By Times staff
MONROE - Today, on the last day of a long year, we continue with our second look back on some of the top stories of 2010. There were plenty of headlines to choose from, but here are some more that caught our eye:
City hires administrator
The long-running saga of hiring a new Monroe city administrator came to a close this fall, when the Monroe Common Council hired Phillip Rath as the new city administrator. But the hiring wasn't without internal controversy at City Hall. Some aldermen claimed Mayor Bill Ross overstepped his bounds by rejecting a counter-offer from the city's first choice as administrator. Others supported the mayor's action, saying the council gave Ross that authority. Regardless of how the hiring process transpired, the council voted unanimously to hire Rath, who most recently served as administrator and clerk for the Village of Clinton. Rath began his duties with the city Dec. 6.
Political upsets
On the political landscape, 2010 looked like the season of our collective discontent, as upsets at the polls nationally and statewide were the big story of recent elections. In April, former Monroe Mayor Bill Ross handily won his bid for office, beating both incumbent mayor Ron Marsh and political newcomer Tyler Schultz. Michael Boyce, another newcomer to city government, beat incumbent Mark Coplien for the Third Ward council seat. In the Seventh Ward, incumbent Thurston Hanson narrowly hung on to his seat after being challenged by Louis Armstrong. In the open Ninth Ward, another close race saw Mike Rivers beat Richard Thoman; Rivers resigned his seat just a few months later. Brett Davis, the Monroe native who served the 80th Assembly district for three terms, decided to make a bid for Lt. Governor; he lost in the September primary. With Davis' seat open, Monroe's Dan Henke put his name in the ring as the Republican candidate, facing Evansville's Janice Ringhand, a Democrat. Ringhand won the November contest. Davis was named state Medicaid Director on Dec. 30. (See story on Page A1.) But the biggest political upset in the state was Ron Johnson's unseating of Democratic stalwart Sen. Russ Feingold of Madison. Johnson, an Oshkosh businessman, was a political neophyte and largely unknown outside of his hometown until he entered the U.S. Senate race last summer.
School referendums
Voters rejected referendums presented offered by two area school districts. In April, voters in the Black Hawk school district resoundly nixed - almost 2 to 1 - a recurring referendum that would have allowed the district to exceed the state revenue limit by about $800,000. The issue came back in the form of a non-recurring referendum in September - this time asking voters to exceed the exceed the state cap by $450,000 in the 2010-11 school year; by $550,000 in the 2011-12 school year; and by $550,000 for the 2012-13 school year. The margin was closer the second time around, but the vote still failed. A similar scenario played out in Brodhead. In February, Brodhead voters, by a vote of about 55 percent to 45 percent, defeated a referendum to allow the district to exceed the state-mandated revenue limits for the next four years. The district was asking residents to increase the revenue limits by $635,000 in the 2010-11 school year; $810,000 in the 2011-12 school year; $855,000 in the 2012-12 school year; and $1,285,000 in the 2013-14 school year. The referendum would have paid general district operations and for repairs in the roof at the high school. Brodhead voters rejected a similar referendum by a vote of 1,255 to 960, April 6.
Another Cheese Days success
"Come to Cheese Days in Monroe!" was the clarion call for the region last September. And, once again, the crowds turned out in force for Green County's biennial street festival extravaganza. This year's Cheese Days included all the favorites - plenty of live Swiss music, dances, cheesemaking demonstrations, and other fun. Among the new attractions this year were expanded activities for children, a tour to view area barn quilts and a return of popular farm tours. After years of nearly perfect weather, rain threatened throughout the weekend. Yet despite some initial rain early Sunday morning, the weather held for the huge Swiss Colony Cheese Days Parade Sunday afternoon. Another successful weekend - and for those who can't wait for their Cheese Days fix, the next celebration is planned for Sept. 14-16, 2012.
Westside fire station opens
The city opened its new westside fire station in October. The facility, at 601 W. 17th St., was built with an eye toward cutting response times to fire calls on the city's west side. The station cost nearly $1 million and includes office areas, an exercise room and kitchen. It also was constructed to be energy efficient. Firefighters currently respond to calls from both the downtown and westside stations.
Monsignor Campion
In one of the more emotional stories of the year, the Monsignor Thomas Campion, a local hero to many, died in November. He was 79. Campion, affectionately known to many as T.C., was the founder of Apostolate to the Handicapped and continued to be the driving force behind the program which drew hundreds of participants to the annual Christmas and spring dinners. Campion had a profound impact on the handicapped individuals on whom he focused his ministry and compassion. But his reach went well beyond that: Campion also inspired generations of Monroe youth to volunteer and serve others. His popularity among youth, particularly student athletes, was so strong, an array of "Campion's Champions" T-shirts can be found at just about any event in Monroe where young people are gathered. There's often reports of the T-shirts being spotted in out-of-state locations, as Monroe natives proudly sport their connection to T.C. He was an integral part of the Monroe community. In his passing, the community remembered Campion's humility, his humor and his tireless advocacy for the disabled.
MONROE - Today, on the last day of a long year, we continue with our second look back on some of the top stories of 2010. There were plenty of headlines to choose from, but here are some more that caught our eye:
City hires administrator
The long-running saga of hiring a new Monroe city administrator came to a close this fall, when the Monroe Common Council hired Phillip Rath as the new city administrator. But the hiring wasn't without internal controversy at City Hall. Some aldermen claimed Mayor Bill Ross overstepped his bounds by rejecting a counter-offer from the city's first choice as administrator. Others supported the mayor's action, saying the council gave Ross that authority. Regardless of how the hiring process transpired, the council voted unanimously to hire Rath, who most recently served as administrator and clerk for the Village of Clinton. Rath began his duties with the city Dec. 6.
Political upsets
On the political landscape, 2010 looked like the season of our collective discontent, as upsets at the polls nationally and statewide were the big story of recent elections. In April, former Monroe Mayor Bill Ross handily won his bid for office, beating both incumbent mayor Ron Marsh and political newcomer Tyler Schultz. Michael Boyce, another newcomer to city government, beat incumbent Mark Coplien for the Third Ward council seat. In the Seventh Ward, incumbent Thurston Hanson narrowly hung on to his seat after being challenged by Louis Armstrong. In the open Ninth Ward, another close race saw Mike Rivers beat Richard Thoman; Rivers resigned his seat just a few months later. Brett Davis, the Monroe native who served the 80th Assembly district for three terms, decided to make a bid for Lt. Governor; he lost in the September primary. With Davis' seat open, Monroe's Dan Henke put his name in the ring as the Republican candidate, facing Evansville's Janice Ringhand, a Democrat. Ringhand won the November contest. Davis was named state Medicaid Director on Dec. 30. (See story on Page A1.) But the biggest political upset in the state was Ron Johnson's unseating of Democratic stalwart Sen. Russ Feingold of Madison. Johnson, an Oshkosh businessman, was a political neophyte and largely unknown outside of his hometown until he entered the U.S. Senate race last summer.
School referendums
Voters rejected referendums presented offered by two area school districts. In April, voters in the Black Hawk school district resoundly nixed - almost 2 to 1 - a recurring referendum that would have allowed the district to exceed the state revenue limit by about $800,000. The issue came back in the form of a non-recurring referendum in September - this time asking voters to exceed the exceed the state cap by $450,000 in the 2010-11 school year; by $550,000 in the 2011-12 school year; and by $550,000 for the 2012-13 school year. The margin was closer the second time around, but the vote still failed. A similar scenario played out in Brodhead. In February, Brodhead voters, by a vote of about 55 percent to 45 percent, defeated a referendum to allow the district to exceed the state-mandated revenue limits for the next four years. The district was asking residents to increase the revenue limits by $635,000 in the 2010-11 school year; $810,000 in the 2011-12 school year; $855,000 in the 2012-12 school year; and $1,285,000 in the 2013-14 school year. The referendum would have paid general district operations and for repairs in the roof at the high school. Brodhead voters rejected a similar referendum by a vote of 1,255 to 960, April 6.
Another Cheese Days success
"Come to Cheese Days in Monroe!" was the clarion call for the region last September. And, once again, the crowds turned out in force for Green County's biennial street festival extravaganza. This year's Cheese Days included all the favorites - plenty of live Swiss music, dances, cheesemaking demonstrations, and other fun. Among the new attractions this year were expanded activities for children, a tour to view area barn quilts and a return of popular farm tours. After years of nearly perfect weather, rain threatened throughout the weekend. Yet despite some initial rain early Sunday morning, the weather held for the huge Swiss Colony Cheese Days Parade Sunday afternoon. Another successful weekend - and for those who can't wait for their Cheese Days fix, the next celebration is planned for Sept. 14-16, 2012.
Westside fire station opens
The city opened its new westside fire station in October. The facility, at 601 W. 17th St., was built with an eye toward cutting response times to fire calls on the city's west side. The station cost nearly $1 million and includes office areas, an exercise room and kitchen. It also was constructed to be energy efficient. Firefighters currently respond to calls from both the downtown and westside stations.
Monsignor Campion
In one of the more emotional stories of the year, the Monsignor Thomas Campion, a local hero to many, died in November. He was 79. Campion, affectionately known to many as T.C., was the founder of Apostolate to the Handicapped and continued to be the driving force behind the program which drew hundreds of participants to the annual Christmas and spring dinners. Campion had a profound impact on the handicapped individuals on whom he focused his ministry and compassion. But his reach went well beyond that: Campion also inspired generations of Monroe youth to volunteer and serve others. His popularity among youth, particularly student athletes, was so strong, an array of "Campion's Champions" T-shirts can be found at just about any event in Monroe where young people are gathered. There's often reports of the T-shirts being spotted in out-of-state locations, as Monroe natives proudly sport their connection to T.C. He was an integral part of the Monroe community. In his passing, the community remembered Campion's humility, his humor and his tireless advocacy for the disabled.