News – April 23, 2019

 

(Columbus) For the third meeting in a row, the Columbus School Board heard from citizens upset about district practice. At previous meetings, multiple speakers addressed the board in sometimes intense exchanges criticizing district leadership for its communication, student safety, curriculum and an uptick in resignations. There were only a handful of citizen speakers last (Monday) night, but those addressing the board were still fired up and again called for the resignation of the superintendent and school board president. School officials did not comment during yesterday’s meeting but in a statement released earlier said the district is setting the right tone by moving in a measured direction…forward to keep students from falling behind while being careful not to move too quickly.

(Columbus) There are a couple new faces on the Columbus School Board. Keith Loppnow (lup-no) was elected to an open seat on the board in this month’s general election. Loppnow replaces Mary Arnold who chose not to seek re-election. Julia Hoffman is filling out the remaining term of Barb Hesselberg, who resigned in February. Hoffman, who had previously served on the school board, was selected from five applicants for a term that runs through next April.

(Mayville) Mayville is looking into changing city ordinance to allow residents to house poultry within city limits. Current law prohibits citizens from keeping chickens, fowls or any type of livestock such as horses, cattle, sheep and goats in the city outside of agricultural districts.  Public Safety Chair Bob Smith says a potential change in the ordinance could see citizens being able to house chickens, ducks and turkeys with a quantity still to be determined. One citizen in attendance last (Monday) night asked to have honeybees included in the ordinance change. The Public Safety Committee will discuss the matter further during next month’s meeting and at some point a public hearing is anticipated.

(Town of Elba) Fire destroyed a garage in Columbus overnight. Crews responded to N3301 Roche Road in the Dodge County Town of Elba around 11pm. Upon arrival, the roof was caving in. The detached garage was a total loss. It is unknown how the blaze started. Firefighters were on scene for around three hours.

(Reeseville) His defense attorney was there but a Carlisle, Pennsylvania man failed to appear in court yesterday (Thursday) on charges that he assaulted two minors in Reeseville. An arrested warrant was issued for Steven Barlow, who allegedly admitted to the assaults that occurred while he was living with the victim’s family between 2015 and 2017. If convicted, the 23-year-old is facing a maximum sentence of 120 years in prison.

(Wisconsin Rapids) A World War Two veteran got quite the surprise for her 100th Birthday, thanks to help from the community. Sara Parsons of Wisconsin Rapids was one of the first women to join the Women’s Army Corp in World War Two, and staff from the Never Forgotten Honor Flight asked Facebook friends to send her cards for her birthday. In all she received over 750 cards from across the country, including one from former President Jimmy Carter. Parson wrote about her experiences in the Women’s Army Corps in a memoir titled First WAC.