Top Stories July 21st

Heat Wave Enters Day 5
7/21/11 - Wisconsin will get at least some relief today, after four days of stifling heat and humidity. The National Weather Service said a cold front moved into western Wisconsin during the night, bringing lower humidities and slightly cooler temperatures. It was in the 60’s at five o’clock as far south as Eau Claire. But much of southern Wisconsin was still in the 80’s. An excessive heat warning remains in effect in our area until 9pm tonight. Yesterday, which was supposed to be the hottest day of the heat wave, didn’t disappoint. It hit 95 in Juneau breaking the record for the day of 94 set back in 1987. At the Watertown airport it got up to 99-degrees but with the heat index it felt more like 109-degrees. It was 95 in Fond du Lac with a heat index of 107-degrees. Madison tied a record with 97-degrees while the mercury hit 100 yesterday in Janesville and Boscobel. State officials have reported no heat-related deaths – even though the heat wave is similar to one in 1995 in which 115 Wisconsinites died.

Road Buckling Snarls Traffic, Causes Accident

7/21/11 - Pavement buckling snarled traffic on Highway 151 during the peak of yesterday’s record-setting heat. In Columbia County, both northbound lanes were diverted onto the Highway 16-60 bypass near Columbus beginning around 4pm. The Wisconsin State Patrol says the scene was cleared at 9:20pm. In Dodge County, both of the southbound lanes near County Highway B experienced road blow-outs and motorists had to use the shoulder until 8:40pm. There was also minor road buckling on Highway 33 and 26 in the Town of Oak Grove. There were no injuries reported in a four-car accident at the intersection around 3pm.

BD Man Sentenced On Heroin Dealing Charges

7/21/11 - A Beaver Dam man was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in prison for selling drugs. Gino Montoya was arrested two years ago after a search of his house turned up heroin, cocaine and marijuana. The 35-year-old Montoya entered a “no contest” plea in May to charges of Drug Possession with Intent to Deliver. During the course of that plea hearing, an uncharged case was referenced. According to court records, that case could result in charges of Reckless Homicide Causing Death, though no formal charges have been filed. Under the Len Bias Law, a person who supplies drugs that result in an overdose death could be held liable. Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg tells us that he is “not commenting at this time on any other charges that may potentially be related to this case.” In addition to 13 years in prison for selling drugs, Montoya was ordered to serve 10 years of extended supervision. Montoya has been in prison since his arrest in May of 2009 and is requesting credit for time served. Klomberg says he is due none but the matter will be decided by a judge as early as next month.

Columbus Council Adapting Concealed Carry Bill

7/21/11 - Columbus has started to adjust to Wisconsin SB 93…the “Conceal and Carry” bill. Columbus is planning to prohibit persons from carrying firearms in any municipal building. Chief Dan Meister said legal posting of firearm prohibition in all municipal buildings was the first action needed. Another aspect of SB 93 is the provision that City employees can be prohibited from carrying firearms while at work. The new regulations are not likely to go into effect till this fall. Meister and the City Administrator will be bringing plans for posting City buildings and amending personnel handbooks to the Council for approval next month.

Oldest Church in Fox Lake Closing

7/21/11 - The oldest church in Fox Lake will be closing this fall. The First Congregational United Church of Christ has served the community since 1853 and was even used as a recruiting station for soldiers during the Civil War. Time has taken its toll and church treasurer Bev Connor told the city council last night the dissolving of the congregation is needed due to its size and health. However, the church wants to keep the building as part of the community and for that reason they’ve voted to donate it to the Fox Lake Historical Society. Church members told the council the upkeep of the building would be relatively inexpensive and the council appeared receptive to the donation. The church will hold a special ceremony on October 23rd prior to the official closing the following week. City Administrator Bill Petracek said he would draw up the necessary papers to allow the city to accept the donation. The council plans to act on them later this summer.

Lawsuits Filed Against Former Vets Secretary

7/21/11 - Three lawsuits were filed in federal court today accusing former state Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Ken Black of discriminating against white employees. Black, an African-American, was accused of denying one white plaintiff a promotion. He also allegedly fired a second employee improperly, and retaliated against a third person. The three plaintiffs made the same accusations that were leveled against Black in complaints a few months ago to the state’s Equal Rights Division – that he was trying to get rid of older white staff members. Each of the lawsuits seeks both compensatory and punitive damages from Black – who resigned a few weeks ago. The Equal Rights Division found probable cause that Black’s agency might have broken the state’s fair employment laws. The Associated Press said Black hung up when a reporter sought a comment.

Asian Carp Breaks Barrier

7/21/11 - There’s more evidence that the invasive Asian carp has gone beyond the electronic barrier that’s supposed to keep them out of Lake Michigan. The Army Corps of Engineers said nine water samples taken in recent weeks showed positive D-N-A evidence that the dreaded carp got past the long-established barrier. Seven of the positive samples turned up in Lake Calumet, which is just south of downtown Chicago. It has direct access to Lake Michigan. The other two D-N-A confirmations came from a spot near the downtown, and a nearby branch of the Chicago River. The nine samples are among dozens confirmed by D-N-A evidence. But only one actual Asian carp has been spotted beyond the electronic barrier – and that was a 19-pounder caught by a fisherman hired by the state of Illinois. Attorney Tom Cmar of the Natural Resources Defense Council said the Army Corps has been telling people for months that there’s no evidence its barrier has not been working perfectly – and the Corps can only say that without considering the D-N-A samples. The Army Corps has not commented beyond what it said on its Web site. The Asian carp was imported by fish farmers a number of years ago. They’ve gobbled up native fish and their food in the Mississippi River – and Wisconsin and other states are trying to shut down the Mississippi’s water link to Lake Michigan so the invasive fish does not hurt the Great Lakes’ massive fishing industry.

Milk Production Edges Downward

7/21/11 - Wisconsin dairy farmers made less milk in June, while farmers nationally made more. Officials said Wisconsin’s milk production dropped one-point-six-percent from a year ago, to around two-point-two billion pounds. The nation’s total milk output rose one-point-one percent in June, to over 16-and-a-half billion pounds. Production in the 23 major dairy states rose one-point-four percent. And California, the nation’s top milk producer, jacked up its output by three-point-four-percent. Wisconsin remains the nation’s number-two milk-maker. The Badger State added four-thousand cows to its herd – but the production per cow slipped by about 35 pounds, to 17-hundred-45.

Appleton Cops Schooled For Busting Lemonade Stand

7/21/11 - City officials in Appleton now admit they made a mistake when they told two young girls to stop selling lemonade outside the city’s Old Car Show on Sunday. It’s been a neighborhood tradition for 15 years. But police told nine-year-old Vivian Coenen and 10-year-old Lydia Coenen to shut down their lemonade stand on Sunday morning. An officer told them they were breaking a city ordinance. The ordinance was passed last month in Appleton. It bans licensed vendors from selling food-and-drinks within two blocks of any special events, to protect non-profit groups selling food inside. But lots of folks complained after the kids got shooed away. Officials then noticed the ordinance was meant to prohibit only licensed vendors – and kids don’t need licenses to sell lemonade. Appleton Police Chief David Walsh said he and his department took full responsibility – but his officers didn’t mean to harm the kids, and they’ll get training on how to properly carry out the new ordinance.