Stoughton
Thursday, November 7, 2019 • Vol. 138, No. 16 • Stoughton, WI • ConnectStoughton.com • $1.25
Live Music, Dance Floor, Pool Tables, DJs, VIP Area, Drink Specials
NOW OPEN
111 Chalet Drive Stoughton
adno=117055
Courier Hub The
/ShakersSaloonLLC
608-480-7040
Kettle Park West
Public gets input before TIF vote Three KPW listening sessions set for Nov. 15-23 JUSTIN LOEWEN Hub correspondent
Photo by Mackenzie Krumme
From left, Alley Parks, Molly Gracyalny and Ella Loup compete in a bob for the donut contest at “Nightmare on 4th Street,” at the library Thursday, Oct. 31.
A Stoughton Halloween Trick or trick
The city-wide trick or treating hours were from 6-8 p.m., and houses were handing out more than just candy this year. Adult Trick or treaters, could warm themselves next to an outdoor fire pit and fill their Halloween baskets with
On the Web
This event is meant to encourage interactions between the youngest To view more photos of Halloween in Stoughton and oldest generations, who often don’t get enough opportunities to visit ConnectStoughton.com spend time together. Volunteers and families were jello shots, glow sticks, candy bars, present for the hour-long event. beer or small toys. Many saying how turnout was one of the best ever, with residents Not so scary at Skaalen nearly running out of candy. At Skaalen Retirement Services, residents smiled as groups of chil- ‘Nightmare on 4th Street’ Lucky students who played “dare dren poured into the facility with trick or treating baskets. Roughly 20 or scare” during the “Nightmare on residents sat in a circle handing out 4th Street” event at the library had candy to youngsters on Thursday, to take a selfie in the bathroom and Turn to Halloween/Page 7 Oct. 31.
Stoughton Chamber of Commerce
She has not set an end date MACKENZIE KRUMME Unified Newspaper Group
After seven years with the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, executive director Laura Trotter has announced she will step down.
Courier Hub
Kettle Park Senior Living, 2600 Jackson St., which opened Sunday, Oct. 6. A Tru by Hilton hotel is also under construction at the site. The original TIF request for Kettle Park West, part of a 2014 developer agreement that eventually brought a Walmart Supercenter here, drew intense public scrutiny that led to a 2015 advisory referendum rejecting the use of taxpayer money for the development. The Phase 2 request has been less controversial. For information, call Ald. Ligocki at 572-3469.
Stoughton Area School District
Executive director Trotter steps down Trotter brought stability to the organization in 2016, when she became the chamber’s Trotter fifth executive director in less than two years. It was a “rocky” time then, she told the Hub, and now
KPW listening session No. 1: 2-4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, Vennevoll Clubhouse, 400 N. Morris St. KPW listening session No. 2: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, Stoughton Fire Department training room, 501 E. Main St. KPW listening session No. 3: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 23, Stoughton Fire Department training room, 501 E. Main St.
it’s a good time to transition. “I’m ready to not be a public figure,” she said. “I want to have some opinions.” Trotter has not set an end date, but she declared her intention to leave in the chamber’s newsletter Nov. 1 and told the Hub she let the board know she is ready to move on and is
openly looking for a new position. Her announcement stated she will stay on until the position – being redefined as chamber president, to keep up with industry trends, she wrote – is filled. Trotter said she solidified the chamber’s staff positions, allowing its board to
Turn to Trotter/Page 14
Establishing links Sullivan said it comes down to communication. That was the focus of a special board learning session Monday Nov. 4 that gave some individual attention to SCOTT DE LARUELLE all five district schools. It was part of what Unified Newspaper Group Sullivan calls a “linkagWhen it comes to operat- es” approach the board ing a school district, school Turn to Links/Page 13 board president Frank
Learning session focuses on schools’ individual needs
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=119531
Even with a layer of snow and cold temperatures — costumed families and trick or treaters couldn’t resist going door to door to fill up candy baskets. On Thursday, Oct. 31, community members had several events to celebrate the fall holiday.
A series of public listening sessions have been scheduled to inform the public and gather feedback on a tax-increment financing request for Kettle Park West. The Common Council is set to vote at its Nov. 26 meeting on a TIF request from Forward Development Group, which formally requested $3 million in TIF for KPW phase 2 last July. Ald. Jean Ligocki (Dist. 2) will host three public listening sessions to help explain the complexities of TIF and the pending request. The first will be at the Vennevoll Clubhouse, 400 N. Morris St., 2-4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15. The second will take place at the Stoughton Fire Department training room, 501 E. Main St., 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The final one will also be at the fire department 9:30 a.m.noon on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kettle Park West phase 2 is a largely residential development that already features
If You Go