News
MONROE COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS IN PRISONFOR REPEATEDLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 3 CHILDREN
George “Wyatt” Conti, age 27, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for
sexually assaulting 3 children repeatedly between 2020 and 2021 at a residence in Tomah. Court
documents show Conti was charged with child sex crimes in July 2022 and that the children were
approximately 4, 9, and 14 years of age when the defendant began assaulting them. Conti
admitted to the most serious felonies lodged against him in December 2024. He faced 105 years
of confinement in prison.
Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Richard Radcliffe sentenced Conti on April 2, 2025.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections recommended Conti be sentenced to a prison term of
13-16 years. Conti, citing his cognitive limitations, asked to be placed on probation. The
prosecutor, Chief Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Sarah Skiles, expressed concern about
protecting the community from Conti, noting Conti said he sexually assaulted the victims at “every
chance” he had and said he knew what he did was wrong but that he would do it again. Skiles
argued Conti should be confined for 20 years. As Judge Radcliffe outlined Conti’s sentence, he
observed offenses involving the sexual assault of children are serious and our community believes
these types of offenders should go to prison; however, Judge Radcliffe concluded Conti had “less
culpability” due to Conti’s intellectual impairments which warranted a lesser prison term.
Conti is expected to be released from prison at the end of 2030. After his release, he will
be supervised by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for 15 years. Conti will be required to
register as a sexual offender for life.
The investigation of this case was conducted by Detective Kirk Bedenbaugh of the Monroe
County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the City of Princeton Police Department and the staff
at Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center. After sentencing, Chief ADA Skiles commented, “It
has been said that the way society treats it’s children reveals a lot about society’s soul. Our office
remains extremely grateful to have law enforcement partners, such as the Sheriff’s Office, who
are dedicated to doing their part in protecting the children in our community from sexual predators
like George Conti.”
2 Arrested In Adams County for Drug Charges
2 Killed in Motorcycle Accident Near Cashton
On April 6, 2025, just after 5:00pm, the Monroe County Communications Center was informed of a crash involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle on State Highway 33 near County Highway X in the Town of Portland.
During the initial investigation, it was determined that a 2015 Harley Davidson was traveling west on State Highway 33 when the operator, a 41 year old Stoddard man, lost control while negotiating a curve. As a result, he was ejected from the motorcycle. The motorcycle and a passenger then collided with an eastbound 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. Both the motorcycle operator and his passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene. There were no injuries to the occupants of the Cruze. The identity of those deceased are not being released at this time pending notification of family.
The crash remains under investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Monroe County Communications Center, Monroe County Medical Examiner, Westby Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Cashton Fire Department, Cashton First Responders, Sparta Ambulance, Tri-State Ambulance and Gundersen Air.
Gov. Evers: Statement on Suing the Trump Administration to Stop Cuts to Wisconsin Museums and Libraries
| UW-Stevens Point natural history museum funding at risk due to cuts by Trump and Musk |
| MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced Wisconsin is joining a lawsuit suing the Trump Administration for cutting funding for libraries and museums in Wisconsin, including the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Stevens Point Olson Museum of Natural History. The cuts are also expected to affect the Wisconsin Veterans Museum and over a dozen librarian positions across the state. The lawsuit Gov. Evers announced today is the latest move to stop President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to undermine constitutional checks and balances by obstructing and cutting programs and funding already approved by the U.S. Congress. Last month, President Trump issued an executive order targeting seven federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which has since cut 85 percent of its staff. The IMLS administers competitive grants to support museums by hiring project-related employees, developing educational programs, and developing new and improving existing exhibits. The UW-Stevens Point’s Olson Museum of Natural History was recently awarded a grant from the IMLS’s Inspire! Grants for Small Museums program, which it intends to use to fund staffing, design, and purchase of improvements to make its collection accessible to visitors with physical limitations and visual impairments. If the museum does not receive disbursements and reimbursements under this grant, 50 percent of the museum’s collection will remain inaccessible to visitors with physical limitations and visual impairments. “President Trump and Elon Musk’s reckless, illegal cuts are hurting folks across our country, including families, libraries, communities, and campuses right here in Wisconsin, gutting programs and services that folks depend on and care about,” said Gov. Evers. “For decades, the Olson Museum of Natural History and others like it across the country have served as critical hubs of education, research, and innovation. But without a second thought, the Trump Administration wants to pull the rug out from under them by obstructing investments that were approved by Congress. “Wisconsinites want constitutional checks and balances in our systems to maintain the balance of power and ensure no one has runaway power to make decisions like this unchecked. These actions are wrongheaded, they’re bad for Wisconsin, and we’re suing to stop them.” |
K9 Alert Leads to Methamphetamine Arrest for Mauston Man
April 2025 Spring Election Results
Mauston School Board
Thomas Morris – 1,552 (Re-Elected to School Board)
Jess Kayhart – 1,465 (Elected to School Board)
Jerome Leak – 1,407 (Elected to School Board)
Betty Bader Kyrka – 1,054
Ken Van Doren – 900
Sandy Delarosa -868
New Lisbon School Referendum
Yes – 849
No – 836
New Lisbon School Board
Thomas Lowe -1,074 (Re-Elected to School Board)
Eileen Bunker -1,070 (Re-Elected to School Board)
Kevin Weinschrott -790 (Re-Elected to School Board)
Cindy McCormack -603
Tomah School Board
Catey Rice – 3,104 (Re-Elected to School Board)
Heidi Hammes -2,624 (Elected to School Board)
Daniel Crego -2,566
James Newlun -2,302
Royall School Board
Nathan Green & Ryan Preuss both elected to Royall School Board (ran unopposed)
Wisconsin Supreme Court
Susan Crawford defeated Brad Schimel
State Superintendent
Dr. Jill Underly defeated Brittany Kinser
Blood Drove Coming to MBMC
You can help someone in need by donating blood. Join the Blood Center of Wisconsin at a two-day blood drive being held at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston on Wednesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 10 from 9 am to 2 pm.
Appointments are strongly encouraged for anyone who would like to donate, but walk-ins will be welcomed.
Donate at this upcoming blood drive and receive a Mt. Olympus day pass valid for up to four people!
Versiti is urgently seeking Type O, A, and B blood donors! As a thank-you for your donation, eligible donors will receive a $15 eGift card.
To reserve your spot, call the Blood Center of Wisconsin at 1-877-232-4376 or visit donate.wisconsin.versiti.org and search for Mile Bluff Medical Center in the mobile drives.
Rich Baumann to entertain at Terrace Heights Retirement Community
Plan to join the tenants of Terrace Heights Retirement Community in Mauston in welcoming back singer and songwriter Rich Baumann on Tuesday, April 8 at 3 pm. His wonderful songs and beautiful piano playing are sure to please the audience.
This event is free and open to the public. However, seating is limited, so call 608-847-2377 to reserve your spot today.
To see more events like this, check out the upcoming events page at milebluff.com.
Mile Bluff Medical Center hosts monthly diabetes discussions
If you are looking for answers and tips on how to live your life to the fullest while managing diabetes, plan to attend this month’s Diabetes Connect. At this informative and engaging discussion, Mile Bluff’s team of experts will be available to cover a variety of key topics, while you’ll also have the opportunity to connect with others and get tips from those on a similar health journey.
This event is free and open to everyone, including individuals with pre-diabetes and diabetes, as well as their loved ones and caregivers. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insight toward living your best, and healthiest, life.
Diabetes Connect will be held on Thursday, April 3 at 1pm at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston.
Registration is not required to attend. A virtual option is also available. Call 1 week in advance for details.
For more information, call 608-847-1848 or visit the upcoming events page at milebluff.com.
