Evansville Observer

2009-06-07T21:27:00.001-05:00

Video: Welcome to Observer.

Download File

School Beat; Evansville School to sell home on August 4th

2008-07-23T13:20:00.000-05:00

Click on the post for the agenda.

Video: Public Works: City Engineer describes plan for Southgate Pond

2008-07-23T11:49:00.002-05:00

Evansville City Engineer Dave Sauer describes plan for Southgate Pond

Download File

Public Works: 7-22-2008: Citizen requests fence around pond at 6th and Vision: Cites health and safety hazard

2008-07-23T10:22:00.001-05:00

Citizens requests fence around pond at 6th and Vision to protect children; cites health hazard

Download File

Video; Public Works: 7-22-2008: Lake Leota: Why do we need a referendum? Mason responds

2008-07-23T09:30:00.001-05:00

Public Works: 7-22-2008: Lake Leota: Mr. W asks Why do we need a referendum? Mason Braunschweig answers.

Download File

CapTimes; Wisconsin Ranks High on Booze---Low on Workforce Development

2008-07-23T09:25:00.001-05:00

Click on the post for the article in the Capital Times.

Public Works: 7-22-2008: Prospective Timeline for Referendum on Lake Leota

2008-07-23T08:44:00.001-05:00

City Administrator Dan Wietecha discusses the prospective timeline for any referendum on Lake Leota

Download File

College Corner: The New Look

2008-07-23T08:15:00.004-05:00

Doubleclick picture for largest version.

College "move in" day comes early in our home. Our musician leaves in two weeks for "spat camp" or marching band "basic training." Move in day looks different for the musicians than it does for the regular college student. One student described it to me as follows: "My mom drove up to the dorm on her way to work and let me off. Six trombone players unloaded the car in seconds and took my stuff up to my room. It was great."

Yes. That is the legend of the brass section. We are expecting to see those six brass players in just two weeks when "spat camp" begins. What has begun already, and what is very unlike my days at the U of M is the emails, the facebook, the communications from current students in the band to the new freshman---buying and selling shoes, chat about what to look forward to. As the Observer I am on only a need to know basis.

I hope to have some snazzy film of the first home game of Minnesota in September when the new freshmen get to show their stuff with the first string marching band. Stay tuned. Even John Phillip Sousa would have been excited about the upcoming season. And the football? Not clear. The bands will be great however.

Convention Corner: St. Paul: September: Planning for Peaceful Demonstrations?

2008-07-23T07:56:00.002-05:00

Click on the post for the latest. The Observer plans on some coverage of these events---not the ones inside, but outside. Streetview. Everyday citizens and their concerns. Stay tuned.

2008-07-22T21:23:00.000-05:00

Public Works: Communications from City Engineer:
Main Street Bridge--Public Open house July 10 Report

CMAR Report----(Re sewage plant quality report)

Plans for Southgate pond (Vision and 6th)

MP3 File

2008-07-22T21:14:00.000-05:00

City Engineer review and updates: Main Street Progress,County trunk M, Capstone Ridge, Westfield Meadows and Madison Street Progress.

MP3 File

2008-07-22T20:45:00.000-05:00

Discussion of timeline for possible action regarding the future of Lake Leota--referendum, etc.

MP3 File

2008-07-22T20:37:00.000-05:00

City of Engineer Dave Sauer discusses Plans for Greenway re-grading on Sixth Street

MP3 File

Public Works: Tidbit: On Streetsweepers

2008-07-22T20:04:00.002-05:00

The purpose of streetsweepers is not to make streets beautiful. The purpose of streetsweepers is to prevent dirt from going down stormwater drains and clogging them and thus making the stormwater system ineffective.

While it is true that there are regular taxable code accounting classifications for streetsweepers in uniform accounting systems, is is very commonplace for this to be classified and paid for in stormwater utility budgets paid for by a separate stormwater utility. This is the way the City of Evansville is handling this and it is normal.

After some comments recently on the streetsweeper for Evansville, I did some checking and was surprised to learn these facts. Enjoy.

Dateline Minn: Vikings dream of new stadium: Will it be Open Air?

2008-07-22T09:44:00.002-05:00

Click on the post for the latest from the Mpls. Star.

WSJ: Midwest Air cuts flights out of Madison

2008-07-21T16:36:00.001-05:00

Click on the post for the latest fromt he WSJ.

Agenda: Public Works: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6PM---Lake Leota, Stormwater Utility on the Agenda

2008-07-21T16:24:00.001-05:00

NOTICE
The regular meeting of the Public Works Committee for the City of Evansville will be held on the date and time stated below at Public Works Garage, 535 South Madison Street, Evansville, Wisconsin. Notice is further given that members of the City Council might be in attendance.
Public Works Committee
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Public Works Shop, 535 South Madison Street, Evansville, WI
AGENDA
1 Call the meeting to order

2 Roll Call

3 Motion to Approve Agenda

4 Motion to Approve minutes of the following meeting; June 24th, 2008.

5 Citizen appearances

6 Lake Leota –

A Discussion and possible action(s) regarding the future of Lake Leota

7 Site Plan Reviews

8 Construction Updates
A Main Street Progress Report
B County Trunk Highway M Progress Report
C Capstone Ridge Phase 2 Progress Report
D Westfield Meadows Progress Report
E Madison Street (TH 59) Progress Report

9 Communications from City Engineer –
A Main Street Bridge – public open house July 10 Report
B J Lindemann and Highway 14 roundabout update
C CMAR Report
D Plans for Southgate pond (Vision & 6th)
E Plans for Greenway re-grading
F WWTP Facility plans

10 Communications of Public Works Director –
A Discussion and possible motion regarding the procedure currently used to notify property owners when lawns are not in compliance with local ordinances
B Discussion in regards to issue at 17-19 South 1st St. (Ken Nelson email)

C Public Works Budget

D Storm Water Utility Budget

11 New Business

12 Old Business
A West side water issue (to remain on agenda indefinitely)
B Community Rating System (CRS) – site visit July 10 - REPORT

13 Parks and Recreation Report

14 Adjourn

Mason Braunschweig, Chair, Public Works Committee
Please turn off all cell phones while the meeting is in session. Thank you!

Mailbag; Evansville Youth Center: Tracy Schroeder writes:

2008-07-21T14:27:00.000-05:00

HI!

It is with deep regret to inform you that I have given my resignation at the
youth center and will be leaving soon. It will be very hard for me to leave,
but my children will be attending public school in the fall and I wish to be
home with them after school. Since, that directly interferes with the youth
center hours I was forced to make a decision. Ultimately, my family won :o) I
will be facing some new challenges!!
I will be working with the YMCA to make a smooth transition and hiring a new
director. I will be actively involved in ensuring the continuing quality of the
program and services for the kids!!
I will miss everyone here and I thank you for all your support over the 6+ years
that I've been here.

Thank you!!
Tracy Schroeder
Evansville Youth Center Director
YMCA of Northern Rock County

LaCrosse Tribune: Wisconsin Unemployment Funds faces Insolvency--Needs loan from feds.

2008-07-21T10:37:00.002-05:00

A symptom of the very thin safety net in the current situation. Click on the post for the article in the Lacrose Tribune.

Free Concerts at Monona Terrace: Thursday-----Queenie and the Blue Cats--Blues---Electric

2008-07-21T10:33:00.001-05:00

QUEENIE AND THE BLUE CATS
BLUES - ELECTRIC

Menu Specials:
Santa Fe Turkey Wraps
Avocado & Cucumber Wraps
Garlic Pita Chips w/ Roasted Eggplant Dip & Hummus

In case of inclement weather this concert will be moved inside.
Please call 608.261.4000 after 2 p.m. for concert location.

MONONA TERRACE COMMUNITY AND CONVENTION CENTER
ONE JOHN NOLEN DRIVE l MADISON, WI 53703

VISIT COMMUNITYEVENTS.MONONATERRACE.COM

Madison: Cap Times; UW Madison is the place for immersion in South Asian Languages

2008-07-21T10:18:00.002-05:00

Interested in lanuage immersion? A South Asian language? Madison is the place. Click on the post for an article in the Capital Times.

Gazette; Milton, Janesville, Whitewater move to study transportation links

2008-07-21T10:13:00.001-05:00

Click on the post for the latest from the Gazette.

T Boon Pickings Speaks on Energy:

2008-07-18T20:54:00.001-05:00

T. Boon Pickens, the oil man, the speculator, speaks on how to get America out of the energy mess it is in. Click on the post for his website.

School Beat: Levi Leonard: July 2008

2008-07-18T11:21:00.002-05:00

(Ed.note: This report is from the school web site. It has been posted unedited. )

Levi Leonard Elementary School
School Board Report
July 14, 2008
BOARD THEME/CURRICULUM TOPIC: End of year goals report

1. Student referrals to the office for behavioral reasons will decrease by 10% in comparison to the
2006-7 school year.
This goal was met. We achieved an 18% improvement in the referral rate. This can be credited to our
school-wide character education program, increased awareness on the part of teachers and support
staff, and implementation of morning meetings in all classrooms. Students are well aware when I talk
with them of the steps to take in a problematic situation. They often use the language Mrs. Brink and
their teachers use in connection with our character education program. Students also seem proud to
have their picture in the entryway and their certificates for their week in the True Blue Character Club.
While I am pleased that we have had a decrease in referrals and the amount of hitting, fighting and
physical issues, I am concerned that there has been an increase in teasing and some bullying
behaviors. Since most instances occur in the lunch room and on the playground, we will address this
area next school year with more consistent expectations and consequences.

2. 80% of second graders will reach their MAP growth goals.

This goal was not met, and may have been too lofty in nature. In reading, 59.7% of our students met
their growth targets. In math, 66.2% met their growth targets, and in language arts, 51.5% met their
growth targets. Overall, The Spring means and medians in RIT score (the reporting method for this
assessment) are above or near the national scores:

Evansville 2nd Grade National
mean/median mean/median
Math 194.9/196 190.6/191
Reading 187.6/190 188.2/190
Language Arts 192/192 191.4/193

We will consider how our instruction can improve in language arts in particular. There will be some
restructuring of our resource room and the time our resource teachers spend with students since we
need to consider how Response to Intervention (RtI) can be implemented in 2009-10. This, as well

School Beat; Evansville Schools outlines strategy for attendence

2008-07-18T11:16:00.002-05:00

(Ed.note; This is a portion of the recent School Reports of the Evansville School District.)

Planning for Student Success

When you do well, it is often harder to show progress. On the surface, our school attendance rates look
good. We will discuss later in the agenda, what we find when we dig below that surface. In the majority
of cases, if students have poor attendance, their learning suffers and often their attendance rates get worse
as they try to avoid situations where they feel unsuccessful. The table included in your packet shows how
attendance rates drop off sharply at middle and high school. A portion of this change is simply tied to how
absences are counted in the system. A middle school student absent for 4 or more of 9 periods is
considered absent for the whole day and a high school student is counted absent for the whole day if they
miss more than 2 periods. We are preparing a spreadsheet that focuses on students with 15 or more
absences last year, their WKCE and MAP scores, qualification for free or reduced lunch, and special
education status. We will look at these results as a K-12 team to identify families where more than one
student appears on the list. We will identify students and families we want to intervene with proactively
with this year, not simply wait for the numbers in the attendance policy to kick in. We will plan a series of
interventions, school/ student/family conferences and resources we can bring together to help these
students and, in some cases, whole families increase the likelihood for success in school and preparation
for the world they enter after high school.