Top Stories, October 9th

Five Injured in SUV Vs. Motorcycle

10/9/10 - A Hartford man was one of five people injured after a SUV turned in front of a motorcycle Friday in Columbia County. Sheriff Dennis Richards says it happened in the town of West Point just after 6pm. An SUV driven by a 49-year-old Fitchburg woman with five occupants and three dogs was traveling eastbound on Highway 60 when the driver turned in front of a motorcycle with two riders near the entrance to the Treinen Farm Store. Both of the riders on the motorcycle were transported to UW Hospital, one by Med Flight. One of the occupants of the SUV was also transported to UW Hospital while two others were taken to Sauk Prairie Memorial. The motorcycle was driven by a 52-year-old man from Hartford. Names are being withheld pending family notification. The crash remains under investigation by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Body Recovered From Lake Winnebago

10/9/10 - Police in Neenah report they have recovered the body of a 34 year old man killed when his car plunged into Lake Winnebago. The victim's name wasn't released Friday. The discovery of a child car seat led to a dive team spending some time searching the waters, but no child was found. Police say the car was apparently going down the road when it struck a berm, went airborne and flew into the lake. It was found upright in the water with windows rolled up. It was sitting in about four feet of water.

Motorcycle Deaths On The Rise

10/9/10 - More motorcyclists have died on Wisconsin highways in the first nine months of this year than in all of 2009. The state D-O-T said 92 cycle drivers and seven passengers have been killed so far this year. And the total is 15 more than in all of the previous year. The Badger State has had relatively warm weather since Labor Day – and that’s supposed to continue at least through the middle of next week. D-O-T safety chief Dennis Hughes reminds bikers to wear their helmets, ride sober, and watch for the increasing number of deer that are moving. Two central Wisconsin motorcyclists were killed in deer crashes over the past couple weeks in Marathon and Lincoln counties. Overall, the D-O-T said 61 people died last month in Wisconsin crashes. That’s five more than a year ago, but six fewer than the average for the past five years. Also, officials said last month had the sixth-lowest number of highway deaths for a September since World War Two. 430 people have been killed in Wisconsin crashes in the first nine months of this year. That’s 25 more than a year ago, but 81 fewer than the five-year average.

Priessnitz Proceeds To Trial On Rape Charges

10/9/10 - A Brownsville man will proceed to trial on charges that he raped a teenager. Dodge County Judge Andrew Bissonnette found probable cause this week to bind over Shane Priessnitz on a felony count of Second Degree Sexual Assault with the Use of Force related to the alleged incident this past August. According to the criminal complaint, the 22-year-old forced himself onto the victim, choking her and threatening to hurt her if she continued to scream. Priessnitz is also said to have threatened the victim after the assault if she told anyone. The charge carries a maximum 40 year prison sentence, upon conviction. Priessnitz has an arraignment hearing scheduled for next month.

Gibson Encourages Voter Registration

10/9/10 - Dodge County Clerk Karen Gibson is encouraging voters to register in advance of the November election. Gibson says that it is especially important when voting absentee. Before next Wednesday, voters can register in their municipal clerk’s office, by voter registration drive or through the mail. After next Wednesday voters must register in the municipal clerk’s office or at their polling place on Election Day. Gibson says registered voters who wish to vote absentee in the general election should know that the last day to submit a written request to the clerk for an absentee ballot by mail is 5pm on Thursday, October 28.

Feingold - Johnson Debate

10/9/10 - The debate between incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold and Republican challenger Ron Johnson saw both candidates take questions on a wide range of topics, including health care, Social Security, energy policy, and the war in Afghanistan. Feingold and Johnson repeatedly traded jabs on government spending and Feingold’s record in the U.S. Senate. Johnson, an Oshkosh businessman, criticized Feingold for voting on legislation that has driven up the federal deficit and forced jobs overseas. Feingold defended many of his votes though, pointing to stances he’s taken against fellow Democrats on issues such as trade legislation that have helped protect Wisconsin businesses. Johnson renewed his commitment to repealing federal health care reforms passed earlier this year, calling them an overreach designed to create a government takeover of medicine. Feingold refuted those claims, saying the bill will only help to ensure the American people have access to the care they need and prevent abuses by the insurance industry.

Van Hollen – Hassett Debate

10/9/10 - The candidates in the race for Wisconsin Attorney General sparred over their views on how the Department of Justice should be run, as they met Friday night in a forum on Wisconsin Public Television. Democratic challenger Scott Hassett went on the offensive right away, charging that Republican incumbent Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has let partisan politics drive many of the decisions made by his office in the last four years. Hassett said Van Hollen has repeatedly put politics over public safety in running the agency. Hassett pointed to Van Hollen’s refusal to defend a law granting domestic partner benefits and a lawsuit filed against the Government Accountability Board over voter registration as examples. Van Hollen maintained that the cases DOJ takes up are based on the rule of law, not partisan politics. He says there have been many cases and opinions that he’s taken up that have angered just as many Republicans, such as a defending the state against a lawsuit over raids from the Patient’s Compensation Fund.

Kohl’s Profits Increase

10/9/10 - Kohl’s Department Stores of Menomonee Falls reported a three-percent increase last month, compared to same-store figures from a year ago. But unlike many other retailers, Kohl’s increase was not as big as outside analysts had expected. Thomson-Reuters thought Kohl’s would boost its September sales by three-point-three percent. Kohl’s said the Midwest and Southeast had its best sales numbers, and footwear was the strongest performer. Even so, the company said consumers are still being cautious in their spending. Nationally, experts said last month’s sales hikes were fueled by back-to-school shoppers who waited until September to get their kids ready. Bon-Ton – the owner of Boston Stores, Younkers, Herberger’s, and Elder-Beerman shops in Wisconsin – had a sales boost of five-point-nine percent last month. That exceeded the firm’s expectations.

More People Interested in Farming

10/9/10 - Despite the challenging times for agriculture, it appears that more people want to get into farming. U-W Madison says a class for beginning dairy-and-livestock farmers is being extended to 17 remote locations this year, up from 10 a year ago. Each site must have at least three students signed up. A co-director of the program, Dick Cates, expects about 460 students for the next round of class sessions – about 60 more than the previous year. The 15-week course has been offered since 1996. It helps students develop business plans, among other things. Cates says those people just want to be their own bosses, and they’re not letting today’s economy and low-market prices discourage them. He says the students are following a dream, with hope and optimism that things will get better.

Columbus Fall Festival Today

10/9/10 - Columbus is holding their annual Fall Festival and Antique Tractor Show today. A new addition is the “Energy Fair” held at the Dickason Boulevard Community Center with horse carriage rides and a grand prize drawing for a new energy star washer. Along with a silent auction there’ll also be plenty of food at the Senior Center and nearby Lion’s Brat Stand. Shops and stores will also take part in the Festival…with live music on Dickason Boulevard from 11:00 am till 1:00 pm.