Top Stories June 3rd

Competency Exam Ordered in Stabbing

6/3/11 - A judge has ordered a competency exam for the Horicon teen accused of stabbing a woman in her home last week. 17-year-old Cory Frederiksen was in court yesterday for his preliminary hearing but Judge Steven Bauer granted a postponement until the psychological exam could be completed. Frederiksen is charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed his 53-year-old neighbor Candia Rehse as many as 18-times in the early morning hours of May 23rd. Authorities say Rehse went to get something to eat before 5 a-m, and when she returned to her Horicon home, she walked in on Frederickson and was attacked, leaving her with a fractured skull and deep lacerations among other injuries. Police say they have the knife that was allegedly used and Frederickson’s bloody clothes. Frederiksen has been in custody since the incident on a quarter-million dollar bond.

Highway 33 Down to One Lane Starting Monday

6/3/11 - Traffic will be reduced to one lane at the intersection of Highways 33 and A beginning next Monday. For the past month reconstruction of Highway A has closed it down from Oak Grove to Highway 33. Dodge County Highway Commissioner Brian Field says the intersection will be operated with stop and go lights with traffic from one direction getting a green light and the opposite direction a red light and then vice versa. He advises motorists to avoid the intersection if at all possible during the estimated two week project. He did say that the intersection of Highway A at County Roads W and F will be open to help with traffic flow.

Collective Bargaining Debate Reopens in Madison

6/3/11 - The battle over collective bargaining was re-opened early this morning by the state Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee. Majority Republicans voted 11-to-4 just after midnight to make local police and fire-fighters pay more for their pensions and health insurance. They were exempt from such requirements until now. Newly-hired officers would put five-point-eight percent of their salaries toward retirement, and they’d pay 12-percent of their health coverage. Those are the same amounts other state-and-local workers would pay under the law to limit collective bargaining powers that’s now blocked by the courts. The State Supreme Court will hold a hearing Monday on the Walker administration’s request to put the law into effect. The police-and-fire bargaining limits would not be as extensive as the others. Those unions could not bargain over a choice of health plans – but they could still have a say over the total costs. Assembly G-O-P co-chair Robin Vos said the measure gives local governments “reasonable tools” to save money. Senate Democrat Bob Jauch of Poplar said officers knew the move was coming, and they don’t deserve it. Milwaukee Assembly Democrat Tamara Grigsby called it “union busting,” and said it could re-ignite February’s massive Capitol protests over the collective bargaining issue.

Protestors Get Vocal Outside Budget Meeting

6/3/11 - Two people were arrested, and over two dozen anti-Walker protestors were removed during the first two hours of a State Capitol budget meeting last night. They shouted down lawmakers who were working on the proposed state budget with cries of “Shame” and “Police State.” Majority Republicans pressed on while Democrats urged the crowd to quiet down to no avail. Senate Democrat Bob Jauch of Poplar told them he was on their side – but their shouting could do “more harm than good.” The meeting was supposed to begin at one yesterday afternoon. But it didn’t start until seven last night, as the parties met privately to work out deals on some of the most controversial parts of the budget. That wasn’t unusual, but it made the 100 people in the meeting room testy. One was removed before the session began, but was allowed to return. A short time later, three protestors yelled against banning in-state college tuition for children of illegal immigrants. They were removed as some cried, “Police State.” Outside the room, dozens sang “Solidarity Forever” and “We Shall Overcome” as they waited to get in. One was admitted as another left. As the meeting went on, protestors screamed one-by-one over lawmakers’ voices, reading from the Constitution or slamming the Walker budget cuts they opposed – including state aid to public schools. Another screamed for the recall of committee co-chair Alberta Darling, and to give her the pink slip. He told her quote, “Pink looks good on you.”

Smaller Cuts in State Aid in Budget Compromise

6/3/11 - Wisconsin cities and counties would get smaller cuts in state aid under a budget compromise endorsed last night by the state Legislature’s finance panel. The vote was 11-to-4, with all Democrats voting no, to reduce the total cut from 96-million-dollars to 76-million. All counties and cities over 110-thousand could not lose more than 25-percent of their total state aid. All other places would be limited to cuts of 15-percent. Republican Governor Scott Walker wanted to allow cuts of up to 50-percent. Democrats said the changes were not fair, claiming that richer suburbs would get more of a break. The measure also lets communities cut law enforcement budgets. Right now, they’re required to spend at least as much as they did in 2009 on police services. Also, the committee kept an earlier promise by its chairmen to continue recycling.

Feingold Debating Senate Run

6/3/11 - Seven months after voters removed him from the U-S Senate, Democrat Russ Feingold says he might ask them to send him back. He tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he’ll decide by Labor Day whether he’ll run for Wisconsin’s other Senate seat, to be given up by Democrat Herb Kohl next year. Feingold says he’s also been approached about running for governor – either next year, if Scott Walker goes up for a recall vote, or in 2014 when the next scheduled governor’s contest takes place. Feingold says he has not decided which office would be more appealing or winnable – and his first decision is whether-or-not to return to the political arena at all. After 28 years in the state-and-U-S Senates, Feingold says a break from politics is healthy for him right now. He’s been teaching at Marquette University, writing a book, and running a liberal political group called “Progressives United.” State Democrats will hold their annual convention in Milwaukee starting tomorrow night. Feingold says he won’t speak – because the podium is meant for current office-holders and announced candidates. A recent survey by the Public Policy Polling firm showed that Feingold is easily the most popular Democrat in the state. Seventy-percent preferred him over seven other possible Democratic hopefuls for Kohl’s seat.

Open House for Clearview and Highway Facility

6/3/11 - Dodge County is hosting an open house this Sunday to allow the public to tour the new portion of the Clearview Long Term Care Rehabilitation facility and the recently completed improvements to the Juneau Highway Facility. Clearview serves the county’s aging population as well as those with behavioral and mental health issues and also has one of only three brain injury rehabilitation centers in the state. Phase I of the $44.5-million project includes the Towne Centre, which will be the central location for all events. The area will house a salon, library, café, and gift shop. A 16-bed household is part of this phase which has been designed as an open concept living arrangement. Phase two of the project will begin shortly and should be completed by next fall. When completed, Clearview will be home for 236 residents. The Highway facility upgrades were started in the Spring of last year and include a new vehicle fueling center, a new 68,000 square foot vehicle storage building and a nearly 8,000 square foot addition to the maintenance shop. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Sunday at 11:30 a.m. for the Clearview facility in Juneau followed by the open house from 12 to 2pm. Tours of the highway facility in Juneau will run from 12pm to 3 pm.

Hartford Man Gets Probation for Sale of Firearms

6/3/11 - A 75 year old man from Hartford is on three years’ probation for selling more than 100 firearms at gun shows. Raymond Anderson reportedly told people there was no paperwork, no taxes and no waiting period when they bought the guns. Undercover agents caught him. Federal law says a dealer is someone who makes a large part of their income from gun sales – and they are required to have a license and do background checks. Anderson also has to serve 120 days of house arrested and do 30 hours of community service.