Top Stories, January 7th

BDUSD Turning Over More Documents In Lawsuit

1/7/11 - The Beaver Dam School District has received an order to release documents related to the investigation of a harassment complaint filed by a high school secretary. This newest lawsuit again accuses the district and Superintendent Steve Vessey of being in violation of the open records law. Cheryl Grulke asked the court to order the release of documents that her attorney believes will show that she was harassed by former high school principal Don Patenode and two other employees while working in the schools main office. A Dodge County judge issued the order on December 23 and the papers were received on Tuesday. That gives the district until January 24 to comply. A similar suit was filed this summer by Grulke’s husband, Dan, and was settled with the district turning over several of the requested documents. Vessey continues to maintain that the district is willing to turn over any requested documents, with or without a court order. Grulke’s attorney, Bob Shumaker, says the district has never complied with the records request and the documents will show that Patenode’s conduct had no legitimate business purpose and affected Grulke’s emotional welfare. The newest lawsuit is seeking punitive damages aimed at deterring the district from further alleged violations of Wisconsin’s public records law and is also intended to deter other custodians of records from violation the same law.

Randolph Referendum Surveys Back

1/7/11 - Officials in the Randolph School District have begun gathering information from a survey sent out to district residents last month designed to determine why they voted no to two referendum questions in November. A $20-million question and a $12.8-million question failed, both of which would have allowed for additions at the high school as the district attempts to bring all of their buildings to one location. Superintendent Greg Peyer says the data gathered from the surveys was about what they expected, with many saying money, taxes and the economy were the main reasons they voted no. The board is set to meet later this month at which time they’ll review the surveys more in depth and map out a strategy for the near future.

Berlin Man Accused of Drunken Assault on Cop

1/7/11 - A Berlin man is accused of kicking a Beaver Dam police officer during an arrest for his sixth OWI. Robert M. Wright is facing a pair of felony charges for drunken driving and Battery of a Peace Officer. According to the criminal complaint, police responded to reports of an unwanted subject on December 22 and followed his vehicle as it left the scene. The 38-year-old allegedly refused a preliminary breath test, refused to get into a squad car and said more officers would be needed because there was no way he was going to let them get a legal blood draw. He was said to be cooperative while getting out of the squad car at the emergency room but then starting kicking the officer. Wright is said to have later apologized multiple times to the officer for kicking him. A breath-test found his alcohol level to be above the legal limit for driving at point one-three (.13). During a preliminary hearing Thursday, probable cause was found and Wright will proceed to trial on the felony charges. He is currently being held in the Dodge County Jail on a $20,000 cash bond.

Sentence Handed Down in OWI Injury

1/7/11 - A Waukesha man who injured a motorcyclist while drunk will spend 30 days in jail. Gerardo Romero Banda pleaded “no contest” to OWI Causing Injury for rear ending the motorcyclist in August. A second misdemeanor charge and two traffic violations were dismissed but read into the record. It happened on State Highway 16-60 in the Town of Lowell. According to the criminal complaint, the 27-year-old had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit when the accident occurred. Witnesses report seeing Banda throw beer cans out of the window after the incident. The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike, injured his head and arm and sustained road rash. Banda was also placed on probation for 18 months and will lose his license for one year.

Raw Milk Back on The Table

1/7/11 - A new effort will be made to legalize the sale of raw milk in Wisconsin. Several legislators say they might revive a bill that former Governor Jim Doyle vetoed last summer. Senate Republican Glenn Grothman of West Bend said the message of the November election was “less government” – and he believes there’s a large number of conservatives who drink raw milk. Supporters say there are natural health benefits in drinking unpasteurized milk, and America is all about the freedom to drink it. But opponents say even one illness from raw milk could ruin the reputation of Wisconsin’s world-famous dairy industry. Doyle hinted that he might sign the raw milk measure, and that brought farm-and-medical groups out of the woodwork urging him to veto it. He did, but Doyle also created a task force to further study the health issues involved. That group is expected to make its recommendations early next month. As of last summer, 25 states allow their consumers to drink raw milk. The Wisconsin bill that was vetoed would have required sellers to get state permits – sell it only on their own farms – and advertise only with a sign at those farms.

New DNR Secretary Business Friendly

1/7/11 - The new secretary of the Department of Natural Resources says she’ll form a team to help businesses move to Wisconsin. Cathy Stepp says the team will help companies that move from other states by reducing their red tape for getting the required state environmental permits. Stepp says companies should not assume that all permits will be granted – but they can have confidence in knowing that the D-N-R with help them with a positive attitude. Stepp also promises to quote, “reinforce and expand” the D-N-R’s customer call center. She also wants to boost the Green Tier program. It gives more streamlined inspections to businesses that make formal plans to help the environment.

Kohls, Boston Store Sales Up, Slightly

1/7/11 - It was a good month for Kohl’s Department Stores but it was not as good as outside analysts expected. Kohl’s – which is based in suburban Milwaukee – reported a three-point-nine percent increase in same-store sales for December. But analysts expected a four-point-three percent jump. Still, C-E-O Kevin Mansell said he was happy with Kohl’s performance. He said much of the gain was attributed to those shopping on-line. The chain’s Internet sales rose 66-percent from the previous December. Meanwhile, Bon-Ton Stores – the parent of Herberger’s and Boston Store – had a net sales increase of just one-tenth of one-percent. Company officials blamed bad weather. Snow-storms affected sales at many Bon-Ton locations. Officials said it brought down sales by as much as two percentage points.

Fitzgerald On Redistricting Criticisms

1/7/11 - Wisconsin Democrats now say tax money is being wasted on redistricting. Majority Republicans have hired the firm of Michael Best & Friedrich to advise them on redistricting. The GOP also barred Democrats from hiring their own law firm for the process. Milwaukee Democrat, Representative Fred Kessler says redistricting is not complicated and shouldn’t require spending millions of dollars. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau says the new map will go through the legislative process like any other bill, the same way 32 other states handle redistricting, and he says Democrats have the technology and legislative tools to participate.

Gulf Vet Observance Date Changed

1/7/11 - State officials will hold an observance three days earlier than normal for Persian Gulf War veterans suffering from related illnesses. The Veterans’ Affairs Department says the sixth annual Gulf War Illnesses’ Recognition Day will take place a week from tomorrow. It’s normally held January 17th – but that’s Martin Luther King Day this year. The Gulf War took place in January and February of 1991. Wisconsin was the first state to recognize veterans who still suffer from post-war health concerns. That came in 2006. This year’s observance begins at 11 a-m next Friday at the Wisconsin Veterans’ Museum in Madison. Also, the museum will open a photo exhibit that day about the Gulf War.