Top Stories September 6th

Grigg Set to Run for Assembly

9/6/11 - Horicon Mayor Jim Grigg is expected to announce tonight that he plans to run for the 39th Assembly District seat currently held by Jeff Fitzgerald.  That’s according to the Democratic Party of Dodge County’s website, which indicates Grigg will make his announcement at the Administration Building in Juneau at 5pm. Grigg has been the Mayor in Horicon since 2006 and has strong ties to local unions from his 24-years of working at John Deere Horicon Works. Fitzgerald, who’s held the assembly seat since 2000, is also expected challenge for the Republican bid to run for the U.S. Senate seat to be given up by Democrat Herb Kohl next year.

Baldwin Becomes First Democrat to Declare for Senate

9/6/11 - Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Madison has become the first Democrat to declare their candidacy to run for the U-S Senate seat to be given up by Herb Kohl next year. In an online video, the 49-year-old Baldwin vowed to quote, “stand up for you, no matter how tough the odds or how powerful the special interest.” She has been in the House since 1999, and was among the first in Congress to oppose the war in Iraq. In weekend media interviews, Baldwin said she’d work to cut the national debt – put people to work re-building schools and roads – close tax loopholes for sending jobs overseas – and support a repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Baldwin said it’s fair not the lower the debt quote, “merely on the backs of the middle class.” La Crosse House Democrat Ron Kind and former Appleton House Democrat Steve Kagen are also contemplating a run for Kohls seat. On the Republican side, Mark Neumann, a former congressman, announced his Senate bid last week. Former Governor Tommy Thompson, state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald of Horicon, and state Senator Frank Lasee of De Pere are also lining up G-O-P candidacies.

Republicans, Democrats Take Part in Labor Day Activities

9/6/11 - Two Republicans took advantage of the Marathon County Labor Council’s change of heart, and marched in yesterday’s Wausau Labor Day parade. Congressman Sean Duffy and state Senator Pam Galloway marched with dozens of supporters at the end of the procession. And they encountered union protestors who yelled “Shame, shame” while some on the other side screamed “Small government, Small government.” Some parade-goers turned their backs on the lawmakers, while chanting for a recall of Governor Scott Walker. The Labor Council originally said it would ban Republican lawmakers from the Wausau parade, mainly because of their support of the state law that virtually eliminates collective bargaining for most public unions. But the group changed its mind after the mayor threatened to pull tax dollars for police and clean-up, and high school bands talked about withdrawing. The governor stayed home on Labor Day, and his office issued a statement which praised Wisconsin’s employees. Walker said the workers are quote, “the single most valuable and important asset we have when attempting to attract and retain employers.” And the governor vowed to press forward with his plan to create a quarter-million new private sector jobs by 2015.

Some Non-Union Employees Being Given Temporary Pay Raises

9/6/11 - Some of Wisconsin’s local governments are giving temporary pay raises to non-union employees, to help them offset their new increase in pension payments. The state requires all public employees not covered by contracts to pay five-point-eight of their salaries toward their pensions. But La Crosse Mayor Matt Harter said a number of employee unions in his city still have contracts. He says those union workers are not required to pay higher pensions for the rest of the year, so non-union workers shouldn’t have to pay them either. Last month, La Crosse aldermen approved five-percent raises for non-union workers for the rest of the year, which will cost taxpayers an extra quarter-million dollars. La Crosse County, Madison, Dane County, Hartland, Fox Point, and the Waukesha County town of Summit have also approved similar raises. They’re often called “temporary pay equity adjustments.” Oconomowoc officials will consider a five-point-one-percent raise for its non-union employees tomorrow night. Mayor James Daley says it’s not about getting around the state laws on the higher pensions. He says it’s about treating non-union and unionized workers the same.

Nehls to be Promoted to Brigadier General

9/6/11 - Sheriff Todd Nehls says when his promotion to Brigadier General is official, it will not affect his role as Dodge County’s top cop and should do nothing but bring great things to the area. Nehls received Senate confirmation for the promotion in July, but the action does not become official until he is accepted into a position that demands the rank of a Brigadier General. He says he will be selective with any opportunities but he is optimistic he will find the right fit. Nehls says it makes more sense to be pre-confirmed for a position, rather than risk finding a job and not gain approval of the Senate.

7th OWI for South Milwaukee Man

9/6/11 - A Wisconsin man could face his seventh-offense drunken driving charge from a traffic stop last Friday night. The Wisconsin State Patrol was told a small car had hit the median barrier in the southbound lane of U.S. 41 near Fond du Lac. Witnesses said the car actually hit the barrier twice at about 8:30 p.m. Friday. 39 year old Begoll Azizi of South Milwaukee was arrested on drug charges as well as driving with a revoked drivers license.

Woman Thanks “Angels” for Their Generosity

9/6/11 - Though she faces many challenges, 40 year old Cristina Earls is grateful for the generosity of others today. The Sheboygan woman's car was totaled after vandals flipped it over last week. Earls says she had just spent all her cash getting the car fixed and she is the single mother of four children. She also has lung disease and leukemia, which is in remission. She says her faith was restored when several people stepped in to help. Sheboygan County Budget Auto in Plymouth offered to sell her a car for one dollar. Earls says two anonymous "angels" gave her an envelope containing 150 dollars, too.

Senator Wants to Add Text Message to “Do Not Call” List

9/6/11 - A Wisconsin state senator wants to add text messaging to the state's "Do Not Call" list. Wisconsin residents can sign up to stop telemarketers from calling their phones now, but Senator Van Wanggaard of Racine says he's concerned about companies trying to get around the no call law by sending text messages. Wanggaard says he got two in the middle of the night last week, calling them an annoyance people shouldn't have to put up with. Persons without text messaging on their phones could win up having an additional bill.

Man Arrested After Watching Porn in Hotel Lobby

9/6/11 - Employees at a hotel in Onalaska say they had told a guest to quit watching pornography in the lobby several times when he became angry last week. They say the public computer was visible to guests as they entered the hotel. When he was told to quit watching the objectionable material, witnesses say the guest started to yell and curse at hotel stuff. When police arrived, they found 22 year old James Eisenmann in a nearby store. When officers searched his room, they reportedly found bottles of wine -- which would be a violation of the suspect's probation on a drug charge.

9/11 Victims Father to Speak

9/6/11 - Gordon Haberman will share the story of his daughter's death and his family's search for answers when he speaks at Marquette University today. Andrea Haberman, who graduated from Kewaskum High School, was a victim of the 9-11 terror attacks in New York City. The 25 year old was on a business trip that day. She was on the 92nd floor of the World Trade Center when a hijacked airliner slammed into the building. She and nearly three thousand other Americans died in a series of terrorist attacks that day. A book, “Just a Few Sleeps Away“, documents Haberman’s family both before the attacks and the obvious impact since. Haberman will speak in Eckstein Hall.

Fundraiser Set for Fall River Boy

9/6/11 - A benefit fundraiser for three-year-old Austin Schuetz of Fall River will be held this Saturday at the Fire Station. In May of this year Austin was diagnosed with B – Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia …a form of childhood cancer. To help lessen the financial burden of the Schutz family during this difficult time the Village Fire Department will be holding an 8-hour benefit Saturday afternoon and evening. Activities include a 1 o’clock Bean Bag Tournament, a 1:30 to 3:00 pm High School Band program, fire truck rides, a bounce house, bake sale and Bingo for cash prizes starting at 7:00 pm. Businesses from the Columbus / Fall River area have donated items for the silent auction, the raffle and some of the food and beverages for sale at the Fire House. Austin has been fighting his battle with leukemia courageously, but the family needs additional support to cope with the medical expenses. The fundraiser will be held at the Fire Station at the Johnson Road entrance to the Village.

Powerball Over $100M

9/6/11 - Tomorrow night's Powerball jackpot is above 100-million-dollars for the first time in almost a month. The top prize is 107-million, after nobody won it during the Labor Day weekend. It's the sixth time this year the Powerball jackpot has risen above 100-million. But Wisconsin has not had a jackpot winner since September fifth of 2007, when Steve Peot of Green Bay claimed a 29-million-dollar prize. He chose the cash option of almost 14-million-dollars, taking the whole prize now instead of in 30 annual installments. Tomorrow night's cash option is just over 64-million. Thomas Morris of neighboring Minnesota won the last Powerball jackpot on August 10th. It was worth 220-million-dollars, but Morris chose the cash option of almost 124-million. The next Mega Millions' drawing is tonight, and that jackpot is at 37-million dollars.