MONROE - As 2011 draws to a close, we took a look back at some of the more noteworthy events and trends that helped shape 2011.
Granted, any listing of top stories is highly subjective: Each of us is impacted by the events around us in different ways. For this listing, we sought to include stories that either drew the most interest from our readers, or otherwise had the widest impact in our communities.
Today we present five of these top stories from the first part of the year. In tomorrow's edition, we'll include five more from later in the year.
Blizzard blasts area
What a storm! A colossal blizzard roared through the region Tuesday, Feb. 1, making streets, highways and even interstates in the region impassable and stranding many motorists. The southern Wisconsin region received between 8 and 10 inches of snow, while winds up to 55 miles per hour created whiteout conditions.
The combination of wind and snow was unlike any that area residents could remember. The storm was so bad, police cruisers had to stop running, and law enforcement doubled up to respond to emergency calls in four-wheel drive trucks.
In Lafayette County, the situation became dire for a motorist and a tow truck driver she had called to help rescue her. The truck became stranded, and the truck ran out of gas, and heat, around 2 a.m. Snowmobiles dispatched to rescue the pair had to turn back due to the lack of visibility. Somehow, a plow from the Town of White Oak Springs was able to get through and rescue the two, preventing what could have been a tragedy.
Turmoil over Gov. Walker
While much of the turmoil over Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill this spring was centered at the Capitol in Madison, the tension was very much apparent in the Green County area.
Area residents traveled to Madison to take part in the large, daily protests against Walker's bill, which effectively stripped public employee unions of their collective bargaining power, while state senators, including Sen. Jon Erpenbach, traveled to Illinois to avoid a vote on the measure. Even local law enforcement officers traveled north, called in to provide additional security for Capitol police.
And social media and websites - including the online comment sections of The Monroe Times' own website, themonroetimes.com, were abuzz with commentary, both for and against the bill. The issue sharply divided communities into two highly polarized camps. So high was the level of animosity, that anti-Walker groups organized boycotts around the state, including what one Monroe business owner said was a boycott against his establishment after comments he made were reportedly misconstrued on national television.
The animosity subsided somewhat after the tempestuous spring, but the debate still rages. The effort to recall Walker continues on, with local groups actively seeking to remove the governor from office. Whatever the outcome, the volatility in state government will undoubtedly continue in 2012.
Referendums
School referendums have become so routine throughout the state, they are close to being considered "business as usual" by many. Some blame state revenue caps for placing local districts in impossible funding situations, while others say local school boards are unwilling or unable to make the tough choices. Whatever the reason, several districts asked residents to vote to approve additional money, drawing out both supporters and opponents.
In April, voters in the Monroe School District rejected a four-year, $8-million non-recurring referendum for operating expenses, to avoid cutting additional programs and staff as the district approaches the end of its existing four-year non-recurring referendum. But the district couldn't garner enough support, and about 60 percent of voters rejected the measure. As a result, the district cut several staff positions, citing budget concerns.
In New Glarus, voters rejected two referendum questions: one allowing the district to borrow up to $10 million to pay for an addition to its existing high school/middle school complex and another to exceed revenue caps by $85,000 for operating expenses. The district sought additional input over the summer and, in the fall, presented a revised referendum question that sought up to $7.3 million for a scaled-back project - that referendum passed easily.
In Darlington, voters approved two referendum measures in April. One called for issuing $2 million in general obligation bonds and the second was to exceed the state revenue cap by $700,000 each year over the next five years. Officials said the money was needed to maintain current funding levels.
Robbery leaves one dead
A Beloit man was killed after leading police on a high-speed chase as he attempted to escape following what was called a foiled attempted robbery of a small grocery store in downtown Monroe Tuesday, April 5.
The incident began when suspects entered a store specializing in Mexican foods on the Square. They demanded cash from the store owner, and then, wanting more, forced the store owner to go with them to cash a check at a nearby bank. Monroe police were called to First National Bank and Trust at 11 a.m. that day, after employees reported a man was being forced to cash a check by men who were believed to be armed. A third man, Jonathan E. Guadarrama, 25, was parked in a minivan in front of the bank. When officers approached him, Guadarrama took off, leading police at more than 100 miles per hour down Wisconsin 11/81. He swerved to avoid the stop sticks that law enforcement laid out and rolled the van. He was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
Meanwhile, police were able to secure the bank and escort employees to safety. They arrested two suspects: Luis E. Cruz, 30, and Luis E. Western, 34, both of Beloit.
Court testimony later revealed the men were attempting to collect a drug debt.
Both men were charged with a several felonies, including armed robbery and false imprisonment. A jury trial for both is scheduled for late February in Green County Circuit Court.
Seizure of dogs
Green County sheriff's officials seized 46 dogs from a home in the Town of Decatur in May. The dogs - most of them Great Danes - were reportedly kept inside the home with little or no ventilation. The conditions were so unsanitary, and reeked so strongly of animal waste, that a veterinarian at the scene testified she suffered chest tightness and breathing difficulties for days after visiting the home.
Four people were charged with animal mistreatment in the case: Melissa Harrel, 58; Allyson Williams, 24; Donovan F. Williams, 45; and Kathy J. Williams, 55. Allyson Williams and Donovan Williams were found guilty on some counts and are currently in deferred prosecution. Charges against the other two defendants are still pending.
The dogs were turned over to the Green County Humane Society, which provided medical care, food and shelter for the animals as the court proceedings unfolded. The tab for the dogs' care reached nearly $48,000, which Green County agreed to pay GCHS as reimbursement.
The saga has a happy ending for the dogs: All but one of the dogs has been adopted into new homes.
Granted, any listing of top stories is highly subjective: Each of us is impacted by the events around us in different ways. For this listing, we sought to include stories that either drew the most interest from our readers, or otherwise had the widest impact in our communities.
Today we present five of these top stories from the first part of the year. In tomorrow's edition, we'll include five more from later in the year.
Blizzard blasts area
What a storm! A colossal blizzard roared through the region Tuesday, Feb. 1, making streets, highways and even interstates in the region impassable and stranding many motorists. The southern Wisconsin region received between 8 and 10 inches of snow, while winds up to 55 miles per hour created whiteout conditions.
The combination of wind and snow was unlike any that area residents could remember. The storm was so bad, police cruisers had to stop running, and law enforcement doubled up to respond to emergency calls in four-wheel drive trucks.
In Lafayette County, the situation became dire for a motorist and a tow truck driver she had called to help rescue her. The truck became stranded, and the truck ran out of gas, and heat, around 2 a.m. Snowmobiles dispatched to rescue the pair had to turn back due to the lack of visibility. Somehow, a plow from the Town of White Oak Springs was able to get through and rescue the two, preventing what could have been a tragedy.
Turmoil over Gov. Walker
While much of the turmoil over Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill this spring was centered at the Capitol in Madison, the tension was very much apparent in the Green County area.
Area residents traveled to Madison to take part in the large, daily protests against Walker's bill, which effectively stripped public employee unions of their collective bargaining power, while state senators, including Sen. Jon Erpenbach, traveled to Illinois to avoid a vote on the measure. Even local law enforcement officers traveled north, called in to provide additional security for Capitol police.
And social media and websites - including the online comment sections of The Monroe Times' own website, themonroetimes.com, were abuzz with commentary, both for and against the bill. The issue sharply divided communities into two highly polarized camps. So high was the level of animosity, that anti-Walker groups organized boycotts around the state, including what one Monroe business owner said was a boycott against his establishment after comments he made were reportedly misconstrued on national television.
The animosity subsided somewhat after the tempestuous spring, but the debate still rages. The effort to recall Walker continues on, with local groups actively seeking to remove the governor from office. Whatever the outcome, the volatility in state government will undoubtedly continue in 2012.
Referendums
School referendums have become so routine throughout the state, they are close to being considered "business as usual" by many. Some blame state revenue caps for placing local districts in impossible funding situations, while others say local school boards are unwilling or unable to make the tough choices. Whatever the reason, several districts asked residents to vote to approve additional money, drawing out both supporters and opponents.
In April, voters in the Monroe School District rejected a four-year, $8-million non-recurring referendum for operating expenses, to avoid cutting additional programs and staff as the district approaches the end of its existing four-year non-recurring referendum. But the district couldn't garner enough support, and about 60 percent of voters rejected the measure. As a result, the district cut several staff positions, citing budget concerns.
In New Glarus, voters rejected two referendum questions: one allowing the district to borrow up to $10 million to pay for an addition to its existing high school/middle school complex and another to exceed revenue caps by $85,000 for operating expenses. The district sought additional input over the summer and, in the fall, presented a revised referendum question that sought up to $7.3 million for a scaled-back project - that referendum passed easily.
In Darlington, voters approved two referendum measures in April. One called for issuing $2 million in general obligation bonds and the second was to exceed the state revenue cap by $700,000 each year over the next five years. Officials said the money was needed to maintain current funding levels.
Robbery leaves one dead
A Beloit man was killed after leading police on a high-speed chase as he attempted to escape following what was called a foiled attempted robbery of a small grocery store in downtown Monroe Tuesday, April 5.
The incident began when suspects entered a store specializing in Mexican foods on the Square. They demanded cash from the store owner, and then, wanting more, forced the store owner to go with them to cash a check at a nearby bank. Monroe police were called to First National Bank and Trust at 11 a.m. that day, after employees reported a man was being forced to cash a check by men who were believed to be armed. A third man, Jonathan E. Guadarrama, 25, was parked in a minivan in front of the bank. When officers approached him, Guadarrama took off, leading police at more than 100 miles per hour down Wisconsin 11/81. He swerved to avoid the stop sticks that law enforcement laid out and rolled the van. He was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
Meanwhile, police were able to secure the bank and escort employees to safety. They arrested two suspects: Luis E. Cruz, 30, and Luis E. Western, 34, both of Beloit.
Court testimony later revealed the men were attempting to collect a drug debt.
Both men were charged with a several felonies, including armed robbery and false imprisonment. A jury trial for both is scheduled for late February in Green County Circuit Court.
Seizure of dogs
Green County sheriff's officials seized 46 dogs from a home in the Town of Decatur in May. The dogs - most of them Great Danes - were reportedly kept inside the home with little or no ventilation. The conditions were so unsanitary, and reeked so strongly of animal waste, that a veterinarian at the scene testified she suffered chest tightness and breathing difficulties for days after visiting the home.
Four people were charged with animal mistreatment in the case: Melissa Harrel, 58; Allyson Williams, 24; Donovan F. Williams, 45; and Kathy J. Williams, 55. Allyson Williams and Donovan Williams were found guilty on some counts and are currently in deferred prosecution. Charges against the other two defendants are still pending.
The dogs were turned over to the Green County Humane Society, which provided medical care, food and shelter for the animals as the court proceedings unfolded. The tab for the dogs' care reached nearly $48,000, which Green County agreed to pay GCHS as reimbursement.
The saga has a happy ending for the dogs: All but one of the dogs has been adopted into new homes.