of Juneau County
The Messenger WONEWOC-CENTER HEALTH, SAFETY, & WELLNESS FAIR VOL 14, NO. 39
LOOK INSIDE FOR YOUR LOCAL NEWS:
Elroy: Page 6 Mauston: Page 4 New Lisbon: Page 8
County: Page 3 Wonewoc: Page 14 Hillsboro: Page 12
Classifieds: Page 15 Legals: Pages 16 & 17
THE AWARD WINNING OFFICIAL LEGAL NEWSPAPER OF JUNEAU COUNTY THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013
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Local family relieved son in law is safe BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD
CONSTRUCTION Road construction season has started in Mauston - crews have been busy since last week ripping up areas along Mansion Street. This was the scene Monday afternoon in front of Mauston's City Hall.
Trial for Coughlin to begin in July BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD The child sexual assault case against Daniel J. Coughlin, 50, of Lyndon Station will move forward to trial, but not as originally scheduled for in May. According to online court records last week Juneau County Circuit Court Judge John Roemer ruled in favor of the defense's motion for a continuance and rescheduled the 5 day jury trial to begin on July 8, 2012. Representing Coughlin at the motion hearing was defense attorney Michael Ganzer. Special Prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant state Attorney, General Winn S. Collins. Coughlin is facing three 1st degree child sexual assault charges, and three 2nd degree child sexual assault charges all of which are alleged to have occurred between 1989 and up to 1992. Both sides are expected to have expert witness testimony at the trial. Daniel is not the only Coughlin facing significant charges, his older brother and once Lyndon Station Village President, Donald, is also facing multiple charges of child sexual assault. Donald is facing 22 felony counts of child sexual assault and one felony count of child enticement. The male victims in the cases against both brothers were known to them. As of now, a jury trial is scheduled to begin on July 29, 2013. Mauston defense attorney Daniel Berkos is representing Donald Coughlin. Donald was originally charged in 2010 and Daniel in 2011. Daniel is also facing a 2012 felony charge of bail jumping stemming from the 2011 case.
It was April 14th and the day before the Boston Marathon when Kevin O'Brien stood at the finish line beaming with anticipation for the next day's race. A race he would take part in alongside 25,000 other runners who had also qualified to run. Back in Elroy, Wisconsin was his wife's family who were waiting to hear how Nora's husband would finish. None of them were prepared for the tragedy that was about to play out and would take the lives of three innocent victims and injure countless others. That tragedy we now know happened when two bombs exploded near the Boston Marathon finish line as runners crossed it finishing the race. Kevin, an avid runner, crossed the line long before the explosions occurred and was already back at his hotel about to have lunch when he learned of the news. The news came to him after he made a trek to a restroom and passed by a hotel bar where reports of the explosion played on the television. "As I watched and listened I was just so stunned. I felt blank - I could see where I had just been... the finish line I had just crossed and it now had ambulances all over it and people screaming. It was the oddest feeling I have ever had," he said. In shock with the news he had just learned, Kevin had to return to his table in the restaurant and attempt to convey it all to Nora and his niece who were lunching with him. Within moments from doing so, others in the restaurant would also learn as the restaurant manager went table to table informing all the diners. "All the laughter stopped, and then there was silence," said Kevin. Back in Elroy, Nora's mother, Frances Madden, was going about her day and was unaware of the news being played out in Boston until later that afternoon her daughter Peg phoned her to let her know that Kevin and Nora were safe. "That is when I turned on the television and saw the news. It was on every channel. I was so very thankful that they weren't hurt," said Frances.
Frances Madden was relieved to hear her son in law was alright after the explosions at the Boston Marathon. While Kevin escaped without having to witness the explosions, the tragedy did have a lingering effect and it was one that became apparent after returning back home to Colorado where he is a teacher for the visually impaired and blind. Still shaky, he said he went back to work the day after the race, but by Friday his nerves were feeling the trauma. "I almost think I had a mini post traumatic stress disorder moment. I had to break away from work a couple of times just to take a walk. I was pretty shaky." he said. While it was an experience that will more than likely stay with Kevin, it is one that he said he will not let break him. He has already made preparations for next year's Boston Marathon.
"The people I know who run in the Boston Marathon are all planning on running again - everyone is doubly inspired to go back and run. The interest in Boston 2014 is off the charts," he said. He went on to state that he was very appreciative on how the police, FBI, and the Boston Athletic Association handled all that took place. "We should all be proud of them. There's no way the race will be diminished by the bombings. It will come back stronger than ever." As for Frances, she said she is very glad that Kevin is her son-in-law. "We're very proud of him. He is a nice young man and we're blessed to have him in our family. He is a good Irish boy and is married to a strong Irish woman!"