Top Stories February 13th

FEMA Funding Coming In To Beaver Dam

2/13/09 - The city of Beaver Dam has collected just over $272,000 in state and federal funding reimbursement from the June floods. Beaver Dam Emergency Management Director Lee Smith says the city incurred an estimated $565,000 in damages and labor costs. But the city will not see all of that money; current estimates put the total reimbursement at just over $434,000, meaning the city still has another $162,000 to collect. However, Smith says all the numbers are likely to change and the city could receive more money once work is completed to fix the culverts and repair damages to the river downstream from the dam. A Kunkel Engineering estimate put the costs of shoreline repair at $341,000, but FEMA estimates the work will cost half that amount and will reimburse the city based on their lower estimate. However, if the actual cost of repair is higher the city will submit a request for additional funding. Depending on the project, the federal government is picking up either 75% or 90% of the costs of flood recovery, with the state and the local municipality splitting the remainder. The total for Beaver Dam amounts to $41,600.

BD Man Charged With Explicit Online Relationship with Teen

2/13/09 - A 21-year-old Beaver Dam has been arrested for allegedly having sexually explicit online conversations with a 15-year-old girl. Beaver Dam Police Chief Dale Boldt says officers from his department and the Fall River Police Department made the arrest Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation. The man had been talking to the Beaver Dam teen on the social networking website “My Space” and was arrested on felony charges of Exposing a Child to Harmful Materials. Boldt says the arrest shows his department’s “commitment to online safety for children,” adding that his officers will “continue to aggressively investigate and arrest individuals who use the internet as a tool to prey on children.” Formal charges are expected Friday.

Minnig Convicted of Arson

2/13/09 - After a three day jury trial, a Town of Westford man was convicted yesterday of burning his own house down. It took over four hours of deliberations for the jury to find Paul Minnig guilty of felony arson. The 41-year-old Minnig told detectives that he purposely started the fire at W10567 Fay Road in November 2006, by overstuffing the wood burning stove. American National Bank is listed as the victim because the lending institution had an open mortgage on the home with a balance in excess of 100,000. Minnig could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison with fines of not more than $100,000. A pre-sentencing investigation was ordered and a hearing scheduled for March 13.

Strieff Waives Prelim

2/13/09 - A 41-year-old Waupun man, accused of the repeated sexual assault of two young girls at their home in Fox Lake, waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday. Dean Strieff is charged with two counts of repeated sexual assault of a child. According to the criminal complaint, the victim’s mother contacted Fox Lake police earlier this month and informed them that Strieff had allegedly assaulted the children on several occasions. One girl said that Strieff had touched her inappropriately 20 to 30 times between September of last year and January of this year. A younger girl told investigators that Strieff had touched her at least four times during the same period. He is being held on $20,000 cash bond and has arraignment set for March 11. If convicted, Strieff is facing up to 120-years in prison.

Wisconsin to Get 3.5B from Stimulus Package

2/13/09 - Wisconsin governments will get three-and-a-half billion dollars from the federal economic stimulus package that’s up for a final vote in the House today. Governor Jim Doyle announced the figure yesterday – and he said two-billion of it would go toward covering the state’s five-point-seven billion dollar revenue shortfall in the next state budget. Doyle will explain what that means next Tuesday, when he submits his budget proposals to the Legislature. Congressional leaders say they’ve resolved all their disagreements on the massive 789-billion-dollar stimulus plan. And after the House votes, the Senate will vote either today or during the weekend. House Appropriations chairman David Obey of Wausau says the stimulus package will have direct benefits for you. They include an income tax cut of 800-dollars this year for working couples – 200 less than the original House plan. There are also tax credits for college, and more-and-longer jobless benefits. Obey and Senator Herb Kohl both say the stimulus plan will either add or save 70-thousand jobs in Wisconsin.

BD on Verge of Going Over $2 for Gas

2/13/09 - Beaver Dam is on the cusp of going back above $2 for a gallon of regular unleaded gas for the first time in months. Prices jumped five-cents at most stations yesterday to $1.99. That’s the same price as in Horicon and Waupun and just a cent more than the state average but still five-cents higher than the national average. The most expensive gas in the state can be found in Park Falls at $2.14 while the cheapest gas is in Beloit at $1.84.

Homes Sales and Prices Down in 4th Quarter of ‘08

2/13/09 - Existing home sales in Dodge County were down about 15% in the fourth quarter of 2008, as compared to 2007. According to the Wisconsin Realtors Association, in the fourth quarter of last year there were 109 homes sold, compared to 128 homes the previous year. The median price of homes in Dodge County went down 8.5% to $120,000. Columbia County, meanwhile, experienced a 43% drop in overall home sales while the price of existing homes declined by just three-tenths of a percent. In Jefferson County, there was a 4.3% decrease in overall sales while the price of existing homes went down 9.7%. Statewide, overall sales dropped about 19% in the fourth quarter, that’s compared to a 14.9% decrease throughout the rest of the Midwest region. The average home price in Wisconsin fell by 3.7% to $158,000 as compared to 2007. Nationally sales were down just 13.1% over the last year.

Miles Driven Way Down in ‘08

2/13/09 - Wisconsinites and most American drove a lot less in November of last year when compared with the year before. The question many are pondering now is –why? The D-O-T says vehicle miles logged in the north-central part of the nation were down 5-point-3-percent. Eric Sundquist watches transportation trends at the Center on Wisconsin Strategy at the U-W and he says everyone in his industry is carefully watching to see whether the price shock of ’08 will have a lasting effect. Sundquist says the fact gas prices were low and driving was still down is encouraging. Many mass transit systems in the region set ridership records last year, but Sundquist says it will take some time to see if we really have made significant progress in changing energy consumption patterns.

Some TV Stations Forced to Keep Analog

2/13/09 - At least one T-V station in the Madison, La Crosse, and Eau Claire areas will keep having an old-fashioned analog signal for a few months. That’s after the F-C-C said all the stations in those markets could not dump their analog signals on Tuesday, like they were planning to do. President Obama signed a bill this week that delays the switch to all-digital signals from February 17th to June 12th. And on Wednesday, the F-C-C said at least one station in 43 U-S markets would have to keep broadcasting in analog, to make sure folks without digital converters yet can watch things like local newscasts. The Fox station in Madison, and the A-B-C affiliates in La Crosse and Eau Claire volunteered to continue their analog signals.

A Cure for a Cold?

2/13/09 - New research at U-W Madison has brought the incurable common cold one step closer to becoming curable someday. Scientists at the U-W and the University of Maryland say they’ve put together the genetic puzzle for all 99 known strains of the rhino-virus – which is the most frequent cause of a cold. U-W virologist Ann Palmenberg says it could lead to better cold medicines – but she agrees it would take years. She and other scientists say it might be impossible to find a drug that’s effective against all strains. That’s because there are too many types of rhino-virus for a single vaccine to work. And some people feel worse than others with the same types of infections. Still, Maryland researcher Stephen Liggett says anti-viral drugs may be developed to attack specific genetic regions in at least part of the human population.

Watch Out for Potholes

2/13/09 - Stretches of warmer weather during a Wisconsin winter often result in the development of potholes on the state’s streets and highways. Water flowing into cracks, then freezing overnight, can cause weak spots that turn into potholes. Dodge County Highway Commissioner Brian Field says that for the most part the county is in much better shape in terms of potholes this year compared to the abundance his crews were fixing a year ago. However, a number of other municipalities are dealing with quite a few potholes so motorists are being reminded to stay alert for road repair crews that are typically out during daylight hours this time of year filling them. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says if you see a maintenance vehicle to slow down and, if possible, move over, to give the crews a safety zone in which to do their jobs.

DMV Closed on Monday for Training

2/13/09 - Division of Motor Vehicles customer service and phone centers throughout Wisconsin will be closed for business on Monday, Presidents' Day, so all front-line customer service representatives can receive technical and procedural updates and training. Although staff at DMV phone centers will be in training and unable to take calls, DMV's automated phone system will remain available so motorists can still make road test appointments and have access to recorded information.

‘Triangle’ Playwright on Community Comment

2/13/09 - Our guest on Community Comment this afternoon is the writer of the play “Triangle,” which premiers tonight at the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater. Laurie Brooks play tells the story of a teenage girl in New York and her connection to a fire at the Triangle Waite Factory in 1911. It’s based on a true story and the fatal fire was the worst workplace tragedy in American history until September 11, 2001. The play runs through February 22 at the Community Theater building on North Spring Street. Brooks joins us on Community Comment beginning at 12:35pm Friday afternoon.

Top Stories February 12th

Fond du Lac PO Convicted

2/12/09 - Former Fond du Lac police officer Rich Woodruff has been found guilty of two counts of misdemeanor theft for using two Cops for Kids gift cards for his personal use. A Fond du Lac County jury arrived at that decision after two days of testimony and about 6 ½ hours of deliberation. After dismissing the jury Judge Richard Nuss preceded right to sentencing. He gave the 45-year-old Fond du Lac man 60 days of conditional jail time, 2 years of probation, and 40 hours of community service for each of those 2 years. Judge Nuss told Woodruff your character is not even in question. However he added that, “you made a very, very bad decision.”

Fitzgerald Critical of Doyle Plan

2/12/09 - Governor Jim Doyle called a news conference yesterday to discuss ways the state will try to deal with its nearly six billion dollar budget shortfall. Doyle said general sales or income tax increases are not part of the solution. The plan would shrink state government by $125 million dollars. It also includes plans to spend nearly $300 million dollars in federal stimulus money on road projects, worker training and improving tax credits which benefit start-up companies and dairy farms. Republicans are not happy with the plan. Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald says the package neither solves the budget hole for 2009 nor stimulates the economy. The Republican from Horicon says the package will be passed by Democrats for one reason only – put $572 million in tax increases in place. Fitzgerald says families are struggling with this slowing economy and the Democrats’ only answer to stimulate the economy is to raise taxes on businesses and families. Lawmakers could act on the package as early as next week.

Another Smoke Tax Increase Discussed

2/12/09 - Wisconsin smokers could be paying more to help balance the state budget. Governor Doyle hasn't ruled out another increase in the cigarette tax, despite a dollar a pack hike that was included in the last budget cycle. Eric Schutt, with the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Cancer Society, says his organization would welcome another increase. Schutt says the added revenue helps, and such increases also help to encourage more smokers to quit. Governor Doyle will submit his budget to lawmakers next week. Wisconsin's cigarette tax is currently a dollar-77 a pack.

Columbus Sees Business Openings

2/12/09 - The City’s receipt of a $50 thousand dollar “Energy Independence” grant from the State was on the top of the Columbus Economic Development achievements list this week.While news headlines are full of business “closings,” the Economic Development and Energy Sustainability report cited local business “openings” in downtown Columbus. Director Steve Sobiek told the Council that four businesses had opened and two other businesses are expanding or relocating in the City. Sobiek also said his office has been actively recruiting a grocery store, pet food factory and a manufacturing facility.

Theresa Man Disconnects Wire from Electrical Pole

2/12/09 - A Theresa man avoided injury and criminal charges after he disconnected electrical wires from a power pole. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says Alliant Energy reported that someone had shot wires off one of their poles on County Trunk TK. Authorities made contact with the man who admitted to disconnecting the wires. He said he was trying to trouble shoot electrical issues at his home. Alliant Energy won’t press charges but they did advise the man not to tamper with the wires again.

Breaking and Entering in Kekoskee

2/12/09 - Authorities are investigating a breaking and entering at a vacant building in Kekoskee. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Department says a bartender from Roxy’s reported three girls breaking into a building at 30 Main Street around 5:15 last evening. Upon arrival, officials confirmed that entry into the building had been gained but none of the suspects were still around. The Sheriff’s Department says their investigation is ongoing and there is no word what, if anything, was taken.

Foreclosures Continue in WI

2/12/09 - Over two-and-a-half percent of Wisconsin mortgages are in foreclosure. And the state’s top housing official says that number will keep rising. Antonio Riley of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority updated lawmakers on the situation yesterday. His agency, known as WHEDA, stopped giving loans to low-and-middle-income home buyers last fall, because the credit markets dried up. Riley said it also stopped his agency from making low-interest loans to help struggling home-owners re-finance their mortgages. The state budget repair bill announced by Democrats yesterday would let WHEDA grant loans to replace sub-prime mortgages from 2002-through-’07. If that’s approved, the agency would seek additional investments from Wisconsin banks.

U.S. Looking at Special Elections to Replace Senators

2/12/09 - Two of Wisconsin’s most colorful and politically-opposite figures in Washington actually agree on something. Jim Sensenbrenner – one of the most conservative members of the House – has joined Russ Feingold – one of the most liberal members of the Senate – in sponsoring a constitutional amendment to require special elections for vacant Senate seats. By spring, five people will have been appointed this year to fill Senate vacancies. The most controversial was the one made by former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. He was indicted for allegedly trying to sell President Obama’s old Senate seat to raise campaign cash. Feingold introduced the amendment for special elections a few weeks ago. But we haven’t heard much about it until yesterday, when Sensenbrenner introduced the same measure in the House. He said Wisconsin has never appointed a U-S senator – and the nation should do the right thing by letting the people choose who will represent them.

Crave Brothers Expand Cheese Production

2/12/09 - Crave Brothers’ Farmstead Cheese has doubled the size of its plant in Waterloo. Company president George Crave said it meets a growing demand for its current varieties of cheese – and it plans new varieties for food service and retail markets. The Farmstead plant has expanded from 10-thousand square feet to about 20-thousand. The firm says all areas of its operation are now bigger-and-better. New cheese-making equipment is being installed – and more workers will be needed on top of the nearly 40 who are there now. The original Crave Brothers plant was built in 2001.

Van Hollen Targets Pedophiles

2/12/09 - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen sends a plea to county officials to take pedophiles off the streets. Van Hollen says a study tracing internet protocol addresses from January to October 2008 shows 22 thousand of them in Wisconsin were downloading child porn. Of those, the majority of the victims were prepubescent; more than half were younger than five years old. The AG says his office is cracking down on the crimes and has successfully recruited local authorities during his law enforcement round table tour. Although 71 municipalities have volunteered so far, he asked county officials to urge their law enforcement agencies get involved.
Fertilizer Phosphorus Ban Endorsed In Committee

2/12/09 - Phosphorus would be banned from lawn fertilizers in Wisconsin, under a bill endorsed by the state Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee. The vote was 15-to-nothing Wednesday to pass the measure on to the full Assembly. The bill’s supporters say the chemical creates algae when fertilizers run off in lakes and ponds. The bill would make it illegal to use phosphorus when fertilizing lawns, golf courses, and other grass that’s mowed. It could still be used on first-year lawns, and poorer soils.

AG Urges Prescription Drug Vigilance

2/12/09 - Wisconsin’s attorney general says adults can help fight prescription drug abuse by teens. At a news conference Wednesday, J-B Van Hollen said more teens are abusing painkillers like oxycodone – and they’re getting it from places like purses, house tables, and medicine cabinets. He’s launching a public service campaign urging adults to monitor their prescription medicines, and keep them in secure locations. Van Hollen said those who don’t keep drugs out of their children’s hands unintentionally become their quote, “pushers.” This will be the subject of a radio-and-T-V campaign through February 22nd. It will cost just over 36-thousand dollars, and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association is providing a reduced rate for the messages. Authorities in the Fox Valley recently called prescription drugs the fastest-growing form of abuse by young people. In western Wisconsin, about three dozen arrests were made a few weeks ago to halt a ring that sold pain-killers like Oxycontin.

Top Stories February 11th

Citizen’s Group to Fight Possible Closings

2/11/09 - A Fox Lake area citizen’s group is in the process of obtaining money to pursue legal assistance in their fight to keep Fox Lake and Alto Elementary open. The Fox Lake Redevelopment Authority approved funds in the amount of $5,000 last night to aid them in seeking legal options if the Waupun School District’s main referendum question were to fail in next week’s primary election. According to Kim Derleth, the money will go to securing an attorney that may be able to help the group decipher other options if it comes to the point where the schools are closed. Derleth says the money from the Redevelopment Authority joins funds already approved by the Town of Fox Lake and they hope other municipalities will contribute as well.

Waupun District Administrator Randy Refsland cautioned residents saying no decision will be made on the possible closing of any schools until nearly a month after the referendum. However, he says he’s surprised by the groups move as he doesn’t feel the district has done anything illegal or wrong in putting the referendum to the people. He said he would be extremely surprised if a judge would place any type of injunction on the board’s final decision, whatever it may be.

The reason for the referendum is the looming $1-million-dollar deficit the district is facing for the 2009-2010 school year, as well as larger deficits in the coming years. Next Tuesday’s primary will ask voters in the district three referenda questions, the most expensive being one that would allow the district to exceed the revenue cap by a total of nearly $5-million over three years to allow the district to continue operating a number of buildings as they currently do. If the main question of the referendum were not to pass Refsland has said his recommendation will be to close Fox Lake and Alto Elementary. However, Refsland has also noted repeatedly the decision to act on that recomendation is completely up to the school board.

Student Forced to Pay for Bomb Threat

2/11/09 - A student who made a bomb threat at his high school failed today to get out of paying almost 16-thousand dollars for what he did. The Second District Appeals Court said it was okay for the Markesan School District to charge Derick Vanbeek for the salaries of teachers and employees during four hours of lost class time. Vanbeek pleaded no contest to leaving a note which contained a bomb threat at Markesan High School in November of 2006. School officials evacuated the building and moved students to other locations that day. A judge told Vanbeek to spend 30 days in jail and three years on probation – and to pay 15-thousand-800 dollars to cover the staff’s expenses for the lost school time. Vanbeek argued that the district was not a victim of his crime because the bomb threat was false, and there was no property damage. But the judges refused to buy that, in the first appellate decision of its kind in Wisconsin. The court said the school’s staff members were entitled to restitution for their lost productivity.

Brett Favre Retires…Again

2/11/09 - Where have we heard this before? Brett Favre e-mailed E-S-P-N this morning to say he’s retiring. The 39-year-old quarterback told reporter Ed Werder that he instructed his agent, Bus Cook, to tell the New York Jets about his plans. Favre also said he had no regrets about finishing his career in the Big Apple, instead of with the Packers – where he won a Super Bowl and three M-V-P awards. Favre staged a tearful retirement news conference last March after 16 seasons in Green Bay. But he un-retired last August, when he publicly accused Packers’ G-M Ted Thompson of wanting him gone. Thompson said he gave Favre one last chance to come back and he turned it down – so Thompson moved on, naming Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. And when Favre tried to return to Packer training camp, the team traded him to the Jets for a conditional draft choice.

Favre was the toast-of-the-town in New York for awhile – until the Jets lost their final five games and missed the playoffs. That got coach Eric Mangini fired. Today, Favre went out of his way to praise Mangini and Jets ownership. And Favre praised teammates Thomas Jones and Kerry Rhodes by name – after both publicly criticized him following the Jets’ late-season collapse. E-S-P-N also said Favre’s agent informally talked with the Jets about simply releasing him – and the Jets, quote, “respectfully declined.” It would have let Favre sign with a team like Minnesota, one of Green Bay’s biggest rivals. Favre reportedly wanted to follow his ex-teammates Ryan Longwell, Robert Ferguson, and Darren Sharper to the Vikings a year ago. Thompson fought that off. E-S-P-N said Favre told them in late December he would probably retire instead of trying to recover from an injured shoulder. He also said he would not stage another retirement news conference – saying he would just thank the Jets and quote, “quietly step away.”

Peaceful Protest at Dodge County Board Meeting

2/11/09 - It was standing room only at the Dodge County Board of Supervisors meeting last night as more than 30 people showed up to show their support for keeping prayer as part of the board’s agenda every other month. Gathering on the sidewalk across from the Administration Building in Juneau before the meeting, a number of people displayed signs stating their position on the issue. The phrases on the signs ranged from “we support prayer” to “we need prayer not fuller”. The issue of prayer at county meetings arose last week after it was made public that Supervisor Dean Fuller filed a complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation stating the county had allowed prayers at the beginning of meetings that mentioned Jesus Christ and Christianity, which they claim are unconstitutional. The next step in this process remains to be seen, but Board Chairman Russ Kottke says the county is talking with a number of religious groups in an attempt to learn their options in keeping prayer as part of the meetings.

Supervisors Approve Fund Transfer

2/11/09 - The Dodge County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution last night that allows a fund transfer of about $1.3-million-dollars to cover snow and ice removal costs from 2008. The Highway Department had budgeted around $1.1-million for 2008 but the actual cost of the cleanup was more than $2.4-million dollars. The reason stated by Dodge County Highway Commissioner Brian Field for the increase was the record snowfall during the year.

Fire in Fox Lake

2/11/09 - Highway 33 in Fox Lake was closed for several hours yesterday afternoon as firefighters battled a hay fire on the back of a flatbed truck. The incident began around 11:30am just west of the BP gas station. Chief Bill Frank says it was a real mess with smoking hay spread all over the roadway and high winds adding to the problem. Frank says the hay ignited as the result of equipment malfunction, stemming from either a bearing on the rear wheel or the rear brake lines. The flatbed trailer was destroyed but the driver of the truck – which is owned by Jeff Lewke -- was able to detach the rig quickly enough to avoid further damage. There were no injuries. The road was closed down for around three hours. Fox Lake received mutual assistance from Randolph.

Bond Set in Fond du Lac Murder

2/11/09 - A half-million-dollar cash bond was set yesterday for a man charged with killing a night-club dancer in Fond du Lac in 1976. 53-year-old Thomas Niesen of Ashwaubenon is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of 19-year-old Kathleen Leichtman. Niesen remained in the Fond du Lac County Jail, while he and his lawyer appeared in court on a video hook-up. Circuit Judge Peter Grimm is scheduled to decide March sixth if there’s enough evidence to order a trial. Prosecutors suggested the high bond, saying Niesen tried to flee to Colorado after he was arrested for child abuse in Brown County in 2007. He had to give the state a D-N-A sample after being convicted in that case. And officials said it matched the D-N-A found at the scene of Leichtman’s murder. She had just moved from Milwaukee to work as a dancer. Authorities said her body was found along a road-side the morning after her first night on the job. She was stabbed numerous times, and her throat was slit.

Columbus Council Moving Toward Udey Dam Repair

2/11/09 - The Columbus Council moved toward repair of the Udey Dam at last night’s meeting by denying introduction of a resolution to remove the Dam. Columbus Council members were presented with 13 estimates from engineering firms received by the City since the Udey Dam gates were opened in 2004. The project is unlikely to get underway before 2011. By then final costs for repair are likely to be well over $600 thousand dollars. Council President Ed Parpart said the resolution to repair the Dam “would not add one single job to the City and would affect the tax rate for the next 15 years.”

Juneau over Budget in ’08

2/11/09 - The city of Juneau went $97,000 over budget last year. The Common Council approved a 2008 budget amendment last night. Clerk Treasurer Dennis Sheldon says a big portion of the overage could be attributed to the purchase of a new ambulance. The council last night also approved one-year terms for EMS officers. Sue Ludtke will serve as coordinator through January of 2010. She had previously served as Assistant Coordinator but was named Interim Coordinator following the resignation of James Burke in September. Burke was the second coordinator in two years to resign; he had replaced Jim Ronge. Also last night, Dan Zank was named to a three-year term as Fire Department Captain.

Lomira Man Facing Homicide Charges

2/11/09 - A 34-year-old Lomira man now faces two felony charges for allegedly driving under the influence and causing an accident that killed a 25-year-old Kewaskum man last November. Jason Jacobs is charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and a similar charge for driving under the influence of cocaine. Jacobs allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign on Orchard Valley Road in his SUV and hit another car that was on Washington County Highway H last November 14th. Timothy McKee of Kewaskum was driving the other car. He died at the scene. Jacobs has a hearing scheduled in Washington County court today.

House-Senate Conference to Compromise on Stimulus

2/11/09 - It’s now up to a House-Senate conference committee to come up with a final version of the federal economic stimulus package. That’s after the Senate voted 61-to-37 yesterday to pass a smaller series of measures than what the House approved. Wausau House Democrat David Obey will be one of 10 negotiators to draft the final package. He says the two houses have quote, “substantial, but I hope not over-powering differences.” Obey – who chairs the House Appropriations Committee – said the fine points can be debated forever, but it’s more important that Congress act now. Earlier yesterday, Governor Jim Doyle said the Senate package would give Wisconsin 600-million-dollars less than the House version – mainly by cutting out money for school buildings and aid to states. And Doyle said public jobs would be lost if the Senate package were to hold up. But Wisconsin senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold voted yes anyway. Feingold said the stimulus plan is not perfect, but it would create or save millions of jobs while addressing the nation’s energy and infra-structure needs. Kohl said it offers quote, “solutions that are equal to our time.” In short, the Senate package offers less relief for governments than the House version, and more relief for individuals.

Minimum Wage on Its Way Up

2/11/09 - Wisconsin’s minimum wage would go up by 17-percent now – and it would automatically rise each year for inflation – under a bill the state Senate passed yesterday. All 18 Democrats voted yes, and 14 Republicans voted no, to raising the wage from 6.50-an-hour to 7.60. Officials said it would give an instant raise to about 225-thousand employees – assuming their jobs don’t get cut, which is what Republicans say would happen in at least some cases. The G-O-P also tried but failed to drop the automatic increases for inflation. The G-O-P also tried but failed to drop the automatic increases for inflation. Jim Pugh of the Wisconsin Manufacturers-and-Commerce group says raises should be tried to productivity. But Democratic Majority Leader Russ Decker said the automatic increases are vital because politicians don’t touch the issue for years while quote, “the rich are getting richer, and the rest of us are stuck with what’s left behind.”

“Don’t Be Like Mike Night”

2/11/09 - The Milwaukee Admirals’ hockey team has a rather interesting promotion for its home game against Rockford a week from Thursday night. It’s called “Don’t Be Like Mike Night.” It’s named after Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps. He was photographed last fall breathing from a large marijuana pipe at a college party – and U-S-A Swimming recently suspended him. Admirals’ president Jon Greenberg says the promotion is a reminder to stay away from drugs. Anyone who completed a school DARE program can get in for two-dollars by showing a graduation certificate. The same goes for anyone named Michael, Phelps, Mary Jane, Cheech, Chong, or Weed. Past Olympic gold medal winners also get in for two-bucks. The Admirals will give away a weed-wacker, signed by the team. If Milwaukee scores with 4:20 left in any period, one fan will win a season ticket for next year. 420 is often said to be a police code for illegal drug use. Finally, the Admirals will have a document shredder for anyone who wants to destroy pictures of themselves that might be embarrassing or incriminating.

Top Stories February 10th

2/10/09 - A representative with a group seeking to prevent the closure of Fox Lake and Alto Elementary schools from closing says it’s Jefferson Elementary in Waupun that should be closed. Kim Derleth with savefoxlakeschool.blogspot.com told us on WBEV’s Community Comment yesterday that the Waupun School District is not serving the needs of all students by only working to keep the schools in Waupun open. Her group is asking the board to consider closing Jefferson Elementary in Waupun, opening the brand new high school to 8th grade students and putting students age Kindergarten through 7th grade into middle school. Derleth says the district should also close the Education Service Center and move it into the high school. She is also critical of a plan that would require Fox Lake and Alto students to be bussed 10-miles when alternative plans they recommend result in no long-distance student bussing. Without its schools, Derleth says Fox Lake will become a community without children. Next Monday, we will sit down with Waupun District Administrator Randy Refsland, who has said if next Tuesday’s referendum were to fail, the district would have to consider closing Fox Lake and Alto Elementary schools.

Man to be Charged in 32-Year-Old Murder

2/10/09 - A Green Bay area man is expected to be charged today in the murder of woman in Fond du Lac almost 33 years ago. 53-year-old Thomas Niesen of Ashwaubenon was arrested last week for the slaying of 19-year-old Kathleen Leichtman in July of 1976. At a news conference yesterday, police said they submitted D-N-A from the crime scene to a state data-base in 2001. But it didn’t match anybody until Niesen was convicted of child abuse last year in Brown County – and he was required then to submit a D-N-A sample under state law. Fond du Lac detective supervisor Michael Frank received a teletype from the state last October, saying they linked Niesen’s D-N-A to the Leichtman slaying. Officials would not say much else about the arrest, pending the filing of a criminal charge. Leichtman was from Milwaukee, and she had just started a job as a night-club dancer in Fond du Lac. The next day, her body was found along a roadside with multiple stab wounds – and her throat was slit. The Green Bay Press-Gazette combed through court records and city directories, and found that Niesen lived at several different addresses over the last 15 years. He was homeless when he was arrested for child abuse in 2007.

Dodge County Board to Meet Tonight

2/10/09 - The Dodge County Board of Supervisors will hold their first full board meeting since a complaint was filed regarding a prayer at the beginning of their monthly meetings. Supervisor Dean Fuller filed that complaint with the Freedom From Religion Foundation in January claiming the board had allowed a supervisor to say prayers with references to Christianity and Jesus Christ, which they believe is unconstitutional. Reaction to the complaint has been harsh and Fuller has reportedly received a number of threats. No prayer was scheduled for tonight’s meeting as they alternate it each month with a moment of silence. There is no word on what will be done at the beginning of the meeting in March. The meeting begins at 7:30pm in the Administration Building in Juneau.

Mayville to Sell Promissory Notes

2/10/09 - The Mayville City Council approved a resolution last night that will allow for the sale of general obligation promissory notes not to exceed $1.53-million dollars. Philip Cosson with Ehlers Associates explains the notes will be for a number of capital improvement projects as well as to refinance some previous debt. Cosson will now put together a prospective on the city and send it out to possible bidders on the notes, including local financial institutions. The bids will be made on March 9th with Ehlers then bringing those to the council for approval. Cosson says if all goes according to plan money for those projects should be available by late March or early April.

BD Man Sentenced for High Speed Chase

2/10/09 - A Beaver Dam man, who led authorities on a high speed chase before disappearing in Wal-Mart, has been sentenced to five months in jail. 23-year-old Jason D. Wood pleaded “no contest” to reduced misdemeanor charges of Failing to Stop. The high speed chase last July started on Highway 33 and continued down Highway 151 before ending in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Wood and another man disappeared into the store but authorities were able to identify their car. They were later tracked down through vehicle registration, eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage.

Work-Release Inmate Facing Charges after Disappearance

2/10/09 - A work-release inmate from Beaver Dam could have six years added to his sentence for failing to return to jail. Randall Riese is charged with felony escape for failing to return to the Huber facility at the Dodge County Detention Facility in December. The 21-year-old was reportedly located by authorities at a Beaver Dam residence four hours after he was due back. Riese was doing six months on retail theft charges and had four months left on his sentence.

Waupun Man Pulls Weapon on Police

2/10/09 - An incident in which an inebriated man pulled a gun on Waupun police officers ended without anyone coming to harm last Friday night. Police say they got a call from another man who’d been hit by the man with the gun. The caller told authorities his attacker had been drinking and possibly mixing it with medication and had a habit of carrying a handgun around in the back of his pants. When police showed up at their door the man was drunk and did take a gun out of his pants, but quickly dropped it without firing it. He now faces several charges from the incident. (Bob Nelson, KFIZ)

Average Price of Gas Up Five-Cents over Last Month

2/10/09 - The average gas price in Wisconsin has crept up five-cents a gallon over the last month. The Triple-“A” says the statewide average for unleaded regular is 1.96-a-gallon. That’s still a dollar lower than at the same time a year ago. Beaver Dam has been holding steady at $1.94. In the state’s largest metro, Milwaukee Gas Prices-Dot-Com reports the average is also at $1.94-a-gallon. That’s up three-point-six-cents over the last month. Gas at some Milwaukee area stations is over the $2 mark.

Sheriff’s Department Dealing with Animal Mistreatment Case

2/10/09 - The Dodge County Sheriff's Department is in the process of starting a list of farmers that may be able to house, care for, feed, and manage livestock. The Department is currently investigating a large animal mistreatment case that may require them to seize more than 100-animals. The county would compensate the farmers for all time and expenses when the animals are sold. Sheriff Todd Nehls says there are looking for potential housing for every type of animal, from calves to horses and even dairy cows that will need to be milked. Anyone interested in helping is asked to contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department.

Abrahamson Has Raised More than $1-Million for Campaign

2/10/09 - Wisconsin’s chief justice says she has raised over a-million-dollars for her re-election bid. Shirley Abrahamson and her challenger Randy Koschnick filed their updated state reports yesterday, which reflect campaign activity through last Monday. Abrahamson said she raised almost a quarter-million-dollars in January alone. She’s been on the State Supreme Court since 1976. Koschnick, a Jefferson County circuit judge, said he raised just over 14-thousand-dollars by the end of last year. He has not said what his updated report would indicate. The two candidates will square off in the general election on April seventh.

Unemployment Benefit Fund Facing Huge Deficit

2/10/09 - The fund that pays for Wisconsin’s unemployment benefits could be one-point-two billion dollars in the red by the end of 2010. That’s according to a new projection from the state’s workforce development agency. Wisconsin’s jobless rate is lower than the national average. But the December rate was still the highest in over 20 years at five-point-eight percent. For the first time since 1986, employers are paying higher taxes into the benefit fund this year. The fund now has 57-and-a-half million dollars, and the state has asked for a 400-thousand-dollar loan from the federal government to keep the benefits flowing. The report also says more such loans will be needed, as year-end deficits in the benefit fund are now expected through at least 2013.

Top Stories February 9th

Double Fatal in Jefferson County

2/9/09 - A father and son are dead following a two-vehicle accident in Jefferson County Saturday night. It happened around 6:15pm on State Highway 106 in the Township of Koshkonong. According to Sheriff Paul Milbrath, 22-year-old Lucas White of Fort Atkinson was apparently drinking when he veered his westbound vehicle into the eastbound lanes and struck a car head-on. 41-year-old Elano Calvillo and his 11-year-old son Bailey Calvillo were pronounced dead at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. Med-Flight landed at the scene but did not make a transport. White was treated and released at Fort Atkinson Hospital for minor injuries. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Department's Major Accident Investigation Team.

More Information Expected in 3-Decades Old Murder Case

2/9/09 - Authorities in Fond du Lac will say more today about a murder which took almost 33 years to solve. Police arrested 53-year-old Thomas Niesen of Ashwaubenon last week for the death of 19-year-old Kathleen Leichtman. She was from Milwaukee, and she went to Fond du Lac in July of 1976 to start a job as a night-club dancer. The next day, a driver found her body on the side of a road. She had multiple stab wounds, and her throat was slit. A news conference is planned this morning, where police and prosecutors will say more about the incident and the arrest. The victim’s mother said the family still visits Leichtman’s grave – and they lost hope that the crime would be solved until a detective told them about a new development.

Waupun Man Charged with Sexual Assault

2/9/09 - A 41-year-old Waupun man has been accused of the repeated sexual assault of two young girls at their home in Fox Lake. Dean Strieff was charged in Dodge County Court last Thursday with two counts of repeated sexual assault of a child. According to the criminal complaint, the victim’s mother contacted Fox Lake police earlier this month and informed them that Strieff had allegedly sexually assaulted the children numerous times. One girl told authorities that Strieff had touched her in a sexual manner at least 20 to 30 times between September of last year and the middle of January. A younger girl told investigators that Strieff had touched her inappropriately at least four times during the same period. Strieff is being held on $20,000 cash bond and is due in court for his preliminary hearing February 12th. If convicted, Strieff is facing up to 120-years in prison.

Three Local Child Care Centers Fined in ‘08

2/9/09 - Three local child care centers were fined by the state in 2008. The most expensive violation of the three came at Bomkamp’s Braids N’ Britches in Columbus. According to state records, the center was fined $300 when an 18-month-old child was burned after pulling a cord attached to a baby bottle warmer, which then spilled onto the child. It was later discovered the warmer was found to be defective, meaning the water was warmer than it should have been. Two other violations occurred at two child care centers in Watertown. Great Expectations/Early Learning Center was fined $200 after staff failed to open double doors all the way and a child seated in a buggy had his arm dislocated when it got caught on one of the doors as they entered. The other violation took place at the Mary Linsmeier School when a non-staff member returned a child to the classroom that had been left unsupervised in the centers gym. In total, 27 child care centers were fined in the 15-county southern region, which includes Dodge, Columbia, and Jefferson Counties.

BD Citizens Police Academy Applications Available

2/9/09 - The Beaver Dam Police Department will be holding their Sixth Annual Citizens Police Academy in March. Officer Bill Linzenmeyer says the 10-week course covers a number of topics including firearms training, defensive tactics and cadets even participate in a ride-along. The academy is free of charge, but applicants must be 18 years of age and either reside or own property in Beaver Dam. The programs begin March 5th and with only 12 spots open Linzenmeyer says interested parties should apply. Applications can be picked up at the police department and are due February 23.

Fair Freezes Fees

2/9/09 - Because of the tight economy, the Dodge County Fair Association has decided not to raise ticket prices for this year’s event. The Associations Sharon Keil says there will no increase for daily tickets, season passes or parking. The rates charged to commercial vendors will also be frozen at 2008 prices. Entry to the fair is $6 before 2pm and $9 after. Season tickets are available for $30. Kids under age 9 are free. There is no charge for the grandstand acts or parking. Keil says the Association hopes the prices will help keep attendance numbers in line with last years, which she said were pretty good. The fair, which has a quarter million dollar annual budget, turned an $85,000 last year. Keil credited the high attendance on good weather and quality entertainment. This year, Gary Allan will be performing on Wednesday; Rodney Atkins is scheduled for Thursday. Styx is the rock act on Friday. The musical acts wrap-up Saturday night with newcomer James Otto. The Dodge County Fair will be held August 19th through the 23rd at the Dodge County Fairgrounds.

Wisconsin Man Planning Adventure No One Else Has Done

2/9/09 - Cedarburg native Eric Larsen is planning to do what no explorer has done before – reach the both the North and South poles and Mount Everest all within one year. Fifteen people have been to all three places, but none are from the U-S – and none of them made it within 365 days. You might remember that in 2006 Larsen and his partner became the first people to reach the North Pole in the summertime without help. And Larsen has just been to the South Pole, after guiding four adventurers on a skiing trip in early January. The 37-year-old Larsen says he wants his new effort to draw public attention to the effects of global warming on both poles and Mount Everest. He has raised over 100-thousand-dollars, and he’s working to get sponsorships to cover a budget of 750-thousand. Larsen’s new project is called “Save the Poles” – and he says there’s a 75-percent chance he’ll leave on schedule. He’s due to head for the South Pole in November, the North Pole in February, and Mount Everest in the fall of 2010.

Patients Losing Doctors

2/9/09 - If your favorite doctor leaves one hospital for another, good luck trying to follow him or her. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says many hospitals require doctors to sign employment contracts aimed at keeping them where they are. Chicago health care attorney Roger Strode says hospitals spend time-and-money helping a doctor build a practice – and in some cases, hospitals buy a physician’s practice simply for the revenue. But 67-year-old Ramona Raddeman, who has a brain tumor, says it’s not fair for the patients. Her doctor for the last 30 years just left Wheaton Franciscan Health-care. Raddeman says the hospital refuses to say where he went. And if she does find him and wants to follow him, she’ll have to pay 31-cents a page for her medical record. Raddeman says that alone would cost her hundreds of dollars. The paper says medical contracts often prevent doctors from contacting their patients when they leave. And they may be barred from practicing up to 20 miles away for a year or longer. Wheaton Franciscan said it would not comment on its employment contracts.

Air Quality Watch Until 11pm Tonight

2/9/09 - All of Wisconsin is under an Air Quality Watch until 11 tonight. The state D-N-R issued the watch because of higher-than-normal levels of fine particles in the air. They come from places like smoke-stacks, wood-burners, and vehicle exhausts. People in sensitive groups are urged to limit or re-schedule strenuous outdoor activities. And the D-N-R asks people to prevent unnecessary air pollution by driving as little as possible, and delay the burning of leaves and using outdoor power equipment.

Top Stories February 8th

Double Fatal in Jefferson County

2/8/09 - A father and son are dead following a two-vehicle accident in Jefferson County last night. It happened around 6:15pm on State Highway 106 in the Township of Koshkonong. According to Sheriff Paul Milbrath, 22-year-old Lucas White of Fort Atkinson was apparently drinking when he veered his westbound vehicle into the eastbound lanes and struck a car head-on. 41-year-old Elano Calvillo and his 11-year-old son Bailey Calvillo were pronounced dead at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. Med-Flight landed at the scene but did not make a transport. White was treated and released at Fort Atkinson Hospital for minor injuries. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Department's Major Accident Investigation Team.

Dad of Packers' WR Named in Defamation Suit

2/8/09 - Three Houston police officers file suit against the father of Packer wide receiver Donald Driver. Their defamation suit alleges Marvin Driver Junior and activist Quanell X made false statements about the November arrest. Driver had said the police beat him during the arrest. He had to be treated at a hospital. He said officers Gilberto Cruz, Bacilio Guzman and Matthew Marin hit him, forced him to open his mouth and made him swallow cocaine. The officers say Driver lied about the circumstances and they have suffered embarrassment and loss of income.

Teen Charged As Adult in Canadian Girlfriend Smuggling Attempt

2/8/09 - A teenager from Oshkosh will stand trial as an adult. Seventeen-year-old Nickolas Robbins is accused of trying to smuggle his 14-year-old girlfriend into Canada. The charge is interfering with child custody. If convicted, Robbins could get up to three and a half years in prison. The girl told investigators she and Robbins were trying to get to Canada because he parents didn't approve of their relationship. She didn't have a passport or birth certificate, so Robbins piled clothes on her before trying to cross the border. Canadian authorities turned him back -- and the girl was discovered by U.S. Customs officers.

Ellis: ‘Campaign Reform Package Fall Short’

2/8/09 - A longtime supporter of campaign finance reform says a recent rule change in the Assembly does more harm than good. Assembly leadership this week approved a rule that bans campaign fund raising during budget negotiations. The move has been applauded by campaign finance reform groups, but state Senator Mike Ellis says it has no teeth and it doesn't keep the special interest groups out long enough. Ellis says it also has a huge loophole in that it allows legislative campaign committees to continue fund raising. He says that gives leadership more control over individual members. Instead of a ban during the budget, Ellis hopes to introduce a bill soon that would ban fund raising until the end of the legislative session. It would also create new regulations for political issue ads.

River Trail Agreement

2/8/09 - They've been working on a river trail along the Fox River for two years. Finally, agreement between officials in Little Chute and the Fox River Navigational System Authority has been reached. The village plans to pave a trail and build a pedestrian bridge from Island to Heesakker parks. A state grant will cover about half the cost. It's possible the tight budget will force the state to pull that funding. If not, the trail should be finished by sometime next year. An unusable bridge has made Island Park virtually inaccessible for some time.

Motel Tax Lowered

2/8/09 - Amery motel owners had asked for elimination of the city's motel tax. Mayor Harvey Stower says the city council settled on a reduction instead. The money the tax raises goes towards tourism in the Amery area. Stower says the reduction is in line with other communities in the area, and four percent is still low for motel taxes in the Badger state. He says the cost is 15 percent more if you stay in Madison. Motel owners cited the economic downturn in calling for elimination of the tax. The decrease will take effect in April.

Milwaukee Co Sick Day Pay Halted

2/8/09 - A Milwaukee County judge stops enforcement of a city ordinance on sick days. The rule requires private employers to pay sick days for all of their workers in the city of Milwaukee. The judge granted a request for a temporary restraining order last Friday. The ordinance was to go into effect next week, but business owners called it a job killer -- and challenged its legality. Milwaukee was only the third city in the country to pass such an ordinance, but 69 percent of voters supported the idea. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for next May.

Bridge To Nowhere

2/8/09 - He'd worked at PDM Bridge in Eau Claire for 37 years, but now he's out of a job. An arbitrator has ruled that the company can fire its longtime worker for stealing -- even though the scrap metal he was taking was worth less than five dollars. The arbitrator says it's unfortunate, but the company does have that authority. The plant manager caught the man who apparently offered to buy the 15 pounds of scrap. The employee’s union filed a grievance, but the firing was upheld by the arbitrator.

Top Stories February 7th

Warmer Temps Could Lead to Flooding

2/7/09 - We may all be pining for warmer temperatures right now but a combination of mid-40’s and rain early next week could cause high water levels and possible flooding on area rivers and streams. The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook beginning this morning through next Thursday. The statement reads “the combination of runoff from snow melt with warm temperatures this weekend and early next week, along with moderate rain Monday into Monday night, will cause a rise in area rivers and streams.” There's a good chance of rain totaling up to a half-inch on Monday. The rise in water levels could also lead to the break-up of ice on rivers and streams, so if ice jams up under bridges, it could cause sudden flooding. The hazardous weather outlook is for 20 Wisconsin counties including Dodge, Jefferson, Columbia, and Fond du Lac.

FDL Make Arrest in 32-Year-Old Murder Case

2/7/09 - Fond du Lac police make an arrest in a 32-year-old murder case. Fifty-three year old Thomas Niesen of Ashwaubenon will face charges in connection with the death of Kathleen Leichtman in July 1976. Leichtman was a 19 year old go-go dancer for the strip club the Other Place. Her body was found in July of that year. She had been stabbed and her throat was slashed. Police Major Kevin Lemke says Niesen became a suspect last fall after the processing of some evidence from the case. Police Chief Tony Barthuly says solving the case will give Leichtman’s family, and the investigators who worked on it over the years, some closure.

State Handling Record Request for Jobless Benefits

2/7/09 - With unemployment at its highest in 17 years, Wisconsin officials say they’re doing all they can to keep up with record requests for jobless benefits. The state has hired 83 more people, and re-assigned other agency workers, to handle a 67-percent increase in unemployment applications from a year ago. Workforce Development secretary Roberta Gassman says she knows it’s hard for somebody to be patient in this situation. But she’s asking applicants who face long delays or lose their phone connections to understand – and she vows that every claim will be responded to. Gassman made her comments today, after the U-S Labor Department reported a seven-point-six percent unemployment rate for January. Almost 600-thousand jobs were cut nationally last month. Three-point-six million jobs have been lost since the recession began 15 months ago – and half those reductions came in the last three months.

32nd Infantry Brigade Sendoff

2/7/09 - Farewell ceremonies are being held throughout Wisconsin, as over three-thousand National Guard troops get ready to go to Iraq. In Green Bay Thursday, Packers’ president Mark Murphy and three players joined friends-and-relatives in sending off 132 members of the Red Arrow Brigade. Mason Crosby, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson were among those attending a ceremony in the Lambeau Field atrium. Crosby, the Packers’ kicker, said it was an honor to meet some of the men-and-women who fight for our freedom. The unit gave Murphy an award for the Packers’ support. A similar sendoff took place in Waupun as well. The 32nd Infantry Brigade has 36 locations throughout Wisconsin. The troops will start training at Fort Bliss in Texas this month, before spending 10 months in Iraq. It’s the largest Wisconsin National Guard deployment since World War Two. About half the Green Bay unit had served in Iraq in 2005.

Abortion Rights Group Happy with Decision

2/7/09 - The head of an abortion rights group applauds the decision to offer second trimester abortions in Madison. Lisa Subeck, Executive Director of NARAL Pro Choice Wisconsin, says it's important for the procedure to continue to be offered in Madison, where the only doctor offering the procedure is retiring soon. Subeck says the unanimous vote of approval is significant. She says it shows the board of the Madison Surgery Center knows what’s right from a health care prospective for women. Abortions will be offered for women who are up to twenty-two weeks pregnant. Pro-life groups vow to demonstrate outside the clinic.

Newly Appointed Chiefs Attend Training

2/7/09 - A number of area police chiefs participated in training put on the by the Wisconsin Department of Justice recently. Among the 28 newly appointed chiefs included Interim Chief Dennis Weiner of Columbus, Chief Daniel Link of the Hustisford Police Department and Chief Tim Roets of the Watertown Police Department. Topics covered during the week long training seminar were leadership, budgeting, recruitment and labor relations. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen spent some time with the group during the week and briefed them on the state and federal resources available to assist local law enforcement agencies. Van Hollen said quote “I was pleased to spend some time during the week with each of these new law enforcement leaders as they prepare to not only fight crime but to lead. They have my commitment to be their partner as they do both.”

Mock Trial Tournament in Dodge County

2/7/09 - Seven high schools are competing in a mock trial tournament setting at the Dodge County Courthouse today. Eighty Wisconsin high schools are gathering across the state as part of the 26th Annual Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin. The top 12 teams advance to statewide competition in Madison on March 15th and 16th with the first place winner representing the state in the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia in May. The seven teams competing at the Justice Center in Juneau are from Beaver Dam, Dodgeland, Hustisford, Kewaskum, Lodi, Mayville and Watertown High Schools. (Bob Nelson, KFIZ)

18-year-old Student Facing Blackmail Charges

2/7/09 - A prosecutor says he’ll try to keep victims from having to testify against a former student charged with blackmailing boys for sex. Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel says there’s probably enough evidence on Anthony Stancl’s computer to convict him. The 18-year-old Stancl is accused posing as a girl on a Facebook Web site – convincing boys to send him nude pictures – and then blackmailing some of them, forcing at least seven boys to have sex with him. At least 31 of Stancl’s former classmates at New Berlin Eisenhower High School have come forward. Authorities believe there were more victims, but nobody else has come forward since the case made national news yesterday. Schimel said the defendant’s computer had 300 photos and movie clips of the victims. A judge will decide February 26th if there’s enough evidence to order a trial.

The Return of Gas Tax Indexing?

2/7/09 - One group maintains transportation infrastructure would benefit from a return to gas tax indexing. Craig Thompson with Wisconsin's Transportation Development Association says there were several factors behind the decision to end indexing three years ago. Thompson says there was an erosion of the public’s trust that all dollars from the gas tax were going back into the transportation system. There's a problem, though, with not having the income generated by indexing and it’s happened before. Thompson says the infrastructure was allowed to crumble during the 1970s, meaning the gas tax had to be bumped 11 cents in the 80s. The governor is expected to call for a return of gas tax indexing in his state budget.

Dairy Settles Complaint with DNR

2/7/09 - A northeast Wisconsin dairy has agreed to pay 46-thousand-dollars to settle a state water pollution complaint. The state Justice Department announced the settlement today involving the United Meadows Dairy of Wrightstown. The D-N-R said the dairy’s manure pit twice went over its top in 2005 – and it also spilled in 2007. As a result, tens-of-thousands of gallons of liquid manure spilled into Apple Creek and the Fox River. The settlement also requires the dairy to upgrade its manure pit, loading platform, liquid waste collection, and feed storage area. The United Meadows Dairy has about 525 cows.