Top Stories, July 9th

Waupun Only Dodge County Community Voting In Recall

7/9/11 - Only one municipality in Dodge County will be able to vote in next Tuesday’s primary recall election. The city of Waupun falls into the 18th State Senate District where incumbent Republican Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac is fighting to complete his first term. He won’t appear on a ballot until August as two democrats will be fighting it out next Tuesday. Dodge County Clerk Karen Gibson says she has been getting phone calls from people in other municipalities, like Beaver Dam, but she says the recall only involves Dodge County voters that live in Waupun. Gibson says her office has allocated 1600 ballots for the election, which covers about 60% of the eligible voting population. Jessica King is the Democratic Party-backed candidate. King is an attorney and the former deputy mayor of Oshkosh. She also lost a close race to Hopper in 2008. King's primary opponent, John Buckstaff, has done little campaigning and is considered a “fake” democrat. He told an Oshkosh newspaper that the recall effort against Hopper is wrong and that his candidacy is another example of what democracy looks like. Buckstaff says liberals aren't the only ones with a right to protest.

Judge Orders Recall Elections To Proceed

7/9/11 - A judge has refused to stop recall elections against nine Wisconsin state senators. Opponents had argued the paperwork involved was filled with issues ranging from fraudulent signatures to improper registration forms. Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess made the ruling Friday, saying the Government Accountability Board had no clear responsibility to invalidate the recall petition efforts. Unless there is an appeal, the recall elections against six Republican and three Democratic senators will move forward over the next month and a half. All of the recalls come from the senators' positions on Governor Scott Walker's collective bargaining law, which takes most collective bargaining rights from state workers. Democrats can take control of the Wisconsin Senate if they can hold their Senate seats and pick up three more.

Proposed Legislative District Maps Released

7/9/11 - The Republican version of Wisconsin’s new state legislative districts was released yesterday (Fri). Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald of Horicon and his brother, Senate leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau, are giving folks 10 more days to review the maps before they vote to approve them on July 19th. This is the first time since the 1950’s that Republicans control both houses and the governor’s office during the redistricting process. And while legislative Democrats cannot stop the G-O-P’s maps from being approved, others are going to court to stop them. Former Democratic Senate leader Judy Robson of Beloit and 13 others want a three-judge federal panel to step in and draw non-partisan Assembly and Senate boundaries – just like they had to do for the last three decades. The process is being handled a few months earlier than normal. Critics say the G-O-P is trying to ram through their new maps before the recall elections – when it’s possible that Democrats could regain the majority in the Senate. The party in power can stack the new districts to include as many of their voters as possible, to try-and-control the Legislature for up to 10 years until the next redistricting. In a statement, the Fitzgeralds said they’ve fulfilled their constitutional requirement to re-draw district lines according to population changes in each 10-year Census.

The G-O-P’s congressional boundaries were also released. And as expected, central Wisconsin’s previous “community of interest” was split up in what critics say is an attempt to keep freshman Republican Sean Duffy of Ashland in office. Of the four major cities in central Wisconsin, only Marshfield and Wausau would remain in Duffy’s district. Stevens Point – the most Democratic city in the region – would move to House Democrat Ron Kind’s district in western Wisconsin, along with Wisconsin Rapids.

The Assembly and Senate district information is first below, followed by the congressional redistricting.

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/July11/0708/0708legismapstables.pdf

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/July11/0708/0708congmapstables.pdf

Frederiksen Bound Over For Trial

7/9/11 - A Dodge County judge Friday found probable cause to bind over a Horicon teen for trial on charges that he stabbed a woman in her home in May. 17-year-old Cory Frederiksen is charged with First Degree Attempted Murder for allegedly stabbing his 53-year-old neighbor as many as 18-times. Authorities say Candia Rehse went to get something to eat just before 5am and, when she returned home, she walked in on Frederickson. Rehse was left with a fractured skull and deep skin lacerations, among other injuries. She fought back and bloodied Frederickson before he fled the scene. Frederickson and his father were on their way to the hospital when police stopped them and took the teen into custody. Frederiksen’s parents were among those testifying at this morning’s preliminary hearing, along with the arresting officers and the victim. A fund has been set up for Rehse – a longtime community volunteer – at all Horicon Bank locations. Frederiksen is expected back in court for an arraignment hearing on August 9.

Murdered Toddlers IDed

7/9/11 - Two children who were allegedly murdered by their mother’s boyfriend in Madison were identified Friday as three-year-old Kemaury McArthur and his four-year-old brother Kevin. The Dane County medical examiner’s office said the youngsters died from “homicidal violence.” But more tests are being done before the medical reasons for the deaths are made known. The boys were found dead in a parked car early Wednesday, about an-hour-and-a-half after 28-year-old David Hoem turned himself in as a suspect. He’s in jail on a parole violation while police continue to investigate the double-slaying. Police said Hoem had a history of domestic violence, but he had never abused the children. Officials said Hoem and his girlfriend had a fight involving a knife on Monday night – police believe the youngsters were killed the following evening.

Teen Arrested Driving Drunk In Stolen Car

7/9/11 - The Mayville Police Department has arrested a 16-year-old who was found to be driving drunk in a stolen vehicle. That’s according to a post from 2am this morning on the department’s twitter feed. We’ll have more information for you as it becomes available.

Van Vs. Semi In Waupun Results In Injury

7/9/11 - An Illinois man was injured in a van versus semi accident in the city of Waupun early yesterday morning. According to the Waupun Police Department, 61-year-old Ronald Murray was stopped at a stop sign on East Franklin Street and then pulled into the intersection and hit the middle of a semi trailer that was southbound on Fond du Lac Street. The wreck occurred just after midnight. Murray was transported from the scene and ticketed for Failure to Yield the Right-of-Way. The 48-year-old Fond du Lac man driving the semi was not injured.

Clyman Dump Truck Strikes Utility Pole

7/9/11 - Minor injuries were reported after a Village of Clyman dump truck struck a utility pole Friday morning. Clyman Fire Chief Eric Howlett says it happened around 8am on County Highway J just west of Highway M. Howlett says the dump truck had a malfunction with the drive shaft which caused the breaks to fail and led to the accident. Juneau EMS transported the village worker driving the truck to the Watertown Hospital with minor injuries. The truck sustained minor damage. Emergency officials were on scene for about 90 minutes. We Energies responded to repair the power pole but there was no disruption in service for local utility customers.

Kids Focus of Lake Days Saturday

7/9/11 - The 18th Annual Beaver Dam Lake Days continues today at Tahoe Park. The event features live music, food, a carnival midway and, of course, the big fireworks show Saturday night. There are plenty of kid’s activities on tap for today too, including a petting zoo, story-telling, kids Olympics and dog demonstrations. The Beaverland Must-Ski’s are hosting learn-to-ski clinics. On the main stage, 33rpm and Cherry Pie are performing. Fireworks are set for 10pm Saturday night on the lakefront and there is no rain in the forecast. Things get underway Sunday with an Ecumenical Polka Worship Service, a kids fishing contest at Waterworks Park and music by Don Peachey and Brian and the Mississippi Valley Dutchmen. Shuttle service is available at the lower Tower Parking Lot, off Mill Street, and the Beaver Dam Family Center and leaves every half hour.