Top Stories August 10th

GOP Maintains Control of State Senate

8/10/11 - Republicans have maintained control of the state Senate despite an unprecedented recall effort. Of six elections held yesterday, Republican incumenbents held their seats in four. One of the seats changing hands came in the 18th district, which makes up much of Fond du Lac County and the Dodge County portion of Waupun. Democrat Jessica King defeated incumbent Republican Randy Hopper in what was a rematch of the 2008 race in which Hopper won. King took 51-percent of the vote or just more than 28,000 votes. The last race to be called came in the 8th District where incumbent Republican Alberta Darling rallied for 10-percent win over Sandra Pasch. Democrats picked up a win in the 32nd Senate District over Republican Senator Dan Kapanke of La Crosse. Democratic State Representative Jennifer Shilling defeated Kapanke with about 55-percent of the vote. Shilling has been in the Assembly since 2001. Incumbent Republican Luther Olsen of Ripon defeated Democrat Fred Clark of Baraboo in the 14th District. Sheila Harsdorf cruised to victory over her Democratic opponent, Shelley Moore. And Republican Senator Rob Cowles of Allouez also won a victory in his recall race. Cowles had 60 percent of the votes cast to defeat Democrat Nancy Nusbaum.

Turnout Lower than Expected

8/10/11 - Tuesday’s recall elections for the 14th and the 18th State Senate Districts in Fond du Lac County and a portion of Dodge County went off without many problems at the polls according to County Clerk Lisa Freiberg. She says there were plenty of ballots. There were lines in some areas, but despite the unusual time of year for the election everything went pretty smooth. However, the turnout was lower than expected. Election Clerks in Fond du Lac County were expecting from 70 to 80 percent of registered voters to come to the polls. But Freiberg says that wasn’t the case with a turnout of about 63 percent for the entire County. In the 18th State Senate District there were about 38,000 fewer people voting than during the 2008 November election, the first time Randy Hopper and Jessica King faced off.

Frederiksen Pleads ‘Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity’

8/10/11 - Two doctors will determine if a Horicon teen is competent to stand trial for allegedly stabbing his neighbor. Cory J. Frederiksen entered a plea of “Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity” Tuesday to six felony charges, including Attempted Homicide, related to the May 23 attack. Judge Andrew Bissonnette ordered Frederiksen be examined before a possible trial is scheduled. Authorities say the 18-year-old entered the home of his next door neighbor while she was getting breakfast. She returned a short time later and Frederiksen allegedly attacked her, stabbing her repeatedly. Candia Rehse was left with a fractured skull and deep skin lacerations, among other injuries. She fought back and bloodied her attacker 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. A fund has been set up for Rehse – a longtime community volunteer – at all Horicon Bank locations.

Jury Trial Scheduled For Accused Child Molester

8/10/11 - A three day jury-trial has been scheduled for a Watertown man accused of molesting a six-year-old. Cory Hammond entered a “not guilty” plea when he was arraigned in April on charges of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 12. Two alleged incidents are said to have occurred between May and November of last year. According to the criminal complaint, the 19-year-old reportedly promised the girl several presents if she kept their secret. When questioned, Hammond admitted his actions to investigators saying they were isolated incidents. He faces up to 170 years in prison, if convicted. Hammond is being held on a $20,000 cash bond. The jury trial is scheduled to begin April 16, 2012.

Columbus - Fall River Regionalization Work Begins

8/10/11 - Fall River construction laying the three mile stretch of wastewater main to Columbus has started. The under- the- river piping from Main Street to the School area lift station is already complete. Work on the multi-million dollar Columbus / Fall River regionalization force main project is scheduled to continue into 2012. Fall River rate payers will be seeing changes in their rates and their billing procedures starting in November. When the project is complete the Village will become part of the Columbus wastewater collection and treatment system.

Governor Signs Bills for Redistricting

8/10/11 - Just before the deadline, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed two bills into law which redefine the state’s legislative and congressional districts. Democrats had called on the governor to veto the maps. They said that would show he was serious about finding a common ground on important issues. Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Peter Barca called the signing a blatant, partisan power grab by Walker. Opponents now wait to see if a federal lawsuit filed on constitutional grounds can succeed.

Juneau Approves Pre-Tax Resolution

8/10/11 - The Juneau Common Council last night approved a resolution that many municipalities are finding necessary following collective bargaining reform. It allows the city to withdraw a municipal employee’s contribution to their retirement before taxes are taken out. The new state budget for the first time requires most municipal employees to pay toward their retirement, currently at five-percent. Clerk-Treasurer Gladys McKay says the tax code does not specially allow public employers to remove pension contributions pre-tax. The change will be reflected beginning with August 26 paychecks.

“Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign to Start

8/10/11 - The Dodge County Sheriffs Department will be participating in a nationwide effort to crack down on drunk drivers. Patrol Captain Molly Soblewski the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign runs from August 19 thru Sept. 5. Soblewski says drunken driving continues to be one of the most destructive and deadly crimes in Wisconsin. There were more than 40,000 convictions for drunken driving in Wisconsin last year; 220 people were killed and more than 3,500 injured in nearly 5,800 alcohol-related traffic crashes. Under a state law enacted last year, those convicted of first-offense OWI with a blood alcohol level of point-one-five (.15) or higher, and all repeat drunken drivers, are required to have an ignition interlock device on every vehicle they own. The law also makes first offense OWI a criminal offense if there is a passenger under age 16 in the vehicle. Soblewski says patrols will be beefed up and deputies in her department will have zero tolerance for drunken drivers with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of preventable traffic deaths to Zero In Wisconsin.