In Janesville this week, a father shared memories of his son while the woman who struck and killed him with her SUV last year was sentenced to prison. Hundreds of students and their families turned out for the Janesville School Districts P4J Fall Fest at Rockport Park. East Milwaukee Street reopened after a 6-month reconstruction and discussions continued about coming safety upgrades on West Court Street. Heres what made news in The 69蹤獲 this week, and what we expect to write about in coming days.
JANESVILLE Its tax levy season. There were local budget conversations aplenty this week as the Janesville School Board, Milton City Council, Janesville City Council, Rock County Board and Beloit School Board all continued to consider to their 2024 spending plans. Ryan Spoehr, specifically, reported on a proposal by Rock County Administrator Josh Smith to put $500,000 in the countys 2024 budget to help build the Woodmans Sports and Convention Center in Janesville.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Katie Garcia, the father of 9-year-old Nolan Rice, who was struck and killed last year by a motorist as he walked home from school along East Memorial Drive, talked about his son. On Thursday, Brenda Violante, of Janesville, was sentenced to 2 years in prison in connection with Rices death.
Kylie Balk-Yaatenen reported on a Janesville City Council vote to move ahead on design work for safety improvements along West Court Street. That comes as reconstruction wrapped up this week along East Milwaukee Street, and that thoroughfare reopened after a 6-month closure.
Ryan reported on the release of state test score data that showed English and language arts and math scores rose last year on state tests for third and fourth-graders in the Janesville schools, while middle school scores dipped in English and language arts, math and social studies.
Ryan also this week looked into how its fledgling volleyball program is ushering UW-Rock County back into organized collegiate athletics.
Kylie covered a community gathering in Milton to introduce the four candidates there for city administrator and she traveled up to Edgerton for a foraging walk at Silverwood Park, that taught attendees how find plants of nutritional and medicinal value in open and public spaces.
Tom Miller reported on a symposium that examined the past, present and future of economic development initiatives and business activity in downtown Janesville, in a week that Janesville merchants also participated in a region-wide Vintage Hop Shop, reported on by Carly Davis.
Rachel Brands previewed an upcoming fundraiser that will kick off Janesville Little Theaters 95th anniversary and Katie profiled The 69蹤獲s local volunteer of the week, Kim Hesgard, a member of the KANDU Industries board of directors.
The Four Dishes trekked to Elkhorn for Italian food at the Holi Cannoli. 69蹤獲 Editor Karyn Saemann captured photos of the P4J gathering at Rockport Park.
SHINE Technologies in Janesville announced it has raised $70 million from investors, and 3 Rock County residents brought home honors from the World Dairy Expo in Madison.
Finally, in crime and courts news, 3 Janesville men arrested the first week of October now face criminal charges for their involvement in several shooting events in the city. No one was hurt when a motorist backed into a propane tank cage outside the Schuncks grocery store on Creston Park Drive, and Kevin Murphy reported on the sentencing of a Janesville woman to prison for COVID unemployment fraud.
The week to come
This week in sports The 69蹤獲 will follow area volleyball teams as they begin play in the WIAA tournament. Well also cover area football teams as they begin their postseason runs.
In the coming week, Katie plans to tour the Janesville Muslim Dawa Circle to learn more about the different faiths within the community.
And Ryan will take a deeper look at the proposed 2024 Rock County budget and write about this years enrollment numbers in the Beloit School District.