Top Stories May 30th

DPI Issues Report on Seclusion Room in WASD

5/30/12 - The Waupun School District has been ordered by the State Department of Public Instruction to stop using their controversial “seclusion room” at Rock River Intermediate until corrective actions have been taken.  The district came under scrutiny earlier this month after a parent complained that the room was used to punish her autistic child. By law, seclusion rooms can be used to diffuse a violent outburst. Mandy Rennhack had asked special education teachers last fall to stop placing her ten-year-old son into the 5-by-7-foot padded plywood box when he was having discipline issues – and said she’d pick him up from school instead. Rennhack was furious when she learned that the box was used again in March. The district requested the state inspection, which took place on May 17. According to Stephanie Petska, the DPI’s Special Education Director, says the school’s use of the seclusion room was not consistent with the department’s directives. The report completed May 23 and obtained by WBEV yesterday says seclusion rooms are meant to maintain safety and (quote) “may only be used as a last resort when a student’s behavior presents a clear and imminent risk to the physical safety of the student or others.” The report says it “must not be connected to serving a ‘time-out’ or any other type of discipline.” The corrective actions the district was ordered to perform include proper ventilation, removal of the door lock and the installation of a large window or round unbreakable mirror. The report also calls for staff to be trained on appropriate uses of a seclusion room. Superintendent Don Childs did not immediately return our phone calls but told us last week before the report was issued that the seclusion room would not be closed for the rest of the school year. He also outlined changes the district was voluntarily taking, some of which are not required, including the installation of floor covering over the concrete tiles. The report did note appreciation for the district’s responsiveness and willingness to work with department staff.

Girl Struck By Arrow is Back Home

5/30/12 - A seven-year-old Fond du Lac County girl is home from the hospital, after she was hit in the back by an arrow while playing with her friends. Aryanna Schneeberg was shot on May 21st outside her home in Campbellsport. She had the arrow removed during a procedure at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital. Fond du Lac County Sheriff Mick Fink spoke with the youngster Tuesday to get her side of the story. Her mother, Laura Schneeberg, said investigators continue to follow a number of leads. But no one has been arrested yet.

Registry for Vacant Building in BD a Possibility

5/30/12 - City officials in Beaver Dam are hoping to establish a registry for vacant buildings. The ordinance would cover all non-residential structures, primary commercial, manufacturing and industrial buildings. Mayor Tom Kennedy says there have been dozens of reasons over the years to assemble such a list, many stemming from the 2008 floods. Some buildings had standing water in basements for months, breeding mold and unpleasant odors. In one instance, a homeless person had been discovered living in the balcony of a flood-ravaged building. Under the proposed ordinance, owners of vacant buildings would have 30 days to register with the city. The proposed ordinance passed through the city’s Plan Commission and is headed to the Operations Committee before consideration by the full council.

Walker Raises $6M and Barrett $3.5M According to Latest Figures

5/30/12 - Governor Scott Walker’s campaign raised almost six-million-dollars in a four-week period ending May 21st. And his Democratic challenger Tom Barrett raised almost three-and-a-half million. With Walker’s recall election just six days away, finance reports filed yesterday show that both campaigns had about the same amounts on hand, around one-and-a-half million dollars. But daily reports of large contributions showed that the Republican Walker had raised an additional 860-thousand between last Wednesday and Sunday. And Barrett received an additional 261-thousand. As a recall target, Walker was able to raise unlimited amounts to cover debts incurred before the election was officially scheduled. And his new report shows that Walker continues to bring individual donations of up to 100-thousand-dollars – well above the normal 10-thousand limit that Barrett must follow under normal election laws. Barrett spokesman Phil Walzak says their campaign is getting tremendous grass-roots support. Walker has now raised a record-shattering 31-million dollars since January of 2011. Ciara Matthews of the Walker camp says it reflects people’s enthusiasm for the governor’s budget changes that included the near-elimination of collective bargaining for most public unions. That’s the issue which spurred the recall effort in the first place.

Walker Won’t Pardon Former Aides Involved in John Doe

5/30/12 - Governor Scott Walker said Tuesday he would not pardon any of his former Milwaukee County aides who are convicted in the ongoing John Doe probe. Tom Barrett, the Democratic challenger in next Tuesday’s Walker recall election, had questioned earlier whether the governor would pardon any of his former aides. But the Republican Walker said he mentioned before that he’d never do that – and he said Barrett knows it. Walker accused Barrett of quote, “trying desperately to talk about anything except the success of our reforms.” Walker said he’s responsible for a billion-dollars in state-and-local government savings, plus the creation of over 30-thousand jobs. Walker also said Barrett – the Milwaukee mayor – is trying to divert attention away from Barrett’s record in the city. Former Walker aide Darlene Wink struck a plea bargain, and was convicted of a minor charge in exchange for information to prosecutors. Four other Walker aides and associates – including Kelly Rindfleisch of Columbus –

remain charged in the John Doe, which involves Walker’s years as the Milwaukee County executive. The charges include embezzlement and campaigning on taxpayers’ time.

Man Charged with Stealing Scrap Metal

5/30/12 - A West Allis man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of scrap metal and other equipment from a Town of Ashippun shed. Joseph Mazzone is charged with felony Burglary and misdemeanor Attempted Theft, which carries a maximum prison sentence of nearly 13 years, if he is convicted. According to the criminal complaint, Mazzone is friends with a family renting a house on the property in question and was reportedly caught red-handed by the property owner. The victim removed the keys from a vehicle Mazzone was using to keep him from fleeing the scene. The 22-year-old nonetheless took off on foot. Mazzone is accused of stealing an electric generator, a boat anchor, lawn mower, aluminum rims and assorted scrap metals. The tenant was apparently not aware the items were being stolen, even though Mazzone – who is friends with her son – was using her car. Mazzone had a signature bond set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled next month.

Preventing Drug Abuse Near the Top of BD Elks Lodge Agenda

5/30/12 - Rob Radig with the Beaver Dam Elks Lodge says his group wants to be interactive in the community and get people involved in preventing drug abuse. Radig was recently re-elected as a State Officer and also received a commendation award for work he has done on the state Committee on Drug Awareness.  Radig, a Beaver Dam alderman and past Exalted Ruler of the local lodge, coordinates the three drug awareness trailers available by the Elks for statewide use. The trailers are stocked with information on the dangers and warning signs for all types of drugs, along with other positive activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.

More information is available at www.elks.org.

Meetings on New Wolf Hunting Season to be Held

5/30/12 - Four meetings will be held next month, to give Wisconsinites a say on the new wolf hunting-and-trapping season. Earlier this year, lawmakers and the governor approved a season that runs from October 15th through the end of February. The Natural Resources Board must still approve the finer details – like the number of hunting-and-trapping permits to be issued, and harvest quotas in various parts of the state. The public meetings will start at 6 p-m on four dates in June – on the sixth at Spooner High School, June eighth at Black River Falls Middle School, June 14th at the U-W Fond du Lac auditorium, and June 15th in Rhinelander at James Williams Middle School. The D-N-R Board plans to vote on the final wolf hunt details at its July 17th meeting in Stevens Point.

Compas, Virgil on Community Comment Today

5/30/12 - On WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon we begin a two-day look at the recall election in the 13^th State Senate District. Democrat Lori Compas of Fort Atkinson will join us at 12:35pm to discuss her efforts to unseat longtime Republic incumbent Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau. In our second segment today, our guest will be Libertarian recall candidate Terry Virgil. Tomorrow, Senate Leader Fitzgerald will be our guest at 12:35pm.