DPI Issues Report on Seclusion Room in WASD
5/30/12 - The Waupun School District has been
ordered by the State Department of Public Instruction to stop using their
controversial “seclusion room” at Rock River Intermediate until corrective
actions have been taken. The district
came under scrutiny earlier this month after a parent complained that the room
was used to punish her autistic child. By law, seclusion rooms can be used to
diffuse a violent outburst. Mandy Rennhack had asked special education teachers
last fall to stop placing her ten-year-old son into the 5-by-7-foot padded
plywood box when he was having discipline issues – and said she’d pick him up
from school instead. Rennhack was furious when she learned that the box was
used again in March. The district requested the state inspection, which took
place on May 17. According to Stephanie Petska, the DPI’s Special Education
Director, says the school’s use of the seclusion room was not consistent with
the department’s directives. The report completed May 23 and obtained by WBEV
yesterday says seclusion rooms are meant to maintain safety and (quote) “may
only be used as a last resort when a student’s behavior presents a clear and
imminent risk to the physical safety of the student or others.” The report says
it “must not be connected to serving a ‘time-out’ or any other type of
discipline.” The corrective actions the district was ordered to perform include
proper ventilation, removal of the door lock and the installation of a large
window or round unbreakable mirror. The report also calls for staff to be
trained on appropriate uses of a seclusion room. Superintendent Don Childs did
not immediately return our phone calls but told us last week before the report
was issued that the seclusion room would not be closed for the rest of the
school year. He also outlined changes the district was voluntarily taking, some
of which are not required, including the installation of floor covering over
the concrete tiles. The report did note appreciation for the district’s
responsiveness and willingness to work with department staff.
Girl Struck By Arrow is Back Home
5/30/12 - A seven-year-old Fond du Lac County
girl is home from the hospital, after she was hit in the back by an arrow while
playing with her friends. Aryanna Schneeberg was shot on May 21st outside her
home in Campbellsport. She had the arrow removed during a procedure at
Milwaukee Children’s Hospital. Fond du Lac County Sheriff Mick Fink spoke with
the youngster Tuesday to get her side of the story. Her mother, Laura
Schneeberg, said investigators continue to follow a number of leads. But no one
has been arrested yet.
Registry for Vacant Building in BD a Possibility
5/30/12 - City officials in Beaver Dam are
hoping to establish a registry for vacant buildings. The ordinance would cover
all non-residential structures, primary commercial, manufacturing and
industrial buildings. Mayor Tom Kennedy says there have been dozens of reasons
over the years to assemble such a list, many stemming from the 2008 floods.
Some buildings had standing water in basements for months, breeding mold and
unpleasant odors. In one instance, a homeless person had been discovered living
in the balcony of a flood-ravaged building. Under the proposed ordinance,
owners of vacant buildings would have 30 days to register with the city. The
proposed ordinance passed through the city’s Plan Commission and is headed to the
Operations Committee before consideration by the full council.
Walker Raises $6M and Barrett $3.5M According to
Latest Figures
5/30/12 - Governor Scott Walker’s campaign
raised almost six-million-dollars in a four-week period ending May 21st. And
his Democratic challenger Tom Barrett raised almost three-and-a-half million.
With Walker’s recall election just six days away, finance reports filed
yesterday show that both campaigns had about the same amounts on hand, around one-and-a-half
million dollars. But daily reports of large contributions showed that the
Republican Walker had raised an additional 860-thousand between last Wednesday
and Sunday. And Barrett received an additional 261-thousand. As a recall
target, Walker was able to raise unlimited amounts to cover debts incurred
before the election was officially scheduled. And his new report shows that
Walker continues to bring individual donations of up to 100-thousand-dollars –
well above the normal 10-thousand limit that Barrett must follow under normal
election laws. Barrett spokesman Phil Walzak says their campaign is getting
tremendous grass-roots support. Walker has now raised a record-shattering
31-million dollars since January of 2011. Ciara Matthews of the Walker camp
says it reflects people’s enthusiasm for the governor’s budget changes that
included the near-elimination of collective bargaining for most public unions.
That’s the issue which spurred the recall effort in the first place.
Walker Won’t Pardon Former Aides Involved in
John Doe
5/30/12 - Governor Scott Walker said Tuesday he
would not pardon any of his former Milwaukee County aides who are convicted in
the ongoing John Doe probe. Tom Barrett, the Democratic challenger in next
Tuesday’s Walker recall election, had questioned earlier whether the governor
would pardon any of his former aides. But the Republican Walker said he
mentioned before that he’d never do that – and he said Barrett knows it. Walker
accused Barrett of quote, “trying desperately to talk about anything except the
success of our reforms.” Walker said he’s responsible for a billion-dollars in
state-and-local government savings, plus the creation of over 30-thousand jobs.
Walker also said Barrett – the Milwaukee mayor – is trying to divert attention
away from Barrett’s record in the city. Former Walker aide Darlene Wink struck
a plea bargain, and was convicted of a minor charge in exchange for information
to prosecutors. Four other Walker aides and associates – including Kelly
Rindfleisch of Columbus –
remain charged in the John Doe, which involves
Walker’s years as the Milwaukee County executive. The charges include
embezzlement and campaigning on taxpayers’ time.
Man Charged with Stealing Scrap Metal
5/30/12 - A West Allis man is accused of
stealing thousands of dollars worth of scrap metal and other equipment from a
Town of Ashippun shed. Joseph Mazzone is charged with felony Burglary and
misdemeanor Attempted Theft, which carries a maximum prison sentence of nearly
13 years, if he is convicted. According to the criminal complaint, Mazzone is
friends with a family renting a house on the property in question and was
reportedly caught red-handed by the property owner. The victim removed the keys
from a vehicle Mazzone was using to keep him from fleeing the scene. The
22-year-old nonetheless took off on foot. Mazzone is accused of stealing an
electric generator, a boat anchor, lawn mower, aluminum rims and assorted scrap
metals. The tenant was apparently not aware the items were being stolen, even
though Mazzone – who is friends with her son – was using her car. Mazzone had a
signature bond set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is scheduled
next month.
Preventing Drug Abuse Near the Top of BD Elks
Lodge Agenda
5/30/12 - Rob Radig with the Beaver Dam Elks
Lodge says his group wants to be interactive in the community and get people
involved in preventing drug abuse. Radig was recently re-elected as a State
Officer and also received a commendation award for work he has done on the
state Committee on Drug Awareness.
Radig, a Beaver Dam alderman and past Exalted Ruler of the local lodge,
coordinates the three drug awareness trailers available by the Elks for
statewide use. The trailers are stocked with information on the dangers and
warning signs for all types of drugs, along with other positive activities that
promote a healthy lifestyle.
More information is available at www.elks.org.
Meetings on New Wolf Hunting Season to be Held
5/30/12 - Four meetings will be held next month, to give Wisconsinites a say on the new wolf hunting-and-trapping season. Earlier this year, lawmakers and the governor approved a season that runs from October 15th through the end of February. The Natural Resources Board must still approve the finer details – like the number of hunting-and-trapping permits to be issued, and harvest quotas in various parts of the state. The public meetings will start at 6 p-m on four dates in June – on the sixth at Spooner High School, June eighth at Black River Falls Middle School, June 14th at the U-W Fond du Lac auditorium, and June 15th in Rhinelander at James Williams Middle School. The D-N-R Board plans to vote on the final wolf hunt details at its July 17th meeting in Stevens Point.
Compas, Virgil on Community Comment Today
5/30/12 - On WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon we begin a
two-day look at the recall election in the 13th State Senate
District. Democrat Lori Compas of Fort Atkinson will join us at 12:35pm to
discuss her efforts to unseat longtime Republic incumbent Scott Fitzgerald of
Juneau. In our second segment today, our guest will be Libertarian recall
candidate Terry Virgil. Tomorrow, Senate Leader Fitzgerald will be our guest at
12:35pm.