Top Stories, February 15th

Low Voter Turnout Projected in Today’s Primary

2/15/11 - Around ten percent of Wisconsin’s eligible voters will go to the polls for Tuesday state-and-local primaries. The prediction comes from the state’s Government Accountability Board. But a lower turnout is expected in Dodge County. Clerk Karen Gibson expects around 3,000 people or six percent of the registered voters to come out and vote. There are school board races in the Markesan School District and the Hartford Union High School District. The only items that will appear on everybody’s ballot is the four-way primary for State Supreme Court. That’s turning out to be an interesting race on a couple of fronts. First, observers say incumbent David Prosser is the only conservative on the ballot. He’s facing public defender’s official Marla Stephens, assistant attorney general JoAnne Kloppenburg, and Madison attorney Joel Winnig. Polls will be open from 7am until 8pm.

Demonstrators Converge on Scott Fitzgerald’s House

2/15/11 - There were more protests Monday against the governors Budget Repair Bill around the state and right here again in Dodge County. One day after over 100 union supporters demonstrated in front of his brother’s house, Senate Leader Scott Fitzgerald became the target of protestors. Over 200 picketers converged on Fitzgerald’s rural Juneau home to voice their opposition to a plan that would strip them of their power to negotiate vacation, sick pay and other benefits and require them to contribute more to their health and pension accounts. There were not just state employees at the protest either. Brian Brath, the president of Local Lodge #873 Machinists Union in Horicon, says an attack on one is an attack on all. He says it is a fundamental human right that people are allowed to bargain for their wages and benefits. Brath says he is against attempts to do away with the bargaining rights the union fought so hard to get. Walker emphasized yesterday that public union workers would still have their civil service protections and he said those protections are much better than what employees get in the private sector. A public hearing on the proposal is set for Tuesday. Lawmakers could act on it later this week.

BD Couple Accused of Selling Collateral On Loan

2/15/11 - A rural Beaver Dam couple faces felony charges for allegedly selling items that were being used as collateral on a bank loan. Steven and Cheryl Schmitt are each charged with seven felony counts of Transferring Another’s Personal Property. According to the criminal complaint, the Schmitt’s sold over $77,000 worth of cattle and farm equipment in 2007 and 2008. The money was put into an account for cover bills in their other business, SJS Trucking. Their agreement with the bank prohibited the sale of any items listed as collateral without prior approval. If convicted, the couple faces a maximum of 54 years in prison. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month.

Fall River VFW Celebrates 50 Years

2/15/11 - Charter members of the Fall River VFW were honored for fifty years of service this past weekend at a special recognition dinner. Veterans Willis Berndt, Vernon Freck, Donald Roche, Stuart Smith and John Walsh all signed their names on the charter when the post began back in 1961. The John C. Brossard Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2219 recognized their charter members and former Schools’ Principal Brad Johnsrud and Columbus Journal Editor Paul Scharf at the Banquet. The Post will be having formal recognition of their 50th Anniversary at Village Memorial Day ceremonies in May. State Representative Keith Ripp will be speaking at the Memorial Day program.

Opening Weekend Spear Fishing Numbers

2/15/11 - Wisconsin spear-fishers are not having as much luck as a year ago, as they continue to haul in sturgeon from the Lake Winnebago system. Seven-hundred-seven fish were taken in the opening weekend this season – down from 11-hundred in the same two-day period a year ago. Jeffrey Nozar of Oshkosh has the largest fish taken so far – 172-point-seven pounds. He caught it on Saturday’s opening day. The spearing season runs for 16 days, or until certain quotas are reached. Ron Bruch of the state D-N-R expects the season to continue through next weekend on Lake Winnebago – but only until the middle of this week on the lakes up the Fox River.

Lake Winnebago Residents Frustrated By Trash

2/15/11 - People who live on or near Lake Winnebago say they’re frustrated by all the trash. They say visitors aren’t picking up after themselves when they come to the lake. Menahsa residents have to clean up beer cans, glass and wooden pallets left by partiers who enjoy time on the ice. Calumet County Sheriff’s deputies say they patrol the area regularly and investigate every complaint, but they are not able to take their squad cars past the shoreline. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officers say they are also investigating the complaints.

Wisconsin Experiences Twelfth Snowmobile Fatality

2/15/11 - Another snowmobiler has been killed in Wisconsin. The Manitowoc County coroner’s office said a 34-year-old Manitowoc man died late Sunday night, after his machine crashed on the Manitowoc River near a roadway. He was pronounced dead at a hospital from head and chest injuries. The death was the fifth in the last week in Wisconsin snowmobile crashes – and the 12th so far this winter.

Snowmobiler Injured in Town of Burnett

2/15/11 - A 65-year-old Oakfield man was injured after the snowmobile he was riding got hit by a car in the Town of Burnett Sunday. It happened just after 2:30 p-m. David Milner was going south on the Wild Goose Trail and was crossing County Highway E near Highway 26 when he was struck by a westbound car. Milner, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the snowmobile. He was taken to Beaver Dam Hospital and later transferred to UW-Hospital in Madison. The driver of the car, 73-yar-old Clifford Tassi, was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.