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Monona Citywide Garage Sale set for May 18-19

The Monona Chamber of Commerce said the 20th Annual Monona Citywide Garage Sale will be held May 18-19.

People are encouraged to stop by for two full days of garage sale exploration at individual, neighborhood and organization sites throughout the community. 

The event will be held rain or shine. 

Sale addresses listed at www.monona.com and on the Monona Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

People who want a map of the garage sale sites should call 608-222-8565.

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Green Building Wonder weekend features Miller Park

Green Building Wonder weekend features Miller Park

Treat yourself to an eco-adventure at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center where you can explore the earth from space, immerse yourself inside the eye of a storm, give an on-camera weather forecast and much more! ALNC’s new Wonder Weekends feature guided experiences through ALNC’s new hands-on interactive exhibits and special presentations for all ages.

This month’s theme is Green Buildings, and will include the following highlights:

Cottage Grove Cub Scout troop visits WISC-TV

Cottage Grove Cub Scout troop visits with Chief Meteorologist Gary Cannalte during a tour of the station.

Teen dies in Cottage Grove dirt bike crash

A Cottage Grove teenager has died in a dirt bike crash.

The incident happened at about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday in the 4500 block of Myer Road, near County Road BB and County Highway N.

Cottage Grove Police Chief Chris Hughes said the 15-year-old boy was trying a trick maneuver on the dirt bike, which caused the bike to go airborne. He said the teen lost control of the bike and hit a tree.

The teen was wearing a helmet and protective gear, but he died as Med Flight was taking him to a local hospital.

Grief counselors spent Thursday at Monona Grove High School, where the teen attended classes.

Urban League to sponsor ACT prep program to address achievement gap

In a further effort to address the achievement gap in Madison the Urban League of Greater Madison will run a summer program to prepare low-income students and students of color for ACT college entrance exams. 

The Urban League hopes their ACT College Readiness Academies will address the achievement gap by encouraging students to apply to college. Vice President of Learning for the Urban League, Nichelle Nichols, explained that low-income students and students of color generally have lower ACT scores and turnout than their peers.

Vapors from soil contamination seeping into Monona Grove High School

Soil contamination next to Monona Grove High School is causing vapors to seep inside the building, but state Department of Natural Resources officials said that the vapors pose no hazard to students or staff.

Monona Grove Superintendent Craig Gerlach informed parents about the contamination in a letter written on Sunday. The vapors of tetrachloroethylene, also known as PCE, originated at Klinke Cleaners next to the school.

"Absolutely it's a concern of everyone, especially those who have children," Gerlach said. "The building's safe. If the building was not safe, we would not send children and staff into that building."

After meeting with the school, DNR officials tested the air inside the building. Investigators told Gerlach on Saturday that the results showed that vapors beneath the school have seeped inside the building, but the levels measured don't pose a threat to humans.

Cottage Grove man arrested on 5th OWI

DeForest police said they arrested a Cottage Grove man last month on a charge of fifth-offense operating while intoxicated.

DeForest police said they stopped a vehicle on U.S. Highway 51 near Highway 19 for an equipment violation at 12:11 a.m. on April 8.

Police said the driver, Larry R. Champagne, 36, was believed to be under the influence of intoxicants. Upon completion of field sobriety tests, he was placed under arrest on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, fifth offense, police said.

Champagne was taken for a blood alcohol test and later booked into the Dane County Jail on the felony OWI charge.

Police said Champagne's blood test results recently came back from the crime lab with a reported blood alcohol level of 0.228 percent. The legal limit to drive in Wisconsin is a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent.

Champagne is due in court on May 16.�