FREE PRESS MESSENGER AMERY
TUESDAY, MAY 29,33,2018 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2222
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SPORTS: Amery sends nine athletes to State Track Meet PAGE 13A
Eight staff members retire from Amery Schools
One killed in Sunday accident COUNTRY
BY TOM STANGL TSTANGL@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
One person is dead and several others injured after a two vehicle accident just south of Amery on May 27. The accident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. near Dragonfly Gardens on Hwy 46. According to the accident report, witness says that a Ford F150 truck driven by Kali Laqua, 16, of Amery was southbound when it swerved into the northbound lane. A driver in a northbound vehicle swerved to avoid hitting the truck and told police that he saw the F150 nearly in the opposite ditch when it struck a Ford Ranger driven by Keith Soderberg, 63, of Hammond. Soderberg’s vehicle came to rest, rolling over north of the driveway to Dragonfly Gardens. First responders
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Fire and EMS personnel work to extricate Keith Soderberg from his vehicle following a collision Sunday morning. Soderberg’s wife was killed in the accident.
requested multiple helicopters to the accident scene. Brenda Soderberg, 57, of Hammond was pronounced dead on the scene by authorities. Keith Soderberg was extracted from the Ranger and transported by air ambulance.
Laqua was taken to Amery Hospital and then sent to Regions by air ambulance. A passenger in Laqua’s vehicle, Galen Coy, 17, was transported by ambulance from the scene. Soderberg remains in critical condition at
The last day of work is rapidly advancing for eight long time members of the staff at Amery School District. Bill Peterson, 37.5 years, Director of Transportation & Grounds; Ramona Pickard, 29 years, Bus Driver; Laura Busse, 18 years, Elementary & Intermediate School Teacher. BACK: Cheryl Wesle, 23 years, Director of Pupil Services; Wanda Rimestad, 31 years, French Teacher; Marie Knutson, 16 years, Paraeducator; Sylvia Wien, 22 years, Secretary and Patricia Donahue, 35 years, Elementary Teacher are each retiring. The Free Press invited each of the retirees to share someinformation about their careers at Amery and THURSDAY, plans. SEPTEMBER 33, 2222 their retirement VOL. 131 NO. 19 www.moraminn.com $1.00
Laura Busse
Regions. No information is available about Laqua or Coy. The road was closed until nearly 3 p.m. for investigators from the Polk County Sheriff and Wisconsin Highway Patrol to construct the accident.
Laura started her teaching career 30½ years ago spending 18 of those years here in Amery teaching: Kindergarten, first grade, second grade (including looping first and second), and fourth grade. Laura will always remember the deep friendships she formed with her colleagues. What are her retirement plans? “None!” she said.“Isn’t that exciting?” Busse She does hope to go on some mission
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Referendum spending, energy efficiency projects outlined BY TOM STANGL TSTANGL@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
When voters approved a referendum exceeding the school district’s revenue cap by $1.9 million a year, spending was authorized for “District operation and maintenance purposes including maintaining and restoring staff positions, upgrading curriculum and instructional programs and support services, addressing deferred maintenance needs and upgrading technology and building security.”
At their meeting May 21, the school board got a look at how the money was spent this year as well as possible spending projects for upcoming years. Supt. Jim Kuchta presented an overview of the spending in each of the four approved categories. Maintenance and Security: Family and Consumer room – budgeted at $550,000. Actual spending was on two firms – architects LHB $54,246 and general contractor V&S $474,500. Total budget $700,000 – actual spending
$677,511. Technology: Servers - $120,700; Wireless and internet security - $49,200 (five year lease payment); Student and staff devices - $317,500 (three year lease payment); Interactive boards/ monitors - $85,500 (five year lease payment) and Software maintenance and fees - $91,300 (additional licensing, personal device training, Hoonuit, etc.). Total budget $500,000 – actual spending $664,200. Curriculum: Professional Learning
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Communities/Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports/Data retreat - $39,000; Classroom budgets - $7,500 and Curriculum - $84, 293. Total budget - $150,00 – actual spending $130,793. Staffing: Dean of students (.25), art teacher (1 full time equivalent), alternative education teacher, social studies (1 full time equivalent), physical education (1 full time equivalent), library media specialist/technology SEE SPENDING ON PAGE 2A
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Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to our nurses, physicians and care teams. amerymedicalcenter.org
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