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Windfall of job money challenges local schools PDF Print E-mail
Written by Bill Schanen IV   
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 18:05

Districts searching for ways to use federal funds intended for teacher salaries, benefits

A federal program designed to save teaching jobs is funneling nearly $3 million to Ozaukee County school districts that are scrambling to figure out how to spend the money on wages and benefits in the next two years.

The Port Washington-Saukville School District is a case in point. The district is receiving $692,496 from the federal Education Jobs Fund — the second most of any district in the county and enough to hire nearly 11 full-time teachers — but has not laid off educators recently and is in relatively good financial shape.

“The intent of the law is to keep teachers in the classroom in light of huge layoffs in some districts,” Supt. Michael Weber told the Finance Committee Monday. “Our school district has not laid off teachers, so we need to be creative with the use of these funds.   

“For a lot of districts across the country, this money is a real lifesaver. For our district, it’s an opportunity to enhance education for our students.”

The pitfall for districts is that the Education Jobs Fund is a one-time allocation. Districts that use the money to subsidize or increase fixed costs will have to fund those expenses themselves within two years.

“The challenge is using the money to benefit students without increasing recurring costs,” Weber said. “It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s a nice challenge to have.”

 
Mercedes deal turns out to be costly Internet scam PDF Print E-mail
Written by Bill Schanen IV   
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 17:59

Belgium man who thought he was buying car bilked out of thousands in sophisticated on-line scheme

A Town of Belgium man who thought he was buying a Mercedes Benz through a popular Internet automobile site has been bilked out of thousands of dollars by a sophisticated international scam, authorities said.

The victim thought he was doing everything right when he found the car he was looking for on autotrader.com, according to court documents charging a 24-year-old man who uses the names Arthur Hagen and Arthur Derko, among others, with swindling the Belgium man.

Hagen, who has a Burlington, Wash., address, is believed to be an Australian citizen.

He was charged last week in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with theft by false representation, a felony punishable by 10 years in prison or a $25,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, the Belgium man contacted Hagen, who was posing as a man named Richard Shurtz, to negotiate a deal for the 2005 Mercedes SL 500. The two agreed on a price of $25,000 and, using what he thought was the secure Google Checkout payment Web site, the victim wired the money to a Bank of America account on May 28.

He thought his money would be held in escrow until the car was delivered and he inspected it, but that wasn’t the case. Authorities later learned that the Google Checkout site he used was fake, and that his money was wired to an account opened by Hagen in New York, then quickly transferred to an overseas account, the complaint states.

Hagen opened the Bank of America account in New York using an Australian passport, according to the complaint.   

 
Port celebrates 175 years of history PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kristyn Halbig Ziehm   
Wednesday, 01 September 2010 17:43

Anniversary to be marked with community picnic, boat parade, fireworks

Port Washington’s 175th birthday bash will be an old-fashioned community picnic celebrated in Veterans Memorial Park Sunday, Sept. 5.

The events will run from 2 to 9 p.m. and include old-time competitive games, children’s activities, a 3 p.m. apple-pie baking contest and an auction of picnic baskets filled by area restaurants.

A Venetian night boat parade is planned by the Port Washington Yacht Club, as well as tours of the refurbished marina, with fireworks at dusk ending the day.

Music will be provided by the Dockside Ramblers from 2 to 4 p.m. and the Newtonburg Brass Band, a lighthearted recreation of an early 1900s small-town brass band, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Food and beverages will be sold in the park, and an ice cream social will be held.

A trivia contest is also being held for the anniversary, with the winner to be announced at the celebration. Entries for the contest can be found in a special commemorative anniversary section of this week’s Ozaukee Press.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 September 2010 18:07
 
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