FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2007
Whitehall, WISCONSIN: - Trempealeau County Circuit Court Judge Jonn A. Damon announced the appointment of Donald E. Hellrung as Family County Commissioner. The Family Court Commissioner enters temporary orders in family matters regarding issues of custody, placement, child support, maintenance and division of property. He may also hear matters to establish paternity and revise child support.
"I am happy that Attorney Hellrung has agreed to accept this appointment," stated Judge Damon. "Don brings great life experience and ability to this position." he added.
Don Hellrung has been a resident of Trempealeau County since 1980. He joined the Bar in 1989 and has practiced law in the Village of Trempealeau since 1991. He has been a Circuit Court Commissioner since 1993.
He has been very active in his community. He was a past president and member of the Village of Trempealeau Board. He has served as a member of the Trempealeau County Board. He has organized the Village of Trempealeau Good Neighbor Day. He has worked as a counselor for three years at Badger Boys State. He is a decorated Vietnam War veteran.
September 2006
COURT SERVICES NEW APPOINTMENT
Whitehall, WISCONSIN: Trempealeau County Circuit Court Judge John A. Damon announces that he is pleased to report that Jill Clark joins Ann Bechard in the Office of Court Services. The Office of Court Services is responsible for overseeing community work service placement, small claims court mediation, and victim offender conferencing. Jill has been the Trempealeau County Juvenile Court Clerk for the past eight years, which includes overseeing the Teen Court program. She will continue to remain in that position.
One responsibility of the Court Services office is to oversee the community work service program. Community work service is performed for non-profit locations, such as schools, churches, libraries, hospitals, nursing homes, governmental agencies, and civic organizations throughout Trempealeau County. Just recently Adopt A Highway clean-up was added to the list of work sites.
Last year 278 offenders provided more than 6,000 hours of community work service to the citizens of Trempealeau County. One person completed some of his hours of community work service for the Village of Strum by cleaning, sanding, and painting a sign for the Village Civic Center. Tina Nelson, Village of Strum Clerk, commented that this individual did a great job, and the sign project was a positive addition to the community. In another case, a person completed his required community work service by building a bookcase, which was then donated to the Trempealeau County New Horizons office. This offender said, "I was glad to be able to make something useful for a group that really needed it. Even though it was something that I had to do, I like doing something good that was appreciated."
In addition to providing community work service to the county, this program also provides county savings in jail expenses as well. In many cases, the court order provides that jail days are stayed upon the satisfactory completion work service. Last year, 2,080 jail days were saved because of community work service completion, providing substantial savings to Trempealeau County.
Judge Damon added, "We are fortunate to have Jill join this program. We are continually seeking additional community work service sites or projects, so please contact Court Services if you have any community work service suggestions, or if you have any questions about our program". [END]
TREMPEALEAU COUNTY DRUB/OWI COURT TO BEGIN IN JANUARY
WHITEHALL: Trempealeau County Circuit Judge John A. Damon announced that Trempealeau County Drug/OWI Court sessions will begin in January 2006. "our Drug/OWI Court team has completed long hours of planning and training and is looking forward to the commencement of our program," said Judge Damon.
Drug court requires alcohol and drug offenders to comply with strict rules of the court, including tre4atment and other requirements to avoid prison. The goal is to get offenders to overcome their alcohol problems, avoid the revolving door of jail, and improve the safety of our highways. There are over one thousand drug courts around the country which have been proven successful for over the last 15 years.
The Trempealeau County Drug/OWI Court team successfully completed training at the National Drug Court Institute in Phoenix this August. The raining was financed by the Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Trempealeau County Drug/OWI Court team members are Circuit Court Judge John A. Damon, District Attorney Jeri Marsolek, Public Defenders Gerald Fox and Michael McQuillan, Deputy Terry Daffinson, County Board Supervisor Ray Seiler, Unified Board Executive Director Connie Herman, Dr. Paul Spencer, Don Powis, Court Services Director Barbara Nimmer, and Probation/Parole Agent Patrick Bell.
"Trempealeau County expects to start with just a small number of participants, with the expectation for greater participation in subsequent years," explained Judge Damon. Trempealeau County will join La Crosse, Monroe, Pierce and Eau Claire counties with operating drug courts. "We owe a great deal to existing drug courts for showing us how to set up a program of our own," stated Judge Damon.
Trempealeau County Circuit Court Judge John A. Damon has appointed Attorney Ann Bechard as Court Commissioner for Trempealeau County Circuit Court. The powers of a court commissioner include hearing contested small claims court matters, issuing warrants, setting bail and conducting initial appearances. She will join the present commissioners, Attorney Robert Longwell of Galesville, Attorney Frederic J. Berns of Whitehall, Attorney Lora Beseler of Trempealeau, Attorney Donald Hellrung of Trempealeau and LaVerne Michalak of Independence, is serving the Court.