A huge blossom to the Browntown Park Board members, Browntown Fire Department and Village of Browntown.> The fireworks, fish boil and band were great. A special blossom to Rick Denure >for all of your hard work and dedication to Browntown. - Jeffery J. Tuescher, Browntown>
Have you seen the nice new landscaping around the Monroe Middle School? What a wonderful way to leave your good mark on your school. A blossom and thanks to Mr. Kramp and his eighth-grade agriculture class. >Way to not only think green, but do green! - Sue Patterson>
A blossom to the Times. >In Brodhead, our paper (a good one) is printed only once a week, and so the rest of the time we need to rely on the Times. It is impossible for you to know everything and everyone's interests. I do appreciate the fact that when you are contacted, that you are more than willing to cover the story. You are also willing to make an effort to notify, if possible, the person that you have received their request and will look into it. Thanks again for making the "Monroe Times" our "Surrounding Communities Times," as well. - Brodhead Reader >
A very sharp barb to First Student bus garage, >for telling parents that the bus will pick up their kids at 7:45 a.m., then showing up at 7:25 a.m. so the kids miss the bus. Also for picking kids up from school at noon and dropping them off at 1 p.m. when they tell parents that they will be dropped off at 12:15 p.m. I understand that the first few days are going to be a little messed up, and that's fine. But when a parent calls the bus garage to ask where the bus is, don't lie to them and tell them it's their fault that their kids missed the bus. Just admit that the bus was too early. Say it won't happen again and move on. The bus garage doesn't care about the students or the parents. If they did, then they wouldn't have tried to blame the parent for the bus coming too early! You had two weeks from the time that school let out to the start of summer school. That was enough time to go out a few times and learn the route so it avoids a lot of mess and hassle. Please learn that your jobs depend on the children riding the bus, and if all parents get upset about things like this, they won't let their kids ride the bus and you will be out of a job! - Upset Parent >
A barb against Brodhead >for not making use of the Brodhead Public School (historic name) or "old junior high" (common name) that has sat vacant for nearly 12 years. The Brodhead Public School is culturally and socially the most significant building still existing in Brodhead. It is also an architecturally and historically significant building that is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The western half was constructed in 1907-09 of what is called Kempian style architecture, based on Neoclassical style architecture, because it is believed to have been designed by Frank Kemp, who designed the Laube Building, now part of Citizens Bank in downtown Brodhead. Kemp designed a number of commercial and school buildings in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Most of the school buildings are now gone. The eastern half of the building was constructed in 1939-43 of New Deal Institutional style architecture. Most of the buildings of this style are now also gone. The most logical use for this building is as a second elementary school or as a community center. - Dave Searles, consulting historian, Brodhead Historic Preservation Commission>
A barb against the City of Brodhead >for going ahead with building a new library with a one-story, inefficient, spread-out building way on the south side of town. I believe only a small minority of the people of Brodhead favor its location and design. I believe a majority of the people favor a centrally-located library that is a multi-story, efficient building. People are asking how they can get away with doing this without having a referendum. I believe the reason is that they know a referendum for a one-story, inefficient, spread-out building way on the south side will not pass. Most people would vote in favor of a centrally-located library with a multi-story, efficient building. - Dave Searles, Brodhead>
A barb to the local TDS phone company. >We purchased Yellow Pages advertising in the local phone book. Our purchase confirmation (two pages) was sent to us stating this is not an invoice and it was not necessary to return a copy. One the second page is the hooker ... it states, in the middle of the page in small print, that if we don't initial this page and return it, we also accept Internet advertising and accept the terms and charges written on the back. You better read your contracts and bills carefully. - Stan Franson, Monroe>
A huge blossom to the sheriff's deputy and his family >for taking care of my dog after he escaped while I was at work. I can't thank you enough for your help in the matter. - Dan R. >
A huge blossom to the Fore Fathers Committee >and all who contributed to the 2007 ride and activities. The scholarship money that our class received from the proceeds is greatly appreciated. We hope to see everyone come together again on July 26 to help keep up the tradition. We thank you very much and hope that you can continue helping the students in our community the way you have helped us. Thanks again. - The Juda High School Class of 2008>
A barb to The Monroe Times >for not posting comments. I understand with some comments they can't be posted because it could cause trouble for the Times. However, the comment I tried to post yesterday that didn't go through, there is no reason that it couldn't be posted. So, again, a barb to The Monroe Times for not posting comments that people leave! - 310 4th Street >
A huge barb to the Green County Emergency Management Department.> Why do we need such a department? When there is an emergency, Keith Ingwell is nowhere to be found! Why were three members of the department gone at one time? Why was Mr. Ingwell left to go out of state teaching when we had major flooding in our backyard? It's time to do away with Mr. Ingwell's position. Why have it?! - A flood victim of Green County>
A barb to Jeff Rogers, editor, >who is more than willing to let barbs pass that say really mean bad things about First Student (without facts), but won't post barbs about anyone else, like police, landlords, and so on. You shouldn't play favorites with the barbs. If people write them, you should post them. All you are showing by doing this is that you really dislike First Student. You're so willing to post barbs about them, but no one else. Not really fair to let your feelings about people affect what you will post! - Upset>
Editor's Note: >I personally have no opinion about First Student. But the company is contracted with the public school district, which is funded by taxpayer dollars. That makes the company accountable to the public and, thus, fair game in most instances for reader criticisms and questions. Same goes for the police department, which has been the subject of a number of barbs that have been posted in the past. But when you link the police department's actions to a particular private citizen, which has been done in the posts you refer to, they will not be printed ... regardless of my feelings. - Jeff Rogers, editor>
