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MONROE COUNTY
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Volume 157
Tomah takes
down Spartans
PAGE 7
HERALD
• Successor of The Sparta herald and Monroe County Democrat •
Sparta, Wisconsin 54656
$2.5 million verdict
A Monroe County jury came
back with a $2.5 million dollar
verdict in a wrongful death case
last week.
A jury rendered a $2.5 million
verdict to John Mundo in the
Knights of
Pythias disband
PAGE 12
ONE Section - 12 Pages
Number 5
Mathy sued in wrongful death suit from 2013 accident
By RENAE CALDWELL
Staff Writer
Sparta dancers
headed to state
PAGE 7
MONDAY, February 1, 2016
case of John Mundo et al. versus
Mathy Construction et al.
John Mundo’s sister, Melissa
Mundo of Chicago, died after
a three-vehicle car accident on
Hwy. 173 in 2013.
Atthetimeoftheaccident,fire
fightersweretendingtoanearby
grassfireandvisibilitywaspoor.
Melissa Mundo, 34, was rear
ended by Suzanne Becker, then
61, of Lannon. The women exited
their vehicles and were conversing
about the crash when they were
struck by a Mathy Construction
truck driven by David Pieper,
then 57, of Galesville.
The women were pinned
between their two vehicles.
Mundo was killed and Becker
was seriously injured and was
airlifted to a hospital. She is
permanently injured.
Both Becker and John Mundo
sued Mathy, Pieper, several
insurance
companies,
St.
Joseph’s Hospital of Marshfield
and Ocean Spray, where Melissa
Mundo was employed. Becker
also is listed as a defendant in
the case.
“The jury verdict for $2.5
million, by statute, must be
reduced to a statutory cap of
$350,000,” said Todd Hageman
of The Simon Law Firm, P.C. of
St. Louis, MO, who represented
the Mundo family.
He explained Melissa Mundo
was found to be 27% at fault,
Becker was found to be 23% at
fault and Pieper was found to be
50% at fault.
Mathy must pay the Mundos
$350,000, less 27%, Hageman
explained.
Becker’s judgment has yet to
be released.
Sparta mayoral
debate slated
for Feb. 8 at
Sparta High
Will be aired live on
local radio stations
Evans Print & Media Group
and WCOW will co-sponsor a
Sparta mayoral debate on Feb. 8
The debate will be at 7:30
p.m. in the Sparta High School
auditorium and will be aired
live on WKLJ 1290 on the AM
dial and its translator station at
102.1 on the FM dial.
Clary Harris, COW 97 news
director, and Monroe County
Herald Editor Pat Mulvaney will
moderate the debate, which will
consist of a question and answer
format.
The public is encouraged to
attend and can submit questions
of their own. All candidates
have been invited and so far,
incumbent Ron Button and
challengers Ted Raddle and
Bruce Humphrey have indicated
they will participate.
Write-in
candidate
Jacob
Erdman has not yet committed
to attending.
If you go
What:Mayoral
debate
When: 7:30p.m.
Feb.8th
INDEX
Classified…….. 10-11
Horoscope….. 4
Locals…............ 3
Obituaries…… 4
Opinions……... 6
Puzzles……….. 2 & 3
Sports…………. 7-9
What’sUp…… 12
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Where:SpartaHigh
SchoolAuditorium
SchoolSpirit
SpartaSuperintendentJohnHendricks(75)andSpartaMeadowviewMiddleSchoolPrincipalJeffKrull(65)donnedTomah
football jerseys on the mat prior to the start of Thursday’s Mississippi Valley Conference wrestling match between the
SpartansandtheTimberwolves.Thejerseyswerea“gift”fromTomahActivitiesDirectorTomCurran(center)aspartof
a friendly contest between the two schools. Staff members from Sparta and Tomah competed against each other to
seewhichschooldistricthadthebestparticipationinafundraiserforTheUnitedWay.Tomahwonthecontest,leaving
HendricksandKrulltowearTomahgear.HendrickssaidallSpartaadministratorsputonTomahappareltoday(Monday)
aspartofthewager.Thetwoschoolsraisednearly$3,000forTheUnitedWay.PhotobyJ.P.Schaller.
Mayoral candidates hope to sway voters and survive Feb. 16 primary
by PAT MULVANEY
Editor
When Sparta voters go to the
polls for the Feb. 16 primary, they
will have four mayoral candidates
to choose from.
Incumbent Ron Button and
challengers Ted Radde and Bruce
Humphrey will be on the ballot,
while a fourth candidate, Jacob
Erdman, is mounting a write-in
campaign.
All
four
candidates
are
essentially
life-long
Sparta
residents and all have graduated
from Sparta High School with
the exception of Erdman, who
is currently a senior and won’t
graduate until May.
The three candidates on
the ballot have two things in
common; they have plenty of
political experience under their
belts and they are all retired. But
there is plenty that separates
them, too.
Bruce Humphrey
Humphrey, a retired state
senate staffer, is running on
a platform to place the city’s
police services under the sheriff’s
department.
“I often wondered why we need
two separate police agencies in
Sparta that are situated virtually
across the street from each
other,” he said.
His concern over the issue
piqued a year ago when the city
released results of a space-needs
study, suggesting an expensive
Bruce Humphrey
Ted Radde
Ron Button
new police station could be in the
public’s future.
The study examined five
building alternatives ranging
in the millions of dollars and
requiring land acquisition.
Humphrey says communities
have been shown to save up
to 40% of their existing police
budget a year by contracting
counties to provide police service.
That translates to over $700,000
annually in the City of Sparta.
The savings, he says, are twofold. “You save on the police
budget and you save on bonding
payments for a new facility.”
Humphrey points to the City
of Pewaukee with a population
of 13,000 which contracted with
Waukesha County six years ago
to provide its police services.
“They’ve been doing it for
six years and, according to
Pewaukee’s city administrator,
they’re saving $1 million a year,”
he said.
Humphrey said he tried to
make the City of Sparta aware
of the police option but was
disappointed when no one in
city government made an effort
to explore it. That’s when he
decided to run for mayor.
“I think the people of the City
of Sparta deserve to have a
conversation about it,” he said.
“That is the reason I am running
for mayor and I think that is the
overriding issue.”
Humphrey also points to
his record of acting in Sparta
residents’’ interests for much of
his political career as evidence
he knows how to get things
done. During his stint in state
government he helped Sparta
get funding for renovating the
old depot, now the Chamber
of Commerce building, and
constructing the bicycle overpass
on I-90.
He’s served on the county
board for 11 years, representing
“the core of the City of Sparta”,
including
the
downtown,
courthouse and city hall.
While he said a few of those
years were exasperating, the last
eight or nine years have been the
most productive years in Monroe
County’s history.
In 2008, Humphrey, who has
served as the board chairman,
was instrumental in reviving the
justice center effort in downtown
Jacob Erdman
Sparta. The jail will be ready for
occupation later this month and
the rest of the project is expected
to be complete in the spring of
2017.
He points to other progress in
the county during his time on
the board, including installing a
soon-to-be operating state-of-theart emergency communication
system,
hiring
a
county
administrator and creating a
finance department to deal with
the county’s $60 million budget.
The county board was finally
downsized
after
two
failed
atttempts and is set to go from 24
to 16 supervisors after the April
election.
“We’ve had some historic
(See CANDIDATES Page 5)
MONROE COUNTY HERALD
Page 2
Monroe County Circuit Court News
Sentenced
January 19
• Ashley N. Lieske, 27, Black River Falls, was sentenced to 18 months
probation for identity theft.
January 21
• David R. Ortiz, 26, Sparta, was sentenced to nine months in jail for
battery and three months in jail for disorderly conduct, to be served
concurrently. He will receive credit for 175 days in jail.
• Joshua M. Hake, 36, Sparta, was sentenced to four months in jail
with Huber privileges for possession of marijuana as a subsequent
offense.
January 25
• Michael E. Kaspari, 33, Tomah, was sentenced to 45 days in jail with
Huber privileges and two years probation for domestic abuse related
criminal damage to property.
• Dennis L. Donskey, 64, Sparta, was sentenced to 12 months
probation for failure to provide proper outdoor shelter for animals. He
may not own or possess any domesticated animals.
• Caree A. Richards, 47, Sparta, was sentenced to 10 days in jail,
which was imposed and stayed for two counts of disorderly conduct.
She was sentenced to 12 months probation, which may be reduced
to six months.
• Shane J. Kast, 43, Sparta, was sentenced to 30 days in jail with
Huber privileges and 18 months probation for domestic abuse related
disorderly conduct. His probation may be reduced to 12 months.
January 27
• Ross P. Mathison, 20, Rockland, was sentenced to 105 days in jail
with Huber privileges for battery as party to a crime.
Charged
January 13
• Brian W. Matteau, 46, Sparta, with two counts of felony bail jumping
after he allegedly failed to report for his drug testing appointments. A
$1,000 cash bond was set.
January 19
• Dylan B. Shrake, 17, Tomah, with retail theft and possession of drug
paraphernalia after he allegedly stole video games and a video game
controller from the Tomah Wal-Mart. A $1,500 signature bond was
set. He may not have contact with the co-defendant. He may not have
contact with any Wal-Mart store.
• Edgar Bazan-Jimenez, 21, Arcadia, with bail jumping and disorderly
conduct after a Monroe County 911 Communication Center employee
reportedly witnessed him arguing with a woman and saw him kicking
her car in the Monroe County Courthouse parking lot. A $400
cash bond was set. He may not have contact with the victim or her
residence. He may not drink alcohol or enter places where it is sold.
January 21
• Christy L. Frei, 38, Tomah, with possession of methamphetamine,
possession of narcotic drugs, possession of an illegally obtained
prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing an officer
and two counts of possession of a controlled substance after police
investigated a suspicious vehicle with occupants parked near an alley
on South “K” St. around midnight. A $5,000 signature bond was set.
She may not have contact with the co-defendant. A 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
curfew was imposed.
• Jeremy W. Devine, 31, Holmen, with possession of methamphetamine,
possession of marijuana, obstructing an officer, possession of drug
paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and three counts
of bail jumping, all as a habitual criminal after police investigated a
suspicious vehicle with occupants parked near an alley on South “K”
St. around midnight. A $2,500 cash bond was set. He may not have
contact with the co-defendant. A 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew was imposed.
• Rylan R. Blackdeer, 28, Black River Falls, with possession of
marijuana and drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop in Tomah. A
$500 signature bond was set.
• Lloyd J. Whiteeagle, 30, Black River Falls, with bail jumping and
second offense operating while revoked after a traffic stop in Tomah.
A $500 signature bond was set. He may not drink alcohol or enter
places where it is sold.
January 22
• Kiefer L. Mahan, 18, Sparta, with possession with intent to deliver
marijuana and maintaining a drug trafficking place, each as party
to a crime, and possession of marijuana. Police reportedly went to
his residence on Jan. 3 to investigate another occupant for retail
theft when they smelled marijuana and saw drug paraphernalia. A
$1,000 signature bond was set. He may not have contact with the codefendants or their residences.
• Kelley J. Spivey, 19, Sparta, with possession with intent to deliver
her residence on Jan. 3 to investigate her for retail theft when they
smelled marijuana and saw drug paraphernalia. A $3,000 signature
bond was set. She may not have contact with the co-defendants or
their residences. On Jan. 25 she was charged with felony bail jumping,
battery and disorderly conduct after an alleged argument with her
mother. A $3,000 signature bond was set. She may not have contact
with the victim or her residence.
• Jacob D. Dinger, 19, Sparta, with possession with intent to deliver
his residence on Jan. 3 to investigate another occupant for retail
theft when they smelled marijuana and saw drug paraphernalia. A
$1,000 signature bond was set. He may not have contact with the codefendants or their residences.
• Chad M. Fritsch, 36, New Lisbon, with felony retail theft and
misdemeanor retail theft after he allegedly stole a car stereo and pants
from the Tomah Wal-Mart. A $1,000 signature bond was set. He may
not have contact with the store.
• Erica S. Martin, 28, Sparta, with bail jumping and operating while
revoked after a traffic stop in Leon. A $1,500 signature bond was set.
She may not drink alcohol or enter places where it is sold. A 7 p.m. to
7 a.m. curfew was imposed.
• Mikayla A. Leis, 21, Sparta, with possession with intent to deliver
methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, each as
party to a crime, after a traffic stop in which the K-9 alerted to the
presence of drugs. She may not have contact with the co-defendant. A
7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew was imposed.
• Jacob J. Dobbs, 35, Sparta, with possession with intent to deliver
methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, each as
party to a crime, and second offense drunken driving after a traffic
stop in which the K-9 alerted to the presence of drugs. He may not
have contact with the co-defendant. A 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew was
imposed.
• August C. Moser, 25, Tomah, with possession with intent to deliver
marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia
and felony bail jumping, all as a habitual criminal. He was arrested
in Tomah as part of an ongoing drug investigation that began in Eau
Claire County. A $1,500 signature bond was set. He may not have
contact with the co-defendant. A 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew was imposed.
• Antonio J. Jaime, 17, Tomah, with bail jumping and disorderly
conduct. Police reportedly saw him driving and knew his driver’s
license was suspended.
January 24
• Sophia Y. Vargas, 38, Tomah, with bail jumping, operating after
revocation and second offense drunken driving after a traffic stop in
Tomah because she was allegedly driving the wrong way on a one-way
street. A $500 cash bond was set. She may not drink alcohol or enter
places where it is sold. A 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew was imposed.
• Blake A. Richardson, 17, Sparta, with criminal damage to property
and disorderly conduct. During an argument with his mother, he
allegedly disabled the garage door opener, preventing her from
leaving. A $1,000 signature bond was set. He was instructed to take
his medication.
January 25
• Wade M. Riley, 21, Sparta, with physical abuse of a child and
disorderly conduct after he allegedly struck his 14-year old sister.
A $2,500 signature bond was set. He may not have contact with the
victim, witnesses or their residences.
• David J. Salis, 31, Sparta, with felony bail jumping, disorderly
conduct and carrying a concealed weapon. Police reportedly saw him
driving and knew his driver’s license was suspended. He reportedly
admitted to possessing a BB gun in his jacket pocket. A $500 cash
bond was set. He may not drink alcohol or enter places where it is
sold.
• Jose J. Zuniga-Jimenez. 38, Sparta, with four counts of felony bail
jumping after he allegedly violated his curfew. A $1,500 cash bond
was set. A 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew was imposed.
January 26
• Brooke A. Hartwig, 23, Black River Falls, with felony bail jumping
and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police were investigating a
suspicious vehicle parked in the alley behind CenturyLink in Sparta
and the K-9 reportedly alerted to the presence of drugs. A $250 cash
bond was set. She may not have contact with the co-defendants. A 7
p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew was imposed.
• Laurana L. Poindexter, 19, Humbird, with felony bail jumping,
misdemeanor bail jumping, obstructing an officer, possession of
methamphetamine as party to a crime and two counts of possession
of an illegally obtained prescription. Police were investigating a
suspicious vehicle parked in the alley behind CenturyLink in Sparta
and the K-9 reportedly alerted to the presence of drugs. A $500 cash
bond was set. She may not have contact with the co-defendants. A 7
p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew was imposed.
Sparta man senteced to prison for
failing to register as sex offender
Bradley J. Bakken, 30, Sparta,
was sentenced Friday by U.S.
District Judge James Peterson
to 48 months in federal prison,
to be followed by five years of
supervised release, for failing
to register as required by the
Sex Offender Registration and
Notification Act (SORNA). Bakken
pleaded guilty to the charge on
October 22, 2015.
Bakken
was
required
to
register and keep his registration
current
prior
to
traveling
outside of the state. He used
an alias and traveled to Arizona
and Texas in December 2014,
without updating his registration
information.
Bakken
was
arrested in Austin, Texas on April
1, 2015.
Judge Peterson stated that
Bakken has a long pattern of
criminal conduct that warranted
a longer sentence than the 30 to
37 month range recommended
by the advisory guidelines.
The charge against Bakken
was the result of an investigation
conducted by the U.S. Marshals
Service.
The prosecution of
the case has been handled by
Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio
M. Trillo.
Robber sentenced to nearly 20 years
The man convicted of robbing
the Wayside Tavern in Sparta last
June will spend almost the next
two decades behind bars.
Judge Todd Ziegler sentenced
David Walton to 18 years in
prison and 10 years extended
supervision for armed robbery.
He also was sentenced to two
years in prison and two years
extended supervision for felony
theft and nine months in jail
for misdemeanor theft, to be
served concurrent to the prison
sentence.
A jury found Walton guilty of
the crimes last fall.
“David Walton is a career
robber. There is no place in our
community for people who choose
to attempt to make a living by
victimizing innocent community
members. This verdict will help to
ensure that Mr. Walton remains
out of our community for an
extended period of time,” said
Monroe County District Attorney
Kevin Chroninger at the time.
Indeed,
Walton,
28,
had
previously been convicted of
armed robbery in 2008 and
was sentenced to eight years in
prison. Court records indicated
he was eligible for early release
based on good behavior.
He was out on parole when he
and two others committed the
robbery on June 11.
Walton
entered
the
bar,
displayed
a
handgun
and
demanded money from the
bartender, then fled the bar with
the money.
Courtney Stalsberg, 24 was
sentenced to180 days in jail
without Huber privileges and 10
years probation for her part in
the robbery. Cody Nelson, 28,
was found guilty at a jury trial.
He will be sentenced on Feb. 9.
Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch visited Innovations STEM Academy in Sparta
last week. She met students Brett Waite, left, and Brandon Morkrid, and
learned about experiments they are conducting.
Kleefisch visits area
by RENAE CALDWELL
Staff Writer
Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch was
in Sparta and Tomah last week
as part of her Rural Wisconsin
Initiative tour.
After lunching at Jake’s
Northwoods with area dignitaries,
Kleefisch toured Innovations
STEM Academy.
The Sparta charter school
focuses on science, technology,
engineering and math, using
real-world problem solving. The
curriculum is student-centered,
which increases technological
abilities and leadership skills,
say the staff, which includes
teachers Chris Amundson, Jo
Brinks, Teresa Lakowske and
Dana Hoff.
Kleefisch learned there are
currently about 60 students
enrolled in the school for sixth
through eighth graders. About
22 kids are signed up for next
year, indicated Amundson, one
of the school’s founders, along
with Brinks.
“STEM is interesting because
of what we are planting within
students’ minds,” said Kleefisch.
Amundson
explained
the
students do three major projects
per year and classes are geared
around that main topic. This
semester, students are learning
about “Nature’s Fury”. They
are tracking weather patterns,
learning about warm and cold
fronts, and will be writing a book
about a major event, from the
perspective of either the event or
something affected by it, such as
a mouse swept up in a tornado.
Kleefisch witnessed several
experiments and indicated to
students that those who graduate
with a BA in anything STEM
related have more jobs available
to them than college graduates in
other fields.
“STEM
graduates
have
unparalleled job opportunities
upon college graduation,” she
said.
Following the visit to STEM,
Kleefisch stopped by Mayo
Clinic in Sparta to learn about
telemedicine. She also toured
LYNXX in Camp Douglas and
wound up her day at Burnstad’s
European Restaurant in Tomah.
Answers on page 11
From the past . . .
5 YEARS AGO – Jan. 31, 2011
Seek nominations for Sparta Butterfest dignitaries
First ever Relic Snowmobile Ride and Food Drive
Tax season is here and WI DOR recommends e-filing
10 YEARS AGO – Jan. 30, 2006
Franciscan Skemp Healthcare will be closing its nursing home
Personnel director’s position gets a temporary reprieve from the
axe
Quilting crowd – largest selling Tea Time at the Museum for
“Grandma’s Quilts: 1900-1975”
15 YEARS AGO – Jan. 29, 2001
SACS, Sparta Area Cancer Support, Inc. is organized mid 2000 –
Curt Wells as founder is recognized as founder
McCoy/Trane Co. conduct HAZMAT refresher training at Fort McCoy
Brandon Borreson is the fourth “Good Samaritan” in house fire
rescue attempt
20 YEARS AGO – Jan. 29, 1996
City buried in record January snowfall
Working families eye eligibility for earned income tax credit
Taxpayers Alliance claims apathetic attitude toward county politics exists
25 YEARS AGO - Jan. 28, 1991
City elementary students learn about Native American culture
Eye new clerical post for Sparta school central office staff
Leader dogs give the blind new lease on life – courtesy of Lions
and Lionesses
Marriage Licenses
Jason Duane Johnson and
Becky Lynn Pagel
Jessica Marie Brandau and
Jennifer Lynn Brockman
Edgar Ivan Rodriguez Alvarado
and Jennifer Lynn Moran
Branden James Stanley and
Angel Dove Clemmerson
Amos A. Borntreger Jr. and
Lizzie H. Miller
Monroe County
Records
Brian Joseph Haas and Carol
Annette Chapman
Richard William Vlasak and
Kristin Lyn McKittrick
Sam Daniel Stelpflug and
Brittney Jean Furuseth
Joseph A. Borntreger and
Fannie L. Miller
PARK BANK MEANS BUSINESS!
SBA
BUSINESS
LOANS
How long will it take?
How much will it cost?
What are the benefits?
PARK BANK IS AN AWARD-WINNING
SBA LENDER AND CAN HELP ANSWER
THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE!
Kristy Theirl,
Vice President
kristy.theirl@
helloparkbank.com
NMLS:466015
145 N. Water St., Sparta, WI 54656
helloparkbank.com
(608) 269-BANK
Park Bank proudly holds the award as Wisconsin’s SBA Largest Volume Lender,
in banks of same size. We have won this award 14 consecutive years and strive
to continue to offer area small businesses the financial backing
needed to make our local economy strong.
Around Town
Miranda Leis, the daughter
of Charles and Virginia Weiner
of Sparta, has been elected
chairwoman of the Wisconsin
Board of Agriculture, Trade and
Consumer Protection. She is the
first woman to hold the position
of chair in the 119 year history of
the DATCP board. She and Corey
Leis live in the Cashton area.
The Sparta High School
Class of 1966 will hold its 50th
reunion on Aug. 20th, and is
in need of addresses for the
following people: Roger Erickson,
Greg Grant, Jeff Grant, Betty
Heuer, Dave Lehrke, Gene
Kolbo, Linda Loging, Virginia
Marquardt, Jerome Peterson,
Page 3
Thank You
by Shari Arnold
The winners of the Sparta Trailblazers
money raffle were, 1st - Tom Arendt;
2nd - Scott Eberhart; 3rd - Dan Stone;
4th - Mike Dutton; and 5th - Steve
Hemmersbach.
Gene Olson found the medallion.
Poker run winners were, 1st - John
Bell; 2nd - Deb Bell; and 3rd - Dave
Gundlach. Meat raffle winners were, 1st
- Mark Betthowser; 2nd - Mike Wegner;
3rd - Harvey Oswald; and 4th - Pam
Phipps. Gun raffle winners were, 1st James Brower; 2nd - Kurt Randorf; 3rd Jeff Funkhauser; and 5th - Rick Steinhoff.
Thank you to Dan and Lisa Zabell
of Southside Saloon for making the
delicious food.
Thank you to Dan, Rick, Bruce, Scott,
Chad and Dave for taking care of the
Poker run and meat and gun raffles.
Thanks to everyone who sold tickets for
all the raffles.
A very special thank you to everyone
who bought tickets and supported our
club.
It takes a lot of people and time to
get our trails ready for everyone to ride.
Thanks to all those people, too.
Happy riding & pray for snow!!
Sparta Trailblazers
Snowmobile Club
2-1-1tc
Paul
Rasmussen,
Harold
Streeton, Danny White, Janet
(James) Kerska and Joanne
(Paul) Canady. Anyone with
information, please call Vicki at
608-372-2145.
Those celebrating late January
birthdays include Jess Arnold on
the 29th; Jarvis Dierecks, 30th;
and Cailyn Danick and Charlotte
Arnold, 31st. February birthdays
include Charlene “Shy” Dockerty
on the 1st and Larissa Unseth,
the 3rd.
Email, phone or mail your
news to Shari Arnold at
[email protected];
(608) 487-0975; 314 Meadowview
Ln., Sparta, WI 54656.
Sparta blood drives in February
Donors with any blood type are
encouraged to help BloodCenter
of Wisconsin support patient
needs at area hospitals this
February: Sparta area blood
drives include:
•Monday, February 1, noon.5:00 p.m., Trinity Lutheran
KAREN’S K-9 KONNECTION, LLC
DOG OBEDIENCE CLASSES
Offered in Partnership with Sparta Area School District Community Education
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
at Sparta Lakeview Montessori School Gym
**MARCH 2-APRIL 20, 2016**
Puppy Preschool: 5:30 p.m.
(Puppies 3-6 months old) - 6 week class (3/2-4/6/16)
Basic Dog Obedience: 6:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.
( Dogs 6 months and older)
Advanced Dog Obedience: 8:30 p.m.
Regist. forms avail. at Vet Clinics in Sparta,
Tomah & Black River Falls OR
ONLINE: Spartan.org (select COMMUNITY
EDUCATION from HOME page)
Registration Deadline: 2/26/16
For More Information Call
KAREN at (608) 269-7373
Private Training Also Available
Church, 612 North Water St.
•Tuesday, February 2, 1:00
p.m.-6:00 p.m., Trinity Lutheran
Church, 612 North Water St.
•Monday, February 8, 10:30
a.m.-3:50
p.m.,
McPherson
Companies, 919 W. River Rd.
•Tuesday, February 16, 9:00
a.m.-1:00
p.m.,
Franciscan
Healthcare Sparta, 310 West
Main St.
•Wednesday, February 24,
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Sparta High
School, 506 North Black River St.
Anyone 16 or older who is
in general good health and
meets eligibility requirements
is encouraged to donate blood.
Parental consent is required for
16-year-olds to donate.
The entire process takes about
an hour. Donors should bring a
photo ID that includes birth date.
Valentine’s Dinner and Dance
To benefit Sparta American
Legion Post 100
Hwy. 21 East., Sparta
Saturday, February 13
$35 Dinner & Dance
Cocktails at 5pm
Dinner Served at 6pm
Dancing at 8pm
Music by Jazz Reunion
Tickets at the bar or call Erika Lord Hodges 269-1397 • Reserve by Feb. 6
Answers on page 11
AS/AP
CAT SHELTER
Bringing Generations Together
The adopted grandparents program brings together young and old. Meadowview Intermediate
School students visit seniors each month at assisted living and nursing home facilities to do crafts,
play games and visit. Both seniors and students enjoy the program and look forward to upcoming
visits. Mary Morrow’s Attic in Sparta donated $200 toward transportation costs to help ensure these
visits continue. Clockwise from front are, Homestead resident Reva Jo Parkhurst, Libi Bennett, Dula
Everson, Selena Mendez, teacher Danielle Keenan, RJ Lower and Dora Olson, manager of Mary
Morrow’s Attic.
The Savvy Senior
For an appointment, call
608-269-3525
and leave a message
with a phone number.
by Jim Miller
Financial paperwork:
What to keep, what to toss
Dear Savvy Senior,
How long should a person hang
on to old receipts, stock records,
tax returns and other financial
documents? I have accumulated
boxes full of such papers over the
years and would like to get rid of
some of it now that I’m retired.
Getting Organized
Dear Getting,
This is a great time of the year to
get rid of unnecessary or outdated
paperwork and to organize your
records in preparation for filing
your tax return in the spring.
Here’s a checklist of what to keep
and what to toss out, along with
some tips to help you reduce
your future paper accumulation.
Toss Out
ATM receipts and bank-deposit
slips as soon as you match them
up with your monthly statement.
•Credit card receipts after you
get your statement, unless you
might return the item or need
proof of purchase for a warranty.
•Credit card statements that
do not have a tax-related expense
on them.
•Utility bills when the following
month’s bill arrives showing that
your prior payment was received.
If you wish to track utility usage
over time, you may want to keep
them for a year, or if you deduct
a home office on your taxes keep
them for seven years.
To avoid identity theft, be
sure you shred anything you
throw away that contains your
personal information. It’s best to
use a crosscut shredder rather
than a strip one, which leaves
long paper bands that could be
reassembled.
Keep One Year
•Paycheck stubs until you get
your W-2 in January to check its
accuracy.
•Bank statements (savings and
checking account) to confirm
your 1099s.
•Brokerage, 401(k), IRA and
other investment statements
until you get your annual
summary (keep longer for tax
purposes if they show a gain or
loss).
•Receipts for health care bills
in case you qualify for a medical
deduction.
Keep Seven Years
Supporting documents for your
taxes, including W-2s, 1099s,
and receipts or canceled checks
that substantiate deductions.
The IRS usually has up to three
years after you file to audit you
but may look back up to six years
if it suspects you substantially
underreported
income
or
committed fraud.
Keep Indefinitely
•Tax returns with proof of filing
and payment. You should keep
these for at least seven years, but
many experts recommend you
keep them forever because they
provide a record of your financial
history.
•IRS forms that you filed
when
making
nondeductible
contributions to a traditional IRA
or a Roth conversion.
•Receipts
for
capital
improvements that you’ve made
to your home until seven years
after you sell the house.
•Retirement and brokerage
account
annual
statements
as long as you hold those
investments.
•Defined-benefit pension plan
documents.
•Savings bonds until redeemed.
•Loan documents until the
loan is paid off.
•Vehicle titles and registration
information as long as you own
the car, boat, truck, or other
vehicle.
•Insurance policies as long as
you have them.
•Warranties or receipts for
big-ticket purchases for as long
as you own the item, to support
warranty and insurance claims.
Keep Forever
Personal and family records
like birth certificates, marriage
license, divorce papers, Social
Security
cards,
military
discharge papers and estateplanning
documents
(power
of attorney, will, trust and
advanced directive). Keep these
in a fireproof safe or safe-deposit
box.
Reduce Your Paper
To
reduce
your
paper
clutter, consider digitizing your
documents by scanning them
and converting them into PDF
files so you can store them on
your computer and back them
up onto a USB flash drive or
external hard drive like icloud.
com or carbonite.com.
You can also reduce your
future paper load by switching
to electronic statements and
records whenever possible.
Send your senior questions
to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box
5443, Norman, OK 73070, or
visit
SavvySenior.org.
Jim
Miller is a contributor to the
NBC Today show and author
of “The Savvy Senior” book.
My name is Clover. I’m an almost
3-year-old beautiful tortie female. I’m
shy with new people.
Visit our website
asapcatshelter.weebly.com
Adoption fee includes all shots
and spay/neuter.
We collect aluminum and milk Moola caps.
Sparta Free Library
124 W. Main St. • Historic Downtown Sparta
FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Please keep for easy reference.
Library Board Meeting, Monday, February 1, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the library.
New Library Director
We are happy to welcome our new Library Director, Steve Thiry. Please say hello
when you see him around the library!
Valentine Guessing Jar - Month of February
Guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar. Closest guess wins the whole jar!
Ages 18 and under please.
Hot Reads for Cold Nights - Through March 11 - Winter Adult Reading Program (ages 13+)
1. Read 3 books, write one review, and stop in for a packet of hot chocolate.
2. Read another 3 books, write one review, and stop in for your Hot Reads for Cold
Nights mug!
Family Storytime, Thursdays, February 4 - May 12, 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Same content is shared at both sessions.
February Themes: Sun/Moon, Pets, Families, Hugs & Kisses.
TAG (Teen Advisory Group), Tuesday, February 9, 6:00 p.m.
Sparta Free Library is looking for students in grades 6-12 who want to plan
programs, create displays, suggest books, and volunteer at events.
Lego Club, February 10, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
We will display your creations at the library until the next Lego Club. Legos
provided. Caregivers must be present with children under the age of 7. Open to
children pre-K through 5th grade.
Book Club, Tuesday, February 16 @ 10:00 a.m. in the library Magazine Room
The book to be discussed is The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. Please join
us if you have read the book and would like to discuss it.
Children’s Movie Showing : “Max” (Rating: PG), Friday, February 19, 10:00 a.m.
A story of unlikely friends with a touch of mystery. Bring a comfy chair or use a
library chair. There will be popcorn!
Board in the Library, Monday, February 22, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Open to all ages.
Join us for an afternoon of card, board, and video games! Co-hosted by River City
Hobbies, a local comic book store.
OPTIONS CLINIC IS NOW
Offered in Sparta at Essential Health Clinic:
• Birth control
• STD & HIV testing
• Annual health exams
• Pregnancy testing & counseling
• Emergency contraceptives
Call (800) 657-5177 to make an appointment.
Visit essentialclinic.org.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Obituaries
JOANNE R. (BENN) BROWN
July 19, 1929—January 19, 2016
CATARACT - Joanne R.
(Benn) Brown, 86, of Cataract,
passed away Tuesday, January
19, 2016, at Mayo Clinic Health
System, La Crosse.
She was born on July 19,
1929 in Detroit, MI, to Elmer
and Marguerite (Rutz) Benn.
She grew up in Detroit and
graduated
from
Wittenberg
College in 1951, earning a
Bachelors degree in Fine Arts
and her teaching certificate.
She was a member of Alpha
Delta Pi. She taught in Walled
Lake, MI.
Joanne married Jim Brown
on July 25, 1951 in Detroit. She
joined her husband in Japan in
1952 and taught while Jim was
in the service. They moved back
to Wolverine Lake, MI and she
received her Masters Degree in
Elementary Child Psychology
from the University of Michigan.
She retired in 1975 and
moved back to Sparta to be
closer to family. In 1996, they
started the Little Falls Railroad
and Doll Museum. Joanne
became a Doll Curator and held
the position for 20 years. She
also made dolls.
Joanne is survived by her
husband, Jim of Cataract;
children,
Sheri
(Dennis)
Dickinson of Sparta, and Terry
(Bonnie) Brown of Sparta; four
grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren.
She was preceded in death by
her parents.
Services will be held at a later
date.
Memorials
in
Joanne’s
memory may be sent to Little
Falls Doll Museum, 9208 Cty.
Hwy. II, Sparta, WI.
Online condolences may be
offered at www.schanhoferfh.
com
The
Lanham-Schanhofer
Funeral Home, Sparta, is
assisting
the
family
with
arrangements.
Lanham-Schanhofer
Funeral Home
JOHN P. STEINHOFF
March 20, 1939—January 27, 2016
SPARTA - John P. Steinhoff
was born on March 20, 1939,
to Bernard and Christine
Steinhoff. He graduated from
Norwalk High School in 1957.
After graduation, John enlisted
in the US Air Force for four
years. He married Cleona, his
wife of almost 30 years, in 1986.
He farmed for 25 years, retiring
from dairy farming in 1990.
John was a
tractor puller
using
his
tractor during
the
week
for
farming
and on the
weekend for
pulling.
He
won many top
tractor pulling John P. Steinhoff
awards. While
farming, John also drove school
bus for the Sparta Area schools
for 21 years until he started
working full time for Sparta
Schools. John retired from
Sparta Schools after 37 years of
service.
For 40 years, he worked for the
NTPA (National Tracker Pullers
Association), maintaining the
track for pullers in Tomah,
retiring at the end of the 2015
pulls. His favorite pastime
was spending time with the
family, but his greatest joy
was spending time with his
grandsons. He also enjoyed
fishing and playing cards.
Survivors include his wife,
Cleona; children: Judi (Mike)
Krebs, Jill (Frank) Weiss,
Brenda (Tim) Bartz, Steve
(Tracy) Cordner, and Kathryn
(John) Cordner; grandchildren:
Cameron Cordner, Dawson
Cordner, Tre Weiss, Kelsey
(Jeramiah)
Gabrielse,
and
Ryan Krebs; great-grandchild,
Emmett Gabrielse; siblings,
Mary Weiner, Bonnie (Dave)
Horman),
Betty
(Harlan)
Pottinger,
Charles
(Mary)
Steinhoff, Suzanne Burnham,
Jeff (Kathy) Steinhoff, Rick
(Rona)
Steinhoff.
Further
survivors include many nieces
and nephews.
John
passed
away
on
Wednesday, January 27, 2016,
at Gundersen Health System,
La Crosse, at the age of 76
years, 10 months, and seven
days.
He was preceded in death
by his parents, Bernard and
Christine Steinhoff.
A Mass of Christian Burial
was held Saturday, January 30,
2016, at 11 a.m. at St Patrick
Catholic Church, Sparta, with
Father Jerome Patric officiating.
Burial followed in the church
cemetery. Full military honors
were provided by V.F.W. Post
#2112. Family and friends were
invited to call at the LanhamSchanhofer Funeral Home on
Friday, January 29, from 4-7
p.m. Visitation continued on
Saturday, from 10-11 a.m. at
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church,
Sparta.
Online condolences may be
sent to www.schanhoferfh.com.
The
Lanham-Schanhofer
Funeral
Home,
Sparta,
assisted the family with funeral
arrangements.
Lanham-Schanhofer
Funeral Home
Winning area charity to throw out
first pitch at Miller Park June 30
The 19th Annual La Crosse
Area Day at Miller Park will
be held on June 30, as the
Milwaukee Brewers take on the
LA Dodgers. The first pitch will be
thrown out by a representative
of a local charitable organization
chosen by donors at www.
lacrosseareaday.com.
Visitors
to
www.
lacrosseareaday.com are invited
to nominate a local 501c3
charitable organization from
La Crosse, Houston, Monroe or
Winona counties. Nominations
will be accepted from February
1 – March 1, online only.
Up to 10 top nominees will
then be listed at the La Crosse
Area Day website from March 5 –
April 5. During that time period,
website visitors are invited to
cast votes toward the charity of
their choosing by donating $1.
The charity raising the most
donations by April 5 will be
awarded the honor of throwing
out the first pitch on June 30th.
All funds raised will stay with
the respective organization being
supported, regardless of the
competition’s outcome.
Participating organizations are
invited to join La Crosse Area
Day at the First Pitch media
event on March 10th at the
Moose Lodge Family Center from
4:30 – 7 p.m., where there will
be an opportunity to purchase
La Crosse Area Day tickets at a
$10 savings. $5 admission to the
media event includes a baseballthemed meal with raffle and
cash bar.
The winning organization, and
their representative to throw out
the first pitch, will be announced
at a media conference on April
13.
The La Crosse Area Day
Committee is a volunteer, nonprofit organization which seeks
to promote the appreciation of
baseball-related
activities
to
citizens of the La Crosse area.
Tomah Memorial reports
Life to the
first confirmed cases of flu Fullest
The flu season has officially
arrived at Tomah Memorial
Hospital and a little later than
past years.
Hospital infection preventionist
Jan Path R.N. said officials
confirmed two separate cases
involving a 39-year-old woman
and 43-year-old man who tested
positive for the Type A strain
of influenza at the hospital’s
Warrens Clinic this week.
During last year’s flu season,
Tomah Memorial reported its
first confirmed case in November.
“Historically if you go back
many years the peak of influenza
season is February, so to have
our first cases in January we
can expect we probably will be
peaking in February,” said Path.
She said both cases were flu
strains that were included in this
year’s vaccine.
“It is absolutely not too late
to get the flu shot,” Path said. “I
would still get vaccinated. It does
take a couple of weeks to reach
full immunity but that means you
would have protection toward
the middle of February when we
could be swinging into the peak
of our season.”
To avoid spreading the flu,
Path said people should stay
home if sick, do not share things
DPI is seeking sponsors for
Summer Food Service Program
When
school’s
out
for
the summer, programs and
organizations across the state
still provide free, nutritious meals
for economically disadvantaged
children through the Summer
Food Service Program.
Last year, Wisconsin’s 208
sponsors provided nearly 2.8
million free meals to children
from low-income families during
the summer months. The number
of sponsors and meals served
in Wisconsin has increased 32
percent in the last five years.
Sponsors operated 872 sites
statewide in 2015, up more than
80 sites from the prior year.
The Wisconsin Department
of Public Instruction is seeking
sponsors for the 2016 Summer
Food Service Program. Sponsors
may be:
• public or private nonprofit
schools;
residential camps;
• local, municipal, county,
tribal, or state governments;
colleges or universities;
• Upward Bound programs;
• libraries; or
•
private
nonprofit
organizations.
“Through its year-to-year
growth, the Summer Food
Service Program demonstrates
its increasing importance in
communities across Wisconsin,”
said State Superintendent Tony
Evers. “I commend our public
and private schools and nonprofit
organizations for increasing their
sponsorship and the number of
nutrition sites to serve the many
families who need food assistance
during the summer.”
The most common sponsor
for the Summer Food Service
Program has been local school
districts which combine a meal
program with their summer
school
sessions.
Through
February Heart Month
Do you know your risks for heart disease?
The statistics are alarming:
•One in three women and one
in four men die of heart disease.
•Heart disease takes the lives
of about 375,000 Americans each
year—more lives than all forms of
cancer combined.
There is some good news.
Deaths from heart disease fell by
nearly 40 percent from 2001 to
2011 according to the American
Heart Association. “We are better
at recognizing symptoms and
risk factors. In addition, there are
things you can do to lower your
risk for heart disease,” reports
Amber Oshan, PA-C, physician
assistant at the Gundersen
Sparta Clinic.
One of the best modifiers of
heart disease risk is physical
activity.
Oshan
encourages,
“Get moving. Even 10 minutes
of exercise will dilate arteries
for improved blood flow. Regular
exercise can also help you
manage your weight. Losing even
10 percent of your body weight
unloads the heart. Exercise
that go into your mouth, like
cups and straws, keep surfaces
that are touched clean, and avoid
touching your mouth, nose or
eyes. “It’s not as hard as you
think to train yourself to avoid
touching your face once you’re
conscious of it,” she said.
Path said influenza can be
a serious illness compared to
the common cold. “Influenza
can make you extremely sick;
you can have a sudden onset
of a fever, tiredness that can be
extreme, headache that can be
severe, muscle aches that can be
extreme whereas with a cold you
are unlikely to have the muscle
aches and fever, just more
likely some upper respiratory
symptoms.”
Path urged people with chronic
illnesses, senior citizens and the
very young, especially children
under the age of three to seek
medical attention if they suffer
flu-like symptoms.
“Oftentimes people are sick
from five days to two weeks and
sometimes it takes them even
longer to get over their feeling of
being tired. True influenza can
even be deadly for some people.”
Although it is rare, Path said
there can be cases of flu as late
as May.
also improves cholesterol and
triglyceride levels, firms and
tones muscles, and decreases the
risk of high blood pressure and
diabetes.”
Something else you can do is
visit gundersenhealth.org/heartage and fill out an easy online
health risk profiler to:
•Identify your heart age and
risks for heart disease
•Learn ways to improve your
health and lower your heart age
•Provide points for discussion
with your healthcare provider
The online risk profiler is a
great tool to help you and your
healthcare provider form a
preventive care plan as part of
your overall health and wellness
strategy. Together you can take
steps to lower your risks so you
can keep doing what you love.
If you’ve taken the assessment
before, now might be a good
time to take it again to measure
your success in making healthy
changes.
partnerships
and
creative
collaboration,
some
districts
have been able to work with
other organizations to extend the
beyond summer school to meet
the needs of more children.
All sponsors for the 2016
program year must complete
the
online
Summer
Food
Service Program application at
www.wisummerfood.org.
New
sponsors for the program will
be required to attend a training
session on March 31 in Madison.
Continuing sponsors for the 2016
summer program are encouraged
to attend one of the training
sessions to be offered around
the state. Those sessions will be
held on March 11 in Madison
and March 15 in Rice Lake. The
deadline to register for training is
Feb. 26 and must be done online
at www.wisummerfood.org.
In accordance with federal civil
rights law and U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights
regulations and policies, the
USDA, its agencies, offices, and
employees,
and
institutions
participating in or administering
USDA programs are prohibited
from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, sex,
disability, age, or reprisal or
retaliation for prior civil rights
activity in any program or
activity conducted or funded by
USDA. Persons with disabilities
who require alternative means
of communication for program
information (e.g. Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign
Language, etc.) should contact
the agency (state or local)
where they applied for benefits.
Individuals who are deaf, hard
of hearing, or have speech
disabilities may contact USDA
through the Federal Relay Service
at (800) 877-8339. Additionally,
program information may be
made available in languages
other than English.
To file a program complaint
of discrimination, complete the
USDA Program Discrimination
Complaint
Form,
(AD-3027)
found online at: http://www.
ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_
cust.html, and at any USDA
office, or write a letter addressed
to USDA and provide in the letter
all of the information requested in
the form. To request a copy of the
complaint form, call (866) 6329992. Submit your completed
form or letter to USDA by U.S.
mail, fax or e-mail to:
Mail:
U.S.
Department
of
Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Fax: (202) 690-7442
E-mail: program.intake@usda.
gov
The DPI has administered the
since its inception in 1975 and
is an equal opportunity provider.
Additional information about the
program is available from Amy
Kolano, (608) 266-7124, the DPI
website at www.wisummerfood.
org, or the USDA at http://www.
fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer food-service-program-sfsp.
Page 4
by Stacey Wargowsky
Care for the caregiver
One of the most difficult jobs in the world is caring for someone
who’s chronically ill or disabled. The combination of concern and
heartache over your loved one’s condition plus the physical demand
of it can put you in a position where your own energy and emotional
stores are empty. Once you’re in such a state, the quality of the care
you provide will slip, too, and then everyone suffers.
The first step toward taking care of yourself is recognizing the signs
that you’re overly stressed. Oftentimes these signs will manifest as:
•Sleep problems
•Poor eating habits
•Irritability
•Forgetfulness
•Failure to exercise
•Failure to rest or see a healthcare provider when needed
If you identify with any of these signs, you need to take action; you
need to take care of yourself. That begins with doing what you can to
make sure you get sufficient sleep, eat healthfully and exercise, but
in many circumstances, caregivers can’t find a way to fit it all in. If
that describes you, it’s time to accept or ask for help.
Ask for or accept help
Discard any notion that the need for help indicates weakness or
failure. It’s actually a sign of wisdom in knowing your limits and
commitment to your loved one in keeping yourself strong for them.
Before asking for help, write a list of ways that others can step in.
Do you need help with transportation? Do you need someone to come
in the afternoons so you can rest or work out? Perhaps healthy meals
are what you need. Or maybe you need all of the above. The beauty in
having a list is that when someone asks how they can help—or you
ask someone yourself—you’ll have a list of ways they can do it in a
truly beneficial way.
Take time for other relationships
Social support is key for caregivers. Oftentimes caregivers become
completely focused on the person they’re caring for and isolate
themselves from other relationships that can uplift, support and
encourage them. And that’s important for continued well-being.
That social support can be found among your existing circle of
friends, your church or even a support group. If you’re seeking such
support but don’t know where to turn, call Great Rivers 2-1-1. It’s
a free call to someone who will connect you with nearby resources
(including respite care) that can help.
Use FMLA
Caregiving can be especially overwhelming for people who also work
outside their homes. FMLA stands for the Family and Medical Leave
Act, and if you’re eligible, it allows you to take up to 12 weeks of
unpaid leave each year to care for relatives. You can learn more about
this option through your employer’s human resources department.
See your doctor
Caregivers often are ministering to people with compromised
immune systems, making it especially important to stay up to date
on your own immunizations and screenings.
Plus, several studies have shown that caregivers are at an
increased risk for depression and anxiety. These are conditions you
should discuss with your doctor, first, to rule out any other causes
and, second, to guide you to additional care. So if you’re showing
any of the signs referenced above, be sure to mention them to your
physician.
Stacey Wargowsky is a social worker and service coordination
director at Western Wisconsin Cares, a locally based nonprofit care
management organization serving people with disabilities and frail
elders in the area. Life to the Fullest is a monthly column appearing in
the Herald.
W h at’s In
Your Stars
Horoscopes for the week of Feb. 1st-7th
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20
A burst of optimism has you moving toward a new goal, Aries. This
positive frame of mind can propel you to the finish line quickly,
but make each decision carefully.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, new revelations may inspire you to make some longdesired changes. Write down all of your plans so you can see them
on paper and weigh all of your priorities.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21
An old friend you haven’t seen in a while may suddenly reappear
in your life, Gemini. This person may take you on a fun trip down
memory lane. Enjoy the laughs.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22
Expect a change of circumstances at work, Cancer. This change
may come by way of a transfer or a promotion, or it might be
something less significant. Embrace it in any case.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23
A close friend of yours may suggest a last-minute trip, and you
just may be game for an adventure, Leo. Pack all of your essentials
and do not think too much, or you might back out.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, a financial windfall may seem like a great thing on
the surface, but it doesn’t come without a price. Resolve to be
responsible with your newfound largesse.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, you might feel nervous at the prospect of a big change at
your job, but you are totally ready for the change and some new
responsibilities.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, some recent nerves and stress may come to an end this
week. You feel focused right now and have your eye on the prize,
and relief is on the way.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
Sagittarius, expect some welcome developments in your romantic
life. This may be the week you meet someone new. If you’re
involved, expect your romantic energy to grow.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20
Capricorn, you’re ready to spread your ideas and plans to others,
but the public just may not be open to what you have to share at
this time. Don’t force the issue at present; give it a few days.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18
Sacrifices will be well worth the effort this week, Aquarius. Keep in
mind that these sacrifices are temporary and not that disruptive.
The reward awaits.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, success at work paints you in a new light with your
colleagues. You may finally receive the recognition you deserve.
FEBRUARY 1
Harry Styles, Singer (22)
FEBRUARY 2
Gerard Pique, Athlete (29)
FEBRUARY 3
Isla Fisher, Actress (40)
FEBRUARY 4
Clint Black, Singer (54)
FEBRUARY 5
Darren Criss, Actor/Singer (29)
FEBRUARY 6
Kathy Najimy, Actress (59)
Page 5
CANDIDATES
Science
Made Easy
(Continued from Front Page)
developments in Monroe County
in just the last seven or eight
years and all for the good,” said
Humphrey. “We have entered
the 21st century here in Monroe
County.”
Ted Radde
Raddle, a retired businessman,
who was part owner of the
recently dissolved Monroe County
Publishers, Inc., is no stranger to
politics.
He cut his teeth in city
government, serving on the park
board during the purchase of
the Child Center and golf course
expansion.
He has been elected to seven
terms as District 1 alderman
and has either served on or
chaired most of the city’s major
committees.
Radde thinks a new industrial
park is paramount among the
city’s needs.
“Our industrial parks are
full and we need to attract new
businesses,” he said. “The city is
looking into one right now and I
think we need to press forward
with that to continue our growth.”
But Radde also believes the
city needs to court a diverse
array of businesses, bringing a
wider range of job opportunities
into the community.
He also said the city has to
deal with its inadequate police
station, although he is not in
favor of building a new facility.
“I think the cost is too much,”
said Raddle. “We need to look at
other options.”
He suggests the city explore
purchasing the Gundersen Clinic
building on Oak Street or striking
a bargain with the county to
lease the old courthouse and use
the police station as an impound
area and evidence depository.
“We don’t have to spend from
$2.1 million to $4.5 million,” he
said. “It’s not even in the cards.
We just spent over $4 million
on a swimming pool. We can’t
afford to be spending that kind of
money on a constant basis.”
Radde also would consider
remodeling the current police
station and purchasing the
adjacent vacant lot from the
Sparta Co-op if necessary.
“However, at the current time I
am not in favor of dropping our
police force and contracting with
the county,” he said.
Radde said he has the
experience to affect the direction
of the city council and would
create strong committees, while
providing leadership in the
mayor’s office.
“Committees are important,”
he said. “That’s where the
work happens in the city. The
power you have as mayor is to
make those appointments to
committees as they come up so
they can operate efficiently and
lead us in the right direction.”
Radde said that since he
decided to run for mayor last
May, he’s attended every major
committee meeting, including
park board, finance, public
works, planning and common
council, missing only one.
“How do you expect to be
elected mayor if you don’t attend
the meetings,” he said.
Radde also said he intends to
make sure city government is
transparent.
“Transparency is an absolute,”
he said. “The public has a right to
know and a right to their input.
They’re the ones who elected
us and they’re the ones we’re
representing.”
If elected, Radde said he will
bring a hands-on style to the
mayor’s office.
“”I have the experience between
being a retired businessman and
an alderman. I have the time
now that I’m retired and you’re
going to get a full-time mayor
even though that’s not what’s
required.”
Most importantly, Radde, who
has launched a Facebook page
for the election, said he wants to
see a big turnout at the polls.
“Vote – I don’t care who you vote
for. If it’s me, that’s wonderful.
If it’s not me that’s great, too. I
really just want people to vote,”
he said.
Ron Button
Button is a retired carpenter
with UW-La Crosse, which also is
his alma mater where he earned
degrees in political science and
history.
A self-described environmental
advocate, Button said he was
enticed into politics because
of his concern over Perch Lake
when he was environmental
director of the Bass Club in the
1970s.
He
joined
the
Sparta
Comprehensive
Planning
Commission in the mid 1990s to
advocate for the lake once again.
Since then, Button served as an
alderman for 13 years, chairing
the public works committee
this and I want to keep us there,”
he said. “It will alleviate a lot of
brick and mortar costs at the
waste water treatment plant.”
Button said he has his eyes
focused on the future in a few
other respects, too. The golf
course will need to replace its
irrigation system in the next
five years, a costly expense he
believes will require bonding.
And, he thinks as the population
ages there will be demand for an
indoor pool.
“I really enjoy being involved
with the city,” he said. “No
matter what comes up, I enjoy
solving problems and putting my
experience and expertise to use
to make the city a better place to
live.”
Jacob Erdman
Erdman is a senior at Sparta
High School running as a writein candidate.
He took out nomination papers
before the January 5 deadline,
but because he is only 17,
the signatures he personally
gathered couldn’t be counted.
He submitted a letter of intent
on January 14, indicating he is
running as a write-in candidate,
which is legal since he will be
turning 18 before the April
election.
And while his name won’t
appear on the ballot, any votes
cast for Erdman will be counted
in both the February 16 primary
and April 5 election.
Besides his numerous high
school activities, Erdman also is
active in the La Crosse Composite
Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol,
in which he served as cadet
commander.
He said he is running for mayor
to try to encourage his generation
of Millennials into becoming
more active in politics. He cited
a recent statistic, claiming only
20% of Millennials are engaged
in what’s happening in politics.
“You can see the disconnect
in younger people and the whole
political scene,” he said.
Erdman is hoping by running
as a write-in he can show the
younger generation that it isn’t
difficult to become active in
politics.
“I just wanted to throw my
hat in the ring and get people
involved,” said Erdman. “It’s not
difficult to get involved. You can
start in your own hometown.”
for nine of those years. He was
elected mayor in 2013.
During his years in city
government,
Button
counts
among
his
environmental
accomplishments
the
rehabilitation of Perch Lake and
repair of the dam along with the
Sand Creek remediation project.
In the late 1990s, it was
discovered the Sand Creek
Landfill, a dump site shared
between the city and county
located just south of Sparta,
was leaking pollutants into
the
aquifer,
contaminating
surrounding wells. The county
removed its waste from the site,
making room for the city to create
a lined pit for its waste at a cost
of $6 million.
“We satisfactorily handled that
situation,” said Button, noting
the city was able to recover
one-third of its costs from local
industries that contributed waste
to the landfill.
Button also cites numerous
street improvements and lighted
intersections that the city has
undertaken during his time
on the council, as well as the
acquisition of the East Side
Business Park, which is almost
full.
But he especially is satisfied
with the dual city administrator
arrangement Sparta implemented
under his leadership as mayor.
Button said he suggested that
the city look in-house for a
replacement when Ken Witt
resigned as city administrator.
The city split Witt’s duties
between Building Inspector Todd
Fahning and Treasurer Mark
Sund.
“It’s
worked
tremendously
well,” said Button, adding the city
is streamlined and positioned to
solve problems quickly.
Button
opposes
the
consolidation of police services
under the county, saying it needs
further study.
“I don’t think the county will go
along with it and I haven’t been
shown there’s going to be the
cost savings that are touted,” he
said.
However, he does believe
the city is on the right track
for dealing with upcoming
state-mandated
phosphorus
reductions by investing in stream
bank rehabilitation rather than
costly upgrades to infrastructure.
“Sparta is in the forefront of
How did life start on Earth?
An excellent question with
no real answer. Scientists do
not know how life started on
Earth. They don’t know exactly
when life started, and they don’t
understand the conditions and
circumstances of how life started.
Our ignorance is greater than our
knowledge. Biology is excellent
in explaining how living things
work, but not good at describing
how life started from non-life or
inorganic material.
Man has always asked the
questions of “How did life
start” and “Are we alone in the
Universe?” But just as we are
the first generation to leave our
planet and go to the Moon, we
are the first generation to try
to answer those two questions
scientifically.
Much attention was paid to an
experiment performed by Stanley
Miller and Harold Urey in 1952.
They surmised that early Earth
had no oxygen but instead was
composed of methane, ammonia,
hydrogen, and water vapor. They
sealed these gases in an airtight
glass chamber and zapped the
gases inside with electricity that
would simulate lightning.
After one week, they found that
the walls of the container had
eleven of the twenty amino acids
used by life on Earth. Amino
acids are the building blocks of
protein. Most scientists today
believe that early Earth had those
elemental gases, in addition to
nitrogen and carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere.
What about oxygen? You and I
need oxygen, and oxygen comes
from the photosynthesis of plant
life. So early Earth had no oxygen,
but oxygen was produced as a
result of plant growth.
We humans are largely made
of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
All life is pretty similar. Bacteria,
worms, cows, and humans all
have the same proportions of
carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.
It is not too hard to make simple
sugars, or bases, which is the
essence of DNA. Amino acids
molecules make protein.
What scientists have not
figured out yet is how the DNA
and protein started working
together to form life. How did
DNA direct proteins to carry
out life functions of growth and
reproduction? That is a big
unknown.
The definition of life must
include growth and reproduction,
the ability to make more of one’s
self. Also needed is variation,
the ability to change or adapt to
differing climates, atmospheres,
and overall living conditions, so
that natural selection can pick
out those variations that are best
able to survive.
There are four main theories
Mandel to command La Crosse Civil Air Patrol squadron
On January 30, the La Crosse
Composite Squadron of the Civil
Air Patrol held its annual awards
banquet. During the banquet the
unit recognized high achievers
from 2015. This year’s banquet
also featured two changes of
command.
Major Todd Mandel of Sparta
accepted command of the unit
from Major Richard Martin.
Martin
assumed
command
in 2014. Mandel assumed
command, having served for
30 years in the Civil Air Patrol
with six of those years in the La
Crosse-based squadron.
The La Crosse squadron is
the largest in the state, and has
been named the top performing
squadron in the state the past
two years. The ceremony was
officiated by Colonel Rose Hunt,
Wisconsin Wing Commander.
The
position
of
Cadet
Commander
also
changed
as Cadet Second Lieutenant
Chantelle Wernecke, of La
Crescent, assumed command
from Cadet First Lieutenant
Jacob Erdman, of Sparta. The
side of the La Crosse Municipal
Airport. Prospective cadets, ages
12-18, and their parents are
always welcome.
Pilots,
adults
seeking
mentoring
opportunities,
or
those who wish to volunteer in
their community are invited as
well. For more information visit
http://caplacrosse.org or call
Major Todd Mandel at 608-6331496 or email at todd.mandel@
gmail.com.
SUBSCRIBE
TODAY
FOR ONLY
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Todd Mandel
Cadet Commander oversees the
training and readiness of the
38-member cadet corps in La
Crosse.
The awards banquet and
ceremonies were at the Thomas
Rooney VFW Post in La Crosse.
The La Crosse Composite
Squadron meets on Mondays
from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at
the CAP Center located at 2906
Fanta Reed
Road
east
(*Based
on on
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Antique archaeologists Mike
Wolfe and Frank Fritz are
coming to the Tomah area. The
team will film episodes of their
hit series AMERCAN PICKERS
throughout Wisconsin. Filming
will begin this month.
AMERICAN
PICKERS
is
a documentary series that
explores the fascinating world
of antique ‘picking’ on History.
This hit show follows two of
the most skilled pickers in
the business, Mike Wolfe and
Frank Fritz, as they embark
on an epic road trip across
the U.S. in search of America’s
most valuable antiques from
motorcycles, classic cars and
bicycles to one-of-a-kind vintage
memorabilia.
Mike and Frank are on a
mission to recycle America,
restore forgotten relics to their
former glory, and learn a thing
or two about American history
along the way.
Filming is scheduled to
start this month. AMERICAN
A YEAR
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of how life started; metabolism,
genes, RNA, and LUCA.
Metabolism is the ability to break
down carbon dioxide, using
some catalyst, into small organic
molecules. Organic molecules
became more complex evolving
into life forms. Genes were the
first living organisms and they
were able to replicate themselves
and move into more complex
organisms. RNA is a very
complex molecule found in all
living organisms. It became more
complex, and developed into
the organisms we have today.
LUCA (Last Universal Common
Ancestor) is the claim that all
life had a common ancestor that
stored genetic information in
DNA. LUCA lived two billion years
ago and used enzymes. These are
four educated guesses. No one
knows for sure.
It is clear that all living things
evolved from lower life forms.
Some people are uncomfortable
with
the
word
“evolution”.
It congers up images that
our ancestors were apes and
monkeys.
And it brings up
shades of the 1925 Scopes
Monkey Trial in Tennessee. Some
folks see evolution as a conflict
between science and religion.
But ponder this idea. What
if evolution was God’s method
or way of making us what we
are today? That would explain
much and who of us can read
or understand the mind of God?
And if we came from the mud,
is that really important? Isn’t it
more important that we don’t slip
back into the slime?
Email questions and comments
to: [email protected]
Committee Meetings
The Sparta Public Safety
Committee will meet tonight,
Mon., Feb. 1, 5:30 p.m. at city
hall.
The Sparta Free Library
Board of Trustees will meet
tonight, Mon., Feb. 1, 6 p.m. in
the lower level multi-purpose
room of the library.
The Sparta Park Board will
meet tonight, Mon., Feb. 1,
6 p.m. at city hall.
The Sparta Finance Committee will meet Wed., Feb. 3,
6 p.m. at city hall.
NOTICE OF CHANGE IN ADOPTED BUDGET
Sparta Area School District
January 26, 2016
Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of Wisconsin Statute 65.90(5)(a), that the School Board of the Sparta
Area School District, on January 26, 2016, adopted the following changes to previously approved budgeted 2015-16 amounts.
$39.00*
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year for Monroe County
& 546 Zip Code Area)
year for Monroe County
& 546inZipTomah
Code Area)
film
PICKERS is looking for leads
and would love to explore what
you have. They are on the hunt
for interesting characters with
interesting and unique items.
Some of what they look for:
vintage bicycles, toys, unusual
radios,
movie
memorabilia,
advertising, military items, folk
art, vintage musical equipment,
vintage automotive items, early
firefighting equipment, vintage
clothing and pre-50’s western
gear.
AMERICAN
PICKERS
is
produced
by
Cineflix
Productions for The History
Channel. New episodes air
Wednesday’s at 9 p.m. Eastern
time on History.
If you have a large collection
or want to refer someone to
Mike and Frank, email your
name, number, address and
description of the collection and
photos to: americanpickers@
cineflix.com, or call 1-855-oldrust.
by Larry Scheckel
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OPINIONS
Monroe County Herald
Monday, February 1, 2016 / Page 6
Monroe County Herald
(USPS 359-300)
February, 2016, volume 157 number 5. Published Monday and Thursday by
Evans Print & Media Group, 1302 River Road, Sparta, Wisconsin. Subscription
Rates: In Wisconsin (546 zip codes) $39.00; in Wisconsin (outside 546 zip codes),
$42,00; outside Wisconsin, $52.00 per year. All subscriptions must be paid in
advance. Periodicals postage paid at Sparta, Wisconsin 54656.
Postmaster: Please send address corrections to Evans Print & Media Group,
P.O. Box 252, Sparta, WI 54656; (608) 269-3186.
Patrick K. Mulvaney, Editor
Gregory M. Evans, Publisher
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Submission of an advertisement to an Evans Print & Media Group sales rep
does not constitute a commitment by Evans Print & Media Group to publish the
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Publication of an advertisement does not constitute an agreement for continued
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Evans Print & Media Group will not be liable for failure to publish an ad as
requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of an advertisement. In the event
of any error or omission in printing or publication of an advertisement, Evans Print
& Media Group liability shall be limited to an adjustment for the cost of the space
occupied by the error, with a maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the
first incorrect advertisement. Under no circumstances shall Evans Print & Media
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Letters to the Editor
Importance Of Financial Literacy
Editorial
It’s still the same ol’ paper, just a new name
As 2016 came around, we continue to look at from throughout the county, including Tomah and all
changes for the Sparta Herald and Monroe County our neighbors.
3.) The new name combines the two names of the
Democrat newspapers. When we bought the community
newspapers last year, it just didn’t seem right that we newspaper, which will continue to be published twice a
were a twice weekly, yet had two different names. It was week – just now under a new banner.
run by the same staff, yet it had two different names. It
So, we’re going to have a new title. The Sparta Herald
and the Monroe County Democrat will continue
was published in the same building, yet it had
with the new name of the Monroe County Herald.
two different names.
Yes, it’ll still be the same ol’ paper. Yes, we’ll still
Chalk it up to tradition. For 157 years, the
have Sparta news and sports in the paper. It’ll
Sparta Herald has existed. For one year less, the
still be produced by Editor Pat Mulvaney and
Monroe County Democrat has published. With
our February editions, the names of those papers
his staff of talented writers. It’ll still be produced
right here in Sparta, like always.
will change – to the Monroe County Herald.
In this ever changing world, we need to change
Hey, nothing will change except the name. But
with it and making this name switch may take
some might question as to “why?”
a little getting used to – even for us – but we’re
Well, we had a few reasons why we wanted this
Greg Evans
hoping readers accept it with open arms. We’ve
change:
Publisher
been around for over a century and a half.
1.) Readers are confused. When they sign up
for a subscription, were they signing up for one paper We hope the newspapers will be around for another
and not the other or both? Well, they were signing up for century or maybe even longer. The Sparta Herald and
both, but creating one name for both editions during the the Monroe County Democrat will long be in our hearts
and memories. It’s just time to start a new chapter as
week eliminates that puzzle.
2.) We’re already covering the entire county with both the Monroe County Herald. Please welcome it into your
editions, so why not make it a county-wide newspaper? home as your continued local source for community
This won’t mean there is any less Sparta news and sports information.
Onward, upward.
in the newspaper – it’s simply that we’ll have more news
Working for a living – job after job after job….
It’s so eloquently stated that
variety is the spice of life.
Starting with 2016 my adult
working career enters 37 years.
After graduating high school I
entered the full time work force
on our family dairy farm.
A decision I can honestly say
I never regretted and one of the
most fulfilling jobs I ever held.
But a decision to walk away from
dairy farming set me on a career
path that has provided ample
spice. At times a tad too spicy.
This topic came to mind after
a recent interview for a freelance
story I wrote. I talked to a friend
nearing retirement as a City of
Tomah employee after a little
more than 30 years. He worked
in the same department his
entire career, a little more than
eight years as supervisor.
I know many people who spent
entire careers working in one
profession, if not one employer.
I envy their job stability. At this
stage of the game I try to keep
myself from playing the “what
if game.” But after the interview
with the city employee I came
home and listed all the places
I worked after cutting ties with
dairy farming.
As the list got longer I realized
I could possibly have a book
subject. But writing a book
would require self reflection and
delving too deep into some past
decisions. Rather than dwell on
some regrets in a book. Why not
try to find humor in the list?
I rest easy with the knowledge
I am not the lone soul when it
comes to a work history full of
spice. One of the things that when it was poised to re-open.
now fills my weekly schedule We had to do some service work
is reading obits from various on some large silos.
newspaper web sites. It’s what
I experienced the high of being
you do when you turn 50, isn’t hired by a company for what I felt
it?
was a dream job. I experienced
I try to keep tabs on deceased the low of being terminated from
parents of friends, if not the that job and escorted from the
obits of friends. Quite often obits building being made to feel like
include employment history. a criminal. Time helped heal that
Some outline a career with one, wound. I’ve even inquired about
maybe two employers in the same writing producer features for their
field. Others offer a multiple array web site because I respect their
of jobs and employers. I should core values about agriculture.
probably set my list
They are not interested
aside to ease the task
in my services.
for those who will write
Writing remains a
my obit whenever that
common
thread
to
day comes. Hopefully
earning some income. I
not in the immediate
have freelanced on and
future.
off for years. I’ve met
In most cases I can
some cool people over
sincerely admit I took
the years. Got to cover a
something
positive
Wisconsin Badger men’s
from each employer.
basketball game when
The lone manufacturer Bob Kliebenstein Steve Yoder walked the
Guest Opinion
I worked for remains a
coaches box for UW.
solid company to the
Talked with short-lived
best of my knowledge. I gained Green Bay Packers quarterback
respect for people employed in Don Majkowski at Darlington
manufacturing where you work High School on a Pack bus tour
indoors and take pride in a when they played community
product made in America versus members. Still remember him as
overseas.
very cocky.
I am indebted to a high school
One of the best professional
friend who helped me get a job decisions I made was to obtain a
with a pest control company commercial driver’s license (CDL)
he worked for at the time when to drive school bus for the Tomah
we moved to Tomah. I knew School District. That CDL opened
when I took the job it would be the door for work I still enjoy.
transitional. I tried to convince Over the years I drove bus for a
myself it may turn into something federal contractor at Fort McCoy
more. One of the highlights was and Lamers Bus Service thanks
getting an inside look at what is to that CDL. One of my worst
now City Brewing in La Crosse decisions was walking away from
a municipal job secured with
that CDL.
Been in and out of state service
with the Wisconsin Department
of Corrections and Wisconsin
Department of Health Services.
Met some people I will always
consider friends and buy a beer
when we cross paths at any
local tavern. I hope their work
conditions improve. Those still in
it know what I’m talking about.
Worked part time in federal
employment for nearly a year in
food service. Great place to work,
fun co-workers. But tough to
wait out the process for full time
work while opportunities went to
other applicants. But no regrets.
Throughout my work odyssey
I was officially on unemployment
two weeks. Discovered it was too
much red tape. The one benefit
check received I mailed back. Not
worth the hassle Uncle Sam.
Still don’t have the traditional
40/hours per week job. I like
where I’m at right now. The jobs
(yes it’s plural) I have now keep
me busy and the variety keeps
getting spicier. The employers are
fair and flexible. Not getting rich.
But I enjoy the people I work with
and for. That is important.
Huey Lewis says it best in his
song, “Taking what I’m given
cause I’m working for a living.”
Bob Kliebenstein is a rural
Tomah resident and contributing
writer for Sparta newspapers
covering the Tomah area. Feel
free to call him with story ideas at
372-7892.
Dear Editor:
It was great to see the article in the latest edition of the Sparta
newspaper about Union National Bank providing financial software
to SHS. Many young people are leaving high school not prepared for
their financial future. According to the article the software is using
the latest technology which certainly appeals to young people, and
probably has a lot to do with why students are enjoying the learning
experience. Also it is awesome to read about 1st Community Credit
Union’s involvement with Sparta High School as a bank branch in an
effort to teach students. It is hard to argue that financial knowledge
is not one of the most important concepts to learn for young
people as bad financial decisions can haunt people for years after
a financial mistake. I still see countless young people leave school
not understanding the basics of budgeting, banking and using credit
wisely.
In my real estate business I often have young people and sometimes
older people turn in applications to rent apartments and homes that
they cannot afford. They come to a showing sometimes driving a
newer car and drinking a fancy soft drink that they just picked up at
a convenience store. Their rental application showing more expenses
than income and not understanding that utilities can be a major
expense beyond the monthly rent. As a former educator it is my
pleasure to give them a quick lesson on budgeting whether they are
interested in it or not. Obviously there are also a lot of responsible
young adults who come to apartment showings talking about their
budget and asking the right questions.
I was a high school teacher for 12 years in a neighboring school
district and was always bothered by the fact that financial literacy was
not a required course, I am pleased to see Sparta’s curriculum has
financial literacy course required as a sophomore and other required
classes and electives that touch on the subject, but I think more is
better when it comes to financial education and knowledge. With
modern technology and smartphones it seems like there are apps
and programs for anything financial and this is probably the key to
have students interested in it as it certainly makes it fun and easier
to learn and understand.
Also an important fact is that young people learn about money and
how to manage it at home, so it is important that parents set good
examples at home, as schools are not solely responsible for young
people’s education. I am learning this everyday as my two children,
both elementary school age are sponges and pick up on everything I
do and say!
Trent Ziegler
Sparta
Jail Doubts
Dear Editor:
Monroe County was sued for an attempt of suicide that took place
in their jail over 10 years ago, which resulted in permanent brain
damage of the victim, but how much has the county’s enforcement
done in recent years to help prevent this from happening again?
Any individual under the influence of alcohol is subject to depressive
behavior. Someone who is already affected by major depressive
disorder without alcohol provocation, a reportedly suicidal individual
who, by direct protocol of any qualified medical personnel, would be
deemed harmful to themselves or others, should be placed under
medical supervision. However, due to the “confusion about her name”
that Monroe County Sheriff Scott Perkins claimed there to be, the
individual was not so much as placed under suicide watch in the jail.
It was reported that the information was “not relayed quickly”.
If information regarding the safety of an individual is not to be
abruptly communicated, then I have no other choice but to question
the integrity of the system that’s in place for the Monroe County Jail.
From what I have understood, part of law enforcement’s mission is
to help serve the community in ways that preserve life. The purpose
is not only to protect individuals from others, but also to help protect
individuals who have the potential to harm themselves.
The department’s failure to hold themselves accountable for not
only one successful suicide under their watch but two others since
2008 leaves within me a feeling of sorrow and betrayal. As a Monroe
County citizen who has had to rely on others in the past to help
preserve my life due to a mental illness, I am deeply afraid for those
individuals who aren’t receiving proper treatment and recognition
from authorities.
Mary Brown
Sparta
Debate Is Great Opportunity
Dear Editor:
Sparta-Tomah Broadcasting and Evans Print & Media Group are to
be congratulated for sponsoring the Mayors’ Forum to be held at 7:30
p.m. on Monday, February 8, at the Sparta High School--one week
before the election on Tuesday, February 16.
The event will give voters the opportunity to discuss such issues
as contracting with Monroe County for police services rather than
building at great cost a second jail as is currently proposed in the
Sparta Police Station Space Needs Analysis.
The city has been well served by the County Jail since the 1990s
and can continue to be so in the County’s new Justice Center. Two
successful mergers--the recently combined city/rural fire district and
the consolidated 911-service provided by the County Dispatch Center
since 2003--serve as examples of how cooperation between the city
and county can lead to better, more efficient and less costly public
service.
Sparta voters look forward to hearing candidates describe their
creative, innovative and cost-saving expectations for providing good
service.
Barbara Rice
Sparta
SPORTS
PINNED
J.P. Schaller - Sports Editor: [email protected]
Monday, February 1, 2016 / Page 7
LUCKY
13
Timberwolves topple Spartans
in cross-county mat match-up
by JOHN PAUL SCHALLER
Sports Editor
Jeff Von Haden and Mike Roddick
agreed – bonus points matter on the
mat, especially in a hotly-contested
match up between two Mississippi Valley
Conference rivals.
Both were right.
Von Haden’s Timberwolves racked
up 19 bonus points, to just nine for
Roddick’s Spartans, as Tomah toppled
Sparta 46-24 in Thursday’s battle for
second place in the MVC standings.
Early bonus points led to some
momentum for Tomah, as Timberwolves
Edgar Rodriguez and Zach Herricks
opened with back-to-back pins at 220
and 285 pounds.
Tomah’s Dawson Lambert kept Tomah
rolling when he scored a 14-4 major
decision over Blake Brooks at 106
pounds to give the Timberwolf grapplers
an early 16-0 advantage.
“We started at the perfect weight
class for us,” offered Von Haden, whose
Timberwolves snapped a six-match
losing skid against Sparta by posting
their 13th dual match victory in a row.
“We felt we could get a pin at 220 and
285 and a win at 106,” he continued.
“We just got rolling and it snowballed on
Sparta.”
Sparta picked up its first win at 113
pounds, when Jon Bailey scored a 16-0
technical fall over Cody Zimmerman to
cut the deficit to 16-5.
It didn’t take long for Tomah to
regain the momentum, however, as
the
Timberwolves
answered
with
three straight wins to open up a 30-5
advantage midway through the match.
Tommy Repka scored a 13-4 major
decision over Sparta’s Kyle Erickson at
120 pounds, Bobby Bemis scored a 12-4
major decision over Spartan Sam Forbes
at 126 pounds and Hunter Pierce pinned
Sparta’s David Hayes in the second
period of the 132-pound match to give
THE BIG
NUMBER
19
Bonus
points
scored
by the Timberwolves
in
Thursday’s
MVC
wrestling
match
at
Tomah High School.
Tomah outscored Sparta
19-9 in bonus points en
route to a 46-24 victory.
the Timberwolves six wins in seven
matches.
“We don’t have a lot of experience
there (220 and 285 pounds) and it got
a lot of momentum running for them,”
said Roddick.
“They were ready to roll,” he added.
“It’s not like we weren’t ready to roll, we
were, but once they got pins at 220 and
285 they had the momentum.”
Sparta was able to curtail that
momentum a bit over the next four
matches, however.
Collin Gartner got Sparta back on track
when he blanked Tomah’s Alec Devito
9-0 at 138 pounds and Brett VonRuden
followed with an 11-4 decision over
Timberwolf Travis Von Haden at 145
pounds to cut the deficit to 30-12.
Jaden Winchel (152 pounds) and
Hayden Krein (160 pounds) followed
with back-to-back pins to pull Sparta
within striking distance at 30-24 with
three matches remaining.
A key match-up followed, as Von
Haden decided to have Tomah’s Casey
Curran move up two weight classes
and wrestle Sparta 170-pounder James
Gann.
Curran normally wrestles at 152
pounds, but he weighed in at 154.5
pounds allowing him to compete at 170,
where he scored a 13-3 major decision
over Gann to put Tomah on top at 3424.
“We took a chance,” said Von Haden
of the decision to wrestle Curran at 170
pounds.
“We knew we needed some wins and it
just worked out for us,” he added.
“Casey did an outstanding job,”
continued Von Haden. ‘Their kid is huge,
but Casey just kept battling. He never
slowed down.”
Timberwolves
Justice
Blackhawk
and Jack Hessil followed with backto-back pins over Austin Zwiefel and
Brady Hansen at 182 and 195 pounds,
respectively, wrapping up the victory for
Tomah.
Tomah entered the match with some
confidence riding a 12-match winning
streak.
“I think our kids were confident,” said
Von Haden.
“We were hungry for a win against
Sparta and the kids didn’t want to let
each other down,” he continued. “They
were hungry, they were aggressive and
they were fired up.”
While the loss hurts, Roddick believes
Sparta was beaten by a very strong
wrestling team.
“They’re set up to be a great dual
Tomah won nine of 14 matches Thursday to upend Sparta 46-24 in Mississippi
Valley Conference wrestling action on the Timberwolves’ home mat. Top
photo - Tomah’s Casey Curran (top), who normally wrestles at 152 pounds,
scores some near-fall points on Spartan James Gann in the pivotal 170-pound
match Thursday. Bottom photo - Spartan Collin Gartner (top) rides Timberwolf
Alec Devito on his way to a 9-0 victory at 138 pounds. Photos by J.P. Schaller.
match team,” offered Roddick.
“There are no superstars, but they’re
not weak anywhere. They’re solid all the
way through,” he added.
“They’re so balanced. They didn’t give
up many bonus points and we did,”
Roddick continued. “We just got whipped
and our only answer is to keep working
hard.”
Tomah improved to 4-1 in MVC action
and moved into sole possession of second
place in the league standing, while the
Spartans fell to 3-2 in the MVC.
The Spartans are back in action
Thursday when they host Logan in a
7 p.m. dual at Alton Ask Gymnasium,
while Tomah hosts MVC rival Onalaska
at 7 p.m. Thursday as well.
Big second half lifts Aquinas over Spartans
Sparta boy
cagers fall
to Blugolds Seventh-ranked Blugolds hand Lady Spartan cagers Mississippi Valley loss
Sports Editor
Aquinas built a 10-point lead
at halftime and pulled away in
the second half to defeat Sparta
71-48 in Mississippi Valley
Conference
boys
basketball
action at La Crosse Friday night.
The Blugolds knocked down six
three-pointers over the opening
18 minutes of play to pull in front
33-23 at the half.
Aquinas continued to strike
from long range in the second
half, sinking four more from
beyond the arc to fuel a 38-25
run over the Spartans.
The Blugolds finished with 27
field goals, including 10 treys,
while Sparta knocked down 16
field goals – 10 of which came
from three-point land.
From the free throw line,
Sparta hit 10 of 17 shots for 59
percent, while Aquinas made
seven of eight fouls shots for 87
percent.
Travis Goede led the Spartan
boy cagers on offense with a
14-point effort, while Jacob
Edwards and Matthew Pauley
finished with a dozen points
apiece and Jaydon Haag, Cisco
Vetterkind, Caleb Pokorny, Sirrus
Bier and Vegas Cruz added two
points each.
Conley Malone finished with a
game-high, 18-point effort to lead
the Blugolds, while teammates
Eddie Harwick and Alex Schulte
added 16 and 12 points,
respectively.
Sparta fell to 0-7 in MVC action
and 3-13 overall, while Aquinas
improved to 3-4 in league play
and 8-7 overall.
The Spartans are back in
action Tuesday, when they host
Black River Falls at 7:30 p.m.
Sports Editor
League-leading Aquinas used a big
second-half to upend the Lady Spartans
73-44 in Mississippi Valley Conference
girls basketball action at Sparta’s Alton
Ask gymnasium Friday night.
Sparta hung with the Blugolds over the
opening 18 minutes of play, but trailed 3325 at the half.
It was all Aquinas in the second half, as
the Blugolds outscored Sparta 40-19 to
hand the Lady Sparta cagers their second
straight loss.
Aly Laufenberg had the hot hand for
Sparta, knocking down 14 points, while
Genna Sullivan finished with nine tallies.
Alexis Kreider and Kaitlin Warren added
five points apiece for the Lady Spartans,
followed by Rachel Hansen with four, Rorie
Marx with three and Madi Blaha with two.
Kyah Steiner scored a game-high 24
points to pace the Blugolds, while Madessa
Collins and Maeve Miller finished with 12
and 10 points, respectively.
Sparta fell to 3-5 in MVC action and 7-10
overall with the loss, while the Blugolds,
ranked seventh in Division 4, improved to
8-1 in the conference and 14-3 overall.
The Lady Spartan cagers are back in
action tonight (Monday), when they hit the
road to take on Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau
in a 7:30 p.m. nonconference contest at
Galesville.
Sparta dance team headed to state
Pom squad captures third,
dancers advance to fourth
straight state competition
By JOHN PAUL SCHALLER
Sports Editor
The Sparta High School pom dance team earned the program’s fourth straight state berth with a
third-place finish at the New Richmond regional over the weekend. Front row, from left - Serenity
Laue, Hayley Bemis, Natalie Hoffman, Emily Phillips, Brittney Schmitz and Emily Salis. Middle row
- Aylah Hanson, Katie Olson, Alyssa Stritchko and Cristal Hernandez. Back row - Haley Oliver,
Oksana Victor, Erica Ebert, Jazmine Arentz and Alissa Ebert. Photo by Suzanne Hoffman.
The Sparta High School dance
team is headed to state.
The Spartans placed third in the
pom competition at Saturday’s
regional in New Richmond to
advance to state for the fourth
year in a row.
Onalaska won the pom event,
followed by Rice Lake and Sparta.
All three teams qualified for the
state competition, which will be
held Saturday at the La Crosse
Center.
Sparta also competed in hip
hop at the regional, but fell just
shy of advancing to state.
“Their
performance
went
great,” said Sparta dance coach
Sienna Theisen.
“There were just some minor
mistakes that can definitely
be improved for Saturday,”
she continued. “This is a sport
of perfection, which can be
exhausting and disheartening at
times.”
Theisen said the judges only
look for mistakes, and positive
comments are few and far
between.
“Deduction sports like dance
are extremely difficult because
you don’t get much praise for
how good you do,” she said.
“The judges specifically look for
mistakes and that’s all they give
you for feedback,” Theisen added.
“The girls take these criticisms
and push themselves to make
improvements with a smile on
their face, They are so strong and
I could not be more proud.”
Theisen said Saturday’s state
performance time for the Spartan
pom team will be posted on the
team’s Facebook page sometime
Tuesday.
Page 8
Bangor bounces
back to hold off
Necedah 57-47
Cashton, Brookwood suffer
losses in SBC boys action
Sports Editor
Brookwood’s Allyson Nelson (left) gets a jumper off over
the outstretched hands of Necedah’s Jillian Vandaver (51)
in the first half of Thursday’s Scenic Bluffs Conference girls
basketball game. Nelson scored 17 points to help the Lady
Falcons roll to a 77-48 victory. Photo by Nate Beier.
Cashton’s Abby Kaiser (front) dribbles past Royall defender
Kelsea Storkel during the opening half of Friday’s Scenic Bluffs
Conference girls basketball game. Cashton broke open
a close game with a 29-19 second-half run to defeat the
Panthers 47-35. Photo by Nate Beier.
SBC girls race stays tight
Wittmershaus returns to lead Bangor past New Lisbon,
Brookwood and Cashton post Scenic Bluffs home wins
Sports Editor
Bangor and Brookwood remained tied for
the top spot in the Scenic Bluffs Conference
with home victories Thursday, while
Cashton kept pace with a league win as
well.
The Cardinals rolled over New Lisbon 6839, Brookwood slammed Necedah 77-48
and Cashton toppled Royall 47-35.
Bangor 68, New Lisbon 39
Emma Wittmershaus returned from an
ankle injury to help the Lady Cardinals
bounce back from their first loss of the
season – a 50-38 defeat at Necedah Jan. 22.
Bangor opened up a 31-24 lead over the
opening 18 minutes of play and used a 3715 offensive onslaught in the second half to
pull away for the win.
Wittmershaus scored a game-high 21
points, including 11 in the second half, to
lead Bangor, while teammate Jaclynn Freit
finished with 15 tallies.
Alea Fortier added nine points for the
Cards, followed by Elizabeth Nicolai with
six, Katie Horstman, Karlee Tart and
Samantha McDonald with four each, Jade
Pfaff with three and Ashlie Lockington with
a pair.
Larissa Peterson scored a dozen points to
pace the Rockets.
Bangor improved to 8-1 in SBC action
and 15-1 overall.
The Lady Cardinals are back in action
Tuesday, when they travel to Cashton for
a 7:30 p.m. conference match-up with the
Eagles.
Brookwood 77, Necedah 48
The Falcons dominated from the start,
dismantling Necedah with solid defense
and a balanced attack on the offensive end
of the hardwood.
Brookwood forged a 39-24 lead at
intermission and used a 38-24 run in the
second half to cruise to the win.
Briana Nelson scored a game-high 20
points to lead the Lady Falcons, while
Allyson Nelson finished with 17 points.
Ten Brookwood players scored in the
game, including Lydia Madrigal with eight,
Angel Brueggen and Ellen Mariott with
seven apiece, Amy Berg with six, Rylee Hall
and Claudia Alcanter with four apiece and
Kate Hyatt and Eva Dorn with two each.
Brookwood upped its record to 8-1 in
Scenic Bluffs action and 13-2 overall.
The Lady Falcons are back in action
Tuesday, when they host Hillsboro in a 7:30
p.m. league contest at Brookwood High
School.
Cashton 47, Royall 35
The Eagles outscored the Panthers by 10
points in the second half to break open a
close game and capture the conference win.
Cashton forged a narrow 18-16 advantage
over the opening 18 minutes of play, before
outscoring Royall 29-19 in the second half
to secure the win.
Jamie Schmitz knocked down 15 points
to lead Cashton on offense, while teammate
Lexy Schroeder finished with 10 tallies.
Jordan Williams added a nine-point effort
for the Lady Eagles, followed by Avrie Butzler
with five, Bre Huntzicker with three, Olivia
Pieper with two and Harley Hundt with one.
Cashton is back in action Tuesday, when
it hosts Bangor in a 7:30 p.m. SBC game.
Tomah, Sparta gymnasts solid at MVC meet
Bernhardt leads Timberwolves to fourth, Martinson paces Lady Spartans
Sports Editor
Kayla Bernhardt placed in the top 10 in
four of five events to lead Tomah to its best
team score of the season at a Mississippi
Valley Conference gymnastics meet in Holmen
Thursday.
Bernhardt posted her best finish in the
vault, earning sixth place with a score of 8.2.
In addition, Bernhardt finished 10th in the
floor exercise with a 7.9, 10th on the balance
beam with a 7.6, and 12th on the uneven bars
with a 6.6, all of which lead to a seventhplace finish in the all-around competition
with a score of 30.3.
Mckenzie
Linenberg
had
a
solid
performance for the Timberwolves as well,
earning a personal-best on the floor with a
7.95 to finish ninth.
Linenberg finished tied with teammate
Samantha Storkel in the vault with a score
of 7.9 and added 13th on the bars and beam
with scores of 6.475 and 7.4 respectively.
She finished right behind Bernhardt in the
all-around with a score of 29.725.
Storkel took 10th on the uneven bars with a
6.9 and teammate Azalea Roberts turned in
a score of 7.125 to capture 16th on the floor.
“The ladies are starting to peek here at the
downswing of our season and, hopefully, we
stay healthy enough to finish strong,” said
Tomah head coach Karen Brown. “We have
just four meets left and we hope to add a few
more new things we have been working on.”
Junior Brianna Martinson led Sparta to a
fifth-place finish in the MVC meet.
Martinson earned 11th on the vault with
an 8.05, 16th on the beam with a 6.4, 16th on
the bars with a 5.25, 17th on the floor with a
7.025 and 11 in the all-around with a 26.725.
Onalaska won the five-team meet with a
score of 132.875, while host Holmen finished
second at 132.375.
Third place went to La Crosse LoganCentral with 117.475 team tallies, followed by
Tomah in fourth at 112.475 and Sparta with
64.726 in fifth.
The Timberwolves are back in action
Monday, when they host a 6 p.m. quadrangular
meet at Tomah High School.
The Sparta gymnasts will travel to GaleEttrick-Trempealeau for an invitational
Saturday.
Bangor recovered from a
slow first half to score its third
straight win, while Cashton
and Brookwood came up short
in a trio of home Scenic Bluffs
Conference
boys
basketball
games Friday night.
The Cardinals scored a 57-47
come-from-behind victory over
Necedah, but Cashton suffered
a 68-58 loss to Wonewoc-Center
and Brookwood was beaten 5644 by New Lisbon.
Bangor 57, Necedah 47
The Cards dug themselves an
early hole, but bounced back in
time to escape with a win.
Necedah came to play against
ninth-ranked Bangor, opening
up a 22-28 lead over the first 18
minutes of play.
Bangor rallied with a 39-25
scoring advantage in the second
half to recover in time for the win.
Jack Reader scored a gamehigh 18 points to lead Bangor,
while Caleb Miedema finished
with 13 points.
Luke Reader added a 10-point
effort for the Cardinals, followed
by Sam Johnson with five, Kyle
Wingert with four, Kellen Kravik
with two and Andrew Piske with
one.
Bangor improved to 7-1 in SBC
action and 13-2 overall with the
win.
The Cardinals are back in
action tonight (Monday), when
they host New Lisbon in a 7:30
p.m. Scenic Bluffs contest at
Bangor.
Wonewoc 68, Cashton 58
Tanner Williams poured in
a game-high 27 points for the
Eagles, but it wasn’t enough, as
Wonewoc-Center rallied from a
halftime deficit to defeat Cashton.
Cashton opened up a narrow
lead at intermission, taking a
28-27 advantage into the second
half.
The Wolves answered over
the second 18-minute frame,
outscoring the Eagles 41-30 to
secure the win.
Jeffery Belteton added 16
points for Cashton, followed by
Cole Bernett with nine, Brett
Butzler with four and Brady
Butzler with a pair.
The Eagles are back in action
Thursday, when they travel to
Royall for a 7:30 p.m. conference
contest.
New Lisbon 56, Brookwood 44
New Lisbon jumped out to an
early lead and pulled away down
the stretch for the Scenic Bluffs
victory.
The Rockets opened up a 29-24
lead at halftime and used a 2720 second-half run to secure the
win.
Brothers
Matt
and
Jack
Hansen finished with 12 points
each to lead Brookwood, while
teammate Kaden Laufenberg
scored nine points.
Jordan Ramirez added an
eight-point effort for the Falcons,
followed by Blake Martin with
three.
Brookwood is back in action
Thursday, when the Falcons
travel to Necedah for a 7:30 p.m.
SBC game with the Cardinals.
Spartan hockey team
drops home game to
Stevens Point Pacelli
Sports Editor
Stevens Point Pacelli held the
Spartan icemen in check on
offense Thursday, rolling to a 6-0
shutout victory over Sparta in
nonconference hockey action at
Sparta Ice Arena.
Pacelli jumped out to a 2-0 lead
over the opening period of play.
Stevens Point pulled in front
with 2:51 left in the first frame
on a Richard Zupan goal and
took a 2-0 lead with 30 seconds
remaining when Carter Snyder
scored on a shorthanded goal.
Chris Karch found the back of
the net with 37 seconds left in
the second period to increase the
Pacelli advantage to 3-0 entering
the final frame.
Karch added a power-play goal
just 1:37 into the third frame and
Zach Graf followed with a goal
midway through the frame to give
Stevens Point a five-goal lead.
Karch scored another powerplay goal in the final five minutes
of play to give Pacelli the 6-0
victory.
Nathan Thompson finished
with 35 saves for the Spartan
skaters, including 15 in the
final frame, while Trent Kollock
recorded 23 saves for Stevens
Point.
The game was the first for
Sparta interim coach Troy Jahn,
who took over last week after the
resignation of Randy Groth.
“We ran out of steam in the
third period and took a couple of
inopportune penalties,” offered
Jahn. “Otherwise it was not a
bad outing overall.”
Sparta fell to 3-19 overall with
the loss.
The Spartan skaters are back
in action Tuesday, when they
host La Crosse Logan-Central
in a 7 p.m. Mississippi Valley
Conference contest at Sparta Ice
Arena.
Erickson, Gartner claim
state junior varsity titles
for Sparta wrestling team
Krein, Dahl, Glover capture third place
Sports Editor
The Sparta junior varsity wrestling team sent six wrestlers to the state tournament last weekend. From left - Manager Riley Law,
Ashley Dahl (third), Kyle Erickson (first), coach Scott Zurfluh, Collin Gartner (first), Garet Pfaff, Mathias Krein (third) and manager
Maddy Schaller. Autumn Glover (third) and Noah Benish are missing from the photo. Contributed photo.
Collin
Gartner
and
Kyle
Erickson captured junior varsity
state titles in the Wisconsin
Challenge Series at Wausau West
High School last weekend.
Three other Spartan grapplers
- Mathias Krein, Ashley Dahl and
Autumn Glover - earned thirdplace finishes at the tournament,
which
is
considered
the
Wisconsin state championship
for junior varsity wrestlers.
Gartner recorded three pins
and a major decision to advance
to the 138-pound final, before
pinning
Rhinelander’s
Josh
Randolph in just 34 seconds to
capture the crown.
Erickson survived an overtime
decision and recorded three falls
to advance to the final round at
120 pounds, where he topped
Ellsworth’s Coby Ekholm 15-11
to finish in first.
Krein pinned Badger’s Brett
Adams to take third at 145
pounds and Dahl scored an 8-2
decision over Waterford’s Jordan
Danowski to finish in third at 152
pounds, while Glover placed third
in the girls 170 to 182-pound
weight class.
Spartans Garet Pfaff (182
pounds) and Noah Benish
(285 pounds) also qualified
for the state junior varsity
championships, but failed to
place at the tournament.
Page 9
Holmen’s big
second half
too much for
Tomah boys
Former Green
Bay running
back Darrell
Thompson to
appear at Toro
Thursday
Former Green Bay Packer
running back Darrell Thompson
will be the featured guest at
a meet and greet in Tomah
Thursday morning at the Toro
Plant.
The event, which is open to
the public, will get underway at
8 a.m.
A graduate of John Marshall
High
School
in
Rochester,
Thompson was the first-round
draft pick of the Packers in 1990
after becoming the Minnesota
Gopher’s all-time rushing leader
with 4,654 yards.
He played in 60 games for
Green Bay, rushing for 1,640
yards and eight touchdowns.
The event featuring a meet
and greet with Thompson also
includes breakfast and tours of
the Toro Plant.
The cost to attend is $25 for
Greater Tomah Area Chamber of
Commerce members and $30 for
non-members.
To
register,
contact
the
chamber at 608-372-2166 or
[email protected]
by
Wednesday.
Sports Editor
Holmen used a 39-point second half to
break open a close game and pull away for
a 65-47 Mississippi Valley Conference boys
basketball victory over the Timberwolves at
Tomah High School Friday night.
In a tight first half, Holmen managed to
build a 26-22 edge over the opening 18
minutes of play.
The Vikings came out on fire in the
second half, outscoring Tomah 39-25 to
coast to the win.
Joe Georgeson led the Timberwolves with
an 11-point effort, while teammate Josh
Dahlke scored eight points.
Jack Haye and Blake Larsen added seven
tallies apiece for Tomah, followed by Kyle
Kroener with six, Brian Huneck with five,
Jordan Albrecht with two and Peter Brey
with one.
Austin Braund led the Vikings with 16
points, while Seth Wilson was right being
with a 15-point effort.
Tomah fell to 3-3 in MVC action and 5-10
overall with the loss, while Holmen moved
to 3-4 in conference play and 5-8 overall.
The Timberwolves are back in action
Friday, when they travel to La Crosse to
battle Logan in a 7:30 p.m. MVC match-up.
Slow start sinks
Tomah girls in
Timberwolves Toppled
MVC basketball
game at Holmen
Tomah’s Jarred Schouten (5) cuts between Eau Claire North players Josh Pyykola (12) and Jacob Schafter
(21) during the first period of Thursday’s nonconference hockey game at Tomah Ice Center. The Timberwolves
suffered a 7-0 loss to the Huskies. Photo by John Froelich.
Sports Editor
A slow start stymied the Tomah girls
basketball team on the road Friday night,
as the Timberwolves fell 60-42 at Holmen
in Mississippi Valley Conference girls
basketball action.
The host Vikings were solid from the
start, forging a 29-16 lead at intermission.
Tomah bounced back a bit in the second
half, but Holmen still held a 31-26 scoring
advantage to coast to the win.
Madison Lindauer knocked down 13
points to lead the Lady Timberwolves, while
teammate Reis Derousseau finished with
seven tallies.
Brooke Brown and Amber Krause added
five points apiece for Tomah, followed by
Lindsay Conway and Mallory Pierce with
four each and Emily Moake and Madisyn
Brey with two apiece.
Brooklyn Paulson poured in a game-high
25 points to lead Holmen, while Courtney
Christnovich finished with 14 tallies.
Tomah fell to 2-6 in MVC action and
7-10 overall, while Holmen kept pace with
Onalaska in the conference standings,
improving to 7-2 in league play and 13-4
overall.
The Lady Timberwolves are back in
action Tuesday, when they host Reedsburg
in a 7:30 p.m. nonconference contest at
Tomah High School.
Young Tomah wrestlers earn titles
Five Timberwolves come out on top at own invitational
Sports Editor
Five Timberwolves captured individual
titles to lead the Tomah junior varsity
wrestling team to its own invitational
Saturday.
Wyatt Spohn, Jacob Erickson, Alaughn
St. Germaine, Angel Burkhalter and Jake
Tahtinen won championships for Tomah.
Spohn pinned Mauston’s Josiah
Ziebell to capture the 113-pound title
and Erickson won the 120-pound
championship with a first period pin of
Holmen’s Evan Sletteland.
In the 132-pound weight class, St.
Germain defeated Baraboo’s Dominic
Johnson in a 12-2 major decision to win
first, while Burkhalter’s second-period
pin of Neillsvlle’s Erik Friemoth earned
him the title at 182 pounds.
Tahtinen made it five titles for the
Timberwolves when he pinned Onalaska’s
Matt Goldbeck 1:22 into the 195-pound
match.
Timberwolf
Aaron
Springman
“They’re working hard too, and it’s nice
to see them get some mat time. That’s
our future and it’s nice to see them have
some success.”
Tomah wrestling coach
Jeff Von Haden
advanced to the finals as well, but settled
for runner-up after a loss to Holmen’s
Coelton Strupp at 145 pounds.
Timberwolves Logan Mitchell (126
pounds) and Kaden Hericks (182
pounds) earned third-place finishes,
while teammates James Kelley (160
pounds), Thaine Littlejohn (170 pounds),
Edgar Rodriguez (220 pounds) and Greg
Funmaker (285 pounds) earned fourthplace finishes for Tomah.
Jared Peterson took eighth at 138
pounds for the Timberwolves, as 13 of
14 Tomah wrestlers participating placed
at the invite.
Tomah coach Jeff Von Haden was
pleased with performance of his young
wrestlers.
“They stepped up and wrestled hard,”
he offered.
“They’re working hard too, and it’s
nice to see them get some mat time,” Von
Haden continued. “That’s our future and
it’s nice to see them have some success.”
Experience nature from the comforts of home
Sometimes when the wind
howls, snow swirls, and ice
coats the roadways, it’s safer
to experience nature from the
comforts of your home. One of the
ways you can do that is through
the Museum’s Virtual Exhibit.
For the past three years, a
group of Museum staff and
volunteers have been doing the
tedious but important work of
cataloging most of our collection
of museum specimens in a digital
database called Past Perfect.
Whereas each bear mount, bird
study skin, pressed plant, and
insect in a vial used to have just
a number and some papers in
a file folder, each specimen now
has a photo and digital record.
These records are available to
the public through our website
cablemuseum.org/virtualat:
exhibit. This project is part of
a Museums for America Grant
from the Institute for Museum
and Library Services.
While it’s fun to browse through
the
photos
of
taxidermied
mammals and check out our
collection of fish, my favorite part
of the Virtual Exhibit is that you
can view many of our most fragile
and delicate collections that may
never go on display inside the
actual Museum.
For example, our collection
contains a slide show on spring
wildflowers put together by
Lois Nestel herself. Lois was a
self-taught naturalist and the
NATURAL
CONNECTIONS
by EMILY M. STONE
Naturalist & Education
Director at Cable
Natural History Museum
Museum’s first director. As
legend tells it, the idea for the
Cable Natural History Museum
was born when Mrs. Mary Griggs
Burke, a local philanthropist,
attended Lois’s wildflower slide
talk and determined that this
incredible naturalist needed her
own Museum. The generous
funding and lofty ideals that
Mrs. Burke used to jumpstart
the Museum continue to inspire
us today. Reflecting back on her
experiences, Mrs. Burke wrote, “I
am glad more people are enjoying
the beauty of nature - but only
if people value the land and treat
it with respect can they preserve
what they enjoy”
Lois’s legacy lives on in
many other specimens, too.
Her watercolor paintings of
flowers, mushrooms, and birds
are delightfully beautiful and
technically
accurate.
These,
too, can be viewed through our
Virtual Exhibit portal.
Besides
looking
through
classic groups of collections like
mammals, birds, fish, reptiles,
and even mussels, you also can
view virtual exhibits based on
our recent Museum exhibits
- “Nature’s Superheroes,” and
“Lakes Alive!” What’s fun about
these online exhibits is that they
pair photos of the specimens
used in the physical exhibits with
information taken directly from
the text panels. If you’ve forgotten
the fun facts you learned while
visiting the Museum, or if you
weren’t able to visit our previous
exhibits, you can explore them
online instead.
Having 2,270 items from our
Museum collections available
in a searchable online database
isn’t just for self-edification
Lois Nestel’s orchid paintings
are one of the many fragile
and hidden-away museum
collections that you can view
using our Virtual Exhibit. Photo
by Emily Stone.
on a snowy day, though. It
serves some higher purposes as
well. For one, our Naturalist/
Curator, Elsa Hansen, now can
access all of our records from
the ease of a computer interface
instead of dusty old files. This
is a huge improvement and
a major accomplishment for
our little Museum. Organizing
and completing our collections
database was one hurdle on
our way to becoming accredited
with the American Alliance of
Museums (AAM). We hope to
execute the rest of the process
this spring.
Why is taking care of our
collections so important, anyway?
Museum collections play a
vital role in scientific research
on
biodiversity,
evolution,
population genetics, and even
things like climate change and
pesticide use. When peregrine
falcons began to decline, it was
museum specimens of eggshells
that allowed researchers to
confirm that DDT was the culprit
and get it banned.
While many of our collections
were acquired before DNA testing
was an option, scientists now
can go back and sample old
specimens to get new information.
Using DNA, they can discover
how populations have changed
over time, and sometimes even
discover new species! In order
for our collections to be useful
to scientists, though, they have
to be well taken care of and well
documented.
Whether your purpose is
scientific research or satisfying
curiosity, museum collections
are vital in today’s changing
world. We invite you to explore
ours from the comfort of your
own home.
The Cable Natural History
Museum’s Virtual Exhibit can
be viewed at cablemuseum.org/
virtual-exhibit.
Sixth annual
Tomah Freeze
Fest on tap
this weekend
The Tomah Rotary Club and
Tomah Parks and Recreation
Department will host the sixth
annual Freeze Fest Friday and
Saturday, Feb. 5-6, at Winnebago
Park and Recreation Park.
There will be many familyoriented winter events on tap at
Freeze Fest, including a pickleball
tournament, Kid Zone obstacle
course, movie night featuring
Frozen, a 7 Rivers Figure Skating
exhibition with a party and
games on the ice, a medallion
hunt, torchlight run/walk, roller
skating and a snowshoe and
cross country skiing event.
The cost to attend is a $1
Freeze Fest button, which can be
purchased at the Greater Tomah
Area Chamber of Commerce
office or Tomah City Hall prior to
the event, or at either park on the
weekend of Freeze Fest.
For more information, contact
the Tomah Parks and Recreation
Department at 608-374-7445.
Wrestling club
AUCE spaghetti
dinner Feb. 15
at Perch Lake
Supper Club
The Sparta Wrestling Club will
host its annual Spaghetti Dinner
fundraiser on Monday, Feb. 15.
The dinner will be held at Perch
Lake Supper Club in the Sparta
VFW from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Spartan wrestlers will be serving
All-You-Can Eat Spaghetti plates
in an effort to raise much-needed
funds for the club.
The cost for the spaghetti
dinner is $8 for adults, $4 for
children ages 10-and-under and
free for children age two-andunder.
Carry-outs will be available at
the dinner.
Rod & Gun
Club hosting
fun shoots
The Sparta Rod and Gun
Club’s series of five-stand fun
shoots will continue next week.
The trap shoots start at 4 p.m.
every Tuesday through Mar. 29.
The cost to participate is $5 per
round and refreshments will be
available on the club grounds.
The rod and gun club shooting
stands are covered and heated
The club also will hold fivestand fun shoots on the first
Saturday of the month November
through March starting with the
first round at 9 a.m.
The remaining Saturday shoots
will be held Feb. 6 and Mar. 6.
Five-stand shooting is a cross
between trap shooting and
sporting clays.
8
Help
Wanted
BRENENGEN AUTOGROUP
EMPLOYMENT
Legal Notices
TRUCK
TECHNICIAN
OPPORTUNITIES
Experienced technician
needed in our Band Box
garage.
PAINTER: Full-time.
• At Bodies By Brenengen in West Salem. Motivated
and EXPERIENCED painter sought. Experience with
and prior knowledge of paint products and processes
required. Advancement opportunities with the
Company available. Please contact Rod Blazek or Kari
Fredrickson at 786-4416 with questions.
Performs skilled work
in the repair and
maintenance of trucks
and similar equipment,
diagnosis of problems
and perform repairs. Must
have valid CDL. Two year
trade school degree or
2 years of truck repair
experience.
QUICK SERVICE TECHNICIANS: Full and part-time
positions.
• At our Chevrolet Buick Dealership in Sparta (Day
Shifts). Please contact Kathy Kendhammer at 608269-2158, extension 4211 with questions.
• At our Chevrolet Cadillac Dealership in Onalaska
(Day & Night Shifts). Please contact Ian Goodwin at
608-783-8900, extension 4711 with questions.
• At our Chevrolet Dealership in West Salem (Day &
Night Shifts). Please contact Harold Binning at 608786-0400, extension 4111 with questions.
• At our Kia Dealership in West Salem (Day Shift).
Please contact Joe Kazynski at 608-786-4511,
extension 4511 with questions.
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNICIANS: Full-time.
• At our Chevrolet Cadillac Dealership in Onalaska.
Experience in most areas of automotive repair and
have ASE certification with either a technical degree or
equivalent work experience required. Please contact
Ian Goodwin at 608-783-8900, extension 4711 with
questions.
AUTOMOTIVE DETAILERS: Full and part-time.
• At our Ford Dealership in Sparta. Please contact Matt
Brenengen at 608-269-3673, extension 4321 with
questions.
• At our Chevrolet Cadillac Dealership in Onalaska.
Please contact Nick Brenengen at 608-783-8900,
extension 4711 with questions.
SERVICE CONSULTANT: Full-time.
• At our Ford Dealership in Sparta. Previous
Automotive Service Consultant experience helpful,
but will train. Please contact Brian Holzhausen at 608269-3673, extension 4301 with questions.
SALES CONSULTANT: Full-time.
• At our Ford Dealership in Sparta. Some sales
experience desired, preferably in the automotive field.
Excellent customer relations skills required. Please
contact Brian Holzhausen at 608-269-3673, extension
4301 with questions.
Full-time positions include full benefits. All positions include
Company-provided uniforms, training, certifications, and
incentives. Must have a valid driver’s license and a clean
driving record.
For more details on all current openings, visit our website at
www.Brenengen.com
Apply by mail or e-mail to:
Brenengen Autogroup
Human Resources Manager
P.O. Box 155
990 Highway 16
West Salem, WI 54669
Or
[email protected]
Brenengen Autogroup is an Equal Opportunity Employer
CROSSWORD ANSWER
January 28, February 1
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
OR DEPOSITION OF PROPERTY
LITTLE FALLS STORAGE
Items to be sold at a public auction:
OR sold outright: OR disposed of after
14 days.
Unit 9; Owes $225.00; Contents of
Ron Stelter; washer, dryer, tires, saws,
and other miscellaneous items.
WNAXLP
We offer a full range of
benefits; health, dental,
and life insurance, 401k,
paid vacation & holidays.
Email Resumes to:
[email protected]
Or apply at
Band Box Cleaners
1207-23 Superior Ave.
Tomah, WI 54660
608-372-5642
E.O.E.
1956-2016
11
Services
S T E A M - A - WAY
Cleaning Co.: Carpet and
upholstery. Smoke and water
restoration, air duct cleaning.
Satisfaction is guaranteed.
For a free estimate, website:
steamawaycleaning.com,
or call (608)372-6684 or
(608)269-7949 or 1-800278-6090. 4-8-tfc
Buy, sell
or trade.
It pays
to use
the
classifieds.
PUZZLE ANSWERS
SUDOKU
Page 11
January 25, February 1, 8
STATE OF WISCONSIN
CIRCUIT COURT
MONROE COUNTY
NOTICE OF
FORECLOSURE SALE
Case No. 15-CV-170
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
Plaintiff,
vs.
BRENDA N. COX a/k/a BRENDA N.
VERBSKY and DAVID W. COX
Defendants.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that by virtue
of a judgment of foreclosure entered
on November 4, 2015 in the amount
of $124,067.34 the Sheriff will sell the
described premises at public auction as
follows:
TIME: March 2, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
TERMS: Pursuant to said judgment,
10% of the successful bid must be paid
to the sheriff at the sale in cash, cashier’s
check or certified funds, payable to the
clerk of courts (personal checks cannot
and will not be accepted). The balance
of the successful bid must be paid to the
clerk of courts in cash, cashier’s check
or certified funds no later than ten days
after the court’s confirmation of the
sale or else the 10% down payment is
forfeited to the plaintiff. The property is
sold ‘as is’ and subject to all liens and
encumbrances.
PLACE: On the courthouse steps in
the City of Sparta.
DESCRIPTION: Lot One
(1) of
Certified Survey Map recorded in Vol.
21 CSM, on page 044, as Document No.
574037, located in part of the Southeast
Quarter of the Southwest Quarter (SE
1/4 of SW 1/4) and part of the Northeast
Quarter of the Southwest Quarter (NE
1/4 of SW 1/4), Section Twenty-nine
(29), Township Fifteen (15) North, Range
One (1) East, Town of Glendale, Monroe
County, Wisconsin.
PROPERTY
ADDRESS:
29334
Ottoman Ave., Elroy, WI 53929-8827
DATED: December 16, 2015.
Scott Perkins
Monroe County Sheriff
Gray & Associates, L.L.P.
Attorneys for Plaintiff
16345 West Glendale Drive
New Berlin, WI 53151-2841
(414) 224-8404
Please go to www.gray-law.com to obtain
the bid for this sale.
Gray & Associates, L.L.P. is attempting
to collect a debt and any information
obtained will be used for that purpose. If
you have previously received a discharge
in a chapter 7 bankruptcy case, this
communication should not be construed
as an attempt to hold you personally
liable for the debt.
January 25, February 1, 8
STATE OF WISCONSIN
CIRCUIT COURT
MONROE COUNTY
Notice to Creditors
(Informal Administration)
Case No. 2016-PR-06
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF:
EDWARD ROMBAK
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:
1. An application for informal
administration was filed.
2. The decedent, with date of birth
1-14-1960 and date of death 1-3-2016,
was domiciled in Monroe County, State
of Wisconsin, with a mailing address of
5852 Cedar Road, Sparta, WI 54656.
3. All interested persons waived
notice.
4. The deadline for filing a claim
against the decedent’s estate is April 21,
2016.
5. A claim may be filed at the Monroe
County Courthouse, 112 S. Court Street,
Sparta, Wisconsin, Room 301.
Diane Berendes
Probate Registrar
Jan. 20, 2016
Attorney Jack D. Buswell
101 W. Oak Street
P.O. Box 349
Sparta, WI 54656
608-269-1200
Bar Number 1008176
January 18, 25, February 1
STATE OF WISCONSIN
CIRCUIT COURT
MONROE COUNTY
NOTICE OF ADJOURNED
FORECLOSURE SALE
Case No. 15-CV-128
CITIFINANCIAL SERVICING LLC
Plaintiff,
vs.
JOEL MUELLER a/k/a JOEL W.
MUELLER
Defendant.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that by virtue
of a judgment of foreclosure entered
on August 19, 2015 in the amount of
$162,112.10 the Sheriff will sell the
described premises at public auction as
follows:
ORIGINAL TIME: December 2, 2015
at 10:00 a.m.
FIRST ADJOURNMENT: January 6,
2016 at 10:00 a.m.
ADJOURNED TIME: February 17,
2016 at 10:00 a.m.
TERMS: Pursuant to said judgment,
10% of the successful bid must be paid
to the sheriff at the sale in cash, cashier’s
check or certified funds, payable to the
clerk of courts (personal checks cannot
and will not be accepted). The balance
of the successful bid must be paid to the
clerk of courts in cash, cashier’s check
or certified funds no later than ten days
after the court’s confirmation of the
sale or else the 10% down payment is
forfeited to the plaintiff. The property is
sold ‘as is’ and subject to all liens and
encumbrances.
PLACE: On the courthouse steps in
the City of Sparta.
DESCRIPTION: LOT TWELVE (12)
OF SPARTA ICON SUBDIVISION
LOCATED IN THE NW 1/4 OF NW
1/4, THE NE 1/4 OF NW 1/4, AND SE
1/4 OF NW 1/4, OF SECTION 34,
TOWNSHIP 17 NORTH, RANGE 4
WEST, TOWN OF SPARTA, MONROE
COUNTY,
WISCONSIN.
SUBJECT
TO A 15-FOOT UTILITY EASEMENT
ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF LOT 12 AS
DISCLOSED IN THE PLAT OF SPARTAICON. SUBJECT TO DECLARATION
OF
RESTRICTION
COVENANTS
RECORDED MAY 20, 1997 IN VOL.
233 REC., PAGE 939, AS DOCUMENT
NO. 456685. SUBJECT TO EASEMENT
TO MONROE COUNTY TELEPHONE
COMPANY RECORDED IN VOL. 52
OF MIS., PAGE 145 AS DOCUMENT
NO. 282575. SUBJECT TO AFFIDAVIT/
APPOINTMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL
CONTROL COMMITTEE RECORDED
IN VOL. 300 RECORDS, PAGE 192, AS
DOCUMENT NO. 481155.
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 18566 Iceland
Rd., Sparta, WI 54656-5716
DATED: January 5, 2016
Scott Perkins
Monroe County Sheriff
Gray & Associates, L.L.P.
Attorneys for Plaintiff
16345 West Glendale Drive
New Berlin, WI 53151-2841
(414) 224-8404
Please go to www.gray-law.com to obtain
the bid for this sale.
Gray & Associates, L.L.P. is attempting
to collect a debt and any information
obtained will be used for that purpose. If
you have previously received a discharge
in a chapter 7 bankruptcy case, this
communication should not be construed
as an attempt to hold you personally
liable for the debt.
Subscribe
to the
Sparta
newspapers
Phone
269-3186.
National School Counseling Week is Feb. 1-5. Counselors for the Sparta
Area School District are, front row, from left, Haley Lamprecht, Jessie
Sloan and Andrea Ufheil. Middle row, Melissa Frost, Lesley Jacobs and
Chrissy Delong. Back row, Dan Korson, Carla O’Rourke and Christine
Severson.
Sparta district recognizes
counselors during National
School Counseling Week
National School Counseling
Week, Feb. 1-5, is celebrated
annually to focus on the unique
contribution
of
professional
school counselors and highlight
the tremendous impact school
counselors have in helping
students achieve school success
and plan for a career. The Sparta
Area School District has chosen
this week as a time to educate
others on the change from
guidance counselor to school
counselor.
Guidance
counselor
is
outdated and the title was given
when the job focus was solely
on class selection and college
and career preparation. School
counselors are now trained and
educated in more to include
counseling strategies that focus
on all students’ social, emotional
and academic growth.
Through
a
comprehensive
developmental school counseling
program, counselors work as a
team member with school staff,
parents and the community
to create a caring, supportive
climate where students can
achieve academic success. The
school
counseling
program
is essential for students to
achieve personal growth, acquire
positive social skills and values,
set appropriate career goals
and realize their full academic
potential.
School counselors implement
the school counseling program by
providing a number of services.
They present classroom lessons
to all students on topics such as
career exploration and planning,
social
skill
development,
protective
behaviors,
selfmanagement, transition and
problem solving skills. They
provide
individual
student
planning such as academic and
transition planning. Counselors
also
provide
short-term
individual
counseling,
small
group counseling and crisis
intervention. Counselors also
advise student groups and serve
on community committees and
workgroups.
“The Sparta Area School
District is fortunate to have
a dedicated team of school
counselors.
The
importance
of their responsibilities would
be hard to overstate and the
scope of their work continues to
increase, including the mandate
for college and career readiness
and individual academic career
plans,” Superintendent John
Hendricks said.
School
counselors
are
professional
educators
with
mental health training who
understand and respond to the
challenges presented by today’s
diverse
student
population.
The Sparta Area School District
has nine full-time Professional
School Counselors. They are:
Dan
Korson,
Charter
PreKindergarten, SAILS, High Point
and Cataract Elementary; Haley
Lamprecht,
Lawrence-Lawson
Elementary;
Andrea
Ufheil,
Southside Elementary; Carla
O’Rourke, Maplewood Elementary
and
Lakeview
Montessori;
Lesley
Jacobs,
Meadowview
Intermediate;
Melissa
Frost,
Meadowview Middle; Christine
Severson, Meadowview Middle
and Innovations STEM Academy;
Jessie Sloan, Sparta High; and
Chrissy Delong, Sparta High.
Quilts wanted for 19th annual
Sparta Butterfest Quilt Show
The
19th
annual
Sparta
Butterfest Quilt Show is seeking
quilts and any quilted items for
the show to be held June 11th and
INVITATION FOR BIDS FOR
NEW PICK UP TRUCKS
MONROE COUNTY SANITATION AND
LAND CONSERVATION DEPTS.
Administrator Alison Elliott will accept sealed bids up to 4:00
P.M. Friday, February 5, 2016 at the Monroe County Sanitation
& Zoning Dept., 14345 Co. Hwy. B, Suite 5, Sparta, WI 54656.
Truck specifications may be obtained by contacting the
Administrator at the above address or calling 608-269-8736.
Dealers desiring to bid must submit bid in sealed envelope
with “Sanitation & Zoning and Land Conservation Dept. Truck
Bid” written on the outside.
The Monroe County Sanitation & Zoning Committee and the
Land Conservation Committee reserved the right to reject
any or all bids. Bids will be opened publicly on Monday,
February 8, 2016, at approximately 9:00 A.M. in the Sanitation &
Zoning Office located at the above address.
Alison Elliott
Monroe County Sanitation & Zoning Dept. Administrator
WNAXLP
12th. Large quilts should have a
four inch sleeve; pinned or basted
is okay. Those without sleeves
may be draped instead of hung.
Please attach a 3x5 card with a
“story behind the quilt” or make
one at registration Friday, June
10th, from 3-6 p.m.. Please do
not use identifying names on the
cards. Pick-up of quilts requires
returning the registration slip
between 4:15 and 5 p.m. Sunday.
There will be nine awards in
four categories, including youthmade, by persons 18 years or
younger. Items submitted over
five years ago, which did not win
an award, may be re-entered.
Show hours are Saturday
10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday
noon-4 p.m. Location for the
show is Maplewood School,
900 E. Montgomery St., Sparta,
just north of the fest grounds.
Admission is free but donations
are welcome. Door prizes are
won as you come through the
door. There will be a quilting
demonstration by a featured
quilter Saturday at 2 p.m. For
more information, call Sherry at
608-269-4826.
Page 12
Secret society dissolves, money to be used for scholarships
by RENAE CALDWELL
Staff Writer
Several of the last known members of the Sparta chapter of the Knights of Pythias gathered at the Sparta School Board meeting last week to
distribute its assets in the form of two annual scholarship funds. Front row, from left, Knights of Pythias members J David Rice, John Gomez and
Jerry Rasmussen present a check to Superintendent John Hendricks, center. Back row, school board members Karen Wall, Bambi Schmitz,
James Rasmussen, Lee Culpitt, Joan Cook, and scholarship coordinator Chrissy DeLong.
What’s
happening ...
Upcoming Area Events
AARP TAX VOLUNTEERS will again be providing assistance in
Monroe County during the months of February and March. This is a
free, confidential service where trained counselors help prepare
tax returns and answer questions for taxpayers with middle and low
incomes, especially those aged 60 and over. Younger persons with
lower incomes are also welcome to use the service. Appointments
are required; call 608-487-7112 between 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tax
appointments are for Wednesday and Friday only and will be held at
the Sparta Barney Community Center, 1000 E. Montgomery St., Sparta
(limited appointments in Cashton on Wednesdays). Don’t forget
to bring the needed information with you, such as Social Security
cards and 2015 income information, property tax statements or rent
certificate and last year’s taxes.
0-0-0
Manpower is looking for VOLUNTEERS to teach Junior Achievement
this spring. There are openings for kindergarten, and first, second and
third grade. Depending on the grade, it would be 25-45 minutes,
one time per week for five weeks. To sign up, please contact
the Tomah Chamber & Visitors Center at 608-372-2166 or email
[email protected].
0-0-0
Trinity Lutheran Church, Sparta, will host a BLOOD DRIVE at the
church, 612 N. Water St., on Mon., Feb. 1 from 1-5 p .m. and Tues.,
Feb. 2 from 1-6 p,m. Call 269-5081 to make an appointment, or walkins are welcome. All blood stays in the immediate area and services
our local hospitals, such as Sparta, Tomah, Gundersen and Mayo.
The BloodCenter has an outcry for donations due to the many winter
accidents.
class members are welcome.
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INDIAN PLACE NAMES IN WISCONSIN will be the program presented
by Bob Taunt on Thurs., Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Monroe County
Local History Room, 200 W. Main St., Sparta. It will review many of the
state’s unique and interesting place names. Admission donation of $1
appreciated. For more info, call 608-269-8680 or visit www.facebook.
com/mclhr.
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VALENTINE’S DINNER AND DANCE, to benefit Sparta American
Legion Post 100, will be at the Legion on Sat., Feb. 13. Cocktails are at
5 p.m., dinner served at 6 p.m. and dancing at 8 p.m.; music by ‘Jazz
Reunion’. Menu includes bourbon glazed hand carved sirloin of beef,
fried catfish with rémoulade sauce, potatoes, vegetables, dessert and
more. Deadline to purchase tickets is Feb. 6 and may be purchased at
the Legion bar or call Erika Lord Hodges, 269-1397.
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‘500’ CARD PARTY is held at the Sparta Rod & Gun Club, 7:30 p.m. on
the following Saturdays: Feb. 13, March 12, April 9 and May 14. There
will be prizes and lunch. The public is invited.
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Kick-off to Freeze Fest: MEDALLION HUNT begins Mon., Feb. 1, in
Tomah. Ten local Tomah businesses will give out two clues daily; one in
the morning and the other in the afternoon. Participants must stop by
the business to pick up the clues. The individual who finds the medallion
will win $400 in Tomah Bucks (to be spent anywhere in Tomah that
accepts checks), as well as a Freeze Fest t-shirt. The winner must be
wearing a Freeze Fest button to win.
Sparta Area School District DEVELOPMENT DAYS will be held
Mon., Feb. 15th and Tues., Feb. 16th, from 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. at the
Administrative and Educational Center, 201 E. Franklin St., Sparta. Use
the Conference Center entrance off the Benton St. parking lot. This
is a developmental screening that provides parents an opportunity
to learn more about their child’s growth and development.
Pre-Kindergarten registration will also be done at this time for the
2016-2017 school year. This screening is for all children with birth dates
between September 1, 2011 and March 31, 2013. All eligible children
are strongly encouraged to attend. Packets have been sent out
with more information. If you did not receive a packet, please call
269-3151 and ask for Amy to have a questionnaire and registration
forms needed for Child Development Days.
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Monroe, Juneau, Jackson GENEALOGY WORKSHOP potluck will
be held on Tues., Feb. 2, at the residence of Jr. and Evelyn Noyes,
623 McLean, Tomah. Please bring a dish to pass and enjoy a night
of fellowship. Come at 5:30 p.m. and eat at 6 p.m. Please RSVP to
608-372-4913 if you have any questions.
Mayo Clinic Health System-Sparta Hospital AUXILIARY MONTHLY
MEETING is held on the third Monday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at
the hospital. New members are always welcome to attend. Upcoming
meetings are Feb. 15, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug.
15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19.
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Morrow Home Community will hold its MONTHLY DANCE on
Thurs., Feb. 4, at 6:45 p.m. in the main dining room of the nursing home.
Entertainment will feature Laurel Brandt on electronic accordion with
vocals by Diane Clark. The public is invited to attend and dance and
enjoy the social time. For more information, visit www.morrowhome.
org or call 269-3168.
Franciscan Healthcare-Sparta BLOOD DRIVE will be held Tues.,
Feb. 16, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the St. Francis Room, 4th floor. Sign up
at www.bcw.edu/fhsparta or call 1-877-232-4376. Walk-ins welcome.
Open to the public.
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EUCHRE cards will be played on Fri., Feb. 5, 7 p.m. at the La Grange
Fire Hall.
TRIVIA SUNDAYS are back. Come test your trivia knowledge while
raising money for the Friends of the Sparta Free Library. Events are
Sundays, Feb. 28 and Mar. 20 at 2 p.m. in the dining room of Southside
Saloon, 716 Wolcott St., Sparta.
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Post holiday blues? Come join the Sparta Rod & Gun Club for
a 5-STAND FUN SHOOT on Sat., Feb. 6. Shoot from a heated and
protected stand and enjoy the winter wonderland. Registration begins
at 9 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. Shooting will go on until the last shooter
has completed the course. For more information, visit Spartarg.com.
Weekly EUCHRE tournaments are played at 1 p.m. Sundays at
Club 16, Hwy. 16 W, Sparta. Entry fee includes 100% pay back to top
three places. Everyone is welcome.
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Sparta Eagles Club #2833 on Hwy. 21 East of Sparta, hosts a
LUMBERJACK BREAKFAST every first and third Sunday of each month
from 8 a.m.-12 noon. Menu includes ham, sausage, hash browns, toast,
scrambled eggs, biscuits & gravy, potatoes, french toast, waffles, fruit,
coffee and milk.
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CUSTOMER APPRECIATION at the Whitetail Ridge Ski Area, Fort
McCoy, will be held Sat., Feb. 6, from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Enjoy a day filled
with fun activities and events. Register the day of the event. Open to
the public.
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A fraternal organization with a
chapter in Sparta for more than
140 years has disbanded.
The Knights of Pythias was
formed in 1864 to unite the
north and the south following
the Civil War, explained local
member Steve Marshall. The
goal was to promote peace
and
understanding
through
friendship,
charity
and
benevolence.
The Spartan Lodge #18 was
formed in July 1874. The Knights
of Pythias’ lodge was located in
the brick building on the corner
of Water and Main streets. The
upper level of the building was
used as the meeting place, while
the lower level was rented out to
businesses.
The Knights of Pythias is
one of several secret societytype fraternal organizations,
with ranks, rituals and regalia.
The secrecy and theatrics of
organizations like the Knights
of Pythias was meant to draw
members in, as several such
groups popped up following the
Civil War.
All members had to be of good
moral character and a member
of society. Members included
doctors,
lawyers,
actors,
politicians and others with a
charitable mind and sense of
civic duty, noted Marshall.
Membership over the years
grew and fell dramatically. By
1920, the International Order
had over a million members. By
2003, membership had dropped
below 200,000.
The
membership
of
the
Sparta chapter had dwindled
to seven known members by
2015, including Marshall, Jerry
Rasmussen, J David Rice, John
Gomez, Dick Hanson, Tom
Leverich and Al Wright.
The group had primarily been
inactive since the sale of their
building more than 15 years ago.
Early members were wise to
establish a formal business arm
of the lodge -- the Beaver Creek
Building Association. The assets
of the lodge have remained with
that corporation.
The
remaining
members
decided to close the membership
and distribute its assets. The
largest chunk, $58,862, has
been donated to the Sparta Area
School District to be used for
scholarships.
“According to the creed of the
Knights of Pythias, one of the
things we can do is be benevolent,
and scholarships fit right in with
that,” said Rasmussen.
The group believes in postsecondary education in all
forms. Therefore, two $1,500
scholarships will be doled out
annually – one to a student
entering a four-year college or
university and one to a student
attending a technical college or
trade school.
Members Rasmussen, Rice,
Marshall and Gomez attended
last week’s school board meeting
and were commended for the
group’s generosity. If invested
properly, the money should
result in a perpetual scholarship.
Other donations made in
recent years include $2,000
to the Monroe County Local
History Room, $200 to the
Deke Slayton Memorial Space
and Bicycle Museum for the
elevator fund; and $5,000 to the
Sparta Gridiron Booster Club for
construction and a plaque at the
fieldhouse.
Attorney
Ralph
Osborne
assisted the last known members
to formally dissolve the lodge.
His firm will maintain records for
20 years, which will be available
to any shareholder of the Beaver
Creek Building Association.
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The Parenting Place: CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE WORKSHOP will be
held Mon., Feb. 8, from 6-7:30 p.m. This workshop builds on emotional
intelligence by transforming conflict into cooperation. To register,
contact Julee at [email protected] or call
608-374-4190.
The Sparta American Legion Auxiliary hosts an OMELET BREAKFAST
every second Sunday of the month from 8-11 a.m. in the back dining
room of the Legion (use back banquet hall entrance). Menu includes
a three egg omelet with your choice of fixings, hash browns and
toast; for the smaller appetite, scrambled eggs will be available. This
fundraiser helps the auxiliary support its programs.
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SPARTA FAMILY FUN NIGHT will be held Wed., Feb. 10, from 3:30-5
p.m. at The Parenting Place in Sparta. There will be crafts and Valentine
making. For more info, call 608-269-3151, ext. 6116.
Are you struggling with someone else’s drinking? AL-ANON FAMILY
GROUP is there to help. It meets every Tuesday night at the Sparta
United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. Use the “K” St. entrance.
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Sparta High School CLASS OF 1959 will hold its monthly breakfast get
together at 9 a.m. on Thurs., Feb. 11, at Sparta Family Restaurant. All
Monroe County DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CHAPTER 27, Tomah,
meet on the last Monday of the month (except Jan., May, July & Nov.),
from 7-8:30 pm. at the Tomah VFW, 1316.
Be Well
With Erin
by Erin Eggert,
Family Living Agent
UW-Extension
Monroe County Office
February is Heart Health
month! Cardiovascular disease,
or heart disease, is the leading
cause of death in the United
States with almost half of all
Americans having some form.
The term “heart disease” includes
diseases of the blood vessels or
coronary arteries (plaque buildup
or atherosclerosis), irregular
heart rhythms (arrhythmias),
and heart defects. Heart disease
can lead to a heart attack or
cardiac arrest, which can result
in death. It is important to be able
to know your risks and recognize
the symptoms. By being able to
recognize the symptoms, you
may be able to help save your
life or another’s life when timesensitivity matters most.
What are the risk factors?
High cholesterol, high blood
pressure, smoking, diabetes,
being
overweight,
being
physically inactive, and being
post-menopausal.
What are the symptoms of
heart disease?
Shortness of breath, back pain
(in the lower or upper back), jaw
pain, nausea, pressure, poking,
squeezing, or fullness pain in
the center of the chest that lasts
more than a few minutes or goes
away and comes back, discomfort
in one or both arms, in the back,
neck, jaw or stomach, cold
sweats, and/or lightheadedness.
Symptoms
often
present
differently in women than men.
Know all the symptoms and
contact 9-1-1 if you or someone
you know presents with any of
them.
What to do if you or someone
you know is experiencing a
symptom?
Call 9-1-1. Heart attacks are
serious and need immediate
medical
attention.
Try
to
stay calm and breathe slowly
while you wait for emergency
responders. Although not all
forms of cardiovascular disease
are an emergency, it’s always
better to be safe than sorry.
What you can do to prevent
heart disease:
Choose a healthy lifestyle.
Eat a heart-healthy diet and be
physically active for at least 150
minutes per week. If you have any
of the risk factors, it is important
to talk with your doctor about
the best way to control the risk
factors to help reduce the chance
of heart disease.
For more information visit
www.heart.org. National Wear
Red Day is this Friday, February
5th. Join me in wearing red to
help promote knowledge about
heart health and Be Well!
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