Top Stories October 16th

Second Debate Held in Governor’s Race


10/16/10 - Friday's debate saw Democratic candidate for governor Tom Barrett attacking his Republican opponent's record in running Milwaukee County. The debate took an expanded town hall format, letting people from around the state ask questions of the candidates. Barrett said Scott Walker can't follow through on the campaign promises he's made to cut taxes because the state faces a shortfall of more than two and a half billion dollars. Walker disputes that, saying he can reduce taxes and grow the Wisconsin economy at the same time. Walker says he improved things as county executive, keeping his promise not to back higher property taxes.

Biden Speaks in Wisconsin

10/16/10 - Vice President Joe Biden tells a Wisconsin crowd letting next month's elections be a referendum on voter anger will spell defeat for Democratic candidates. Biden appeared at a party fundraiser yesterday in Milwaukee. He stressed that candidates from his party should remind voters of the progress the Obama administration has made. Biden was campaigning for congressional candidates Steve Kagen and Julie Lassa, gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett and U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. Biden told Democratic Party members at the event they must remind voters the Bush administration put the country in an economic hole.

Columbia Co. Not Among Requests by Doyle

10/16/10 - Columbia County is not among the 10 counties that Governor Doyle has asked the federal government to declare disaster areas in the wake of heavy rains and flooding last month. The request was made for Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Portage, Taylor, Trempealeau, and Wood counties. Storms dumped up to eight-inches of rain across the state’s mid-section, causing rivers to over-flow in those areas and downstream. Almost seven-and-a-half million dollars in damage was reported to public facilities like roads and bridges. And hundreds of homes had at least some damage. In Columbia County emergency management officials estimated that 120 homes sustained minor damage while 10 had major damage. There was also approximately $40,000 in damage to public infrastructure.

Kuenzi Trial Will Have Dodge Co. Jury

10/16/10 - A Waupaca County man has rejected a plea deal for a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian in 2004. Rory Kuenzi of Weyauwega is scheduled to go on trial next month. His defense lawyer wanted more time to find an expert witness to challenge the state’s evidence in the case. But Circuit Judge Philip Kirk rejected the delay. Authorities said Kuenzi struck 20-year-old Kevin McCoy in October of 2004, shortly after an underage drinking party. Officials said Kuenzi then moved the body into a ditch and drove away. State justice officials filed charges in the case in 2009, while Kuenzi was fighting heavily-publicized charges that he stole a snowmobile and joined two other riders in killing a half-dozen deer on a trail in Waupaca County. Because of all the publicity, a jury from Dodge County was picked for the hit-and-run trial. Jurors are scheduled to be picked on November 12th, with testimony to begin November 15th.

Esten Memorial Today

10/16/10 - A memorial service for the former president of Wayland Academy will be held this morning. Robert Esten, who stepped down in July after more than 8-years on the job, died early Monday at UW-Hospital in Madison at the age of 64. In a press release, the Chair of Wayland’s Board of Trustees, Susan Peterson, said (quote) “Bob’s passion for the Academy was unparalleled – especially against the background of generations of the Esten family devoted to Wayland.” The memorial service will be held at Wayland Academy starting at 11am.

No Increase for Social Security

10/16/10 - For the second year in a row, Social Security will not grant cost-of-living raises next year for over 58-million retired and disabled Americans. Officials say that the inflation rate was too low since the last “COLA” increase in 2009. The adjustments are automatically set each year by an inflation formula that Congress adopted in the mid-1970’s. Social Security was the primary source of income for almost two-thirds of those receiving benefits as of 2008 – and their average payment will stay at one-thousand-72-dollars a month. Employers who contribute to Social Security will also get a freeze in their rates for 2011. The announcement came at a terrible time for congressional Democrats who are facing tough re-election challenges in two-and-a-half weeks. Many seniors have seen their retirement accounts and home values plunge since the start of last year. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she’s push for a 250-dollar payment for all Social Security recipients once the elections are over. But senators are talking about blocking the increase – just like they did a year ago, when the House tried passing a similar stipend.

E-15 Not Available at a lot of Stations, Yet

10/16/10 - It might not be easy for drivers to find the newly-approved gasoline that has 15-percent ethanol. The federal E-P-A approved “E-15” this week for cars 2007-and-newer. But Kwik Trip vice-president Steve Loehr says it’s not enough to justify the cost of putting in special tanks and pumps for a limited customer base. Kwik Trip is based in La Crosse, and it has 370 convenience stores that sold over 80-million gallons of ethanol last year. Loehr tells the Brownfield Ag News Service the chain will consider selling E-15 if the E-P-A expands its usage to vehicles as old as 2001 – which would cover 55-percent of the nation’s cars and trucks. A decision on that is expected in the next month.

Protest May Lead to Talks About Curriculum

10/16/10 - The Superintendent of Madison Public Schools says he will meet with a student group to talk about curriculum changes. About 500 students spent a little more than a half-hour in silent protest outside West High School Friday morning. The students walked out of class to protest district plans for creating preparatory and accelerated tracks of classes for students to take. More advanced placement options would be offered to students in the accelerated class. Students say they worry the plan will widen the gap between students having trouble in class and those who are more advanced.

Uecker Going Back Under the Knife

10/16/10 - Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster Bob Uecker goes back on the operating table next Tuesday. The heart procedure will be conducted to fix a tear at the base of a previous heart valve replacement procedure. That operation was last April. Doctors think the tear was caused by a staph infection which entered Uecker's bloodstream about six weeks after his first operation. The popular 75 year old comedian, actor and announcer said he is optimistic about the surgery and said he plans to be ready to go for Spring Training.

Man Killed by Deputy Didn’t Have a Gun

10/16/10 - Dane County investigators report a man shot and killed Tuesday night in the Town of Madison was not armed. They say 25 year old Eugene Walker did not have a gun at the time he was shot by a sheriff’s deputy. Investigators are still looking for the gun Walker allegedly used to hold his former girlfriend at gunpoint at her Fitchburg residence. The deputy who shot Walker, an 11 year veteran with the Dane County Sheriff’s Department, said Walker refused to follow orders and then charged him, pulling the deputy to the ground, at which point Walker was shot. Walker was pronounced dead at a Madison hospital and the deputy was treated and released. He is on administrative leave during the investigation.

Columbus Marching Band Preps for State

10/16/10 - The Columbus High School “Marching Cardinals” have a good chance to take home another first place in the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Championship competition at Whitewater Saturday afternoon. Just last week they took a first place in the Cudahy competition. For the past four years the Marching Band has been judged the best – or one of the best -- in State School Competition. Under the direction of Tim Meinholtz the Marching Cardinals start honing their marching routines with two extensive marching camps in July and August in preparation for the fall show season. Marching Band enthusiasts, parents, staff, Columbus High students and their families are invited to see the CHS Marching Cardinals “do their thing” at 1:30 pm at Whitewater.