Citizen’s Group to Fight Possible Closings
2/11/09 - A Fox Lake area citizen’s group is in the process of obtaining money to pursue legal assistance in their fight to keep Fox Lake and Alto Elementary open. The Fox Lake Redevelopment Authority approved funds in the amount of $5,000 last night to aid them in seeking legal options if the Waupun School District’s main referendum question were to fail in next week’s primary election. According to Kim Derleth, the money will go to securing an attorney that may be able to help the group decipher other options if it comes to the point where the schools are closed. Derleth says the money from the Redevelopment Authority joins funds already approved by the Town of Fox Lake and they hope other municipalities will contribute as well.
Waupun District Administrator Randy Refsland cautioned residents saying no decision will be made on the possible closing of any schools until nearly a month after the referendum. However, he says he’s surprised by the groups move as he doesn’t feel the district has done anything illegal or wrong in putting the referendum to the people. He said he would be extremely surprised if a judge would place any type of injunction on the board’s final decision, whatever it may be.
The reason for the referendum is the looming $1-million-dollar deficit the district is facing for the 2009-2010 school year, as well as larger deficits in the coming years. Next Tuesday’s primary will ask voters in the district three referenda questions, the most expensive being one that would allow the district to exceed the revenue cap by a total of nearly $5-million over three years to allow the district to continue operating a number of buildings as they currently do. If the main question of the referendum were not to pass Refsland has said his recommendation will be to close Fox Lake and Alto Elementary. However, Refsland has also noted repeatedly the decision to act on that recomendation is completely up to the school board.
Student Forced to Pay for Bomb Threat
2/11/09 - A student who made a bomb threat at his high school failed today to get out of paying almost 16-thousand dollars for what he did. The Second District Appeals Court said it was okay for the Markesan School District to charge Derick Vanbeek for the salaries of teachers and employees during four hours of lost class time. Vanbeek pleaded no contest to leaving a note which contained a bomb threat at Markesan High School in November of 2006. School officials evacuated the building and moved students to other locations that day. A judge told Vanbeek to spend 30 days in jail and three years on probation – and to pay 15-thousand-800 dollars to cover the staff’s expenses for the lost school time. Vanbeek argued that the district was not a victim of his crime because the bomb threat was false, and there was no property damage. But the judges refused to buy that, in the first appellate decision of its kind in Wisconsin. The court said the school’s staff members were entitled to restitution for their lost productivity.
Brett Favre Retires…Again
2/11/09 - Where have we heard this before? Brett Favre e-mailed E-S-P-N this morning to say he’s retiring. The 39-year-old quarterback told reporter Ed Werder that he instructed his agent, Bus Cook, to tell the New York Jets about his plans. Favre also said he had no regrets about finishing his career in the Big Apple, instead of with the Packers – where he won a Super Bowl and three M-V-P awards. Favre staged a tearful retirement news conference last March after 16 seasons in Green Bay. But he un-retired last August, when he publicly accused Packers’ G-M Ted Thompson of wanting him gone. Thompson said he gave Favre one last chance to come back and he turned it down – so Thompson moved on, naming Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. And when Favre tried to return to Packer training camp, the team traded him to the Jets for a conditional draft choice.
Favre was the toast-of-the-town in New York for awhile – until the Jets lost their final five games and missed the playoffs. That got coach Eric Mangini fired. Today, Favre went out of his way to praise Mangini and Jets ownership. And Favre praised teammates Thomas Jones and Kerry Rhodes by name – after both publicly criticized him following the Jets’ late-season collapse. E-S-P-N also said Favre’s agent informally talked with the Jets about simply releasing him – and the Jets, quote, “respectfully declined.” It would have let Favre sign with a team like Minnesota, one of Green Bay’s biggest rivals. Favre reportedly wanted to follow his ex-teammates Ryan Longwell, Robert Ferguson, and Darren Sharper to the Vikings a year ago. Thompson fought that off. E-S-P-N said Favre told them in late December he would probably retire instead of trying to recover from an injured shoulder. He also said he would not stage another retirement news conference – saying he would just thank the Jets and quote, “quietly step away.”
2/11/09 - A Fox Lake area citizen’s group is in the process of obtaining money to pursue legal assistance in their fight to keep Fox Lake and Alto Elementary open. The Fox Lake Redevelopment Authority approved funds in the amount of $5,000 last night to aid them in seeking legal options if the Waupun School District’s main referendum question were to fail in next week’s primary election. According to Kim Derleth, the money will go to securing an attorney that may be able to help the group decipher other options if it comes to the point where the schools are closed. Derleth says the money from the Redevelopment Authority joins funds already approved by the Town of Fox Lake and they hope other municipalities will contribute as well.
Waupun District Administrator Randy Refsland cautioned residents saying no decision will be made on the possible closing of any schools until nearly a month after the referendum. However, he says he’s surprised by the groups move as he doesn’t feel the district has done anything illegal or wrong in putting the referendum to the people. He said he would be extremely surprised if a judge would place any type of injunction on the board’s final decision, whatever it may be.
The reason for the referendum is the looming $1-million-dollar deficit the district is facing for the 2009-2010 school year, as well as larger deficits in the coming years. Next Tuesday’s primary will ask voters in the district three referenda questions, the most expensive being one that would allow the district to exceed the revenue cap by a total of nearly $5-million over three years to allow the district to continue operating a number of buildings as they currently do. If the main question of the referendum were not to pass Refsland has said his recommendation will be to close Fox Lake and Alto Elementary. However, Refsland has also noted repeatedly the decision to act on that recomendation is completely up to the school board.
Student Forced to Pay for Bomb Threat
2/11/09 - A student who made a bomb threat at his high school failed today to get out of paying almost 16-thousand dollars for what he did. The Second District Appeals Court said it was okay for the Markesan School District to charge Derick Vanbeek for the salaries of teachers and employees during four hours of lost class time. Vanbeek pleaded no contest to leaving a note which contained a bomb threat at Markesan High School in November of 2006. School officials evacuated the building and moved students to other locations that day. A judge told Vanbeek to spend 30 days in jail and three years on probation – and to pay 15-thousand-800 dollars to cover the staff’s expenses for the lost school time. Vanbeek argued that the district was not a victim of his crime because the bomb threat was false, and there was no property damage. But the judges refused to buy that, in the first appellate decision of its kind in Wisconsin. The court said the school’s staff members were entitled to restitution for their lost productivity.
Brett Favre Retires…Again
2/11/09 - Where have we heard this before? Brett Favre e-mailed E-S-P-N this morning to say he’s retiring. The 39-year-old quarterback told reporter Ed Werder that he instructed his agent, Bus Cook, to tell the New York Jets about his plans. Favre also said he had no regrets about finishing his career in the Big Apple, instead of with the Packers – where he won a Super Bowl and three M-V-P awards. Favre staged a tearful retirement news conference last March after 16 seasons in Green Bay. But he un-retired last August, when he publicly accused Packers’ G-M Ted Thompson of wanting him gone. Thompson said he gave Favre one last chance to come back and he turned it down – so Thompson moved on, naming Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. And when Favre tried to return to Packer training camp, the team traded him to the Jets for a conditional draft choice.
Favre was the toast-of-the-town in New York for awhile – until the Jets lost their final five games and missed the playoffs. That got coach Eric Mangini fired. Today, Favre went out of his way to praise Mangini and Jets ownership. And Favre praised teammates Thomas Jones and Kerry Rhodes by name – after both publicly criticized him following the Jets’ late-season collapse. E-S-P-N also said Favre’s agent informally talked with the Jets about simply releasing him – and the Jets, quote, “respectfully declined.” It would have let Favre sign with a team like Minnesota, one of Green Bay’s biggest rivals. Favre reportedly wanted to follow his ex-teammates Ryan Longwell, Robert Ferguson, and Darren Sharper to the Vikings a year ago. Thompson fought that off. E-S-P-N said Favre told them in late December he would probably retire instead of trying to recover from an injured shoulder. He also said he would not stage another retirement news conference – saying he would just thank the Jets and quote, “quietly step away.”
Peaceful Protest at Dodge County Board Meeting
2/11/09 - It was standing room only at the Dodge County Board of Supervisors meeting last night as more than 30 people showed up to show their support for keeping prayer as part of the board’s agenda every other month. Gathering on the sidewalk across from the Administration Building in Juneau before the meeting, a number of people displayed signs stating their position on the issue. The phrases on the signs ranged from “we support prayer” to “we need prayer not fuller”. The issue of prayer at county meetings arose last week after it was made public that Supervisor Dean Fuller filed a complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation stating the county had allowed prayers at the beginning of meetings that mentioned Jesus Christ and Christianity, which they claim are unconstitutional. The next step in this process remains to be seen, but Board Chairman Russ Kottke says the county is talking with a number of religious groups in an attempt to learn their options in keeping prayer as part of the meetings.
Supervisors Approve Fund Transfer
2/11/09 - The Dodge County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution last night that allows a fund transfer of about $1.3-million-dollars to cover snow and ice removal costs from 2008. The Highway Department had budgeted around $1.1-million for 2008 but the actual cost of the cleanup was more than $2.4-million dollars. The reason stated by Dodge County Highway Commissioner Brian Field for the increase was the record snowfall during the year.
Fire in Fox Lake
2/11/09 - Highway 33 in Fox Lake was closed for several hours yesterday afternoon as firefighters battled a hay fire on the back of a flatbed truck. The incident began around 11:30am just west of the BP gas station. Chief Bill Frank says it was a real mess with smoking hay spread all over the roadway and high winds adding to the problem. Frank says the hay ignited as the result of equipment malfunction, stemming from either a bearing on the rear wheel or the rear brake lines. The flatbed trailer was destroyed but the driver of the truck – which is owned by Jeff Lewke -- was able to detach the rig quickly enough to avoid further damage. There were no injuries. The road was closed down for around three hours. Fox Lake received mutual assistance from Randolph.
Bond Set in Fond du Lac Murder
2/11/09 - A half-million-dollar cash bond was set yesterday for a man charged with killing a night-club dancer in Fond du Lac in 1976. 53-year-old Thomas Niesen of Ashwaubenon is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of 19-year-old Kathleen Leichtman. Niesen remained in the Fond du Lac County Jail, while he and his lawyer appeared in court on a video hook-up. Circuit Judge Peter Grimm is scheduled to decide March sixth if there’s enough evidence to order a trial. Prosecutors suggested the high bond, saying Niesen tried to flee to Colorado after he was arrested for child abuse in Brown County in 2007. He had to give the state a D-N-A sample after being convicted in that case. And officials said it matched the D-N-A found at the scene of Leichtman’s murder. She had just moved from Milwaukee to work as a dancer. Authorities said her body was found along a road-side the morning after her first night on the job. She was stabbed numerous times, and her throat was slit.
Columbus Council Moving Toward Udey Dam Repair
2/11/09 - The Columbus Council moved toward repair of the Udey Dam at last night’s meeting by denying introduction of a resolution to remove the Dam. Columbus Council members were presented with 13 estimates from engineering firms received by the City since the Udey Dam gates were opened in 2004. The project is unlikely to get underway before 2011. By then final costs for repair are likely to be well over $600 thousand dollars. Council President Ed Parpart said the resolution to repair the Dam “would not add one single job to the City and would affect the tax rate for the next 15 years.”
Juneau over Budget in ’08
2/11/09 - The city of Juneau went $97,000 over budget last year. The Common Council approved a 2008 budget amendment last night. Clerk Treasurer Dennis Sheldon says a big portion of the overage could be attributed to the purchase of a new ambulance. The council last night also approved one-year terms for EMS officers. Sue Ludtke will serve as coordinator through January of 2010. She had previously served as Assistant Coordinator but was named Interim Coordinator following the resignation of James Burke in September. Burke was the second coordinator in two years to resign; he had replaced Jim Ronge. Also last night, Dan Zank was named to a three-year term as Fire Department Captain.
Lomira Man Facing Homicide Charges
2/11/09 - A 34-year-old Lomira man now faces two felony charges for allegedly driving under the influence and causing an accident that killed a 25-year-old Kewaskum man last November. Jason Jacobs is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and a similar charge for driving under the influence of cocaine. Jacobs allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign on Orchard Valley Road in his SUV and hit another car that was on Washington County Highway H last November 14th. Timothy McKee of Kewaskum was driving the other car. He died at the scene. Jacobs has a hearing scheduled in Washington County court today.
House-Senate Conference to Compromise on Stimulus
2/11/09 - It’s now up to a House-Senate conference committee to come up with a final version of the federal economic stimulus package. That’s after the Senate voted 61-to-37 yesterday to pass a smaller series of measures than what the House approved. Wausau House Democrat David Obey will be one of 10 negotiators to draft the final package. He says the two houses have quote, “substantial, but I hope not over-powering differences.” Obey – who chairs the House Appropriations Committee – said the fine points can be debated forever, but it’s more important that Congress act now. Earlier yesterday, Governor Jim Doyle said the Senate package would give Wisconsin 600-million-dollars less than the House version – mainly by cutting out money for school buildings and aid to states. And Doyle said public jobs would be lost if the Senate package were to hold up. But Wisconsin senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold voted yes anyway. Feingold said the stimulus plan is not perfect, but it would create or save millions of jobs while addressing the nation’s energy and infra-structure needs. Kohl said it offers quote, “solutions that are equal to our time.” In short, the Senate package offers less relief for governments than the House version, and more relief for individuals.
Minimum Wage on Its Way Up
2/11/09 - Wisconsin’s minimum wage would go up by 17-percent now – and it would automatically rise each year for inflation – under a bill the state Senate passed yesterday. All 18 Democrats voted yes, and 14 Republicans voted no, to raising the wage from 6.50-an-hour to 7.60. Officials said it would give an instant raise to about 225-thousand employees – assuming their jobs don’t get cut, which is what Republicans say would happen in at least some cases. The G-O-P also tried but failed to drop the automatic increases for inflation. The G-O-P also tried but failed to drop the automatic increases for inflation. Jim Pugh of the Wisconsin Manufacturers-and-Commerce group says raises should be tried to productivity. But Democratic Majority Leader Russ Decker said the automatic increases are vital because politicians don’t touch the issue for years while quote, “the rich are getting richer, and the rest of us are stuck with what’s left behind.”
“Don’t Be Like Mike Night”
2/11/09 - The Milwaukee Admirals’ hockey team has a rather interesting promotion for its home game against Rockford a week from Thursday night. It’s called “Don’t Be Like Mike Night.” It’s named after Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps. He was photographed last fall breathing from a large marijuana pipe at a college party – and U-S-A Swimming recently suspended him. Admirals’ president Jon Greenberg says the promotion is a reminder to stay away from drugs. Anyone who completed a school DARE program can get in for two-dollars by showing a graduation certificate. The same goes for anyone named Michael, Phelps, Mary Jane, Cheech, Chong, or Weed. Past Olympic gold medal winners also get in for two-bucks. The Admirals will give away a weed-wacker, signed by the team. If Milwaukee scores with 4:20 left in any period, one fan will win a season ticket for next year. 420 is often said to be a police code for illegal drug use. Finally, the Admirals will have a document shredder for anyone who wants to destroy pictures of themselves that might be embarrassing or incriminating.
2/11/09 - It was standing room only at the Dodge County Board of Supervisors meeting last night as more than 30 people showed up to show their support for keeping prayer as part of the board’s agenda every other month. Gathering on the sidewalk across from the Administration Building in Juneau before the meeting, a number of people displayed signs stating their position on the issue. The phrases on the signs ranged from “we support prayer” to “we need prayer not fuller”. The issue of prayer at county meetings arose last week after it was made public that Supervisor Dean Fuller filed a complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation stating the county had allowed prayers at the beginning of meetings that mentioned Jesus Christ and Christianity, which they claim are unconstitutional. The next step in this process remains to be seen, but Board Chairman Russ Kottke says the county is talking with a number of religious groups in an attempt to learn their options in keeping prayer as part of the meetings.
Supervisors Approve Fund Transfer
2/11/09 - The Dodge County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution last night that allows a fund transfer of about $1.3-million-dollars to cover snow and ice removal costs from 2008. The Highway Department had budgeted around $1.1-million for 2008 but the actual cost of the cleanup was more than $2.4-million dollars. The reason stated by Dodge County Highway Commissioner Brian Field for the increase was the record snowfall during the year.
Fire in Fox Lake
2/11/09 - Highway 33 in Fox Lake was closed for several hours yesterday afternoon as firefighters battled a hay fire on the back of a flatbed truck. The incident began around 11:30am just west of the BP gas station. Chief Bill Frank says it was a real mess with smoking hay spread all over the roadway and high winds adding to the problem. Frank says the hay ignited as the result of equipment malfunction, stemming from either a bearing on the rear wheel or the rear brake lines. The flatbed trailer was destroyed but the driver of the truck – which is owned by Jeff Lewke -- was able to detach the rig quickly enough to avoid further damage. There were no injuries. The road was closed down for around three hours. Fox Lake received mutual assistance from Randolph.
Bond Set in Fond du Lac Murder
2/11/09 - A half-million-dollar cash bond was set yesterday for a man charged with killing a night-club dancer in Fond du Lac in 1976. 53-year-old Thomas Niesen of Ashwaubenon is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of 19-year-old Kathleen Leichtman. Niesen remained in the Fond du Lac County Jail, while he and his lawyer appeared in court on a video hook-up. Circuit Judge Peter Grimm is scheduled to decide March sixth if there’s enough evidence to order a trial. Prosecutors suggested the high bond, saying Niesen tried to flee to Colorado after he was arrested for child abuse in Brown County in 2007. He had to give the state a D-N-A sample after being convicted in that case. And officials said it matched the D-N-A found at the scene of Leichtman’s murder. She had just moved from Milwaukee to work as a dancer. Authorities said her body was found along a road-side the morning after her first night on the job. She was stabbed numerous times, and her throat was slit.
Columbus Council Moving Toward Udey Dam Repair
2/11/09 - The Columbus Council moved toward repair of the Udey Dam at last night’s meeting by denying introduction of a resolution to remove the Dam. Columbus Council members were presented with 13 estimates from engineering firms received by the City since the Udey Dam gates were opened in 2004. The project is unlikely to get underway before 2011. By then final costs for repair are likely to be well over $600 thousand dollars. Council President Ed Parpart said the resolution to repair the Dam “would not add one single job to the City and would affect the tax rate for the next 15 years.”
Juneau over Budget in ’08
2/11/09 - The city of Juneau went $97,000 over budget last year. The Common Council approved a 2008 budget amendment last night. Clerk Treasurer Dennis Sheldon says a big portion of the overage could be attributed to the purchase of a new ambulance. The council last night also approved one-year terms for EMS officers. Sue Ludtke will serve as coordinator through January of 2010. She had previously served as Assistant Coordinator but was named Interim Coordinator following the resignation of James Burke in September. Burke was the second coordinator in two years to resign; he had replaced Jim Ronge. Also last night, Dan Zank was named to a three-year term as Fire Department Captain.
Lomira Man Facing Homicide Charges
2/11/09 - A 34-year-old Lomira man now faces two felony charges for allegedly driving under the influence and causing an accident that killed a 25-year-old Kewaskum man last November. Jason Jacobs is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and a similar charge for driving under the influence of cocaine. Jacobs allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign on Orchard Valley Road in his SUV and hit another car that was on Washington County Highway H last November 14th. Timothy McKee of Kewaskum was driving the other car. He died at the scene. Jacobs has a hearing scheduled in Washington County court today.
House-Senate Conference to Compromise on Stimulus
2/11/09 - It’s now up to a House-Senate conference committee to come up with a final version of the federal economic stimulus package. That’s after the Senate voted 61-to-37 yesterday to pass a smaller series of measures than what the House approved. Wausau House Democrat David Obey will be one of 10 negotiators to draft the final package. He says the two houses have quote, “substantial, but I hope not over-powering differences.” Obey – who chairs the House Appropriations Committee – said the fine points can be debated forever, but it’s more important that Congress act now. Earlier yesterday, Governor Jim Doyle said the Senate package would give Wisconsin 600-million-dollars less than the House version – mainly by cutting out money for school buildings and aid to states. And Doyle said public jobs would be lost if the Senate package were to hold up. But Wisconsin senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold voted yes anyway. Feingold said the stimulus plan is not perfect, but it would create or save millions of jobs while addressing the nation’s energy and infra-structure needs. Kohl said it offers quote, “solutions that are equal to our time.” In short, the Senate package offers less relief for governments than the House version, and more relief for individuals.
Minimum Wage on Its Way Up
2/11/09 - Wisconsin’s minimum wage would go up by 17-percent now – and it would automatically rise each year for inflation – under a bill the state Senate passed yesterday. All 18 Democrats voted yes, and 14 Republicans voted no, to raising the wage from 6.50-an-hour to 7.60. Officials said it would give an instant raise to about 225-thousand employees – assuming their jobs don’t get cut, which is what Republicans say would happen in at least some cases. The G-O-P also tried but failed to drop the automatic increases for inflation. The G-O-P also tried but failed to drop the automatic increases for inflation. Jim Pugh of the Wisconsin Manufacturers-and-Commerce group says raises should be tried to productivity. But Democratic Majority Leader Russ Decker said the automatic increases are vital because politicians don’t touch the issue for years while quote, “the rich are getting richer, and the rest of us are stuck with what’s left behind.”
“Don’t Be Like Mike Night”
2/11/09 - The Milwaukee Admirals’ hockey team has a rather interesting promotion for its home game against Rockford a week from Thursday night. It’s called “Don’t Be Like Mike Night.” It’s named after Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps. He was photographed last fall breathing from a large marijuana pipe at a college party – and U-S-A Swimming recently suspended him. Admirals’ president Jon Greenberg says the promotion is a reminder to stay away from drugs. Anyone who completed a school DARE program can get in for two-dollars by showing a graduation certificate. The same goes for anyone named Michael, Phelps, Mary Jane, Cheech, Chong, or Weed. Past Olympic gold medal winners also get in for two-bucks. The Admirals will give away a weed-wacker, signed by the team. If Milwaukee scores with 4:20 left in any period, one fan will win a season ticket for next year. 420 is often said to be a police code for illegal drug use. Finally, the Admirals will have a document shredder for anyone who wants to destroy pictures of themselves that might be embarrassing or incriminating.
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