Top Stories May 21st

City Administrator Leaving Waupun

5/21/09 - Gary Rodgers time in Waupun has come to an end. The City Administrator recently accepted a similar position in Hiawatha, Iowa after serving the past seven years in Waupun. According to the minutes of the May 6th Hiawatha City Council Meeting, the employment agreement hiring Rodgers was approved unanimously. Rodgers has been in the middle of an attempt by a group calling themselves the Citizens of Waupun for Leadership Change to recall Mayor Jodi Steger because they believe she failed in her duties to remove Rodgers. No word on when Rodgers is expected to leave his post in Waupun as he was unavailable for immediate comment.

Knaup Avoids Trial

5/21/09 - Former Beaver Dam Alderman Clancy Knaup has avoided a trial in a case in which he was accused of entering a tenant’s apartment and unlawfully removing weapons. The 33-year-old had was charged last year with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct after he entered a tenants apartment and removed a shotgun as well as ammunition, bolt cutters, knives and body armor from the teenage tenant. At the time of the incident, Knaup told us his other tenants were scared by the “gun-wielding” teens and he was acting in their best interest when he took possession of the weapons. In court yesterday, Judge John Stork agreed to allow the state to dismiss the criminal trespass charge and Knaup entered into a deferred prosecution agreement on the disorderly conduct charge. The settlement comes after Stork decided last Friday that Knaup’s attorney would be allowed to introduce new evidence relating to the alleged victims role in recent criminal activity in Dodge County. 19-year-old Stephen Peterson, who claims Knaup trespassed when he entered his apartment, is one of three suspects in the recent bombings of a mailbox in Burnett and a port-a-potty at Lost Lake Park. If Knaup completes his alcohol assessment the disorderly conduct charge will be stricken from his record.

Two Hurt in High-Speed Chase

5/21/09 - A high-speed pursuit ended with the two suspects in a Madison hospital. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says the chase began on Highway 33 near County Road A before ending after the vehicle crashed on Highway 151 near Hemlock Road. Both suspects were taken to the UW-Hospital in Madison. The Sheriff’s Department and the Beaver Dam police department were involved in the pursuit. The subjects both face numerous citations and other charges. The chase started just after midnight.

Man Hit with 6th OWI

5/21/09 - A 48-year-old man picked up his 6th OWI last night after hitting a garage and driving off. Kevin P. Kabrich allegedly hit a garage on Lithostone Drive in Lomira and drove away. A caller alerted the authorities and Kabrich was arrested for the OWI just before 8 p.m.

Columbus Discusses Emergency Management

5/21/09 - The Columbus City Council approved a resolution creating an “Interim” Emergency Government Director by a narrow 3 to 2 vote this week. Debate over hiring Gerald Sallmann as Director and Bob Zapotockny as Assistant Director led to opposing Common Council views on the City’s need to have an Emergency Director. Only the Sallmann resolution was passed. The resolution that was approved will give Columbus an Interim Director for the next three months while the Council discusses the future of the City’s Emergency Government plans.

Lodi Schools Closed over Flu Concerns

5/21/09 - A Columbia County high school will again close its doors because of swine flu concerns. The decision was made to close Lodi High School today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday) because of the increased incidents of influenza-like illness affecting students throughout the school day yesterday. Columbia County Health Officer Susan Lorenz consulted with the state Public Health Department and Lodi District Administrator Mike Shimshak in making the decision. The Primary and Elementary Schools have been closed since Tuesday. The High School was also closed Tuesday, but was back in session today. All primary, elementary, middle and high school co-curricular activities are cancelled in conjunction with the school closures. Officials plan to reopen all Lodi public schools next Tuesday following the Memorial Day holiday. As of today, Columbia County has 25 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus.

Fox Lake Looks at Police Chief Job Description

5/21/09 - The Fox Lake common council discussed qualifications for its permanent police chief position last night. Interim Chief Randy Martin presented the first draft of the job description to the council. Qualifications include a two or four year degree; or a combination of education and work experience, three years of service in a supervisory role for a police agency, and the ability to meet certain requirements established for police officers. The council is expected to vote on the description during their June meeting and post the position soon after. The person hired will replace Pat Lynch who retired from the position earlier this year.

State Officials Pledge Not to Raise Taxes Further to Cover Budget Deficit

5/21/09 - Two top state officials say they will not raise taxes to cover the state’s latest revenue shortfall. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan told mayors and local leaders in Madison yesterday that people are quote, “struggling enough now.” And Administration Secretary Michael Morgan re-affirmed Governor Jim Doyle’s promise from last week not to raise state taxes to replace one-point-six billion dollars in lower tax revenues caused by the recession. That’s on the top of the five-billion-dollar shortfall the state had earlier – part of which would be covered by one-point-seven billion in higher taxes and fees. The mayors came to Madison to see how much their state aid would be cut in the next budget. The governor proposed a one-percent cut in February. Morgan said the new cut would be five-percent and maybe six. There’s been talk of new state-imposed levy limits, to make sure communities don’t jack up local property taxes to cover all the lost revenues. But there’s been nothing official about that.

Credit Card Reform Passes U.S. Legislature

5/21/09 - Republican Paul Ryan of Janesville was the only Wisconsin House member to vote against the credit card reforms sent to President Obama yesterday. All seven other Wisconsin members voted in favor of the bill, which passed 361-to-64. Wausau Democrat David Obey says it will stop the practice of raising a card’s interest rate for behavior not related to that card – or using fine print to hide fees and other major conditions. Obama plans to sign the bill tomorrow, and the changes will take effect in nine months. Among other things, card-holders would have to be more than 60 days behind on their payments before interest goes up on their existing balances. Card companies would have to let customers block purchases which exceed their credit limits, instead of just imposing large over-the-limit fees. And young people under 21 cannot get new credit cards unless they have the means to repay their debts – or if their parents co-sign for them. The banking industry opposed the changes, saying it will be harder to get credit. But Obey says the rules are needed to quote, “keep the big boys honest and playing fair.”

Neumann Trial Continues

5/21/09 - The Wausau area woman who’s on trial for praying instead of getting help for her dying daughter is expected to testify in her own defense today. Leilani Neumann’s jury heard a videotaped interview yesterday, in which she told a police detective she thought 11-year-old Kara Neumann was having a spiritual attack. And she never considered taking her to a doctor – even though she looked pale, tired, and extremely thin. The jury heard Neumann tell an Everest Metro police detective she thought the Lord would heal Kara, and she never thought the girl was close to death. The mother called it a test of her faith – and she never went through anything like it in her life. Kara Neumann died last March from complications of diabetes. Both her parents are charged with second-degree reckless homicide for not seeking medical help. Kara’s 16-year-old sister Elizabeth testified the girl was so weak the day before she died, she had to be helped to the bathroom – and her speech was extremely mumbled.

Powerball Up to $192M

5/21/09 - Nobody won the Powerball jackpot last night, so it goes up to 192-million-dollars for the next drawing on Saturday. Just over 38-thousand Wisconsin players were winners last evening – but nobody got more than 200-dollars. Eighteen tickets either matched four regular numbers, or three plus the Powerball – and they all had the Power Play multiplier of two. Just over 20-thousand people won three-bucks just by matching the Powerball. The numbers were 23, 30, 31, 35, and 42. The Powerball was six. Saturday’s jackpot is the highest so far this year. The cash option is 99-point-eight million.

Union Won’t Give Back 2% Raise

5/21/09 - A major state employee union has rejected Governor Jim Doyle’s request to pass up a two-percent pay raise scheduled for next month. A-F-T Wisconsin says it’s won’t give back to the pay hike until the state stops giving additional work to outside contractors. Doyle plans to lay off 700 non-union workers, and make others to take 16 days off without pay, to help reduce the state’s six-point-six billion dollar budget deficit. The governor wants unionized workers to pass up next month’s raise as well – and if they don’t, he’ll try to lay off 400 union positions. The A-F-T union has about 10-thousand state employees who work as university teaching assistants, public defenders, and computer staffers. Union president Bryan Kennedy says it’s cheaper to have state employees do a lot of the work instead of out-sourcing. And as recently as this month, A-F-T said state agencies without enough employees were arranging new contracts for computer work – even though state workers would be cheaper. Administration spokeswoman Linda Barth says agencies are looking at cuts in contracting. And she re-affirmed the governor’s intention to lay off union workers if they don’t agree to a pay freeze.