Top Stories September 21st

Federal Money Allows BD to Bring Back Staff


9/21/10 - Seven staff members in the Beaver Dam School District that were laid off in budget cutting measures have been re-hired due to federal program. Human Resources Director Sharon Bliefernicht says the district received $737,000 in late August as part of the Federal Jobs Fund Act. Bliefernicht says the federal government recognized that many school districts are currently under great financial strain, and this was their way of attempting to solve the problem for at least one year. In Beaver Dam, Bliefernicht says they were able to ask all of the teachers they laid off to come back and a majority have done so. Bliefernicht says they are going to be cautious in hiring new staff members, because the funds are only good for this year.

Proposed Horicon School Tax Levy Set

9/21/10 - Horicon School District taxpayers could see a mill rate lower than the last school year. The district held their budget hearing and annual meeting last night, where it was learned that the proposed levy for the 2010-2011 school year would be $4.2 million. Administrators say that would result in a mill rate of $9.87, down 12-cents from a year ago. That means the owner of a property worth $150,000 would pay $1,480 for the school portion of their taxes. The total projected budget is $11.1 million, also down from a year ago.

Doyle to Begin Removal Process for Kratz

9/21/10 - Governor Jim Doyle says he’ll begin the process of removing Calumet County’s embattled district attorney. Ken Kratz announced a medical leave yesterday, after he admitted sending racy text messages last fall to a female sexual assault victim. Doyle said he’ll need to get a complaint from a Calumet County resident, which he expects this week. Then, he’ll hold a public hearing where Kratz can defend himself, and then decide if he should be removed. Meanwhile, the governor disclosed a second incident yesterday. A woman complained last week that Kratz gave her confidential details of a murder – and he invited her to an autopsy quote, “provided I act as his girlfriend, and would wear high heels and a skirt.” Doyle, who’s a former prosecutor and attorney general, called the behavior “unimaginable” if it’s true. Kratz hired a lawyer who said his job is to keep the D-A from being removed. Before the new allegation came out, Robert Craanen said Kratz never violated any rules on attorney conduct. And he said other D-A’s have done more serious things and kept their jobs. Kratz became internationally-known for sending wrongly-convicted rapist Steven Avery to prison for murder in 2006.

Franklin: Stopping High-Speed Rail Project “Unrealistic”

9/21/10 - A UW-Madison professor says stopping the high-speed rail projects is unrealistic. The Republican candidate for governor, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, has said throughout his campaign that if elected he’ll stop the project and redirect the federal dollars to other transportation needs. But political scientist Charles Franklin suggests it’s going to be awfully difficult to apply the breaks to it, saying “The most misleading part of this, whether you’re against the rail or for it, is simply being realistic about what those monies are dedicated to and what they can be moved to.” Wisconsin was awarded 810-million federal stimulus dollars for a high speed rail line from Milwaukee to Madison that would have a stop in Watertown. The Democratic candidate for Governor, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, supports the project.

Lazy Lake Dam Work Begins

9/21/10 - Work on Fall River’s Lazy Lake Dam will begin this week. Residents along the lake shores are reminded that the “Draw Down” process, the lowering of the lake’s water level, began yesterday. . The Draw Down is expected to be completed by October 1st. Lazy Lake property owners are reminded to take their boats in as soon as possible. The process of refilling Lazy Lake to its current level will begin by October 31st.

Council to Consider “Paint the Town Pink”

9/21/10 - Downtown Columbus is likely to have Pink Ribbons up and down the Streets during the month of October. The Council will be asked to approve a resolution recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness month. A grassroots non-profit group from Portage will be bringing their Awareness campaign to communities throughout Columbia County. The Pink Angels have been raising money and paying out-of-pocket expenses for Breast Cancer victims for the past six years. The Council will vote on approval of the “Paint the Town Pink” requests at Tuesday’s meeting.