On Thousands aren’t applying for W-2 cash benefits

Posted on January 4 at 9:10 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

I am one of the 14,000 families. I lost my job in Feb 09 and spent 7 months job searching. Was I willing to do 30-40 hours a week to job search...in exchange for some monetary assistance...well? Duh Yeah! I was actively searching anyways! I was told I was not eligible to get w-2 assistance. Sure would have been nice not to spend half the year getting buried in debt. I by no means want to live off the state, but some help would be nice when life kicks you when you are down. Wisconsin works has some good points...but seems outweighed by the poor execution. This program was supposed to help get people off the "system" and keep them off....yet too many of its rules and regulations seem designed to keep the poor....well, poor. Like they want us the remain "needy"?!? What gives? Such as schooling for instance...you cannot receive any positive assistance for wanting to educate yourself to make more than fast food staff. In the past, preWW, you could get help with childcare for schooling....but no longer. :( When receiving assistance of any kind, you are not allowed to keep any savings, as soon as your income might increase...they adjust your food stamps or medical help so that you now have to pay more for those...so that you can't "get ahead" in any financial aspect. When it was actual Welfare...I was able to get off it. Paid my own med benefits through my employer, no foodstamps....life seemed good. Then I had a stumble, lost my job, had a new baby...got stuck having to ask for help again....and now almost a decade later I'm still stuck. Can I go to school to get some retraining or a new trade...not with any help this time around...no.

On Did schools wait too long to call snow day?

Posted on December 11 at 12:24 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

The 5am call woke me...then I reset my alarms and went back to bed. :) I don't have a need to be up that early either, but it really wasn't such a huge inconvenience to answer the phone at that time. I like it much better than struggling for an hour or more in the morning getting kids ready and trying to find news of any announcement. Any earlier, like the others were saying can be a bit extreme and any later would be riduculous. 5am's fine in my book. :)

On No child abuse charge for foster parent

Posted on April 13 at 4:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

I agree with Outspoken, I spanked my grown kids when they were little and by the time they were teens I did not need to spank. They showed me more respect and communication than many of their peers who came from homes that did not spank. If you wait until they are teens to start disciplining...well, it just won't work. But I agree that spanking should not be a first resort ever...other choices should be given to the child to allow them to make the right decision. Spanking should always be accompanied with fair warning and the options given for correct behavior routes.

On None

Posted on April 6 at 6:45 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

His picture is posted, under News/local, then scroll down to the story and his pic is there. here's the link too: copy and paste it into your browsers address window...
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/apr...

On Man gets one year probation for rape

Posted on March 18 at 11:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I am sickened to my core! Unbelievable how failing our judicial system can be. Nice to think that someone could do this to me and just walk away with it, just a petty slap on the hand?!? For crying out loud! he didn't try taking a cookie?!?! He brutally assaulted a woman, violated her physically and emotionally, held her hostage, and I guess it's ok to do that to someone nowadays?!?!? No, he should be locked up. Now that he knows he can get away with it....what do you think he'll do next time to someone else??!!! Unbelievable just unbelievable.

On BadgerCare Plus kicks off Friday

Posted on February 2 at 3:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Oh and this is off topic, but doc...does this need to become a forum for ethnic issues. My point being, "do you all speak the native language of this country?...being that of the natives that were here when your ancestors got here."

On BadgerCare Plus kicks off Friday

Posted on February 2 at 3:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

This sounds like an improvement for sure!! When my older children were little, I was poor and able to get free health care for them...by the time they were young teens I had been through school and was working a nice office job. I was making almost $11 an hour for the first time things were improving, I was no longer on foodstamps...but I had medical from the state taken away with my last raise...therefore I had to pay for insurance through my employer. This was $100 a week for premium out of my check and I had to pay copays and up to 40% of the end bill, depending on what the service provided was! So, I was back to being so poor that I ended up being evicted because I couldn't keep current on the rent and the utilities. So, what I thought was finally a great job....bit me in the end. This program change sounds like it will aide people trying to come up the ladder and make their lives more productive. Not to mention, the people in that just out of poverty bracket up to the middle class, the people who believe they just can't afford to be hit with more medical costs and who will wait it out until their kids are darn near deathly ill before having them seen by a doctor!!???!!! Me, personally, I'll take the hit and let it go to collections...my kids come first! But that's not everyone...too often, I hear that a parent is waiting it out to hopefully avoid the costs...it makes me sad. Preventative and early treatment is great for everyone...cheaper in the long run-yes! Better for the kids and their families-yes!

On Report: 40 homeless found in Rock County

Posted on January 26 at 2:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Geraldine, up until the recent help for homeless men, there has only really been help for women and families...no help for the single homeless male. Places like Echo try to help, but they can only do so much.

I am deeply saddened when I hear that a couple would drag their child into homelessness...I know it happens...but Rock county DOES have places for a family with children to go to. Call Job Center, Echo, Salvation army, etc for referrals to local shelters.

My heart goes out to those without roofs over their heads. Don't be afraid or too prideful to seek help though.

I've been homeless in the past, and even now teeter on the very brink of homelessness. My eldest son has been homeless for the better part of a year or so now...it is not alway easy to fix the problem. I do wish that shelters would be more flexible in their rules as far as times. Most if you are not "in" by a certain time you lose your bed. You are booted out in the morning to wander and find somewhere to hang out until you can come back to sleep. Would be nice if they had a daycenter where the tenants could access the paper, the internet, get help with counseling, finding jobs, a phone to call for jobs, apartments, family and maybe even volunteers to transport them to interviews or to get job applications....that would actually help them to get UnHomeless.

On Janesville residents feel city is adrift when it comes to snow policies

Posted on December 28 at 5:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Ame- I have resided in quite a few upper/lower appts and have found that typically the lower tenant is expected to care for the yard and the snow removal. Many of my past landlords have made sure to include that note on the lease agreement as well. But I would suggest asking your landlord.