Top Stories September 5th

Vandalism at Lomira High School

9/5/11 - Authorities are investigating a break-in at the Lomira High School early yesterday morning. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says a caller reported that lights were flashing inside the school just before 4 a-m. When officials arrived on scene they found that fire extinguishers had been discharged, lockers had been broken into and more damage done to the locks. Authorities say they don’t have any suspects and their investigation is just beginning. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s department.

Two Dead after House Fire in Baraboo

9/5/11 - Two people were killed in a house fire Saturday night in Baraboo. Authorities say their investigation is ongoing and have not determined a cause. It’s believed that two people lived in the home. One body was found after the fire was put out, while a second body was discovered on Sunday when officials returned to continue their investigation. The two people found have not been identified. Fire officials said it took a while to put the blaze out because of the remote location and low water supply.

Columbus School Board to Look at Facilities Proposals

9/5/11 - The Columbus School Board continues to prepare for a 2012 recommendation on the state of the District’s facilities. The board will be holding an open review of architectural proposals looking at future needs. The district already asked the UW Population Lab to do a study of student numbers and trends for the area. As a second step in the facilities assessment the board and the public will be looking at architectural proposals September 8th. The Thursday night meeting will be held in the Columbus Middle School Library from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Capitol Ceremony to Mark 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

9/5/11 - A ceremony will be held a week from ysterday at the Wisconsin state Capitol on the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 terror attacks.  Wisconsin National Guard commander Major General Don Dunbar will preside.  State and federal officials are expected to attend the ceremony that is scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m.  The public is invited to attend the ceremony which will be broadcast live on Wisconsin Public Television.

Ryan Not Ruling Out Vice Presidency

9/5/11 - U.S. Representative Paul Ryan won’t be running for president next year, but he’s not ruling out a run for vice president if asked. That’s what the Janesville Republican told a Milwaukee TV station on Sunday. Ryan says he’s not going to focus on the opportunity because it’s someone else decision. He says he’s going to worry about his own job, which he says involves balancing the budget, getting the country’s debt under control, and creating conditions that are favorable to getting jobs created. Ryan has also ruled out any possibility that he would run for the senate seat being vacated by Democrat Herb Kohl next year.

Neo-Nazi Rally Draws Big Crowd of Protestors

9/5/11 - Saturday's anti-Nazi rally had been going on for about an hour when the stars of the show finally appeared.  Shortly after the scheduled 2 p.m. start time of the rally by the National Socialist Movement, members found themselves outnumbered by as much as 50-to-one.  Police in riot gear were on the scene to keep the two sides apart.  The neo-Nazis carried American and Wisconsin flags, a Confederate battle flag and a flag carrying the banner, "white pride worldwide."  All businesses near the West Allis City Hall plaza were closed in anticipation of the showdown.  There was one sign posted on Papa John's Pizza saying that business doesn’t quote “support hate."  Police reportedly arrested two people on weapons charges and three for disorderly conduct.

Manufacturing at Head of Plan to Improve Job Outlook in WI

9/5/11 - The head of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says manufacturing is leading the way as the job picture improves.  Agency Secretary Scott Bambach kicked off Workforce Development month at a state-of-the-art plastics extrusion company in Baraboo last week.  Teel Plastics employs about 170 workers.  Baumbach says he hopes the 120 thousand people now getting unemployment checks in Wisconsin will access the department's employment website.  Right now there are 34 thousand job listings on the site.  Wisconsin's unemployment rate continues to stay between seven and eight percent, but Baumbach says he believes that figure will go lower as communications improve between technical schools, employers and workers.

Edgerton Man Pulled from Rock River

9/5/11 - A Rock County dive team recovered the body of a missing man Friday night, about 45 minutes after he was last seen.  Emergency responders were called to the Rock River and were told 45 year old Keith Pierce of Edgerton might be in the water.  Pierce was dead at the scene.  He had reportedly been fishing near County Road H and Gibbs Lake Road.

Student Facing Felony Battery Charges in Attack

9/5/11 - Kenosha police are recommending a felony battery charge be filed against a 15 year old high school freshmen for launching an unprovoked attack on another teenager.  The 14 year old victim suffered a fractured skull.  Both teenagers are students at Bradford High School.  The suspect was arrested near his home.  Investigators say the victim was waiting at a bus stop with his friends last Thursday afternoon when the suspect approached, accompanied by several other teenagers.  Witnesses say the older boy suddenly knocked the victim to the ground, punching him in the face several times and kicking him.  The 14 year old was hospitalized for a night, then released Friday.

Clerk/Treasurer Facing Charges for Writing Herself Paycheck

9/5/11 - Town officials in St. Joseph, Wisconsin, are asking the court to remove recently-elected clerk-treasurer Mary Stanley.  She is accused of writing herself an unauthorized paycheck just days after she took office.  Stanley didn't show for a hearing last Friday and the judge has extended a restraining order against her, stopping her pay, ordering her to return anything taken, and banning her from the town's property.  A hearing on her removal is set for next month.  A week after her April 12th start date, Stanley allegedly wrote herself a check for 23 hundred dollars.  The town is accusing her of writing herself two unauthorized checks, forging the town chairman's signature on those checks and making personal purchases with town money.  St. Joseph officials say the total for the alleged misappropriations is a little over seven thousand dollars.

Art Museum Receives Largest Donation in its History

9/5/11 - A 7-point-6 million dollar gift is the biggest ever received by the Milwaukee Art Museum.  Leonard and Bebe LeVine reportedly donated the money after Leonard LeVine died in 2008.  That gift is more than twice as big as the largest bequest received in the past.  It will be used to improve the museum collection and the way it is presented.  A gallery space will be named for the LeVines.