Top Stories June 4th

E. Coli Case in Milwaukee

6/4/11 - An adult has been hospitalized in Milwaukee with what health officials are saying is probably the same strain of E. coli that has made more than 18 hundred people sick worldwide. The adult isn't being named, but the Milwaukee Health Commissioner says the person traveled from Germany and likely contracted the E. coli there. The victim has a complication which could cause kidney failure. The case hasn't been confirmed yet. The first patient with the bacteria in Germany was discovered May 1. Since then, 18 people have died. To this point, researchers haven't been able to single out the food that is responsible for the outbreak.

Standoff Ends After Police Storm Apartment

6/4/11 - A Beaver Dam man was in court yesterday after being involved in a three hour standoff with authorities Thursday night. Michael Schauer is charged with disorderly conduct and bail jumping stemming from the incident which began around 7:15. Police say they responded to Schauer’s residence on North Center Street after a caller reported he was throwing trash out of his apartment and into the parking lot. Because authorities had dealings with Schauer in the past they believed it was possible he had a handgun. Police attempted to get into contact with the 43-year-old but he didn’t respond and instead began to yell obscenities at officers. After receiving a warrant, authorities forced their way into the apartment and had to use a taser to get Schauer to comply. He could face nine months and fines of $11,000 if he is convicted.

Two Speeding Tickets in One Day

6/4/11 - Don’t press your luck. That may have been the lesson a 19-year-old Dodgeville man learned Thursday night. Authorities say around 6:30 a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle that was doing 85-miles per hour on Highway 151 south of Beaver Dam but lost it due to traffic. About two hours later a different deputy observed the same vehicle on Highway 33 going 116 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per hour zone. The deputy was able to get the vehicle to stop and learned the man had already received a citation this year for driving too fast for conditions and a warning letter from the DOT. The two speeding citations he received Thursday will cost him nearly $800 and 12-points against his license. In a press release Sheriff Todd Nehls said, “It is safe to say the next correspondence from the DOT will be informing him of his lengthy revocation.” Nehls also said the lack of respect and concern shown by the man for the public is alarming.

Langfeldt Gets Prison Time

6/4/11 - A 36-year-old Columbus man will be going to prison for nearly 3 ½ years after being convicted of drunken driving for a 6th time. Sheriff Todd Nehls responded to the call in late April and said it had been a long time since he’d seen someone as intoxicated as Tony Langfeldt appeared. While driving to and through Fox Lake, Langfeldt hit a utility pole, parked car, and sign before his vehicle got stuck in a ditch. Hitting the utility pole sheared off his front right tire and rim. In addition to the prison time Langfeldt will also be under extended supervision for three years.

GAB Gets Week Extension on Democratic Recalls

6/4/11 - A Dane County judge gives the Government Accountability Board a one-week extension to certify recall petitions against three Democratic state Senators. The decision by Judge John Markson gives the GAB’s Kevin Kennedy the time he wanted to allow his staff to finish work on petitions seeking the recalls of Senators Bob Wirch, Jim Holperin and Dave Hansen. Kennedy says his staff will work this weekend, expecting have all the materials to be reviewed by the next meeting next Wednesday. Recall Wirch organizer Dan Hunt – who last week called for Kennedy’s resignation – said the judge’s decision was expected, since the GAB had requested the action late last Friday. Hunt is confident the agency will certify the recall against Wirch, noting they submitted 18,300 signatures, more than enough even in the face of challenges. But asked whether he still thinks Kennedy ought to resign, Hunt said “I do.”

Walker Backs Permits and Training

6/4/11 - Governor Scott Walker says Wisconsinites who want to carry concealed weapons should go through a permitting process and require training beforehand. Spokesman Cullen Werwie would not say if the Governor would veto the so-called “constitutional carry” gun bill if it gets to his desk. That measure would let law-abiding adults carry concealed without requiring a permit. Walker’s statement comes a day after Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn publicly called on the Governor to back a permitting and training process. Of the two conceal carry bills in the legislature, the “constitutional carry” proposal has had the most movement, in passing a Senate committee. The other bill has a permitting requirement, neither of them have a training mandate.

Fox Lake Approves Work on Davis and Cordelia Streets

6/4/11 - Residents on Davis and Cordelia Streets in Fox Lake will be among the first to see if their sewer laterals need to be replaced. The city council recently approved a bid in the amount of just less than $100,000 for a sewer and paving project for those two streets. Earlier this year officials sent letters to residents informing them that they would required to replace their sewer lateral if it were found to be defective. But rather than testing every property, officials agreed to identify defective laterals only during major street projects. Sewer laterals are the pipes that run from a private residence to the city owned sewer line and the change in policy was put in place in an effort to reduce flooding associated with sanitary sewer overflows during times of heavy rain.

Changes to Election Dates Come Up for a Vote

6/4/11 - Two state committees will vote next week on bills to change the dates of two major Wisconsin elections. The Assembly and Senate elections’ panels heard mostly favorable testimony yesterday on a bill to move the presidential primary from mid-February back to early April. But they got mixed responses to moving the fall primaries for state, county, and congressional offices from mid-September to the second Tuesday in August. Senate Republican Mary Lazich of New Berlin said the national parties are trying to get numerous states to move back their presidential primaries and caucuses, so only a few are held before March first. Lazich says Wisconsin’s April date will land in about the middle of the nation’s primary schedule, so the state shouldn’t lose national clout. Local clerks welcomed the change, saying it would be easier to hold the primary during April’s local general elections. They would no longer need an election if February if there are no local primaries. But some clerks are concerned about the bill to hold the fall partisan primaries in August instead of September. It would help the state comply with new federal deadlines to send ballots to voters overseas. But some clerks said August might still be too late – especially if there are recounts like the one we just saw with the April Supreme Court election. On the other hand, lawmakers don’t want the fall primaries too early, because they want enough time after their session to campaign for their re-elections.

Hotels Offering Gas Cards for Guests

6/4/11 - Some of Wisconsin’s hotels are helping their visitors keep their gas tanks full. About 30 members of the state’s Hotel-and-Lodging Association are offering travelers gas cards of 25-to-50-dollars, depending on how long they stay. And officials say more hotels will offer the cards as the summer goes on. With gas prices heading toward four-dollars-a-gallon again, hotel owners are trying to keep their rooms as full as possible. And association president Trisha Pugal (pew’-gle) hopes the gas card promotion will encourage travelers to go a little further and longer than they might otherwise. Pugel said Wisconsin hotels saw less than a two-percent increase in business last year – and there are already signs of growth for this year. The gas card promotions end August 31st. You can get more information on-line at WisconsinLodging-Dot-Org.