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Thursday, March 5, 2020 • Vol. 138, No. 33 • Stoughton, WI • ConnectStoughton.com • $1.50
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Commission: Revoke license from Shakers Recommendation comes after December cocaine arrest RENEE HICKMAN Unified Newspaper Group
A committee has recommended removing Shakers Saloon’s liquor license after one of the owners was arrested on suspicion of selling cocaine in December. In a complaint filed Jan. 28, police chief Greg Leck wrote Shakers was in violation of the city’s municipal code and Wisconsin statutes by maintaining a “disorderly or riotous, indecent or improper house” due to the cocaine sales. The complaint states officers found 2.5 ounces of cocaine while searching owner Dale Kittleson and also found methamphetamines in an office at Shakers. Officers found what appeared to be a ledger showing names, dollar amounts and weights in Kittleson’s truck, parked
at the bar. The recommendation, made by the city’s Public Safety committee, will be presented to the Common Council on March 10, but per city ordinance, will not be voted on until the next meeting, March 24. Before a city can revoke or suspend a liquor license, it must hold what’s known as a quasi-judicial hearing. Typically, these involve attorneys for the prosecution – the city – and the defense, as well as another attorney familiar with such matters moderating like a judge. After the hearing, if it so chooses, the Common Council can revoke or impose a suspension between 10 and 90 days. The Public Safety committee held that hearing Feb. 6. On Jan 28, the council voted to retain an attorney, Rick Manthe for the matter. Manthe told the Public Safety committee Feb. 6 that the presence of cocaine on the premises of the bar would mean increased safety risks for patrons. He added that it
Print subscribers and online members will get full access JIM FEROLIE Hub editor
For more than a decade, non-subscribers to the Courier Hub have been able to access most of our content for free on ConnectStoughton.com. Beginning April 1, this will no longer be the case. All three websites for Unified Newspaper
Board favors permanent school-city committee Sullivan: Changing attitudes on enrollment present an opportunity SCOTT DE LARUELLE Unified Newspaper Group
Photo by Adam Feiner
Stoughton junior Brooks Empey (front) and his father, Vikings co-coach Bob Empey, embrace after Brooks won the Division 1 220-pound state championship Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Kohl Center.
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Stoughton wrestlers Rivera, Empey bring home gold
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toughton High School added to its state record with its 52nd and 53rd individual state champions Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Kohl Center. Sophomore Nicolar Rivera won the Division 1 120-pound state title a year after winning the 106-pound crown, and junior Brooks Empey pinned all four of his opponents en route to the 220-pound championship. Empey (53-1) needed just 28 seconds to pin Greenfield junior Skyler Gill-Howard in their title tilt. Rivera pinned Kaukauna senior Mason Campshure at the 2:27 mark of their title bout. Senior Gavin Model (145) and
Luke Mechler (152) took home thirdplace medals. Stoughton (21-2 in duals this season) will finish its season at the Division 1 team state tournament, where the Vikings are the two-time defending champions. Team state begins Friday, March 6, at the UW Field House in Madison. The third-seeded Vikings will take on sixth-seeded Neenah in the quarterfinals, which are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. The semifinals are later that night, and the championship begins at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7. — Adam Feiner
Months after an ad hoc committee of school board and Stoughton Common Council members stopped meeting, school board members want to give it another go – although with mixed levels of optimism. Board members talked Monday night about a recent study they commissioned about why young people move to – or leave – Stoughton, and the need to work with the city on that and other issues. With the goal of creating a permanent committee rather than one designed for a specific, temporary purpose, board president Frank Sullivan said he would reach out alders to see if they are interested. He said he’s hopeful both sides can work together more effectively this time around. “I feel like the tone of the discussion has changed,” he said. “I could be wrong about that, but we’ve had significant interest from numerous city council members about declining enrollment, we had council members here to talk to us about the young adults study and the findings.” The original committee was created in the spring of 2017 as a means to better address issues affecting both the city and district, such as marketing, housing, school enrollment and poverty. It came as the result of two joint meetings of both full boards earlier that year. Three members represented each side on the committee, which was tasked to meet quarterly. By summer 2018, the group had almost completely new members, and by then it had narrowed its mission statement to “Make Stoughton a community of choice that attracts and retains young families.” Last year, the group stopped meeting amid some disagreement about its scope and purpose. B o a r d m e m b e r Ti m B u b o n said the committee needs to be a
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