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Thursday, MAY 8, 2014
VOL. 19, NO. 39
School board cuts position, restructures leadership By Megan Hansen Editor
weight. The Reubles have been breeding this type of draft horse since 1971. Louise Reuble was introduced to horses through her late husband, Lawrence Reuble, soon after they married in 1970. Lawrence Reuble, a dairy farmer whose father was a blacksmith at Fort Casey when the fort was in operation, spent his entire life on the Reuble Farm off Fort Casey Road. “Lawrence had wanted a six-horse hitch of draft horses,” Louise Reuble said. The Reubles spent an extended honeymoon searching for draft horses of the best Shire stock, traveling through Alberta, Canada, Montana and Idaho. They wound up purchasing a stallion and two mares from a breeder in Blackfoot, Idaho, which arrived in Coupeville in the spring of 1971. A year later, they learned of an opportuni-
The Board of Directors for Coupeville School District took measures Monday to reduce costs in the wake of declining enrollment. After accepting the resignation of current Coupeville Middle and High School principal Sheldon Rosenkrance, the board approved a new leadership model and eliminated an administrative position. Rosenkrance submitted his resignation April 30, saying he will not be returning to the district next year. “I have accepted the position of superintendent in Estes Park, Colorado,” Rosenkrance said in his resignation. “It has been a pleasure working in the Coupeville School District and I have seen a lot of progress and growth throughout my nine years of working in Coupeville.” In addition to accepting that resignation, the board approved a new leadership model, which eliminates the special services director position next year. Superintendent Jim Shank said he will absorb those duties. The position is responsible for the special education program as well as title services, he said. Under the new model, current special services director Duane Baumann will take over the role of vice principal at the middle and high school next year. Current vice principal Lori Stolee’s contract will not be renewed for the 2014-15 school year, Shank said. “If additional positions within the district become available, she is welcome to apply for them.” The district posted notice of the open principal position this week. Shank said when the new principal is hired, they will further look at the leadership model. “Clearly when you have new people
See FOALS page 12
See CUTS page 12
Photo by Ron Newberry
Louise Reuble has her hands full with two draft horse foals born on her Coupeville farm in April, including Ruby, born April Fool’s Day.
FOALING AROUND Horse breeder welcomes new crop of horses By Ron Newberry Staff Reporter
The arrival of a new foal is one of nature’s signs that spring is here. As a horse breeder, Louise Reuble has grown accustomed to this ritual and understands a new baby often attracts more visitors. What Reuble also has learned over four decades of seeing new foals arrive is the collateral damage. Evidence this week was the bare snag of a once-promising young Japanese maple tree in the front yard. Walter loves to nibble on that tree. Further evidence was on her television
screen. Ruby loves to rub her back on the satellite dish in the yard, which plays havoc with the signal. Walter and Ruby are foals born on Reuble’s five-acre Coupeville property this spring. But they’re not just any horses. They’re the latest of several generations of draft horses bred by Reuble over the years. And like most young human children, their playful, sometimes curious nature can lead them into trouble, and leave Reuble shaking her head. On one recent evening, Reuble had to shoo Ruby away from the satellite dish only to notice Walter munching on the tree. “Get off my Japanese maple!” she yelled. “It’s not going to survive!” It takes a lot more than a few maple leaves to satisfy her horses. Reuble and her daughter Leandra Reuble take care of 11 draft horses on the farm. The adults weigh in excess of 2,000 pounds. The foals can weigh nearly 200 pounds at birth. They’re all Shires, a breed of draft horse from England known for their height, overall size and enormous capacity for pulling