12 & 12 to move to new location
JANESVILLE
12 & 12 Drop In Center will move to 402 W. Delavan Drive, Janesville, the site of the defunct Screamin’ MeeMees strip club, and plans to start hosting 12-step meetings there in four to six weeks.
12 & 12 Drop In Center is not an Alcoholics Anonymous group but rents space for the meetings of AA and other 12-step programs helping people stay clean and sober, Michael Shaw, 12 & 12 president, explained Wednesday.
Six to eight such groups currently meet at the old Knights of Columbus Hall, 407 W. Van Buren St., Janesville, which 12 & 12 has been renting, Shaw said.
Former owners Jim and Rebecca Halbach donated the one-story building to 12 & 12 as part of Jim Halbach’s plea agreement to avoid prosecution on felony charges of running a brothel at Screamin’ MeeMees.
He also was fined $1,000 and assessed $358 in court costs as part of the penalty for a guilty plea to a charge of misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Oct 3, 2008 at 9:56 a.m.
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even if the slumloards were publically identified, it won't stop them from allowing the activity to happen... it may subside for a short bit seeing how it would be publically known, but as soon as the publicity starts to minimize, it will go back to the way it was, if not worse than what it was.... it's sad that 12 & 12 is relocating to a building that is within a quarter mile's distance of 5 bars, but if the people can fight their urges, knowing that the temptation is literally just around the corner, then good for them... if not, at least they don't have too far to travel for a drink...
Oct 3, 2008 at 1:28 a.m.
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This is a disappointment. They were an asset in the Fourth Ward, and are probably moving because of the drug houses surrounding the old Knights of Columbus building. A lot has changed, but this is still one of the grungiest corners in the city. The landlords allowing this blatant activity need to be publicly identified.
Oct 2, 2008 at 4:31 p.m.
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It's a good thing to have AA meetings next to bars, or even in them like the old Campbells Bar that used to be on Milton Ave. At least people will know where to go when they decide they've had all the fun they can stand, but just can't stop having it. Sober people in AA don't have a problem being around alcohol, or bars.
Oct 2, 2008 at 3:40 p.m.
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WHAT EVER IT TAKES!
Oct 2, 2008 at 3:31 p.m.
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Wow! Good location for an AA meeting...two bars within a block.
Oct 2, 2008 at 3:28 p.m.
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They're gonna have to get Serv-Pro in there beforehand to de-nasty the place. I'd be willing to bet it's not the cleanest place in town.
Oct 2, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.
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It's great to see something great come from such an eye soar for the community. I have never used any sort of 12-step program, but know many people that have benefited from such programs. Some have succeeded greater than expected! So, I am glad to hear that those that use the programs have a place to meet!
Oct 2, 2008 at 1:18 p.m.
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Thanks Mike for all your doing and have done for me persoally, some people just dont have a clue what a problem it is to recover.
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