Good evening, everyone, for WRCO News.
I'm Todd Copernall.
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the selfless sacrifice of John Klang, a beloved educator, mentor, and leader who dedicated his life to protecting and serving the students and staff of West End School.
On this solemn milestone, the Western community comes together to honor a man whose heroic actions and lifelong commitment left an enduring imprint on all who knew him.
John's connection to Western ran deep.
Having walked its hallways as a student, he later returned to serve his alma mater in numerous capacities over several decades.
For over 20 years, he was an active member of the Weston School Board, advocating passionately for high educational standards and student welfare.
He later stepped into leadership roles as the athletic director and eventually as principal, consistently leading with integrity, compassion and unwavering devotion.
Two decades after his heroic final act, John's spirit remains deeply embedded within the culture of Weston School.
His legacy serves as a constant reminder of courage, leadership, and selflessness.
As community members, former students, and staff gather to reflect on his life, they celebrate not only his ultimate bravery, but also the countless everyday moments of guidance and encouragement he offered to generations of students.
I asked Phil Need to stay with me in the studio for the news today.
Phil was on the air that day 20 years ago.
Phil, what was that day like down here?
Well Todd it was a dark day to say the least and I've been on the air five years earlier when 9-11 happened and this was as bad or worse for us just because we knew John well.
And ironically, at the time of this incident, we were playing an interview with him on the air that Vicky Bedard, who was on our news staff at the time, had recorded just the night before because it was Weston's homecoming.
And so we were playing this interview when he was talking about how great the week was going.
And then this happened.
And of course, we started getting calls to the radio station.
And that was, of course, social media wasn't really such a thing at that point.
So people were really relying us for the information.
And we started getting calls saying that, oh, we heard there was a traffic accident near Western school this morning.
And I started correcting people saying, no, no, there was an incident at the school.
There wasn't a traffic accident only to learn later.
What, you know, what a, the day got even more horrible because Eric Fichtel, who was just eight, uh, age 16 at that time, died in a car accident that morning on his way to school.
And so that and then coupled with, with John Klang.
And then the other thing that was really tough is we were told by authorities to not say the names on the air and we would go into our national news and CBS and they would scoop us and they would, they mentioned right on the air, you know, John Klang, Western principal has been shot, you know, and at that point he was in grave condition or whatever.
We weren't allowed to say that, but the national news was scooping us at that time.
And then they, they brought up, you know, Eric's name as well.
So it was just a,
rough day to be on the air just because we knew those people and it was just a dark day.
Hard to believe it's been 20 years.
I thought the same thing this morning when I realized it had been.
I can't believe that's 20 years ago.
And then when I got here today, you taught me.
I was not living here.
20 years ago, and Phil taught me about the young man who died in a car accident right there, a Western student the same day, if you can believe that.
So the Western community, and then of course the Greater Richland community, two tragedies in one day, the young man passed away, I believe, at a hospital in Madison, and of course John did as well.
And as that news of the shooting, that incident of course spread all over the place, and I got a phone call that day,
from my uncle Danny over in Spring Green telling me that my aunt Shirley Copernall had been John's third grade teacher back in the day over in Western District.
And so these things started to come out.
And I didn't know John, but the stories of who he was and what he was about came out quickly.
And I'm glad they did.
And I think it's the only fitting that we mentioned all of this today.
Such a senseless thing, such a tragic thing.
And just hopefully people will take a minute to think about
about what happened and how we need to never have that again and and how brave people incredibly brave people saved innocent lives that day and john certainly did that
very much so and and how it affects the community when a tragedy happens like this because as you mentioned we're all connected you know and so yeah 20 years have gone by but we remember eric fictal and and john clang today
so you you're telling everyone that at the moment this crazy thing
was taking place over at Weston School.
An interview with John that I think was recorded the day before.
The night before.
Was playing on the air.
That's correct.
And what was he discussing?
He was discussing Weston's homecoming and how well the week was going.
Wow.
Well, Phil, thank you for sharing.
I
wanted the people out there to really hear, you know, more than I knew.
About that day and how that went and I guess we're just everyone at WRCO Asking everyone out there to remember that and to remember John Clang today For what he did and again one more time the students name who died that day Eric Fickle okay to anyone who knew and loved Eric Fickle Same there Imagine that the same day and you lose a kid.
I've been through that and when that happens in your household It changes everything and somehow in that family
it disappeared because it happened on the same day this other thing happened.
So our best from everyone here to everyone who anew or loved either of the men who died that day.
Thanks Phil.
You're welcome.
The US-14 highway project is planning to switch to the final stage of construction next Wednesday, October 7.
Traffic in both the east and westbound lanes will be restricted to the outside lane in each direction as crews work to finish the median in between the east and westbound lanes.
Access through the median will be greatly reduced, meaning left turns into and out of businesses will be difficult.
and completely restricted at some points.
As the weather cools, it takes concrete longer to cure and achieve required strengths, resulting in longer closures.
The intersections of US-14, Bowman Drive and County O will both need to be closed again for excavation and final concrete installation.
Please use the marked detour on County RC to State Highway 80.
Again, the project team thanks you for your support and patience during these final weeks.
The project is still currently on schedule to meet the contracted completion date in November.
The Richland County Ad Hoc Jail Committee will be meeting Tuesday, October 8th at 11.30 a.m.
in the Richland County Boardroom at the Chord House.
Inwards Lens Center, members of the public and interested parties are encouraged to attend to stay informed about critical developments concerning local county infrastructure and public safety facilities.
Key topics scheduled for discussion include reports from the jail inspector, a comprehensive overview of the current jail status, and details regarding a potential new jail referendum structure.
Virtual attendance options and additional meeting documentation are available through the official Richland County Administrator website.
The Richland Hospital and Clinics will join forces with local and regional emergency response agencies Thursday, October 1st to conduct a comprehensive disaster training exercise.
The planned drill aims to test real-time communication, interagency coordination, and incident command operations to evaluate and strengthen local response capabilities.
Throughout the day, community members will notice heightened activity surrounding hospital grounds, including emergency vehicles, response personnel, and volunteer actors participating in realistic simulated scenarios.
Hospital officials emphasize that this is strictly a training event and that patient care services will continue without interruption.
Lyle Cratowill, Risk Management Director for the Richland Hospital and Clinics,
highlighted the importance of routine drills in maintaining community readiness.
He noted that evaluating strengths and addressing areas for improvement in a controlled setting ensures staff and regional partners remain fully prepared for real emergencies.
Following the exercise, participating agencies will complete a full debrief to refine future response strategies.
The Vernon County Sheriff's Office successfully held its annual in-service training on Monday, bringing together department staff and regional partner agencies for a comprehensive day of instruction and professional development.
The training session covered a wide range of critical operational topics, including emerging trends in cryptocurrency, advanced procedures for death investigations, and updates from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Attendees also completed hands-on refresher courses in life-saving measures, specifically the administration of Narcan, automated external defibrillator usage, and EpiPen application.
Additional training sessions are scheduled to take place Wednesday and again October 5th as part of the department's ongoing effort to maintain high standards of community service and readiness.
United States Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin supported the Senate passage of the Bipartisan Protect College Sports Act.
A legislative measure designed to establish standardized national guidelines for student-athlete name, image, and likeness or NIL compensation.
The bill passed the Senate with a 77 to 22 vote and now moves to the House of Representatives.
The legislation aims to bring structure to the rapidly changing collegiate sports landscape.
expanding revenue opportunities for athletic programs while codifying student athlete protections into law.
Senator Baldwin successfully offered a key amendment to the bill to safeguard athletes' legal rights, ensuring they retain the ability to pursue state law claims regarding personal injury, health and safety violations, or sexual assault.
Community members are invited to gather for an informative evening dedicated to the state and future of local public education.
The upcoming event, titled Strong Schools Equal Strong Communities, protecting the promise of our public schools, will feature local public education advocate, Christina Reiser-Janes.
The discussion is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, starting at 6.30 p.m.
in the Phoenix Center banquet room.
During the session, research teams will discuss critical issues facing Wisconsin's education system, beginning with the state's constitutional obligation to fund and operate public schools.
Attendees will gain insight into the factors driving the recent surge of school referenda on ballots across the state, as well as how these measures intersect with broader public school finance structures.
The program will also dive into the financial implications of voucher schools, examining their direct impact on public school budgets and tax bill transparency.
Beyond exploring these challenges, the presentation aims to empower residents by highlighting actionable ways individuals and local communities can advocate for and protect public education in Wisconsin.
Fans of the Beatles are in for an unforgettable evening as the Madison Mystery Tour comes to the City Auditorium in Richland Center Saturday, October 17th.
From 7 p.m.
until 10 p.m.
this dedicated ensemble will perform a vibrant tribute to the iconic music
of the Fab Four, known across Wisconsin for their sold-out shows and remarkable attention to musical detail since 2013.
The band promises a lively journey through Liverpool's most celebrated catalog of classic hits and hidden gems.
Tickets for general admission are available for $25, offering local music lovers a wonderful chance to gather and celebrate a night of timeless music, friendship,
and nostalgia.
State officials have successfully recovered thousands of dollars in back pay for two dozen underage workers following an investigation into child labor violations at a Wisconsin fast food franchise.
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, working alongside the Department of Justice and the Department of Revenue, announced the recovery of $17,000 in penalty wages meant for 23 minor employees.
The wages were secured following a 2024 audit of Iron Arch, an operator of McDonald's franchise locations across the state.
The audit was triggered by an employee complaint and uncovered systemic non-compliance with state employment laws governing minors.
Among the infractions cited were scheduling minors during non-permitted hours, exceeding legal daily limits, and failing to provide required 30-minute rest breaks during shifts lasting six hours or more.
In addition to the back wages, DOJ enforcement led to a judgment against iron arch.
requiring $59,754 in civil forfeitures and surcharges.
DWD Secretary Amy Pechasek highlighted the importance of protecting young workers from exploitation while maintaining their educational and family commitments, praising the interagency collaboration that made the financial recovery possible via state debt collection mechanisms.
With just one week to go, excitement is building for the Sock County Law Enforcement K-9 golf outing.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 3rd, at the Baraboo Country Club, offering community members a wonderful chance to enjoy a day on the course while supporting local law enforcement teams.
Proceeds from the outing directly benefit canine programs throughout Salk County, helping care for and equip the dedicated four-legged partners who work alongside their handlers every day.
Attendees can look forward to a full itinerary featuring a golf tournament, exciting raffles, a 50-50 drawing, and a shared lunch.
The event welcomes non-golfers as well, providing options to join for lunch, participate in raffles, or make direct donations.
Those interested in registering or supporting the cause can find more details and sign up online.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is encouraging state residents to celebrate Food Waste Prevention Week, September 28th through October 4th, by adopting simple habits to reduce waste and save money, according to the DNR's 2020-2021 Statewide Waste Characterization Study.
Wasted food, defined as edible food discarded before consumption or due to spoilage, constitutes the single largest component of trash in Wisconsin landfills.
When including food scraps such as banana peels, Wisconsinites send approximately 854,000 tons of food waste, or 294 pounds per person, to landfills in 2020 alone.
Beyond environmental impacts such as the release of powerful methane gas as organic material decomposes in landfills, food waste carries a significant financial burden.
A recent Environmental Protection Agency report estimates that food waste costs each American consumer roughly $728 annually with residential trash accounting for 30% of overall food waste.
Kate Strom-Huerns, Director of the DNR's Waste and Materials Management Program, emphasized that food waste prevention offers a major opportunity for residents to make a positive environmental impact while simultaneously cutting grocery costs.
Proper storage techniques extend the life of groceries and reduce frequent trips to the store.
Resources such as Save the Food's Storyt Guide and the Natural Resources Defense Council's The Refrigerator Demystified provide actionable guidance on organizing refrigerators and optimizing food freshness.
Finally, households looking to establish better habits can utilize the EPA's Get Smart, Take the Challenge, Tracking Tools to establish a baseline for their waste set manageable goals.
and track progress over time.
There are two new winners to announce in the St.
Anthony's Raffle.
These are $50 winners.
Today's winners on Ticket 57, Genevieve Gilbert from Hillsboro and Ticket 302, Pat Farber.
Congratulations to both winners.
Vital statistics right after this.