www.gmtoday.com LOCAL Friday, March 2, 2001 The 3A State issues new fish consumption advisory Local sport shop owner says warning probably won't keep people from fishing By LEE COLONY Staff WAUKESHA New advisories warning of mercury-contaminated fish may offer the classic case of good news for some Waukesha County anglers. 3 I The good news is that four local takes on a fish consumption list have been pulled off that The bad news is that the of mercury contaminated fish 'will be expanded to all inland lakes in Wisconsin rather than specific lakes tested for the poison, state officials said Wednesday The new warnings are based on the recommendation of Dr. Henry Anderson, the state's top medical official, and are directed at women of childbearing age, nursing mothers and children under 15. Magee principal receives state nod Hanold named Principal of the Year By SARA BANACH Freeman Staff OF GENESEE As he walks into a kindergarten classroom, he is greeted by almost the entire class surrounding him in a bear hug. He's not a teacher.
He's Magee Elementary School's principal, John Hanold, and his efforts at Magee have earned him the honor of the 2001 Wisconsin Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators. While Hanold's achievements include making Magee one of the first Blue Ribbon schools, his favorite part of being a principal lies outside his office, he said. "The best part of day is when I interact with kids, even when there in trouble," Hanold said. "I like it to be positive. That's the real fun of being a principal." His passion for the students at Magee did not go unnoticed by Kettle Moraine Superintendent Sarah Jerome, who nominated Hanold for the honor.
"One of the things that's outstanding about John is that he's an absolute champion of the students at Magee," Jerome said. Mercury affects the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver, and can affect ability to feel, see, taste and move. In a pregnant woman, it can affect her fetus. State officials recommend limiting consumption to one meal per week of smaller fish like perch, bluegill and crappie and one meal per month of larger fish like walleye, northern pike, bass, sturgeon and carp. Jim Amrhein, a state Department of Natural Resources fish contaminant specialist, said the statewide advisory observes newly set mercury The "do not eat" advisory levels are triggered at a much smaller level of mercury than before, a decline of 0.5 parts per million to 0,05 parts per million of mercury.
"Because all lakes contain mer- cury, the (department) said 1 to issue a more simple, statewide advisory," Amrhein said. Mercury comes from coal-fired power plant emissions, the burning of materials containing mercury and a chol alkali plant in mid-Wisconsin. In the past, state environmental officials have issued more specific warnings against eating mercurycontaminated fish from about 341 lakes and rivers. Those lakes included upper and lower Nemahbin, Pretty and Oconomowoc lakes. Erv Wyrowski, owner of the Sport Shack, S75-W17374 Janesville Road, Muskego, said he was surprised that the report listed all the state's lakes.
"I was surprised that they were talking about inland lakes," Wyrowski said. "Usually they are talking about Lake Michigan." Wyrowski said he doesn't believe the report will keep most people from eating fish. Women of childbearing years, nursing mothers and children under 15 may eat one meal per week of panfish such as bluegill, sunfish, black crappie, white crappie, yellow perch or bullheads in addition to one meal per month of walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white sucker, drum, burbot, sauger, sturgeon, carp, white bass and rock bass. Women beyond their childbearing years and men may eat unlimited amounts of panfish in addition to one meal per week of northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, channel and "I don't think people catch an abundance of fish," Wyrowski said. "The average family may go fishing once a week or two weeks.
That amount of fish would all fit within the (warning) limit." "Amrhein said he hoped the pubtic would take the warning as just MAN Sara Staff Principal John Hanold receives a warm welcome from members of Barbara Jeanne Wagner's kindergarten class at Magee Principal of the Year 2001, names "He's their best and loudest cheerleader." Hanold has served as Magee's principal for more than 12 years, after leaving a job in labor relations. His wife, who worked as a teacher at Dousman Elementary School at the time, was key to his decision to move to education. "I would go and pick my wife up (at Dousman elementary) at the end of the day," Hanold related. "I found myself leaving work earlier and earlier to pick her up so I could see the kids." He began as a teaching principal at Magee and followed the despite statewide decline Special programs key to keeping kids in school WAUKESHA COUNTY Graduation rates strong, By SARA BANACH Freeman Staff WAUKESHA COUNTY All Waukesha County public high schools ranked well above the state average graduation rate for the 1999-2000 year. While statewide the graduation rate dropped from 89.7 percent to 89.3 percent, Waukesha County public schools enjoyed percentages well into the 90s.
Kettle Moraine High School topped the list with a 100 percent graduation rate. Identifying and helping those students who are behind earning credits toward graduation is a crucial element in getting them to graduate, Kettle Moraine High School Co-principal Betty Womack said. "One of the things we do is target students who are deficient in credits at the beginning of their senior year, and we funnel students into the Crossroads alternative school," Womack said. (The alternative school in Waukesha helps students make up credits in' a less distracting environment, she said. Kettle Moraine also offers an alternative program within the school that allows students to complete work for credits in which they are deficient.
Finally, the district allows students the opportunity to participate in graduation ceremonies if they are deficient in one credit. That credit may be made up by a student in the summer. "With those three things, we have had a 100 percent graduation rate," Womack said. Waukesha high schools increased their graduation rate by 2 percentage points between June 1999 and June 2000. The 1999-2000 rate was 3A Fish eating advisory flathead catfish, walleye, white sucker, drum, burbot, sauger, sturgeon, carp, white bass, rock bass and other species.
This advice covers only lakes in which mercury is the predominant contaminant. It will not affect waters in which PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are the predominant contaminant, such as the Great Lakes. Fish caught in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior do not contain mercury at the elevated levels found in inland waters. Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that a warning. "We do not want to scare people from fish consumption," Amrhein Said.
"If most people put their fish consumption in perspective, I think they will realize they won't have to change their eating habits." The bottom line is that Wyrowski said he believes people will continue to fish and eat fish. "I don't think it will keep people from eating fish," Wyrowski said. (Lee Colony can be reached at Supervisors question jail addition options Several board members oppose expansion onto golf courseBy DENNIS A. SHOOK Freeman Staff WAUKESHA The county could be closer today to hiring someone to help them determine how to expand the county jail. But based on the diverse remarks made at Thursday's Waukesha County Public Works Committee meeting, that person may have a tough sell ahead.
The request for proposals for an architect consultant for jail expansion are due in by today. Kimme Associates recommends a total of 668 new cells be in the new facility, or nearly double the current 306 capacity The recommendation said at least onefourth of that total should be developed as segregated cells to house some inmates away from the general prison population. Thursday, seven supervisors who don't sit on the public works committee had things to say about the project. No votes were taken or any consensus reached. Most of the supervisors who had something to say said they oppose expanding the current jail west, across Riverview Avenue and onto the Moor Downs Golf Course.
"Have a heart and start thinking about the seniors and kids" who use the course, said Joe La Porte, who is both a county board supervisor and a city alderman. La Porte suggested the best site for more jail beds might be on the Northview grounds near Crites Field, where the county has its Huber facility. But many of the supervisors speaking were confused as to whether they could even consider such a plan. have any option," Supervisor Carl Seitz said. "The budget says the jail expansion will be located on the campus grounds of the Waukesha County Courthouse.
When we voted for the budget, we gave away our right to different options." Supervisor Kathleen Cummings added that consultant Kimme Associates was given a map of the courthouse grounds when they were hired to recommend a location for a jail expansion. "How hard are you going to look at any other locations if you know the person paying the bill wants it" at the courthouse, Cummings said. "So I question the whole The other option would be to expand to the east, just south of the Administration Center. That option would require purchasing and razing several houses and relocating the residents. But the addition would have to be shoehorned in and would probably not allow for any additional expansion in the future.
Waukesha County Board Chief of Staff Lee Esler recommended the committee try to consider the basic assumptions of the Kimme Associates report and try to develop a consensus for an eventual recommendation. The committee will meet March 15 to try to consider how to proceed. The county's goal is to have a recommendation ready by Sept. 1, so it can be included in Waukesha County Executive Daniel Finley's proposed county budget. (Dennis A.
Shook can be reached at WAUKESHA NORTH HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT WAUKESHA SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL WAUKESHA WEST HIGH SCHOOL CATHOLIC MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL City Of Waukesha 2001 PROJECT GR GRADUATION PROJECT An held at free, chaperoned party each Waukesha high school the night of for all graduating seniors, to. promote an alternate way to celebrate. Sponsored and supported by local businesses and individuals. BE A PART OF THIS GREAT EVENT BY MAKING A DONATION To: Project Graduation P.O. Box 2014 Waukesha, WI 53187-2014 A Special Note To High School Parents! For this event to continue each year, we need the volunteer support of high school parents in the planning of this special graduation night.
-H Elementary School. Hanold, who student contact as his favorite school's growth over the years. Though the school ha's become a leader in technology and 'a pilot school for a piano keyboarding program', Hanold said he likes the school to feel the same as when he first began. "We have about 300-350 students now, but it keeps the same feel as when it had 80," he said. "It felt small and intimate, and that's what we've tried to keep here." Hanold still greets every student'as they come in the morning and as they leave at night, and reading daily announce- GRAD RATES The following are 1999-2000 graduation rates for Waukesha County public school districts with high schools.
Arrowhead 98.73 percent Elmbrook 97.93 percent Hamilton 96.69 percent Kettle Moraine 100 percent Menomonee Falls 98.75 percent Mukwonago 98.56 percent Muskego 99.04 percent New Berlin 98.62 percent Oconomowoc 97.65 percent Palmyra 92.31 percent Pewaukee 98.17 percent' Waukesha 98.75 percent State 89.33 percent Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction LOTTED Thursday, March WISCONSIN Pick 3 5-4-2 Pick 4 2-5-5-3 SuperCash17-19-20-22-32-36 ILLINOIS Pick 3 Midday 3-5-1 Pick 3 Evening 3-9-0 Pick 4 Midday 6-8-1-7 Pick 4 Evening 1-4-9-0 Little Lotto 12-14-19-28-29 7 was named Wisconsin Elementary part of being a principal. ments on closed-circuit TV are his way of connecting with every student every day. Hanold will be honored at a national gathering of principals in Washington, D.C. in the fall. His celebration will not be ignored in the Kettle Moraine district, according to Jerome.
"We're thrilled about this for him," she said. "It's a high honor, and we'll help him celebrate in every way possible." (Sara Banach can be reached at 66 feeling Success good breeds about oneself. At-risk kids don't have hope. They have a tendency to drop out. David Schmidt superintendent 98.75 percent.
Superintendent David Schmidt said a crucial element in increasing their graduation rate was a strong at-risk program, much tike Kettle Moraine. "We have a well-developed set of programs that help kids stay in school," Schmidt said. Waukesha's at-risk programs run the gamut from a special program for school-age parents to those with mental illnesses. He said a big reason for the programs' successes is that "they are places for kids where they feel successful. Success breeds feeling good about oneself.
At-risk kids don't have hope. They have a tendency to drop He added that the district's size eighth largest in the state helps to provide for these programs. While Schmidt said that the atrisk programs are not the only reason for the district's increase in graduates, they do play a significant role in Waukesha's educational philosophy. "We work very hard at keeping kids in school and keeping pro grams for kids that meet their needs," he said. (Sara Banach can be reached at de 1.
