Top Stories December 3rd

Unemployment Down But Not Because of Job Growth

12/3/11 - The nation’s unemployment rate is the lowest in two-and-a-half years – but not because of massive job growth. The Labor Department said about 300-thousand people gave up their search for jobs in November, which means they’re no longer officially listed among the unemployed. That helped drive down the nation’s jobless rate to eight-point-six percent. It was nine-percent in October. Senior economist Jennifer Lee of the B-M-O group that Wisconsin’s former M-and-I Banks said the U-S job market is growing modestly, but it’s growing. About 140-thousand private sector jobs were added last month, about average for the year. Wisconsin’s statewide jobless rate will be announced later this month, followed a few days later by local rates.

Columbus to Vote on Budget

12/3/11 - Columbus Administrators are pleased with the effort of City department heads in trimming the 2012 budget. Purchase of a new automated “time keeping” system and the refinancing of two debt service loans were also cited as important in keeping the mil rate near last year’s level. The final budget document will see an $8.31 per thousand dollar mil rate for the City’s portion of the tax. The total Budget with a $2.9 million dollar tax levy will go to the Council for approval on Tuesday (December 6th).

Disorderly Conduct Charges for Man Claiming to Have Gun

12/3/11 - A Randolph man claiming to be suicidal and armed with a gun was, in fact, neither. According to the Randolph Police Department, they responded to the 300 block of Second Street around 1:30pm Thursday afternoon to a report of a male who was in possession of a loaded firearm and threatening to take his own life. The 23-year-old man was talking on the phone with his ex-girlfriend and was upset that she didn’t want to get back together. He repeatedly made statements that he was going to kill himself. The girl texted her mom and she informed police. Police in turn closed off the area to traffic and made sure students at local schools stayed inside. Just after 2 o’clock the man exited the residence unarmed and was taken into custody. It was later learned that he was never in possession of a firearm and only made the statements to his ex-girlfriend to, (quote) “get her attention” and said he knew what he did was, “really stupid.” Authorities say they’ve forwarded charges of disorderly conduct to the district attorney’s office.

Dambruch Sentenced

12/3/11 - A Waupun man will spend two months in jail for injuries sustained in a drunken driving crash. Nicholas Dambruch had swerved to miss a cat last June in the Town of Oak Grove and rolled his vehicle into a farm field. He was transported from the scene and a passenger sustained minor injuries. Dambruch’s blood alcohol level was over the legal limit for driving at point-one-three-five (.135). The 30-year-old pleaded “guilty” this week to reduced misdemeanor charges of OWI and had a second count dismissed but read into the record. Dambruch also had his license revoked for 13 months.

Bauer Waives Preliminary Hearing

12/3/11 - A Beaver Dam teen has waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges that he sparked a high speed chase with authorities. Brady Bauer was arrested last month after officers attempted a traffic stop for excessive window tinting but the subject reportedly fled into the county. An eight-mile chase ensued down County Highway E that at times reached speeds in excess of 90mph. The suspect was tracked down at an apartment complex in Burnett. The 18-year-old is charged with one felony count of Fleeing and Eluding an Officer and misdemeanor charges of Obstructing an Officer, Possession of an Illegally Obtained Prescription and Theft of Movable Property. Also found in the vehicle, a stolen county road sign for County Trunk BB which Bauer reportedly admitted to taking because it matched his initials. An arraignment hearing is on the calendar later this month. If he is convicted, Bauer faces a maximum sentence of five-and-a-half years in prison.

Republican Withdraw Re-Districting Lawsuit

12/3/11 - A group of Republicans withdrew a re-districting lawsuit from the Wisconsin Supreme Court yesterday. The Republicans had asked both the Supreme Court and a Waukesha County circuit court to form a three-judge panel to consider their request to use the G-O-P’s new districts for any Senate recall elections next spring. The request before the Waukesha court stands. But it was pulled from the Supreme Court after the justices reportedly raised some pointed questions about it this week. Among other things, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said the justices asked about deferring the case until a federal court decides whether the new maps are constitutional. Under the redistricting law passed by the G-O-P majority this summer, a circuit court must alert the Supreme Court to issues involving the new maps – and the justices must then appoint three circuit judges to hear those cases. The justices raised questions about the law, and how the two new court requests affected each other.

Legal Experts: New Protestor Policy Unconstitutional

12/3/11 - Some legal experts say a new policy instituted by the governor may be unconstitutional because it limits free speech. Governor Scott Walker’s idea would force protesters to pay for additional expenses their activities brought on for the state. They would pay for extra police presence, cleanup and repairs. The new policy went into effect yesterday. It also forces anyone who wants to protest at a state building to get a permit to do so. Last spring’s demonstrations at the Capitol cost Wisconsin up to eight million dollars for the extra law enforcement presence alone.

Cullen Thinking About Run for Governor

12/3/11 - Former Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Tim Cullen says he believes he could win a race against Governor Scott Walker. Cullen says he is considering a recall election race against Walker. He says he believes Walker has divided Wisconsin in a way he’s never seen with his proposal to repeal most collective bargaining for most public employees. The Democrat says he knows it would be hard to get going without a political infrastructure in place right now. Backers of the effort to recall Walker say they have collected more than half of the 540 thousand signatures they need to force the election.

Lots of Manpower Being Used for Conceal Carry Permits

12/3/11 - An official with the Wisconsin Department of Justice says 30 to 35 people work on applications for a concealed carry permit every day in that office. So far, more than 50 thousand people have applied in just the first month under the new state law. The agency has issued 17 thousand permits in that time. The law requires the department to process all the applications received in the first month within 45 days.

Thief Plays the Slots on Way Out of the Casino

12/3/11 - A man who allegedly stole a purse at the Ho-Chunk Casino in Madison was caught when he stopped to play a slot machine – and a security camera caught him. Police said he also put his Player’s Club card in the machine, so security personnel knew right away who he was. A 46-year-old Fitchburg man faces a theft charge. The incident happened on Tuesday at the casino formerly known as DeJope on the east edge of Madison. According to police, a 72-year-old Waunakee woman left her purse near the machines for a moment, so she and a friend could go split up some winnings. By the time she returned, the purse was gone. Police said the thief was seen on camera with the purse as he played a slot machine on the way out, while identifying himself by inserting his player’s card.