Top Stories February 24th

Ryan Braun Cleared, Won’t Be Suspended

2/24/12 - Ryan Braun will report to the Milwaukee Brewers’ Spring Training camp today, and will hold a news conference to talk more about the reversal of his positive drug test. Shyam Das cast the deciding vote, when an arbitration panel voted 2-to-1 to accept the appeal of a drug test from the National League M-V-P last October. It was the first such reversal in Major League history. Braun’s test reportedly showed excessive levels of testosterone from taking a banned substance that was never disclosed. Braun said he never did it, and he called the arbitrators’ decision quote, “the first step in restoring my good name and reputation.” The 28-year-old Braun avoided a 50-game suspension which would taken effect on Opening Day, and could have hurt the Brewers’ chances of repeating as the National League Central Division champions.

Gas Prices Shoot Up

2/24/12 - Gas prices in Wisconsin have jumped nearly 18-cents on average in the past week. According to wisconsingasprices.com, the average price of a gallon of gas this morning is $3.53, up from $3.36 a week ago. In Beaver Dam though, gas could still be had for $3.35 as of 6am today. That’s among the lowest prices in the state. It’s $3.39 in Mayville and Hartford. And it was $3.48 in Ashippun and Watertown.

Horicon Teen Changes Plea

2/24/12 - A Horicon teen accused of attacking a woman in her home last year has changed his plea. Cory Frederiksen’s attorney changed his plea to not guilty earlier this week. He originally entered a not guilty plea by reason of mental defect. It’s not clear why the plea was changed. 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. Frederickson is currently serving a 13-year sentence for an unrelated crime.

Discover ‘Discover Dodge’

2/24/12 - A new organization is promoting tourism in Dodge County. Discover Dodge was formed last fall to fill the void left by last year’s disbanding of the Dodge County Tourism Association. Leslie Hershberger with Discover Dodge says the eleven-member board is comprised of representatives from all the local cities along with villages and towns from all four corners of the county. A new visitor’s guide is being printed and a new website will be launched on March 15. Unlike the defunct Tourism Association, Discover Dodge will promote everyone in the county, regardless of their affiliation with the organization. The group even has the support of the state’s biggest name in tourism. Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett will be the keynote speaker at the group’s First Annual Breakfast, which is scheduled for Friday, March 23 from 7:30am to 9am at the Iron Ridge Inn Restaurant.

Portage Processing Center Still On Chopping Block

2/24/12 - The U-S Postal Service said Thursday it will proceed with its earlier plans to shut down five mail processing centers in Wisconsin. The Portage processing and distribution facility will consolidate with Madison. Similar facilities in Eau Claire and La Crosse will both move to Saint Paul Minnesota. The Wausau facility will move to Green Bay. Kenosha's processing operations will be consolidated in Milwaukee. Retail operations at the five locations will stay open. Postal officials said the moves were the result of a five-month study. Congress has ordered a moratorium on post office closures that runs through mid-May, but the Postal Service could not say when the Wisconsin moves would take place. And it's not immediately known how many jobs will be cut. The Postal Service previously said 252 U-S processing sites could be closed to cut millions-of-dollars in losses as mail volumes keep dropping. Postal unions say the planned reductions in next-day deliveries will hurt business -- and they said the fiscal problems could be solved if Congress would allocate retirement system overpayments to the agency, and end the requirement of pre-funding postal retirement benefits.

WNDR Deer Hunting Forums Announced

2/24/12 - The status of deer hunting in Wisconsin will be the subject of 35 public forums throughout the state next month. The D-N-R says anyone with an interest in hunting or deer management should attend. A biologist will make a presentation at each session, following by a question-and-answer period. The forums run from March 7th-through-29th. The forum in Dodge County will be held on Thursday, March 22 from 6pm to 8pm at the Horicon Marsh International Education Center. Additional times and locations: http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_Lookup.asp?id=314#art1

Some Opt Out of Recertification

2/24/12 - Almost 40 local government unions in Wisconsin have completed their re-certification votes. And all but four decided to stay in existence, despite the virtual elimination of their bargaining powers. The G-O-P's union law passed last year requires groups to re-cetify every year. And 51-percent of all members must vote yes, instead of the previous 50-point-one percent of those voting. James Scott of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission says the new law has turned a non-vote into a no vote. Two unions failed to re-certify because 10 or more of their members didn't vote. Another 120 local government unions will hold re-certification votes from March 8th through the 28th. Most public school and state government unions that sought re-certification were successful in getting it. Many groups didn't bother, but the larger ones are trying to collect their own dues in exchange for continued lobbying on behalf of their members.



2/24/12 - State officials are giving people a good reason to invest in seven new high-tech companies. The state will cover 25-percent of the amount invested in those start-up firms. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation approved its "new business venture status" yesterday for three companies in Madison -- Invenra, Snow-Shoe Foods, and N-C-D Technologies. The other four are Caseus Energy of Stratford, Enhancement Medical of Wauwatosa, One Event Technologies of Mount Horeb, and Pinpoint Software of Onalaska. Among other things, the firms are creating new smart-phone apps for grocery coupons -- technology that converts cheese whey into ethanol and livestock feed -- and therapies that use pep-tide synthesis.

Watertown Man Guilty of BD Molestation

2/24/12 - A Watertown man who had sexual relationship with a pre-teen girl in the Beaver Dam area last summer has a chance to avoid a felony record. Anthony Granzow was placed on deferred prosecution yesterday after pleading “no contest” to amended charges of Third Degree Sexual Assault Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. He was found guilty of misdemeanor Fourth Degree Sexual Assault and sentenced to 30 days in jail with Huber privileges. According to the criminal complaint, the 20-year-old had dated the victim’s older sister and met up with the young girl in July and then assaulted her in his van. He told investigators that he thought she was 16-years-old. Granzow was also placed on probation for two years.

Court Update: Madison Family Accused of Child Abuse

2/24/12 - A father and step-mother accused of starving a 15-year-old girl in Madison had their court cases delayed Thursday. And the girl's step-brother waived a preliminary hearing. 18-year-old Joshua Drabek was ordered to stand trial on three felony charges that he molested and abused the girl. 40-year-old Chad Chritton and 42-year-old Melinda Drabek-Chritton said they more needed time to get lawyers, after they were turned down for free representation by a state public defender. Both are now applying for public attorneys from Dane County, and the status of their cases will be reviewed next Friday. The parents are both charged with reckless endangerment and child abuse. Prosecutors said the girl was starved for years. Authorities said she ran from the house earlier this month in just her pajamas, and a passer-by called 9-1-1. Officials said the girl weighed 70 pounds when she was discovered, and had later gained 17 pounds in a short time under foster care. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said more charges are possible in the case.