Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Top Stories, November 18th

Fitzgerald Anticipates Teacher Furloughs

11/18/10 - The State Senate Majority Leader says teachers may have to take furlough days if legislators are going to balance the state budget. The Juneau Republican told us on WBEV’s Community Comment this week that he believes there will be a ton of changes in education. By contract, teachers are in school more often than students, around five days more for things like “teacher institute days.” Fitzgerald says any furloughs would not affect teaching days. One listener called to say furlough days for teachers is “dumb” and the school funding formula needs to change. Another called asked about the Qualified Economic Offer, in which school boards avoid contract arbitration if they offer teachers at least a three-point-eight percent hike in salaries-and-benefits each year. Fitzgerald says the QEO is policy that should never have been taken out of the budget and he believes it will be reinstated.

Assessments Sent To Lake Shore Drive Properties

11/18/10 - Residents along Lake Shore Drive in Beaver Dam are getting notice this week of the special assessments they’d be charged as part of a major street re-construction project proposed for 2011. Engineer Mike Laue with MSA Professional Services says the reconstruction from Oneida to Denning would include curb and gutter, decorative street lighting and sidewalk installation on both sides of the street. Laue says around 30 to 40 trees would have to be removed. Ninth Ward Alderwoman Lisa Davidson, who represents many of the residents along Lake Shore Drive, says constituents have raised concerns with the project, not necessarily in terms of the assessment costs but the affect that sidewalk installation and tree removal would have on the look and feel of the street. There is a policy in place that all new road construction includes sidewalk installation if there is currently no sidewalk in place. In committee, Alderman Robert Butler said he felt the sidewalk policy should be applied equally in all cases. The project is still in the design phase and the borrowing for the project has not yet been approved. A public hearing as part of the design phase of the project will be held on December 8.

Cooper Wire Stolen From Wastewater Plant

11/18/10 - The Beaver Dam Police Department is investigating the theft of copper wire from the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. Deputy Chief Dan Schubert says the theft was reported Tuesday afternoon from 108 Myrtle Road, the construction site of the city’s $20 million dollar waste water facility. Schubert says about a half dumpster load of heavy-duty wire used for transformers was stolen from inside the building. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline 800-78-CRIME.

BDUSD Tests Textbooks Vs. Laptops

11/18/10 - A number of school district around the state are moving away from using textbooks, and instead, using computer devices to support their lesson plans. It’s currently happening on a small scale in Beaver Dam schools but Superintendent Steve Vessey says they plan to assess their staffing in the technology department and move on from there. He says one-to-one computing, in which each student is holding a technology device like an iPad or notebook computer, has both cost and educational benefits.

Wall of Fame Nominations Sought

11/18/10 - The Beaver Dam School District is seeking nominations for their 2011 Wall of Fame Awards. Honors will be given in two categories: Friends of Education and Outstanding Alumni. Friends of Education are individuals or organizations who have given distinguished service to the district and its students. Outstanding Alumni are graduates of the High School recognized for their exceptional accomplishments, outstanding leadership, historical significance and prominence on the local, state, national or international stage. Last year, the Outstanding Alumni was Clarence Keller, a 1921 graduate who went on to be the city’s first full time mayor, guiding Beaver Dam thru five consecutive terms. The first recipient was film star Fred MacMurray. Nomination packets are available at all district school offices or on the district website at www.beaverdam.k12.wi.us. Nomination deadline is February 11. The district will honor the 2011 Wall of Fame recipients at their 15th Annual Wall of Fame Banquet in April. Award plaques will be permanently displayed at the high school.

Thanksgiving Travel Predictions

11/18/10 - More Wisconsinites refuse to give up Grandma’s pumpkin pie because of the economy. The Triple-“A” says Thanksgiving traffic in the Badger State will be 11-point-four percent higher than a year ago – the same increase that’s expected nationally. About 860-thousand Wisconsinites are expected to travel at least 50-miles from home between next Wednesday and Sunday. And just over 42-million Americans will do the same throughout the country. Wisconsin Triple-“A” President Tom Frymark says folks are still cautious with their spending – but many are still in a better financial position than a year ago. And he says they have a strong desire to spend the holiday with friends-and-family. But the projected national traffic is still about 30-percent less than what it was in 2005 – when almost 59-million Americans went home for Thanksgiving.

Deer Hunters Encouraged To Text Violations

11/18/10 - Deer hunters with cell phone signals are being encouraged to report violators by sending text messages to the state D-N-R. Wisconsin has joined 26 other states in a national program to catch those who try to get an unfair advantage. More than two dozen texts have been sent to the D-N-R since the program began in April. It lets people be anonymous while reporting a variety of hunting, fishing, and environmental violations. To report any incidents, type “TIPWDNR” on the first line of the text, then write about the problem and sent it to: 8-4-7-4-1-1. The D-N-R plans to monitor the line from 7am through 10pm during the gun deer season.

Deputy A-G To Step Down

11/18/10 - The number-two man in the state Justice Department says he’s keeping a promise by resigning. Deputy attorney general Ray Taffora will leave by January 14th. He’s been with J-B Van Hollen ever since they took over the Justice Department at the beginning of 2007. Taffora said he told Van Hollen back then he would only serve one term, because of his belief that people should only work for a limited time in government. The Republican Van Hollen was elected earlier this month to a second four-year term. Taffora says he’s not certain what he’ll do next. Special assistant Kevin Saint John will become the new top deputy attorney general.

Ratepayers Paying For Utility Executive Bonuses?

A consumer group says proposed rules now before the state could open the door to ratepayers paying for utility company bonuses. A proposal back before the Public Service Commission would adjust regulations known as fuel rules. Those cover the process utilities use to ask for rate increases or cuts when prices for coal and other energy sources suddenly change. But according to the Citizens Utility Board, language in the rule package could force ratepayers to pay for millions of dollars of bonuses and other incentives for utility executives. Board executive director Charlie Higley says having consumers foot that bill would be wrong. Higley says many people are out of work, or seeing pay cuts, and they shouldn't have to help a bunch of top-level managers. WE Energies spokesman Brian Manthey says CUB and the public shouldn't worry about his company using ratepayer money for bonuses.

Outgoing Leadership Warned About Public Records

11/18/10 - State agency officials are being told not to destroy or take home public records as Democratic Governor Jim Doyle gets ready to leave office. Carol Hemersbach, who chairs the state public records board, has told cabinet secretaries and other top officials that records generated in the course of state business belong to the offices – and not the current people in those offices. Hemersbach says most records will have value as Republican Scott Walker’s administration takes over on January third. The board also asked Walker’s people not to change the current policies for retaining state records. Hemersbach said it could get expensive to do that.


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