Top Stories, March 20th

Children’s RadioThon Recipients Announced

3/20/10 - The eight recipients of this year’s Children’s RadioThon have been selected. Coordinator Jill Cullen says the non-profit organizations chosen this year include: Clothes for Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dodge County, the Parent Resource Place, Green Valley Enterprises Birth to Three Program, the YMCA of Dodge County Strong Kids Campaign and People Against Violent Environments. In addition New Beginnings Homeless Shelter returns to the fold this year and marking its first appearance Community Care For Kids and their Pre-School and Child Care Summer Day Camp Program. Cullen was also happy to report that the 2nd Annual Noel’s Angel Walk will be returning after raising nearly $17,000 in its first year. Last year the RadioThon raised nearly $117,000 for seven local organizations and to date has brought in more than $940,000. Good Karma Broadcasting President and CEO Craig Karmazin credited the Angel Walk for pushing last year’s totals over the six-digit mark. The 13th Annual Children’s RadioThon begins at 6am on Thursday, June 24 and wraps up at 9am on Friday, June 25. The marathon broadcast will feature radio station personnel, recipients and other friends from the community auctioning off a variety of items and services. Those interested in donating auction items or money can contact Jill Cullen at the Good Karma Broadcasting office in Beaver Dam.

Garbage Fire Reported at Dump

3/20/10 - A fire was reported at a garbage dump in the Town of Hubbard early Saturday morning. The Kekoskee Fire Department responded to the property owned by Veolia Environmental Service at N7296 County Highway V at 2:41am this morning. The Dodge County Sheriffs Department was called in to investigate. Another fire was reported Friday afternoon in the Town of Theresa. According to the Sheriffs Department a combine caught fire in a shed at W1991 Zion Church Road around 1:15pm. The extent of damage is unknown at this time.

OWI Charges Follow Accident

3/20/10 - A Hustisford man was flown from the scene of a one-vehicle accident Thursday night. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, Scott D. Macmillan was traveling on Tweedy Street in the Village of Hustisford at a high rate of speed when he entered the opposite lane of traffic, lost control of the vehicle went off the roadway and struck a tree. The accident occurred just before midnight. The 45-year-old was not wearing his seatbelt and was transported by Flight For Life to Froedtert Hospital. Authorities cited Macmillan for his third OWI because his preliminary blood alcohol level was allegedly above the legal limit for driving at point 1-2-5.

Columbia County Drug Units Stats

3/20/10 - The Columbia County Sheriffs Department has released statistics from their Drug Enforcement Unit. According to Sheriff Dennis Richards, over an 18-month period from May of 2008 through December of 2009, undercover officers recorded 142 drug buys that led to 186 felony drug cases. The department received 416 tips and leads as part of their investigations. Nearly $83,000 has been seized from drug offenders along with 13 vehicles.

Motorcyclist Safety Urged

3/20/10 - With spring weather comes the urge for motorcyclists to head out on the highway. For some, unfortunately, it may be their last ride. The Bureau of Transportation Safety's Motorcycle Safety Coordinator Greg Patzer says motorists and motorcyclists alike need to watch out for each other and share the road. He says intersections are particularly dangerous and motorists need to take a little extra time to note the motorcycles speed approaching the intersection at and then make sure that you give them the right of way if it's appropriate. Patzer said in two of the first three motorcycle fatalities, excessive speed by the motorcyclists has been indicated as a likely factor in the crashes. He urged motorcyclists to make sure their speed is appropriate for the road and traffic around them and wear the appropriate gear, including helmets.

Doyle, Lawton Out Of State

3/20/10 - Both Governor Jim Doyle and Lieutenant Governor Barb Lawton are out of the state this weekend, leaving what seems like a vaccuum at the top of state government. Who's in charge? Doyle left for a 10-day trade mission to Italy and Tunisia Wednesday. Lawton didn't know he was going, finding out by reading a news release while she was in Washington, D.C., for a conference. She doesn't return until Monday. The state constitution says Lawton would take over if Doyle was out of state, but it isn't clear about who carries the power when both are gone. Secretary of State Doug La Follette is next in the line of succession. Doyle's office points to a 1979 legal interpretation that says as long as the governor is in communication with those back home, he retains the power. With cell phone, e-mails and other 21st Century technology, it appears Jim Doyle still has the power. Haig was Secretary of State when President Reagan was shot. He became famous for telling reporters he was in charge after Reagan was shot -- when he really wasn't.

2-Year College Enrollment Up

3/20/10 - UW officials say applications to their public two-year colleges have spiked significantly, up nearly nine percent from last year. The UW-system’s 13 two-year campuses collectively received more than 43 hundred applications – about 400 more than last year. UW-Colleges Chancellor David Wilson says it's not because more people are trying to avoid the economic effects of the recession but because the UW-colleges have achieved wider recognition. He says the word is out that the faculty care “a great deal” about teaching and are working with students very closely to make sure they are in a position to succeed when they transfer. But Wilson admits more families may in fact seek higher-education during an economic crisis.

(Thanks, Kirk Carapezza, Wisconsin Radio Network)

UW Teach-Ins Today

3/20/10 - It’s a mixture of the Vietnam era and current military actions at UW-Madison this weekend. UW Sociology Professor Joe Elder attended UW teach-ins during the 60s and 70s, and he is the organizer of an event that runs through today. Faculty panelists, campus and community groups are discussing issues surrounding Afghanistan and Pakistan. The purpose is to provide information and generate dialogue. Other points of discussion involve examination of the role of the Taliban and how it affects governance, as well as the US diplomatic relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and how the two Asian nations deal with each other.

WISPRIG Urges Pay Day Loan Cap

3/20/10 - Wisconsin state Senators are being pressured to put a cap on interest rates charged by payday lenders. A Senate Committee held a hearing in West Allis last week on legislation that would impose new regulations on the industry. However, Bruce Speight with WISPIRG says the measures being considered falls short of addressing the real problem, which he argues is the interest rates charged on those loans. Speight says that’s the main issue that allows lenders to drag consumers into an endless cycle of debt. WISPIRG is among a coalition of public policy groups calling for the Legislature to impose a 36-percent interest rate cap on payday loans. The payday lending industry has said a rate cap would effectively put them out of business.