Top Stories September 25th

More Disaster Declarations for Flooding in WI


9/25/10 - The list of counties impacted by western Wisconsin flooding continues to grow, with a state of emergency declared in five more. Governor Jim Doyle issued the declaration Friday afternoon for Buffalo, Marathon, Portage, Wood and Jackson Counties. They join Clark and Trempealeau Counties on a list of seven that have seen homes damaged, roads closed, and even some areas evacuated due to rising waters. Doyle says the declaration allows the state to continue doing everything possible to help those affected by the storms make a quick recovery.

First Governor’s Debate is Lively

9/25/10 - Democrat Tom Barrett came out aggressively in last night's debate between the two candidates for Wisconsin governor. He attacked Republican Scott Walker's plan for tax cuts, saying it would bury the state in debt and force big cuts to public safety and education. Recent polls show Walker leading Barrett. The Democratic mayor of Milwaukee said he went after Walker because it is important for voters to see the differences between the two. Much of the debate focused on the economy and the 180 thousand jobs lost in Wisconsin. Walker said his plan to help small businesses would replace lost jobs.

Fair Association Presents Money from Wristbands

9/25/10 - The Dodge County Fair Association is doling out $7000 to a handful of local non-profit organizations. Fair Association President Jim Schoenike says for the first time this year, the fair board charged one dollar for wristbands to those drinking alcohol. There were some initial complaints but Schoenike says overall the program was a success.

The programs benefitting include Shop With A Cop, the Moraine Park Technical College Corrections Club, Dodge County Emergency Response Team, The Wisconsin Troopers Association, the Dodge County Explorers and the Badger Honor Flight Program. Schoenike says the Fair Association will be looking to repeat the program in 2011.

Block Scheduling Process Moving Along in BD

9/25/10 - A plan to address concerns with the block scheduling format at the high school in Beaver Dam is moving along as planned. In July, a six month process was unveiled that would be broken into three segments. The first part got underway this month with listening sessions for those affected, including students, parents and staff. Principal Mark DiStefano says an overwhelming theme of the listening sessions has been discussion about what type of schedule will allow kids to be most successful. There are two listening sessions planned for next week. A student session is set for Tuesday afternoon from 3 to 4 p-m in the high school auditorium. A second session for parents and community members will be held later that night from 7 to 8 in the high school career center.

Doyle Headed Back to China

9/25/10 - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle is headed back to China on his fifth trade-promotion mission to that economic giant. Doyle will visit four cities over the next week, returning Friday. He delivers a speech next Monday at the Central China Expo. The topic will be "the low-carbon economy." He also plans to attend World Expo 2010 before returning to the Badger State next Friday.

Mother Who Tossed Baby in Trash Going to Trial

9/25/10 - A woman from Franklin will go on trial, accused of tossing her newborn baby girl in a trash bin. Breanna Gering is charged with first-degree homicide and concealing the death of a child. She has waived her right to a preliminary hearing. The 23 year old Gering is accused of giving birth in a restaurant bathroom in Racine, then putting the infant in a trash bin outside. The baby died.

Officials Working to Cleanup Great Lakes Waterfronts

9/25/10 - The summer months bring millions of visitors to the shores of the Great Lakes and many leave behind a great deal of trash. Dennis Takahashi-Kelso of Ocean Conservancy says it can have a major impact on an important resource. He says that trash can harm wildlife, pollute the water, and pose an economic risk to industries that rely on clean water. Volunteers will be among many people worldwide working this weekend to restore the natural beauty of those waterfronts. Takahashi-Kelso says it’s the 25th anniversary of the group’s international coastal cleanup, the largest volunteer effort in the world to remove trash from waterways and shorelines around the globe. Several clean-up projects are going on along the Lake Michigan and Superior shorelines in Wisconsin.

Drug Drop-off in BD Today

9/25/10 - Many Americans have old or expired medications sitting around the house, and law enforcement officials say that can be a prescription for danger. As part of a national effort to round up those unwanted drugs, Demetra Ashley with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency says sites around Wisconsin will be collecting old medications starting today. Ashley says several police departments across the state will be running drop-off points where the public can anonymously turn in their old medications to be incinerated. She says it’s the only safe way to really dispose of them, because throwing them in the trash can be an invitation to thieves or result in them ending up in water supplies. Ashley says keeping old prescription drugs around the house can be dangerous, especially if young children are around. There have been a growing number of cases where kids have taken the drugs for recreational use or illegally sold them. Medicine cabinets can also be targeted by thieves. Officials in Beaver Dam say you can drop off unused or expired prescription medications in the police department parking lot from 8am to noon. In case of bad weather, the collection will take place in the lobby of city hall.