TIMES-TRIBUNE DeForest
Road construction recap
DeForest boys stumble
The scoop on roadwork expected this summer in DeForest – Page 8
Norski lacrosse squad drops close contest at Oregon– Page 11
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Volume 120, Number 19 • $1.00
Thursday, May 8, 2014
VILLAGE OF DEFOREST
DeForest officials withdraw Sanimax task team support Four representatives with village ties sever joint committee membership By Jake Kurtz Times-Tribune Editor
Photo by Lauren Anderson
Dandelions outside DeForest Area Middle School.
School leaders debate mass pesticide spray Parents express worries about child exposure By Lauren Anderson Times-Tribune Reporter A pesticide application scheduled for this Saturday was a point of contention at last week’s school board meeting. District officials say rampant weeds are necessitating a mass spraying of major green spaces around area schools, but a group of local parents came out in support of pesticide alternatives at the board’s Apr. 28 meeting. Amy Anderson, a parent in the district, said she was concerned about safety. “As a parent, I don’t want my kid playing on a field sprayed with pesticides – at soccer, at recesses,”
Four Village of DeForest representatives have resigned from their seats on a joint task team established over the winter in hopes of resolving the odor situation at Sanimax. Village trustees Dick Josephson and Chip Van Meter, Public Works Director Deane Baker and Public Affairs Consultant Jane Cahill Wolfgram have all parted ways with the com-
mittee. The task team's membership also includes representatives from Sanimax and the DeForest community. The resignations were made known in an Apr. 30 letter from Village Administrator Steve Fahlgren sent to Sanimax General Manager Bill Molander. Fahlgren said in the correspondence that the task team was created to assist Sanimax in eliminating odors and to keep an open dialogue with the company,
Fahlgren
but the collaboration has “not been effective in accomplishing either of those tasks.” The committee originally formed in early
February. Cahill Wolfgram echoed Fahlgren's feedback, saying village officials remain “very interested in resolving the problem,” but believes the task team has not been a suitable method of reaching the stated goals.
In an appearance before the Village Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Cahill Wolfgram said a public relations representative for Sanimax recently asked that she no longer participate in the task team. “We felt there were other productive things we could do with our time,” Cahill Wolfgram said. Molander responded with a letter to Fahlgren on May 2. In it, the plant manager said Sanimax was “disappointed” to learn of the resignations but noted the task team will continue to meet with remaining members as it did on May 1.
See VILLAGE, page 2
Prom
Royalty
Anderson said. “There are many studies on how it increases cancer rates, especially in children.” Anderson said, as a health practitioner, she encourages patients to remove unhealthy factors from their lives. Exposure to pesticides is among those factors, she said. She added that she knows of other weed-removing options, having previously worked in landscaping. Scott Mink and Anderson provided the board with research on the health effects of pesticide exposure and some alternative options. Mink cited research indicating households where pesticides are used have higher rates of leukemia and brain cancer. Mink said Waunakee Community School
Photos by Andrew Kalies
DeForest Area High School juniors Jayme Oehrlein and Rachel Hoel (at left) were named King and Queen of this year's Prom, held May 3. The theme of the evening was Midnight Masquerade. Above: some of the boys in attendance pack the dance floor. For more photos of the evening’s festivities, see page 16.
See SCHOOLS, page 2
DANE COUNTY
Board moves forward on abuse shelter grant Contributed photo
Pictured from left to right are Jared Gothard, Khemchanok Mondopyai, Austin Smith, Thanawat Tangpornpisit, Claire Patzner, Pornpreeya Rangsiwatanasak, Heidi Pullen, Damisa Lakkanapinit, Josie Brandmeier and Ploypailin Subhaborwornrat.
DeForest schools grow global partnerships By Lauren Anderson Times-Tribune Reporter Just a few months after hosting a group of students and teachers from China, DeForest Area families once again opened up their homes this
INDEX Calendar...........................7 Classifieds.....................14 Legals..............................12 Opinion.............................4 School..............................6 Senior.................................5 Sports.................................9
month in support of global educational partnerships. DeForest Area is among six school districts to participate in the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Thailand Sunrise Program, allowing Thai students and
teachers to learn about American culture and share their experiences with American students. DeForest Area High School hosted five students and one teacher from Thailand for two weeks, providing the
See THAI SUNRISE, page 13
McCarville puts resolution out to supervisors By Jake Kurtz Times-Tribune Editor Sup. Maureen McCarville introduced a resolution Thursday to the Dane County Board to award $2 million for the development of an improved domestic abuse shelter. McCarville, whose district includes DeForest and Windsor, noted that the
Farmer’s Market opens May 13
Contact the Times-Tribune
Come out for farm fresh seasonal produce, baked goods, deep fried cheese curds, seasonal berries, a variety of plants, freshly-popped kettle corn, snow cones and more on Tuesday, May 13, the launch of the DeForest Area Farmer's Market. The market will be held from 3-6 p.m. in Veteran's Memorial Park, North Main Street, every Tuesday until October 21.
Phone: (608) 846-5576 Email: deforest@hngnews.com Mail: P.O. Box 585 DeForest, WI 53532 Twitter: @DeForestTimes All news submissions must be received by Friday at noon for the following week’s issue.
county's existing shelter on Madison's north side is the smallest in Wisconsin on a percapita McCarville basis and an upgraded Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) facility would be four-times larger once realized. A vote to formally approve the grant could come from
See COUNTY, page 3
DeForest, Wisconsin 53532
2 – DeForest Times-Tribune – deforesttimes.com
May 8, 2014
A SUCCESSFUL SPAGHETTI DINNER
Photo by Lauren Anderson
DeForest Boy Scout Troop 35 recently hosted a spaghetti dinner at Christ Lutheran Church in DeForest to raise funds for a new troop equipment trailer. The scouts served guests throughout the evening. Fishing rod builder Mike Takke from Yogi Rods of Mauston was in attendance at the dinner and gave a commemorative rod to a boy scout in a drawing.
SCHOOLS From page 1 District is piloting a threeyear Healthy Lawn Project to eliminate pesticides and herbicides from its lawn management. The project includes volunteers removing all weeds by hand and applying organic law care products to Arboretum Elementary and the middle school green spaces, the project’s website said. Mink extended the board an offer to make a similar program possible in the DeForest Area. “We’re here to work with the school district in any way possible,” he said. “We would be willing to put together volunteer teams or whatever you need.” District Director of Business/Auxiliary Services Diane Pertzborn said growing conditions over the past two years have led to prolific weed growth. She said the district has received “a number of complaints and pressure” to improve the aesthetics of district buildings. A spraying of pesticides on major green spaces around the district is planned for Saturday, May 10. “We’re very reluctant to do this and we wouldn’t be making the recommendation to do it if we didn’t think the time has come,” Pertzborn said. “That’s why we’ve come to the decision to make use of pesticide application to try to get ahead of the weeds.” “No matter where you look around our grounds – whether it’s the athletic fields, or a walkway or other larger areas – we’ve lost the
battle. The last two years have been really hard,” Pertzborn added. The application will follow the district’s Integrated Pest Management Plan, Pertzborn said. “If the conditions aren’t right for application, we will re-schedule,” she said. “We’re doing it on nonschool days. We have a rain date. We’re using proper procedures and licensed applicators.” The district already uses pesticides routinely to eliminate weeds under fence lines, bleachers and in cracks in parking lots and sidewalks. The lacrosse field was also sprayed last year. But the upcoming “broad application” of pesticides will include large grassy areas, such as athletic fields and the entryways of buildings, Pertzborn said. Spraying the playgrounds isn’t necessary because mulch serves as a weed deterrent, she said. Board member DeAnna Giovanni raised questions regarding the close succession of the pesticide application and sporting events. “The following week, there is still soccer being played on those fields by six, seven and eight-year-olds,” she said. “On Monday night, there are going to be kids
Board president Jan Berg playing on that field and said the policy doesn’t fall rolling on that field. So how within the board’s purview. do we feel about that?” “This isn’t really a board Giovanni recommended policy – this reconsiderais operation of the tional,” Berg district’s pessaid. “While I ticide policy. appreciate “We you bringing haven’t this to us and looked at it in getting our 10 years,” input . . . we Giovanni don’t genersaid. “Things ally do this.” have Board changed, member strides have Chris been made, McFarlin places have asked changed, whether the studies have district had been done considered and I would Diane Pertzborn, utilizing volbe very interDASD Director of unteers to esting in Business/Auxiliary Services manage revisiting weeds. this.” Pertzborn Pertzborn said the said rewriting amount of land to cover the policy would be a lengthy process and the nec- makes that option untenessary preparations wouldn’t able. “We have a lot of acreage,” be ready for the board to she said. “I wouldn’t doubt consider in time for this Saturday’s pesticide applica- that it’s very effective in a concentrated area with lots tion.
“No matter where you look around our grounds – whether it’s the athletic fields, or a walkway or other larger areas – we’ve lost the battle”
VILLAGE: Task force will continue despite resignations From page 1 “We are integrating the team's feedback into our ongoing plans,” said Molander. “And we will continue with our regular meetings.” Molander added that village representatives are welcome to “reconsider” and rejoin the group at a later time. The village to date has issued Sanimax fines totaling $35,450 for alleged violation of the village's nuisance ordinance. The company has denied the claims. DeForest resident Robert Langdon appeared before the board Tuesday and encouraged village leaders
of people, but I’ve done it in my own yard and I can go back three days later and do it again.” Buildings and Grounds Supervisor John Rauwolf said the district participated in a Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection study on the effectiveness of corn gluten meal, an organic fertilizer, at managing lawns and found that it’s both more expensive and less effective than chemicals. It also doesn’t eliminate already existing weeds, but prevents seeds from germinating. The last major spray was at least eight years ago, Pertzborn said. She added
By th e n umbe rs $35,450 Amount the village has issued Sanimax in fines for alleged nuisance ordinance violations.
to continue leaning on Sanimax. “Please don’t back down,” Langdon said. “I'm afraid this will go on for years longer and we'll develop a reputation as the town that stinks.”
that by applying pesticides now, the district hopes it can wait another 10 years before another application is necessary. “We’re trying to get things under control so that we can use regular turf management practices by fertilizing and mowing,” Rauwolf said. “They’ve been building up over time and now we’ve come to that point where we need to do something to bring them back under control.” If rain interferes with Saturday’s scheduled application, the district will wait until the following Saturday, May 17. Signs will be posted around the sprayed area.