A look into the governing of the Lower Wisconsin River Valley, covering the River Valley School District and the municipalities within it.
Village of Arena Board throws out police automatic aid agreement, replaces resident Public Safety Committee with majority board member committee
The Village of Arena Board of Trustees ended their automatic aid agreement with the Town of Arena, formed a new Public Safety Committee with mostly board members, and finalized a survey for residents to guide future decisions about police employment and budgeting. Trustee Melissa Bandell proposed rescinding the agreement based on Wisconsin Statute §66.0513. The…
Arena Village Board reveals hours police have worked, debate rages over police budget, services
The Arena Village Board of Trustees held a special meeting on March 27 to discuss the future of the police force, including compensation and work performance. Officers resigned from full-time positions last fall, leading to debates on policing hours, administrative duties, and community support. The meeting also highlighted concerns about police services and the use…
Public safety debate continues as Arena holds special meeting to ‘discuss continued employment of current police officers’
The Village of Arena Board of Trustees held a special meeting to discuss the employment of the police officers, sparking concerns and confusion among residents. The closed session meeting raised questions about the board’s control, authority and communication. Past legal disputes over police department funding further complicated the situation. Residents and the village attorney called…
Citing ‘low morale’ due to village board Arena PD moves to part-time immediately after Arena police officer, DNR warden receive Life Saving Awards
The Village of Arena Police Department’s officers are transitioning to part-time positions due to low morale and conflicts with the Village Board of Trustees. Chief of Police Nicholas Stroik announced the shift, citing unjustified interference and non-supportive comments from board members. Despite the reduced hours, the department pledge to maintain the community’s safety, while acknowledging…
EDITORIAL: It’s a matter of health and safety now — It’s time to take Arena’s issues seriously
The Village of Arena Police Department announced its shift to part-time service, citing “low morale” due to issues with the village board. This change sparked concerns among residents about potential increase in emergency response times. Village President Kate Reimann’s response to these concerns — “No records were requested so no answer is given” — is…
EDITORIAL: Open government report card — Arena improves, Lone Rock sued, other local public bodies receive letters
Sunshine Week is a time to celebrate government transparency and public service, as well as a time to address lapses in the same. In October 2020, shortly after incorporating and shortly before our first edition, we sent out a Wis. Stat. 19.84(1)(b) written request by email from news media to our local governmental bodies asking…
Legal Editor’s Column: Lone Rock Lawsuit, open meetings update
A couple months back, I wrote here that the Valley Sentinel was suing the Village of Lone Rock. It feels like time for an update, and I wanted to talk about our two cases — one not yet filed and one possibly almost done, and why they are so different.
Arena board hears tenure of current Arena clerk audited in Monticello, discrepancies found in water bills
Audit reached no conclusions, but shows potentially large errors in water bills.
During public comment at last month’s regular meeting of the Village of Arena Board of Trustees on March 7, board members were handed papers by former Village President Paul Pustina. Those papers contained an “Independent Accountant’s Report” covering current Arena Village Clerk/Treasurer DeNean…
LISTEN HERE: Our editors on community journalism, 5th grade civics and THAT UW-Richland editorial
Listen to Valley Sentinel’s interview this morning on The Todd Allbaugh Show | Civic Media | Locally: WRCE 107.7 FM • 1450 AM
We talk Valley Sentinel, 5th grade civics, journalism, local media, and a UW-Richland editorial that Todd says “takes no prisoners”.
Local EMS directors respond to Marklein’s rural EMS bill as Evers issues a veto, expert weighs in
On March 31, Gov. Tony Evers announced that he had vetoed recently passed Senate Bill 89. The bill, introduced by Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, would have made the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam optional for emergency medical responders. Marklein argued the bill would improve recruitment and retention for rural emergency medical services.…
Legal Column: Complaints filed with DA against Arena officials, open meetings law violated – analysis
On Tuesday, February 22, at 8 a.m. the Village of Arena Personnel Committee met, made a recommendation to accept the resignation of Arena’s superintendent of public works effective March 31, and started right in working on interviewing for a replacement. If nothing else, the committee moved with laudable speed to fill a hole that was…
Arena Public Works superintendent resigns, rush to fill position internally leads to open meetings law complaints
On Feb. 15, Village of Arena’s Public Works Superintendent Michael Schmidt submitted his resignation, with a month and a half notice. By the next week, the village was already holding a meeting to interview internal candidates. That rush to hold an interview resulted in several village officials having open meetings law complaints filed against them.
Governor Evers visits Spring Green businesses that received ‘We’re All In’ grants
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers visited Spring Green Tuesday to tour two businesses that received “We’re All In” grants, in the midst of a proposal that would seek to change how federal moneys, including those that fund grants like these, are allocated and by whom.
River Valley School Board recommends masks, implements new plan that outlines when masking would be mandatory
On August 12 the River Valley School Board met, in its last meeting before the school year starts, to discuss masking, new COVID-19 protocols and more, before ultimately stopping short of requiring students and staff to wear masks to start the year.
Gov. Evers, DHS Announce Gender-Neutral Language Options to be Added to Wisconsin Birth Certificates
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers June 28 with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that beginning Thurs., July 1, 2021, Wisconsin parents will have a new, gender-neutral option for identifying the parents of a child. Birth forms used to generate birth certificates will be updated to include an option for “parent-parent,” in addition…
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.