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Milton Courier
Parents seek probe into turnover, leadership in Rock County's foster care system
A group of local foster parents, teachers and Rock County Child Protective Services workers are asking the county board to launch an internal probe into what they call ineffective management and near total employee turnover they say is hampering the county’s foster care system. On Thursday, nine local parents read to the county board letters they and others had written about employee turnover and a shift in operating philosophies the county’s Human Services Department’s leaders have made within the foster care system over the last...
Mercyhealth fires vice president suspected in $3 million fraud with vendor
Mercyhealth has terminated one of its vice presidents, Barb Bortner, after the Janesville-based health care group said it learned Bortner was involved in a $3 million fraudulent invoice and kickback scheme with a vendor. In an internal memo obtained by The Gazette on Monday, Mercyhealth CEO Javon Bea wrote that it is with “great sadness and disappointment” that Mercyhealth Vice President Barb Bortner has been fired. Mercyhealth as of Monday...
Mercyhealth fires vice president suspected in $3 million fraud with vendor
Mercyhealth has terminated one of its vice presidents, Barb Bortner, after the Janesville-based health care group said it learned Bortner was involved in a $3 million fraudulent invoice and kickback scheme with a vendor. In an internal memo obtained by The Gazette on Monday, Mercyhealth CEO Javon Bea wrote that it is with “great sadness and disappointment” that Mercyhealth Vice President Barb Bortner has been fired. Mercyhealth as of Monday...
Parents seek probe into turnover, leadership in Rock County's foster care system
A group of local foster parents, teachers and Rock County Child Protective Services workers are asking the county board to launch an internal probe into what they call ineffective management and near total employee turnover they say is hampering the county’s foster care system. On Thursday, nine local parents read to the county board letters they and others had written about employee turnover and a shift in operating philosophies the county’s Human Services Department’s leaders have made within the foster care system over the last...
Milton residents raising chickens and bees
MILTON Raising backyard chickens and bees has been possible within the city of Milton only for a year now, but a handful of residents have obtained the necessary permits to produce their own eggs and honey. It took a few years to convince the Milton Common Council to allow residential property owners to maintain chicken coops and beehives. The idea lost on a 5-1 vote in 2012 and again failed...
Milton residents raising chickens and bees
MILTON Raising backyard chickens and bees has been possible within the city of Milton only for a year now, but a handful of residents have obtained the necessary permits to produce their own eggs and honey. It took a few years to convince the Milton Common Council to allow residential property owners to maintain chicken coops and beehives. The idea lost on a 5-1 vote in 2012 and again failed...
Milton Police Department changes recruiting process
The Milton Police Department has changed its recruitment process to help widen its hiring pool. Milton Police Chief Scott Marquardt has proposed updating his department’s Academy Attendee pay scale and commitment contracts. Attracting not only more candidates but the right candidates for police officer positions requires a different approach, the chief said. “What we were...
Janesville Perkins restaurant razed, new eatery to be developed on site
JANESVILLE A demolition crew on Aug. 11 tore down the former Perkins restaurant at the center of Janesville’s busy Highways 26/14 retail corridor. Jeff Woodman, who owns the property and an adjacent retail strip mall along Highway 14, said he is holding onto the former Perkins property, which when cleared will be home to a new chain restaurant. ...
How the pandemic could permanently change jails and prisons
Even before COVID-19 began to snake through Wisconsin’s jails and prisons, Chad Billeb saw a storm coming. As chief deputy for the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department, Billeb was already studying ways to reduce the number of inmates in the jail, a challenge that county leaders have been examining for years. As early as 2017, overcrowding was such a central issue that staff and outside experts concluded that the county would need a new $75 million jail. ...
Baseball brothers
As one season ends another begins. That’s true in sports and in life. About this time of year, parents and athletes start thinking about heading back to school. Some going to college are already there and already being missed by family at home in Milton. Milton High School in the 2021 spring season had two varsity baseball pitchers from the same family. Evan Jackson, 18, graduated in June. Broden Jackson,...
Baseball brothers
As one season ends another begins. That’s true in sports and in life. About this time of year, parents and athletes start thinking about heading back to school. Some going to college are already there and already being missed by family at home in Milton. Milton High School in the 2021 spring season had two varsity baseball pitchers from the same family. Evan Jackson, 18, graduated in June. Broden Jackson,...
Wisconsin DNR advises the use of life jackets
The Wisconsin DNR advises boaters to wear a life jacket, saying 16 people have died in the state this year due to boating incidents. The DNR says that people involved in boating incidents often know how to swim, but can be deprived of oxygen after becoming injured or unconscious. The DNR advises wearing a life jacket that fits the boater and is fastened when on or near the water. One life jacket is required for each person in the boat, the DNR said. ...
The 36th Annual Pro Am attracts pros and dollars
BELOIT - The Beloit Club was filled with golfers for the Beloit Health System Foundation’s 36th Annual Pro-Am event on Monday with Mark Wilson, five-time PGA Tour winner. Tami Kellerman, executive director of the Beloit Health System Foundation, said everyone was eager to be back after a scaled-back Pro-Am last year. Many wanted to see Wilson hit the first ball at hole 10. The event also featured foursomes on each team in addition to a regional golf pro on each team. ...
Passion for powerlifting
Milton’s Josiah Richardson, 19, is listed online as a United States Powerlifting Association national record holder. In the Junior Men 18 to 19 Age group and 90kg/198.2-pound weight class, he holds the national record in the Deadlift Only Division with a lift of 636 pounds. That record is from the USPA Drug-Tested Indiana State Championships on Dec. 12, 2020, which qualified him for nationals. He now beat his own record twice. ...
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Milton Courier has been serving the Milton and surrounding communities since 1880. Published Fridays and 24/7 online at miltoncourieronline.com
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