Top Stories July 5th

Ashippun Break-In Under Investigation

7/5/11- $100,000 was apparently stolen from a residence in Ashippun. According to Sheriff’s Department records they assisted the Neosho/Rubicon/Ashippun Police Department with the break-in on Oak Ridge Drive, which was reported around 2:45 yesterday afternoon. Records show that $60,000 in cash and $40,000 in silver coins and bars were taken along with a safe. Anyone with information is asked to contact the NRA Police Department or the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department.

Man Injured in ATV Accident

7/5/11- A 57-year-old man was apparently seriously injured on a private property in the town of Fox Lake after falling off an ATV. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says the man was towing a wave runner with the ATV when the rope got hung up and the machine flipped. Records say the man possibly had a broken back. It happened just after 6pm last night at a residence on Maple Point.

Four Dead in Drowning Incidents

7/5/11- Authorities continue to investigate at least four drowning incidents in Wisconsin during the July Fourth weekend. In Waupaca County, a man drowned Sunday while trying to retrieve a boat in the Manawa Mill Pond. Authorities said the boat got untied from a rope he was holding. And he was swimming to catch up with the craft when he got caught in a current and was pushed underwater. In Green Lake County, officials said a 25-year-old man was boating on Lake Puckaway when he jumped in for a swim – and he could not return to the boat after it drifted away. The other two incidents were in Polk County in northwest Wisconsin. A 22-year-old Saint Paul man drowned Sunday when a boat in which he was riding capsized on Antler Lake. And Polk County officials said 53-year-old Ronald Carlson of Centuria died Friday after he dived head-first into shallow water off a dock on North Twin Lake. Names of the other three victims were not immediately released.

Delafield Man in Critical Condition After Fall

7/5/11- A skier from southeast Wisconsin was fighting for his life, after he fell 800-feet on a mountain at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. 33-year-old Ryan Redmond of Delafield was in critical condition yesterday at a hospital in Idaho Falls Idaho. Redmond was an Ameri-Corps volunteer at the Teton Science Schools, and director Jack Shea said Redmond might not have regained consciousness after the Saturday incident. But Shea said doctors are “guardedly optimistic” that he’ll pull through. Redmond was part of a group of four who were climbing in the park. National Park Service rangers said Redmond was the first to ski down, but he started tumbling early on. An ice axe was connected to his ski pole, but rangers said he could not stop his fall. One of Redmond’s companions called for help. Rangers said snow conditions helped cause the mishap. Officials said the ski trip was not an event put on by the Teton Science Schools.

$15K in Fines and Loss of License for Two WI Men

7/5/11- Two Wisconsin men have lost their fishing licenses and have each been fined more than 15 thousand dollars for possessing illegal game fish and then ditching them in Jefferson County. Steven Kallenbach of Stoddard and John Bruring of La Crosse entered guilty pleas in court last week. In addition to the fine, their licenses are suspended for three years. DNR wardens found the fish to be dumped, buried or covered with debris along the shoreline of Lake Koshkonong. Nearly 700 fish included more than 300 walleye. The walleye limit at Lake Koshkonong is five.

One Year Anniversary for Smoking Ban

7/5/11- It was a year ago today when Wisconsin became the 27th state, and the last among its neighbors, to ban indoor smoking in public places. A survey by the Smoke-Free Wisconsin group shows that 75-percent of residents favor the ban – up from 69-percent when legislators were debating it 15 months ago. Governor Scott Walker originally said the smoking ban would hurt businesses. But now, he says most people are comfortable with it, and he won’t do anything to change it. But not everybody’s happy. The Wisconsin Tavern League says it has lost three-percent of its members in the last year. And director Pete Madland said the smoking ban was partially to blame for the demise of 170 bars. But so far, at least, state sales tax collections for taverns-and-restaurants have not suffered. In fact, they went up by one-percent last year compared to 2009. Also, a U-W Madison study showed that communities which adopted their own smoking bans before the statewide ban had no negative effects on their economies. State officials say they’re getting a lot fewer complaints about businesses ignoring the smoking ban. There were about 600 such complaints in the past year. They went down dramatically after the first month. And after rising slightly last winter, complaints hit an all-time low in May.

Possibly Successors to Kohl Still Waiting

7/5/11- Three prominent Democrats say they will delay their decision on whether to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Herb Kohl. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin says she will announce her plans some time this month, while former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold says he will make an announcement before Labor Day. Another possible candidate, Congressman Ron Kind, says he is urging his supporters to help with this summer's recall elections targeting nine state senators. Kind says he will delay his decision to allow voters to focus on the current debate in Wisconsin over Republican policies and priorities. The Democrat Kind says he is appalled at the damage being done to Wisconsin by Governor Scott Walker.

Bill Would End Government Liability for Motorists that Hit Potholes

7/5/11- If a state lawmaker has his way, it would be your fault if you hit a pothole caused by highway defects. Freshman Assembly Republican Andre Jacque of Bellevue is sponsoring a bill to end government liability for pothole damage caused by known highway problems. Right now, drivers can claim up to 50-thousand-dollars in damages – and Jacque said the money could be better used to fix those roads. A similar bill is pending in the Senate. Both have yet to have public hearings. Jacque calls it one more burden for local governments. And the Legislative Fiscal Bureau says communities could pay lower insurance premiums if their liability for potholes goes away. Supporters say the bill would let highway departments decide which repairs are most important at a time when their budgets are tight. But Brown County risk manager Barb West says it would relieve counties of the obligation to fix potholes on a timely basis – and she says it’s not acceptable. Former Governor Jim Doyle vetoed a similar proposal in 2005.

Tornado Confirmed in NW Wisconsin

7/5/11- The National Weather Service is confirming that a tornado hit near Solon Springs in northwestern Wisconsin during that strong storm that swept through the region Friday night. Survey teams say damage was consistent with an EF-2 tornado packing winds of 120 to 130 miles per hour. Observers say the tornado traveled about three miles during a three-minute period. A few injuries were reported, but no one was killed. One wood frame home was destroyed and a manufactured home was shifted off its foundation. That tornado is the first confirmed tornado to hit Douglas County in nearly 13 years. The same storm system is blamed for causing two deaths near the St. Croix River.

Mega-Millions Back to $12M

7/5/11- The Mega Millions jackpot starts over at 12-million-dollars for tonight. That's after a ticket sold in Virginia won the 105-million-dollar prize on Friday night. Wisconsin had one of the nine second prizes, each worth a quarter-million-dollars. A ticket sold in Glendale matched the five regular numbers but not the Megaball. It was the seventh time this year the Mega Millions jackpot was claimed. Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot is at 25-million-dollars for tomorrow night. A ticket sold in Prairie du Sac won the second prize of 200-thousand-dollars during the weekend.