Local News ... (Archives)
Pat
a child on the head? Not at school"Every veteran teacher knows you can no longer hug a kid. A Rib Mountain Elementary School art teacher has now discovered, in addition, you'd better not even offer an encouraging pat on the head. Not unless you want to be investigated by both your bosses and local law enforcement, stand accused of being an assaulter of little children and get reported to Child Protective Services."
7
water utilities still in violation"Of the seven, Waukesha, Fond du Lac and Lake Meadows are furnishing drinking water with radium levels that exceed federal safe water standards. The DNR set a compliance deadline of last December for 42"
Wisconsin
corn farmers have record-breaking harvest"Farmers produced 462 million bushels of corn, breaking the previous record of 437 million bushels, set in 1994, according to a December estimate by the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. This year's production marks a 16 percent increase from 2006. And the price of the crop hit a 10-year high in May, as corn in the state sold for $3.50 per bushel on average. Prices remained higher than $3 throughout the year."
Craig
Wehrle: Kohl consistently wrong on trade pacts"Sen. Herb Kohl was for the treaty as usual. Kohl mostly votes with business interests and at times it works out for everyone but it always works out for businesses. That's his way."
Obey
secures $882K for business development"In my time as chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, I saw the impact that a small loan can have in developing a local economy. Here at home, that small amount of capital can unlock the door of opportunity, helping to create a few jobs, and allowing a dedicated entrepreneur -- an American with an idea -- to kick open the door of opportunity," said Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee."
Superior
Science News now on public radio "Minnesota Sea Grant has teamed up with KUWS Radio, an affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio, to produce programs about Lake Superior science. "Superior Science News" will air on KUWS (91.3 FM or http://kuws.fm/) on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. every two weeks throughout the winte[r]."
Christmas
time snowfall gives hope to area business owners"As of this morning, the phones have been ringing off the hook and downtown Minocqua is busy - so this is good," she said. "Everyone down south of us, everywhere from Wausau and Appleton - all the way to the Chicago area - they're aware that we have snow. Basically, they're curious as to how much we've received and if we're getting more."
Sen
R. Feingold
Feingold
says diverse presidential campaign is "wonderful." - -
Wisconsin Radio Network"The Democrat from Middleton says regardless of who ultimately wins the nomination, just having that kind of diversity is "transformational for American politics." "In either case," Feingold says, "it would be one of the most important things that has ever happened in American politics. Not a reason to vote for somebody or vote against them but if it happens; it will be a big thing." "
Good
and Evil at the Center of the Earth - Information Clearing
House"But it wasn’t as much what the Chevron-Texaco lawyers said that shook me. It was the way they said it. Childhood cancer answered with a chuckle. The Chevron lawyer, a wealthy guy, Jaime Varela, with a blond bouffant hairdo, in the kind of yellow chinos you’d see on country club links, was beside himself with delight at the impossibility of the legal hurdles the Cofan would face. Especially this one: Chevron had pulled all its assets out of Ecuador. The Indians could win, but they wouldn’t get a dime."
Declining
population"I realize that this is not just about Ironwood, but we are suffering here in Ironwood under a government that values personal wealth and power for the ruling elite as a God given right."
Beyond
Quota... Again! -
webmaster@sheck.com"Your site myhurley.net has exceeded its bandwidth quota in the period beginning on 2007-12-01. Your quota is set to 1048576000 bytes ( 1000.0 MB ), and your site has consumed 1106094032 bytes ( 1054.853 MB ) beyond that quota."
[With the year almost done, you have done 84,568 visits for 911,858 hits his year, burning 16,454,105,000 bytes of traffic. That is amazing for a little town in the north woods. I'm looking forward to a million hits next year...Happy New Year. - Bob]
Snowmobiler
killed in crash Friday"A 45-year-old Illinois man was killed in an early Friday morning snowmobile accident about three miles south of Hurley on Trail 17."
Saxon:
Dogwood scholarship "Scholarships of up to $300 will be awarded to a female and male high school senior. Eligible students include all Saxon and Gurney residents, Hurley High School students who have participated in the Dogwood Run/Walk, and past participants regardless of school district..."
Thousands
of loons dying in Great Lakes area"In November, so many dead loons and other waterfowl washed up on the Lake Erie shores of a Pennsylvania state park that officials used a funeral home to incinerate them. "Loons are such a beautiful bird, and to see a hundred of them lying on the beach, it just really disturbs people," said Harry Leslie, operations manager at Presque Isle State Park near Erie, Pa."
New
year brings reminder from past"A provision of the state budget that passed in October dramatically lowered - from $25,000 to $5,000 - the threshold of unpaid taxes, penalties, interest and costs to have a taxpayer's name on the Revenue Department's online list of delinquent taxpayers."
Federal
aid for police to decline"The omnibus spending bill President George W. Bush signed into law Wednesday will cut the amount of Byrne Justice Assistance Grant money Wisconsin receives from $6.48 million in 2007 to about $2.3 million in 2008, the Office of Justice Assistance reported this week."
Attorney general reflects on success; critics see more to be done"We accomplished more in the first year than I perhaps envisioned we could have during my whole term," Van Hollen said. But he still has plenty to deal with in 2008. Critics contend the attorney general is nearly invisible, his legal stances are too liberal and he mishandled the media after a grisly North Woods mass murder."
Paul Ryan's hypocrisy"What the hypocritical Ryan fails to explain in taxpayer-funded press releases hailing his fiscal conservatism, however, is his steady pattern of voting for defense authorization measures -- especially so-called "emergency" funding plans for the Iraq occupation -- that contain massive earmarks, pork barrel spending and related abuses."
Light
snow, other winter activities hurt snowmobile clubs"At the same time, the popularity of ATVs is rising. About 300,000 ATVs were registered in Wisconsin in 2006, compared with 280,000 snowmobiles, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. In 2005, ATVs outnumbered snowmobiles in Marathon County, 8,400 to 8,200."
Furniture
customers roll dice on Packers"If the Packers win their fourth Super Bowl and 13th NFL championship Feb. 3, all purchases made at the furniture chain's eight Wisconsin stores from Dec. 26 through New Year's Day will be free."
Cheney
Impeachment Cracks Corporate Media - Buzz Flash"On November 7, the House of Representatives voted to send a resolution of impeachment of Vice President Cheney to the Judiciary Committee. As Members of the House Judiciary Committee, we strongly believe these important hearings should begin."
"Gabby Mattson and Nicole Kuklinski are among riders from Michigan and Wisconsin who will receive grand and reserve champion awards at the Upper Peninsula Quarter Horse Association banquet in February."
[Again, with the new Glob web site, I expect this link to be rendered inoperative by tomorrow. - Bob]
Medicaid
computer price tag now tops $64 million"The system won't be finished until October, almost two years behind schedule. The project originally was to cost $32.3 million and be finished by January 2007. State computer projects have faced a spate of long delays and cost overruns in recent years. Thursday's announcement came a day after the State Elections Board severed a contract with computer vendor Accenture for a problem-plagued voter registration system."
Top
state criminal investigator resigns"The state 's top criminal investigator has abruptly resigned, saying in an e-mail to staff that his year under new Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has been "very difficult " and that his future "looked even more difficult. ""
Dave Zweifel: State had
many warnings about Accenture"Why would Wisconsin outsource its voting list to a private company beholden to its stockholders, not to the voters, asked FightingBob.com editor and Capital Times columnist Ed Garvey more than three years ago. But no one in state government, or at least those with the power to do something about it, listened."
A
thirst for fresh water"But as the Midwest continues to lose population and political influence to the Sun Belt, the Great Lakes are being increasingly viewed by some as one possible solution to looming water shortages elsewhere."
"In contest results announced this week, the top prize went to Greg Peck of Janesville, the new world champion liar. Peck, editorial page editor of The Janesville Gazette, wrote: “The Wisconsin River was so low this year that the local government started taxing us for more property on our riverfront lot.”"
"“Because what you have is two different police agencies chasing the defendant in a stolen Krispy Kreme donut truck with donuts flying out of the back of the truck,” Dane County Assistant District Attorney Michael Verveer told the newspaper."
[One can easily see the mope thinking he wouldn't get caught, what with all the cops parked at Dunkin' Donuts. - Bob]
Credit
or debit, either a bad deal "Making the decision to simply pay for goods and services with old-fashioned cash or checks puts more money in the pockets of local businesses and you, the local consumer. Keeping money in the area makes a strong local economy which is not only good for consumers and local businesses it's good for future generations living in this beautiful area."
Sen
R. Feingold
Feingold
Looks Ahead, Across the Aisle in the New Year"Advancing
bipartisan legislation is a top goal for 2008 for Feingold, who has
introduced legislation on health care reform, reform of the No Child Left
Behind education law, public financing of presidential elections, clean
water restoration, and fiscal responsibility – issues which all have
bipartisan support. While Feingold acknowledges that enacting these bills
will take time, a bipartisan approach to addressing these issues is
critically important.""The End Racial Profiling Act attacks the insidious practice of racial profiling by law enforcement on three levels: first, it creates a federal prohibition against racial profiling; second, it provides funding for the retraining of law enforcement officials on how to discontinue and prevent the use of racial profiling; and thirdly, it holds law enforcement agencies that continue to use racial profiling accountable."
Vermont
Town Seeks Bush, Cheney Arrests - Chicago Tribune"A group in Brattleboro is petitioning to put an item on a town meeting agenda in March that would make Bush and Vice President Cheney subject to arrest and indictment if they visit the southeastern Vermont community... As president, Bush has visited every state except Vermont."
[Why has no other establishment ever bothered to email me that they were having live music? I'd post them also. - Bob]
- Sled-dog races set for Jan. 5-6
- Wisconsin ends deal with voter registration vendor
- Nature Conservancy receives gift worth $12.5 million
- City nativity scene taken down but federal lawsuit will proceed
[Due to the Globe's new website and its PDF format, direct links to articles are no longer possible. Even if they link to an HTML copy, it appears that the link will only be available for a single day and there were no such Wisconsin based articles today. Sorry. - Bob]
Voter
system vendor to repay state"The vendor responsible for building a troubled voter registration system for the state agreed Wednesday to pay the state $4 million and give up the program's source code. The vendor, Accenture, will also give up its claim to $1.95 million in payments the state Elections Board has withheld. The company will get to keep more than $7 million - about half of what it was to charge the state under its contract."
State
has deer in its headlights"One in 99. Those are the odds a Wisconsin driver will strike a deer in the new year. Wisconsin ranks third nationwide for the highest likelihood of striking a deer in 2008, behind only West Virginia and Michigan, data collected by State Farm Insurance show."
Wis.
DNR says only 1 wolf shot during this year's deer hunt"One wolf was shot during this fall's deer hunt, far fewer than last year and evidence that removing federal protections for the animal has eased some landowners' frustrations, the state's wolf management coordinator said Thursday. A year ago, the Department of Natural Resources documented nine wolves shot by hunters, nearly double the number in previous seasons, and experts suspected there were more that were never found."
Don't
tell us to like Joe McCarthy"McCarthy failed. Free speech survives. And even if some of Evans' misguided allies would like to constrain the Constitution, the fact is that honest players on the right and left are
rejecting
the new McCarthyism of the Bush/Cheney era ... And we are pleased that a
U.S. senator from Wisconsin, Russ Feingold, is leading the fight with his
courageous opposition to the excesses of the Patriot Act, warrantless
wiretapping and the authoritarian impulses of President Bush and his
McCarthyite circle."Obey
among biggest mass mailers"Obey, a Democrat and the dean of the state’s congressional delegation, spent about $128,000 in mailings, which put him 27th in the 435-member House, according to an Associated Press review of public records. Sensenbrenner’s total of about $124,000 put him just a few notches behind."
State
dumps voter registration vendor"We're getting the improvements, we're getting the ability to continue to run our elections, and we're getting money back," said Elections Board Executive Director Kevin Kennedy."
Odd:
N.D. farmer forecasts via pig spleens “It looks like a normal year with no major storms,” said the 84-year-old Smokov, peering at two of the brown, glistening, foot-long organs on his kitchen counter like a Gypsy gazing into a crystal ball. “That’s what the spleens tell me.”
Sen
R. Feingold"The assassination of Benazir Bhutto is terrible news for those who support a stabilized democracy in Pakistan, both in that country and around the world. Bhutto was a brave leader who was beloved by millions in Pakistan."
Landmark
Lobbying and Ethics Reform, Extension of SeniorCare Top Feingold's 2007
Accomplishments“I am pleased with the success in the last year of measures to provide the best drug coverage for Wisconsinites, clean up Congress, and much more,” Feingold said. “I look forward to the opportunity to work on these and other issues for Wisconsin in 2008.”
When
Tech Goes Wrong - Extreme Tech"If you're in the mood for a big, sloppy steak, or a tasty pork chop, or even a grilled cheese sandwich, grab the George Foreman USB iGrill. It's available at ThinkGeek, and it apparently cooks food automatically with the help of the processing power of your PC. Because, y'know, you can't possibly cook a burger to perfection without a computer
.
Am I right?""Retailers throughout southeastern Wisconsin say they have seen a swell of interest in glass and bisphenol A-free baby bottles in the past few weeks. So much so that a store manager at USA Baby in Brookfield said manufacturers have been unable to keep up with his customers' demands."
BadgerCare
Plus to ensure health care coverage for all children"The state already has one of the lowest percentages of uninsured children in the nation, and the new proposal could make the state even more of a leader. To do it, the state is opening up Medicaid health coverage to families like the Petersons with higher incomes. Just as importantly, advocates say, the state is also simplifying existing Medicaid programs to cut red tape that has kept eligible families from signing up. "
Nature
Conservancy announces gift worth $12.5 million"The gift from the late Newell and Ann Meyer is the largest dollar amount of donated land and cash for conservation in Wisconsin history, said Mary Jean Huston, state director for the Nature Conservancy, a leading conservation organization. The Meyer land is in Eagle, about 30 miles southwest of Milwaukee. The property will be open to the public after a dedication next spring to name it the Newell and Ann Meyer Nature Preserve."
State
ends deal with voter registration vendor"The state Elections Board and Accenture agreed to nix their contract in a settlement announced Wednesday. The deal calls for Accenture to turn over its software's source code to the board, giving that panel complete control of the system. The vendor also agreed to give the board a list of repairs, waive nearly $2 million the board still owed the company, and pay the board $4 million to avoid a lawsuit."
ODD:
Cat escapes holiday fire by squeezing behind wall"Extraordinary situations call for extraordinary measures. A full-grown cat crawled into a 1.5 inch opening in the wall to escape a Christmas Eve fire in Manitowoc and was found in good health yesterday."
Midgets
pull away for big win over Bessemer "Coming off a big win over Mellen on Monday, the Midgets continued their winning ways during the first round of the Range Classic, pulling away from Bessemer 77-50 to move into tonight's championship tilt "
"County clerk Bob Bruso first raised the issue at a Nov. 26 meeting of the Department on Aging Building Committee, asking that panel to consider all the space needs of the county before making a final decision about its own plans. That committee is considering potential building sites and existing buildings for a much larger senior center and agency facility."
Warm
weather whacks trails"Ironwood reported about 12 inches of snow from the storm, Alumbaugh said. Tracey Barrett, executive director of the Baraga County Tourist and Recreation Association, said the brief warm-up last weekend was not kind to the group’s five snowmobile trails. “It made a big mess,” she said."
Superior,MN
Highways
snow covered and slippery"Included on that list are U.S. Highway 53 from Superior to La Crosse, U.S. Highway 2 from Superior to Hurley, Highway 13 from Ashland to Wisconsin Dells, and State Highway 35 from Superior to the Minnesota state line."
Sen
R. Feingold"It requires a citizenry willing and motivated to step up and be heard. It requires a system and officials willing to proactively open a door, to listen and to act on citizens' behalf. For 15 years, Russ Feingold has been exemplifying that second part."
Sen
H. KohlFederal
Budget Includes Funds for Rural WI Health Cooperative -
Wisconsin Ag Connection - Marshfield,WI"A program that runs 30 non-profit rural hospitals throughout Wisconsin is likely to get some extra funding from the federal government. Last week, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced that the FY08 federal budget includes $181,768 in support for the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative."
Financial
aid night"Hurley High School and Gogebic Community College will sponsor Financial Aid Night on Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hurley School auditorium. The speaker for the evening will be GCC financial aid director Susan Forbes."
Police
Begin Fingerprinting on Traffic Stops"If you're caught speeding or playing your music too loud, or other crimes for which you might receive a citation, Green Bay police officers will ask for your drivers license and your finger. You'll be fingerprinted right there on the spot. The fingerprint appears right next to the amount of the fine."
Army
cancels leave extension for dad whose newborn son clings to life
- Chicago Tribune
"Initially
told by Ft Lewis officials that he had been granted an extension to his
leave until Jan. 3, Williams learned Sunday morning that it has been
rescinded by his commander in Iraq, who left the soldier a voice-mail
message that Williams would be "making it harder on himself" if he did not
get on the first available plane."
Kimball:
Oman account set up "Fundraisers have set up an account at the Iron County Community Credit Union in Kimball, Wis., for bone cancer patient Jill Oman of Ironwood."
Doyle
toughens, then signs cable bill"Another veto kept current law that requires consumers to get credits if their cable service is interrupted for more than four hours in a 24-hour period. Legislators and telecommunications companies wanted to deny consumers a credit if their service was out for less than 24 hours."
"We see them a lot this time of year," Bliss said of such injuries. "People will use a knife and the knife slips and buries itself in the palm or in a finger. These can be pretty significant injuries to nerves and tendons and muscles, and can require surgery and lengthy rehabilitation."
"Bottles of hand sanitizer are everywhere -- checkout lanes, health clubs, restaurant tables, your office cubicle. Unnerved by bird flu and antibiotic-resistant staph infections, we have turned into a Purell nation, vigorously wiping and hand pumping our way to better hygiene."
Protecting
Great Lakes"State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, and state Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, began circulating the statement in conjunction with the second anniversary of the signing of the Great Lakes Water Compact. The statement builds upon that milestone by pledging to take action to ensure that Wisconsin has the ability to protect and manage our Great Lakes and other water resources for the continued environmental and economic health of the entire state."
Three
stress-busters for the holidays and beyond "Research shows that stress is triggered by the realization that we can't do and control everything. With the holiday’s parties, gift giving and heavily scheduled activities comes a tendency toward trying to "do it all" — and that's a prescription for misery and stress."
Rep
D. Obey"The eight-member Wisconsin delegation was divided on the war funding issue. Petri and fellow Republicans Paul Ryan and James Sensenbrenner voted for the bill after voting against an earlier version this week that did not have Iraq war funding. Democrats Tammy Baldwin, Steve Kagen and Gwen Moore and Dave Obey voted against the final version although they voted for the earlier version without Iraq money. Democrat Ron Kind voted for both bills."
County
board approves hourly rate increase "Local 728D of the Association of Federal, State and Municipal Employees was scheduled to ratify the deal on Thursday, but was unable to do so because of a lack of a quorum, according to Iron County clerk Mike Saari."
Sherman:
New town hall on horizon"The new building will be erected on a site adjacent to the current town garage/fire house, according to town chairman Gerald Luke. Groundbreaking is set for April, "
Holiday
trips cut into school time"Educators in bilingual schools say the absences are particularly acute among their students, with some missing almost an entire month. State law allows students to miss up to 10 excused days."
Doyle
signs cable competition bill, makes changes with veto"And while we are opening the door to competition, people can also be assured that Wisconsin's strong consumer protection laws will continue to cover them when it comes to issues like billing errors and service interruptions," Doyle said in a statement."
Fundraising
revolution"Paul collected more than $6 million Sunday. And unlike Kerry, who raised his money from big donors on the day after he won the key primaries that secured him the Democratic nod, Paul is raising his money when it could actually help his quest for the Republican nomination."
Questions
linger on Park, Forest Service budgets for 2008 "The omnibus bill that passed both houses of Congress appropriated about $2.4 billion for the Park Service. But that amount was reduced by 1.56 percent across the board in further budget negotiations, leaving NPS with an overall budget of about $2.39 billion."
"Parts of the Balsam and Linden loops have been lit, as well, plus the stretch of the Core Loop that takes skiers to those trails. Abbott said the newly lit trails are mostly the beginner trails marked in green on trail maps, but there are lights on some of the more difficult trails, as well. “We have some blue and black trails that have lights on them, too, for a little bit of a thrill,” Abbott said."
Sen
H. KohlKohl
Includes Funding for State Ag Projects in Federal Budget -
Wisconsin Ag Connection"Wisconsin's agriculture industry drives our state's economy and strengthens our rural communities," Kohl said. "Wisconsin is home to some of the most forward-thinking initiatives in the country to keep our farms competitive by tapping into emerging technologies and markets. The work being done in our state has earned this federal funding."
Gov.
DoyleGovernor
Doyle Signs Cable Competition Bill“By opening the door to cable competition in Wisconsin we should see expanded services to consumers and more investments in communications technologies and infrastructure in the state,” Governor Doyle said. “And while we are opening the door to competition, people can also be assured that Wisconsin’s strong consumer protection laws will continue to cover them when it comes to issues like billing errors and service interruptions.”
VA
opens temporary clinic in Rice Lake"On Monday, they'll take four rooms at the AmericInn Hotel in Rice Lake and turn it into a temporary clinic. "These are VA certified physicians and nurses. This is not a CH&W clinic. This is a designated operation under federal guidelines that allows us to take emergency action," he said."
[The good folks at the Head-On Radio Network, a left leaning streaming news/talk network, have a place where you can post comments... 2 VA clinics in Wisconsin close without warning. I still have not seen the alleged joint press release from : Dave Obey ... (715) 398-4426, Russ Feingold ... (715) 848-5660, Herb Kohl ... (800) 247-5645 - Bob]
DNR
plans to update access to parks, lakes "Users of Iron County forest land will benefit if the county forestry department follows through with its work plan for 2008. The plan was approved by the Iron County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday. It addresses work to be done on roads, access to parks and lakes, and trails."
Charter
school contract gets board approval"The charter school is awaiting state approval of a $150,000 grant application. Mercer administrator Jeff Ehrhardt said the charter school could also receive $50,000 per year for each of the next two years."
"They say the 2008 truck has already been budgeted for because the annual payment, estimated between $25,000 to $27,000, will replace the amount in the budget for two other pieces of equipment that will be paid off next year."
Committee
calls on Supreme Court candidate to take back remarks"That statement received a rebuke from Tom Basting, chairman of the new Judicial Campaign Integrity Committee and president of the state Bar Association. "I respectfully request that you repudiate this rhetoric and join us in promoting public confidence in a fair and impartial judiciary," Basting said in the letter to Gableman."
Wisconsin's
AG says race can't block school transfers"A state law requiring school districts to deny open enrollment transfers of students between districts that lead to racial imbalances violates the U.S. Constitution, state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said in a formal opinion issued today."
Paper-consumption
decline leads to Wausau Paper plant closures"Wausau Paper has produced the wrap for its own use and has sold it to other companies, Grueber said, but a decline in paper production industrywide combined with rising costs for materials has made it no longer cost-effective to do so."
Bones
found in Bayfield likely from cemeteries "MacDonald said it is believed that the bones are the result of a 1942 flood that washed out a number of bodies from the Greenwood and Evergreen cemeteries located on the hill above Bayfield."
"We had a lot of older customers that couldn't do this kind of work, like grocery shopping, so we ended up doing it for them," she said. "But there were also people of any age that were working full-time and just didn't have the time."
Rep
D. Obey
Wisconsin
delegation backs plan to increase fuel efficiency ... -
Appleton Post Crescent "Republican Tom Petri and Democrats Tammy Baldwin, Steve Kagen, Ron Kind, Gwen Moore and Dave Obey voted for the bill. Republicans Paul Ryan and James Sensenbrenner voted against it. “This is the change we need. This bill will save Wisconsin families money, move us closer to energy independence and improve the health of our economy and our environment,” Kagen, D-Appleton, said."
New
boiler saves dollars for school"While the school was previously heated with two boilers that operated at 180 degrees, the system has been improved to the point where one boiler is supplying adequate heat for the entire building at just 160 degrees."
Brief
power outage Monday"A breaker on one of the main lines servicing the town went down, according to officials at Xcel Energy. The outage, which affected more than 1,700 customers, was reported at 2:35 p.m. Power was restored by 3:45 p.m. Monday, an Xcel spokesman said."
Mercer:
Public discusses Safe Routes to School program"SRTS underwrites projects that encourage more children to walk and bike safely to school."
""We're hopeful, my wife and I, that the gifts we're providing as scholarships will act as genies for you," he said. That is why they are donating $175 million to create the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars, a private, non-profit organization that is to work with public universities and colleges in the state to provide scholarships of $1,000 to $5,000 a year for several thousand students."
Bill
would close tax loopholes that report says costs state $643M"The bill itself won't raise anyone's taxes, Hansen and other supporters said. But it would provide more information about the level of tax avoidance in the state. It also would give auditors at the state Department of Revenue more tools to go after companies that owe, said Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar."
Complaint:
Caregiver stole from dying and disabled veterans"I, James Hucke, being the low life that I am, stole money from dying and disabled veterans," he wrote in a statement to investigators. He added later: "I screwed everyone over and deserve whatever I get and then some. I am very, very sorry (and) very, very stupid."
[Does anybody know if the VA Clinics that were closed have reopened? - Bob]
Local
Trout Unlimited group wants more water to be kept in Superior
"You have to be more conservative on the release now because the amount of evaporation loss has just skyrocketed in the past 10 years and the lake isn't freezing over as much. If your models are not updating and projecting that, then we'll be fighting low water continuously."
Gov.
Doyle"The Iron County Board of Supervisors will meet on Wednesday, December 19th, 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."
Coach
receives support at board meeting"The board did not confirm Levra's contract had been terminated. A special meeting was held Dec. 3 regarding what the agenda termed "the dismissal of a public employee." But the minutes of the meeting do not indicate Levra's contract was terminated and, in fact, don't mention the identity of the employee who was the subject of the meeting."
Four
agree to early retirement deal"Long-time courthouse employee Diane Erickson, Gary Aimone from the human services department, deputy sheriff David Morello and Bruce Brunell from the highway department will receive the insurance coverage as compensation for retiring early."
"Food giant ConAgra Foods said it removed the chemical, called diacetyl, from Orville Redenbacher and Act II microwave popcorn brands and reformulated the flavors."
Doyle
worried that Legislature will do little in 2008"His comment made in an interview with The Associated Press came after the Legislature failed to pass a smoking ban or require insurance coverage of autism as Doyle urged this year. Lawmakers also didn't act on campaign finance reform. All three issues are expected to be back next year along with other major proposals that divide the political parties."
$175
million gift for college grants"The donation from John Morgridge, former chairman of Cisco Systems, and his wife, Tashia, a retired elementary special education teacher, will give about 2,000 grants of $1,000 to $5,000 for the 2008-09 school year, and more than 3,000 grants annually after that."
Feingold,
Kohl back farmers"The federal farm bill that passed the Senate last week was an imperfect proposal. But it merited the support of senators, including Wisconsin Democrats Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl. And President Bush's threat to veto the measure should be seen for what it is: an assault on working farmers and rural America."
Sen
R. Feingold
The
FISA Debate Begins - TPM"By choosing the Intelligence Committee bill over the Judiciary product, Senator Reid has made things much tougher for those of us who think the courts -- not Congress -- should decide whether the companies deserve immunity. He's also made it an uphill struggle of those of us who want more court oversight of the broad new surveillance powers included in the bill."
Continuing
Efforts to Pass the Feingold-Reid Legislation and End the War in Iraq"I’d add that the 17 cosponsors is the greatest number we’ve ever had for this amendment. It requires the President to begin safely redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq within 90 days of enactment, and requires redeployment to be completed within 9 months"
Sen
H. Kohl"The Reverse Mortgage Proceeds Protection Act would help to protect seniors by ensuring they receive independent counseling prior to signing up for a reverse mortgage and requiring that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issue stronger regulations related to consumer protections. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, is a co-sponsor."
Rep
D. Obey“Given the president’s refusal to compromise and given the inability of the Senate to produce the 60 votes necessary to move legislation forward, this is the best we can do,” said Representative David R. Obey, Democrat of Wisconsin and chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
Watch
the Toxic Toys JingleThe United Steel Workers are passing around links to this viral video in which children warn of the lead in toys imported from China... to the tune of "Jingle Bells." Although the message is serious, the kids are precious... I couldn't help grinning. - Bob
NOTICE
OF MEETING"The Iron County Board of Supervisors will meet on Wednesday, December 19th, 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."
School
board to discuss pay hike for substitute teachers "Pay increases for substitute teachers will be considered by the Hurley School Board at Monday's regular monthly meeting."
County,
two unions reach labor agreements "But contract negotiations between the county and Local 728 AFSCME, AFL-CIO, the highway and forestry departments, is headed for arbitration."
Sweep
targets hunters who don't belong in the woods "Under the initiative which began this fall, Department of Natural Resources hunting license data was checked against names of felons who are under active community supervision by the Department of Corrections."
Wisconsinites
feeling a bit blue"But let's be realistic: The tax bill just arrived in the mail; gas prices are emptying your wallet; the weather has been brutal, snow, snow, and more snow; the housing market is stale; and with Iraq and other hot spots, the world seems dicey and dangerous."
Happy
holidays: But does that mean Festivus?"The putting up of a Nativity scene at Green Bay's City Hall has prompted a tongue-in-cheek request from a suburban man for permission to display a Festivus pole on the overhang of the building's northwest entrance. The Festivus holiday, created by author Daniel O'Keefe during the 1970s and popularized by comedian Jerry Seinfeld two decades later, is celebrated by some both in earnest and jest on Dec. 23."
Wisconsin
plans for ash borer attack"As of Friday, none of the ash trees they've meticulously stripped of their bark and soft outer layers have shown evidence of infestation by the emerald ash borer, an invasive species from Asia that within a few years of appearing in North America has killed more than 20 million trees."
Stop
drunken snowmobiling"It's time for Wisconsin to crack down on drunken snowmobiling. Wisconsin laws prohibiting drunken snowmobiling are weak, compared to those in surrounding states. The penalty in Wisconsin for a first offense of operating a snowmobile while intoxicated is a fine of $627."
Sluggish
sales for e-tailers"ComScore Inc., an Internet research company, reported Sunday that online sales from Nov. 1 through Dec. 14 rose 18 percent from the same period a year ago to $22.67 billion, but that's less than the 26 percent growth rate seen last year and the 20 percent projection for the season."
Doyle
still undecided on seeking a third term"But the Democratic governor tells The Associated Press that he is going to continue aggressively raising money just in case he does go for it. Doyle raised more than half a million dollars in the first six months of the year. His yearly total will be released next month."
Sen
R. Feingoldin
Opposition to the Flawed FISA Bill"The Senate should be taking this opportunity to fix its mistakes and pass a new bill that gives the government all the tools it needs to spy on suspected terrorists but also protects Americans’ basic freedoms. This time around, the Senate should stand up to an Administration that time and again has employed fear-mongering and misleading statements to intimidate Congress."
Gov.
DoyleGovernor
Doyle Signs Bills into Law"Senate Bill 249 directs each school board to pay the costs of advanced placement exams for students eligible for free or reduced price lunches using federal, state, local or private funds."
"So I guess my point here is that who ever that man is that has been bad mouthing my favorite store needs to try, just try to find one that has more friendly and helpful employees. I have tried since moving to Indiana and have yet to find another of their quality and integrity."
[Just when you think the entire "Ironwood web war" mess is going to implode into irrelevance, some person posts something that is just plain nice. - Bob]
School
board to discuss pay hike for substitute teachers "Instructor Keith Polkinghorne will appear before the board for a Smart Board demonstration. For the monthly "Community Connection" report, Gloria Fauerbach will discuss her role with the Iron County Extension office."
Interview
with Rep. Dave ObeyRepresentative David Obey was interviewed this week on Wisconsin's public broadcasting program, "Here and Now." Most questions deal with the pResident's unwillingness to compromise with Democrats about the federal budget, including Iraq Occupation funding. - Bob
Madison-area's
two pain clinics expanding to meet demand"Treatments at the pain clinics range from painkillers and physical therapy to steroid injections and nerve blocks, or shots of nerve-numbing medication. Several kinds of surgery also are performed, some involving implants."
Forbes:
Madison ranks high on education"The Madison area, which includes all of Dane County as well as immediately adjoining areas, was awarded A+ for class size and spending per pupil in public schools, and for the popularity of the city's public library. The greater Madison area scored an A for being close to a college town and for offering college options."
Chinese
parents prefer to buy imported toys for their children"When freelance writer Wang Jian shops for toys for her 5-year-old son, she's happy to pay extra for Legos blocks and Japanese-brand train sets. The reason, she and other parents say: Foreign brands enjoy a reputation for higher quality -- a perception reinforced by the product scares of recent months."
Sen
H. Kohl"A press release on Senator Harkin's Web site said the Harkin/Kohl Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007 would require 401(k) plan providers to disclose all fees so that workers saving for retirement can make a fully informed decision about which plan is best for them."
John
Edwards Scares GOP the Most - OpEdNews"Republicans see Democratic candidate John Edwards as the greatest threat in the 2008 presidential election according to Republican strategist, John Feehery, who was a top aide to former Speaker of the U.S. House Dennis Hastert. "
VA
closes two clinics "...They claimed they had additional expenses. We had been negotiating with them to compensate them for those expenses, but there was never any discussion that they were in a situation to close the clinics."
[Finally the local paper posts... Have you called yet? - Bob]
- Dave Obey ... (715) 398-4426
- Russ Feingold ... (715) 848-5660
- Herb Kohl ... (800) 247-5645
County,
two unions reach labor agreements "Two of the three Iron County employee unions have agreed to the county's proposal of 50-cent-per-hour increases for employees for each of the next three years. But contract neogtiations between the county and Local 728 AFSCME, AFL-CIO, the highway and forestry departments, is headed for arbitration."
Brillion
man accused of killing hunting dogs "A 53-year-old Brillion, Wis., man has been charged in Iron County Court with two felony counts of mistreating animals, stemming from two hunting dogs being shot in Iron Belt during the November gun-deer season. Kerry K. Kuehl is alleged to have shot and killed the two hunting dogs owned by Thomas Runyard, of Antioch, Ill."
Testing
of new wells could be near end"Donald Richards, public works committee chairman, said this week test pumping will resume within a month or so, depending on weather conditions. The plan is to test pump the three wells at the school site for at least 30 days to obtain a solid estimate as to their combined pumping capacity."
Master
Gardener classes begin in January "Anyone interested in learning how to better manage yard and gardens -- and to share knowledge gained with others through volunteer activities -- is welcome to register for the Master Gardener classes. They will be held on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. through April 15."
Health
care reform tops wish list"Wisconsin residents have listed controlling health care costs as the most pressing issue for the state government in five of the six previous polls done by the group since March 2002. "People will take some sort of reform seriously," Miller said. "People have been talking about this for a long time.""
"While trucks and tractors have replaced horses for herding purposes, history is coming full circle. The roundup and weigh-in of buffalo earlier this week is intended to ensure the health of the majestic creatures. The Ho-Chunk are reintroducing them to better feed a people plagued by heart disease and diabetes..."
[Folks are reminded of previous related post from hunting season, Frede's Big Hunt. - Bob]
Wisconsin
cuts monthly surcharge on cell phone customers"The fee is used to pay for the state's 911 program that allows tracking of emergency calls placed by cell phones. When it started in 2004, it was 83 cents. The fee was later raised to 92 cents to help reimburse counties for implementing the system. But the Public Service Commission voted Friday to lower the fee due to an increase in wireless customers and a decrease in requests for reimbursements."
Great
Lakes mayors tell candidates to make lakes a priority""We'll be challenging the U.S. presidential candidates, whoever they are, from each party, to take strong positions on the Great Lakes," Becker said. The effort is similar to one being done by a group of governors in states that surround the Great Lakes."
Hunting
licenses lead to arrests for 19 felons"State Department of Corrections spokesman John Dipko says the effort was the first of its kind. The licenses the two agencies tracked were bought before the 2007 gun deer season. The Corrections Department plans to follow up by cross-referencing licenses purchased during the season."
Democrats
will push Healthy Wisconsin plan again"The plan would group employer-sponsored health insurance into one pool, thereby spreading risk among a larger population and lowering costs for employers and workers alike. Those who are self-employed would be able to buy in as well. The plan would be funded through a $15 billion payroll tax. Based on calculations by a private actuarial firm, it could save employers and workers $1.8 billion annually in health insurance costs, Decker said."
"Economists state that one local dollar can thread its way around town seven to 12 times. When looking at economic activity in this way, it is clear: money spent in Gail's shop comes directly back into the community and in large measures it stays there. I call it recycling. Recycling occurs every time consumers spend money in Ashland."
[... and all those reasons for Ashland residents to shop in Ashland, are reasons for Hurley residents to shop in Hurley. - Bob]
Sen
R. FeingoldHelp
for Dairy, Small Farms Highlight Feingold Farm Bill Accomplishments"U.S. Senator Russ Feingold voted in favor of the Senate Farm Bill today, which included several provisions Feingold authored to help Wisconsin farmers, but expressed disappointment with the defeat of several common-sense reforms despite bipartisan support."
In
Opposition to the Defense Authorization Conference Report"I am pleased that the conference report contains a number of provisions I supported, including Sen. Webb’s amendment creating a Commission on Wartime Contracting to examine waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the misuse of force by private security contractors, and Sen. Lautenberg’s amendment to create a Special Investigator General for Afghanistan Reconstruction."
“Mr. Huempfner’s heroic actions during World War II are legendary for their bravery, selflessness and triumph. He saved the lives of his fellow servicemen, confronted the Nazi enemy and served as protection for a village of civilians. We wish to honor his name with this designation by Congress,” Kohl said.
[Meanwhile, the alleged joint press release on the closing of VA clinics in the northwoods have still not shown up on their sites. - Bob]
Sen
H. Kohl“Lobbyists have a lot of influence in Washington,” said the bill’s sponsor, Senator Herb Kohl, who chairs the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights. “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.”
Voting is good, but sometimes you also have to give your representatives a piece of your mind. The Clinics are still closed.
- Dave Obey ... (715) 398-4426
- Russ Feingold ... (715) 848-5660
- Herb Kohl ... (800) 247-5645
I was assured that these three had issued a joint press release. If so, it is still not posted at any of their websites.
-
Veterans Administration clinics in Hayward and Rice Lake may re-open
Monday - BusinessNorth.com
"Representative Gary Sherman has many constituents who need those clinics. "My initial reaction was 'Has anyone been arrested?'" I mean, we provided all these federal revenues and got everybody's hopes up and then all of a sudden poof! Just like that, with no warning. It was a real shock."" -
Local
VA Clinics Close, Veterans Speak Out - WEAU-TV 13
"The Rice Lake VA Clinic just opened at the end of September. The one in Hayward opened this summer. But, since Monday, both clinics have been closed. "It's kinda' a slap in the face,” said veteran Dick Powers. "Very surprised,” added veteran Arlita Ramey. “Because I had the understanding it was up and swinging and doing really good." -
Two VA clinics in NW Wisconsin shut down - Duluth News
Tribune
"The VA says it will hire its own staff to run the two clinics. But the private contractor says there's still a possibility the clinics could reopen and operate as they were."
Outdoor
wood-burning stoves to be debated "Gogebic Range residents who live in country settings have used firewood for fuel for decades, and that could increase as the cost of fuel oil and natural gas continues to skyrocket. But will the outdoor furnaces cause too many conflicts in the city? Wood smoke's major ingredient -- tiny particles of soot and liquid pollution -- can cause heart disease and asthma attacks."
Holiday
closing"The Hurley City Hall and Public Works Department will be closed Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 24 and 25, and Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for the Christmas and New Years' holidays."
They've
got the Gitchee Gumee juju blues "Chris Insana, guitarist, and Spencer Nevels, singer, both got their start playing with bands in their hometown of Chicago. Having been together up north for years now, they have taken Delta style blues, blended it with the more electric Chicago blues and refined it into what they call "Gitchee Gumme juju blues.""
"Emergency contraception, known as the morning-after pill or by the brand name Plan B, is a higher dose of regular hormonal contraceptives. Taking it within the first 72 hours after having unprotected sex can reduce the chances of pregnancy."
DNR,
DOC teaming up to find felons who may be hunting illegally"In a first-of-its-kind effort with the Department of Natural Resources, state probation agents went door-to-door across Wisconsin this fall to check if convicted felons who purchased gun hunting licenses this year were also illegally possessing firearms, eventually arresting 19 of them."
Immigration
solution? Dairy hiring firm helps bridge vexing challenge"His business provides dairy producers with employees, most of whom are Hispanic, to milk cows, feed cattle and manage other aspects of the dairy operation. Spanish is the primary language of the employees on most every Wisconsin dairy herd milking over 150 cows. Duarte, with his ability to speak and read the language, can communicate with the producer and employee."
"Research conducted by a University of Wisconsin professor found human evolution has advanced faster in the past 40,000 years than ever before. The findings contradict a commonly accepted theory that the evolutionary process has slowed or even halted within the human species."
VA
clinics in Hayward, Rice Lake shut down "We worked for years to get these two clinics opened, and now, just a few months after the opened their doors, they're gone and our veterans have been left holding the bag," Obey said. "It's behavior like this that shows why contracting out government services is a real risk to the taxpayer and the American public."
Sen
R. Feingold
Gov.
Doyle
I'm sitting here fuming about yesterday's article, VA clinics in Hayward and Rice Lake closed without warning. The image of some vet in a wheel chair being shoved from the waiting into the parking lot as they close the clinic is just too groady. Please take time out to make a call:
- Dave Obey ... (715) 398-4426
- Russ Feingold ... (715) 848-5660
- Herb Kohl ... (800) 247-5645
"My initial reaction to the news was 'has anyone been arrested yet?' They (CHW) acted like thieves in the night," Sherman said. "No warning, no decency. They just ordered the closing of the doors with veterans still sitting in the waiting rooms awaiting services. I have also heard that employees' paychecks bounced."
VA
clinics in Hayward and Rice Lake close unexpectedly New
Richmond News"U.S. Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold said they both outraged at the closings. U.S. Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, said he tried for years to open the clinic and now they're gone and our veterans are holding the bag."
VA
Clinics Close - WEAU-TV 13"The clinics served 900 vets who now will apparently have to travel to Minneapolis or regional outpatient facilities in Chippewa Falls or superior for treatment. But Monday the private firm running the clinics, the Kentucky-based corporate health and wellness, shut them down."
Veterans
Scramble After VA Clinics Close - Houston Chronicle,"Guys are worried. We've got some guys on oxygen, some guys who aren't doing so well, don't know what's going to happen," said Jim Sanders, the post commander for the American Legion Post 87 in Rice Lake. "But (if) they need to get to a clinic and don't know how, one way or another we'll get 'em there."
"While it's looking for a permanent solution, the VA says it's also trying to find temporary space for clinics in Rice Lake and in Hayward. It's also considering using a mobile clinic van and temporarily shifting patients to other community-based VA clinics."
City
to receive major grant for storm sewers""This means as soon as the money is available, we will be informed that the grant for your city has been approved. The final total might change somewhat after the final figures are signed into law by President Bush and Congress," Iron County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dennis DeRosso wrote to the city."
"Our message is simple. We are cracking down on impaired drivers and unbelted motorists. And it doesn't matter who you are, what you drive, or where you're going -- we won't accept excuses and we won't make exceptions," Erspamer said."
Assembly
OKs shift in cable TV rules"Sponsors of the bill said it will foster competition that will hold down costs for consumers. But opponents said it will eventually starve public-access channels that now rely on fees charged by local governments and make it harder for consumers to resolve complaints about cable TV and satellite-dish services"
Doyle
bets on innovation"Gov. Jim Doyle's third economic development plan of his five-year tenure will focus on encouraging innovation across a range of industries, with more tax credits and exemptions and streamlined regulations for the health care and building industries."
"The Dec. 2-3 poll conducted for the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Inc., a conservative think tank, found a 46%-46% deadlock on whether children of illegal immigrants should be in public schools... But Research Institute President Jim Miller said a public-support "fault line" emerged on two other questions involving adult illegal immigrants:"
"The VA hired the company, Corporate Health & Wellness, Inc., in February to run the two clinics. The Paris, Ky.,-based company agreed to accept a fixed sum per month instead of having the VA reimburse it dollar for dollar, president and chief executive Mary Cheek said. It quickly felt pressure from the government to spend more on supplies and equipment than it had budgeted and could pay."
Cable
bill critics turn to gov"Changes that critics seek include re-establishing a municipality's control over its right-of-way, preserving funding for public access stations and giving the Department of Financial Institutions, which is charged under the bill with issuing statewide licenses for video providers, rule-making powers."
Wisconsin
No. 1 in school-breakfast gains"In the 2006-2007 school year, the number of Wisconsin children served school breakfasts rose by 25 percent to 85,326, the Food Research and Action Center said. The state out-distanced 44 other states that reported 11 percent or lower growth in free and reduced-price breakfast programs."
Sen
R. FeingoldSenators
Push for FISA Bill with More Oversight, Without Telecom Immunity"Everyone agrees that we should give our intelligence officials the tools they need to go after suspected terrorists. There’s no reason we can’t do that while still protecting the privacy of innocent Americans and ensuring adequate oversight of these broad new surveillance authorities -- and without setting the dangerous precedent of granting retroactive immunity to companies that allegedly participated in an unlawful program,”
"Most of these individuals have little or no meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms of their contracts and so find themselves, if they even realize that the provision is in the contract, having to choose either to accept a mandatory arbitration clause or to forgo securing employment or needed goods and services."
Rep
D. Obey"Wisconsin's two Democratic senators and U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, issued a strongly worded joint statement Tuesday condemning the closings.
"It's behavior like this that shows why contracting out government services is a real risk to the taxpayer and the American public," Obey said."
Gov.
DoyleAging
Unit to serve free turkey dinner on Christmas Day "The dinner is a longtime Range tradition. Since 1981, young and old have gathered to share the true meaning of Christmas. Anyone who would otherwise be alone is encouraged to come and spend Christmas with others this year."
Mercer:
Lioness celebrates Christmas"The Mercer Lioness Christmas party on Sunday, Dec. 9, included refreshments, carols by Gary Schlair of Mercer and a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus and The Elf."
Watersmeet:
'Nimrod Nation' a critical success"The Los Angeles Times describes the biggest evil of reality television -- how unreal it is -- and paints "Nimrod Nation" as something better and more real. The Wall Street Journal appears to wish this miniseries wasn't preceded by ESPN commercials because the town is now somehow used to cameras. Town residents are even available for interviews, the writer gasps."
AT&T
U-verse access debated"Offering more than 300 TV and music channels, plus high-speed Internet access, AT&T's new U-verse video service provides a dizzying array of features, such as the ability to program its video recorder via the Internet. Unlike its major cable-television rivals, it also offers the Big Ten Network and NFL Network. U-verse appears poised to become serious competition for cable and satellite TV services across Wisconsin - although it is available in only a few areas of the state, including selected neighborhoods in Milwaukee and its suburbs."
"Cynthia McKinney is seeking the nomination of the Green Party, which gained fame when Ralph Nader ran as its candidate for president in 2000. Kevin Barrett, a former University of Wisconsin-Madison lecturer who taught that the U.S. government was behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, attended her news conference along with about 50 others."
"Statewide, 18 percent of companies expect to add jobs and 14 percent plan cuts. Nationally, 22 percent of the 14,000 companies surveyed said they planned to add jobs in the first quarter, while 12 percent planned to cut positions."
State
Senate passes measure banning ’Frankenstein’ veto"The proposal that passed would take away only the ability to create new sentences and leave intact several other ways in which governors can make new laws or adjust spending levels. For example, governors could still cross out words within a sentence to change its meaning. They also could cross out individual digits in numbers to create new numbers and reduce spending by crossing out appropriations and writing in lower numbers."
State-funded
snowmobile trails open tomorrow"We've been out on the groomers and didn't pull snow, but we flattened the trails out," he said. "With the cold weather, it hardened up like a rock and we've got a pretty good base."
Sen
R. Feingold
“The tragic bombings in Algeria today, which the Algerians have blamed on al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, offer a harsh reminder of the threat of international terrorism and underscore the need for a global strategy to go after al Qaeda and its affiliates."
Legal
Rights of Guantanamo Detainees"We now live in a country where the government claims the right to pick up anyone, even an American citizen, anywhere in the world; designate that person an “enemy combatant” even if he never engaged in any actual hostilities against the United States; and lock that person up indefinitely for the rest of his life unless he can prove, without a lawyer and without access to all, or sometimes any, of the evidence against him, that he is not an “enemy combatant.”"
Sen
H. KohlCongress
Asked to Remove Roadblocks to Lower-Priced Generic DrugsSenior-Spectrum - Sacramento,CA
“By not taking action, Congress is depriving Americans — especially older citizens with limited incomes — of saving billions of dollars because generic drugs are 30 to 80 percent cheaper than brand-name medications.”
Rep
D. ObeyDemocrats
Use Fine Print to Stymie Bush's Deregulation Agenda -
Bloomberg"You could fight three world wars in the time it takes between inspections in some industries,'' said House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, 69, a Wisconsin Democrat."
"Suddenly, out of the blue, we heard from CH&W employees at Rice Lake that their corporate people had called them, told them to leave the clinic, close the doors, lock the doors." Huessner says veterans were in waiting rooms when the clinics closed. "We are very saddened and disappointed by this development."
Gov.
Doyle
- quarantine requirements for law enforcement dogs
- first responders registration plates
- Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan
Donations
sought for 'Take Time to be Kind'"All Hurley K-12 classrooms are collecting non-perishable goods for the Take Time To Be Kind program until Dec. 14. The class with the most items wins a pizza party."
New
Daily Globe Web site to go online Jan. 2 "The site will carry full newspaper pages, just as they appear in the print product. An archiving feature will enable subscribers to look up articles from previous editions. "We're very excited about the opportunity to provide our online readers access to the same features our print customers have been receiving," said Phil Watson, the Globe's newly appointed online services director."
"The Senate and Assembly are scheduled to debate cable TV deregulation; emergency contraception for rape victims; whether fired Milwaukee police officers should get paid while they appeal; and the governor's veto powers. Two other key issues - health care and campaign finance reform - won't come up until next year."
Wisconsin's
communicable disease list changes"Scratch cat scratch disease off the list of illnesses doctors must report to the state — and add SARS, childhood flu deaths and LCMV, a rodent virus that has killed organ transplant recipients, including four patients in Wisconsin. Also new on the list: exotic diseases such as monkeypox."
Justices
endorse public funding for Supreme Court races"The risk inherent in any non-publicly funded judicial election for this Court is that the public may inaccurately perceive a justice as beholden to individuals or groups that contribute to his or her campaign. Judges must not only be fair, neutral, impartial and non-partisan but also should be so perceived by the public."
ODD:
Nun bans curse words from students vocabulary"Just in case anyone wasn’t sure what she was talking about, Avery read off a list of the very words and phrases that she was banning. “It got a little quiet in church” during her talk, she told the Detroit Free Press."
"Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College announces that its Ashland campus has recently received accreditation for its medical assistant program... The American Association of Medical Assistants cited no deficiencies in its review and the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs granted the program accreditation until 2017."
Sen
R. Feingold
Feingold
Backs Capping Agriculture Subsidies to Wealthy Farmers, Landowners“The farm safety net is meant to help smaller farms remain competitive, not to dole out subsidies to wealthy farmers and landowners who no longer use their land for farming,” Feingold said. “We need to seriously reform how subsidies are paid out by closing these loopholes and redirecting these resources towards high priorities like tackling hunger and working land conservation.”
"I oppose any interrogation techniques not authorized by the Army Field Manual, as do majorities of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees. I do not believe that their use is legally or morally defensible or that they make our nation safer. It is my hope that, under your leadership, the Department of Justice will take a fresh look at the CIA's program, and that you will urge the President not to veto legislation that would end the use of so-called "alternative interrogation techniques.""
Gov.
Doyle"We are renewing our commitment to give Wisconsin agriculture and dairy more tools to modernize current production, invest and grow in international markets, and grow the renewable technologies of the future.”"
GogebicCommunity
College
|
The Chieftan, GCC's Student Newspaper Volume 1 Issue 2 of the student newspaper is now available in the GCC snack bar. Articles include: |
|
| GCC students discuss
college presidency "Two of the most common qualities students interviewed wanted were 'hardworking' and 'organized.' |
|
| Students take part in
future of Michigan "The majority of the students also said that they will most likely leave the state after completing school unless more opportunity allows them to stay closer to home." |
|
| Nimrod documentary
stereotypes Yoopers "Will the show Nimrod Nation have a positive effect on the Area? ...Only time will tell, but if you ask me, I say it is better to be unknown than to be known as a Nimrod." |
|
"The Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual membership meeting on Dec. 19 at 4:30 p.m. at the chamber office. The regular monthly board meeting and annual potluck Christmas party will follow."
Coming
soon to a track near you: Snocross racing"There'll be lots of spills and thrills and some lumps and bumps next weekend at Mt. Zion when Superior Snocross Inc. of Ironwood hosts its second annual races. Snocross races, also known as HillCross racing, will run next Saturday and Sunday on the campus of Gogebic Community College. "
Dive
in! The winter's fine"Snow to slide on and snow to throw, snow slick enough for a dash down a hill and deep enough for a trek through a forest. This is the weekend to ski, sled and skate, to revel in powder and skim over ice, to remind yourself why you don't live in the tropics or the Sunbelt."
Firewood
split by a town united"Sam Pettis, Bill Pettis' son, said he estimated Saturday's crew cut 60 to 65 cords of wood after several hours of work interrupted by a traditional potluck barbecue lunch in front of the campfire. "Everyone loves to see those dump trucks come in their yard with a load of wood on it," said Sam Pettis. "It's a natural high to be doing something good for somebody.""
Reading,
'riting, 'rithmatic and labor? Bill would require it"The three Rs would be joined by mandatory instruction on collective bargaining and the history of unions in America under a proposal being considered in the Wisconsin Legislature. Labor unions are all for it. School groups aren't."
"In a Science magazine report in October, several scientists and scholars said the limitations of the tests make them less informative than many realize. Pilar Ossorio, an associate professor of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin Law School and a co-author of the Science article, said in an interview that she has strong privacy concerns because genetic genealogy companies are largely unregulated."
Estate
tax collection will stop in January"That 's when the state will stop collecting so-called death taxes, a little-known fact that will result in the loss of about $100 million a year in tax revenue to state coffers. Tax attorneys estimate that a $2 million estate will save $99,600 next year when the change takes effect. As it stands now, Wisconsin will collect no estate taxes in 2008, 2009 and 2010 but could begin collecting the taxes again in 2011, depending on action by the Legislature and Congress, according to state Department of Revenue estimates."
Nativity
scene in Peshtigo park opposed"Peshtigo Mayor Thomas Strouf said the objection has prompted him to offer to pay the city's electric bill to illuminate the scene. He also said he would pass along a letter from Barker on the matter to the city clerk and add it to the agenda of next month's city council meeting. "I believe God works in mysterious ways, and from reading your letter it confirms my belief," Strouf wrote to Barker. Barker said the mayor's action fails to address whether the display meets constitutional muster as defined by the nation's high court.
Assembly
speaker concerned about redistricting""Our premise, and everyone else's, is it should be done by the Legislature," said Ed Miller, a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point political science professor and co-chairman of the court's redistricting committee. "But our assignment was that if the courts have to do it, how should they do it?"
"A few times I've gotten stuck," he said, adding that he's experienced this mainly near his neighborhood and downtown. "It doesn't do much good to clear the ramp when the bottom is closed off by snow. Unfortunately, they don't have snow tires for wheelchairs."
Obey
set for battle over war"For nearly a year, the Wausau Democrat has tried to force Bush to accept timetables for significant withdrawals of U.S. combat troops from Iraq. “We cannot stay in Iraq forever," Obey said. "The president should accept these conditions and come up with a responsible plan to bring our troops home.”
Sen
R. Feingold"Contrary to Klein's claims, Democrats want to require individualized warrants only when the government targets Americans, not foreigners overseas. Klein is also flat out wrong to suggest there is "broad, bipartisan agreement" on new surveillance powers. In fact, the administration and its allies adamantly oppose even modest proposals to protect law-abiding Americans who are swept up in this new, essentially warrantless surveillance."
Sen
H. Kohl
"A U.S. Senator said on Wednesday he is investigating Genentech Inc's (DNA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) plan to stop supplying its cancer drug Avastin to pharmacies that divide vials of the medicine so it can be used as a substitute for its far more expensive eye drug Lucentis."
Rep
D. Obey
Fuel
bill boosts non-oil energy - Appleton Post Crescent"These steps to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and promote alternative energy sources such as biomass and ethanol are just plain common sense and should have been done long ago,"
2008
Wisconsin park stickers available from parks, DNR "People holiday shopping for family or friends who enjoy camping, swimming, hiking, biking, skiing or wildlife watching can give them access to an entire year of some of Wisconsin's best recreational opportunities," said Kimberly Currie, of the WDNR Bureau of Parks and Recreation."
Jobless
rates shoot up in Iron, Ashland counties "In Iron County, the October rate was 6.8 percent, up from 6.1 percent in September. In October 2006, it stood at 5.9 percent. Iron County posted the third highest unemployment rate in the state. "
10,000
expected for Sledfest"Noren said about $55,000 has been invested in the event by the WUPCVB. That includes full-page advertisements in national snowmobile magazines, directional and informational signs and sanction fees, among other costs."
Resources
board urged to act on ballast"With legislation to create a uniform national law for ballast discharges stalled for several years in Congress, a group of conservationists has petitioned the board to not wait for lawmakers to act. They want the board to use its regulatory authority to begin a ballast-discharge permit program."
Rob
Zaleski: Bush, like Hoover, a disaster, centegenarian says"But nothing gets her dander up, Nehrenz admits, like the Iraq war and the man responsible for it, George Bush. The war is "just plain nuts" and a "big waste of money," she says. As for Bush, he is without the question the worst president we've ever had, she says -- well, the worst since Herbert Hoover anyway."
"The study's authors defined a toxic culture as one marked by a staff that places primary responsibility on students and families, that is not held accountable for the success of disempowered students, and that doesn't generally believe in the ability of those students to succeed. "The school data collection, document review, interviews, focus groups, and school site audits supported this theory that LUHS does have a toxic culture toward Native American students and families," the report concluded."
Drivers
line up after Wisconsin worker accidentally drops gas to 33 cents"But he mistakenly dropped a nine from the $3.299 a gallon in the computer, making the price of gas .329 cents Monday night. He left about 10 p.m., but drivers could still use their credit cards to buy gas. Those that did got a bargain, and word spread fast. Forty-two people bought 586 gallons of gas in an hour and 45 minutes."
[Thanks to Elbert LaGrew, who posts at About_Ironwood, who noticed this story. - Bob]
Gov.
Doyle
Statement
of Governor Doyle on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day"“As we mark this somber occasion, Wisconsin pauses to remember the enduring sacrifices of the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation during World War II and all times of war. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day reminds us of the many courageous heroes who gave and continue to give our nation collective strength."
Jimmy Lee & Johnny Trash at Nora's Saturday Night ... Dec 8th
The Superior Chronicle, a new on line newspaper for the City of Ironwood, has gone live. Only an introduction and two articles... but it is a very professional presentation. I wish them well.
Whitecap
to open Saturday"With more than a foot of fresh snow on the mountains, conditions are great for early skiing and snowboarding," said resort president David Lundberg. The resort plans to open 10 runs, a quad and a double chair lift and the beginners area on Saturday, the first day of its 41st season. Whitecap is making snow to augment what falls naturally."
Montreal:
No city council meeting in December "The Montreal City Council, which usually meets the second Tuesday of each month, will not hold a December meeting, according to city clerk Susan Lesky."
"Spider's in Hurley is hosting a six-point smear tournament Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The cost per team is $20. Teams may register by calling Mike Fontecchio and 715-561-2772."
State
payment of Thompson's $228,792 legal bill looks likely"Three key legislators agreed Wednesday with a state Claims Board recommendation that taxpayers pay the $228,792 legal bill of a state worker whose misconduct convictions were overturned by federal judges. Their comments were a sign the Legislature and Gov. Jim Doyle are likely to pass a bill paying the $228,792 to lawyers for Georgia Thompson."
[Actually, since this may be part of that Asst Attorney General firing scandal, can't we just send the bill to pResident Bu$h? - Bob]
""The revised packages have less saturated fat and cholesterol, and this is accomplished by reducing the quantities of milk and cheese," Steiner said. Under the WIC program, people receive vouchers for specific foods, averaging about $39 a month in 2007. Under the revisions, vouchers for fruits and vegetables will be $6 for children, $8 for women and $10 for fully breast-feeding women - with the goal of encouraging more women to breast feed."
Now
that's a better way to build a dairy barn"DBA, under the leadership of executive director Laurie Fischer, formed Dairy Building Contractors LLC (a separate company with Fischer as president) and became the general contractor for the new barn. John Pagel, owner of Pagel's Ponderosa, a 1,500-cow dairy in Kewaunee and a DBA member, became the project coordinator."
Health
care center on track for January opening "The organization, formerly known as the Bayfield County Community Health Care Center, has changed its name to "The Lakes Community Health Center." It's an effort to educate people that the soon-to-be-opened federally funded health care center is open to all area residents, and not just those who reside in Bayfield County, says the organization's board chairman Pat Sheridan."
Copper
Country schools among nation’s best“... Despite the financial conditions and the poverty that exists in terms of low-income families, the school districts in this area are doing a heck of a job of providing excellent instruction to kids,”
Sen
R. Feingold
"I am very pleased that the conference report includes a bipartisan amendment I cosponsored prohibiting all government agencies from using interrogation techniques not authorized for our military. I strongly oppose the CIA’s program of so-called “alternative interrogation techniques,” which are contrary to our nation’s principles, are highly questionable legally, and do not make our nation safer."
Gov.
DoyleEXECUTIVE
ORDER #228"Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day"
No
word on closed session action"Hurley School District administrator Chris Patritto didn't have much to say Tuesday about a special Monday closed school board meeting on a personnel matter. Citing the employee's right to protection, Patritto did not name the employee, nor the action that was considered in closed session."
Health
screenings "The Iron County Health Department is offering the following clinics and screenings in December.
--Today, walk-in screening day at health department, 9 a.m. to noon.
--Monday, Dec. 17, walk-in screening at Mercer Town Hall, 9 to 11 a.m."
Mercer:
Clinic adds OB/GYN services"Obstetrics and Gynecology specialist Dr. Michael DeGroot joined Marshfield Clinic's medical staff in Marshfield in 1998. He worked for 10 years at Marshfield but has transferred his practice and moved to the Northwoods."
Small
turnout expected for antlerless opener"Because deer management units 28 and 34 in Iron County are not considered Herd Control units, hunters will need to purchase $12 "unit specific" tags to hunt in Iron County."
Capitol
tree could get a new name"Schneider said the phrase "holiday tree" is a sign of political correctness run amok. "Even if you call it a holiday tree, what holiday does it celebrate?" he asked. "It celebrates Christmas, so call it what it is.""
With
new DNA evidence, convicted killer freed after 13 years"A 33-year-old man from Wisconsin walked out of jail after being cleared of murdering his sister-in-law 13 years ago, and prosecutors decided he should not be retried because his DNA did not match crime scene evidence."
Survey:
area biz feels national pain"Of 544 local businesses responding, one-third said profits were lower than 2006. Causes cited include higher operating costs, domestic sales shortfall and rising gas prices. Sales growth was 4.7 lower than in 2006. In addition, nearly 4 in 10 respondents said the housing slump has hurt their bottom line."
"For the suds aficionado, there is nothing like a cold, thirst-quenching, relaxing and soul-soothing pint of ale or lager to bring the world into its proper perspective."
Sen
R. FeingoldBipartisan
Group Introduces Presidential Public Financing Fix“In the two decades since Watergate, public financing made presidential elections more competitive and reduced the appearance of corruption that accompanies a wide-open money chase,” Feingold said. “But the system clearly needs to be updated to increase voter confidence in the electoral process by making the candidates less dependent on wealthy contributors.”
Gile:
Drowning listed as cause of death in Nov. 9 incident "Iron County Coroner Diane Simonich has ruled drowning as the official cause of death of Marvin T. Paulson, 47, of Menomonie Wis., whose body was recovered from the Gile Flowage on Nov. 9."
DNR
can regulate ballast, some say"The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation is leading a
coalition
of about a dozen environmental organizations that claims the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources has the authority under existing law to
regulate ballast water discharges from oceangoing freighters.""While best known for its clarinets, the company grew to manufacture other types of band instruments, acquiring and developing factories elsewhere in Wisconsin. But that was before declines in school music programs and the introduction of inexpensive imported instruments cut into business."
Campaign
finance reform won't happen this year"Just four days after Gov. Jim Doyle called lawmakers into special session to deal with campaign finance reform, the major players trying to broker a deal say it won't happen this year."
Wisconsin
considers banning new drug plant"Federal drug laws don't address Salvia divinorum, but a handful of states have adopted their own laws regulating it. The Wisconsin Assembly Criminal Justice Committee is set to hold a public hearing Wednesday on a measure that would prohibit distributing or selling the herb for human consumption."
"The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Bay Area Rural Transit have teamed up to provide transportation to Superior, helping to re-establish a missing link created when Greyhound ended its service through northern Wisconsin earlier this year."
Gov.
DoyleNot
so fast... "Snowmobile trails in Iron County, Wis., won't open until Monday, Dec. 10, because of the statewide antlerless deer hunt that runs Dec. 6-9."
New
area downhill race team planned "Youngsters from Wakefield to Mellen, Wis., are being invited to join a new downhill racing team. Team Z is planned as a developmental racing team that will train at Mt. Zion, on the campus of Gogebic Community College, with some competitive meets planned for the winter."
3,000
state Guard soldiers alerted for 2009 Iraq service"More than 3,000 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers received word Monday that they will likely be called up to serve in Iraq in 2009. It would be the largest mobilization of the Wisconsin National Guard since the 32nd Infantry Combat Brigade Team, which was then a division, served during the Berlin Crisis in 1961-62. "
"If an Illinois driver is stopped here and convicted but fails to pay the fine, Wisconsin gets the conviction, and we send it to Illinois," she said. "But because Wisconsin is not a member of the DLA, Illinois does not have to follow the failure-to-pay order and get the money for Wisconsin. Illinois will not collect for Wisconsin."
Bill
will set up e-waste recycling program"This week, State Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, plans to introduce legislation that would set up a statewide electronic waste recycling program. The bill is modeled on similar legislation passed recently in Minnesota and would require manufacturers to pay for the recycling of household computers, televisions, cell phones, and other electronic gear."
"The current plan is for the about 3,450 soldiers to do base defense and route security in Iraq and Kuwait in the summer of 2009. Donovan said the advance alerts help provide predictability for families and flexibility for businesses to plan for their employees' service."
Obey
set for battle over war“We cannot stay in Iraq forever," Obey said. "The president should accept these conditions and come up with a responsible plan to bring our troops home.”
Sen
R. Feingold
"The administration and members of Congress who have been pushing an overly aggressive and confrontational strategy should take a deep breath and reconsider. Iran’s nuclear program remains a serious concern but it is clear from the NIE that vigorous and coordinated diplomacy is the right way to approach it.”
Gov.
Doyle
"I, Jim Doyle, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, pursuant to Article IV, Section 11 and Article V, Section 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution, do hereby require the convening of a special session of the Legislature at the Capitol in Madison, beginning at 11:00 a.m. on December 11, 2007, solely to consider and act upon legislation relating to:"
“Families dealing with autism are faced with an impossible choice between doing nothing and risking their financial future. Wisconsin should not become the ashtray of the Midwest."
Bill
for rape victims expected to pass"The basic argument comes down to, are you going to be on the side of the assault victim or are you going to side with the hospital?" said Rep. Terry Musser (R-Black River Falls), one of the bill's sponsors. "All we have to do is get it up there for a vote and let people's conscience be a guide."
DA
plans to retry Jensen"Jensen, 47, appealed the felony convictions and on Nov. 8, the Court of Appeals overturned them. The appellate court said Jensen's lawyer was not given a chance to introduce evidence that on-the-job campaigning by aides had gone on decades before Jensen became speaker in November 1997 and that jurors also got a biased instruction from the trial judge."
Doyle
wants campaign fund increase"State Supreme Court Justice Annette K. Ziegler said Friday she wished groups that ran ads touting her last spring had stayed out of her campaign and that she supported increasing public funding for Supreme Court races."
Pork
doesn't fatten budget, Obey says"Earmarks do not add one dime to spending," Obey said. That's because each appropriations bill has to stay within the spending targets set by the budget resolution, Obey said. As a result, the earmarks simply represent congressional decisions about distributing the money to some projects rather than others, he said."
"Authorities said a writer using the pseudonym "Observer" wrote in to say the West Bend teachers' salaries made him sick, and said the killers in the 1999 Columbine shootings had the right idea. "They knew how to deal with the overpaid teacher union thugs. One shot at a time! Too bad the liberls (sic) rip them; they were heros (sic) and should be remembered that way," the writer said."
Trouble
in toyland: Parents, stores more careful about imports this holiday season"Madison shops like Capitol Kids have responded to a barrage of questions from customers by getting information on most everything on their shelves. Shelves now have country of origin stickers identifying where each of the store's toys were made."
Listening
makes Feingold bold"But Feingold is not a politician, at least not in any contemporary sense of the word. He rises to the higher call of public service. And, as such, he is not looking for excuses to avoid listening to the people who elect him."
Stem
cell discovery could lead to new debates"The question is whether treatments developed from stem cells should be "like vaccinations or antibiotics, which are available to nearly everybody," Brown said, or rather "more like organ transplants, which is technology available only to people who can afford it or who have a very pressing medical need."
WEAUEau Claire
Senator
Russ Feingold Stops in Chippewa Falls"Senator Russ Feingold says, “I remember having experiences like this at Janesville Craig High School and that led to my life in politics and I think it's important for people to have access to their elected officials, whether a good experience or a bad experience."
"All the while, Giuliani and his aides try one defense after another for the Shag Fund scandal, none of which makes any sense. Don't worry, Rudy, there's always next week."
[And now a scathing viral video at MyTube to dump mockery on top of everything else. - Bob]
Penny
Foolish - New York Times"THE migrant farm workers who harvest tomatoes in South Florida have one of the nation’s most backbreaking jobs. For 10 to 12 hours a day, they pick tomatoes by hand, earning a piece-rate of about 45 cents for every 32-pound bucket. During a typical day each migrant picks, carries and unloads two tons of tomatoes. For their efforts, this holiday season many of them are about to get a 40 percent pay cut."
"It begins, “AN ACT - To prevent homegrown terrorism, and for other purposes.” Those whose pulse did not quicken at “other purposes” have probably not read George Orwell’s essay, “Politics and the English Language,” or they voted for the other George both times."
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