of Juneau County
The Messenger GIRL CHOPS OFF HAIR IN HONOR OF AUNT VOL 15, NO. 23
LOOK INSIDE FOR YOUR LOCAL NEWS:
Elroy: Page 5 Mauston: Page 4 Necedah: Page 6
County: Page 3 Wonewoc: Page 10 Hillsboro: Page 7
Classifieds: Page 11 Legals: Page 12 & 13
THE AWARD WINNING OFFICIAL LEGAL NEWSPAPER OF JUNEAU COUNTY
Woman eludes officers driving wrong way down interstate BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD In Juneau County Circuit Court on Monday a 22 year old woman from Racine, Wisconsin, Shanerica R. Cole, was placed on a $1,000 cash bond on charges of 1st degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee or elude an officer, and disorderly conduct. Cole has also been cited for texting while driving. Shanerica R. Cole The charges stem from a January 11, 2014 incident where Wisconsin State Trooper Scott D. Severson was advised of a wrong way vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I90/94. At the time the call came in, the trooper reported that the roadways had light snow on top of a layer of ice. Severson first observed the vehicle near milepost 77 at which time he reduced his speed and attempted to position his cruiser partially in the left lane hoping the driver would stop. However, according to his report the driver maneuvered around his cruiser and continued on it's way. He went on to state that it appeared the driver did not make an attempt to slow down and was traveling at a speed of 65 mph or higher. Severson followed the vehicle. In his report he states that at milepost 72 a patrol car was positioned with it's emergency equipment activated, however, the subject vehicle approaching it failed to stop. He then advised dispatch that he was calling the situation a vehicle pursuit. The subject vehicle began to slow down near the County N overpass and came to a stop at milepost 70 eastbound. At this point in the pursuit a Juneau County Deputy's cruiser was directly behind the subject vehicle. When officers approached the vehicle, the driver is said to have refused to get out of the car. Upon officers removing her from the car, a cell phone that was between her thighs dropped to the ground. When asked to show her driver's license the driver is said to have stated that she did not have it with her but verbally identified herself and her date of birth. The report states that Cole had a strong odor of alcohol. Due to the road conditions she was placed under arrest and a field sobriety test was to be given at the Juneau County Sheriff's Department. When arriving at the Sheriff's Department, Severson states that Cole said the last time she had contact with law enforcement she was sexually harassed and racially abused because she was black. After performing the sobriety test Cole agreed to a preliminary breath test and the result was .188. She later refused an intoximeter test and was transported to Hess Memorial Hospital on a warrant for a blood draw. While at Hess she reportedly became agitated and used derogatory language calling law enforcement racists. After returning to the Juneau County Sheriff's Department she was placed in a cell and reportedly loud and verbally abusive to those around her in jail. Cole is scheduled for a February 19, 2014 initial appearance. At the time The Messenger went to press, she was still in custody of the Juneau County Sheriff's Department as bond had not been posted.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2014
$1.00
Drug sweep at Mauston High School BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD Last Wednesday morning the Mauston Police Department and five K-9 units converged on the Mauston High School in what officials have since referred to as a soft lockdown. It was during that lock-down that a sweep occurred where lockers and the parking lot area were targeted by the dogs. While that lock-down was occurring a couple of Mauston parents wondered if the motivation behind it was recent contact they had made with school officials on information they had on possible drug use and dealings regarding the community's youth. Since the lock-down, officials at the school and police department announced it was a planned activity as part of the school's partnership with the Mauston Police
Department in creating a working relationship to keep the schools drug free. According to a press release from the Mauston Chief of Police, Mark Messer, the lock-down resulted in four lockers and nine vehicles being searched. It has been reported that the soft lock-down resulted in tobacco products being found in two lockers and that "prohibited substances" were found in two vehicles. Students Official vehicles lined the drive at the Mauston High responsible were cited School during the search. for minor infractions. The procedure for the patted down and required on drug use among youth soft lock-down kept stu- to wait in the school's in the community and he dents in their classrooms common area until the answered that he felt it was prevalent, with tobacco, for a period of time while search was over. In a phone interview marijuana, and alcohol at the building was being searched. During the with Chief Messer, he stat- the top of the list. High School Principal search time, one female ed that additional K-9 student reported to The units were needed due to Jim Dillin stated that the planning for the the size of the building. Messenger that she arrived See DRUGS, page 3 during the search and was We asked him his opinion
Skiff sentenced to 10 years BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD In Juneau County Circuit Court last Wednesday Darin Skiff, 50, of Mauston was sentenced for his role in the 2011 over-dose death of Jeremy Haas. Through a plea deal, Skiff had pled no contest to 1st degree reckless homicide/delivery of drugs and was sentenced by Judge James Evenson to 10 years of prison, with four of those years to be served in initial confinement and the remaining six years he will be on extended supervision. Skiff's sentencing comes just one month after a co-defendant, Jessica C. Sanders, 37, of Mauston was sentenced to one year of initial confinement in prison followed by two years of extended supervision. Sanders also reached a plea deal with prosecution. However, in her case she pled no contest to a reduced charge of possession of narcotics. A third co-defendant is 53 year old Elizabeth Orr of Mauston who also has been charged with 1st degree reckless homicide is scheduled for a two day trial in March. The cases against the trio stem from a call to law enforcement on Nov, 9, 2011. When law enforcement arrived on the scene Haas was lying on a bed, with his feet on the floor. His girlfriend reportedly told officers that he had come home earlier that evening and had been "messed up" while stating that Haas had an addiction to drugs. Through a detailed investigation law enforcement officers interviewed parties close to Haas and discovered the fentanyl he took that evening was in a patch form and purchased from Orr by Skiff.
Darin Skiff