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."
Man
has green thumb year round"For most gardeners, November is a break between stirring the remains of last summer's gardens into the compost pile and ordering seeds to start indoors in mid-winter. Lambie started seeds six weeks ago in a big cold box he built on the sunny side of his Haven North home on the shore of Lake Michele."
"John E. Sieraski, 25, of Hurley, was sentenced in Iron County Circuit Court Tuesday to two years in prison for possession with intent to deliver cocaine, according to District Attorney Marty Lipske. Judge Patrick Madden ordered three years of extended supervision following the prison term."
Funding
change sought""It's time to trash this going-out-of-business plan," said Ruth Page Jones, a Waukesha parent who is interim president of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools. She used the term to describe the way she said things are going under the current state funding system."
Accord
excludes nuclear energy"Nuclear power, which generates no greenhouse gas emissions, was deemed too divisive to include in an energy and climate-change platform that 11 Midwestern governors endorsed Thursday."
Group
faces tough task in fight against chronic wasting disease"The DNR, smarting from criticism of its CWD policies, has formed a citizen advisory group that is expected to make recommendations in January on new ways to control the spread of the disease."
Northern
Wisconsin ranks low in health survey "Northern Wisconsin has a healthy physical environment to live in, but those of us who live here don’t necessarily have good health outcomes, according to a ranking of state counties released Friday by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute."
Great
deer harvest predicted for nine-day regular season"According to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources bear and deer ecologist Keith Warnke, this year's deer herd is large and healthy - ready for hunters to have a great harvest when the nine-day regular season opens tomorrow morning at 6:22 a.m."
Sen
R. Feingold“The lives of these four churchwomen continue to inspire Salvadorans, Americans, and people throughout the world to answer the call to service and pursue lives dedicated to helping the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged among us,”
Gov.
Doyle"education requirements for dentist license renewals. ... dealership changes ownership, management ... neighborhood electric vehicles to register ... public libraries to disclose surveillance records"
County
tries to bring closure to Fisher Lake debacle "Edelstein is proposing limited access, for timber harvest only, to the parcel that adjoins his property. Edelstein "is purposely clouding the issue to prolong this," county board chairman Dennis DeRosso said on Wednesday."
"As part of the collective bargaining agreement, employees that have at least 17 years of service and are at least 60 years old, upon retirement, are entitled to a one-time lump sum payment equal to one year's wages."
Silanpa
sentence brought into compliance "After the sentencing hearing, Madden went back on the record to note that Silanpa, 43, of Ironwood, will serve 364 days in jail and then have a one-day furlough for each of the three years of his sentence. Under Wisconsin law, an inmate cannot serve more than one year in a county jail. If the sentence is longer than one year, that inmate must be sent to prison."
Trails
open Dec. 10 "According to officials at the Mercer Chamber of Commerce, Snowmobile Trails in Iron County will open Dec. 10. The later open date is due to the later gun deer hunt."
Montreal:
City taxes will increase for someHe noted that one-third of Montreal will see a tax increase, one-third will remain the same, and the final third will see a decrease. "The new homes will see the increase," he said.
Students
to organize 'Take Time to be Kind Day' "The Hurley elementary, middle and high school student councils will again help organize "Take Time To Be Kind" Christmas Project. The goals of the project are to provide families in need with Christmas gifts for their children and to have high school students experience the joy of giving by helping others."
"She makes prints on a sturdy press in a small, three-season studio at her home in Ramsay, Mich. When it's too cold to make prints, she creates collages from hundreds of scraps of colored paper left from printmaking."
Emissions
pact wins backing"Six Midwestern governors and the premier of Manitoba will sign an accord in Milwaukee today that will commit those states to working together to slash emissions linked to global warming over the coming decades."
"Other regions of the country, including the Northeast and West, have adopted similar climate accords. The Midwestern deals, brokered by the 12-state Midwest Governors Association, blast the federal government for not dealing with global warming."
Wireless
warriors: Company techs cruise highways looking for causes of dropped calls"So it's not surprising that the companies spend millions of dollars each year monitoring their networks and the networks of their competitors, and millions more upgrading their networks. That includes both voice and data, which is growing in importance with the proliferation of Internet-capable phones and hand-held devices like BlackBerrys, as well as laptop computers."
"Chack was charged Wednesday in Marathon County Circuit Court with a felony offense of possession of a firearm by a felon. Every year local agents learn of a felon who purchases a deer hunting license, Williams said. In most cases the felon bought the license with the intent of someone else filing it and agents rarely find a weapon, he said."
Sen
R. Feingold
On
the Weak Iraq Proposal Passed by the House"The American people want more than a “goal” of redeploying troops, which is why I intend to offer the Feingold-Reid legislation requiring the safe redeployment of our troops by June 30, 2008, as an amendment."
"The Democrat has proposed a series of changes regarding dairy policy. For one thing, Feingold wants to make sure that dairy producers who are cooperative members can vote independently on national dairy issues if they so choose. Co-ops would still be allowed to bloc vote for all members who do not “opt out”."
Sen
H. Kohl
Google's
DoubleClick Purchase Gets Extended EU Probe (Update4) -
Bloomberg"Democratic U.S. Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, who heads the subcommittee that oversees antitrust issues, said in September that the purchase may give Google a ``stranglehold'' in online ads. U.S. lawmakers have questioned whether the purchase will lead to higher ad prices and harm consumers' privacy."
Gov.
Doyle
EXECUTIVE
ORDER #225"Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Gunnery Sergeant Richard W. Fischer of the United States Marine Corps Who Lost His Life in the Vietnam War"
Ten
Midwestern Leaders Sign Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord"The historic agreement, signed at the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) Energy Security and Climate Change Summit held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will serve as a regional strategy to achieve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming."
"That's an understatement, as shown in a stunning new report out today from the good folks at the Economic Policy Institute. Using government data, the think tank finds that "the educational group most vulnerable to offshoring are those with at least a four-year college degree." That vulnerability helps drive down wages for better-educated workers because they know that if they try to demand good pay, their employer could simply pick up and leave."
Mayor
defends process "Pinardi said all of the five candidates who were interviewed appeared to be equally qualified, and that's why the names were put into a hat. "The lucky man got his name pulled out of the hat," Pinardi said."
City
approves budget, hikes levy"A $2,221,187 budget for 2008 that includes a 3.86 percent tax levy increase was approved by the Hurley City Council Tuesday. Property taxes will raise $909,464 for 2008, compared to $880,932 in 2007."
"Iron County residents will pay nine cents more per $1,000 valuation than was proposed last week, but will still pay $11 less in the county's share of property taxes than they did last year."
Mercer:
Decorating contest"The Mercer Chamber of Commerce invites all Mercer businesses and residents to decorate their businesses and homes for Christmas and enter to win prizes for the best. Judging will be on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m., following the town community Christmas celebration at the Community Center."
"Mercer Lioness will sponsor a diabetes awareness for the community event at Snow's IGA on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m."
Sioux
leader at Northland Thursday "Chief Arvol Looking Horse, world peace advocate and 19th Generation Keeper of the White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Great Sioux Nation, will speak at Northland College on Thursday."
Doyle
says Midwest positioned to be renewable energy leader"The region's farms, manufacturing base and research institutes, "position the Midwest to become the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy," said Doyle, chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association. "If Midwest farm fields are competing with Middle East oil fields, then we are doing something right," he said."
Senate
panel OKs reining in gov's veto"The proposal would prohibit Wisconsin's governor -- who currently can veto words and numbers in any spending bill -- from vetoing words in a sentence and stitching together the remaining words to make new sentences that the Legislature never approved."
Wary
of wireless: The Wi-Fi security risk"According to the free “sniffer” software installed on the eavesdropping laptop, called Kismet, nine devices are connected to the cafe’s Wi-Fi this afternoon, three of which are actively surfing the Internet. None of them are using security software over the unsecured network, so the laptop can intercept almost anything they send or receive."
"A high school teacher killed a raccoon with a nail gun after discovering the planned subject of a skinning demonstration was alive."
Obey
blasts veto of health, education bill "In a telephone interview Tuesday, Obey countered that it was the president who was acting irresponsibly, pointing out most of the contested spending was not an increase over previous budgets, but resulted from restoring cuts the president had made to domestic programs. “Yet this is the same president who wants $200 billion more for the war in Iraq and is insisting we provide $60 billion in tax cuts to people making over a million bucks a year,” Obey said."
Sen
R. Feingold
Amendment
Would Strike Retroactive Immunity for Telecoms“Not only would retroactive immunity set the terrible precedent that breaking the law is permissible and companies need not worry about the privacy of their customers, but it would likely prevent courts from ruling on the President’s illegal warrantless wiretapping program. This program was one of the worst abuses of executive power in our history, and the courts should be able to rule on it once and for all.”
"If you're going to present yourself as a conservative media watchdog who claims to be policing accuracy in the media, it's probably not a good idea to blatantly and dishonestly chop quotes from articles that are still readily available in Nexis and online."
Mesaba
interested in airport flight schedule"U.S. DOT advertised for proposals to bid on the essential air service contract for the airport on Oct. 30. Great Lakes Airlines had failed to meet its June 1 deadline to take over service from the airport's present provider, Skyways Airlines."
City
hall announces Thanksgiving closing "The Hurley City Hall, including the public library, will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22-23, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday."
Ironwood
man sentenced to three years jail time"In August, Silanpa pleaded guilty to two felony counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The charges stem from the Aug. 20, 2006, drunk driving deaths of Doreen Schroeder, 71, and her husband, Arnold Schroeder, 74, both of Winnipeg, Manitoba."
Desperate
homeowners are being swindled, Wis. lawmakers say"Typically, those transactions involve a homeowner facing foreclosure transferring the property to an investor in exchange for assurances he can continue to live there under a rent-to-own agreement. The investor pays off the amount owed in foreclosure."
Wisconsin
latest state to align with Illinois' bid for FutureGen"Doyle says projects such as FutureGen create what he calls "an exhilarating opportunity for new regionalism," and that the Midwest stands committed to cleaner energy. Pennsylvania, Indiana and Kentucky already are backing Illinois' bid."
Study
faults state on schools"For the second year in a row, Education Sector put Wisconsin at the top of its Pangloss Index, a ranking of states based on how much they are overly cheery about how their students are doing."
"Eric Humbert, a hunter for 20 years, sees new faces in the woods — more Hmong hunters, more Hispanics. He senses new tensions, too, as another deer hunt approaches and he wants to do his part to ease them. So the Waupaca County sportsman started a business — Ezotic Hunting Signs — making no hunting signs printed in English and Hmong."
President's
spending measure veto irks Rep. Dave Obey"It’s time for the White House to stop huffing and puffing and sit down (with Congress) and negotiate our differences,” Obey said. “That’s what adults would be doing.”
Sen
R. FeingoldCongressional
Oversight of Intelligence"In recent years, however, it has become overwhelmingly clear that the greatest impediment to effective congressional oversight of intelligence is this Administration’s consistent, unbending contempt for Congress’s constitutional role in this area."
Series
of Proposals to Farm Bill To Help Dairy Farmers“I have heard from dairy producers in Wisconsin that they are often barred from voicing their opinions separately from those of their co-op," Feingold said. “Our farmers should have the right to freely express their opinions and we can do it in a way that doesn’t slow down the process.”
Gov.
Doyle
Governor
Doyle Addresses Northwoods Economic Development Summit“This region has some of Wisconsin’s most beautiful areas and is rich with the natural resources that make us who we are in this state. But for Northern Wisconsin to succeed in the future, we must diversify the broader economy by strengthening the region’s manufacturing and seizing new opportunities to convert natural resources into renewable energy and high-paying jobs.”
Legislators
may limit veto power by slaying 'Frankenstein'"Wisconsin lawmakers are trying to rein in the nation's strongest veto power, which allows governors to stitch together unrelated words and numbers to create laws and spending levels never intended by the Legislature. The power has been dubbed the "Frankenstein veto.""
Genesee
County man on quest to end Fitzgerald mystery "The public still has a fascination with that ship," Clark told The Flint Journal. "It's not a mystery at all. The facts are there, it just takes awhile to go through it all."
Test
results to measure colleges"In two to four years, parents and prospective college students will be able to look at online College Portraits for any of the UW System schools and compare average student gains in writing, critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills from freshman to senior year."
"Wisconsin — which pays base rates of between $317 and $411 a month, depending on the age of the child — is particularly stingy, according the report, and essentially would have to double its reimbursement if it expected to properly meet foster children's needs."
"It 's the latest in a series of troubled computer initiatives that have cost taxpayers more than $190 million. The projects are delayed, over budget or don 't work as promised."
'Memorial
mile' of tombstones makes statement"The tombstones, made of corrugated plastic, were put up for Veterans Day by Madison Veterans for Peace, Clarence Kailin Chapter 25. Dubbed the "Memorial Mile," the tombstones run along the walk bordering Olbrich Park on Atwood Avenue from Starkweather Creek to the East Side Club, formerly the East Side Business Men's Association"
"The lone survivor of a slaying rampage at Crandon in which six people were killed has spoken out publicly for the first time about the event, saying he prefers not to think about it."
Getting
their due: Mellen's Vietnam veterans welcomed home after 30 years
"It was a future some 75 Mellen area men put on hold as they entered the service of their country, joining millions of other young Americans who went to Vietnam. It was one of the most unpopular wars ever fought by this nation. When they came home, the soldiers, sailors and airmen of Mellen didn't get a homecoming parade."
Great
Lakes politics "And the Great Lakes straddle a swath of key states that could swing either way when presidential politics. And there are few things that draw such as a consensus in these states as the importance of the health of the Great Lakes basin and the need to put in place strong rules to prevent water diversion from these lakes."
Sen
R. Feingold
Feingold
Farm Bill Reform Measure Would Curb Big Giveaways"Feingold’s amendment would save about $360 million per year that could be better spent on working land conservation efforts, purchasing local food for nutrition programs, and creating more opportunities for farmers and rural residents."
Gov.
Doyle- Senate Bill 177 ... fund corn marketing and research.
- Assembly Bill 198 ... Indian wardens to aid Wisconsin peace officers
- Assembly Bill 393 ... adds one additional circuit court branch
Broken
Supply Channel Sent Arms for Iraq Astray - NY Times"“This was the craziest thing in the world,” said John Tisdale, a retired Air Force master sergeant who managed an adjacent warehouse. “They were taking weapons away by the truckload.”"
"The body was recovered Friday morning by two boating search teams. Lt. Tony Furyk, recreation officer Chris Voyer and deputy Paul Samardich from the sheriff's department, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources warden John Windt searched the flowage."
Mercer:
Young and old pay tribute to veterans "Mercer's annual Veterans Day observance started early this year. Members of the student council at Mercer K-12 School served breakfast to veterans before the annual program."
Recycling-fund
use questioned"Recycling advocates are criticizing a state budget provision that takes money out of a fund that helps local governments pay for recycling programs and allocates it to other uses, including a soybean crusher in Evansville and grants to timber companies for renewable energy development."
"Worried, he walked over to where he saw the deer and found his friend lying face down on the forest floor. He tried to resuscitate him, but Breu died at the scene. The pair had been hunting near dusk in a two-person deer drive. Breu was not wearing a blaze orange vest or hat, making it an illegal hunt."
Kohl's
milk moola puzzles bureaucrats"But his latest federal filing shows that the campaign paid out $45,000 for the milk, plus a few thousand dollars more on employees to work at Herb's Superb Milk House. The stand bears a sign saying, "Delicious Flavored Wisconsin Milk - Paid for by Kohl for Senate." "The Milk House loses money every year," explained Lynn Becker, Kohl's communications director. "It operates at a loss." Got it: A cash cow it ain't."
Video
sermons part of "a different way to do church""Organizers call it "a different way to do church," and this deviation from the standard church routine is largely embraced by the more than 360 people from three evangelical churches who gathered for the first time last Sunday — now under the umbrella of Heartland Community Church, a nondenominational evangelical church based in Rockford, Ill."
State
lawmaker wants all cigarettes sold in state to be fire-safe"If the measure is enacted, Wisconsin would become the 23rd state in the country to require the modified cigarettes, according to Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes, a project of the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass."
"A group of property owners has cooperated with Elgin, Ill.,-based EcoEnergy to build six 397-foot turbines, which will generate an estimated 22 million kilowatt-hours of energy per year, or enough to power more than 2,500 homes, according to Curt Bjurlin, permit project manager for EcoEnergy."
Joel
McNally: Media blame victim again in Milwaukee school flap"Remember how conservative Republicans in the Legislature held up the state budget for months so they could posture interminably over how much they were opposed to increased taxes? Well, guess what? T he need for that enormous property tax increase for Milwaukee schools was a direct result of actions taken, and actions not taken, by all those self-proclaimed tax heroes in the Legislature."
Midwest
governors to discuss climate and alternative energies"The governors of several Midwest states will be in Milwaukee next week to discuss a strategy to curb greenhouse gas emissions and boost renewable energy. The Midwestern Governors Association Energy Summit is taking place Wednesday and Thursday."
Sen
R. Feingold
"This grant program has been an unqualified success in getting much-needed resources directly to local first responders," Feingold said. "I have been and continue to be a strong supporter of this program, in no small measure because of the advocacy of Wisconsin first responders."
Sen
H. Kohl
Herb
Kohl: True champion of education - UW Badger Herald"I would also like to point out that Mr. Kohl’s support of education is not merely rhetoric delivered to his fellow congressmen; the senator puts his own money where his mouth is. Mr. Kohl’s organization, The Herb Kohl Educational Foundation, grants scholarships to both graduating high school students and distinguished teachers."
Rep
D. ObeyWisconsin
lawmakers help overturn Bush veto of water projects bill -
Appleton Post Crescent"Democrats Tammy Baldwin, Steve Kagen, Ron Kind, Gwen Moore, David Obey and Republicans Tom Petri and Paul Ryan voted to override. Republican James Sensenbrenner of Menomonee Falls voted against the override."
"The precision of Chang'e I's journey to the moon represents multiple technological breakthroughs, lifting the country's aerospace capabilities to heights assumed possible only in best-case scenarios. The flight was so smooth that the number of planned in-flight orbit corrections was reduced from three to one. The fuel saved from the two omitted maneuvers could double, or even triple the probe's lifespan..."
[Never forget China has as many honor students as the US has students... and all that Wallmart money. - Bob]
This
Is Your Brain on Politics"IN anticipation of the 2008 presidential election, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to watch the brains of a group of swing voters as they responded to the leading presidential candidates. Our results reveal some voter impressions on which this election may well turn."
- POLICE, FIRE & LICENSE COMMITTEE_-_5:45 P.M.
- FINANCE COMMITTEE
Immediately following the Police, Fire & License Committee meeting - PUBLIC HEARINGS – 6:30 P.M.
- CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Immediately following the Public Hearings
Board
to decide fate of budget Tuesday"With the recent adoption of the Wisconsin budget, the county can now opt to levy up to a 3.86 percent increase this year, according to county clerk Mike Saari. That decision will be made by the Iron County Board Tuesday, following a budget hearing at 6 p.m. "
Local
woman appears on 'Today' show "They were among a group of seven at the Times Square set who caught the attention of NBC weatherman Al Roker with their bright red attire, bells and painted signs at around 9 a.m. EST."
Great
Lakes states woo presidential candidates"Doyle said Thursday that the governors, Democrat and Republican alike, had agreed to push the candidates on Great Lakes-related issues, including assuring that the lakes are "protected, not drained away to Western states like Arizona and Nevada.""
Research
figures boost UW step up in ranking"The University of Wisconsin spends nearly $900 million in research annually and has claimed top positions in national research rankings, according to a National Science Foundation report released Thursday."
"The sheriff’s department was notified at 11:34 a.m. today that six inches of mud and manure covered Highway P west of Highway H in the town of Cassel, Marathon County Lt. Dale Wisnewski said. A detour route has not been set up at this time, Wisnewski said."
Guards
place 4 on All-IC team "Hurley junior Kayla Windt completes the all-conference team. A total of 11 players were named honorable mention: ...Hurley — Brittany Czerneski and Kim Leinon.
Area
football players make all conference "Hurley places four, Washburn one on All-GWC team ... Olson was joined there by a pair of Hurley players - junior quarterback Mike Sejbl (5-8, 153) and sophomore running back Daulton Levra (5-8, 151). Sejbl and Levra also earned Special Awards from the conference as Sejbl was named the top kick returner and Levra the top punt returner. Levra was the lone sophomore to gain all-conference honors. Two Hurley players were named to the all-conference defense - senior linebacker Ethan Buccanero (5-10, 160) and junior lineman Trever Conhartoski (5-11, 205)."
Sen
R. FeingoldFeingold
Farm Bill Reform Measure Would Curb Big Giveaways“Taxpayers should not be forced to make payments every year to the largest landowners based only on a history of farming and regardless of whether it has been a good year or bad year or even whether they use their land for farming,”
Gov.
DoyleLaw
to Support Wisconsin Veterans“Wisconsin has the greatest package of benefits in the country supporting veterans and men and women in uniform, a fact that makes us all extremely proud,”
Three
charged in motel incident"Prostitution-related charges were filed in Iron County Circuit Court Tuesday against two women from Milwaukee and a Strum, Wis., man, stemming from an Oct. 26 incident at a motel in Hurley."
Mercer:
Family to honor World War II veteran with commemorative flagpole"World War II veteran Stanley J. Kras will be honored by his family on Veterans Day. They have purchased a commemorative flagpole in the new Mercer Veterans Memorial to honor Kras' 25 years of military service."
State
moves on health insurance for children"The governor announced details of the plan, known as BadgerCare Plus, on Wednesday. The initiative will streamline the state's existing health programs and allow parents to buy affordable health insurance for their children."
"Despite vehement objections from birding experts, an amateur ornithologist captured the exotic hummingbird earlier this week in a rescue scheme that will end with the bird being placed in a permanent home in the Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago."
Judge:
UW coal plant is illegal"... in which the environmental organization accused the state of violating clean air laws by not installing pollution controls after several major construction projects at the facility between 1999 and 2004."
Make
a place for rural Wisconsin"... Plale's proposal does not contain needed consumer protections and offers no assurances that rural areas -- including the western Wisconsin region that elected her last year -- will enjoy the same access to telecommunication services as the Milwaukee County communities that elect Plale."
"Optimism surrounds the prospect of increased biomass production for fuel and energy, but the overriding obstacle is fuel costs that often balance out with the revenue from limbs and other slash typically ground into chips."
Sen
R. FeingoldGov.
DoyleEXECUTIVE
ORDER #222"...at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Sergeant Louis Griese of the United States Army Who Lost His Life During Operation Iraqi Freedom"
EXECUTIVE
ORDER #223"... at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for 2nd Lieutenant Tracy Alger of the United States Army Who Lost Her Life During Operation Iraqi Freedom"
EXECUTIVE
ORDER #224"at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Chief Petty Officer Patrick Wade of the United States Navy Who Lost His Life During Operation Iraqi Freedom"
"The Iron County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 at 6:00 PM at the Courthouse in Hurley, Wisconsin. The meeting is open to the public per Chapter 19, Sub Chapter V, Wisconsin Statutes."
Doyle
supportive of key cable bill provisions "The proposal, which supporters say will not only increase competition but create jobs and lower cable rates, is expected to pass the state Senate on Thursday."
Grim
buyers absorb rising gas prices"The cold chill running through area motorists Tuesday wasn't caused by the harsh wind as much as the price of gasoline, which reached an average $3.09 a gallon in Wisconsin during a climb analysts called extremely rare for this time of year."
Group
urges ballast law to protect Great Lakes"The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation intends to use the hearing to push for a state ballast treatment law that would follow Michigan's lead in protecting the Great Lakes from the next virus, zebra mussel or exotic fish species."
Senate
will debate bill changing school aid distribution"A proposal to reallocate money sent to schools to help lower property taxes will be debated by the Senate on Thursday, but it likely won't go much further than that. The bill would take about $80 million away from the state school levy tax credit and instead apply it to the aid formula."
Wal-Mart
to pay Wisconsin $90,000 for overcharging customers"Wal-Mart has agreed to pay the state of Wisconsin almost $90,000 for overcharging customers for bulk coffee and vegetables. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection settled with Wal-Mart after weights and measures inspectors found 280 violations at nine Wal-Mart stores canvassed a year ago."
Dems
buck bill on video franchises"Critics say it would eliminate customer protections for cable customers, reduce funding for public access cable stations, remove municipal oversight of right-of-way decisions and allow video providers to ignore low-income and rural communities."
Wal-Mart
to repay state for customers it overcharged "Inspectors for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection found 280 violations of weights and measures rules at nine Wal-Mart stores canvassed last year. They found violations at stores in West Bend, Appleton, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Manitowoc, Prairie du Chien, Platteville and Rice Lake, the DATCP said in a news release."
Sen
R. Feingold
Feingold
Recognized for Efforts to Control Wasteful Spending“Wasteful spending is detrimental to the public’s trust in its elected officials. Given the record deficits we have seen in recent years, Congress must do more to make sure it spends taxpayer dollars wisely.”
Senator
Speaks on Wiretapping, Calls out Ashcroft - Tort Deform - New
York,NY"Here’s another reason to like Senator Feingold. f introducing the Arbitration Fairness Act wasn’t enough, Senator Russ Feingold just gave us yet another reason to appreciate his leadership in protecting the American public from corporate and governmental abuse and exploitation. He spoke truth to power in his letter to the editor in today’s NYT, where he writes about the government-urged wiretapping of unsuspecting citizens. "
Sen
H. Kohl"The letter, originally drafted by Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), addresses cuts that were included in the House passed CHAMP Act and states, "These reductions are being proposed on top of the $13bn of recently implemented cuts in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 … we hope that you will oppose additional cuts to these critical medical services proposed by the House."
Gov.
DoyleGovernor
Doyle Jumpstarts BadgerCare Plus, Insuring Every Wisconsin Child"Health care in Wisconsin should be a birthright, not a ticket to bankruptcy. BadgerCare Plus is simple and will provide health care coverage to more families who need it.”
Governor
Doyle Column: Honoring Wisconsin’s Veterans"Veterans Day is a time to pay homage to the men and women who gave their lives in defense of our freedom. As we remember those who have fallen, we take time to honor those who are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and military outposts around the world."
Governor
Jim Doyle to Receive Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort’s ‘Creating a State of
Peace Leadership Award’"Governor Jim Doyle is being honored with WAVE’s ‘Creating a State of Peace Leadership Award’ for his efforts to prevent gun violence in Wisconsin. Prior to becoming governor, Jim Doyle served as the attorney general of Wisconsin, where he made community safety and law enforcement his number one priority."
7
Countries Considering Abandoning the US Dollar (and what it means)"It’s no secret that the dollar is on a downward spiral. Its value is dropping, and the Fed isn’t doing a whole lot to change that. As a result, a number of countries are considering a shift away from the dollar to preserve their assets."
Maneuver
gave Bush a conservative rights panel"But until Bush's 2004 appointments, no president used reregistrations by sitting commissioners to satisfy the law that forbids presidents from appointing a fifth commissioner of the same party. Bush's move , represented an unprecedented "escalation" in hardball politics, said Peter Shane, Ohio State University law professor."
WLUCMarquette
Gogebic
County Election ResultsWLUC TV in Marquette is set to post election results when available. Clicking on the link/title above takes you to the page. Put it in a tab in your browser, right click occasionally and click on "refresh" or "reload" to see the results when they appear.
Saxon:
Fire department recognizes teen for efforts to rescue friends from harbor"She told Carlisle to put his hands on her back, but he was unable to respond. She said she then gently put his hands on her back and walked to the ladder near the boatlift."
TV
turnoff continues "Hurley K-12 School's second annual TV Turnoff Week continues until Monday, Nov. 12. Here is a partial list of scheduled events and activities for students in grades kindergarten through 12:"
Fourth
grade takes field trip"After spending the morning at the farm, students played and had a picnic at the Frontier Campground in Cedar. The trip concluded on the beach of Little Girl's Point, where students collected and identified 10 rocks that they've been studying in science."
Judge
approves deal on Indian hunting, fishing rights in Michigan"Five American Indian tribes in northern Michigan will try to develop similar hunting and fishing regulations following a federal judge's approval of a deal acknowledging their rights under an 1836 treaty."
Mackinac
Bridge 50th anniversary DVD on sale"The stories told on the DVD do a fantastic job of presenting what it took to construct such an engineering marvel. The Mackinac Bridge is not only a Michigan landmark, but, it is a national icon we will continue to celebrate for years to come."
59
died in state traffic crashes in October"Fifty-nine people died in 51 Wisconsin traffic crashes last month - the fourth safest October since World War II. Last month's deaths were eight fewer than October 2006 when 67 people died in 60 accidents, according to the state Department of Transportation."
Obey
assails president on Iraq war, domestic spendingWith guns blazing, House Democrat Dave Obey of Wisconsin took the National Press Club podium Monday and criticized President Bush, the Iraq war and the ongoing battle over domestic spending. Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, charged that Bush "has followed a course of greater fiscal irresponsibility than any other president in history."
Doyle
supportive of key cable bill provisions"I think there is much greater promise of competition here with this bill than right now," Doyle said. "Right now, you take what you can get. When the prices go up, the prices go up."
Veterans
for Peace will 'Mourn the Dead'"Members of the Madison chapter of Veterans for Peace will present a Veterans Day event Sunday in which they will erect about 4,300 tombstones along Olbrich Park to signify the number of American deaths in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."
“His unwillingness to say what we all know – that waterboarding is torture – sends the wrong signal to the rest of the world, puts our own soldiers at risk, and harms our ability to win the war on terrorism,”
Sen
R. Feingold"In any event, neither detailed legal and factual analysis, nor knowledge of the operational details of the CIA’s program, is necessary to reach a judgment on whether waterboarding is torture. Waterboarding has been used by some of the most evil regimes in history."
Sen
H. Kohl"As
Judge Mukasey's answers mirror the President's on this issue -- and defy
common sense -- we are forced to question his independence as well. The
Attorney General's loyalties must be to the Constitution, to the American
people and to the law."Rep
D. Obey"... ‘the most desperate, despicable, seedy, grubby, hopeless, lying, hideously incompetent bunch of third-rate double dealing disasters this great nation has ever seen.’ “I don’t think we’ve quite reached that level, but we are facing an unpleasant and unnecessary period of contrived posturing that will, unfortunately, further discredit government and frustrate the American people."
Obey
prepares for battle - Baltimore Sun"The White House, Obey said, is showing no interest in compromise or discussion, and he mocked Bush for ostensibly saying "I'm the great decider" and that "it's got to be his way or the highway.""
Gov.
DoyleGovernor
and First Lady Doyle Announce Opening Day for Public Holiday Tours at the
Executive Residence"Gary Kidd had a pretty good idea that what his 3-year-old grandson had found was no rock, but the tooth of a woolly mammoth. That's because he had found one himself nine years ago. Kaleb Kidd was chasing squirrels Monday at a family friend's property near La Crosse when he spotted what looked like an unusual rock."
"In such cases, Bies said, records that might be shielded from open-records requests because they're part of a pending police investigation could be unprotected because copies of them are in the county's computer system. While records from completed investigations are open records for public inspection, a police department's pending cases are not, Bies said, and he wants the bill to close a loophole."
"The program, aimed at helping small and midsize dairy farmers weather low prices, is currently limited to the first 2.4 million pounds of milk per year, which translates to about a 120-cow farm. The Senate farm bill raises that cap to 4.15 million pounds, or roughly 200 cows."
Dane
County housing market slumping"For the first nine months of the year, the 5,482 sales are 7.2 percent below the 5,910 in 2006 and 16.1 percent below the 6,539 in 2005. Nationally, sales are off 22.7 percent through September compared to the first nine months of last year, with the West the hardest hit region at more than 30 percent down."
Wisconsin's
health ranking drops to 12th"Wisconsin's rank among the states in a national study of overall health declined in 2007, from 10th best to 12th. The study by a group of health organizations said that reasons for the decline included an increase in obesity, a rise in violent crime and an increase in the percentage of children in poverty. High rates of binge drinking and smoking also were factors."
Wisconsin
aims to reduce emissions"The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee passed a bill Wednesday that would require Wisconsin to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the same levels observed in 1990 by the year 2020."
Wisconsin
slides to 12th in state health rankings"The state’s ranking fell as violent crime increased 17 percent and the percentage of children in poverty increased by 14 percent over the previous year. High rates of binge drinking and obesity also were cited as factors for the lower ranking."
PCs
being pushed aside in Japan by gadgets with similar power, speed"The PC's role in Japanese homes is diminishing, as its once-awesome monopoly on processing power is encroached by gadgets such as smart phones that act like pocket-size computers, advanced Internet-connected game consoles, digital video recorders with terabytes of memory."
State
of Superior: Scientists offer mixed prognosis "Although some avoid the term "pristine" to describe Lake Superior, it remains the largest and cleanest of the five Great Lakes, according to recent reports from a range of scientists. Yet the lake, and all that dwell in and around it, are not without their nemeses: climate change, invasive species and development around the lake's 2,700 miles of shoreline will continue to reshape the lake in perhaps irreversible ways."
Sen
R. Feingold
Feingold
in Opposition to Judge Mukasey as the Next Attorney General"At this point in our history, however, the country also needs an Attorney General who will tell the President that he cannot ignore the laws passed by Congress. Unfortunately, Judge Mukasey was unwilling to reject the extreme and dangerous theories of executive power that this administration has put forward."
Gov.
Doyle
Governor
Doyle Announces $3.2 Million for Home Heating Emergency Assistance“The increasing cost of fuels to heat homes continues to put more pressure on hard working families and their ability to make ends meet. I am pleased that we can make these additional funds available to families who may be faced with a crisis in heating their homes.”
Attorney:
Choosing name of new council member from hat is legal "Bessemer attorney James McKenzie, who practices law in both Michigan and Wisconsin, said a vacancy can be filled at the pleasure of the council. "They could've picked one of the six just because they wanted to. How they do it is up to them.""
Saxon:
Dairy barn lives on"Last Saturday, the arched style dairy barn at Windy Ridge Farm, most recently owned by Doug and Sue Anderson, was dismantled. It will be rebuilt a few miles away next spring at Ken and Jim Clements' family farm."
Local
talent completes Big Read "The Depression-era Dust Bowl songs of Woody Guthrie were a fitting way to end the Big Read series at the Hurley Coffee Company Friday night. Amanda Geary of Upson and Cory Abbott of Iron Belt performed a selection of Guthrie's tunes to a full house."
Balsam
boughs for bread"In the North Woods here, nearly everyone goes out balsam picking," said Thomas, 42, who grew up in nearby Iron River and returned to Wisconsin with Foster and their daughter a dozen years ago, fleeing the "rat race" of Las Vegas. "We know people who base a big part of their income on this. It's how they survive the winter," she said.
Kohl, Feingold
noncommittal on attorney general""I would like to vote for him. . . . He's a smart man. I think he would provide some of the stability that is so sorely needed there," Kohl said. But the state's senior senator cited the issue that other Democrats on the panel have called a major stumbling block for the nomination - Mukasey's refusal to characterize the interrogation"
"And a state Department of Transportation official warned that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has given so much conflicting information about Real ID that no one can be certain what the agency will require. "DHS has told a lot of people a lot of things about Real ID, and a lot of it has turned out to be false," said Patrick Fernan, director of the state's Driver Services Bureau."
Wis. cigarette tax is going up; officials to watch Internet sales"Even though the new state budget didn't give Wisconsin's Department of Revenue any more enforcement help to prevent tax evasion, department Secretary Roger Ervin said the agency is extending its reach to monitor cigarette sellers and to catch scofflaws."
"The stories, all from Wisconsin, outrage us and capture our attention — for awhile. But thousands of senior citizens here, and millions nationally, are suffering silently at the hands of family, caregivers and even themselves."
Feingold
says he'll vote against attorney general nominee"Feingold said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published Sunday that he thinks Mukasey's views on executive power have shifted recently toward the more expansive views of presidential power that President Bush's administration advances. Feingold said he did not want to endorse those views with his vote."
Assembly's
cheap stunt"As noted by state Rep. Terese Berceau ... the issue addressed by the bill "is not a problem, and it's already illegal in Wisconsin." Berceau's right. The Assembly engaged in cheap symbolism when it took up this proposal by state Rep. Mark Gundrum, R-New Berlin. It wasted the time and money of taxpayers, while proposing the creation of new bureaucracies and legal conundrums.
"New trails, wider roads and designated lanes that encourage bicycling are important, and the Wausau area needs more, say local cyclists. But there also needs to be a change in cultural attitude among motorists that recognizes bicyclists' rights to be on the roads in order to make pedaling safer, easier and more enjoyable."
Sentinel
NOVEMBER 2 Video of
The Day - CENTRAL AMERICA WITH ANDY PALACIO ..."NOVEMBER 2 IN HISTORY
Born: Burt Lancaster (actor), 1913. Hurley, Wisconsin, had 40 inches of snow, 1989."
Sen
R. Feingold
"As a result of this concept, mining companies are given what is tantamount to a double subsidy on public lands: first, they are allowed to mine on federal lands for free and then, under the percentage depletion allowance, they are allowed to take tax deductions beyond the value of investments they have made."
"At this point in our history, however, the country also needs an Attorney General who will tell the President that he cannot ignore the laws passed by Congress. Unfortunately, Judge Mukasey was unwilling to reject the extreme and dangerous theories of executive power that this administration has put forward."
Rep
D. Obey"The Advocates cited political cynicism on the part of House Appropriations Chairman, Democrat David Obey of Wisconsin, as being behind the move. According to them, Obey sought to win over some Republicans in Congress to overcome a possible Bush veto by including the funding for the programs, even though the Republicans told him they still will not give the Democrats the votes they need."
Hat
helps choose new member of city council"The council decided the candidates were all qualified, Pinardi said. They therefore decided to pick a name out of a hat, as they had done previously when multiple people ran for one vacant seat, he said."
TV
turnoff activities listed "Hurley K-12 School's second annual TV Turnoff Week continues until Monday, Nov. 12. Here is a partial list of scheduled events and activities for students in grades kindergarten through 12:"
Another
emerald ash borer sighting reported in U.P."The tree-killing emerald ash borer is continuing to spread in the eastern Upper Peninsula. State officials say the beetle has been detected at Straits State Park in Mackinac County."
Donation
to fund college program"A nonprofit Madison group has pledged $40 million to help fund the Wisconsin Covenant, an initiative that promises eighth-graders who do well in school a spot in college and financial help. Gov. Jim Doyle announced the gift from the Great Lakes Higher Education Corp. on Thursday before a crowd of students at the Milwaukee School of Languages."
Heart
attacks, and not shots, are biggest danger to hunters"With the fall hunting season under way, doctors are warning that one of the greatest dangers is not getting shot in the woods. Hunters are more likely to suffer heart attacks brought on by blood-thickening cold weather, strenuous activity after getting very little exercise during the rest of the year, and adrenalin spikes that accompany the thrill of the hunt."
"But exhorting investors to make portfolio changes when the economy looks shaky is not good advice. By the time a recession is evident, the damage is done. The best time to make major investment changes to reduce risk or diversify is when the market looks rosy. And despite the ups and downs of today's stock market, now is a great time to make such changes."
State
experts look at variety of energy-saving alternatives "From a single light bulb change to an entire community that strives toward renewable energy and energy efficiency, several state experts Thursday covered the full spectrum of ways to wean people away from fossil fuels and outdated construction techniques."
ATV
club seeks winter beachhead on selected Minocqua roads"The idea is to allow ice fishermen to use light-weight ATVs to access boat landings. ATVs can be safer and more maneuverable than pick-up trucks on lake ice, depending on conditions, and can be driven on 6 to 8 inches of clear, strong ice where 12 inches is recommended for pick-up trucks."
Sen
R. Feingold
Judge
Mukasey's Nomination to be the next Attorney General"He may be the best nominee we can get from this administration in this respect. But I am concerned about his views on executive power, and I am weighing whether his answers to questions in that area adequately demonstrate a commitment to the rule of law."
Supporting
the President's Veto of the Water Resources Development Act"Instead of trying to override the veto, Congress should take this opportunity to fix the bill. We must make sure that Americans’ tax dollars are spent on the most important priorities, not just on members’ pet projects."
Feingold
Sees Farm Bill as a Chance to Help Family Farms, Rural Communities“I am pleased that the bill already has a number of provisions that are good for Wisconsin, like restoring the 45 percent reimbursement rate for dairy producers under the MILC program."
Sen
H. Kohl
"Wisconsin's senators were awarded the CWAG President's Award last night at the group's Governing Board Banquet in Madison. The group bestows the award to "those who have done outstanding work for Wisconsin's seniors during the year." Kohl and Feingold accepted the award from Washington, DC as the Senate schedule did not allow them to attend the dinner."
Gov.
Doyle
"Assembly Bill 457 allows the city of Beloit and village of Union Grove to create tax incremental districts. Governor Doyle thanked Representative Robin Vos and Senator John Lehman for their work on the bill."
Second
annual TV turnoff starts Friday"The Hurley K-12 Second Annual TV Turnoff begins Friday. The opening ceremony will be at 8:30 a.m. in the high school gymnasium. Closing ceremonies for the 10-day event are set for Monday, Nov. 12. "
CESA
12 districts to share grant"The 18 school districts in the Cooperative Education Service Agency 12 district will share a $100,000 federal grant for improving student achievement through the use of technology. The Hurley and Mercer districts are among the 18 in CESA 12 that will participate in the grant."
Iron
County, most of Wisconsin receives disaster declaration due to drought"Iron County was one of 42 drought-stricken Wisconsin counties to be declared disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The designation frees up federal assistance for affected farmers."
Petri
offers student loan legislation"At issue is what's called the Federal Family Education Loan Program. It lets private lenders make student loans at interest rates determined by a formula set by the government. In the end, the return to lenders is generous while the government guarantees almost all loans, relieving lenders of most risk, Petri said."
Scientists:
No evidence erosion causing lower Great Lakes levels"Video images from the St. Clair River bottom show no evidence that erosion is causing water levels on Lakes Michigan and Huron to drop, scientists working for a U.S.-Canadian advisory group said Thursday. Although preliminary, the findings intensified a debate over whether people or nature are more to blame for the two lakes' steady decline since the late 1990s."
Budget
could be hit with a $72M hole if state loses court case"Passed just a week ago, the budget assumes that a court will order the Ho-Chunk to make payments to the state that the tribe says it does not owe. The state Department of Administration estimates the tribe will owe about $72 million in fees under its gambling compact by June 30, 2009."
DNR
hosts online chats with public starting Friday"DNR spokeswoman Erin Celello said the online chats will be available throughout the center's new hours. Receptionists should be able to answer hunters and anglers' questions within moments of the asking, she said. The call center is 1-888-WDNR-INF. The Web site for the chats is http://dnr.wi.gov/contact."
Tip
for the tipsy: Call Bender Defenders for a ride home"Rather than taking a cab home and retrieving their car in the morning, customers call Bender Defenders, and a driver arrives wearing a tuxedo T-shirt and riding a folding motorbike. The driver then collapses the scooter and puts it into the customer's trunk or back seat before driving them home."
[The picture is not from the service... I just wanted to show off my electric scooter. Ride to Live. - Bob]
"The state Transportation Department reports that with two months left in the year, traffic crashes on Wisconsin roads and highways have killed 635 people. That’s up 7 percent from a year ago, mostly because more motorcyclists have been killed."
"Australia’s opposition leader lamented his past behavior on Wednesday, as images of him picking his ear wax in Parliament reached a growing audience via the Internet."
Sen
R. FeingoldFeingold,
Cantwell Bill Would End Outdated Tax Breaks for Mining on Public Land“Congress must put an immediate end to the current double subsidy for companies that mine on public lands,” Feingold said. “Mining companies should not be allowed to take deductions for mineral deposits they received for free."
Statement
of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold on the Severe Injustices of Capital Punishment“With the Supreme Court issuing yet another stay in a death penalty case this week, it appears likely that states will suspend executions at least temporarily."
Feingold
Backs Effort to Protect Great Lakes From Invasive Species“Ships entering the Great Lakes from the ocean are potentially bringing with them invasive species that could have a significant impact on the environment, and cause billions of dollars in damages,”
Gov.
DoyleEXECUTIVE
ORDER #221"Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Sergeant Joshua Brennan of the United States Army Who Lost His Life During Operation Enduring Freedom"
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