Local News (archives)
My
Hurley Sets New All Time HighI received the following message, "Your site myhurley.net has exceeded its bandwidth quota in the period beginning on 2007-11-01. Your quota is set to 1048576000 bytes ( 1000.0 MB ), and your site has consumed 1303105721 bytes ( 1242.738 MB ) beyond that quota." Doubling the bandwidth limit appears to be the result of high viewing of the videos (see right hand column). I hope you got a chuckle out of them. Thankyou. - Bob
Wolf
restitution totals $15,000 over six-month span "The pets and farm animals that were lost to wolves are listed in a report released this week by the Department of Natural Resources. Adrian Wydeven, of Park Falls, a DNR wolf biologist, is the main author of the biannual report."
County
sends final offer to union reps; arbitration would be next
"Continuing negotiations with its three unions, Iron County is proposing the same 50-cent per hour increase for each of the next three years to all three unions, said county board chairman Dennis DeRosso."
Soldier
clarifies process of sending packages to wounded troops ""Those personnel wishing to send packages or letters to wounded veterans, Walter Reed, or soldiers still serving in an overseas operation, OIF or OEF, can no longer mail letters or packages to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center with the recipient labeled as, 'Any Wounded Soldier.' The mail will be returned to sender for security reasons at the Medical Facility."
Mercer:
School district adopts five-year strategic plan"The Mercer School Board on Monday approved a strategic plan for 2007-12. It sets goals, strategies for achieving them and a way to evaluate progress, according to district administrator Jeff Ehrhardt."
"Hohner, director of the Mercer Public Library, has been hired by CESA 12 to implement a $180,278 grant to refurbish the library. The collection is not catalogued online. Among the non-fiction books are many from the 1960s and '70s, including books about careers that don't mention computers. "
Oma: Watercolorist
to teach techniques"You want to have neat things going on," she said, adding water to a painting of the Ironwood Theatre entrance. Working from a photo of the theater when its marquee was lighted, she was trying to capture the glow of the lights in the entry. Manki plans to donate the painting to a benefit auction for the historic theater."
"True, the story line is the same, but there are new faces, new songs, new costumes and new choreography. This show involves people from the entire area, is a true community effort, and the results are a delight."
New
Web site streamlining course selection at GCC"The old system was antiquated and couldn't be updated anymore, she said. Many colleges, especially the larger ones, have used the system for a number of years already. It reduces lines and allows people to make a necessary course change at 9 p.m. or any other time the college doors are shut. "
"Two people are dead and a child wounded after a man’s 10-hour standoff with police in Bessemer ended in a murder-suicide early this morning. Thursday night, Michigan State Police officers surrounded the house where a 34-year-old man was holed up. The man’s pregnant girlfriend and a 6-year-old boy who lived at the residence were also inside."
Van
Hollen has ties to case"Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen did not withdraw from a state Supreme Court case that was partially bankrolled by a group that spent $2.5 million to get him elected last year."
Battle
rages with [Texas] governor's office over e-mail retention, cost"A Wisconsin man who says he decided to "mess with Texas" is waging war against Gov. Rick Perry's office because of its long-standing policy of deleting e-mails after seven days. Computer consultant John Washburn, who lives near Milwaukee, says the electronic records should be available to anyone who wants them."
Bill
would allow schools to open earlier than Sept. 1"Innkeepers, restaurant owners and tourism officials lobbied hard to enact a law that took effect in 2000 barring schools from opening any earlier than Sept. 1. The requirement gave families more time in the prime summer months to vacation and spend money. It also allowed high school students to work longer at large tourist destinations, like the Wisconsin Dells."
"She lives just two blocks from her favorite Ashland bar, but on some nights she needs help getting back home. "I don't want to slip and fall — and be too sore to come back tomorrow," the east side resident said Thursday."
Minocqua
board approves ATV ordinance"On a relatively quiet night at the Minocqua Center Tuesday, the town board of supervisors formalized an ordinance allowing winter all-terrain vehicle use on some town roads, including portions of selected streets on the Island and on Bo-di-Lac Drive south of, but not including, Bakely Circle."
Gov.
Doyle
Governor
Doyle Calls Special Session of Legislature on Campaign Finance Reform"Governor Jim Doyle today called a special session of the Wisconsin Legislature for December 11, 2007 at 11 a.m. to take action on comprehensive, bipartisan campaign finance reform. The legislation will modernize Wisconsin’s public financing system by increasing candidates’ spending limits and maximum public grant amounts, ban fundraising during the budget process, and establish a separate fully-funded campaign finance system for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates. "
"Tavern owners and restaurateurs on the Minnesota/Wisconsin line say Kreutzman is not alone: Business has been boosted by the ban as smokers stream across armed with their Marlboros, Pall Malls and Camels. Some businesses are advertising on the Internet, radio and newspapers that Wisconsin taverns are still friendly to smokers."
"State Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler did not immediately disclose that an attorney appearing before the court sat on his campaign finance committee and contributed $500 to his election effort, despite his policy of making such matters public."
Legal
challenge to Wis. marriage ban is gathering steam"McConkey, of Baileys Harbor, argued the question violated the state Constitution because it asked two questions at the same time: whether to ban gay marriages and whether to ban civil unions. Niess ruled the people were denied the right to vote on each question."
Green
Bay area's Republican Party is no more"State Republicans have disbanded the Green Bay area's Republican Party after its chairman was busted for child enticement and the party couldn't muster enough officers to pick a new leader."
[Don't worry... they are within driving distance of the still open offices of the Wobblies' (IWW) office in Madison. - Bob]
Doyle
targets $33M for farm aid"The "Next Generation Agriculture" Plan will provide resources to assist state farmers in modernizing operations, capturing new markets and seizing new green opportunities, according to a news release from the governor's office."
"The Florida Highway Patrol said anyone missing two big bags of pot can call its Tampa area office. A crew picking up litter from along Interstate 4 Tuesday morning made an unusual find: two big plastic garbage bags stuffed with freshly harvested marijuana."
[This would be funnier if it included people calling a hot line to claim it. - Bob]
Park
Falls schools enact new policies following threats "At a joint news conference that he and school officials held at the school late Tuesday afternoon, Straetz announced a $5,355 “and climbing” reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who mailed the threat. Waller said the news conference was being held because “rumors were rampant” following the two incidents."
"Postal customers in the Northland District, which covers most of Minnesota and the western third of Wisconsin, received some of the best overnight mail delivery service in the nation for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2007 (July 1 to Sept. 30)."
Gov.
Doyle
Governor
Doyle Launches Next Generation Agriculture Plan“The next generation of agriculture must match the needs of a competitive global market with efficiency, stewardship, and creativity. Today we will renew our commitment to give dairy and agricultural producers more tools to modernize plants, enter international markets, and grow the renewable technologies of the future. “
School
board considers actions against employee "A special closed meeting was then scheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. to consider the performance of the employee, but that session was later canceled until further notice."
Winter
greets Gogebic Range"The Iron County Sheriff's Department responded to a vehicle in a ditch on U.S. 2, east of the Kimball Inn in Kimball around 5:35 a.m. Tuesday. There was no damage to the vehicle, but a wrecker was needed."
Woman
'bruin' up bears for area hospice "Mary Oberto, a home health aide with Regional Hospice, turns a favorite piece of clothing or other mementos from a hospice patient into a one-of-a-kind bear for the patient's caregiver."
Antlerless
hunt delays county snowmobiling "Snowmobile trails in Iron County, Wis., won't open until Monday, Dec. 10, because there's another deer hunt on the horizon. The statewide antlerless deer hunt, which has caused controversy because it butts heads with the traditional snowmobile opener in the north, runs Dec. 6-9."
Mercer:
Safe Routes to School group to hold session"Blake Theisen, of the Schreiber/Anderson Associates consulting firm will hear community concerns and possible solutions regarding walking and biking challenges within one mile of the school."
Robbers'
plot detailed in complaint"A Dec. 3 preliminary hearing was set Tuesday in Iron County Circuit Court for two of the three men accused of an early Monday morning attempted robbery at the Citgo Quik Food Mart in Hurley. Ryan Frank Reinhard, 20, of Ironwood, and Alexander Peter Thornsberry, 18, of Spanishfort, Ala., remain in the Iron County Jail. "
"State Supreme Court Justice Annette K. Ziegler is poised to sit on a tax case partially financed by a group that spent more than $2 million to get her elected. Ziegler is in the midst of an inquiry over conflicts of interest and recently dropped out of an unrelated case after a lawyer raised objections to a campaign contribution she received."
Lawmakers,
officials to get pay raises"Pay raises of 6.3% for legislators and 7.4% for governor and other elected state officials were approved Tuesday."
Protect
waters before it's too late, backers say"Things aren't going so well in Wisconsin and Ohio. Both states have significant populations that lie just beyond the Great Lakes basin dividing line, and some lawmakers are worried that the rules would inappropriately throttle economic development in those areas."
"Nearly two years after the federal deadline, the system has not been completed, in spite of the $23.4 million in mostly federal money that has been paid to the contractor Accenture, other consultants and state workers."
Doyle
to seek ways to boost UW faculty pay"Gov. Jim Doyle's administration promised Tuesday to look for ways to increase the lagging salaries of University of Wisconsin System faculty and academic staff. The pledge came as the Legislature's Joint Committee on Employment Relations voted to give thousands of UW System, nonunion state employees and elected officials 5 percent raises over the next 18 months."
‘Holiday
Tree’ no more?"However, Schneider said people of other religions should not be offended, as there are objects of importance to other religions in the Capitol as well. “They put up a menorah there, which is a symbol of Judaism, and they don’t call it a Holiday Candle,” Schneider said."
White
hunter gets 69 years in prison for killing Hmong man"James Nichols, 28, of Peshtigo, was convicted last month of second-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse and being a felon in possession of a firearm in the death of Cha Vang of Green Bay. The slaying rekindled racial tension in northern Wisconsin, where a Hmong deer hunter fatally shot six white hunters three years ago."
"A waste truck leaked poultry fat along 20 miles of roadway Tuesday, causing at least four crashes and making a stinky mess. Virginia State Police said a truck hauling a waste product of poultry grease from a Perdue Farms plant left a valve open, and the fat leaked onto U.S. Route 13 from the plant to the Maryland state line."
Gov.
Doyle
“College students who become seriously ill shouldn’t have to compromise their health or go bankrupt in order to keep their insurance. This bill will allow students to get better with peace of mind, knowing they won’t lose insurance coverage.”
""I am averaging 48 to 55 miles a day," Baluchi said. "If the road is flat, it is better." He sleeps in a tent most nights. On Thursday, he pitched his tent under a lone street lamp along U.S. 2 between Ashland, Wis., and Ironwood."
Later
vote could be right on time"Less than three months away, Wisconsin's history-laden presidential primary is shaping up to many observers as an anti-climactic affair that won't take place until more than two dozen other states have voted. But in some quarters, the opposing thought has taken hold: that if the two nominating contests last longer than expected, the Feb. 19 primary could play its biggest role in recent memory."
DNR:
Hunters register 343,644 during nine-day hunt"There are still more chances to shoot a deer in Wisconsin. A hunt for hunters who use muzzleloaders started Monday and continues through Dec. 5. That's followed by a four-day statewide antlerless-only hunt that begins Dec. 6. Bow and arrow hunting continues through Jan. 6."
Doyle
aide promises plan to increase lagging UW salaries"UW System President Kevin Reilly said the raises of 2 percent now, 2 percent in July and 1 percent in April 2009 would not be enough to keep top-notch professors and researchers in Wisconsin ... Already, he said salaries are 8.5 percent behind peer universities for faculty and 20 percent behind for academic staff."
Lawmakers
or lawbreakers? "A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation indicates that 15 members of the Legislature collected their taxpayer-funded per diem payments on one or more days when they also used campaign funds to pay for food or lodging during the last legislative session."
"Under Wisconsin statutes, financial institutions have to give the contents of unclaimed safe deposit boxes to the treasurer's office for safekeeping if there's been no activity on the box for five years. The office then holds the goods for another three years, trying to find the owners."
Doyle
health insurance plan for children wins federal approval"Sign-up for the new program will begin on Feb. 1. Expansion of the BadgerCare program to cover all children was a top priority of the governor. It won approval by the Legislature in the budget that passed last month. Doyle says the federal approval was the final hurdle for the program moving forward."
Hazelhurst
to consider scaled-down ATV proposal"At the town board's most recent meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13, a dozen residents who live on two town roads being considered for ATV use spoke against the prospect... They argued that ATV traffic was not appropriate on busy roads that serve as school bus routes."
Sen
R. Feingold
"This level of engagement, by our government as well as the more than forty countries and organizations represented in Annapolis, shows how deep the hope is for peace and stability in the region."
Gov.
Doyle“Today we have cleared the final hurdle. I am pleased the federal government has given Wisconsin the ability to move forward with BadgerCare Plus, so we can fulfill our moral obligation to provide every child in Wisconsin with access to good, comprehensive health care,”
Frede's
Big Deer HuntAs a result of a FOIA request, the Dept of Natural Resources has released video allegedly taken from a video cam attached with duct tape to Frede Falls' blunderbuss. Although not expected to interrupt the nightly (5:30PM) Deer Hunter's RoundUp on WIMI 99.7FM and WJMS 590AM. sources high in the administration anonymously predict this could result in legal action in the World Court in the Hague.
"STARS is sending Christmas cards with letters to veterans who are patients at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. To troops currently serving in Iraq, STARS is sending care packages, cards and letters to show the troops appreciation."
""Nimrod Nation," a documentary that showcases small-town America in Watersmeet through its basketball team, debuts Monday on the Sundance Channel. The first episode is already available for a free download on iTunes."
State
debt has ballooned"To pay for highways, buildings and environmental programs, state government slid 87% deeper in long-term debt over the past 10 years. That decade spans the leadership of Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and Republicans Scott McCallum and Tommy G. Thompson."
"State employees ranging from professors to judges would get 5 percent raises over the next 18 months under a plan being reviewed by the Legislature. The Office of State Employment Relations is recommending an immediate 2 percent raise for nonunion state employees; a 2 percent raise in July 2008 and a 1 percent raise in April 2009."
Harley-Davidson
idles 5,400 workers this week in production cut"Some 5,400 Harley-Davidson Inc. workers are out of work this week as the motorcycle maker cuts production because of falling sales. The Milwaukee-based company announced in September it would shut down production at plants in Wisconsin, Kansas City, Mo., and York, Pa., this week as part of a planned cut in production."
New
high-efficiency toilets making a splash"So the firm installed one such toilet in its own restroom, and customers who try it out are impressed. "Literally after one use, they love it: the seat, the look, the fact that it saves water," said Kelly, of Re:Vision Architecture. "Sometimes it's like a hybrid car -- you have to drive one first to appreciate it.""
Why
do 'liberal media' go so easy on Bush?"As it later turned out, not only was Bush's speech a lie, but McClellan's defense of Rove and Libby was also an outright lie. McClellan's memoir, to be published next spring, claims that five of the highest-ranking officials in the administration were involved in his telling that lie to the press and the rest of the nation: Rove, Libby, the vice president, the president's chief of staff and the president himself."
UW
researcher unveils stem cell breakthrough"The breakthrough represents what is being called a “scientific milestone” by some scientists and may put an end to the heated ethical debate on the use of embryonic stem cells in research."
"There are about 1,750 workers idled in Wisconsin at power-train operations in Wauwatosa and Menomonee Falls and another in Tomahawk. The Kansas City, Mo., plant has 850 workers idled."
Sen
R. Feingold"Meanwhile, Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) have introduced legislation that would amend the Federal Arbitration Act to get rid of mandatory, pre-dispute arbitration clauses in all consumer and employment contracts. That bill has the business community mobilizing against it, in part because there is some hope it could pass."
Gov.
Doyle
New
Broom Coalition asks Fitzgerald to reopen the Plame case"We believe that further investigation of Scott McClellan's statements and beliefs will provide a legal basis for prosecution of the Bush
administration for threatening the national defense by exposing its undercover CIA agents. Some have called it a treasonous offense."
"Around 11:32 a.m. on Nov. 11, a 37-year-old woman from Montreal informed Hurley Police Officer Justin Colassaco, who was on patrol, that Thomas was harassing her again, the criminal complaint said."
Area
hills prepare for ski season"Whitecap Mountain, west of Iron Belt, Wis., also plans a Dec. 7 opener. Dave Lundberg of Whitecap is watching the weather. "It's beginning to look like winter," Lundberg said Friday. "We will begin making snow tonight, but according to the forecast, the weekend will be warming up." ... The beginners' area will be open, as well, he said. "Let the season begin."
Bank
scam targets thousands"Bank First National officials said thousands of Manitowoc area residents received automated phone calls on Thanksgiving telling them their accounts were suspended. Recipients of the calls were asked to respond via a toll-free number and verify their bank account information to have their accounts reinstated. "
Legislators
propose health cost disclosure"They say that will bring down the cost by introducing consumerism into the system and making providers compete on price. The push for information has intensified as more people enroll in high-deductible health plans and pay more out-of-pocket costs."
Proposal
would replace gas law"The so-called minimum markup law, formally named the Unfair Sales Act, sets a minimum markup of 9% for gasoline and forbids retailers of all types from selling merchandise below cost."
"These products contain chemicals that disrupt the natural way hormones work inside of you. The chemicals known as endocrine disruptors are all over your house, your clothing, your car. The chemicals are even in you."
Black
bear attacks deer hunter in northwestern Wisconsin""They told me I was kind of calm but I don't know I was shaking like a leaf for 15 minutes," Jim Zemaitis said. He said the incident won't deter him from hunting, although he may consider carrying a gun from now on during deer drives."
"While he wants his son to have those same kinds of memories, Torhorst said introducing young people to hunting today has become much harder. Fewer people hunt. More land is closed to hunting. More people look askance at anything to do with guns. And a once rural nation, comfortable with the idea of killing animals to eat, has become so urbanized that children hardly associate a Big Mac with anything that was once alive."
"According to ShopperTrak RCT Corp., which tracks sales at more than 50,000 retail outlets, total sales rose 8.3 percent to about $10.3 billion on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, compared with $9.5 billion on the same day a year ago."
Deer
hunters down to final days"The weather, other than being cold, should keep hunters in the woods. Temperatures will be in the mid-30s today and the low 40s on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Green Bay."
"There's quite a difference between a bovine and a buck, but that didn't stop one bow hunter from taking a clear shot. Joseph S. Gray, 36, of the 700 block of 5th Avenue, Mendota, was charged with felony criminal damage to property after turning himself in to Illinois Conservation Police Wednesday."
[The Guys at the Deer Hunter's RoundUp might joke about this, but it does actually happen. Be safe out there. - Bob]
Deer
Taunt Local HuntersThis video is too long a load for the hunting widows with their home dial up service, but the guys in the camps with their broadband satellite service might find it humorous. However, the ladies are urged to call Frede at WIMI, 932-2411. to tell him to get the recipes from the Hunter's Round Up to me so that I can get them posted. - Bob
Lots
of sliding on holiday"Beacon Ambulance was dispatched to a 9:58 a.m. Thursday accident in which a Kimball, Wis., resident was injured when the vehicle he was driving struck a tree on U.S. 51 in Oma, about one-half mile south of Sandhill Road."
"Runyard claims the dogs were shot by a hunter because he followed their tracks right up to a deer stand in a tree. He told deputies the dogs must have been running around the base of the tree for about 20 minutes, judging from the number of dog tracks under the tree."
Pence:
Teen takes two bucks on opening day "I put my book down and bring my gun to the window of the pop-up blind. I aim and shoot. The buck jumps and runs off about 15 yards, then lays down... A few minutes later, a massive eight-pointer walked out of the woods. "My jaw drops. My dad freaks out, too."
"Precise figures were not available, but a Journal Sentinel analysis of state records shows that as much as $12.5 million went to contractors that would have been saved if state workers had been used instead."
Shoppers
say they're mostly unimpressed with Black Friday deals"The shopping frenzy - known in retail circles as Black Friday - played out across the nation. Merchants said more people showed up this year for pre-dawn specials, but stores need them to keep coming throughout the holiday season to make their sales goals."
Subrogation:
perfectly legal for employer to claim your claim""It's a well-established part of tort law," says Eric Englund of the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance. Englund said insurance companies -- or employers who pay health benefits -- have every right to try and recover their costs."
Wisconsin
Public Radio hoping to expand in Ashland "Wisconsin Public Radio has applied to the Federal Communications Commission for eight new licenses, including one in Ashland that would result in a stronger signal. The network was one of 3,500 applications nationwide submitted last month from non-commercial stations like public radio and religious networks. That includes 78 applications for new licenses in Wisconsin alone."
Deer
kill numbers up over last year in Vilas and Oneida counties"Winn said the opening weekend buck harvest in Vilas County totaled 776, a 9 percent increase over last year's opening weekend. Vilas County's antlerless harvest totaled 904, an increase of 5 percent over last year. She said Oneida County's buck harvest totaled 1,190, a 5 percent increase over last year. Oneida County's antlerless harvest totaled 1,188, a 16 percent increase over last year."
Holiday
Muck-O-Rama Contest! - TPM"We're going to be announcing our award categories next week, based on your suggestions and then we're opening it up to your nominations. Biggest crook? Biggest fib? Biggest self-inflicted dignity loss in congressional testimony?"
"A man upset with his wife for not buying beer - and with the family's two pet goats for making a mess - subsequently shot the goats, prosecutors say."
[This report varies from yesterday's Wassau paper where only one goat was shot. - Bob]
"Jeremy Wineberg is one of 159,000 stay-at-home dads across the country, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey conducted in 2006. The growing trend, up from 98,000 dads in 2005 and due largely, but not entirely, to the greater earning potential of the woman of the household, provides kids with unique relationships with their fathers and a new side of child care, according to a few Madison families."
Wisconsin
home prices rise, sales drop in third quarter""Seeing that the median prices have held up is a good sign," said David Clark, a Marquette University economics professor and consultant to the Realtors group. "What that says is if you're a homeowner and you're worried about the same problems they've been talking about in the context of more national markets, that simply isn't happening here.""
NFL
giving ground in cable battle"This is the deal that the NFL finally realized they had to give to the folks who own the pipeline," Orton said. "Both Comcast and Time Warner were not going to let another ESPN happen."
"Snow making machines are in full force on Granite Peak on Thanksgiving day. A representative at Granite Peak Ski Area said the hill is expected to open Friday at noon."
"Munising and Manistique are trying to leave the MPC. There is talk that the small Class C schools in the Straits Area Conference want to bid adieu to large Class B schools Sault Ste. Marie and Cheboygan. Believe it or not, two Class D teams co-opping in the far westerm Upper Peninsula may start the dominoes falling."
Rep
D. Obey"House appropriations chairman David Obey (Democrat, Wisconsin) says that shaving billions from the huge bill to avoid another presidential veto will mean cutting at least $700 million from what would have been a $1.1 billion increase for the NIH."
"As I’ve said to you before, I am prepared to prove the lie and marshal all the evidence, the question is whether you are prepared to fulfill your obligation — no variations, no back pedaling, no retreat, no new bets, no changing the subject. The only thing remaining now is to set the date for our meeting in an appropriate forum..."
Oma,
Carey to celebrate"Residents and friends of the towns of Oma and Carey are invited to an old-fashioned Christmas party on Dec. 1 at the Oma Town Hall. Festivities begin with a potluck dinner from 4:30 to 6 p.m. A short program at 6 p.m. will include a sing-along and talent show. The evening will conclude with a coffee social. "
Zoning,
planning panel to meet"The committee will consider a request from PHI Inc., doing business as Cary Mine Convenience, to rezone the property from single residential to general commercial."
Health
department climbs to top of state ladder "The Iron County Health Department has climbed to the top. It was recently designated as a Level III facility, the highest level that can be achieved by a health department."
County
ranks low in state health survey"In a category that measured health insurance rates, the number of people needing health care, dental visits, diabetic care and how often women receive mammograms, Iron County ranked 69th; Ashland County, 34th; and Price County, 47th. Wick said rural counties face issues with access to health care and that shows up in the rankings."
"Scott D. Mieloszyk allegedly ripped a garbage can from a pole on Silver Street. He also faces a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct. The felony carries a penalty up to three years and six months in prison and not to exceed a $1,000 fine."
"Travis Richard Alonen is scheduled to appear in circuit court on Dec. 3. He's also charged with driving with a prohibited alcohol content (fourth offense) and operating after revocation-OWI related. The OWI and PAC charges each carry a penalty of a $600 to $2,000 fine, and jail time of 60 days to one year."
Thanksgiving
a difficult time for people with eating disorders"One reason the pilgrim-inspired feast is so hard: societal pressures are suddenly
switched. The
usual message to be careful about how much one eats, especially for women,
is traded for a mandate to indulge. "Thanksgiving is the day when all
of that is off," said Tamar Kelson, a Madison psychologist who treats people
with eating disorders. "There's an expectation that people really stuff
themselves.""[The newspapers have, as loyal soldiers in Bill OReally's "War on Thanksgiving" been almost silent about this holiday, moving directly from Halloween to Bill's favored Christmas. I kinda miss it. - Bob]
Shopping's
relaxed in cozy little stores""It can be so much more fun to shop at a local store," said Alcalde. "I was so impressed last year when some people said they did all of their shopping on Atwood Avenue." Local retailers offering art, handcrafts, chocolate, home goods and swanky cookware have a hook this holiday season, too."
Opinion:
Ziegler's conflicts"Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler, who was elected last April after a campaign in which she and her supporters explicitly and repeatedly lied to the voters of Wisconsin about her ethical lapses, continues to engage in what can only be described as scandalous behavior."
"The criminal complaint said Mischler came home Saturday from hunting and became angry with his 22-year-old daughter for letting the goats out and making a mess. While she was talking on the phone to her mother, authorities said, he told her to tell his wife to bring home some beer, but his wife refused. He then threatened to shoot the goats, according to the complaint."
"Gibson spent four years trying to find out about the painting, finally discovering on the "Antiques Roadshow" Web site that it had been featured on the popular PBS program and described as a missing masterpiece stolen in 1989."
[What I am trying to figure out is why this item is labeled 'odd' and the one above is not. - Bob]
"The understory of the island is actually the original understory that would've been present with the old-growth forests," he said during a telephone interview last week. "Although Sand Island is not covered entirely with old growth, there is old growth there. In all of the rest of the northern part of the state, and vast parts of North America for that matter, the understory has been radically altered by heavy populations of deer browsing."
Sen
H. Kohl
"Heavy hitters in the Senate on the antitrust subcommittee want the FTC to look closely at the Google-DoubleClick deal. A statement on Senator Orrin Hatch's (R-Ut) website noted the letter, containing the concerns of Hatch, Herb Kohl (D-Wi), and the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights."
Rep
D. Obey
"The Bush administration is promoting a lot of stories about what would happen if Congress doesn't give it the money," House Appropriations Chairman David Obey of Wisconsin said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. Obey pointed the finger at Senate Republicans, saying they blocked the Senate from passing a House bill that provided $50 billion with some conditions, including a requirement that Bush begin bringing U.S. troops home within 30 days."
Gov.
DoyleZiegler
allegations a 'blip'"Ziegler has admitted she broke the state's judicial ethics code as a Washington County circuit judge when she presided over 11 cases involving West Bend Savings Bank, where her husband, J.J., serves as a director."
"James Thomson used a virus to deliver four select genes into human skin cells, which triggered the cells to revert to their embryonic state."
UW
reports stem cell breakthrough "This significant scientific achievement also potentially remakes the tumultuous political and ethical landscape of stem cell biology, as human embryos may no longer be needed to obtain the blank slate stem cells capable of becoming any of the 220 types of cells in the human body."
Mike
Ivey: Energy independence to take center stage"We feel strongly that the evolution of cleaner coal technologies will be of vital importance to the nation and specifically the Midwest," Doyle said in a letter to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich."
"Mayor Bill Boyd was first on the scene, honking his horn at the nine bulls, cows and calves that were plodding along, barely 100 yards from Main Street in the borough of more than 400 people about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh."
DNR:
Opening weekend of deer hunt was safest ever ‘‘We are happy with the continued trend of safety, but our goal is no fatalities, no injury incidents, period,’’ Lawhern said. ‘‘My heart aches every time I hear of one of these.’’
Sen
R. Feingold"I also strongly support Senator Dorgan’s Media Ownership Act to improve transparency in media ownership rulemaking. I will push for adoption of Senator Dorgan’s bill and continue my efforts to ensure diverse and open media.”
Sen.
Feingold Speaks Out On Media Consolidation - FMQB"The 1996 Telecommunications Act, which I voted against, allowed for significant consolidation in radio ownership silencing many of the exceptional voices that are the strength of local radio. In the decade since the law’s passage, we have seen small and independent media outlets replaced by corporate monoliths."
Sen
H. Kohl
""If we can just get this to a vote, it will be pretty hard for people to vote against it. A vote against this is a vote against consumers," said Mr. Kohl, chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy, and consumer rights. To prevent that vote, the drug companies are spending millions on a major lobbying offensive, and they've succeeded."
Rep
D. Obey
House
Approves $50 Billion for War, Linked to Troop Withdrawals -
Bloomberg"Instead of giving the president $200 billion to continue the war, it gives him $50 billion to shut the war down,'' said Wisconsin Democratic Representative David Obey."
Gov.
Doyle
“Our state’s strong manufacturing base and rich agricultural industries, along with the wealth of resources in our vast northern forests and our world-leading research universities, position the Midwest to become the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy.”
School
board postpones meeting"Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Hurley School District November school board meeting will be postponed one week and will be held Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hurley High School IMC."
Homeschoolers
party "Northwoods Christian Homeschoolers will hold a Christmas craft party on Nov. 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Range Community Bible Church in Hurley."
Trees
planted"Students in the STARS program planted trees at the Hurley School mini-forest with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Ranger Tim Fitzgerald earlier this fall."
Board
may review per diem practices"The practice of lawmakers' spending campaign funds on the same day they claim a daily allowance from the state for living expenses is likely to be reviewed by the Government Accountability Board when it takes power early next year."
Hunters
take 171,000 deer in 2 days"With one firearms-related fatality among 630,000 hunters in the woods, it was the safest opening weekend in Wisconsin history."
Consumers
ask, 'how much does health care cost?'"After being tossed between clinical and billing departments at Meriter Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital and Dean Health System, she got three similar quotes. She went to Dean, the lowest bidder, at $510. Then the bill came — for $942."
Lots
of talk, little action on campaign finance reform"In a recent question-and-answer session with reporters, Doyle said he still intends to push ahead with a reform plan and blamed the delay on this summer's budget deadlock, which backed up the legislative calendar by almost four full months."
I checked the site at about 2PM from the US51 Truck Stop in Merrill... and everything was fine. When I arrived in West Chicago, the server was under attack, I couldn't update, and the host couldn't be reached. I couldn't do anything until 11PM. Therefore, the update is a bit short. I will get back at it tomorrow morning. Sorry. - Bob
Jim
Albert Slaps Back in Spat with Globe"Everyone should question what motives the Globe has to continue to bash candidates even though the election is over! The article in today's paper once again goes out of its way to make candidates Bonagura, Sturzl and myself look bad."
[I do NOT intend to hereby take sides, but ask, "When in a spitting contest with the town's only newspaper, where do you go to get your reputation back?" - Bob]
[See origninal in the Globe at ... Candidates warned about campaign signs - Bob]
"The Pence 4-H boat landing on Spring Camp Road is a popular put-in for boaters, said Friends of the Gile Flowage President Cathy Techtmann. "We thank all of these volunteers, Xcel Energy and their construction crew for the great job in renovating this popular landing that provides access to and enjoyment of the Gile Flowage.""
"Just one question: Why is the state pouring $20,000 in tax dollars into blood-splatter art at the crime lab when Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has identified the backlog there as his agency's top problem?"
""Maybe it's while you're asleep, maybe while you're watching television, maybe while you're at work. Predators are at work as well," he said. More than 15,000 computers in Wisconsin are being used to deal in child pornography through file-sharing programs, Szatkowski said recently during a presentation to local parents."
"Stung by a drawn-out ethics inquiry, new state Supreme Court Justice Annette K. Ziegler has begun routinely disclosing campaign contributions she received from parties with matters pending before the court."
"The Stevens Point campus goes further than most in making hunters feel welcome. At three residence halls, kitchens dedicated to small-game processing allow students to clean waterfowl and fish. Campus officials are planning an outdoor, large-game dressing area, an amenity that would have come in handy last year when a student caused a minor stir by hanging a deer carcass from a tree outside his dorm."
Hunt
begins; CWD report on horizon"The DNR, smarting from criticism of its CWD policies, formed a citizen advisory group that is expected to make recommendations in January on new ways to control the spread of the disease. The report can't come soon enough. The CWD battlefield is littered with casualties."
More
girls join blaze-orange brigade"While grizzled old men continue to retire from the fields and forests after each hunting season, a new generation of hunters are filling their boots -- and they are sporting ponytails."
"It's your choice, keep BuzzFlash financially in good shape, or stop complaining about how democracy is being stolen from us. Make the decision."
Montreal:
City to sue Iron County"In the past, Iron County reimbursed cities and townships within the county for demolition costs, and then recouped its investment through special tax assessments. There is no ordinance or resolution that obligates the county to pay the funds, said county clerk Mike Saari."
Winter
puts street work on ice"Hurley Mayor Joe Pinardi conceded this week Fifth Avenue and some side streets in that area will be a mess until the ground freezes over sufficiently. The streets, usually paved, now have gravel surfaces and are muddy, as the infrastructure project in that area has been shut down for the winter."