Top Stories, October 30th

Quad-Graphics Gets $46M In Tax Credits

10/30/10 - One of Dodge County’s largest employers is adding up to 13-hundred jobs in the state. Sussex-based Quad-Graphics – which has plants in Lomira and Hartford – says it’s moving work from five plants that are in the process of closing in four other states. And the firm is getting 46-million dollars in state income tax credits to help pay for the effort. C-E-O Joel Quadracci said that without the state assistance, Quad might have looked elsewhere to consolidate. He said other states would have loved the additional jobs. And while Quad is a “big believer” in Wisconsin, Quadracci says the firm must look out for itself and do what’s best economically. Governor Jim Doyle and state officials have not commented on the enterprise zone tax credits that Quad’s about to get once jobs are created. Several other large firms have received similar tax breaks, including Harley-Davidson, Mercury Marine, the Oshkosh Corporation, and Republic Airways. In a couple cases, the assistance helped the companies stay in Wisconsin after they considered offers to leave. The Quad-Graphics jobs will be added over the next decade – and over 400 of them will be filled in the next few months.

Columbus City Budget Much Lower Than Schools

10/30/10 - Passage of a Columbus School District budget earlier this week caused City officials to review certain shared costs. Costs for school crossing guards and School use of City facilities have been considered part of the City budget for years. Preliminary City budget figures show a decrease in expenses and the tax levy. Meanwhile, Schools’ expenditures and tax levy figures show an increase. The Mayor and City Administrator are hoping to meet with School District administrators over the next few weeks as the City finalizes the 2011 budget.

FDIC Issues Order To Ixonia Bank

10/30/10 - A bank based in Jefferson County is the latest to be ordered by the federal government to get stronger. The F-D-I-C said I-S-B Community Bank of Ixonia has engaged in quote, “unsafe or unsound banking practices.” Among other things, it was told to create a new management plan, beef up its capital, and get board members more involved. C-E-O Jeff Knudtson says the bank has already done many of those things – and it has made significant progress in becoming more efficient. He said his bank is not alone in dealing with challenging economic times, especially with the commercial real estate market. But Knudtson says I-S-B is now on the right path to becoming stronger. The F-D-I-C said the bank lost one-point-eight million dollars last year. But in the first nine months of this year, Knudtson said the bank had a net income of 429-thousand-dollars. The firm has been in business for 92 years, and it has assets of just under 400-million dollars. I-S-B is the 35th Wisconsin bank in the past two years to get special orders from the F-D-I-C to improve.

Fox Lake Man Arrested For Fleeing

10/30/10 - A Fox Lake man is in custody after allegedly fleeing from Dodge County deputies early Friday morning. It happened just before 2:30am in the Town of Trenton. Dodge County Patrol Captain Molly Soblewski says a deputy attempted to pull Justin Marquette over for going more than 20-miles-per hour over the speed limit but he initially refused to stop. The suspect did eventually stop his car near the intersection of Breezy Point Road and County Highway A and reportedly fled on foot into a corn field. Deputies set up a perimeter, used thermal imaging camera’s and also brought in a K-9 Unit. Marquette was found lying on the ground between corn rows. The 21-year-old faces several charges including Operating While Intoxicated and Resisting Arrest and is being held on an outstanding Beaver Dam warrant.

Woman Sentenced In Stabbing

10/30/10 - A Mayville woman will spend three years in prison for stabbing a man in the chest. A jury convicted Beverly Jean Tiegs of Aggravated Battery in August and she was sentenced Friday in Dodge County court. Authorities responded to a 9-1-1 hang-up call in April of last year and when they conducted a safety sweep of the residence they found the victim hiding in the closet. He said he went to the home to fix Tiegs window and she accused him of stealing cash so she stabbed him. According to the criminal complaint, the victim said the 44-year-old Tiegs was acting “crazy goofy” and had been drinking and taking prescription medications. In addition to three years in prison, Tiegs was also sentenced to three years of extended supervision.

Columbus Woman Drives Into Rehab Center

10/30/10 - No injuries were reported after a woman drove her car into the Columbus Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Thursday afternoon. Police Lt. Dennis Weiner says it happened at 1:07pm after the 88-year-old Columbus woman confused the brake with gas pedal. She crashed her Ford Focus about five or six feet into an occupied room causing what Wiener described as “quite a bit of damage.” The occupant inside the room was opposite the window that the woman smashed through and neither party was harmed. There were no citations issued.

Countersuit Filed In Cheating Husband Case

10/30/10 - The latest step in the case of the woman who tried to get revenge on her cheating lover in a Calumet County motel sees her counter-suing. Therese Ziemann says the the lawsuit filed against her is a fraudulent attempt to get money. Prosecutors say Ziemann lured the man to a motel in Stockbridge in July of last year. They say she tied him to a bed, called three other women into the room, and used crazy glue on his body. The 38 year old Fond du Lac man filed a civil complaint, accusing Ziemann of assault, battery and infliction of emotional distress. Ziemann's counter-suit disputes the man's allegations he was injured.

Walker, Barrett Final Debate

10/30/10 - Republican candidate Scott Walker says voters are tired of the attacks aimed at him. Walker and Democrat Tom Barrett engaged in their final debate Friday before next Tuesday's balloting for governor. Both candidates pushed their plans for improving the state's economic climate. With polls showing Barrett trailing, he was again aggressive in his questioning of Walker's position. Walker says Barrett is desperate and avoided answering questions. He said the Milwaukee mayor was only offering attacks - and no real solutions for Wisconsin's problems.

Fifth Annual Freakfest

10/30/10 - The fifth annual Freakfest returns to downtown Madison, but one local official says the cost of keeping it peaceful remains a concern. City officials began charging admission to the annual Halloween celebration on State Street in 2006, following years of riot-like conditions. Alderman Jed Sanborn says costs have gone down since the city and a private promoter began working to plan the celebration. He says it remains an expensive event to hold, but he doesn’t believe the city has much choice. The cost to taxpayers for the event last year was about $40,000. Although, Sanborn says that figure was about 10 times higher when the city started running under the banner of Freakfest in 2006 and even higher when there were riots and a large number of arrests.

Bed Bugs At UW Clinic

10/30/10 - Bed bugs show up in Madison. A small outbreak of the parasitic insect was discovered at a UW Health clinic west of Madison. The bugs were found in a small area on the first floor of the Middleton office. The building is used for administrative purposes only, so no patients were affected. A pest control company has already been in to use a chemical pesticide to eradicate the problem, and the building has been thoroughly checked.