TODAY'S HEADLINES

Source: WRPN-AM

MOTIONS HEARING NEXT IN RIPON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT LAWSUIT
The next step for a lawsuit between a Ripon woman and the Ripon Area School District is a motions hearing. The hearing is scheduled for Friday morning September 11th in Fond du Lac County Circuit Court. In the suit, filed in early July, Diane Cole, named School Superintendent Richard Zimman, Business Manager Rick Ketter, District Legal Counsel Steve Sorenson and the Board of Education in a Petition for Writ of Mandamus. Under the Writ, which is a legal request that a judge order an person or entity to take a specific action, Cole says she is looking for certain documents that she claims were not presented to her on different occasions throughout the past year. These include performance evaluations for Melanie Oppor, the current Director of Curriculum Development, Assessment and Instruction, the job description for that position, and invoices and various documents related to the installation of field turf at Ingalls Field. Earlier this month, Zimman said they have been assured by legal counsel that they have been cooperating with State Law at all times with Miss Cole. The most recent actions involving the suit include a motion from Sorenson to be dismissed from the suit, and the judge granting the district additional time past the legally mandated 45-day time limit to respond to the initial suit. In addition to her previously-mentioned demands, Cole is demanding that the district, including the School Board, be formally reprimanded by the court, she be reimbursed for the cost of filing the writ, including lost wages and mileage, and the district formally apologize to her.

ONE LAST VOTE FOR LABOR CONTRACT WITH MERCURY MARINE
"Hundreds of employees expressed a desire to voice their true feelings and that's something we cannot ignore." Those are the words of Mercury Marine President, Mark Schwabero, in announcing that the union and Mercury Marine have agreed to let union members vote again on a proposed labor contract. Mercury's deadline for union acceptance of the company's best and final proposal was originally set for midnight last Saturday. However, Merc officials say due to questions surrounding the voting process, another vote will be allowed. Union members will be able to vote Thursday and Friday on the same contract proposal that was rejected by the union August 23rd. Union members can vote from 6:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. either day at the Fond du Lac Labor Temple.