Top Stories, November 25th

Weather Affects Thanksgiving Travel

11/25/10 - If you’re traveling north today, a Winter Weather advisory covers about half of the state of Wisconsin. The northern and western parts are expecting to be hit by a winter storm during peak travel times. There is a threat of icing and up to three inches of snow in places like Rhinelander, Hayward and Wausau. Rainy and cold conditions are expected in the southeast. Colder weather is on the way in our area as well. It’s above the freezing point now but you can expect the temperature to steadily fall to around 23 degrees by 5pm. There is a chance of some scattered flurries after 10pm. A wind chill near zero degrees is in store for shoppers who want to take advantage of Black Friday sales.

Thanksgiving travel yesterday was marred with several car accidents and rollovers yesterday throughout the day and especially as the sun went down. Authorities advise the motoring public to drive cautiously and allow plenty of time to get to your destination.

Chamber Holds Economic Development Luncheon

11/25/10 - The Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce held their annual Economic Development Luncheon Wednesday afternoon. Mayor Tom Kennedy says in spite of a dismal economic climate, things are really good in Beaver Dam. He cited ongoing downtown revitalization efforts and extensive road and building construction. Kennedy says the city’s biggest plus is the $20 million dollar wastewater treatment plant being constructed with $10 million in grant funding which will keep utility bills among the lowest in the state. Dodge County Board Chairman Russ Kottke says there are good things going on all around the county. Kottke touted the $44.5 million dollar, state-of-the art Clearview Long Term Care and Rehabilitation facility, which he says is “on-schedule and well below budget.” Kottke also says the recently-implemented Marsh Country Health Alliance will be a great benefit to local taxpayers because many of the other counties in the state that house patients at Clearview will now be paying their fair share. The Chamber Economic Development Luncheon has traditionally been held the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but Chamber Director Phil Fritsche says beginning next year the event will be held in the beginning of November.

Juneau Adopts Budget

11/25/10 - The Juneau City Council approved the 2011 budget this week and taxpayers will see an increase. Clerk/Treasurer Gladys McKay says spending is down 8.4-percent but because of a nearly 4.8-percent drop in the city’s equalized value, taxes are going up. The total tax levy is just under $1.2-million, up 3.7-percent from this year. That leaves a mill rate of $7.86 per thousand, a 20-cent increase. Property taxes on a $150,000 house in Juneau will be $1,179, which is an increase of $30.

Mess Sentenced In OWI Homicide

11/25/10 - A Lake Mills teen who killed her best friend in a drunk driving accident was sentenced this week to five years in prison. As part of a plea agreement, 19-year-old Michelle Mess will also serve five years of extended supervision. Mess was driving when she failed to negotiate a curve in the town of Watertown in the early morning hours of July 16. The car left the road and rolled over, ejecting 19-year-old Ashley Johnson, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Mess pleaded “no contest” to a charge of Homicide by Intoxicated Use of a Motor Vehicle and two charges of Obstruction. Six other Obstruction charges were dismissed but read into the record.

Woman Accused of Leaving Bloody Accident Scene

11/25/10 - An Iron Ridge woman faces felony Hit and Run charges after allegedly leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in severe injuries to her passenger. Kim Natalie Sheehan reportedly told investigators that she was the designated driver so she only had a couple cans of beer before putting her car in a ditch in the Town of Hustisford this past June. Both she and her passenger were unable to provide any details of the accident. The 44-year-old says she has no idea how she wound up at home. Sheehan faces up to 15 years in prison, if convicted. She had a signature bond set at $5000 earlier this month and failed to show for a court appearance yesterday (Wed) morning.

Officer Suspended For Excessive Force

11/25/10 - A 10-year veteran of the Fond du Lac Police Department will serve a three day unpaid suspension after an excessive force investigation. Officer Joel Gudex will also be required to take remedial training. Gudex slammed 49-year-old John Lund down on a table at the Fond du Lac County Jail causing a cut to Lund’s head that had to be treated at St. Agnes Hospital. Chief Tony Barthuly determined Gudex’s tactics weren’t appropriate given the situation. Barthuly says he understands that Lund was giving officers problems during and after the arrest, but that doesn’t excuse the behavior. The investigation was overseen by Deputy Chief Kevin Lemke and conducted by Steve Theory, but outside experts were also consulted. Barthuly said ultimately the decision was up to him whether discipline was required. Criminal charges are pending against Lund.

Woman Charged In Axe-Wielding Fight

11/25/10 - A Fond du Lac woman has been arrested for allegedly using an ax to bust into a room to continue a fight with her husband. Police say the fight was going on for most of the night and, at one point, the man and his children locked themselves in a bedroom. Fond du Lac Deputy Police Chief Kevin Lemke said the man tried to go to bed – but the drunken woman allegedly grabbed the ax and started chopping at the door. Lemke said the 36-year-old woman didn’t threaten to hurt anyone. She faces possible charges of domestic abuse and criminal damage.

Garbage Pick-Up Delayed

11/25/10 - Waste collection in Beaver Dam will be delayed by one day because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Director of Facilities David Stoiser says Veolia Environmental will suspend garbage pick-ups for Thursday. Residents who normally receive pick-up Thursday will instead have garbage collection Friday, while Friday’s route will be collected on Saturday. Stoiser says the Public Works Garage will also be closed until Monday.

Lawsuit Filed Against Texas Organic Milk Dairy

11/25/10 - The Wisconsin-based Cornucopia Institute has filed a legal complaint with the USDA against a Texas mega dairy for marketing organic milk produced by conventional cows. The complaint charges the Natural Prairie Dairy in Dalhart, Texas with replacing cows that can no longer be milked with heifers bought from dairies that don't use organic practices. Cornucopia Institute co-director Mark Kastel says federal officials should do a better job of enforcing rules that require organic dairies to only use cows that have been under organic management from the last third of their gestation before birth. He says true organic farmers don't buy replacement heifers because they produce their own.

Appeals Court Rules Against Milwaukee Archdiocese

11/25/10 - A Wisconsin Appeals Court says the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese can't use insurance money to pay off clergy abuse victims. The ruling comes as the church is in mediation with about a dozen people who have filed lawsuits over past alleged abuse. The Appeals Court has upheld circuit court rulings that said the Archdiocese's insurance policy covers accidents. The Appellate court says any misrepresentations made by the church or priests in abuse cases were intentional. Peter Isely, Midwest director of the victims group SNAP, says about a dozen abuse victims who are in mediation started by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki have just had their cases strengthened. He says he hopes Archbishop Listecki becomes more interested in settling the cases, if it's clear insurance money won't bailout the church. But the Milwaukee Archdiocese says it's likely to ask the state Supreme Court to review the appellate court ruling. Archdiocese spokeswoman Julie Wolf says the hope was that insurance money could help the victims and church move forward.

Nature Conservancy Buys Island

11/25/10 - The Nature Conservancy has bought an island that provides key habitat adjacent to Lake Superior. The landmark Clough Island is located at the heart of the St. Louis River Estuary near Superior. Deputy Director Rebecca Smith says the group has been working on it for 10 years. The 358 acre island, which was once proposed for development, is a key habitat for various species of birds. “There’s 230 species that have been documented using the St. Louis estuary, and 115 are known to breed there,” Smith said. And fish, as well. Smith said the waters and wetlands around the island provide ideal habitat for numerous species of game fish, including lake sturgeon. Purchase price forClough Island was 1-point-4 million dollars. A million dollar grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will help pay for conservation and restoration efforts on the island.

Farm Bureau on Thanksgiving

11/25/10 - The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s annual price survey of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner shows the meal is not only affordable, but the group’s spokesman Casey Langan says much of that food is produced right here in the Badger State. Langan reminds us Wisconsin farmers produce more than just the dairy portion of the menu. He says Wisconsin produces turkeys, but it also grows potatoes and cranberries. Among the things to be thankful for this year, Langan says, is that American consumers enjoy relatively stable food costs. He points out that Americans spend just 10 percent of their annual disposable income on food, the lowest percentage in the world.

E-Waste Law Effectiveness Applauded

11/25/10 - There are early indications that Wisconsin’s ban on sending electronic waste to landfills is working. The law that took effect in September requires consumers and manufacturers to recycle old electronic devices, rather than just throwing them away. Thad Nation with Wired Wisconsin says the group has been tracking numbers at recycling centers statewide since the ban started, and so far there has been a “sharp uptick” in several areas for electronic waste coming in. For example, Nation says a hazardous materials center in Brown County has reported almost 50,000 pounds a month in electronic waste being recycled since September. That’s up from just 15,000 before the ban started. Nation says numbers like that show how badly the ban was needed because those items were just being thrown away before. Recycling products, such as old computers and TVs, means dangerous heavy metals and chemicals are no longer ending up in landfills. Those materials are often being recaptured and used to make new products, which Nation says is a very important step forward for the state.