Cliff Thompson Retires After 28 Years
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TRUTH JOUR THROUGH NALISM VOL. 4, WK. 29 THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 $1.00 Resident starts petition to oust Sauk Prairie School District man accused of sexually transparency issues continue assaulting six-year-old Superintendent Jeff Wright makes false accusation against Star News by JOE BLOCK was granted a few hours later. not planning to publish the Plan at his residence on Center lies, refusing to leave.” She by JOE BLOCK Editor Notably, the inaccessible gave the newspaper “a right” to Editor Street, across from Black continued, “As a mother of documents did not include doc- access the document. Earth Elementary School. As young girls I am hoping to The Sauk Prairie School A Black Earth resident uments for the 2020-2021 Dean Wright also took issue of Tuesday morning, July 14, gain support using this peti- District complied with the Star created a petition calling for Health Plan renewal. This is a with the Star News’ state- there are 803 signatures. tion to force him to relocate News’ public records request Curtis O’Brien, charged with public document. ment that the documents were Amber Hering created the to a[n] area that is not near 13 days after it was filed, for sexually assaulting a six- In a July 6 email to the Star “delay[ed].” He said, “As we petition, and wrote, in part: our schools or parks. As a documents concerning the June year-old, to be relocated to an News providing the documents, expect you know, the public “Several community mem- community we need to come 22 board meeting. The docu- area “not near our schools or Superintendent Jeff Wright records law does not require a bers have had encounters of together to ensure the safety ments were received on July 6. falsely accused the Star News response within any specific parks.” O’Brien is, per court him sitting in front of homes of our children.” The Star News sought the same of the following: “In the ar- number of days; and Wisconsin order, staying with his father and watching their fami- SEE ASSAULT, PAGE 6 documents board members re- ticles about your request for the Department of Justice guide- ceive for each meeting. It was District’s Crisis Plan, you said lines state that providing a re- discovered on July 14 that these you did not plan to publish or sponse within 10 working days Sauk Prairie School District looking to documents were inaccessible write about the plan and implied will generally be considered because the Star News did not that gave you a right to obtain reasonable when the request is have permission to access the the document.” The Star News for a limited number of easily open with in-person classes in the fall District’s Google Drive. Access made no such implication--that SEE SPSD, PAGE 7 dren back, but have concerns, pared for the option, but might by JOE BLOCK Editor and roughly 10 percent do not have to scale back. District Su- plan to send their children back. perintendent Jeff Wright, who is A survey of 1200 Sauk Prairie The District has already been leading the planning, is working School District parents showed conducting in-person summer with the DPI, the Sauk County Cliff Thompson retires that 47 percent want to send school. Health Department, and other their children back to in-person The District is making plans agencies and resources. teaching in the fall, with no to a full in-person return for the More details will be available concerns about COVID-19. 38 fall, with the understanding that in next week’s issue. after 28 years percent want to send their chil- they would prefer to be pre- by ELLEN PAUL Contributing Writer Former Sauk Prairie School District super- Now you can intendent Cliff Thompson retired at the end of fi nd us on June after 28 years of service to the district and community. Facebook and Thompson’s education quest took him from Instagram! Concordia University-Chicago, IL (B.A.) to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI (M.S.) and fi- nally to Edgewood College-Madison, WI (Ed. Leadership Certification and Ed.D.). www.facebook.com/ Although he taught elsewhere as well, his WiscStarNews career in the SPSD began as Activities Di- rector 6-12 at the Middle and High Schools (1992-2003), Principal at Black Hawk, Tower Rock, and Merrimac Schools (2003-2005), Community Ed. Co-Director and Merrimac Wisc_Star_News SEE RETIRE, PAGE 7 Cliff and Cindy Thompson Sauk City’s George Culver Community Library opens to the public The new George Culver Community Library had its grand opening last Monday. Culver had time to stop by and visit. Pictured, bottom photo: Lynn Rausch, Shari Simon, Lori Brattset, Matt Tredinnick, Ben Miller, Emily Judd, Julie Rogers, and Mike Wipperfurth. Top left: George Culver. For more photos, see page 6. PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED PAGE 2 STAR NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2020 OBITUARIES Bradley R. brother, Kirk (Lora) Lewis and working, landscaping and his Union Local 464 for 54 years. School. Initially he attended Neil Armin Lewis their daughter, Jaime (Ryan) travel adventures. He enjoyed He enjoyed reading the daily Marquette while working as a Russ Cooper. sharing the farm with many paper keeping abreast of current draftsman for GE, eventually In addition to his parents, he people from around the World. events, watching football, play- transferring to UW-Milwaukee Neil Armin Russ, age 86, was preceded in death by an He especially enjoyed spending ing euchre and taking an occa- where he graduated with a BS having lived a long, full life, infant brother, Geoffrey Lewis. time with his grandchildren. sional trip to Ho Chunk casino. in chemistry. crossed over on July 7th. The A celebration of Brad’s Life Survivors include his wife: Survivors include his 12 chil- His first job after graduation oldest of four children, he will be held at 6:00 pm on Fri- Karen; two children: Melissa dren Kathleen (John) Czeshin- was as a research chemist for learned to be responsible at an day, July 17, 2020 at Hoover- (Derek) Lorbiecki, of Denver, ski of New Berlin, Joseph of Joseph Schlitz Brewing Com- early age. He took loving care son Funeral Home, 251 Water Colorado and Jason (Ashley) Prairie du Sac, Virginia (Fred) pany. He also worked at Bor- of his mother, Florence (nee St., Sauk City. A visitation Knuth, of Brookfield; four Beuthin of Mazomanie, Jean don Foods before beginning the Bendel), until her passing at will be held from 4:00 pm until grandchildren: Sophia and (Neil) Bauer of Prairie du Sac, favorite chapter of his career: age 93. Born in Madison on the time of service. Due to the Amelia Lorbiecki, Emma and Robert of Waunakee, Mary Ann UW-Madison. Tom was hired March 11th 1934, he gradu- COVID 19 Pandemic, the use Miles Knuth; one brother: (Butch) Kraemer of DeFor- as academic staff to manage ated from East High School of masks and social distancing Richard (Sandi) Knuth, of est, John (Cathy) of Merrimac, Babcock Hall dairy plant, teach, where he played defensive line. He met a lifelong friend, John Bradley R. Lewis, age 61, is encouraged. Reedsburg; one sister: Brenda Rich (Susan) of Prairie du Sac, and do research. For 22 years he Online condolences may (Mike) Kozlowski, of Reeds- Karen Fiene (Doug Brown) of proudly taught the farm short Cloutier, who played for Cen- passed away unexpectedly tral. John described Neil as a be made at hooversonfuneral- burg; his father and mother-in- Prairie du Sac, James (Jenni) of course in dairy processing. By at his residence in the Berry “fierce competitor”. As a young homes.com law: Warren and Martha Trager, Stoughton, Sandra (Joe Long) retirement in 2008 he had ad- Township on July 9, 2020. He man he enlisted in the Navy to of Baraboo; two sisters-in-law: of Blue Mounds and Laura vanced to administration in the was born Jan. 21, 1959 to the see the world, but when it was Mary Knuth, of Madison and (Dean) Waters of Belleville, food science department and late Retired Lt. Col. George T. Durlin L. found out that he was 17, he Sharon (David) Schlieckau, daughter-in-law Bernadette of achieved emeritus status. He and Helen (Robinson) Lewis. Knuth was promptly unenlisted. He He attended and graduated of Loganville; one brother-in- Cross Plains; 24 grandchildren often said it was the best job he had stamina above the ordinary, from Sauk Prairie High School; law: Bruce (JoAnn) Trager, of Brian (Robin), Bradley (Steph- ever had, and he truly valued completing the American Birke- class of 1976. Following high Baraboo; nieces and nephews; anie), Robin, Joseph, Jeremy, and appreciated his clever and beiner, a 34 mile cross country school he attended University other relatives and friends. He Bill (Cindy), Connie (Amir), considerate coworkers. ski race, 12 times. He worked as of Wisconsin Stout; graduating was preceded in death by his JoAnn (Keith), Corey, Stacey, He was an active member a police officer & detective dur- with a Bachelor of Science and parents and his brother: Gerry Emily, Patrick, Shannon, Chris- of St Francis Xavier Catholic ing his long career. He finished Industrial Education. Brad was Knuth. topher, Michael (Jordyn Den- Church, having served on the off his working life as a Court united in marriage to Ruth Ste- There will be an outdoor zer), Lee (Laura), Ross (Sarah), picnic committee and parish Security Officer, for the US ine on June 9, 1984 at the First visitation from 5:00 P.M. to Matthew (Abbey), Melissa council, and was a member of Marshal Service, in the federal Presbyterian Church in Prairie 8:00 P.M.