Post Messenger Recorder -

May

The Monticello Junior Prom was held on Saturday, April 30, 2016. The Rehmstedt Gym was decorated with a hand-painted castle backdrop in line with the theme of "Once Upon a Time. The court included Marissa Peterson, Jessie Garrison, Brie Graber, Samantha Kammes, Megan Lehr, Brittany Disch, Maddie Holtz, Karlene Walters, Samantha Winters, Rachel Love, Chandler Hanson, Matthew Bartels, Trent Siegenthaler, Tyler Adams, Max Hoffmaster, Kolton Shulka, Trenten Ryan, Bryss Shover, Stephen Bockhop, Zach Price. Prom Queen was Rachel Love and King was Max Hoffmaster.

Monticello students and staff participated in our first annual Community Day of Service. The Community Day of Service started out with a visit from a VIP. Dr. Tony Evers (State Superintendent) stopped by to see all the awesome people and things Monticello has to offer.

Seniors that received $40.00 for attending all four Monticello post proms were Ashley Risley, Kalyn Lackey, Logan Marty, Emily Koch, Emilie Gietzel and Billy Spahr.

The Monticello Chamber of Commerce honored Bob and Marcia Voss at a roast that was held at Edelweiss Chalet Country Club on Sunday, May 15. Friends and family, including their children, along with Richard Smith, Tim Feller, Don Roe, and Bill and Kay Dickson shared thanks, and stories that highlighted the couples contributions to the community.

On Wednesday, May 18th, the Monticello Village Park was filled with families enjoying Monticello Elementary School Art in the Park and Spring Concert. It was a beautiful evening and families brought blankets and chairs to enjoy the music and could walk around the park to see the children's artwork.

Monticello Fire Chief Kevin Komprood presented an award to Roger Babler thanking him for his 50 years of service to the department and to the community. Komprood noted that Babler is invaluable to the department and acts as unofficial historian, webmaster, and has been instrumental in pumper training.

Monticello Spring Fling had nearly perfect weather and many people turned out to enjoy the activities. There were garage sales that began on Thursday, and on Saturday there was music, a car show, craft fair and softball in the park.

June

The Monticello Class of 2016 Graduation Ceremony was held on Saturday, May 28th, in the Rehmstedt Gym. Guest speaker at the ceremony was former middle school teacher, Dr. Amanda Jacobson. Student comments were presented by Logan Marty, who talked about the past; Jennifer Bak, who spoke about the present; and Emily Koch who spoke about the future.

The Monticello Ponies track team had a great showing at Regionals on May 23rd.  Advancing to the Sectional Meet were Max Hoffmaster in the 200, Bryss Shover in the Shot Put, Andy Yaun in the 400, Alyssen Noriega in the 100 and 200, Abby Wicker in the 800, and the 4x200 relay team consisting of Emilie Gietzel, Marissa Peterson, Calissa Briggs, and Alyssen Noriega.

The Monticello Foundation awarded five scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each to Logan Marty, son of Jim and Linda Marty; Kallista Baebler, daughter of John and Kathy Baebler; Ashley Risley, daughter of Paul Risley and Danielle Risley; Emilie Gietzel, daughter of Dave Gietzel and Barb Duerst; and Dez Hanenberger, son of Rick and Dawn Hanenberger. Elmer Lemon, President of The Monticello Foundation, Inc., presented the scholarships to the students.

On Friday, June 3, 2016, Karly Ready, the 2015-2016 Monticello Dairy Queen, relinquished her crown and Erin Lehr was crowned as the 2016-2017 Monticello Dairy Queen.

Monticello's Andy Yaun exceeded expectations at the WIAA Track and Field State Championships, held in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, 2016, at UW-La Crosse. In the finals, Yaun placed fifth, with a final time of 50.97, shaving time off his prelim finish.

This year's MHS Video Game Design class finished the school year with the "Godzilla Challenge" where teams of students were given a set of robotic LEGOs and then challenged to knock down as many "skyscrapers" in the city of "Montopolis" as possible. The winning team was Travis McCoy and Kaleb Shulka, with their robot, Phil.

Monticello High School student Emilie Gietzel was awarded a $1,500 scholarship from America's Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund.  Gietzel plans on studying Dairy Science at Iowa State University.

A photo entered by Erin Goins of Monticello received the most votes in the Monticello Library Barn Photo Contest. Thirty-eight pictures were entered in the Barn Photo Contest, taken by nineteen photographers.  117 votes were cast during the last week of the contest, with voters coming into the library right up to the last minute!  There were many favorites and the most common remark heard was, "I like too many of them, how can I choose just one!" The pictures have all been given to the Green County Historical Society for their use in promoting the Barn Inventory Project.  

July

Zwingli Brotherhood sponsored a free Power Point talk by Chris Pederson of Eau Claire, WI, on July 9th, at Zwingli UCC, Monticello, WI.  The public was encouraged to attend. The title of his presentation was "Schuetzenvereins (Shooting Societies) of Green County."

Longtime Monticello resident and businessman, John Stenbroten, celebrated his 90th birthday on July 12th.

Monticello Homecoming was held July 7 – 10, and was a huge success with activities including a variety show, kids tractor pull, softball, mud volleyball, canoe races, the parade and fireworks.

The Monticello PTO sponsored the 1st Annual 5K/1K Pony Trot during Monticello's Homecoming Days on Saturday, July 9.

Family and friends joined Orson "Junior" Robertson on Sunday at the Veterans Memorial in Monticello, where he was presented with a Quilt of Valor by the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

Four members of the Monticello FCCLA chapters joined more than 8,000 FCCLA student leaders, members, and advisers at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA, July 3-7, to participate in the annual National Leadership Conference (NLC). Participating in the conference were Sarah Blumer, Peter Gustafson, Simon Blohowiak and Claire Klossner, Wisconsin FCCLA State Officer. They were accompanied by Linda Marty, Chapter Adviser.

The 2016 Green County Land Judging Contest was held Thursday, July 14th, at the Becky, Dan, and Ashley Wegmueller farm, southeast of Monroe. Those participating were from Cashton, Lancaster, Monticello, Pecatonica, Potosi, River Ridge, and Janesville Craig. A total of 30 students participated in the contest. The results were as follows: Top Individual was Angela Klinkner of Cashton, second was Sierra Hanley of Cashton, third was Nicholas Gronemus of Cashton, fourth was Trent Siegenthaler of Monticello, and fifth was Anne Runde of Janesville Craig. In team results, Cashton placed first, Monticello second, River Ridge third, Janesville Craig fourth, and Lancaster fifth.

The Monticello Sports Boosters, as well as the Monticello School Board, announced the formation of a community fitness center. The School Board has funded the project for the facility and the Sports Boosters are heading the fundraising efforts to get the equipment for the new fitness center.

August

The Monticello Junior Prom was held on Saturday, April 30, 2016, with the theme of "Once Upon a Time." Queen was Rachel Love and King was Max Hoffmaster.

The Monticello Lions honored their active charter members at their picnic held on August 3rd.  Those honored were Maynard Hefty, Ernest Gempeler, Jim McNeil and Jack Stenbroten.  These members were presented plaques by District Governor Eric Holthaus and Monticello Lions Club President, Dan Roe. The Club was chartered in the fall of 1978 with twenty members.  There are now a total of 47 members and in the past year they have donated over $14,000.00 locally and state wide. Meetings are the third Thursday of every month.

Five students from Monticello High School, accompanied by science teacher Joseph Woolsey, attended the 2016 Wisconsin Rural Summer Science Camp, held at the Morgridge Institute for Research, in Madison. The complete group attending from Monticello on July 25-28 included Kyle Walters, Samantha Winters, Chandler Hansen, Karlene Walters and Holly Bak. The Morgridge Institute for Research, a private, nonprofit biomedical research institute affiliated with UW–Madison, runs the camp with the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance. The camp not only gives students a taste for science and college, but teachers also get to pick up new information alongside their students.