Local News (archives)
| 2007 Heritage Day Parade - category/winner | |||
| All School Reunion | Class of 1961, | ||
| Youth Division | Hurley Cheerleaders | ||
| Most Distinctive Vehicle | 1928 Ford | ||
| Most Impressive Rig | Iron County HW Dept Oshkosh Plow Truck | ||
| Heritage | Red Hat Society | ||
| Year of the Street | Nora's Bar | ||
| Horse and Pony | Frontier Horses | ||
| Chamber Member | Nora's Bar | ||
The 30 July 2007 teaser from the Globe about the geocaching contest had an incorrect URL... the correct link is http://www.ironcountywi.com/ . The list is part way down the Iron County website's front page, not the Development Zone page. I apologize for having diseminated this incorrect information. - Bob
Living
history tour part of county heritage festival "Iron County Historical Society President Gene Cisewski will once again lead the tour as part of the Heritage Festival at 6:30 p.m. today. Community members, dressed in period garb, will portray miners, lumberjacks, dance hall girls and other characters on a tour starting at the Iron Nugget all the way to the lower block."
"Fitzgerald cruised he property after logging took place during the winter of 2006-07 and estimated there was about $22,098 worth of wood delivered to the mill yard from the property and about $5,851 went unpaid in stumpage due the landowner."
"After the ruling, three companies were granted $34 million worth of annual property tax exemptions. Scores of other companies that recycle paper, plastics and metal applied for tax breaks worth an additional $135 million per year, according to the Department of Revenue."
Feingold
defends consumer rights"By getting consumers, employees and others who do business with them to sign these agreements before troubles arise -- at a point when the corporation usually has all the negotiating advantages -- it becomes possible to deny Americans their day in court. And, in so doing, the likelihood that irresponsible, negligent or lawless corporations will ever be held to account is reduced."
Protesters
rally, tell of hardship and demand universal coverage"The local chapter of the coalition demands that the state Assembly hold public hearings to discuss the crisis in Wisconsin's health care system and the merits of the Healthy Wisconsin plan passed by the Senate."
Bear-resistant
dumpsters to be placed at Day Lake"This is part of the Bear Trust Adopt-a-Dumpster Program, a joint effort of Bear Trust International, the National Wildlife Federation, and state and federal wildlife and land management agencies to protect bears, other wildlife, and people on public and private lands."
Public
offers stiff opposition to shoreland zoning changes"Gone is the old 50 percent rule for nonconforming structures - limiting repairs and reconstruction to 50 percent of the structure's current equalized value over its lifetime. Instead the agency will regulate the amount of impervious, or hard, surfaces on each property within 300 feet of the ordinary high water mark."
Sen
R. Feingold“The children’s health care legislation before the Senate right now, known as CHIP, is critical to the almost 100,000 Wisconsinites who depend on BadgerCare to provide health care for their families. As health care costs skyrocket and the number of uninsured rises, strengthening BadgerCare by increasing funding for CHIP is essential to ensuring that thousands of Wisconsin families stay healthy."
"The recent acceptance to expedite the transition of this mission to more robust UN-AU mission is a step in a the right direction, but we must bear in mind the number of agreements that have long since been overlooked, ignored, or flat-out rejected by the Sudanese government."
Development
zone sponsors contest"The Geocaching contest will list 10 sites on the Iron County Development Zone's website. Just surf over to www.ironcountywi.com/business.htm to get the coordinates of the sites. Contestants have until Aug. 13 to complete the contest, according to Kelly Klein, executive director at ICDZ."
"We want to put on an event not only for fun this year, but that will be so much fun that people want to come back in the coming years," said DeeGee Pawlicki from the WUPCVB. "We want to be on the road to becoming what Sturgis is to motorcycling."
Madison,
Wis.: Ecotourism conference set""Ecotourism and sustainable travel are important because as a responsible society we need to do everything we can to protect our natural resources, encourage and embrace diverse cultures, support sustainable ways in alleviating the social ills that face many developing nations," Bricker said."
"Gerald began - but was interrupted by a piercing whistle which cost him ten percent of his hearing permanently, as it did everyone else in a ten-mile radius of the eruption, not that it mattered much because for them "permanently" meant the next ten minutes or so until buried by searing lava or suffocated by choking ash - to pee," Gleeson wrote.
The
race to beat poverty "And tensions are rising, as the housing market stumbles and Wall Street performs a perilous tightrope act. If ever there was a year when, finally, issues of wealth and poverty can be placed on the agenda, it is this one. To their credit, Edwards and Obama recognize this for the opening it provides."
Feingold
hears support for censure"I come home every weekend and I do these meetings, and I talk to people and I go to the store, to the health club, and I get the feeling that I'm NOT completely crazy," Feingold said. "Unless we ALL are. And I don't think we are."
Sen
R. Feingold"We have compromised enough over the years. We can no longer afford a system that favors wasteful projects over the needs of the American people.”
Earmark
Reform“Congress must not let people who oppose reform change the subject. Right now, the simple question senators must ask themselves is whether we want to change the way Washington does business or not.”
"This lobbying and ethics reform bill is badly needed to help close the book on the Abramoff era. I plan to support it enthusiastically.”
Feingold:
Bush Admin. 'trying to gut FISA law' [VIDEO] - Raw Story"The only way it can be done fairly is through the request that four of us have made which is that a Special Counsel be appointed through the Bush Administration, through the Attorney General's office and that they look at it and determine whether something has happened here that I think has happened, which is, I think, perhaps a crime has been committed by the Attorney General on this matter."
Gov.
Doyle
Governor,
Chancellors Urge Legislature to Invest in Higher Education“Businesses in Wisconsin depend on our colleges and universities to meet the need for more engineers, teachers and nurses as well. It’s critical that the Legislature make a new investment into our local campuses so that we are growing every corner of the state."
For non-members of About Ironwood, you can gain access to the documents
"You got to have an enemy to fight. And when you have an enemy to fight, then you can unite the entire world behind you, and you seize power. That was Hitler's plan. His enemy: the Jew. Al Gore's enemy, the U.N.'s enemy: global warming...."
[Is it about time for reasonable, decent people to take politics back from the crazies? - Bob]
Heritage
Festival ParadeStarting with vets leading the parade with the colors, the "ad hoc" marching band, floats, fire trucks, costumes, cars, kids and candy marched east on the new Silver Street, which was lined by a large contingent of seniors and enough children to make sure no candy littered the street after the parade.
"Pulera is the author of "Sharing the Dream: White Males in Multicultural America" and "Visible Differences: Why Race Will Matter in the 21st Century." He is in town to establish a dialogue with Italian-Americans throughout the region. Besides giving the presentation, he talked and shot video of Italian-Americans and landmarks throughout the area."
Grant
to fund study of Mercer Lake's condition"The Mercer Lake Association has received a $257,000 lake protection grant. The grant will fund a two-year study by the U.S. Geological Surveyto assess the overall condition of Mercer Lake and its watershed. The study will recommend steps to improve the lake quality."
"In the debate over early intervention therapy for Wisconsin's growing population of children diagnosed with autism - and who should pay for it - one thing is clear: Hundreds of children with autism aren't getting the therapeutic aid many medical experts say represents their best hope of attaining a normal life."
"Goehring said the sites have added new events, more marketing and improvements to gift stores. And it's all paying off. Revenues at various sites are increasing too. At the state's largest historical site, Old World Wisconsin, attendance and revenue are up 8 percent from the same time last year, the Historical Society said."
Former
Thompson aide kept health report from public"A surgeon general's report in 2006 that called on Americans to help tackle global health problems has been kept from the public by a Bush political appointee, and former Gov. Tommy Thompson hire, without any background or expertise in medicine or public health, chiefly because the report did not promote the administration's policy accomplishments, according to current and former public health officials."
Cindy
Sheehan will headline Bob Fest"Sheehan is just one of the highlights at this year's event. Rep. David Obey of the 7th District, the powerful chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, will speak, along with ..."
"When the Signature Series dog food, pet beds and blankets hit shelves at Target this month, it marked the first time products marketed by the privately held Rhinelander company have appeared in a retail store."
Sen
R. Feingold
Senator
Feingold: History Will Judge Senate Democrats Harshly -
Huffington Post"When Senator Russ Feingold was on our show yesterday he made a devastating point -- history will not only judge President Bush harshly, but also the Democrats in Congress if they don't challenge him."
Mining
of Data Prompted Fight Over Spying - New York Times"“I’ve had the opportunity to review the classified matters at issue here, and I believe that his testimony was misleading at best,” said Senator Russ Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, joining three other Democrats in calling Thursday for a perjury investigation of Mr. Gonzales."
Rep
D. Obey"The House and the Wisconsin delegation divided along party lines Friday as lawmakers approved a five-year $286 billion farm policy bill today. The bill would renew the Milk Income Loss Contract program through 2012. The program, which issues payments only when market prices fall below a certain level, is popular with Wisconsin dairy farmers."
Changing
Lake Superior frustrates boaters, mystifies scientists -
Detroit News"Something seems amiss with mighty Superior, the deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes, which together hold nearly 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water."
Budget
writers attract donors"Eight legislative leaders who are searching for a compromise state budget raised more than $617,000 from special-interest groups and individuals in the first half of the year for themselves and the four political committees they control, records show."
"Excited over the high prices and the promise of turning crops into fuel, American farmers this spring planted an estimated 92.9 million acres of corn, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That's up nearly 20 percent over 2006 and the most acreage since 1944 when American farmers responded to huge demand in war-torn Europe."
Illinois
progressives start own Bob Fest"Last year and the year before, I had a rip-roaring good time at Bob Fest, and I wanted to share with my fellow flatlanders," Snyder said in a phone interview. "Sometimes we feel we are hanging on by our fingertips as Progressive Democrats of Illinois, so we wanted to kick back, share stories, organize and re-energize."
Company
on verge of solar breakthrough"The system is able to harness water heated by the sun at lower temperatures than other products on the market, said Baker, a mechanical engineer who owned a custom machining business in Rothschild for 13 years. In addition, it offers dispatchable energy, which means the system can be used when it's most needed, not just when the sun is shining."
Shoreline
restoration, native plants part of garden tour "The tour also includes established perennial beds, boulder landscaping, garden art, a rock garden, raised vegetable beds and exotic hens."
Gala
raises $7,500 for Mercer Education Foundation "In its inaugural year, the event raised $6,000 for the foundation, which awards scholarships to Mercer graduates and funds special classroom projects. During the gala, held July 7 at the Mercer Community Center, the first four inductees into the Mercer School Hall of Fame were announced."
"We decided to drop the commercial insurance when the insurance company closed the plan, made it a high-risk pool and then started rapidly raising the premiums," she said in the statement. "We were denied admission to their new 'regular' plan." "Anyone who has been without insurance knows how difficult it is to get insurance, once you've been without it," Vinehout said."
"Witnesses said one plane was behind the other, and when its propeller hit the tail of the other plane, it flipped up and over the other aircraft, landing upside down in a fireball. The other plane tipped up on its nose and the pilot was able to walk away."
ODD:
Prankster dentist wins in court"The oral surgery on Alberts was intended to replace two of her teeth with implants, which Woo did. First, though, he installed temporary bridges that he had shaped to look like boar tusks, and while Alberts was still under anesthesia, he took photos, some with her eyes propped open. Before she woke up, he removed the “tusks” and put in the proper replacement teeth."
Proposed
shoreland development..."But the newest version of regulations focusing on setbacks, shoreland cutting and impervious surfaces on waterfront properties is proving to be as unpopular as the previous 14 incarnations it has taken."
Gov.
Doyle"To prepare our agricultural industry and the farm families who support it for the future, we must invest and foster the growth of organic agriculture, and continue producing high quality, organic goods that Wisconsin makes famous.”
Hurley
Education Foundation to honor 3 "The Hurley Education Foundation will induct community leaders Paul Santini, Edward Gibbons Jr. and Dr. John Pierpont at the Hurley School Saturday at 11 a.m."
State
treasurer visits Iron County"Between our unclaimed property department, our college savings program and our local government investment pool, we have many services to provide to Wisconsinites.
"As shortages of drinkable water spread disease and economic jitters around the globe, some Milwaukee executives see this region's proximity to the Great Lakes - which hold 20% of the world's fresh surface water - as a ripe opportunity for a slow-growth region that is losing older industries."
Wis.
attorney general: Race can be considered in admissions"The policy adopted by the UW System Board of Regents in February requires a comprehensive review of each applicant seeking admission. Academic factors are the most important but other factors such as race, income and special talents must be considered to help achieve diversity."
"Williams and other corrections officials, when confronted with the allegations by The Capital Times, deny them all. They say their critics don't fully understand the complexities of their patients' medical conditions and the challenges of providing health care to difficult and often conniving inmates."
""With just one adult, things have taken a little longer, and the female parent had to work harder," Septon said. Parent falcons teach their chicks to hunt by dropping food in flight and encouraging the young to swoop down and catch it, he said."
Bear
activity prompts Hermit Island closure"Krumenaker said Hermit Island will be closed for at least several weeks to create more separation between humans and the bears. That means no docking on the beaches, nor camping or hiking anywhere on the island."
Sen
R. Feingold“Americans look to their Attorney General to be above reproach, independent, and free from political influence. They want a straight shooter, who will enforce the law no matter what. But Alberto Gonzales has turned this office on its head.”
"I thank Congressman Hinchey for his willingness to stand up to this administration for its misleading statements leading up to and during our military involvement in Iraq, as well as its attack on the rule of law."
“We need to make every effort to ensure our brave firefighters have the equipment and training they need to keep our communities safe,” Feingold said. “Wisconsin firefighters consistently tell me how critical these grants are."
"Even so, the list of public interest groups behind the Feingold-Johnson bill is surprising: Consumers Union, Public Citizen, American Association for Justice, Center for Responsible Lending, Consumer Federation of America, Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings, Home Owners for Better Building, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low income clients), National Consumer Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, the National Employment Lawyers Association and Public Justice all support the legislation."
Rep
D. ObeyHOUSE
APPROVES $2 MILLION FOR RESEARCH ON THE GREAT LAKES“The Great Lakes maritime industry contributes greatly to our economy and is a vital source of good-paying jobs for the region, so it’s important that we fully understand the forces affecting it, and are constantly searching for better ways to take care of it,”
Gov.
Doyle“It’s a fact: raising the cost of cigarettes will save lives,” Governor Doyle said. We can prevent kids from starting to smoke, motivate others to quit, save billions in health care costs, and ensure affordable health care coverage to more citizens if the Legislature acts now.”
Reunion
- Class of '71The Class of '71 will be having a reunion at Nora's on Silver Street on July 28th. Entertainment will be provided by Jimmy Lee on guitar.
Heritage
Festival begins Friday"We've been promoting the festival now since the last part of May," said Iron County Development Zone Executive Director Kelly Klein. "We've been sending out brochures, posting posters and advertising in certain publications."
[View collages of Heritage Parade 2005 and Heritage Parade 2004 - Bob]
Loon
Day to feature speakers"The Loon Day Speakers Forum hosted by the North Lakeland Discovery Center will be held Wednesday, Aug. 1 at the Mercer Community Center."
"Also under the measure, the amount of subsidy money that farmers receive annually would be limited to $250,000 a person, and the "counter-cyclical" system would be replaced by a safety net that protects farmers against drops in income rather than drops in crop prices."
Mayors
slam plan for Great Lakes dumping"The mayors of Milwaukee, Racine, Green Bay, Sheboygan and Superior are opposing a plan that will allow petroleum giant BP to boost the amount of pollution it's dumping into Lake Michigan from an Indiana refinery."
Legislator
takes aim at UW programs"Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said he proposed cutting funding for a UW-Madison center that studies social change because it is "too far to the left. " He wants to eliminate a taxpayer subsidy for a UW-Extension program that trains union leaders because it has too narrow of an agenda."
Dems,
GOP square off in budget committee over health care"Underscoring a poll Democrats released only hours earlier that showed widespread support for the plan, Robson said the biggest issue facing Wisconsin on all levels -- including education, economic development, and even public protection -- was health care."
Sen
R. Feingold
Legislation
to Reaffirm Clean Water Act“The law Congress passed thirty-five years ago to protect our waters from pollution has been undermined by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Feingold said. “Now is not the time for Congress to stand by idly as the protections of the Clean Water Act are rolled back.”
Gov.
Doyle“By providing more emergency shelter and transitional housing services, we can help more Wisconsin families struggling to find a home, and put them on a path to a better life.”
Rare
Bipartisan Tag Team Takes On Wisconsin House Veteran“You’re going to see that campaigning you’ve always wanted and deserved. It’s going to be clean, it’s going to be substantive, it’s going to be free of big money influences,” Burkee said. “It’s going to be, I think, the kind of campaign our founders expected.”
Collage
of Bikes n Trikes 2007As I arrived in town Saturday evening, it was obvious that a crowd was forming up for a parade. In spite of the flap about helmets, the cars and bikes were beautiful and the parade enjoyed and appreciated.
Iron
County employees' union files grievance"On Wednesday, the committee agreed the trainee will be paid $12 per hour for two months. Committee members determined that, after the training period, she will receive $15.20 per hour, which is 80 percent of deputy's current hourly rate of $19."
"The Democratic lawmaker is to be remembered at the State Fair on Aug. 8, during a 1 p.m. ceremony featuring family and friends as they launch a $1.5 million fund drive to enhance and make more accessible the Proxmire archives at the Wisconsin Historical Society."
"Twenty-five illegal immigrants were arrested after federal immigration and local authorities raided Petrie's plant last August. The case drew widespread publicity because of the use of criminal identity theft as a basis for investigating illegal immigrant workers, especially when Petrie, a well-known Walworth County businessman, was also charged."
Health-care
plan critics give big"Nearly $2 out of every $3 contributed to Assembly Republicans from 1999 to 2006 has come from special interests that oppose the universal health-care care plan approved by the Senate earlier this month, a report released Monday by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign found."
"Zoey is a Chihuahua, but when a rattlesnake lunged at her owners’ 1-year-old grandson, she was a real bulldog."
Wal-Mart
site plan put on hold"Buescher Frankenberg Associates did submit a new site plan to the planning commission, which included the planting of two rows of linden and elm trees on the east and west sides of the parcel... The only problem is that, contrary to what was expected after that July 11 meeting, Feldman did not contact any of the neighbors to discuss what they would like to see as a replacement for the missing trees.
"The show begins with a wooden boat parade Friday evening at 6:45 p.m. and ends with awards presented on Sunday. Proceeds benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society. "
Sen
R. Feingold
Senator
calls for censure against Bush - Los Angeles Times"This administration has assaulted the Constitution," Feingold told NBC's "Meet the Press." "We need to have on the historical record some kind of indication that what has happened here is … disastrous."
Feingold
says Gonzales is 'misleading' about spying. - Think Progress
“And I believe that your testimony was misleading, at best. … It’s hard to see anything but a pattern of intentionally misleading Congress again and again.”
Rep
D. Obey“Yes,” Mr. Obey said, “this bill spends $10 billion more on our kids, on our workers, on our obligation to provide health care to people who don’t have it, than the president does. I plead fully double guilty. I would do twice as much if I could. I would do three times as much if I could.” The president, he said, would spend far more than $10 billion on tax cuts for millionaires and “that stupid war in Iraq.”
Gov.
DoyleGovernor
Doyle Encourages Students to Sign the Wisconsin Covenant“This is a promise between the state and our young people, that if they work hard, make the grade, and demonstrate a commitment to their own future, there is a path to a bright future waiting for them when they leave high school,”
"Corn prices and the cost to farmers of renting cropland, which is driven by corn prices and increasing demand by farmers for land in a stronger farm economy, play a role in a state formula used to calculate the use-value assessment of farmland. Corn prices are surging amid a boom in ethanol production. Under use value, farmland must be assessed for property tax purposes based on its agricultural value and not its development potential."
Feingold
seeks Bush censure"But Feingold's party leader in the Senate showed little interest in the idea. An attempt in 2006 by Feingold to censure Bush over the warrantless spying program attracted only three co-sponsors."
Report:
Donations flow from groups opposed to health care reform"Nearly $2 out of every $3 contributed to Republicans who control the state Assembly has come from special interests that oppose universal health care, a report released Monday by the government watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign found."
Feingold
censure move is hot topic"Daily Kos readers again took up that "civil exchange," flooding Feingold's entry with comments. As of 10 a.m. today, the entry had generated more than 1,000 comments to the senator, more than any other entry from the same time period on the site."
DNR
to toughen shore rules""We've seen a decline in birds, frogs and tadpoles," Blake said. Plants that encourage aquatic life have been choked out, leaving algae in their place, he said. Blake said the water quality has deteriorated as more people build homes and businesses along the water, thus altering natural habitats."
Gov.
Doyle
Governor
Doyle Encourages Students to Sign the Wisconsin Covenant“This is a promise between the state and our young people, that if they work hard, make the grade, and demonstrate a commitment to their own future, there is a path to a bright future waiting for them when they leave high school,”
"“I applaud the efforts of Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois Legislature to protect the health of Illinois residents by passing a comprehensive statewide smoking ban. I urge Wisconsin’s Legislature to take a lesson from our neighbors to the south and act immediately to make Wisconsin smoke free.”"
Muddied
waters"But the picture doesn't tell the whole story of what's unfolding on the shores of Lake Michigan in the heart of America's Dairyland, where the swimming beach advisory rate because of potentially dangerous levels of bacteria was triple the state average last year and phosphorus-fueled algae blooms smother some shorelines like chronic oil slicks."
Is
Senate's health bill best for all?"Given its scope, the proposal is given scant chance of becoming law this year. But anyone interested in rising health care costs and in the number of people without health insurance will want to watch how the debate evolves."
Feingold
wants to censure Bush over war, constitutional conflicts"The second measure would seek to censure Bush for what the Democrat called a continuous assault against the rule of law through such efforts as the warrantless surveillance program against suspected terrorists, Feingold said. It would also ask for a reprimand of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and maybe others."
"The checks mailed to the elderly and businesses like Pocan 's offer small amounts like $3.25 but come with a catch tucked away in their small print -- cashing the checks signs unwary recipients up for costlier services like Web site hosting or other services that can run as high as $50 a month."
Sen
R. FeingoldFEINGOLD
CALLS FOR CENSURE OF PRESIDENT, ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS OVER IRAQ & ATTACK
ON RULE OF LAW"Censure is not a cure for the devastating toll this administration’s actions have taken on this country. But when future generations look back at the terrible misconduct of this administration, they need to see that a co-equal branch of government stood up and held to account those who violated the principles on which this nation was founded.”
Sen
H. Kohl
Kohl
Secures Funding for State Projects in Ag Spending Bill -
Wisconsin Ag Connection - Marshfield,WI"Our state leads the way when it comes to agriculture research, conservation and innovation," said Kohl. "By investing in these programs we are helping chart a new course in farming and we're making sure that the communities that drive our agricultural economy thrive."
Rep
D. ObeyHOUSE
APPROVES FUNDS TO HELP MEET GREAT LAKES NAVIGATION NEEDS"“Yet the Great Lakes have experienced decades of inadequate federal investment, which has reduced the efficiency and productivity of that industry and left us facing the growing likelihood of a disruption to our region’s economy.”
"We strengthen the country when we strengthen our families. We strengthen our country when we invest enough in workers to have the most competitive work force in the world."
There are notices of 4 additonal bills at Representative Obey's website newsroom.
Garden
tours hit peak of season"Two gardens on this year's 46th Parallel Planters Gardening Club summer tours show what can be done over 25 years. They also illustrate the camaraderie among gardeners, who are quick to snip a cutting or dig up a shoot to share."
"After learning that law enforcement officials would enforce the helmet law in Michigan, Bike and Trike members pulled out of Ironwood portion of the parade."
"Wisconsin State Fair Agriculture Director Brian Bolan confirmed last week he was part owner of two Simmental heifers that won champion and reserve champion ribbons in their breed at the 2005 and 2006 State Fairs."
New
book paints Feingold as voice of progressive movement"An admiring new biography on Russ Feingold portrays the Democratic Wisconsin senator as a leading voice of the progressive movement, highlighting his uphill political victories and his willingness to take unpopular votes."
"The chief barrier prohibits approval of another nuclear power plant until there is a facility with the capacity to store spent nuclear fuel from all nuclear plants in the state. (Spent fuel from Wisconsin's existing reactors is in temporary storage on site, the common, federally-regulated practice in the industry.)"
Feingold
bio: Idealism lives"Campaign finance reformer Russ Feingold put his Senate seat on the line in 1998 and ran for re-election without taking any soft money -- the unlimited, largely unregulated funds spent by organizations that are not contributed directly to candidate campaigns -- which he considered "legalized bribery.""
Hurley
students, Highline benefit from work program"Many Hurley School District residents are unaware of the unique relationship the K-12 school has with the Highline Corporation. "Programs like this don't exist in every school district," Highline president Gary Leino told the school board this week."
Cuts
in mercury sought"At issue are regulations that have moved sporadically for several years and were first pushed by conservation groups concerned about the link between smokestack emissions and mercury found in fish."
Kohl
bill aims at elder abuse"I want to stop the scourge of elder abuse and put in place a system that can be used across the country to prevent" mistreatment, Kohl said at a packed listening session Wednesday.
Doyle
raises more than $500,000 in first six months of year"Doyle reported to the state on Friday that his campaign fund had raised $527,683 the first six months of this year. The money isn't the only sign that Doyle may be toying with another run. At the state Democratic Party convention earlier this month, Doyle hinted that he might need another four years to finish his agenda."
Frank
replaces Hassett at DNR in Cabinet redo"Doyle praised Hassett for demonstrating that "protecting the environment and growing the economy can and must go hand in hand," noting that during Hassett's tenure, the state "embarked on the most aggressive regulatory reform package in the Midwest.""
"When Christopher Columbus "sailed the ocean blue in 1492," as the fable goes, his cluster of ships never made it to Chequamegon Bay. But interested locals have the chance this weekend to get a close-up look at one of the ships used by the explorer and his crew, as a full-scale replica of the Niña will spend the weekend at the Ashland Marina."
Sen
R. Feingold"The good news, as Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold noted, is that "a majority of the Senate backed binding legislation with a firm end date to redeploy our troops from Iraq. This shows how far we've come since August 2005 when I became the first Senator to propose a deadline to bring the mistake in Iraq to an end.""
"Well, don't count him out yet,--at least as a provocative vice presidential candidate. That's because a new biography paints the coauthor of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law as one of the leaders of the progressive movement spreading in the nation as activists look for lawmakers who don't play politics safe."
Sen
H. KohlSenate
Panel Investigates How Insurers Sell to Elderly - New York
Times“I am particularly troubled by companies and individuals that hold themselves out as having an expertise in senior financial matters, when in reality they have no training or very little in this extremely complicated arena,”
"Sen. Kohl's support for the FDA's Critical Path Initiative is important to the industry's continuing maturation. It holds the promise for speeding access to safe and effective medical advances, improving the quality of health care and expanding opportunities for innovative biotechnology companies."
Gov.
DoyleGovernor
Doyle Names Two New Cabinet Secretaries“Matt Frank has a great love for this state and a passion for protecting its precious natural resources. His life long commitment to public service and his strong environmental enforcement experience will ensure that Wisconsin’s natural resources are protected for future generations."
Full-time
veterans service officer sought for Iron County "In his six-month report on Wednesday, Splonskowski said he's assisted 1,025 veterans during the past six months, bringing in more than $1.5 million in state and federal benefits. He noted 269 walk-ins during that time. "That averages out to 2.23 per day." Phone calls during that same period totaled 345, or 3.31 per day, he said."
Scouting
family tradition for Iron County judge "Madden, a life member of the Eagle Scout Association, is one of 3,000 staff members of the International Service Team. It includes 800 Americans. "I'll be camping with about 2,000 of my closest friends, and almost none are from America," Madden said."
"Pills, syringes and needles were seized in Monday's bust, Passuello said... The drug bust followed controlled buys by team members over the past three to four weeks, he said."
"The Bell's parking lot has been dug out and workers from Ero Nasi Construction are shown here preparing footings and the foundation blocks for a 70'x25' addition to the existing business."
Bush's
approval rating hits new low in state poll"In the Wisconsin poll of 800 likely voters taken July 13-15, some 19% approved and 73% disapproved of Bush's overall performance. Only 17% approved (and 77% disapproved) of Bush's handling of the Iraq war - the worst numbers on Iraq that Bush has received in this poll."
"I don't understand how they can keep taking this money from me," said Ives, who lives in Oshkosh. "I'm going to be 82 in October and to go through this is terrible."
Report:
Statewide property tax levies increased 4.6 percent"The levy cap law expired this year. The cap would be allowed to grow to 4 percent or the percentage of new construction, whichever is greater, under Gov. Jim Doyle's proposed budget that passed the Democratic Senate."
Dave
Zweifel: I told you so: Bush's damage staggering "Indeed, there are many Republicans joining the growing chorus that wants to impeach Bush and Dick Cheney and get rid of these two guys now before they do even more damage to this great country of ours. Frankly, it's remarkable how total the damage has been."
DNR
makes a rotten recovery "Acting on a tip from a boater, who called in to say that his downrigger became snarled in a net, DNR officials found a "ghost gill net" filled with white globs of fishy muck — along with one trout still alive. The net, which DNR fisheries team supervisor Steve Schram said was about 600 to 800 feet long, was found east of Madeline Island, after the boater who discovered it gave the DNR global positioning satellite (GPS) coordinates for its location."
Sen
R. FeingoldFeingold
Cautions Against Buying Into Overly Rosy Scenario in Al Anbar Province"When I was in al Anbar near Fallujah in 2005 there were promising signs, but when I returned to the same area a year later the situation had significantly worsened. Whether it is Fallujah, Ramadi, Basra, or other places in Iraq, our experiences show us we must not take anything for granted."
"The committee’s passage of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization included funding for the program. The President has proposed stopping the expansion of programs like BadgerCare despite their cost effectiveness and popularity."
Gov.
DoyleSteve Frank who posts at About_Ironwood has uploaded pictures of a house fire in Hurley.
"The Iron County Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 at 6:00 PM at the Iron County Courthouse, Hurley, Wisconsin. The meeting is open to the public per Chapter 19, sub Chapter V, Wisconsin Statutes. (Open Meeting Law)"
"The Iron County Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 at 3:00 PM at the Iron County Courthouse, Hurley, Wisconsin. The meeting is pen to the public per Chapter 19, Sub Chapter V, Wisconsin Statutes. (Open eeting Law)
Hurley
students compare well with area school districts in state testing"Hurley scored above state averages in all categories except third grade mathematics, where the district missed the state average by 0.7 percent, Luoma said. "We were in the top six of the 18 schools in nearly all categories. I thought we did very well," Luoma added."
Four-way
stop now in force in Town of Pence"The intersection of Maple and Whiteside streets in the Town of Pence is now a four-way stop. Town officials converted the original two-way stop (on Maple Street) into a four-way stop because of the number of children playing in the area, said town chairman Dan Swetkovich."
State
probe backs actions of Mercer officials"The board is pleased with the DPI report, board president John Pinzl said Tuesday, but disappointed that the lengthy investigation cost the district $15,000 in legal fees. "The DPI invest