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INSIDE
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 Vol. 126, No. 22 • Shell Lake, Wis.
We e ke nd w atch
• Dad’s Belgian Waffles being served @ Shell Lake • “The Art of Film” @ Shell Lake Arts Center • Barronett ice-fishing contest @ Shallow Lake • “Peter Pan,” play @ Shell Lake Arts Center • See calendar on page 6 for details
75¢
Jan. 14, 2015
Winter fuel Grilled hot dogs are thought to be a summer treat. That is not the case for Max Morales, who played several games of hockey during the annual Jack Frost celebration in Spooner this past weekend. More photos on page 2. - Photo by Larry Samson
Assessing Shell Lake’s perception of tourism Page 3
Felonies on the rise in county Waggoner reaches 1,000 points Page 9
Spooner FFA attends leadership conference Page 19
Spooner wrestlers first home dual
More drug cases may be to blame
Danielle H. Moe | Staff writer SHELL LAKE — Data compiled by the Washburn County District Attorney’s Office has documented a startling trend. Felony cases filed with the office have risen about 40 percent from 2013 to 2014. “The felonies, I can’t account for that, but it’s been true all year long last year,” said Thomas Frost, Washburn County district attorney. As of last summer the number of cases filed were already 25 percent above normal. These cases have yet to be analyzed to see what types of criminal activity the felonies account for but understanding what crimes are charged as felonies can help understand the possible crimes that are on the rise. Wisconsin state statute defines a felony charge as: “A crime punishable by imprisonment in the Wisconsin state prisons is a felony. Every other crime is a misdemeanor,”statute 939.60. Under Wisconsin law there are nine different classes of felonies, Class A through Class I. The severity of the crime determines what class an individual can be charged with. “Felonies are the more serious crimes. They
are crimes where people get injured in some type of battery behavior, or guns are used, other dangerous weapons are used, serious property offenses where loss is more than $25,000, or forgeries regardless to the amount of loss,” explained Frost. “I suspect it (the increase in felonies) has to do with more drug cases coming in, and drug cases can account for more than just drug charges,” he said. People that become involved in drugs will turn to other crimes, like breaking into homes, theft and forging checks to pay for drugs. All of those crimes can also be charged as felonies. Drug cases that Frost consistently sees include possession of THC and possession of methamphetamine. “That not only means that we’re dealing with a lot worse crime, it takes more resources for us to deal with it,” he said. Felony cases, compared to any other chargeable crime, take more resources; from law enforcement to investigate the crime to the district attorney’s office and the courts to pass judgment and corrections to carry out the sentence. While felonies are costly for the system those charged with them feel their effects well into their future. But efforts are being made to help first-time offenders in Washburn See Felonies, page 4
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BREAKERS
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SHELL LAKE — Dad’s Belgian Waffles will be served up on Friday, Jan. 16, during the doubleheader basketball game against Cameron. The all-you-can eat waffles will be available from 4:45-7:30 p.m. in the commons of the Shell Lake High School. The Shell Lake Education Foundation is sponsoring this event. — from SLEF
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Data compiled by the Washburn County District Attorney’s Office is tracking an alarming trend, felony cases are on the rise in Washburn County. — Graph and data from the Washburn County District Attorney’s Office
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