Erona Ress: Schools and More
Erona Ress: Schools and More
Erona Ress: Schools and More
The
Thursday, December 29, 2016 Vol. 52, No. 32 Verona, WI Hometown USA ConnectVerona.com $1
capitolphysicaltherapy.com
Located in the Verona Athletic Center
2016
VASD decisions, planning highlight 2016 stories
Schools are important in Verona.
So it only makes sense that more
than half of the top stories of 2016,
selected by reporters here at the Press,
involve the Verona Area School District in some way.
At the top is a story that actually
has nothing official yet to show for all
of the effort that was put in this year.
That, of course, will be remedied early in 2017, when the school board
officially puts forth a ballot measure
for a new high school.
Next is an event that affected much
beyond the school district and will
help fill the citys coffers in the years
to come as well. With the closure of
Epics tax-increment financing district, the city, school district and Dane
County all got a one-time funding
boost, and the city especially can look
forward to increased property-tax revenue on an annual basis.
This year also saw the first state
championship by the high school
girls basketball team and an exceptionally large interest in seats that
opened on the school board and Common Council both through elections
and resignations.
The list also includes a drawn-out
controversy about one of the districts
charter schools, a fast-paced controversy over a student at first being
Stories of 2016
1. VASD referendum planning
2. Big budget, again
3. Girls basketball state title
4. Open seats
5. VAIS charter renewed
6. (tie) Noah Currier walks in
graduation ceremony
6. (tie) City loses employees
8. (tie) VASD transgender policy
8. (tie) VACT breaks ground
10. City OKs Matts House plan
Turn to 2016/Page 12
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City of Verona
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director.
In in early November,
mudsnails were found at
several locations in Badger
Mill Creek, a few hundred
yards upstream of the Sugar
River.
Moder said the mudsnail
is more of an unknown
that invasive plants because
it was only first discovered
in Wisconsin in 2013. The
first species identified in
the state were found in the
Black Earth Creek in western Dane County.
Experts think the snails
are transported between
lakes and rivers after they
attach to peoples fishing
gear and other water equipment.
Our plan at this point
is to monitor the situation,
because we dont have
much experience with them
in Wisconsin, Moder said.
The snails have been out
West for 30 years. They
havent made their way
here until recently, that we
know of.
The tiny snails, which
grow to just an eighth of an
inch, were first identified in
the U.S. in Idaho in 1987
and are believed to have
A Verona Fire Department truck blocked off access to County PD about a half-mile west of County M around noon Tuesday afternoon.
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Scott Girard
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ConnectVerona.com
City of Verona
More than 50 Sugar Creek Elementary School families got an early holiday present during the last week of
school before winter break.
An anonymous donor who had volunteered with the schools early childhood program walked into the office
Monday, Dec. 19, and told the secretary she wanted to help families at the
school.
After talking to the school social
worker, she walked out with almost
$1,400 less to her name, but having
covered all of the unpaid registration
d eve l o p m e n t t i m e f o r s c h o o l s t h a n t h o s e i n
teachers throughout the grades six through 12.
year, but a survey last year
Contact Scott Girard at
The Verona Area School about the school calendar
[email protected]
District plans to send indicated there were difand follow him on Twitter
another survey to parents ferent preferences from
teachers in the elementary
@sgirard9.
shortly into the new year.
This time, it will ask parents about potential changes to late start Mondays.
VASD director of human
resources Jason Olson told
the school board Dec. 19
that while most of the calendar was set including
start and end dates and
spring break they should
wait to approve it until the
survey results are known.
If the board were to
eliminate or adjust late
starts, it could create more
days off during the year,
Questions?
so Olson recommended
Comments?
against having to pass the
calendar twice.
Story Ideas?
Board member Russell
King said he was already
Let us know
getting heat from parents
who want to know what how were doing.
the calendar is, but others
advised him to share the
draft calendar and explain
the dates that are expected Your opinion is something we always want to hear.
to remain the same.
Call 845-9559 or at connectverona.com
The goal of any change
to late starts would be
to add professional
Unified Newspaper Group
On the
agenda
Public hearing
for mixed-use
4,900-square-foot
building at 410-416
E. Verona Ave.
Public hearing for
revised expansion
plans for St. James
Lutheran Church,
427 S. Main St.
Public hearing for
rezoning lands east
of Verona Technology Park
Public hearing for
plans for proposed
dog daycare center
in Verona Technology Park
Happy Holidays
from Our Family To Yours!
Dr. Joe Beyler
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WERE
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The East Verona Avenue mixed-use project is a two-story, 4,900-square-foot building with
retail/office on the bottom floor and apartments above.
Opinion
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POLICE REPORTS
All reports taken from the log book at the Verona Police Department.
Sept. 6
2:09 p.m. A man was transported to the hospital by Fitchrona
EMS with neck and back pain after being involved in a traffic
collision on the off-ramp from westbound U.S. Hwy. 18/151 to
County Hwy. PB. A woman reported she was slowing for the red
traffic light when her brakes allegedly gave out, and she struck
the drivers door area of the mans vehicle as it was making a left
turn. Both vehicles were towed from the area.
Sept. 10
2:54 a.m. A 29-year-old Verona man was stopped for lack
of registration near East Verona Avenue and Hometown Circle
while en route to the hospital with his wife, who was in labor.
The man was given a verbal warning for the registration and
was released so he could get his wife to the hospital.
Sept. 11
8:59 a.m. Officers received a report of a possible intoxicated
driver who had hit two separate guard rails and then abruptly
went off the road into the marsh before throwing something
from his car along County Hwy. PB near Military Ridge Drive.
The driver told police he had swerved to miss a dog or small
animal and had thrown out a cigarette pack, which he later discovered was actually his cell phone. Field sobriety tests were
conducted and no arrest was made.
Sept. 17
4:35 p.m. A passerby reported seeing an elderly woman who
seemed confused walking down the middle of the street near
Cross Country and North Nine Mound roads. Police located the
woman, who was standing partially in the travel lane of Cross
Country Lane and was disoriented. She was returned to her residence and her daughter was contacted.
9:52 p.m. A 53-year-old Madison woman was arrested for
her third-offense OWI and possession of cocaine after being
pulled over for speeding near East Verona Avenue and Lincoln
Street. A search of her vehicle found marijuana, drug paraphernalia and the suspected cocaine, and she submitted to a chemical breath test. She was booked into jail and put on a 12-hour
hold for the OWI.
9:53 p.m. A 21-year-old Blue Mounds woman was arrested
for her first-offense OWI and cited for driving with a suspended license, no insurance and no license plate lamps, as well as
possessing drug paraphernalia, during a traffic stop at North
Main Street and Cross Country Road. She was suspected of being under the influence of a controlled substance, but refused a
blood test and was released to a responsible party. Her passenger, meanwhile, was found to be intoxicated and in violation of
his probation, and was booked into the Public Safety Building
on a probation hold.
Sept. 18
8:56 p.m. Officers cited a man and one juvenile in possession of drug paraphernalia, marijuana and tobacco products
after they found them hiding in a field just off a trail near an
abandoned property in the 1000 block of Thousand Oaks Trail.
The officers had found a car parked at the end of a cul-de-sac,
and warned both individuals for trespassing on the property in
addition to the citations for possession of controlled substances
and paraphernalia.
Sept. 19
9:32 a.m. A woman reported shed be knocked down by a
car driven by her next door neighbor while walking in a parking lot in the 100 block of Prairie Heights Drive. Neither saw the
other when the driver backed up, and the woman injured her
right ankle, right ring finger and left hip. The driver was aware of
the incident when contacted by VPD.
Sept. 22
8:32 a.m. An officer spoke with a juvenile who claimed to
have been beaten up on the school bus after football practice at
Badger Ridge Middle School. Fitchburg police had initially been
looking into the incident before it was determined to have occurred in Verona.
Sept. 23
8:14 p.m. A juvenile male attempted to resist arrest before
being taken into custody at a Verona Area High School football
game after an officer determined probable cause to arrest him
based on the strong odor of marijuana. A search of the individuals backpack found marijuana, paraphernalia, prescription
medication and a large amount of cash. The individual was
transported to the Juvenile Reception Center in Madison.
Sept. 25
12:27 a.m. A 60-year-old Verona man was cited for his
first-offense OWI after being pulled over for driving without
headlamps or tall lamps near East Verona Avenue and Enterprise Drive. A breath sample was given at a reported value of
.17 BAC, and he was also cited for possession of a controlled
substance and operating without required lamps lit.
Library to host
WWI exhibit
The library will host
an exhibit next month
in recognition of the
centennial anniversary
of the United States
entry into World War I, in
addition to a discussion on
the conflict with Madison
College history professor
Jonathan Pollack.
Wo r l d Wa r I a n d
America composed of
documents, images and
interpretive texts from the
Gilder Lehrman Institute
of American History
will be on display from
Tuesday, Jan. 3 through
Monday, Jan. 23. The
exhibition, part of a twoyear national initiative of
The Library of America
and other veterans
organizations, will also
feature a trunk of artifacts
f r o m t h e Wi s c o n s i n
Veterans Museum. The
project is also supported by
the National Endowment
for the Humanities.
There will also be an
opportunity to learn about
the personal impact of
World War I during a
reading and discussion
with Pollack and other
community members who
will read aloud selected
If You Go
What: World War I and
America exhibit
When: Tuesday, Jan. 3
through Monday, Jan.
23
Where: Verona Public
Library, 500 Silent St.
Info: 845-7180
excerpts from World
War I and America: Told
by the Americans Who
Lived It from 7-8:30p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 19. Selected
readings are available at
the service desk or online
at veronapubliclibrary.org.
Pollack will return to the
library for a film screening
and discussion of the 1930
WWI film All Quiet on
the Western Front from
5:30-8:30p.m. Thursday,
Jan. 26, and there will
be a light meal offered
before the screening from
5-5:30p.m.
For information, call
845-7180.
Kate Newton
Academic
Achievements
Academic Achievements
run as space is available,
and this list of honorees and
graduates is not complete.
Due to the increased number
of submissions after spring
and fall graduation times,
there is often a backlog in
the following months.
Note: If you have a nonVerona address, but your
child attended school in
the Verona Area School
District, please email
[email protected] for
consideration.
Summer 2016
graduates
UW-La Crosse
Verona
Aaron Lee Bischoff, B.S.,
exercise and sport science;
Ethan Martin Clark, B.S.,
archaeological studies
UW-Whitewater
Verona
Madeline Peplinski, B.B.A.,
Spring 2016 honors
supply chain and operaUW-Parkside
tions management; Phyllis
Verona
Nzegwu, associate of arts;
Shane Richlen, UW-Parkside Carolyn Larsen, B.A., journalTheatre Scholarship
ism; George Uihlein, B.B.A.,
economics, summa cum
Fall 2016 honors
laude; Samuel Cali B.A., psyBelmont University
chology; Markie Hornung,
Verona
B.S.E., elementary educaRachel Benicek, deans list
tion, cum laude
Fitchburg
Carthage College
Elizabeth Wildes, M.B.A.,
Verona
business administration;
Molly Kempfer, deans list; Alex Watzke, B.A., accountZoe Shaw, deans list
ing, summa cum laude; Ruth
Fitchburg
Greiber, M.S., counseling
Marina Awes, deans list
Spring 2016
graduates
Upper Iowa University
Verona
Sept. 28
3:50 p.m. School staff notified police of an active fight on a
school bus at Verona Area High School. Upon responding, officers restrained one student and all three involved were escorted
off the bus.
Sept. 30
9:26 p.m. Officers observed a fight in progress at Verona
Area High School and cited two individuals involved with disorderly conduct on school property.
Kate Newton
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KEVIN MURPHY
ConnectVerona.com
Coming up
Churches
Dog licenses
Thursday, December 29
Thursday, January 5
Saturday, January 7
Monday, January 9
Tuesday, January 10
Wednesday, January 11
Whats on VHAT-98
Thursday, December 29
7 a.m. Harp Music at
Senior Center
8 a.m.- Zumba Gold
9 a.m. Daily Exercise
10 a.m. Kat Trio at Senior
Center
2 p.m. Zumba Gold
3 p.m. Daily Exercise
4 p.m. Trippers Music at
Senior Center
5 p.m. Celtic Carols at
Senior Center
6 p.m. Salem Church
Service
7 p.m. Wayne the Wizard
at Senior Center
8 p.m. Daily Exercise
9 p.m. Active Shooter
Training at Senior Center
10 p.m. Park Printing at
Historical Society
Friday, December 30
7 a.m. Trippers Music at
Senior Center
1 p.m. Active Shooter
Training at Senior Center
3 p.m. Verona 90-91 Boys
Basketball
4 p.m. Celtic Carols at
Senior Center
5 p.m. 2015 Wildcats
Football
8:30 p.m. Active Shooter
Training at Senior Center
10 p.m. Harp Music
11 p.m. Kat Trio at Senior
Center
Saturday, December 31
8 a.m. Common Council
from Dec. 12
Senior Center
5 p.m. 2015 Wildcats
Football
9 p.m. Hindu Cultural Hour
10 p.m. Harp Music
11 p.m. Kat Trio at Senior
Center
Tuesday, January 3
7 a.m. Harp Music
10 a.m.- Zumba Gold
9 a.m. Daily Exercise
10 a.m. Kat Trio at Senior
Center
2 p.m.- Zumba Gold
3 p.m. Daily Exercise
4 p.m. Trippers Music at
Senior Center
5 p.m. Celtic Carols at
Senior Center
6 p.m. Resurrection
Church
6:30 p.m. Plan Commission
Live
8 p.m. Wayne the Wizard
at Senior Center
9 p.m. Active Shooter
Training at Senior Center
10 p.m. Park Printing at
Historical Society
Wednesday, January 4
7 a.m. Trippers Music at
Senior Center
1 p.m. Active Shooter
Training at Senior Center
3 p.m. Verona 90-91 Boys
Basketball
5 p.m. Plan Commission
from Jan. 3
7 p.m. Capital City Band
8 p.m. Trippers Music at
Senior Center
Support groups
AA Meeting, senior center, Thursdays at 1 p.m.
Caregivers Support
Group, senior center, first
and third Tuesday, 10 a.m.
Healthy Lifestyles
Group meeting, senior
center, second Thursday
from 10:30 a.m.
Parkinsons Group,
senior center, third
Friday at 10 a.m.
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Community calendar
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regular weekly or monthly schedule. parties will now be held on the first
Those interested should contact Wednesday of every month.
Verona residents can purchase their program manager Alasa Wiest at
For information or to make a reser2017 dog licenses in person from 8 845-7471.
vation, call 845-7471.
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through
Jazz performance
NCS tours
Friday at City Hall, or by mail.
A rabies vaccination certificate
Celebrate the New Year early at
New Century School, 401 W. Veromust be presented before a license the senior center with a performance na Ave., will host informational tours
will be issued. The license form by the Al Anderson Jazz Band from for incoming students grades K-5 for
is available at City Hall or can be 12:30-1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30.
the 2017-18 school year from 8:30downloaded at veronawi.gov/DocuThe four-piece jazz group will per- 9:30 a.m. Thursdays, Jan. 5, 12, 19
mentCenter/Home/View/1425. The form Dixieland and big band favor- and 26.
license fee is $15 if the dog is spayed ites ending with Auld Lang Syne.
Those interested can drop in withor neutered/$20 if not. If purchasing Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. in the hour period and no RSVP is
a license through the mail, include a before the performance, and reser- needed. For information, email Leigh
copy of your rabies certificate and a vations are due by noon Thursday, Schmidt at Leighanneschmidt@
self-addressed stamped envelope and Dec. 29. The event is in honor of Pat gmail.com or call 345-9529.
mail to the City of Verona, Attention Rienks and family.
Chat and Chew
Dog License Applications, 111 LinFor information, call 845-7471.
coln Street, Verona, WI 53593.
Retired police officer and No One
Birthday, anniversary party
For information, call 845-6495.
Dies Alone volunteer Sharon Stewart
Join the senior center for the Jan- will lead a Chat and Chew program
Volunteer opportunity
uary birthday and anniversary party on Dying with Dignity and Choice
The senior center welcomes those beginning at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at the senior
seeking a flexible schedule for vol- Jan. 4.
center. Stewart will share informaunteering to consider becoming a
Lunch will be served at 11:45 and tion on death planning, green burial
Special Events volunteer.
live entertainment provided by Jim and home funerals. Refreshments
Joining entails being on a volun- and Mary Ann Helzel will begin at will be provided.
teer list for bigger events such as 12:30 p.m. (reservations required by
For information, call 845-7471.
fundraisers and parties, rather than a noon Monday, Jan. 2). The monthly
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Call 845-9559
to advertise on the
Verona Press
church page
ConnectVerona.com
Throwing down
Students at Badger Ridge Middle School and Core
Knowledge Charter School took part in a competition last
week inspired by a British television show.
Art teacher Sarah Grotsky created the BRMS/CKCS
Pottery Throw Down based on the show, The Great
Pottery Throw Down.
Students had 15 minutes to create the best pot on a
pottery wheel among the four competitors at the time.
Grotsky will hold another competition in the spring before
a final throw down in June. The winner will receive a
t-shirt.
Points were awarded for the height, centering, shape
and thin walls.
Left, a competitor
smooths out the inside
walls of his pot.
On the web
See more photos from the
Throw Down:
ConnectVerona.com
COMING
SOON...FALL
Happy
Holidays
from our house 2016
to yours!
First-grader Jaden Hockensmith digs into his bag of money to pull out the necessary quarters to buy and item from fifth-graders Annika Rufenacht, left, and Bentley Bourne.
On the web
Scott Girard
independent
assisted
memory care
ConnectVerona.com
Underground Parking
Home-Cooked Meals
Housekeeping
On-Site Salon
Movie Theatre
471 Prairie Way Blvd.
Verona, WI 53593
www.noelmanorliving.com
TODAY
A TOUR
CallCALL
Katie for
more FOR
information
(608) 620-6010 today!
Ask about our Move-In Special.
(608) 620-6010
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A Nutcracker dream
Few ballet performances end with dancers and audiences
members joining together in a sing-along of holiday tunes,
but such a scenario was exactly what attendees were met
with at the end of the Verona Youth Ballets 11th annual
performance of The Nutcracker Suite on Saturday, Dec.
10. After adding an additional performance last year, the
company again held two shows in the Verona Area High
School Performing Arts Center featuring dancers from 11
area dance companies, including sponsor Ballet U.
Co-directed by outgoing artistic director Charmaine
Ristow and her associate, Stephanie Tollefson, the production featured the classic Tchaikovsky score and choreography by Ristow, Tollefson and Judy Ferreri.
On the Web
Photos by Kate Newton
To view more photos from the Verona Youth Ballets 11th annual
Nutcracker Suite, visit:
ConnectVerona.com
The Mice, including (from left to right) Olivia Moreland, Harper Sill, Zoe Fransson,
Tula Statz, Olivia Roelli and Bronwyn Abegglen, strike a pose together during the
Battle Scene Dream in Act I.
Honor roll
Lucas Jay
Eggen
Nathan James Elias
Kelsie Marie Erstad
Nicholas John Fauble
Michail Fedorov
Allison Rachel Fee
Samantha Ann Feller
Bailey Michelle Felsheim
Coen Alexander Fewel
Mason James Fewel
Mason Petersen Fink
Joseph Strom Garibay
Riley Elizabeth Garibay
Chloe Elise
Garsha
Samuel Lucas Garsha
Jordan Rose Gasser
Peter Christopher
Gauthier
Alison Rae
Gerlach
Eliana Wood Gerndt
Zoe Elizabeth Geronimi
Gianna Maria Gnewuch
Viviane Paige Graham
Macey Kimberlyn
Grant
Morgan Elizabeth
Grignon
Tyler S.
Grim
Evan Nelson Grimme
Aiden Brian
Haack
Samuel Douglas Haack
Walker C
Haessig
Jake Robert
Hagen
Elizabeth Jacqueline
Hanson
Samuel Leigh Hartjes
37
29
59
*Capitol Banks Home Equity Line of Credit includes a 1.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for the rst 9 months following closing for
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Midwest Edition of the Wall Street Journal. As of October 7, 2016 the Prime Rate was 3.5%. After the 9 month introductory APR period
ends, the APR is variable and will consist of the Prime Rate plus a margin ranging from 0% to 2.5% depending upon the occupancy status of
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Abigail Christina McWilliams
Megan Christine Merlet
Ryan Michael Merlet
Max Christopher Metcalf
Claire Mary
Meyer
Olivia Caitlin Mizelle
Osiris Maria M o n t o y a
Garcia
Roberto Simone Mora
Isaac David
Mouchon
Taylor Josephine
Mueller
Anna Mae
Muncy
Nathan Alan Muncy
Fabiola Munguia Tapia
Adam Mathias Murphy
Megan Ruth Murphy
Abigale Rose Myers
Payette Leigh Neess
Logan Charles Neuroth
Maisy Claire Nevins
Benjamin Joseph
Newton
Hope Irene
Nicholas
Solana Lucia Noble
Edward Jack Nunn
Emily Grace
Nunn
Silas J Oakley
Virginia Colleen OBrien
Ryan Mark
Ochowski
Kaylee Lynn Odden
Anna Grace
Olson
Elizabeth Agnes Osting
Joshua Thomas Osting
Monayjah Amari
Pearnell
Catherine Rose Pederson
Brennen Chase Pelletier
Brian Perez Montes
Anna Perez
Mia Perez-Eleuterio
Jenny Rose
Perez-Soto
Hipolito Jesus P e r e z Xelhua
Katelin Anne Plesac
Anya Elizabeth Williams
Polet
Simon Andrew Popkewitz
Ryan John
Porter
Tatiana Vladimirovna
Predko
Tyler Ritter
Prest
Avlin T Prosa
Allison June Prough
Brock Matthew Prough
Anna Lanee
Putney
Bowen Quan
Jaden Elizabeth Quinn
Kimberly Susan Quinn
Renee Anne Rech
Katie Ann
Richardson
Silas Cian Wetherald
Riday
Sports
The Press
Verona
For more sports coverage, visit:
ConectVerona.com
Player of the
week
Mason McCormick
Despite knocking the ball out of a Beloit Memorial players hands, and gaining control Thursday, Verona junior Bui Clements (23), was
unable to capitalize off the stolen ball. The Wildcats lost the game 65-63 in overtime.
Boys basketball
Upcoming up short
Wildcats fall a basketball
short against Beloit
JEREMY JONES
Sports editor
Big Eight
Team
Middleton
Beloit Memorial
Sun Prairie
Madison Memorial
Janesville Craig
Madison East
Madison West
Verona
Madison La Follette
Janesville Parker
Wins Losses
6 1
4
2
4
2
4
2
4
2
4
3
3
4
2 5
2
5
0
7
Ve r o n a b oy s b a s ke t b a l l
fought back from a nine point
deficit at halftime only to lose
65-63 in overtime Thursday at
home against Big Eight rival
Beloit Memorial.
The Wildcats, who trailed
34-25 at halftime, outscored
the Purple Knights 30-21 in
the second half to send the
game to overtime.
Grant Kelliher led the Wildcats with 22 points and Bui
C l e m e n t s a d d e d 1 0 . M a x including two of the Wildcats 3-5 overall and 2-5 in the Big
Fink pitched in nine points four 3-pointers.
Eight Conference this year,
and Tyler McClure had eight,
The loss dropped Verona to while Beloit Memorial (6-2,
Position: Forward
Highlights: Scored a goal Dec. 23 in a
5-3 non-conference loss against Notre
Dame. McCormick is tied for the teamlead for the Wildcats with 18 points (13
goals, five assists).
Honorable mentions: Grant Kelliher
scored a game-high 22 points Thursday
in a 65-63 loss to Beloit Memorial. Bui
Clements added 10 points in the Big
Eight Conference game.
Turn to Basketball/Page 10
Boys hockey
Verona boys hockey capitalized on two of its five power-play chances Friday inside
Verona Ice Arena, but fell 5-3
against non-conference Notre
Dame.
The Wildcats were down two
goals in the first period, but
battled back to take a 3-2 lead
in the second with a trio of
special team goals.
Mack Keryluk scored a
power-play goal nine minutes into the first period. Jake
Keyes added a second Verona
man-advantage goal midway
through the second period and
Big Eight
Turn to Hockey/Page 10
Submitted photo
10
ConnectVerona.com
Coming up
Verona travels to the annual Rochester Kiwanis holiday
tournament in Rochester, Minn. Dec. 28-30, where they
will face Appleton United, Rochester Lourdes and Fargo
South.
Appleton won the bracket last season to snap a threeyear winning streak by Verona.
Verona senior Nick Pederson (10) takes the ball up the court in the first half of a game against Beloit Memorial
t h e H i l l t o p p e r s . J a l e n Onalaska.
Zubich (15) and Jalen
Verona hosts non-conSample (10) also posted ference Edgewood at 7:30
double-digit points for p.m. Thursday.
Freshman defenseman Keegan Lindell and the Wildcats travel to the Rochester Kiwanis Holiday tournament this week.
Badger Conference
Sports editor
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Verona History
40 years ago
Larry OBrien became
the second Verona runner in
the past three years to win
the cross country Class B
state championship, following Bill Markwardt, who
had been unable to defend
his 1974 title because of a
stress fracture.
Teammate Bob Maurer
finished 11th.
Badger School students
spent a day on a Mount Vernon farm being filmed while
playing with the animals for
an educational movie for
the National Association for
Retarded Citizens.
At the time, such special
ed students were segregated into their own schools,
run by the county. But the
next year, the school district
started its own special ed
program.
Residents near the new
village well, No. 3, began
to have problems with sand
20 years ago
Mount Vernon held a
150th anniversary celebration, including a parade,
fireworks and dedication of
the new flag pole.
The Dane County Parks
Commission purchased 111
acres of land off County
Hwy. PD for the Ice Age
Junction to continue linking
the 1,000-mile-long Ice Age
Trail to public land. The Ice
Age Trail Foundation funded about a quarter of the $2
million cost.
The boys and girls cross
country teams both qualified for the state Division 1
meet.
The boys, led by fourthplace Nic Iverson and fifthplace Wes Shaughnessy,
won the Oregon sectional,
placing three scorers in
front of the second-place
teams third man. The girls
finished second behind
Becca Vickers fourth-place
finish.
Scott Klug and Madison
Mayor Paul Soglin held a
debate in Verona for Klugs
open seat in Congress.
It was the only suburban
debate site the two held,
and was more accurately
described as a forum.
Ve r o n a A r e a M i d dle Schools Karen Watson-Newlin was chosen
as the states Art Educator
10 y
ears ago
Terrence Wall presented an alternative plan for
what he called the West End
to the Common Council,
drawing mixed responses.
He later pitched the idea,
complete with a 3D graphical flyover of the shopping
and residential center, to a
community audience at the
Senior Center and got more
favorable reviews.
The city approved a
plan with $500,000 in
tax-increment financing to
keep uninterruptible power supply repair company
JT Packard in Verona by
helping it expand to the
Verona Technology Park.
The company, which was
in the Bruce Street Industrial Park, instead was purchased by a larger firm,
Power Plus, which canceled
that plan, and then was purchased by Thomas & Betts
in 2010 and closed last year.
A month after a Wisconsin principal was killed in
a school shooting, Verona
Area High School held a
surprise lockdown drill that
left students and staff members shaken.
We cant afford to be
lax, principal Kelly Meyers explained to parents in a
letter afterward.
Farm and Fleets parent company pitched a plan
to redevelop the former
Hometown Village assisted-living facility. After
several months of local
resistance and back-andforth proposals, the big-box
discount store agreed to a
square footage limitation
and an upscale facade and
eventually opened in 2008.
A national television
series, Forensic Files,
featured the story of a triple-homicide in downtown
Verona from three years
earlier.
The episode then aired
on Court TV featured
interviews from detective
Stan Petrie, who was still
with the Verona Police
Department at the time. It
was called The Gambler.
A task force assigned to
explore options for a new
police station ranging
from a large facility with
a fire station and community center to a standalone
facility concluded City
Hall should be included in
the facility, since the existing 28-year-old old building
Jan. 5
schedule
New Glarus @ Hooterville Express (8:00)
Kleemans @ Hooterville Shufflers (8:00)
Norsk Golf Bowl @
Shenanigans (8:00)
Eagle Heights @
Montes (7:00)
J&M Bar @ Jones
Plumbing (8:00)
First half
standings
Norsk Golf Bowl: 7-2
Kleemans: 7-2
Hooterville-Shufflers:
5-4
Montes: 5-4
Shenanigans: 5-4
Eagle Heights: 4-5
Hooterville-Express:
4-5
Jones Plumbing: 4-5
New Glarus: 4-5
J&M Bar: 0-9
Mid-Winter
Tournament
The league held its
annual Mid-Winter Tournament Thursday, Dec. 15.
Thirty-two players gathered in New Glarus for the
tournament, where Harold
Schlimgen and Jeff Judd
scored 120 points to win
first place. Derek Skogen
and Erik Massey took second place, with Jerry Judd
and Dean Disch taking
third at 108 points.
The traveling League
Championship trophy from
the 2015-16 season went
to Hooterville-Express
with each team member
also receiving an individual trophy. The team
consisted of: Opie Taylor
(Capt.) Steve Hoffmaster, Shawn Farrell, Tracy
Haag, John Scheidegger,
Dave Steinhauer, Charlie
Steinhauer, Dale Herfel,
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ConnectVerona.com
File photos by Anthony Iozzo (above left) and Scott Girard (above right)
Above left, Alex Luehring and Alley Johnson celebrate after the Verona Area High School girls basketball team won its first state championship in school history. Above right, supporters
of a charter renewal for Verona Area International School filled the board room Dec. 5, with students having to cluster near the board table to watch the proceedings. The board ultimately
approved a new five-year charter on a 6-1 vote.
2016: Big year for Verona schools with girls state basketball crown, renewal of VAIS
at No. 1.
Holiday deadlines
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Great Dane Shopping News
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Our offices will be closed December 26, 2016 and January 2, 2017
fund that could lower the tax (59.2) and assists (32).
impact of the April 2017 ref Anthony Iozzo
erendum to build a new high
4. Interest in open
school.
Jim Ferolie seats
5. VAIS renewal
The months-long discussion about the school districts Chinese immersion
charter school raised many
significant questions about
the schools sustainability.
For six of the school
board members, though,
the schools representatives
answered them well enough
to agree to a new fiveyear charter agreement in
December.
The discussion began at
the committee level as far
back as March, when questions about its enrollment
and support for struggling
students took hold. For
months, as they rolled with a
change in the schools director and a new president of its
governing council, parents
protested the negative implications and pressed hard for
a new agreement.
When they got it on a 6-1
vote Dec. 5, parents and a
couple dozen of the schools
students cheered.
It also highlighted the students lack of opportunity to
continue Chinese education
after fifth-grade.
For the first two classes that graduated from the
school, the district is providing an online option that
some parents have said is
insufficient to advance their
education.
But with a new five-year
charter in place and an
in-progress review of the
district-wide World Languages program, parents
could soon get good news
on that front, as well.
Scott Girard
Turn to 2016/Page 13
ConnectVerona.com
13
2016: After petition efforts, VASD student with medical issue allowed to attend graduation
Continued from page 12
left the citys Personnel committee busier than ever. They include
the resignation of administrator
Bill Burns after six years for a
job with Middleton and the retirements of longtime public works
director Ron Rieder (33 years),
engineer Bob Gundlach (30-plus
years) and assessor Bob Courter
(34 years).
It also included the exit of clerk
Kami Scofield in September for
the same position in Appleton
and both members of the building
inspection team, Brian Flannery
and Todd Parkos, over the summer. The last was just a week ago,
the retirement of finance director
Cindy Engelke after 17 years in
Verona.
As a result, fire chief Joe Giver
is now third in line among department heads for tenure with the
city, at just under six years. A litFile photo by Scott Girard tle over a year ago, he was ninth.
Noah Currier, left, and his mother, Christina Currier-Sager react after Verona Area School Board president DenThe administrator vacancy was
nis Beres tells them, along with lawyer Chad Kemp (partially pictured at left), that Currier could walk at gradua- particularly disruptive; the Comtion after a two-hour closed session meeting the day before the ceremony in June.
mon Council was unsatisfied with
its first group of candidates and
did a second round of interviews
The school board called for a for the ceremony gave a rounding 6. (tie) City turnover
before bringing in Jeff Mikorski,
closed session, two-hour meeting ovation for Currier when his name
who started Aug. 29, five months
Verona has gone through peri- after Burns left.
one day before the ceremony. After was announced, and afterward, he
Currier made his case, they held a threw his cap into the air with his ods of turnovers before, but never
brief discussion and announced he friends, something he said he had quite like the past 15 months.
Jim Ferolie
Beginning in September 2015,
could walk the next day, drawing always dreamed of doing.
it has sustained a series of exits
tears from he and his mother.
Turn to 2016/Page 14
Scott Girard that have shaken things up and
The crowd on Epics campus
Honorable mentions
Scott Girard
Scott Girard
File photo by Scott Girard
GE redistricting
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Verona Area Community Theaters new 14,625-square-foot facility will include a 150-seat theater, dance and music studios, set-building and costume workshop areas and rehearsal space.
Construction is expected to conclude in late April 2017.
2016: Busy year saw groundbreaking for new VACT building, saving of historic Matts House
Continued from page 13
8. (tie) Transgender
policy
The Verona Area School
District put its stamp on a
controversial nationwide discussion when it approved a
policy regarding transgender
students this year.
The approval came after
nearly a year of committee
work, legal review and discussion to develop and refine
the policy, which will likely
go into place sometime in
early 2017.
The most significant part
of the policy will allow students to use the bathroom
and locker room of the gender they identify as.
Other provisions include
a gender support plan that
helps to outline what staff
Legals
STATE OF WISCONSIN,
CIRCUIT COURT,
DANE COUNTY, NOTICE TO
CREDITORS (INFORMAL
ADMINISTRATION) IN THE
MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF
HILDEGARD FLECHTNER,
DECEASED
***
The city more formally recognized the Matts House as a historic monument in April, and
helped arrange for a local restoration specialist to buy it and fix it.
community use, set-building and costume workshop
areas and primarily storage
space on the upper floor.
VA C T c o n t i n u e s t o
update the public on the
building campaign via its
website, where it posted
Dec. 6, The building has a
floor!
Kate Newton
TRUCK DRIVER/MERCHANDISER:
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our products on shelves in the grocery
stores we deliver to. Grocery store experience helpful. 35-40 hours per week.
M-F with few Saturdays's during holiday
weeks. No CDL required. Call or email
Darrell at L&L Foods 608-514-4148 or
[email protected]
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Light Construction Remodeling
No job too small
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FRENCHTOWN
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Variety of sizes available now.
10x10=$60/month
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OREGON SELF-STORAGE
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