Stoughton
July 15-31 Can for a Cone Campaign
Bring in a canned good (cannot be expired) for the food pantry and receive a free cone or dish of custard Exclusively at… of Stoughton 916 Nygaard Street (608) 873-6635
Thursday, July 11, 2019 • Vol. 137, No. 51 • Stoughton, WI • ConnectStoughton.com • $1.25
Turning to Facebook Police increase social media presence to curb misinformation MACKENZIE KRUMME Unified Newspaper Group
Photo by Kimberly Wethal
Aiden Beardin, 4, of Janesville, watches as a chick hatches in the Kiddie Barn at the Stoughton Fair on Wednesday, July 3.
Hatching curiosity
Inside
Despite the hot and sporadically stormy weather, the 94th annual Stoughton Fair brought in visitors from all over Dane County. The five-day fair’s itinerary included projects shown by 4-H and FFA exhibitors in both the barns and Mandt Center, a kiddie barn, a truck and tractor pull, 4-H Olympics, a carnival with a new ride that swung festivalgoers up in the air, pizza- and pie-eating contests, a pie auction and the fair’s first-ever Strongman Competition.
Stoughton native to be honored in this year’s Relay for Life
Pages 8-9
On the road with Richard Hoffman worry. Nearly 12 years ago, he accepted a driving position for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), a national nonprofit that provides free transportation to medical appointMACKENZIE KRUMME ments for seniors. Today, he’s Stoughton’s RSVP Unified Newspaper Group coordinator, volunteering 60 hours a “The biggest suffering these peo- week in the only community he’s ever called home. The phone in his kitchen ple go through is worrings 30 to 50 times a week, with peory — who am I going ple on the other end looking for transto call to take me to my portation. Between 2007 to 2017, he appointment? I’ve got drove more than 66,000 miles for the to get to my appointgroup. ment,” Richard HoffHoffman offers direct relationman said, sitting in the ships to riders and drivers but he also kitchen of the home serves on the RSVP Finance Comwhere he has lived with Hoffman mittee Chair, Grant Committee Chair, his wife for more than Personnel Committee Chair and is an half a century. Fortunately for Stoughton, Hoff- Executive Committee Member. In addition to his time with RSVP, man is able to provide relief for that
Turn to Social/Page 5
EMILIE HEIDEMANN Unified Newspaper Group
four years ago, he gave life back to a free transportation service that provides rides to people with low to moderate income. The Affordable Transportation Program, which was nearly expired, gave more than 240 rides in 2018. Hoffman is its sole director. He uses a paper calendar to coordinate all rides. His wife, Aurelia, often has to tell him to get off the computer because he is constantly working, although she finds herself answering RSVP phone calls, too. And on July 16, Hoffman will celebrate his 80th birthday. “If I’m getting up in the morning and breathing, I’m going to do this job,” he said. He has won two distinguished service awards this summer alone: In
Turn to Volunteer/Page 20
The Relay of Life for Stoughton, McFarland and Oregon is back for another year to pay tribute to those battling c a n c e r – Romine including a Stoughton native of 19 years who is this year’s honorary survivor. The opening ceremony will start at 6 p.m. Friday, July 19, at the Mandt Community Center, 400 Mandt Pkwy. This year’s honoree is retired nurse Rebecca Romine. She will give a speech at the event about
If You Go What: Relay for Life of Stoughton, McFarland and Oregon When: Starts at 5 p.m. Friday, July 19 Where: Mandt Community Center, 400 Mandt Pkwy. Info: Call Jessica Lemke at 662-7542 her recovery after battling breast cancer and subsequently ovarian cancer. “You have to keep going,” she told the Hub. “If you put your feet on the floor in the morning, it’s a good day.” During the ceremony, Relay for Life attendees will honor those who have been affected by cancer and who have contributed to this year’s event.
Turn to Relay/Page 18
People You Know & Trust We Are Your Neighbors Cress Funeral & Cremation Service is more than just a funeral home, we are people you know and trust. For generations, providing the Circle of Care, before, during and after the loss of your loved one. McFarland ~ Deerfield ~ Stoughton East Madison ~ West Madison Middleton ~ Waunakee ~ Sun Prairie Day or Night (800) 235-9681
www.CressFuneralService.com
adno=88406
Courier Hub
department has con tinued to post events officers believe are o f i n t e rest to the community, such as scams, seat belt campaigns and other Leck community events the department is involved in. The highly public outing of people, mostly of the major arrests, is aimed both at curbing misinformation the department has noticed circulating on other Facebook pages and initiating better communication with the public, chief Greg Leck told the Hub this month. Leck said this is still a work in progress and
‘One step at a time’ at Relay
More photos from the Stoughton Fair
– Kimberly Wethal and Mackenzie Krumme
Veteran volunteer ensures community has accessible transportation in area
Followers of the Stoughton Police Department’s Facebook page might have noticed posts about criminal arrests over the past few months. It was a stark change from the department’s previous typical social media communications. While the posting has evolved since April – at one point, it included booking photos of people arrested – officers now primarily post information about criminal arrests and photos of active subjects. The
adno=88484
Courier Hub The