Top Stories March 24th

Beaver Dam Rally’s Behind Girls Basketball Team


3/24/10 - Several hundred people came out last night to a pep rally for the Beaver Dam Girls Basketball team as they head to the state tournament Thursday in Madison. Coach Tim Chase told the crowd that when the season started they were picked fifth and they rolled all the way through the conference to a perfect 14-0 record. He says those same people said there was no way Beaver Dam would beat Oshkosh West on their home court, but the Golden Beaver's came from ten points down to win sectionals. And Chase says a prep basketball website has predicted their opponent, number one-ranked DePere, will beat them by 19-points. But Chase says the team has proven people wrong all year and they're gonna do it again tomorrow. Tickets are available on the WIAA's website or at the Kohl Center. The game will be broadcast on 95.3 WXRO, coverage starts at 6:00pm.

Police Bust Alleged Drug House in Columbus

3/24/10 - Columbia County authorities busted an alleged marijuana growing operation in Columbus last night. After a six week investigation authorities say they executed a search warrant that resulted in a 45-year-old man being arrested on a myriad of charges. Police say they discovered the growing operation in a bedroom of the residence. Among the items seized were 17 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, a book on growing marijuana, a baggie of processed marijuana and a number of other drug related items. The man was booked into the Columbia County jail on five charges including Maintaining a Drug Dwelling, Manufacturing Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Resisting Arrest.

Assessments Approved by Horicon Council

3/24/10 - A large audience greeted the Horicon City Council last night as they discussed levying assessments for upgrades to sewer lines and sidewalks on East Maple Street. The street was used as the main detour route during the Highway 33 reconstruction project last year leaving it littered with potholes. City officials say they used the road because it was due to be replaced this year anyway and contend the only reason it got so chewed up was large semi's not obeying the detour route around the city. At the meeting last night residents said they understood that the road was to be replaced but still thought it wasn't right for their road to be used as a detour. Those living on the portion of East Maple Street being replaced will be forced to pay for the improvements, whic are expected to cost in the $2,000 range. City officials say homeowners will be able to pay the assessments over a five or eight year plan. Work on East Maple Street has already begun.

Wood Panel Deadlocked

3/24/10 - A state panel recommended no legislative punishment Tuesday for Representative Jeff Wood, who’s been charged with three O-W-I’s in the past 16 months. All three Republicans on the special Assembly panel suggested that Wood be expelled, but all three Democrats favored only a reprimand. And without a majority recommending a specific punishment, the full Assembly will decide on its own whether to sanction Wood, who’s an Independent from Chippewa Falls. Last Friday, Wood said he received blood test results showing that his body had normal therapeutic levels of medicine when he was stopped last fall for erratic driving near Wausau. And as a result, Wood expected his O-W-I charge in Marathon County to be reduced to inattentive driving. Wood says he’s also fighting a similar arrest in Monroe County. And he has struck a plea bargain on a drunk driving case on the Interstate near Portage in Columbia County in December of 2008. The full Assembly is expected to take up the matter next month. It takes a two-thirds majority to remove Wood, but only a simple majority to reprimand him. Assembly Republican Steve Nass of Whitewater was the sole sponsor of a resolution to expel Wood last fall. Nass said Wood brought dishonor to the Legislature. But Wood said lawmakers had no right to punish him for something that was not directly related to his official state duties.

Industrial Park RxR Tracks Under Repair

3/24/10 - Work has already started to repair city-owned railroad tracks near the industrial park that split last week. A Wisconsin and Southern Railroad car came off the rails on North Green Valley Road, just north of Industrial Drive. While the rail car from Total Logistics did not tip it was left stranded and packed with perishable items. Officials estimate the final price tag will come in at between $20,000 and $30,000. Because the city planned to reconstruct Green Valley Road anyway this year, city officials say the two projects will benefit from being done simultaneously.

GAB Lifts Ad Restrictions

3/24/10 - Wisconsin will no longer enforce its 105-year-old law against labor unions and companies using their general funds for political ads. The Government Accountability Board unanimously voted Tuesday to stop enforcing the ban, after the U-S Supreme Court threw out a similar ban in January. Board staffers said the ruling in Washington effectively nullified the Wisconsin law. Madison attorney Mike Wittenwyler, who helps special interest groups put out political ads, said the board had no choice but to suspend its enforcement. Board member Gerald Nichol said he didn’t agree with the Supreme Court’s decision – but he has to accept reality.

Local Coach, Players Honored by Associated Press

3/24/10 - Randolph's Bob Haffele has been named as the A-P state Coach of the Year. Haffele received the coaching award after his Randolph team won the Division-Four crown and went 29-and-0. They also won a W-I-A-A-record eighth overall title. Meanwhile, Kyle Kelm of Randolph was named 2nd team all-state while Waupun's Austin Armga was recognized on the 3rd team. T-J Bray of Waukesha Catholic Memorial was named as the state player of the year.

Mega-Farm Public Hearings Begin

3/24/10 - Public hearings begin this week on a proposal to issue general state permits for so-called “mega-farms.” Right now, the D-N-R considers each individual case before granting a farm permit with over a-thousand animal units – which is equal to about 700 dairy cows. The new proposal would grant general permits for farms with a-thousand to 57-hundred animal units. Those with as few as 300 units might need permits if they have pollution problems that have not been corrected. The D-N-R says the new system would speed up the paperwork process – and it would let inspectors spend more of their time in the field. The first hearing on the measure is set for Friday in Wausau. Other hearings continue until about mid-April.

Badger State To Get $310K Settlement

3/24/10 - Wisconsin will get 310-thousand dollars as part of a national settlement in a Medicaid fraud case. Alpharma was accused of making false statements about its pain drug Kadian, so health care providers would prescribe more of it to patients. Medicaid is both a state and a federal health program which serves the poor and the elderly. State Attorney General J-B Van Hollen says the federal government will get 398-thousand dollars as a result of the Wisconsin part of the lawsuit. Alpharma will pay a total of 42-and-a-half million throughout the country, with interest. Medicaid will get almost half the amount.

State Developing Long Range Rail Plan

3/24/10 - The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is seeking public input in developing a statewide, long-range rail plan. The Wisconsin Rail Plan 2030 is aimed at addressing rail needs. Aileen Switzer, DOT’s chief of statewide planning, says an on-line survey allows residents to tell DOT with what they like – or dislike – about freight, passenger or commuter rail. The survey takes about five minutes to fill out. The D-O-T has also mailed the questionnaire to a large range of businesses and the railroad industry. You can find a link to the survey on our website. The agency will hold public hearings on the plan later this year.

For more information:http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/state/railplan.htm