Top Stories, August 30th

Operations Committee To Review Construction Projects

8/29/10 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee will get an update on various projects currently under construction when they meet tomorrow night. Marty Sell will MSA Integrated Project Delivery will make a presentation on preliminary plans for the new $5.1 million police station and municipal court. That comes as the city begins the process of advertising for bids on the project. Meanwhile, demolition of the former YMCA on Park Avenue continues. That’s the site of the new station. Physical demolition of the exterior building began in the past week. The project itself is one month behind schedule and $52,000 over budget, due primarily to unforeseen environmental issues. Construction of the new station is slated to begin by early October. The Operations Committee is also expected to review the status of road construction projects, like North University Avenue and Stone Street, when they meet at 6:30pm tomorrow night in the Municipal Building.

Madison Street Resurfacing Begins Monday

8/29/10 - The detour route signage is in place for road work on Madison Street in Beaver Dam. Milling is expected to begin tomorrow beginning at Curie Street and proceeding northerly to Rowell Street. Madison Street will be repaved Tuesday afternoon and should be completed by this Wednesday. Pavement markings will be painted by Thursday night and the street should be opened back up to traffic by Friday.

Columbus LED Street Light Installation Stalled

8/29/10 - After three professional recommendations on how to proceed no action on LED Street Light installation in Columbus has been started. Taxpayers and rate payers could be saving money with the proposed LED Street Lights. The City has already received a $159 thousand dollar grant to replace 642 Sodium Vapor lights with new LEDs. However, the City and the Water & Light Utility cannot agree on ownership, installation and maintenance issues. Who will own street lights and poles still remains a question. Council member Roger Sneath said the City will be saving money whether the lights & poles were owned by the Water and Light Utility OR the City. Mayor Bob Link told the Council that he is frustrated that recommendations from Water and Light’s Ad Hoc Committee, Consultant Murray Sim and Advisors from Baker Tilley have not been accepted by the Utility. Alderman Sneath agreed that action on the project should begin soon. Meanwhile, Water & Light Superintendent John Andler said the Utility is “waiting for direction” from the City. The LED lights will come up again at the September 7th Council meeting.

Passenger Dies En Route To Milwaukee

8/29/10 - A passenger on a flight from Las Vegas to Milwaukee died of an apparent heart attack, forcing an emergency landing early Saturday. The victim was from New York. The AirTran Airways flight set down at Denver International Airport at about 2:50 a.m. The plane was met at the gate by an ambulance, but 64 year old passenger Stephen Enves was dead on arrival. The Elmhurst, New York, man was traveling with his wife. An airline spokesman says a passenger applied CPR and an automatic external defibrillator was used as those on board the plane tried to save his life. The flight continued to Milwaukee at about 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

Jefferson County Exception In Redistricting Study

8/29/10 - The U.S. Supreme Court has long held the concept of “a county” reflecting a community of interest, made up of similar people, according political scientist Mike Wagner. By this standard the Badger State ranks high with how our congressional districts are drawn. Wagner says Wisconsin does a much better job keeping counties intact. He cites exceptions like Jefferson County, which is split between Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republicans Jim Sensenbrenner and Tom Petri. Wagner is co-authoring research in a first-of-its-kind national analysis of voting behavior. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor says political awareness can be affected in split areas. The study asserts that voters who had been carved into new districts that mainly covered areas outside their home counties knew far less about their new House candidates than voters who weren’t redistricted.

Consumer Protection Fields Telemarketing Texting Complaints

8/29/10 - The addition of cell phones to the state’s do not call list for telemarketers has made the service even more popular, but it also has some businesses changing tactics in how they reach out to consumers. Some have turned to text messaging and it can end up costing cell phone users money to see a message they didn’t necessarily ask for. State Division of Consumer Protection Administrator Janet Jenkins says, while the no call list stops telemarketers from talking to you, the law only applies to voice communications. As a result, it does not prevent businesses from sending you unwanted text messages. Jenkins says the agency has received complaints. However, she says they can’t do anything about them until there’s a change in state law to incorporate texting technology.

Unemployment Compensation Fund Debt Grows

8/29/10 - Wisconsin’s unemployment compensation fund continues to reflect a bad economy. The projected deficit is in the billions of dollars, and options range from more borrowing from the feds, decreasing benefits, or raising taxes on employers. Based on how the economy is fairing, state Senator Jon Erpenbach says the best option is likely going to be to continue borrowing for a while. He says it would be unwise to raise taxes on businesses, especially if cuts in benefits would also be necessary. At last count, the unemployment fund debt was nearly one and a half million dollars - and growing. The state has already borrowed more than a billion dollars from the federal government in order to continue paying unemployment claims.

Teacher Resigns Over Questionable Emails

8/29/10 - A fifth grade teacher in Chippewa Falls has resigned after an investigation found more than 34 hundred questionable e-mails. Teacher Beth McElhenny was suspended last February and she resigned last week. The investigation showed she wrote e-mails about her drug and alcohol use, sex, her misuse of sick time and comments about co-workers. McElhenny gave co-workers demeaning nicknames like "Dumpy," or "Bellowing Cow." She had taught fifth graders for seven years and was a district librarian for 14 years before that.

Impetigo Hits West Allis High School Athletes

8/29/10 - About a dozen Nathan Hall High School athletes have been hit with impetigo in West Allis. The health commissioner says he thinks the outbreak has been mostly contained. The skin infection usually appears as blisters, boils or sores on the face and hands, though it can appear anywhere on the body. The school district reports it sent a letter to parents last week. Sanitation measures taken appear to be working since no new cases have been reported recently.

Mukwonago Schools Mascot Complaint Filed

8/29/10 - The Mukwonago Indians will find out if they need to come up with a new team nickname in the next month and a half. An attorney for the school district says a complaint at a hearing Friday was, quoting here, "unfair, unjust and unfounded." The Wisconsin Indian Education Association has called the symbol used by Mukwonago a stereotype that promotes discrimination. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction must render its decision in the next 45 days. Wisconsin is the first state to put a law in place requiring school systems to change team names, logos and mascots. Mukwonago is the third school system to face a formal complaint.

‘Citizens For Chickens’ Hits The Airwaves

8/29/10 - They lost a city council vote last week, but advocates of backyard chickens in Medford aren’t giving up. Instead they’re turning to the airwaves, hoping the mayor or least one council member will reconsider their votes. “Citizens For Chickens” are pooling their money for an ad campaign on the local radio station. Joe Kohn, whose three chickens precipitated the council action, says he’s been given a month to get rid of his birds. His eight year-old son Zachary is heard on the commercial, urging chicken supporters to contact the mayor and council. The city council deadlocked 4-4 on August 17th, on a measure to prohibit keeping chickens in the city - and Mayor Mike Wellner voted in favor of the bird ban.