Top Stories December 23rd

Unemployment Rates Mostly Down

12/23/11 - The jobless rate the region was down last month for the most part. According to figures released this week by the Department of Workforce Development, the unemployment rate in Dodge County was 6.9% in November, down from 7.2% in October and six-tenths of a percent lower than November of last year. Fond du Lac County was down two-tenths to 6.2% over the two-month period. Washington County was at 6% last month while Jefferson County was at 7.0%, both down two-tenths of a percent from October. Green Lake County held steady at 7% even. Columbia County was up one-tenth to 7%. The lowest rate in the state was 4.4% in Dane County. Menominee County had the highest rate at 13.6%. The statewide jobless rate in November was down four-tenths of a percent to 7.3%, while the national rate was 8.6%. In total, 70 of the state’s 72 counties had lower unemployment rates or no change over the two month period.

BD Man Arrested For Sixth OWI After Chase

12/23/11 - A Beaver Dam man was arrested Wednesday for sixth-offense drunk driving after Columbia County authorities say he sparked a high speed chase. It started just before 3:30pm when deputies responded to reports of an intoxicated driver in the city of Portage. The responding deputy reportedly observed the suspect traveling east on Highway 33 near Cambria. The vehicle then turned down some town roads at a high rate of speed, sparking a seven mile pursuit that reached close to 80mph. Road spikes were deployed on Vaughn Road at State Highway 44, just north of Pardeeville. Jonathan L. Gorr was taken into custody without further incident. The 33-year-old Gorr is charged with Sixth Offense Operating While Intoxicated, Possession of THC and drug paraphernalia and a variety of traffic violations.

Sensenbrenner Apologizes For Remark at Hartford Church

12/23/11 - Wisconsin House Republican Jim Sensenbrenner wrote a formal apology letter Thursday to First Lady Michelle Obama. The Menomonee Falls lawmaker drew national attention after using some rather choice words to criticize the First Lady’s national campaign to fight obesity. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Sensenbrenner – who’s been in Congress over three decades – told a Christmas bazaar at a Hartford church that Michelle Obama had a quote, “big butt.” Later, Sensenbrenner was overheard on a cell phone at a Washington airport saying Michelle Obama quote, “lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself.” Amanda Infield, a spokeswoman for Sensenbrenner, said her boss doesn’t think the government should tell Americans what to eat. But she said he would apologize, even if he doesn’t agree with her initiatives. The Journal Sentinel said people who heard his comments at the Saint Aiden’s church bazaar thought the apology was weak. Micki Hoffmann said Sensenbrenner can attack a person’s politics all he wants – but not body image. And she said the congressman should also apologize to her church.

McNeer Convicted In Attempted Murder of Wife

12/23/11 - A retired head of the We Energies utility was convicted Thursday of Reckless Injury for trying to kill his wife in June. 85-year-old Charles McNeer of Hartford struck a plea deal with prosecutors, and was found Innocent by Reason of Insanity. Washington County Circuit Judge Todd Martens decided not to subject McNeer to a possible 20-year prison term. Instead, the judge will announce on February 28th whether McNeer will go to a mental institution, or be released under certain conditions. Prosecutors said he struck his wife Ann in the head with a hammer in late June. He told authorities his health was failing -- and he tried to kill his wife because he didn't think she could live without him. The couple has been married for over 60 years.

Local Gas Prices Fall

12/23/11 - Local gas prices are some of the lowest in the state right now. According to wisconsingasprices.com, the average price of a gallon of unleaded regular is $3.24 this morning, up five-cents from a week ago. But gas in Beaver Dam can be had for $3.10, while it’s going for $3.11 in Juneau and Horicon. It’s $3.13 in Hustisford and $3.16 in Waupun and Columbus. The national average today is $3.23. That’s 22-cents higher than a year ago.

Patrick Cudahy Suing Navy Over Destructive Flare

12/23/11 - Patrick Cudahy is suing the U-S Navy for 326-million dollars, because a Marine stole a Navy flare that was used to set the Cudahy meat plant on fire in 2009. The plant, its owner Smithfield Foods, and their insurance companies filed their lawsuit in federal court in Milwaukee. It accused the Navy of being negligent in not controlling its supply of flares at Camp Wilson in California, where Joshua Popp stole one. His brother set it off at a family Fourth-of-July gathering south of Milwaukee in 2009 -- and the flare landed on top of the neighboring Cudahy meat plant and caused a massive fire. The Navy rejected a claim from the plaintiffs. It said the government waives immunity from legal action only when an employee commits wrongdoing within the scope of the person's job -- and that was not the case with Joshua Popp. The two brothers pleaded to reckless endangerment, and were put on probation for three years.

Couple Avoids Jail Time

12/23/11 - A rural Beaver Dam couple has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors for selling items that were being used as collateral on a bank loan. Steven and Cheryl Schmitt plead to reduced misdemeanor charges of Transfer of an Encumbered Property and each had seven other felon counts dismissed. According to the criminal complaint, the Schmitt’s sold over $77,000 worth of cattle and farm equipment in 2007 and 2008. The money was put into an account to cover bills in their other business, SJS Trucking. A loan agreement with the bank prohibited the sale of any items listed as collateral without prior approval. The couple was looking at over 50 years in prison. They’ve already paid restitution in full and as part of the plea agreement, they will avoid jail time, probation and a felony record.

BDPD Investigating Counterfeit Bill

12/23/11 - The Beaver Dam Police Department is investigating a counterfeit bill that was found at a local gas station. Employees with the Horicon Bank contacted authorities Wednesday morning to report that a fake $20 bill was found in a deposit from the Shell Travel Mart. Counterfeit bills are turned over to the Secret Service and those responsible could face state and federal charges. Anyone with information should contact the Beaver Dam Police Department.

Dane County DA May Reconsider Union Challenge

12/23/11 - The Dane County D-A says he might ask the State Supreme Court to reconsider his challenge to Wisconsin's collective bargaining limits -- this time, without input from Justice Michael Gableman. Ismael Ozanne said he's taking a hard look at asking Gableman to recuse himself, after reports that the justice took free legal services from a law firm in defending an earlier ethics case. The law firm is the same one that helped Governor Scott Walker's office develop the union law. And Gableman voted in June to uphold that law. The State Judicial Commission was asked this week to investigate whether Gableman broke the judicial ethics code by voting on cases in which he had a direct financial interest with one of the parties -- namely, the law firm of Michael Best and Friedrich. Ozanne says he does not have all the facts yet in deciding whether to seek a re-opening of the collective bargaining case. But he said the facts he had are quote, "concerning." But even if Gableman withdraws, another justice would have to change his-or-her vote -- or else there would be a 3-3 deadlock, and the court would not consider the case. Gableman voted with a 4-3 majority in June against Ozanne's allegation that Republican legislators broke the state Open Meetings Law when it passed the union bargaining limits in March. A recent court hearing said the court cannot force a member to withdraw from a case -- which means Gableman would have to do it voluntarily if the D-A asks.

Advisory Referendum on Collective Bargaining

12/23/11 - The home county of Wisconsin's state government will hold an advisory referendum next spring on whether to bring back public union bargaining privileges. Dane County Executive Joe Parisi signed a County Board resolution yesterday (Th) that calls for an April third vote on the union bargaining ilmits adopted this year. Supervisor Dianne Hesselbein of Middleton proposed the referendum. She said it would give Dane County residents a chance to enter the debate and show support for quote, "working families in Dane County and across the state." Parisi, a former state Assembly Democrat, said union bargaining has been essential to the prosperity of Wisconsin families for decades and quote, "They deserve a seat at the table once more."

Green Bay Salvation Army Gets Gold Coin

12/23/11 - The Salvation Army in Green Bay said it could not believe the donation it received yesterday. Somebody dropped a gold coin in one of the Red Kettles at Festival Foods in Green Bay. And Captain Ken Shiels said his staff was thrilled to learn that it was worth 16-hundred-dollars. An anonymous donor dropped the one-ounce gold American Eagle coin in the kettle. Shiels said he wants to think the gift resulted from the donor's confidence in the Salvation Army and what it does for the community. The Brown County chapter is trying to raise just over one-point-one million dollars by January 27th -- and they're two-thirds of the way there.

Local Teacher Honored

12/23/11 - Fourteen teachers, including one from Rubicon, have won this year’s Wisconsin Financial Literacy Awards. Governor Scott Walker’s Council on Financial Literacy announced the recipients yesterday. That included Jennifer Guenther of Rubicon. The awards recognize efforts to help people learn more about handling their personal finances. The winning projects are geared toward helping school students become more financially literate along with workers, prisoners, and community residents in general. The winners were chosen from 45 nominations. Eight organizations were also honored.