Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, I strongly urge all to vote in the upcoming election on April 6, locally for village board candidates and statewide for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In the superintendent race I urge you to support Jill Underly for that position. She is currently the superintendent of schools in Pecatonica. Before becoming superintendent in Pecatonica, Underly worked as a teacher, a principal and as assistant director of teacher education for the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In small villages and towns like Spring Green the local public school is invariably the focal point of the town for many reasons: academics, the arts, sports, FFA and other programs. It is something we can be proud of. I taught in a public school in a small Wisconsin city for 35 years. I understand the passion for one’s local schools and also the desperate need for funding. Jill Underly is the best choice because of her strong support for public schools. She understands the needs of schools like those in River Valley. Her opponent, Deborah Kerr, is a supporter of school vouchers statewide which siphons money away from public schools. Much of Kerr’s campaign funding has come from strong supporters of school vouchers. The state support for voucher students is higher per pupil, K-12, than it is for public school students. In 2025 all limits to the number of students attending voucher schools will be lifted statewide, taking even more funding away from public schools. If just 10 students from the River Valley district were to opt out and qualify for a voucher, the district would lose upwards of $85,000. The state, in effect, is supporting two separate education systems. Her opponent also wants to restructure the DPI decentralizing it throughout the state.  A very expensive process requiring the shutting down of the DPI building in Madison and putting money towards new infrastructure. One of her reasons is to be able to “work more closely with voucher schools throughout the state.” Again, I urge you to vote for Jill Underly, we cannot afford not to.  Mike Anstett Spring Green   Dear editor, I have read the recent submissions written by Paul Pustina and am truly concerned by his statements in his letter to Letter to the Editor and response to candidacy questions. Specifically, Paul has asked for a forensic audit. I think your readers need to know that the Village of Arena’s financial statements are audited by an independent accounting firm (Johnson Block & Company, Inc.) each year. Paul knows that the financial statements are audited each year. The audit follows generally accepted auditing procedures and is performed by certified public accountants (CPAs). When performing this audit, the CPAs do the following: (1) review monthly bank statements/cash reconciliations; (2) review monthly receivable reconciliations; (3) review monthly payable reconciliations; (4) test revenue and expenses; and (5) review journal entries. The auditors also do payroll testing that includes a comparative analysis and wage testing. The annual cost of this audit is approximately $7,400 and is part of the taxes that residents of the Village of Arena pay each year. None of the audit reports that the Village of Arena has received from Johnson Block & Company, Inc., indicate that there is anything wrong with the Village of Arena’s financial statements. For example, the most recent audit report provided to the board states, “In our opinion, the information is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements as a whole.” When Paul keeps demanding this forensic audit, he does not identify any errors in the Village of Arena’s financial statements. In his candidacy statements, he says a president should do his/her research. Maybe Paul should have done his research so he understood the work being performed annually by CPAs; he should also research the education and testing requirements for a CPA certification before demanding a forensic audit. Forensic audits are expensive. In my opinion, Paul’s request for a forensic audit does not demonstrate financial awareness, fiscal responsibility, or transparency. Melissa Bandell Arena   Dear editor, When a Wisconsin utility like Alliant applies to build a new power plant, law requires potentially affected landowners, neighbors, local governments and media outlets be notified of intentions before local contracting is pursued. This is not the case when power plants are pursued by out of state, private (“merchant”) developers like Pattern LLC, Invenergy, NextEra and EDF. As a result, the fate of the lands and communities of Western Iowa and Lafayette Counties now rests in the hands of landowners who are being approached by Pattern to sign a 60+ page wind turbine contract. Due to the educational efforts of citizen volunteers and the valuable editorial support of community newspapers, the public is increasingly aware of the scale, noise, shadow flicker, air concussion and property devaluation impacts that are likely with 650-700 feet high turbines. Approximately 170 turbines would be spread like buckshot across the area prompting notable real estate agents to inform the Iowa County Board that Uplands Wind would produce catastrophic impacts on property values and local economies. Has Pattern signed up enough property/land owners to meet MISO requirements? No one knows. Pattern has successfully stayed out of the news. Pattern’s intent to build a 600 MW wind power plant was basically unknown until the company presented a short powerpoint to the Board of Supervisors on August, 18, 2020. County Administrator Bierke complemented Uplands’ intentions in the Telegraph Herald a week later but the County did not include Pattern’s powerpoint in the August meeting materials or note the presentation happened in the minutes.  Nonetheless, independent thinking supervisors asked the county to pursue public information meetings and county staff began examining the out of date wind ordinance for lacking protections. From September through January, no actions were taken on these requests. Following an hour and 40 minutes of outpouring public concern at the February board meeting, county supervisors again asked for public information meetings and an ordinance update. Nine days later, the Planning & Zoning Committee refused to take-up either measure and 12 days later, the Executive Commission emerged from closed session to announce county leadership would be authoring information about Uplands to share with county residents.  There are practical and legal reasons that counties host public information meetings. Developers can be given carefully drafted questions in advance, follow-up questions can be asked and elected officials can avoid off-record, personal discussions. How can county leadership author Uplands information without personal meetings? What about representing the public good? No constituents or supervisors asked county leadership to speak for Pattern LLC, much less volunteer to do so. While local government takes a rest, local citizens are busy learning about protective provisions that could be included in an updated county wind ordinance. One of the protections, for example, stands to prevent the secretive signature campaigning which led us to our current, unfortunate predicament. The natural wealth and beauty entrusted to us and our fragile local economies will not sustain their centrality in our lives if we continue on this self-debilitating path. Rob Danielson La Farge   Dear editor, Below is a letter I sent to clerk-treasurer-administrator Wendy Crary, police chief Mike Stoddard and the Spring Green Village Board. In response to the question about ATV use in the village, I offer a few questions that concern me. I have used ATVs often for work in Alaska and harbor no ill will toward their appropriate use. Nor do I think there is reason to question whether the club members are “very good people.” Those are not my issues. I pasted below the safety regulations from the ATV association, which I imagine you all know. I also imagine that our ordinance applies to any ATV rider, not just members of our local clubs. I have great respect for our law enforcement officers and wonder how easy it will be to enforce the rules. Will riders wear helmets? Will noise limits be enforced? If some use involves visiting bars and restaurants, will there be drinking and driving? Will age limits (licenses) be checked? Of particular concern for me is the Highway 14 intersection with Wood Street near my house, which has been the scene of serious accidents. It is already a dangerous, complex intersection with all the various heavily travelled driveways involved. Will having ATVs there make it more complicated?  To be sure, the Sauk County regulations will determine some of our choices. But just because other villages choose something, does not mean it is necessarily good for us. Each community has its own personality, environment and needs. Spring Green is an excellent town for bicycles and of course, walking, which cause no pollution and are less dangerous. ATV use in the village is about the recreation of the few who enjoy it. They are certainly entitled to enjoy themselves in places which are appropriate. Many school buses pass my house every school day and I enjoy the sight of them. They are doing wonderful work for our children and our society. Not so with ATVs which are not designed for paved roads and won’t really contribute anything extra to our community other than perhaps supporting restaurants and bars. They certainly do not seem safe on our streets after dark.  Finally, whatever the outcome of this process, I thank you all who work on our behalf. Public service is fundamental to a democratic society.  Barbara Morford Spring Green The ATV Safety Institute’s Golden Rules: Always wear a DOT-compliant helmet, goggles, long sleeves, long pants, over-the-ankle boots, and gloves. Never ride on paved roads except to cross when done safely and permitted by law - another vehicle could hit you. ATVs are designed to be operated off-highway. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Never carry a passenger on a single-rider ATV, and no more than one passenger on an ATV specifically designed for two people. Ride an ATV that’s right for your age. Supervise riders younger than 16; ATVs are not toys. Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed.    Dear editor, We have another election coming on April 6. No national posts are involved, but maybe it is state and local officials who most affect the nuts and bolts of our lives. So let’s choose wisely to get voices who speak for us, our wishes and our needs. On the state level, we’re choosing our next Superintendent of Public Instruction. Having no expertise in this area, I did some research, to be shared here with anybody wondering whether to choose Jill Underly or Deborah Kerr. Like some elections of the past, what became crystal clear is: who to vote against!  Even without understanding specific policy details, I think most of us are against spending tax money on private school vouchers. A donation of $15,000 from Pennsylvania seems suspicious, especially if made anonymously. Being Walker-endorsed outrages me. And when has this job (or any primary race) raised enough big-donor campaign money to buy so many yard signs and glossy flyers? No, nothing about Ms. Kerr inspires me to give her a public position. I will be voting for Ms. Underly, and urge everybody to just glance at her many school-related and union endorsements, or check out the debate they had (available online) and then decide. Locally, here in the Village of Arena there is suddenly a contest for president, since a long-time board presence has decided to resurface and challenge Kate Reimann, as a write-in. In a way, here too, a decision can be made without having full understanding of every issue involved. I confess to not following every action of our board, but I read the newspaper reports and occasionally I have been concerned enough about something to attend a meeting.  The differences couldn’t be more stark and decisive. During the previous presidency, I witnessed nastiness, bullying temperamental tirades, and snide comments, especially toward any female daring to question him. I was present when he blew up and walked out, and saw his “I quit” letter in the paper. Other letters from him in the paper include rambling back to past grievances, baseless accusations of suspected misdeeds, and sometimes just lying. He has used underhanded tactics at times, and has been caught at it. I have also witnessed the smoothly-run, peaceful current meetings, chaired by Kate Reimann. There were concerned adults, co-operating for the community, politely and efficiently. Things are getting done, in a period of brutal history-shattering events. The staff - especially the clerk DaNean Naeger - is fantastic and they are meeting all the new challenges. Why would anybody choose to go back to the petulant tantrums, belittling of colleagues, and monster stress levels of the past?  No, like the state race, I know for sure who I will be voting against! I will be voting wholeheartedly to keep Kate Reimann as our prez.  Civility matters. Peggy Peckham Village of Arena   Dear editor, I would like to endorse my sister, Sheila Carver, for clerk for the Town of Bear Creek. She has been the treasurer for our township for the past 16 years. She has been the clerk/treasurer for the Village of Plain for the past 15 years. She is a certified Wisconsin Municipal Clerk, so she is already trained to do the job. She is the only taxpayer on the ballot for clerk. As a fellow taxpayer of the Town of Bear Creek, this is very important to me. Sheila has a vested interest in our township as clerk, unlike the opposition.  Sheila has done many things to benefit the Town of Bear Creek.  Due to Sheila’s full-time job being a clerk, she found a substantial grant opportunity for road construction, drafted the grant application, and asked chairman Marty McCluskey to write the specs for the road design. This grant application awarded the Town of Bear Creek $425,250 to cover 70 percent for the reconstruction of Marble Quarry Road in 2021. That is a very substantial grant for a small community. I couldn’t be more proud of my sister for saving us taxpayers that money. I am sure benefits like this will continue in the Town of Bear Creek if Sheila is our clerk. As treasurer for the Town of Bear Creek the past 16 years, Sheila has gone above and beyond what the statutory requirements are for a treasurer. There have been many instances where things have come up, and Sheila has volunteered or been asked to take on clerk-related responsibilities for our township. Those include writing ordinances and resolutions, grant writing, end-of-year reporting, state statute research, and creating documents and forms to aid the town board. Sheila took over the town newsletter a few years ago, and she even recreates the garbage schedule to save the Town of Bear Creek the cost of printing it in color. Sheila has done all this extra work, and she has never asked for additional compensation for this extra work.  Sheila is the best in her field, and all the other local municipalities and towns know it. Sheila is intelligent, ambitious, and a great resource to anyone who reaches out to her.  Years ago Sauk County stopped publishing the absentee voting notice for the municipalities for each election. Sheila initiated contact with all the municipal clerks who use the Home News as their official newspaper, to publish a joint absentee notice, which saved them all money. Sheila takes care of that notice for all of them to this day. Sheila has mentored new clerks in the area, and area clerks call her for guidance on a regular basis. Area board members have called to ask for her advice. State representatives have contacted her to commend her level of service to the community. Many people appreciate Sheila’s prompt responses to emails, and she has had multiple reply emails calling her a “Rockstar.” I am proud to call that “Rockstar” my sister. Elections are very important in this day and age. Sheila has been managing elections for the past 15 years. Sheila honors her oath of office to the fullest. Sheila is a perfectionist, and she holds the elections to the highest standard. Election integrity will continue in the Town of Bear Creek if Sheila is our clerk. Sheila is dedicated to our community.  Sheila has always made the Town of Bear Creek a priority, and she always will. Sheila has missed her son’s baseball games to be at Town of Bear Creek meetings. Anyone who has questioned Sheila’s priorities in regards to the Town of Bear Creek needs to evaluate their own priorities in regards to the Town of Bear Creek. She has proved her value time and time again.  Sheila knows how to do everything that is required for the role as clerk, so she doesn’t need to solicit help from others at the expense of the Town of Bear Creek. I have complete confidence that if Sheila is elected clerk, she will take the bull by the horns, just like she did as treasurer, and go above and beyond to help our community. We all know communities that have had someone run for clerk, get elected, then get shell-shocked with the multitude of responsibilities, and end up resigning after a few months on the job. Sheila knows what she’s getting into, and Sheila will be there for us, if she gets elected clerk. Sheila as Clerk will cost us taxpayers less, and we will get more! Please vote on April 6 for Sheila Carver for clerk for the Town of Bear Creek. Sheila is the only taxpayer on the ballot for clerk, and the only candidate with experience. Anyone who knows Sheila would say that she is the best in her field, and that she is extremely friendly. We as Town of Bear Creek residents get the benefit of her motivation and top-notch abilities.  Sheley Scallon Town of Bear Creek Taxpayer   Dear editor, Hate apparently does have a home here in the River Valley. In comes, in part, from Republicans in the state legislature.  Last Tuesday and Wednesday they passed a resolution to honor conservative provocateur and professional liar Rush Limbaugh. The resolution calls Limbaugh’s voice “unforgettable” and important to advancing conservative causes. Among those who supported the resolution were assembly person Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) and senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green). While debating the vote, Democrats decried Limbaugh’s racism, sexism and homophobia. It seems Republicans think those hateful attitudes and resulting behaviors are OK. I disagree.  In an email, I asked Novak and Marklein to justify their votes. Why do they feel it’s OK to honor a man who made millions of dollars by spewing hate and misinformation? So far, neither has bothered to answer my question. Hate and lies are jeopardizing our democracy. I’m fearful for our future. People like Novak and Marklein are the reason why. Freedom cannot co-exist with lies and hate. Sharon Stark Spring Green