Top Stories December 26th

Early Morning Fire Destroys Town of Calamus Home

12/26/08 - Five people are at a Columbus Hospital today after an early morning fire destroyed a home in the Town of Calamus. Jerrad Fox with the Columbus Fire Department says firefighters fought the fire and the elements at the home at W11523 County Road FW. Fox says the owner of the home noticed a glow coming from outside, and when he went to open the bedroom door he was greeted with a blast of smoke. He was able to get his wife, daughter and her two sons out of the house. Fox says the house was fully engulfed when authorities arrived, and the strong winds further fed the fire. Within 20 minutes the roof collapsed, and the house is considered a total loss. The cause, so far, is undetermined. All five people in the home were taken to the hospital and were doing good at last word. Four fire departments fought the blaze, and firefighters were on the scene for about five hours.

Flooding Possible but Not Likely

The National Weather Service says we could get some flooding – but not a lot – from the rain and the above-freezing temperatures expected today. A winter weather advisory was canceled overnight in southern Wisconsin, after a large system of snow, sleet, and freezing rain moved east over Lake Michigan. More rain is predicted for later today, but not as much. There are no flood watches or warnings anywhere in the state. Some streets could flood if their sewer grates are clogged – and smaller streams may rise a bit. But Chris Franks of the Weather Service says the heavy snow-cover will absorb most of the moisture, as temperatures rise to the low-30’s in the north to the low-40’s in the south.

Black Friday II

12/26/08 - Some call it Black Friday Two. Wisconsin department stores open as early as 5:30, as shoppers return unwanted Christmas gifts and look for bargains. J-C Penney has never opened this early. It’s enticing the 5:30 crowd with 100 door-buster specials – twice as many as a year ago. Many shoppers will use the gift cards they received for Christmas. But fewer people bought them, despite a big rush of sales earlier in the week. Retailers are looking for strong after-Christmas sales to make up for the lowest holiday sales in decades. The economy was a factor but not the only one. Record December snow-falls in Wisconsin are blamed as well. And Mary Wenger, the manager of Milwaukee’s Southridge Mall, says the Green Bay Packers’ losing season has hurt sales at her sports memorabilia shops. In spite of all that, big crowds are expected at the stores today. Steve Smith of Mayfair in Wauwatosa says folks will hunt for the next wave of mark-downs. Christian Jaeger of Milwaukee’s Bayshore mall says families are still together – and shopping gives them something to do.

If there is Ice and Snow, Take it Slow

12/26/08 - The month of December has had its share of nasty winter weather, highlighted by record snow fall in many locations. Beaver Dam has received nearly 15 more inches of snow so far this season than it had at this point a year ago. The state DOT says it serves as a reminder that, if there’s ice and snow, take it slow. The Wisconsin State Patrol says it has responded to several thousand slide-offs and roll-over crashes in December caused by people not slowing down. Some of those runoffs and roll-over crashes resulted in deaths, including three in Dodge County, the most recent being a 30-year-old mother and her seven-month old son on Christmas Eve. The Patrol says always stay alert for changing road conditions this time of year and modify your speed to match the conditions. The State Patrol also reminds motorists that the state’s new 511 traveler information system is now operational and they can call 511 at any time to get information on winter road conditions along their intended route.

Kenevan to Stay On as Interim Fire Chief

12/26/08 - The interim fire chief in Columbus will stay in that post, after his predecessor completed a six-month administrative leave for actions related to the June floods. Mayor Nancy Osterhaus says she’s using her executive authority to keep Mark Kenevan in the top spot. The former acting chief, Bill Kluetzman, was put on paid leave in June along with local emergency management director Bob Zapotocny and fire-fighter Doug Landphier. The mayor said there was inappropriate conduct as a result of the massive floods in Columbus. Kluetzman returned as a deputy chief, and he says he’s talking to his lawyer about his possible next course of action. Kluetzman was given a disciplinary warning for his conduct. There was no action against Landphier. Zapotocny resigned after he was put on leave.

Tax Bills Up

12/26/08 - Just because home values are plunging doesn’t mean property taxes are falling. In fact, many Wisconsinites were amazed to see that the assessed values of their homes actually went up this year – and some folks blame that for a bigger-than-expected tax hike. According to state law, homes are assessed according to what they were worth on January first – long before the mortgage meltdown reared its head. In theory, if everybody’s assessments rise by the same amount, their property taxes would not go up as a result. But it doesn’t work that way. Ken Jankowski of Milwaukee saw his home assessment rise by 23-percent, and he got hit with a 27-percent increase in property taxes this month. He had to pay an extra 871-dollars, instead of the 200-or-300 more he was counting on. Jankowski’s home is now valued at 173-thousand dollars, and he says there’s no way he could sell it for that much. Homeowners are supposed to get notices in the spring if their assessments change, and they can appeal the figures if they wish. But Jankowski said he didn’t know about his increase until he got his tax bill.

Bush Administration Nullifies WI Compassionate Care Law

12/26/08 - The Bush administration has kept its promise to let all health care workers refuse to perform abortions or provide information if it goes against their morals. Earlier this year, we learned that the new rule could nullify Wisconsin’s law that requires hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims if they ask for it. Rea Holmes of the state health services department says the Bush rule indeed nullifies the state’s compassionate care law. Madison House Democrat Tammy Baldwin called it an attack on patients’ rights and the doctor-patient relationship. The A-C-L-U called it President Bush’s parting shot at women’s access to basic health care. Opponents of the new rule are already asking President-elect Barack Obama to repeal it next month.

Give the Gift of Life

12/26/08 - Christmas has come and gone but there is still one gift you can give – the gift of life. The Red Cross is asking Wisconsinites to consider giving blood during the holidays. Sarah Stevermer says there’s a big need for platelets right now. The blood product is commonly used for things like organ transplants and cancer treatments. Stevermer says they only have a shelf-life of about five days – so new supplies are constantly needed. The Red Cross uses a process that lets you donate platelets up to 24 times a year, as opposed to eight times for whole blood. It takes longer to donate platelets than blood, about one-and-a-half to two hours. And remember the spirit of giving, because you won’t get paid. Companies do pay for platelets used in making medications, but that’s not the case here. To learn more, you can call the following toll-free number –
1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

Convicts Prepare for a Different Life after Prison

12/26/08 - Starting next summer, 50-to-100 inmates at the federal prison in Oxford will learn how to use mops and computers instead of working toward a college degree. U-W Baraboo-Sauk County will end a 35-year relationship with the prison. Corrections’ officials want more instruction in custodial and computer fields which are not offered at the school. So the school did not submit a bid for a renewed contact that would have taken effect in June. Dean Thomas Pleger says it’s unfortunate that such a beneficial arrangement is about to end. But prison executive assistant Christine Montonna said inmates would benefit more from occupational-oriented programs which would give them marketable skills they can use as soon as they get out.