My Hurley Front Page

Local News ... (Archives)
Date...	Source....	Click on title to see the article at its original site.
31 Dec		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."
29&30 Dec		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."
29&30 Dec		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..."
		[Again, with the new Globe web site, I expect this link to be rendered inoperative by tomorrow. - Bob]
		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."
28 Dec		Young riders earn quarter horse honors "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."
		Low-river tax this year's best lie "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.”"
		Suspected Madison doughnut truck thief arrested in Wausau "“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."
		NAACP Urges Swift Action on End Racial Profiling Act - NAACP "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."
27 Dec		Jimmy Lee will be appearing on New Years Eve at Nora's Red Carpet Lounge on Historic Silver Street in Hurley, WI. [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	Assassination of Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto "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?"
26 Dec		Area parents switching to glass for baby's bottle "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 "
		Questions grow about Department on Aging building project "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 Telegram 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	Editorial: At 15 years, Feingold still listening - Oshkosh Northwestern - Oshkosh,WI "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. Kohl	Federal 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."
24&25 Dec
		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."
22&23 Dec		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."
		Packages are accidents waiting to happen "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."
		Germ warfare rages with hand sanitizers "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	Federal spending bill includes almost $7.5 million in funding for ... - The Reporter - Fond du Lac,WI "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."
21 Dec		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."
		Tech dedicates chair lift, lighted Nordic trails "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. Kohl	Kohl 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. Doyle	Governor 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.”
	Gov. Doyle	Governor Doyle Announces $4.1 Million Initiative to Continue Successful ‘Transportation to Jobs’ Program
20 Dec	RiverTowns.net	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."
		Kimball: Town debates equipment purchase "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."
		Ashland sisters offer 'Errands mady Easy' "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."
19 Dec		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."
		Gift for learning ""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	Governor Doyle Announces $1 Million La Crosse Grasslands Stewardship Purchase
	Gov. Doyle	Governor Doyle Announces Wisconsin 2007 Milk Production Sets 17-Year Record
18 Dec		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."
		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."
		ConAgra drops popcorn chemical "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."
	Sen R. Feingold	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	McCaskill Bill Protects Seniors Amid Growth in Reverse Mortgage ... - All American Patriots "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	Democrats, Staying Within Spending Limit, Draft Budget with ... - New York Times “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 Jingle The 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
17 Dec		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. Feingold	in 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. Doyle	Governor 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."
	Gov. Doyle	Governor Doyle Announces $412.8 Million in Transportation Aids for Local Governments
		Super One controversy - About_Ironwood "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]
15&16 Dec		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 Obey Representative 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	Senators Introduce 401(k) Fee Disclosure Legislation - Planadviser.com - Stamford,CT "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. "
14 Dec		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)