Top Stories October 26th

Ten Dodge County Vets Accepted to Honor Flight

10/26/08 - There will be several Dodge County veterans boarding “Honor Flight” next month. The program allows World War II veterans to fly – for free – to Washington DC to visit the Word War II Memorial. The November 19th excursion was open to all veterans within a 120-mile radius of Milwaukee. Dodge County Veterans Service Officer Mark Grams says the flight will include three veterans from Beaver Dam, five from Watertown and two from Mayville. Fundraising is crucial to getting the operation off the ground. The goal was $100,000 for the entire Milwaukee region and Grams says funds are being raised for a spring 2009 flight.

Veterans Service Office, PO Box 994, Port Washington WI 53074-0994. Checks should be made out to “Stars and Stripes Honor Flight c/o the Flag Day Foundation. Ozaukee County CVSO Ken Brown is acting as the conduit for funds and applications. Or you can call Mark Grams at 386-3798.

Storm Water Backlash

10/26/08 - More than two dozen Wisconsin communities say new state rules on storm water pollution go too far, too soon. A meeting is going to be held next week between community leaders and the Department of Natural Resources. New rules could cost those communities up to 150-million dollars over the next five years. The state says dirt, oil and bacteria -- which runs off local streets -- is the leading cause of water quality problems in the state. Street sweepers will have to go. They just push debris around. Communities say they will have to buy new vacuum sweepers. They cost 175-thousand dollars each. That's just one of the necessary changes, leading cities to say the mandate is impossible to meet. The Beaver Dam Common Council, meanwhile, recently approved the establishment of a storm-water utility and is set to consider the fee residents will pay. The Operation Committee approved a $48.61 annual fee earlier this month. Once approved at the council level, residents will see an increase of $12.15 on their quarterly utility bill starting in March of 2009 to pay for implementation of the new rules.

Deischel Trial Delayed

10/26/08 - The jury trial has been delayed for a 53-year-old former Oakfield man accused of taking advantage of a mentally challenged woman to have sex with her. Steven Deichsel was in Fond du Lac County court Friday morning. Assistant District Attorney Devra Ayala says the lawyer for the Oshkosh man, John Carroll, has been trying to withdraw from the case. Carroll claims there’ve been communications issues with his client and that Deichsel hasn’t paid him. Deichsel is also seeking new counsel. He’s also withdrawn his motion for a speedy trial. As a result the 3-day trial that was supposed to start a week from Monday is now off. Deichsel is suspected of sexually assaulting a 28-year-old woman. He allegedly threatened to turn off the equipment she needed to breathe if she wouldn’t have sex with him. The woman has the mental equivalency of a 12-14-year-old person. Deichsel will be back in court on Friday, November 7th for a motion hearing.

Madison Couple Does the Right Thing

10/26/08 - The economy is bad and money is scarce, but a Madison couple still has done the right thing. They found a thousand dollars in cash while walking down the street last Wednesday. The money was reportedly most 20-dollar bills which were fairly new. The couple in their 50s turned the money in to Madison police the very next day. They have asked to remain anonymous.

Ryan Critical of GOP Campaign

10/26/08 - Congressman Paul Ryan says he thinks the McCain campaign was doing very well -- until recently. Ryan says his party blew it by letting Barack Obama outspend it on television ads. At one time Ryan was rumored to be a potential running mate for McCain. He has supported the McCain-Pain ticket. But, the Republican from Janesville says McCain's message didn't get to the voters. Ryan says he would have done things differently.

Democrats Eye Legislative Control

10/26/08 - It's possible next month's elections could leave the Democratic party in total control of state government for the first time in 22 years. Be careful what you wish for. The struggling economy means the state of Wisconsin will have to deal with a three-billion dollar deficit in its next two-year budget. Tommy Earl was governor in 1986 -- the last time Democrats had total control. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle is a Democrat, and the state Senate has been in Democratic control -- but Republicans have controlled the Assembly since 1994. Bitter splits between the Senate and Assembly last year delayed the budget process by four months.

State GOP Hopping Mad

10/26/08 - The Republican Party of Wisconsin has filed a complaint with the state’s Government Accountability Board claiming the AFL-CIO sent out an illegal mailing attacking 18th State Senate candidate Randy Hopper. The complaint charges the union organization with sending out a mail piece without the proper disclaimer. Hopper supporters also say the piece talks about his voting record, when he’s never held public office. Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says negative campaigns are nothing new. Senator Fitzgerald says unfortunately those type of ads do have an effect. Hopper supporters say the Fond du Lac businessman has been the victim of several mistruths through the AFL-CIO, a King for Senate mailing, and the political interest group Building a Stronger Wisconsin. Hopper is running against bankruptcy attorney Jessica King, a Democrat.

Spanbauer and Mann Vie for 53rd Assembly Seat

10/26/08 - They literally live just down the road from each other and in some ways aren’t too far apart on the issues, but only one candidate for the 53rd State Assembly seat can emerge victorious from the upcoming election. Jeff Mann is an Oshkosh lawyer and a Democrat. He’s new to politics, but understands that constituents in the 53rd feel they haven’t been adequately represented in the past few years. His opponent is Republican Dick Spanbauer, a realtor by trade who also is the Chairman of the Town of Algoma. Spanbauer says diverting funds from one state account or another can’t solve a $3 billion state budget deficit.

Candidates on Community Comment

10/26/08 - We’ll be looking at several local legislative races this week on WBEV’s Community Comment. On Monday we welcome the candidates in the 38th Assembly District where incumbent Republican Joel Kleefisch is facing opposition from Democrat Dick Pas. On Tuesday, we speak with the three candidates vying for the 47th Assembly District seat left vacant by Eugene Hahn: Republican Keith Ripp, Democrat Trish O’Neill and Independent Dennis Hruby. On Wednesday, we sit down with Democrat Aaron Onsrud, who is challenging Republican incumbent Jeff Fitzgerald for his Assembly District seat. On Thursday, we speak with Fitzgerald. We wrap up our coverage on Monday, November 3 with Dodge County Clerk Karen Gibson, who will cover procedures for voter registration and answer other poll-related questions. Community Comment airs weekdays on WBEV 1430AM beginning after our noon news.