

 The charge, which was amended from an original charge of abuse of a resident of a penal facility, carried a possible five year sentence, including two years confinement and three years extended supervision.

 Schaldach, who is from the Warrens area, was accused by the 35-year old female inmate of providing her contraband and time away from the cell block in exchange for oral sex in the jail conference room on at least two occasions in August 2002.

 According to the complaint, the inmate suffered from a variety of mental health conditions, including bipolar and anxiety disorders.

 Assistant Attorney General Donald Latorraca, who prosecuted the case, told the court that the victim's condition was so severe she was found incompetent to stand trial and was committed to the Winnebago Mental Health facility. She was eventually found not guilty of her alleged offense by reason of mental defect, Latorraca added.

 "(Schaldach) failed to protect her and engaged in behavior that would undermine her mental state," he said.

 Schaldach's attorney, John Matousek of Sparta, said his client never denied the allegations and, in fact, told the truth about what he did when he could have invoked the Fifth Amendment.

 The matter came to the attention of Monroe County authorities in 2006 when Schaldach was being deposed in a civil lawsuit filed against the county by the family of Brenda Mambourquette, who was left with permanent brain damage after trying to hang herself in the Monroe County Jail.

 Mambourquette's attorney, Michael Devanie, argued in that suit that Schaldach failed to put his client on a suicide watch because he knew she had told other jail personnel about his sexual contact with the inmate.

 That lawsuit was settled for $13.1 million in February 2007.

 "He willingly admitted to a criminal offense during a civil deposition," said Matousek, adding that his client had been cooperative with investigators since the beginning.

 Matousek also claimed that Schaldach himself was in a vulnerable state at the time, suffering from depression and unhappy with his job.

 "He was finding solace with someone he shouldn't be finding solace with," Matousek said, admitting that his client did take advantage of the situation.

 Matousek also pointed out that Schaldach had no prior criminal history before recommending a six-month jail sentence and probation for his client.

 Speaking for himself, Schaldach, who retired from the county in December 2002, apologized to the victim and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.

 "What I did was egregious," he said. "I just hope someday people will forgive me."

 Before pronouncing sentence, Ziegler chided Schaldach for failing in his duties.

 "The victim ... was a troubled person with mental health issues and was certainly a vulnerable person, and Mr. Schaldach was aware of that and took advantage of that circumstance," he said.

 But he also pointed out that Schaldach took responsibility for his actions when he confessed to the crime in a civil deposition, something Ziegler said he had never heard of before.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald April 21, 2008 issue

 On Tuesday gasoline in Sparta sold for the most it ever has.

 According to service station and convenience store operators interviewed for this story, the per gallon price of unleaded fuel inched up to $3.39. The move was in response to an unprecedented $114 per barrel price for which oil traded this week.

 The gas price paced the previous record, $3.36, set at the onset of last year's Memorial Day weekend. Exactly a year ago, unleaded gas retailed for $2.84 per gallon.

 Despite the new high, the current price is still below the national average of $3.486, which is also an all-time high, and the state average of $3.432.

 However, diesel fuel is the run-away train when it comes to the escalating price of petroleum. The per gallon price in Sparta  rose $1.12 to $4.05 in exactly one year's time. In La Crosse, the cost is $4.09.

 Gas expense has pushed up steadily for decades, bemoaned one station operator with  longevity in the business who remembered when gas selling at $1 per gallon was headline news.

 Diesel fuel not only set a local record, but national and state ones as well Tuesday. The average cost of a gallon in Wisconsin was $4.118, a 38% increase from this time last year.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat April 17, 2008 issue

 Residents in the Water Street area found out what they're in store for this summer during Sparta's big dig.

 Many of them woke Thursday to the thump and vibration of a machine breaking up pavement on Sparta's downtown thoroughfare.

 While the din of construction will be a source of irritation for those businesses and residences in the immediate area, those trying to get from one side of the city to the other are also in for a bit of an annoyance.

 Traffic access through all east-west corridors that cross Water Street will be hit and miss as crews redo the road this summer, according to Jordan Skiff, Sparta's public works director.

 He said the intersections where Franklin, Main and Oak streets cross Water Street will be open every weekend. (See map on page 6)

 "At least they need to be passable for emergency vehicles," said Skiff, adding there will be an 18-foot wide swath of gravel to accommodate traffic.

 As for weekdays, Skiff said the contractor, A-1 Excavating of Bloomer, is hoping to leave the intersections open as often as possible even though the contract doesn't require it.

 A 15-foot wide gap between barricades, according to Skiff, will indicate if an intersection is open to traffic.

 While the road work is sure to cause headaches, taxpayers can take some comfort in the fact that the state recently awarded a $170,000 grant to the city to offset the more than $400,000 price tag of utility work on the project.

 According to Skiff, the city applied for the grant and was initially turned down. Then, by a stroke of luck, City Admini-strator Ken Witt attended a conference where he sat next to the state official in charge of  disseminating the grant.

 Witt's one-on-one lobbying session with the official apparently reaped some positive results.

 The money, which is a Community Development Block Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, will fund water and sewer line replacement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald April 14, 2008 issue

Changes are afoot at Sparta Veterinary Clinic. 

 Dr. James Tripp has sold his portion of the business to Drs. Karen Shea and Randy Pribbernow.

 The husband and wife team of Shea and Pribbernow will run the small animal side of the business, located at 1701 W. Wisconsin St. Business at Dr. Bill Nussdorfer's large animal portion of the building will remain the same.

 Tripp started Sparta Veterinary Clinic 40 years ago. Now 65, Tripp said he just wants to slow down a bit. He still plans to work at the clinic two days a week -- Wednesdays and Thursdays. He also plans to retain ownership of his Black River Falls office, Country Veterinary Clinic.

 "I'm ready to slow down, enjoy my horses and my family," he said. Tripp and his wife, Julie, live in Sparta and have two grown sons, Tyler, a lawyer, and Trevor, a teacher. Tyler and his wife live in Sparta, while Trevor and his wife live in Wisconsin Rapids. The Tripps have one grandchild with two on the way.

 "I'll still be here," he said. "I'll just enjoy an extra day or two off. I really want to thank everyone for their support."

 Throughout his four-decade career, Tripp has seen a lot of procedural changes, thanks to increasing technology, including anthestetic and diagnostic procedures.

 He also admitted that he didn't even have an x-ray machine when he first opened up shop. He had to visit another veterinary office whenever an x-ray was necessary, Tripp admitted somewhat sheepishly.

 Those lapses in technology are no longer.

 Pribbernow said the clinic now has a certified canine rehabilitator on staff who plans to initiate certain rehab techniques, including the installation of a therapy pool. 

 Certain dogs that are patients at the clinic are hunting dogs with torn ACLs [knee ligaments]. Other dogs are just not exercised enough, indicated Pribbernow. 

 Soon, folks will be able to drop their dogs off for the day and they will be exercised on the treadmill or spend time in the therapy pool. 

 Pribbernow and Shea, who met while attending the University of Minnesota and later married, took over April 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat April 10, 2008 issue

 An ethanol plant controversy that divided the Sparta community for over a year officially came to an end last week, when the parties involved signed a settlement agreement.

The agreement, signed last Friday by officials of Coulee Area Renewable Energy (CARE), Century Foods International (CFI), Hormel Foods Corporation and Friends of Sparta, was given a stamp of approval by the Sparta City Council in mid-March.

The 15-page settlement finalized Friday indicated parties involved have agreed to drop all pending lawsuits concerning the efforts of CARE to build an ethanol plant on an 80-acre parcel of land adjacent to CFI's specialty foods plant on the city's east side.

In addition, the settlement indicates CFI will purchase the 80-acre parcel of land from CARE for $2.5 million.

Century Foods International President Tom Miskowski this (Monday) morning expressed relief that the lengthy ethanol battle has come to an end.

"I'm glad it's over," offered Miskowski.

"I'm glad for all of our employees that we can put this behind us," he continued. "I know a lot of employees who are relieved. Let's move on. Let's talk about productive things."

As part of the settlement, CFI agreed to turn the deed for Century Court over to the city.

A clerical error that occurred in the late 1990s left ownership of the street in question, and CFI used that as leverage during the ethanol battle.

"As I said all along, we didn't really have an interest in Century Court," said Miskowski. "As such, we are giving it to the city."

CFI now owns the 80-acre parcel that was once the site of the proposed ethanol plant.

Miskowski said his firm has no immediate plans for the property.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald April 7, 2008 issue

Challengers were the big winners this week, as the newcomers ousted the incumbents for a pair of seats on the Sparta City Council and three seats on the Monroe County Board.

In Sparta, newcomers Mark Jacobs and DeWitt "Woody" Woodworth defeated incumbent aldermen Dave Kempfer and Connie Anderson in Tuesday's Spring Election.

Jacobs earned 74 votes to just 21 for Kempfer in the race for the city's Seventh Ward seat, while Woodworth defeated Anderson 64 to 45 to gain the city's Fifth Ward seat on the council.

Woodworth, a Sparta native, ran on a platform of change, and said the city council performed like "puppets" during the recent ethanol controversy.

"I want change," Woodworth said in a March 20 interview in the Monroe County Democrat. "People need to be heard and I will listen."

Woodworth was backed by the grassroots group Friends of Sparta during his campaign.

The Friends of Sparta was formed during the year-long ethanol battle, and spoke out against the construction of an ethanol plant in the city.

Woodworth takes over the council's Fifth Ward seat, which Anderson held for one two-year term.

In the Seventh Ward, Jacobs, who's also a Sparta native, said he's committed to helping revitalize the city's downtown business district.

Jacobs, however, distanced himself from the Friends of Sparta during the campaign, saying he did not fault the city council for opposing an ethanol referendum.

"They had a lot more information than I did," he said in a March 27 interview in the Monroe County Democrat.

Jacobs will take over the Seventh Ward seat from Kempfer, who has been on the council for one two-year term.

The and Fifth and Seventh Ward races were the only contested races in the city this week, but the results from another race that never developed showed that Sparta voters are unhappy with their current representation.

In the Third Ward, incumbent Alderman Gary Peterson won re-election, but by only 26 votes in a race that his challenger dropped out of a couple of weeks ago.

Peterson picked up 59 votes, to just 33 for challenger Pat Nugent.

Nugent, however, dropped out of the race in mid-March because of health reasons, stating that he would not serve even if he was elected.

Sparta City Clerk Barb Pederson said the turnout at Tuesday's election was down considerably.

According to Pederson, only 13 percent of the city's registered voters cast ballots in this year's Spring Election - down from 31 percent just one year ago.

However, Pederson pointed out that last year's spring included a mayoral race, as well as a race for the Monroe County Circuit Court judge.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat April 3, 2008 issue

 In a split vote last week, Monroe County supervisors approved a resolution that grants annual two percent pay raises for county elected officials through 2012.

The resolution, forwarded to the full board by a 3-2 vote of the personnel and bargaining committee, grants raises to the county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds and surveyor over the next four years.

In addition, the measure included annual pay hikes for the county sheriff and clerk of courts through 2010. Both the sheriff and clerk of courts are in the middle of three-year terms, which end in 2010.

Supervisor Bob Keller said pay raises for elected officials must be approved prior to the start of the next election season according to state statutes.

"This has to be done before they take out papers," offered Keller, who added he felt the two percent pay raise was a fair one.

Terms for the county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds and surveyor expire in January of 2009, and all four seats are up for re-election in November.

Candidates for these seats are required to file nomination papers by July 8.

Supervisor Keith Kenyon opposed the pay raises because they could have a negative impact on the county's upcoming union negotiation process.

"I voted against it in committee because I think it sets a precedent for the next union negotiations," he said.

"I don't think we can afford two percent pay raises," added Kenyon.

After a short discussion on the resolution, supervisors voted 12-9 in favor of the pay hikes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald March 31, 2008 issue

A attempt by Monroe County Board Chairman Dennis Hubbard to appoint a committee to oversee the justice center construction project was delayed for at least a month.

Hubbard attempted to form the new committee at the monthly gathering of supervisors Wednesday, saying it was time for the board to move ahead with the $30 million justice center project approved last month.

Hubbard recognized there will be a new board, and possibly a new chairman, elected in April, but decided to make his appointments now to get the process started.

"We do have a reorganization next month, but that really doesn't say we shouldn't move forward," offered Hubbard.

Hubbard attempted to appoint supervisors Theresa Pierce, Chuck Schwarz, Bruce Humphrey and Julie Radke to the committee, along with Monroe County Sheriff Dennis Pedersen.

Hubbard also made provisions in light of the fact that a new board will be seated next month.

"Next month, we will have a reorganization. For that reason, I will not name myself," said Hubbard.

"I feel the county board chairman should be on it, but that will be left in the hands of the board," he added.

"I also will leave one spot open, not knowing what the crossover from committees will be," continued Hubbard. "That gives me the ability that when the committees are set up (at next month's reorganization) there will be a little bit of flexibility."

While supervisors had no problem with the appointment of a committee, a majority of the board believes the process should wait until after the April 1 Spring Election.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat March 27, 2008 issue

 Last Thursday's candidates forum held at Sparta Meadowview Schools had almost as many candidates as it did audience members.

 Only 12 candidates accepted invitations to the event sponsored by the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce.

 The panel was evenly split between Sparta City Council and Monroe County Board hopefuls, who took questions from moderator Judge Michael McAlpine, as well as from the 23-member audience.

 City council candidates included incumbents Connie Anderson and Dave Kempfer and their challengers, DeWitt Woodworth and Mark Jacobs, respectively. Unopposed incumbents Ted Radde and Gary Peterson also attended.

 As was expected, the failed ethanol plant project reared its ugly head when an audience member asked the city council candidates to give their views of what they felt transpired when the contentious issue was being debated.

 Woodworth, who said he doesn't believe the issue is dead, didn't think the city council was paying heed to its constituents. Jacobs agreed, saying the lines of communication between the council and the community had broken down.

 Kempfer said everybody lost because companies are now afraid to come to Sparta after witnessing the hostility received by the ethanol developers. 

 "People called me saying they were afraid to say they were for the plant because they felt threatened," said Peterson, adding, "I thought it was great to get another business into town."

 He also thought the newspaper ad campaign, involving people wearing clothespins on their noses, was detrimental to new industry moving in.

 Anderson said the people in her ward were for the plant but were afraid to get involved in fear of losing their jobs.

 Radde, who said he examined the issue with an open mind, suggested the community start looking forward. "Let's start working together, bury the hatchet and move on," he said. "Let's see what we can do to build Sparta instead of tearing it down."

 Among the county board candidates, only District 3 in the Town of Sparta was represented by both an incumbent and challenger. They were Carl Anderson and Harv Simmons, respectively (see related story)

 Otherwise, Steve Krueger from Ridgeville, and Ed Miller of LaGrange, appeared without their challengers. Carol Las of Little Falls and Simon Wells of the Town of Wells, who are unopposed, also attended.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald March 24, 2008 issue

The city of Sparta received payment from former Greens concessionaire Gail Raddatz Tuesday morning, making a resolution on Tuesday night's agenda to waive her debt obsolete.

 Raddatz paid $9,371, her third and final installment of the concessionaire's contract, minus $1,296 for a dishwasher contract and cart shed closing.

 Through a letter to the city from Raddatz's lawyer Rick Niemeier, Raddatz disputes the inventory shortage and the invoice should be marked as paid in full.

 The Sparta City Council approved the payment Tuesday night, 7-0, with Bruce Savall abstaining. Savall works for Raddatz at the American Legion.

 However, a resolution was on the table that would have waived her debt, provided she surrender her liquor license by March 20.

 The council also approved rescinding the revocation of Raddatz's license, as ordered by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Michael McAlpine last month. 

 Also, a resolution estab-lishing a grant for a reserve liquor license was approved(see related story).
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat March 20, 2008 issue

   A 20-year-old rural Tomah man died early Saturday morning after a fire swept through a town of La Grange home.

According to Monroe County Medical Examiner Toni Eddy, Sterling Eades died in the fire, which broke out sometime around 4 a.m. Saturday.

Oakdale Fire Chief Gordon Fick said it took his department more than three hours to extinguish the blaze, but firefighters remained at the scene for more than eight hours.

"We actually had people on the scene until noon," said Fick. "We got there around 4:10 a.m. and we were on the scene until noon with the state fire marshal."

Fick said this (Monday) morning that the cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

"The fire started in a back bedroom in the basement," he said.

"We dug through the back bedroom and (the state fire marshal) took a bunch of stuff with him," continued Fick.

Fick said the blaze was very hot, and he described the scene as "chaos when we got there".

"Let's put it to you this way - I have a picture of flames shooting 30 feet out of the house," he said.

Fick said there were several other people in the house when the blaze broke out, but they were all able to exit the house safely.

"I can tell you that the people who got out were very, very lucky," he said.

Fick said firefighters were forced to break into the front door of the house, because it was locked when they arrived at the scene.

Firefighters discovered Eades lying on his back about six or seven feet from the front door.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Eddy.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald March 17, 2008 issue

With the future of its high school girls golf team in limbo, the Sparta School District is trying to resurrect a once-proud program that dominated area post-season play in the mid-to-late 1990s and into the early 2000s.

After back-to-back winless seasons and dwindling participation, the Sparta School Board last fall decided to suspend the program for two years.

"They put the program on hold for two years to try and build up the numbers in middle school," said Sparta Activities Director Mike Montgomery.

The participation numbers hit bottom in the fall of 2007, when the Spartans were unable to post a team score in most of their meets because of a lack of players.

Four girls started the 2007 golf season, but only three remained for the entire campaign. It takes four players to post a team score in most golf matches.

While the team failed to perform well over the past two years, posting an 0-12 record in Mississippi Valley Conference play, there was some solid individual play.

Senior Michelle Pauley played well in the WIAA regional and advanced to sectional play, before falling shy of an individual state tournament berth.

Montgomery said the program attempted to recruit new players, but numbers have fallen at the middle school level as well.

Junior Kelsey Foss, who played for the Lady Spartan linksters in the fall, was the only student-athlete who expressed interest in joining the team next year.

"We haven't had any girls on the middle school team for three years. There is no one coming up," Montgomery said.

"We tried at the middle school level to recruit girls, but so far we haven't had any success," he continued. "There just aren't any girls playing golf."

Montgomery said increased participation in club sports, like volleyball, has likely hurt the golf program.

"Club sports are going on longer and longer, and it's taking time away for golf in the summer," he said.

And there are not a lot of families golfing," Montgomery continued. "With memberships going down at the course, we don't have many kids golfing at a younger age...and it's tough to step in and play golf as a high school girl."

The state of the program is a far cry from its heyday in the 1990s, when head coach Joan Olson led the team to four straight WIAA state tournament berths form 1995 to 1998.

During her 26-year tenure as Sparta's head girls gold coach, Olson led the Lady Spartan linksters to three MVC titles, five regional crowns and two sectional championships.

During its 34-year history, the Sparta girls golf team has had four players earn individual state berths, including Betsy Gleiss in 1980, Laura Adkins and Jessica Rickert in 1999 and Cyndy Kenyon in 2000.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat March 13, 2008 issue

The web of Sparta robberies in the past few weeks could have involved  more businesses, according to a criminal complaint on file in Monroe County Circuit Court.

 The document alleged a myriad of armed robbery and related charges against three local people, apprehended in the wake of the February 28 holdup at Sparta Video Store, 218 W. Wisconsin St.

 Charged are Delores Warthan, 20, 1200 Sugarberry Blvd., David Walton, 20, 515 N. Water St., and Vincent E. Bell, 19, 100 W. Avon Road. 

 Walton and Bell are also accused in the February 10 armed robbery of Casey's General Store and the February 28 attempted armed robbery at Westside Wine & Spirits on West Wisconsin Street.

 During the crime spree, plans to rob Sparta BP Travel Mart were aborted when a state trooper was seen nearby, and a stickup at Kwik Trip on Highway 16 was rethought because a chief perpetrator lacked a mask.

 The video store incident, however, occurred after the place was checked out by a conspirator a few hours before the caper occurred. 

 Also, according to plan, Bell was in the store and poised to read instructions on a rental game, giving the signal for the misdeed to go down. It did when Walton entered wearing a "do rag" intended to cover his face.

 Walton's appearance fright-ened a clerk who screamed. He then showed what appeared to be a handgun tucked in his pants and relieved the employee of the store cash tray containing $400.

 Bell remained undercover in the store at the time and tried to convince the clerk to call the manager before police, thereby easing Walton's getaway. 

 Meanwhile, Warthan was posted outside where assorted items of clothing awaited Walton at various points along his escape route. 

 The flight took him through the alleys between South "K" and South Water streets and eventually to the North Water Street residence where Bell lives.

 Along the way, the cash tray was discarded, and Warthan stuffed the cash into her underwear. 

 Also on the getaway path, police recovered a BB gun, resembling a semi-automatic handgun which Walton said was used in the offense.

 Police linked the trio to the video store robbery and the two earlier crimes in which a knife was used in demanding money. 

 At Casey's, thieves netted $1,000 which Walton said he lost all but $20 of it to muggers in Indiana. He said he bought multiple bus tickets to the Hoosier State to provide an alibi for the convenience store theft.

 At the liquor store, a plucky clerk reached for a phone to call police eliciting the remark from Walton, "Oh, you wanna do it like that," before fleeing to a south side street where he reattached the license plates on his car.

 Bell was outside the liquor and convenience stores lending Walton support  during  the commission of those crimes.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat March 6, 2008 issue

   Using a police dog, authorities last Thursday tracked an armed robbery suspect from Sparta Video on Wisconsin Street to a downtown apartment.

 Sparta police arrested 20-year old David Walton of 515 North Water Street, who they allege held up the video store at gun point on February 28, at around 9 p.m.

 Also arrested were Delores Warthan, 20, 1200 Sugarberry Lane, and Vincent E. Bell, 19, 100 West Avon Road.

 The trio are also suspects in the February 10 armed robbery of Casey's General Store and the February 13 attempted armed robbery of Westside Wine and Spirits.

 All three appeared in Monroe County Circuit Court last Friday where Judge Todd Ziegler ordered Walton held on a $20,000 cash bond. He set bond at $5,000 for Warthan and Bell.

 Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Schmidt told the court Sparta police, with the aid of the Tomah Police K-9 unit, tracked Walton to an apartment at 220 North Water Street. There they located Bell, who apparently lives in the apartment, and Walton.

 Police also recovered a handgun, knife and other evidence. Warthan was later taken into custody and, according to Schmidt,  discovered to have money that was taken from Sparta Video on her.

 Walton, who lives in Sparta with his wife and two children, ages one and four, has outstanding charges in Georgia and Indiana for trespassing. Bell has an open felony sexual assault case pending in Monroe County Circuit Court.

 A fourth person arrested in the case, Kelly Talsky, 28, Sparta, was observed traveling in a car by Bell's apartment several times, drawing the suspicion of police.  She was stopped and questioned and allegedly provided false information to officers.

 Talsky's attorney, Steve Laxton of the public defender's office, argued that the police had no basis to pull her over and were merely harassing her. Ziegler ordered Talsky, who has three open felony cases on file, held on a $2,500 cash bond.

 Schmidt said authorities were trying to determine if she had any involvement in the crime.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald March 3, 2008 issue

After more than a decade of trying to deal with its overcrowded jail, the Monroe County Board Wednesday approved funding for a new justice center.

The new justice center got the go-ahead by just one vote, as supervisors voted 18-4 in favor of bonding for $30 million to fund construction of the facility at the dog pound site on Highway 16 on Sparta's east side.

The bonding resolution required a three-quarters majority vote of the board, or yes votes from 18 of the county's 24 supervisors.

The approval didn't come without contention Wednesday, as supervisors spent the better part of two hours discussing the proposed $30 million project.

Opponents of the project admit the county needs a new jail, but contended the $30 million project was too costly.

Supervisor Jim Rice, a vocal opponent of the justice center, said the board needed to consider a compromise.

"Four years ago, we started talking about a new jail, and now we've got this giant building going on," said Rice. "Are we going to be able to afford that operation later?"

Supervisor Keith Kenyon agreed, saying the $30 million price tag project is just too high.

"I consider this financial suicide if we go through with this project," predicted Kenyon.

Kenyon warned that the project included millions in hidden costs, saying a $30 million bond issue will cost taxpayers an estimated $46 million when the interest is included.

Kenyon said he's concerned that costs for additional employees at the new  justice center, as well as the financial impact of renovating the Monroe County Courthouse and current jail to house other departments have not been considered.

"I'll go along with building a jail, but not a $46 million jail," he offered. "People around here are going to lose their homes. I don't know where this money is going to come from."

Several members of the public in attendance at Wednesday's board meeting spoke out against the $30 million project as well.

Gene Treu of Sparta, who estimated the tax impact of the project at somewhere between $46 and $60 per $100,000 in assessment, said the project contains too many unknowns.

"I know if I was going to build a house, I'd want to know if I could afford it," Treu said.

While she recognizes the price tag of the proposed project is high, Supervisor Theresa Pierce said doing nothing could cost the county more in the long rune.

Pierce addressed liability issues the county is currently facing with its overcrowded, outdated jail facility.

"We can only get $1 million in insurance because of the state of this jail," she said. "I strongly urge you to pass this resolution," Pierce continued. "We've got to pay the money now, or we're going to be paying more in the future."

The project includes the construction of a $30 million justice center which will house a 200-bed jail facility and the sheriff's department, as well as several other justice-related offices.

Other departments and offices that will be housed in the new facility include dispatch, the justice department, clerk of courts, district attorney, victim/witness, child support, corporation counsel, emergency management and medical examiner.

In addition, the facility will include three circuit court roms, as well as space for a visiting judge and conference rooms.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat February 28, 2008 issue

  A $30 million bond issue for the construction of a new justice center will take center stage Wednesday when Monroe County supervisors gather for their monthly meeting.

A measure to bond for the new justice center will head up an agenda that includes five other resolutions.

The resolution, which was forwarded to the full board public safety and justice coordinating committee, calls for a $30 million bond issue to construct a justice center complex on county-owned land along Highway 16 on the east side of Sparta.

According to the resolution, the new justice center will house a 200-bed jail and space for several other county departments, including the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.

In addition, the justice center will house three circuit court rooms, the dispatch center, justice department, clerk of courts department, district attorney's office, victim-witness program, child support department, corporation counsel, emergency management department and medical examiner offices.

According to the resolution, the facility also will include space for a visiting judge and conference rooms.

The resolution will need a three-quarters majority vote of the full county board to pass, meaning 18 of the county's 24 supervisors must support the measure before it is adopted.

While most supervisors support the construction of a new justice center in Monroe County, opponents of this resolution argue that the cost is too high for county taxpayers to absorb.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald February 25, 2008 issue

The Sparta City Council Tuesday voted to revoke a liquor license held for The Greens by former golf course concessionaire Gail Raddatz.

Raddatz, who held the concessionaire contract at The Greens since March of 2004, decided last year not to pursue a new contract with the city.

While her concession contract with the city ended in December, Raddatz's liquor license for the premises does not expire until the end of June.

Earlier this year, city officials learned Raddatz was unwilling to surrender the license early because she wants to recoup $10,000 she paid to former concessionaires Dale Clements and Dave Cornell when she took over their contract.

That presented problems for the city because a new concessionaire contract has been approved, and the new concessionaires plan to open The Greens in mid-March.

To address the matter, city officials decided to begin the revocation process because Raddatz holds the license, but no longer has a lease with the city.

The process began last week, when Sparta Police Chief Mike Kass filed a complaint against Raddatz with the Public Safety Committee.

Committee members voted 3-0 in favor of holding a hearing on the matter before the full city council, which took place during Tuesday's monthly meeting.

City Attorney Dick Heitman said the city is within its rights to revoke the license, because Raddatz no longer has a premises at which to operate.

Sparta Attorney Rick Niemeier represented Raddatz at Tuesday's council meeting, saying the grounds the city is using to revoke the license are invalid.

"The allegations set forth in the complaint do not set grounds for revocation," said Niemeier. "I'm asking you to dismiss the complaint."

According to the complaint, one reason for the revocation is Raddatz's "failure to notify the city within 10 days of a change in fact regarding her original application to sell alcoholic beverages".

Niemeier, however, told aldermen that Raddatz met that requirement when she informed the city in writing of her decision not to seek another concession contract in August of 2007.

In addition, Niemeier argued that there's nothing in the state statutes that requires a liquor license holder to have a premises at which to operate.

Heitman, however, disagreed, saying Raddatz no longer has access to or interest in the premises listed in her original application.

"Gail wants to hold the license with no place to use it," explained Heitman.

"She can't use it at The Greens, because she isn't a lease holder," he continued. "When a license holder notifies the city of a change in the license, they have to have a premises. You can't hold a liquor license without a place."

Niemeier countered by saying that Raddatz did list a place of operation when she applied for the license.

"You do have to describe the place you are going to use - she did that (at the beginning)," he said.

"She can't move to another place without getting permission from the city, but that's not the issue," Niemeier continued. "The issue here is there aren't grounds to revoke."

But Heitman said the fact that she does not have a place of operation precludes her from holding the license.

"It's as if she came in and said, 'I want a license, but I don't have a place...Here's my 500 bucks'," Heitman said.

After a lengthy discussion on the matter, the council voted 6-1 in favor of revoking the license.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat February 21, 2008 issue

  A little bit of history almost happened in Sparta last Thursday night. Americaís 42nd president, Bill Clinton, was scheduled to make a dinner stop at the Surf Internet Café on South Water Street at around 6 p.m.

Unfortunately, the stars werenít aligned and Mr. Clinton added his name to a long list of heads of state who have failed to penetrate the city limits of our community. But there is still quite a story to be told.

The first indications that President Clinton was to visit Sparta started filtering into the newspaper office early Thursday morning, when a couple of the cityís staunchest Democrats called in to tip us off.

A call to former Sparta President Tim Sullivan of Madison, a representative of the government workerís union AFSCME, confirmed the rumor.

It seems Sullivan, one of the Democratic Partyís supper delegates who has been campaigning tirelessly for Hillary Clinton, set up the impromptu stopover -- which Mr. Clinton was to make while en route from an afternoon appearance in Madison to an evening rally in La Crosse.

On Wednesday, a Clinton staffer had performed a reconnaissance mission, stopping at the Surf Internet Café where he informed owner Demetria Brabant that she might be preparing dinner for his boss the very next day.

On Thursday, Brabant began preparing a heart-healthy Pacific Surf Chicken dinner fro the President as what was to be the biggest crowd she had ever seen in her establishment began to wander in.

By 5:30 p.m., enough Democrats had filed into the café to give it a noticeable list to the left. As its largest, the crowd numbered around 100, although all werenít card carrying Democrats, nor even Hillary supporters.

But all had come to meet a president and share in a little piece of Spartaís history. Alas, it wasnít meant to be. The clock ticked past 6 p.m., then past 6:30 and on to 7.

Monroe County Democratic Chairman Steven Williams, also a AFSCME representative, had been keeping track of the Clinton motorcade all night and delivered the bad news.

The  snowstorm, he said had delayed the Presidentís entourage, which had to bypass Sparta to make the rally in La Crosse at 7:45 p.m. Williams later learned the President wanted to make the stop in Sparta but was overruled by his schedulers, who apparently had the last say.

Determined to salvage the evening, at least for Brabant, Williams got the okay from Pres. Clintonís staff to bring along the chef, her food and a couple of other people with presents for the prez. They included local songwriter Dana Tock, who wanted to present Clinton with her just released CD, and artist Mary Kay Anger, who had made a card signed by the staff of the Surf Internet Café.

Williams, not leading his own entourage, drove to the Cartwright Center on the UW-LaCrosse campus, where they were eventually granted an audience with Mr. Clinton and his staff.

ìThey were all such amazing people,î said Brabant. ìEveryone apologized (for not stopping in Sparta) but said the roads were just horrific.î
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald February 18, 2008 issue

The Sparta Public Safety Commission Monday decided to move forward with an effort to revoke a liquor license for The Greens currently held by former golf course concessionaire Gail Raddatz.

The commission voted 3-0 to send a summons to Raddatz to appear before the full city council during a hearing at its monthly meeting next week.

The action follows a formal complaint issued against Raddatz by Sparta Police Chief Mike Kass last month.

Kass filed the complaint Jan. 28, after city officials learned Raddatz was unwilling to surrender her liquor license before it expires in June.

In the complaint, Kass indicates Raddatz no longer has access to or interest in The Greens because her concession contract for the premises expired Dec. 31.

According to Kass, Raddatz is in violation of two state statutes governing liquor licenses, including one that requires a premises for the sale of alcoholic beverages and another that required her to notify the city within 10 days of a change in fact regarding her original application to sell alcoholic beverages.

The city needs the liquor license for The Greens because its new concessionaires plan to open the operation next month.

While they initially planned to issue a new liquor license for The Greens, city officials discovered state statutes only allow one license to be issued for each establishment.

Sparta City Administrator Ken Witt said Monday's vote continues the city's effort to revoke the liquor license.

"Basically, they just reviewed the complaint to determine whether it was going to go forward or not," he said.

"The summons is basically a letter telling (Raddatz) to appear before the city council at a hearing," continued Witt. "It will be a hearing, The council will act as a quasi-judicial body and both sides can have an attorney present."

According to Witt, the council will review the complaint and allow Raddatz to explain her reasons for keeping the liquor license until it expires in June.

"Basically, it will be up to her to defend herself as to why the complaint is wrong," offered Witt.
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat February 14, 2008 issue

  The Sparta Police Department is looking for a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred at Casey's General Store on South Black River Street shortly after 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

 According to Sgt. Booker Ferguson, the suspect brandished a knife during the robbery and got away with an undisclosed amount of money.

 Police were originally looking for two subjects but by this morning (Monday) they had already located one of the individuals, along with a vehicle they thought may have been  used in the robbery.

 Police Chief Mike Kass said investigators are still trying to determine if that individual was involved in the crime.

 The suspect who displayed the knife is described as a black male, approximately six-feet tall. He was wearing a "Tony Montana" T-shirt covered by a black zip-up jacket that has a reversible orange inside, a blue stocking cap, black jeans and black athletic-style shoes. He also had a pierced left ear.

 Images of both subjects were caught on the store's security camera. Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact them at (608) 269-3122.

 Or call Monroe County Crime Stoppers at (608) 269-STOP (7867), where callers can remain anonymous and can be eligible for a cash reward.
 
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald February 11, 2008 issue

The Sparta Park Board Monday unanimously adopted a goose management plan to deal with the large population of Canada honkers residing on Perch Lake.

The plan targets the local Canada Geese living on or near the lake, which have become a nuisance over the past several years.

According to the plan, "the increasing goose population poses human health hazards because of the large amounts of fecal droppings in areas humans frequent".

Goose droppings also have caused problems at Sparta Municipal Golf Course, where they litter greens and fairways, especially in the spring and fall.

According to the plan, the goal is "to manage the population of giant Canada geese in and around Perch Lake in Sparta at a level that provides maximum recreational opportunities consistent with social acceptability".

To discourage the local population from staying in the Perch Lake area, the plan recommends a feeding ban be implemented east of the La Crosse River railroad crossing in Evans-Bosshard Park to the city limits.

"This area includes the northeast portion of Evans-Bosshard Park, Fisherman's Park, Memorial Park and the Sparta Municipal Golf Course," states the plan. "In addition to the parks, feeding on private property in this area will also be prohibited."

Signs will be placed along the La Crosse River and Perch Lake to notify people of the feeding ban.

The plan also includes a larger unmowed area along the shores of Perch Lake to deter geese from crossing over to the parks and golf course.

In addition, the city plans to obtain a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to spray goose eggs with 100 percent corn oil, which will keep them from hatching.
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat February 7, 2008 issue

  An investigation into the Christmas Eve day death of a 67-year-old Sparta man has been completed by the Sparta Police Department and forwarded to the Monroe County District Attorney's Office.

Sparta Police Chief Mike Kass said this (Monday) morning that his department wrapped up its end of the case in the suspicious death of Dave Endres last week.

Endres was found unresponsive in his home on Dec. 23, one day after he was allegedly involved in an altercation with employees of Dimensions - a downtown Sparta bar.

He was transported to a La Crosse hospital, where he was pronounced dead a day later.

"We've basically completed our investigation and sent it to the district attorney for him to decide whether or not the actions of the bouncer and the bar are criminal or not," explained Kass.

"It's really up to (District Attorney Dan Cary) to make a decision based on the evidence we provided him with," he added.

Monroe County Medical Examiner Toni Eddy said a preliminary autopsy results show Endres died from bleeding to the brain.

"The mechanism for (the cause of death) still needs to be determined," explained Eddy. "The cause of the bleeding we still do not know."

While some results are in, Eddy was cautious to point out that the final autopsy results have not yet been released.

"They're still waiting on toxicology reports," she said.

"This is just a preliminary autopsy," continued Eddy. "The final report - we have not seen that yet. They can still change things in the final report."

Like Kass, Eddy said her office has sent the preliminary autopsy results to Cary.

"It's up to the district attorney as to what, if any, charges will be filed," she added.
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald February 4, 2008 issue

A Future Farmers of America(FFA) plan to host a donkey basketball game this spring drew hesitation from the Sparta School Board Tuesday.

 The extracurricular group approached the board at the behest of Superintendent John Hendricks. He was concerned about the insurance liability connected to the fund raising event for Food 4 America. A silent auction also might be part of the evening's fun.

 According to Hendricks, the district's insurance provider isn't comfortable with liability waivers signed by participants, but he deferred a decision on the matter to the board.

 Arguments for the enter-tainment came from Heather Huber, FFA vice president, and Paul Reinsbach, a former agriculture instructor at the high school.

 They allayed fears of damage to the gym floor by reassuring the animals' hooves would be clad with rubber soles. Promoters also said the FFA can split profits with the donkey providers if at least $3,000 is raised. If the gains are not that much, the FFA will receive less.

 Also, the promoters claimed donkey basketball is popular in the area and listed Black River Falls, Melrose-Mindoro, Bangor, Cochrane-Fountain City, Boscobel and Fennimore as schools providing venues for games.

 Still, the insurance question loomed, and Hendricks said a few years ago the school underwriter indicated waivers or releases signed by participants might not prevent liability.

 At that time school faculty and staff fielded the teams, so workers' compensation claims could result. But Hendricks learned Tuesday night players in the proposed game would be FFA members and alumni, removing the workers' compensation concern.

 Therefore, the board decided Hendricks should consult again with the insurance carrier on  liability.
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat January 31, 2008 issue

  A 29-year-old Sparta man likely will appear in Monroe County Circuit Court this (Monday) afternoon to face charges stemming from a stabbing incident in the city Sunday afternoon.

Renato Hernandez-Vasques is facing  felony charges of first degree reckless endangerment, first degree reckless injury and attempted battery after allegedly stabbing another man.

According to a report released earlier today by Sparta Police Chief Mike Kass, this incident took place at a home on the city's west side.

"On Sunday afternoon, the Sparta Police Department was notified of a stabbing that had occurred at a west side residence earlier in the day," offered Kass.

"A 29-year-old Sparta man was taken into custody late Sunday afternoon, and is expected to appear in Monroe County Circuit Court later today on various charges associated with the stabbing," he continued.

According to Kass, the stabbing victim was a 22-year-old Ontario man.

"The victim was treated for various wounds at a local hospital and later released," said Kass.

The police report indicates the stabbing took place during an altercation at the suspect's residence.

"The victim received several cuts from a knife," explained Kass.

"A search warrant was later conducted, and several evidentiary items were seized," he continued. "Both suspect and victim were acquainted with each other, and no other suspects are being sought."
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald January 28, 2008 issue

Monroe County Personnel Director Ken Kittleson can breathe a sigh of relief - at least for the time being.

Monroe County supervisors Wednesday voted to rescind a resolution passed in June that restructured the personnel department and eliminated Kittleson's job.

The resolution, which passed narrowly by a 12-10 vote, reinstates Kittleson and nullifies the proposed restructuring.

The vote came after nearly an hour of discussion, which saw some supervisors indicate they were misled by proponents of the original resolution.

Supervisor Chuck Bluske said he voted in favor of the proposed restructuring in June because it was passed off by proponents as a cost-savings measure.

"The other time we voted on it, I was led to believe we were to save $57,000," offered Bluske.

However, Bluske said a closer look at the measure leads him to believe it might not save money at all.

"Who's going to take care of our grievances?" he asked.

Proponents, on the other hand, argued Wednesday that the core of the issue was Kittleson's record with union negotiations.

"The single most important part of (Kittleson's) duties are labor negotiations," said Supervisor Keith Kenyon.

Kenyon went on to argue that Kittleson has a "terrible record - costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars".

"There's one central theme behind this reorganization," Kenyon said. "That's to get better negotiations."

The original resolution called for the elimination of Kittleson's position and the transfer of most of his duties to Personnel Coordinator Mary Madison.

The only part of Kittleson's job that would not have been transferred to Madison was union negotiations, which would have been contracted out at an estimated cost of $25,000.

Supervisor Theresa Pierce said the intent of the original resolution did not focus solely on Kittleson's performance.

"That's not what the original resolution says or does," she offered.

"It eliminates the position of personnel director and puts all the duties on another employee," Pierce continued. "You're setting this woman up to fail, and you're setting the county up for liability issues."

Several supervisors suggested the county look at creating an administrator/coordinator  post instead of reinstating the personnel director's job.

Kittleson agreed with that suggestion, saying it would be the best way to manage county government.

"If you would look at an administrator/coordinator, I would gladly step aside," Kittleson said, adding that he would not apply for the new position during the initial hiring process.

"I wholeheartedly urge (the board) to do that, to make for a cleaner management system than we have now," he continued.

Supervisors voting in favor of rescinding the original resolution and reinstating Kittleson's job included Bluske, Pierce, Pete Peterson, Chuck Schwarz, Bob Helming, Ed Miller, Jerry Bloom, Bob Keller, Bruce Humphrey, Jim Shilling, Vice Chair Julie Radke and Chairman Dennis Hubbard.
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat January 24, 2008 issue

  Supervisors will be afforded the opportunity to learn more about a proposed $30 million bond issue to cover the cost of a new justice center when the Monroe County Board gathers Wednesday for its monthly meeting.

Brad Viegut, a broker with Robert W. Board and Company of Milwaukee, will address the board concerning the bond issue, which will go before supervisors in February.

The $30 million bond issue will be used to construct a new justice center on county-owned land on Sparta's east side along Highway 16.

The proposed design for the justice center includes a 200-bed jail and three courtrooms, as well as space to house the offices of the sheriff's department, district attorney, clerk of courts, child support, victim/witness coordinator, corporation counsel, medical examiner and emergency management.

In other county business Wednesday, supervisors will take another look at the restructuring of the county's personnel department.

The restructuring, which is slated to take place at the end of February, includes eliminating Personnel Director Ken Kittleson's job and transferring a majority of his duties to Personnel Coordinator Mary Madison.

While the measure has been narrowly approved by the board on two separate occasions, supervisors will take action on a new plan to rescind the resolution to restructure the department that was originally adopted in June.

The newest resolution was forwarded to the full county board by a 4-1 vote of the administrative and executive committee last week.
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald January 21, 2008 issue

Sparta Police Lt. David Livingston said this (Thursday) morning that the investigation into the suspicious death of 67-year-old David Endres of Sparta is ongoing.

According to Livingston, Officer Booker Ferguson is still in the process of conducting interviews with possible witnesses.

"We're still looking into the case," Livingston said. "I know he is still working on it."

Endres was found unresponsive in his home on Dec. 23 and taken to a La Crosse hospital, where he died a day later.

Because of the suspicious nature of the death, the Sparta Police Department opened an investigation into the matter.

In a statement released in the wake of Endres' death, Sparta Police Chief Mike Kass indicated Endres may have been injured in an altercation that took place at Dimensions, a downtown Sparta bar, late Dec. 22 or early Dec. 23.

Kass said police were not called to the altercation at Dimensions, and only learned of the fight later.

"We were actually notified by the hospital that Mr. Endres had injuries, and the indication was they came from a fight at the bar," said Kass. "We were never called to the scene of the alleged fight."

In a press release issued last week, an attorney for Dimensions denied any wrongdoing on the part of his client or the employees of the bar.

In addition, Black River Falls attorney Mark Radcliffe said his client is being unfairly linked to the death of Endres.

"All the speculation up to this point surrounding this matter suggests that somehow my client did something that resulted in Endres' death, but that is simply not the case at all," he said.

"The statements I have reviewed show that the establishment acted appropriately in every way, and I hope this matter can be put to rest for my client," continued Radcliffe.

Livingston said police also are awaiting the results of an autopsy before concluding the investigation.
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat January 17, 2008 issue

  A domestic dispute early Saturday morning resulted in at least two arrests and two stabbing victims.

 Sparta Police were dispatched to a north side residence about 3:40 a.m. for a report of a domestic dispute involving several family members, according to a press release issued by Sergeant Booker Ferguson.

 Two people, 26-year old Wyllis Lund and an unidentified 25-year old woman, suffered non-life threatening injuries from multiple stab wounds.

 Lund and the alleged perpetrator, Maria Evans, 44, were each arrested.

 Evans is expected to be charged in Monroe County Circuit Court today (Monday) with domestic abuse related disorderly conduct and first degree reckless endangerment by use of a dangerous weapon. 

 The female victim may also be charged in connection with the crime at a later date, according to Ferguson. However, at this point her name is not being released.
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald January 14, 2008 issue

 The drop in the price of gas at the pump may be little more than an expression of the holiday spirit. Regrettably, the cost is expected to rise again substantially in the new year.

 Nationwide, the average petro price slipped below $3 per gallon last week, the first time since November 4. Local self-service stations recall October as the last time gas could be sold for under $3, before the recent  slide. 

 Sparta and La Crosse area service stations are selling fuel for $2.99 per gallon, which squares with the national average right on the button. Just before the current price ease, local motorists were parting with  $3.39 for a gallon of unleaded fuel.

  In the city, the lowest price of the calendar year was $2.29 in February.

 Mike Arnold, operator of the city's only full-service station, is selling gas for just under $3.05 per gallon.

 "We're usually about 3-5 cents above the self-service stations, said Arnold, adding his prices, like his competitors, have fallen 30-40 cents in the past few weeks. 

 "I try to order when the(fuel) markets are down, but it doesn't always work out that way," said Arnold, indicating gas prices fluctuate so much and so often that's it's hard to always get the best deal.

 Arnold said he has been under $3 per gallon this year, and sometimes his petro trades at the same price he pays for it.

 The federal government predicts an end to the holiday price respite, warning of an average $3.40 by spring. A number of economists and people in the industry think that price prediction is too aggressive, suggesting $3.20 is more realistic.

 The drop in pump price is in part connected to the price of crude oil that has backed off some recent highs of nearly $100 per barrel. Even though last week the price retreated below $90,  in the next year the cost of crude oil is expected to surge again, and that, accompanied by inflationary concerns and other economic red flags, is producing the dire outlook for spring.
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat December 20, 2007 issue

   It looks as though another race is shaping up for a seat on the Sparta City Council.

 Terry Brown, 705 Elm Rd., is throwing his hat into the ring for First Ward alderman. He will be facing off against incumbent Ted Radde, who has held the seat since 2000 and is currently the chairman of the finance committee.

 Brown was an opponent in the latest mayoral race where he lost to John Sund. He also represented  Sparta's District 18 on the Monroe County Board for a number of years.

 The other races in the city include incumbent Connie Anderson and challenger DeWitt Woodworth in District 5; and incumbent Dave Kempfer and challenger Mark Jacobs in District 7.

 So far, incumbent Gary Peterson is the only candidate circulating nomination papers in District 3.

 In the Sparta School District, incumbents Gary Kirking and Janet Horstman are the only candidates who have filed an intent of candidacy. The other incumbent whose seat is up this election, Theresa Burns-Gilbert, has yet to indicate her intentions.

 On the Monroe County Board, Wilton Town Chairman Rick Irwin has taken out nomination papers for District 8, which is currently represented by Dale Greeno, who has declined to run for another term.

 Incumbent Carl Anderson from District 3 has taken out papers and will face off against challenger Harv Simmons, who is a former Monroe County Board chairman.

 Also taking out papers last week were incumbents Carol Las from District 1, Nodji Van Wychen from District 2, Bob Retzlaf from District 7, Charles Schwarz from District 19, Robert Helming from District 20 and Pete Peterson from District 21.

 The only districts where no one has taken out papers are District 5, represented by Theresa Pierce, and District 13, represented by current County Board Chairman Dennis Hubbard. 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald December 17, 2007 issue

 Despite a large increase in commercial additions this year, overall construction in Sparta decreased by more than 25 percent in 2007.

According to Sparta Economic Development Director Todd Fahning, the total construction value in the city dropped $2.7 million, from $10 million in 2006 to $7.3 million in 2007.

The biggest decreases came in single family homes and commercial construction, according to Fahning.

The number of building permits for single-family homes is down drastically, falling from 13 in 2006 to just three this year,
That drop represents a decrease in construction value of nearly $2 million - from $2.3 million last year to only $390,000 in 2007.

"Residential construction is down everywhere," Fahning said. "It's not just in Sparta, it's all across the country."

While single-family dwellings are way down, the number of two-family residences, or duplexes, increased from nine in 2006 to 10 in 2007.

While the increase in number is small, the value of the duplexes increased by $400,000 - from $1.4 million in 2006 to $1.8 million in 2007.

On the commercial end, new construction value is down as well, falling $2.8 million, from $4.5 million last year to $1.7 million this year.

Fahning had some good news, however, reporting that existing commercial businesses did quite a bit of expansion this year.

In 2006, the total value of commercial additions in the city was $671,000, but that figure jumped to $2.2 million in 2007.
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat December 13, 2007 issue

   It appears as though Tomah City Administrator John Rusch wants to try his hand at becoming an elected official again.

 While his appointed position has kept him busy for the past nine years, he says is confident he has the time to serve on the Monroe County Board too.

 Rusch has thrown his hat into the ring for Tomah's District 22 seat, which is currently held by Richard Yarrington. 

 Yarrington, a multiple-year veteran of the board, also has taken out nomination papers and plans to run in April.

 So far, that leaves the only other race for the board between incumbent Ed Miller and challenger Kyle Gibbon in District 6 in the Town of La Grange.

 Three-term county board member Bob Keller, who represents the Town of Ridgeville and the villages of Wilton and Norwalk in District 11, has filed non-candidacy papers indicating he won't run for another term.

 However, Stephen Krueger, who sits on the Ridgeville Town Board, has taken out nomination papers in hopes of filling the vacancy.

 District 9 Supervisor Jerry Bloom also filed non-candidacy papers but no one has yet stepped forward to run for his seat, which represents the towns of Clifton and Oakdale and the Village of Oakdale.

 In the City of Sparta, incumbents Chuck Bluske, Bruce Humphrey, Jim Shilling and Keith Kenyon have taken out nomination papers. Other than Yarrington and Rusch, incumbent supervisors Ed Westphal and Jim Rice are circulating nomination papers in the City of Tomah.

 Other candidates who have so far indicated they are running for county board and are unopposed iare incumbents Simon Wells, District 10; and Julie Radke, District 14.

 In the City of Sparta aldermanic race, the only incumbent undeclared is Gary Peterson, who represents the Third Ward. Dave Kempfer took out nomination papers last week for the Fifth Ward. He will face off against Mark Jacobs, who also is circulating nomination papers.

 The only other race shaping up is between Fifth Ward incumbent Connie Anderson and her challenger DeWitt Woodworth. First Ward Alderman Ted Radde, is so far running unopposed.
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald December 10, 2007 issue

 Four seats on the Sparta City Council, three spots on the Sparta School Board and a full complement of the Monroe County Board -- 24 supervisorships -- will be decided next spring after a four-month campaign season that began this week.

 Nomination papers, requiring signatures from 20 to 40 would-be constituents, became available at city hall Monday for alderman from odd-numbered wards. And so far, four people have obtained nominating documents to be put in circulation. 

 They are DeWitt Woodworth, 635 S. "K" Street, who is making a bid for councilman from the Fifth Ward, now represented by Connie Anderson, who also has taken out nomination papers. 

 Mark Jacobs, 608 W. Main St., is planning an attempt to unseat Seventh Ward Alderman Dave Kempfer, who has not disclosed re-election plans as has Third Ward Alderman Gary Peterson who at this time would be unopposed for another two-year term.

 Another incumbent, First Ward  Alderman Ted Radde, is throwing his hat in the ring,  and for him the first days of the campaign haven't produced a challenger.

 Already one race is materializing for the Monroe County Board. In District 6, fellow Town of La Grange resident Kyle Gibbens is challenging Ed Miller. 

 In another development, Robert Keller of the Town of Ridgeville signed a letter of non-candidacy, indicating he will end his stint as supervisor when his two-year term expires in April.

 Supervisors obtaining nomi-nation papers from the county clerk's office indicating a wish to remain in office are Simon Wells, Town of Wells, District 10; James Kuhn, Town of Portland, District 10; Julie Radke, Town of Wellington, District 14; Keith Kenyon,  Sparta, District 15; and Ed Westphal, Tomah, District 23.

 Unlike city council candidates, their counterparts eyeing county supervisorships must fill nomination papers with 20 to 100 names from voters they would represent.
 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat December 6, 2007 issue

   With the school levy tax credit finally in, Sparta officials have finally determined the property tax rate for city residents.

 The hold up has been with the Sparta School District, which had increased its levy for Sparta residents by 32 cents, approving the rate before the state had determined its aids to schools.

 Instead of reconfiguring the aids after passing the its late budget, the state decided to return the money to school district residents through tax credits. The numbers associated with thos e tax credits were made availale last week.

 The bottom line for Sparta residents is they will see the 32-cent increase in the schools levy rate offset by a 20-cent tax credit. Further offsetting the tax bill are a one cent drop in the state's portion of the tax bill, a five-cent drop in the mill rate for the vocational district and a 14-cent funding decrease to the city's Tax Incremental Funding (TIF) districts.

 According to City Administrator Ken Witt, the city initially expected an increase in the impact of the TIF districts on the mill rate. However, the state made a mistake last September, missing one property in TIF District-7.

 Witt said he immediately notified the state of the error and he expected it to be corrected. When he noticed the state had not updated the numbers, he called again and was told the mistake couldn't be corrected this year but would be amended next year.

 "It does not affect the TIF in the long run because (the state) will double the value next year to make up for the shortfall this year," said Witt. "Without that TIF error by the state, taxes would have been higher by 10 cents per $1,000 this year,
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald December 3, 2007 issue

 A $30 million justice center proposed for Monroe County once again received mixed reviews from supervisors this week.

The latest plan, a revision of a design that was unveiled earlier this year, was presented to supervisors by representatives of Venture Architects and Market and Johnson during Wednesday's monthly county board meeting.

Despite the revisions, including the elimination of a $2 million mezzanine, several supervisors remain concerned about the hefty price tag of the proposed justice center.

"Basically, this is the same plan you presented two months ago," said Supervisor Keith Kenyon.

"The costs are the same. Nothing has been changed," he continued. "I'm disappointed. I thought maybe there had been some consideration to reduce costs."

Kenyon said he's concerned with the $30 million price tag, which he says will end up costing county taxpayers $47 million when the principal and interest of the bond is paid off.

The proposed justice center, which would be constructed on county-owned land along Highway 16 on the east side of Sparta, includes a 200-bed jail, sheriff's department and four courtrooms.

In addition, the facility will include office space for the justice system, clerk of courts, district attorney, child support, corporation counsel, dispatch center, emergency management and medical examiner.

Vice Chairman Julie Radke said the facility is designed with the future in mind.

"What we really tried to do is come up with a project that's going to help up now, and meet our needs down the road," she said.

According to Radke, the proposed justice center is designed so additions can be built upward on the facility.

Supervisor Jim Rice, however, said the $30 million cost would place a huge burden on county taxpayers.

"Are will filling our needs, or going beyond our needs?" asked Rice.

"This is tough times for people of Monroe County - whether you believe it or not," he continued. "I think $30 million is way out of whack for Monroe County at this time."

Supervisor Bob Retzlaff, the chairman of the public safety and justice coordinating committee, argued that delaying construction or cutting corners would cost tax dollars in the long run.

"We've looked at this as a committee and presented it to the board...this must be the third or fourth time," he said.

"I think right now, fiscally responsible people would go ahead and build an all-encompassing justice center to meet our needs," Retzlaff continued. "We started last October (2006) on this project again, and here we are in November."
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
Monroe County Democrat November 29, 2007 issue

   Despite opposition from one alderman, a residency re-quirement for all city of Sparta employees was repealed at the full council meeting last Tuesday.

 Last summer, residency requirements were repealed for police officers and other departments sought the same treatment. 

 Alderman Norm Stanek indicated city employees should be required to live in the county, which is the current residency requirement. He cited snow plowers as an example of employees who should live close due to the nature of their jobs.

 Last Tuesday, he suggested the matter be brought up for public hearing.

 However, the other aldermen disagreed and said city employees have the right to live where they choose.

 "They should be free to live where they want to live," said alderman Mark Richgruber.

 In the end the measure passed 6-1, with Stanek being the lone dissenter, and Dave Kempfer absent. 
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald November 26, 2007 issue

  Monroe County Board Supervisor Pete Peterson of Tomah didn't come out of last Thursday's administrative committee meeting any more enlightened than when he went in concerning how much contracting labor negotiations with the county's insurance company would cost.

 "I don't think we did get an answer out of him," said Peterson about John Prentice, a Milwaukee attorney who was hired by Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance to conduct labor negotiations for several counties in the state, including Jackson County.

 Prentice attended Thursday's meeting to answer questions about the county's pending contract with the insurance company. The Monroe County Board recently approved dismantling the personnel department, getting rid of its director, Ken Kittleson, and setting aside $25,000 to contract with County Mutual to perform labor negotiations.

 Proponents of the contract claim the action is a cost-saving measure that will save taxpayers part of the $81,000 in compensation that Kittleson now receives.

 Opponents, however, believe that the $25,000 set aside for labor negotiations isn't going to cover the expense.

 "I don't see how your firm can do that for $25,000," Peterson commented to Prentice at Thursday's meeting.

 Prentice said $25,000 was the average payout for outside labor council fees for counties he's dealt with, but he added that he didn't know where that number came from.

 "It's hard for me to estimate," he said of the cost for labor council services, noting that there were too many unknowns involved to venture a guess. However, he did quote his rate, which is set by County Mutual at $135 an hour.

 County Mutual, according to Prentice, could also be billed for matters concerning the possibility of future losses.

 Prentice said if he represented the county, he would only meet with each union three times and most grievances could be handled by the county's administrative committee, which will absorb the personnel committee, and Mary Madison.

 Madison is currently the personnel coordinator but departmental restructuring will leave her with a number of Kittleson's duties she has indicated she is not comfortable performing. Those duties include resolving labor-related issues, coordinating health and life insurance programs, serving as the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance officer, the HIPPA privacy officer and county representative for unemployment compensation hearings, as well as several other responsibilities.
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald November 19, 2007 issue

  While preliminary figures show the owner of a $100,000 home in Sparta could realize a $55 increase on the 2008 tax bill, a higher-than-normal school tax credit could cut that increase in half.

Sparta City Administrator Ken Witt has plugged in most of the numbers concerning the 2008 tax bill, and a conservative estimate shows a 55 cent increase in the overall mill rate.

With the current numbers, the school district's 2008 bills will show the largest jump - a 32 cent increase in its preliminary mill rate.

Witt, however, said school officials are saying an increase on the school tax credit might offset the entire increase.

"The school tax credit is the one the school district believes will go way up to offset its increase," explained Witt.

"It should be up significantly, if they are correct," he continued. "Either way, the most you're looking at is a $55 increase on a $100,000 home."

The amount of the school tax credit will not be revealed until later this month, so for the time being Witt is using last year's figure to estimate the 2008 tax rate.

With that calculation, the estimated combined mill rate will jump 55 cents - from $28.21 in 2007 to $28.76 in 2008.

The city's mill rate is up seven cents, from $8.39 in 2007 to $8.46 in 2008, while the school district's mill rate will jump 32 cents from $10.52 to $10.84.

The only mill rate to decrease next year will be for Western Technical College - falling from $2.19 to $2.14.

As for the county's portion of the city tax bill, it's expected to increase from $6.70 to $6.89.

The county's overall mill rate dropped seven cents, but Witt said it will actually increase in the city.

"If the amount of the levy increases by more than the amount of assessed value increases, then taxes go up," explained Witt.

"The allocation is different every year," he continued. "If the city is growing and the townships are growing at a lower rate, we get a bigger share of the taxes."
 
 
 
 

To read this entire article please see the
The Sparta Herald November 12, 2007 issue

 The downturn in the national home mortgage industry that is pushing the nation's economy toward instability is being profoundly felt at the local level.

 Monday's Sparta newspaper listed a dozen legal notices for property foreclosures or sheriff sales placed by financial institutions. So far, about half that many are scheduled for  the next edition. 

   The sheriff sale, the auctioning of property on the courthouse steps as a result of loan default, occurs after a notice for foreclosure doesn't correct mortgage payment delinquency.

   In the first 10 months of 2007, the Sparta newspapers pub-lished a staggering 60 legal notices for financial institutions pursuing foreclosures or sheriff sales. The number dwarfs the 37 such disclosures printed for the same period in 2006. 

   About two-thirds of the legal notices received so far this year occurred since mid-summer, coinciding wit