November 2012 Bulletin photos by Wisconsin Newspaper Association

ART SCENE

UW-W: Scholarship recognizes alumnus Larimer I page 3

Area potters offering their best on Earth, Wood & Fire Tour page 17

SENIOR: Help provided for memory problems I page 9 ROTARY: Pupanek shares Navy Reserve service I page 16

www.dailyunion.com

WEEKEND EDITION October 26-28, 2012

Locally owned since 1870 Fort Atkinson, Wis.

Vol. 142 No. 157

75 Cents

Sentencing in February

Fort man guilty in condo blaze

Up the street . . . and back

By Karyn Spory

ON THE NET It recently was brought to our attention that a local connection was made during the 2012 WIAA State Individual Tennis Meet. In a Division 2 match involving Whitewater High School's Michala Schramm on Oct. 11, her first-round opponent was Lianna Hawi of Lourdes Academy in Oshkosh. Well, it just so happens that Hawi is the daughter of Sharon Last Hawi, a 1984 graduate of Fort Atkinson High School, and the granddaughter of Ray and Marge Last, former owners of the Skate Capitol, which later became the Capitol Banquet Hall. Hawi went on to defeat Schramm, 6-0 and 63, before losing to Jenna Zimmerman of Racine St. Catherine's in the second round. WHERE'S THE JELLY? Any Elvis Presley fan worth his or her salt knows that The King's favorite sandwich was peanut butter and bananas, sometimes with bacon added. Ernest Hemingway was a fan of peanut butter with thick slices of onion. Word has it that today, a popular trend is peanut butter and pickles. Sweet gherkins, kosher dills ... apparently both are tasty. Apparently it dates back to lunch counters during the Great Depression and in extension-service cookbooks in the 1930s and 1940s in recipes that called for a few spoonfuls of pickle relish. Today, PB&P sandwiches are a cult item that even fictional private investigator Kinsey Millhone, of Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries, loves. We're told that there's a low-level buzz on the Internet of marrying peanut butter and bread with mayonnaise, olives, horseradish, bacon, Marmite (in England) and Vegemite (in Australia). Say, whatever happened to jelly? HAUNTING HOLIDAY Halloween takes place next Wednesday, although many area communities are celebrating this weekend. Did you know that it actually started as a holiday called Samhain, meaning "end of summer'?" In ancient Celtic Ireland, Oct. 31st marked the official end of that season. Potatoes and turnips were the original Jack-o-Lanterns, as Irish children would carve and light them to use during the gatherings on Halloween. TRICK-OR-TREAT! Trick-or-treating traces its roots back to Europe. The custom known as "souling" dates back to the 9th century. On All Soul's Day, which is Nov. 2, the poor would walk through the villages and go door to door begging for food. They would be given "soul cakes," a type of pastry made from bread and currants. They would promise to pray for dead relatives in return for receiving the "soul cakes." Today, trick-ortreaters prefer candy!

lic Library both were dismissed and read into the record. "If that's considered by me, you JEFFERSON — A Fort Atkin- would not be subject to the prosson man has pleaded guilty/no- ecution in the future, but I would contest to purposely setting a consider that conduct in making May fire that heavily damaged a sentencing decision on these his father's downtown condo- cases," Koschnick said of the disminium. missed charges. Alex T. Erdman, 22, entered (Continued on page 5) the plea in Jefferson County Circuit Court Thursday to felony charges of arson and operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent and misdemeanor charges of criminal trespassing and bailjumping. The charges relate to a May 26 blaze at Riverview Condominiums in Fort Atkinson. Erdman reportedly had been angry with his father because he would not WATERLOO — A fire that degive him gas money to drive to stroyed a Town of Waterloo home Racine. Monday has been labeled as in"I have been in communication cendiary or arson by the state with (Assistant District Attorney Department of Justice Division of Jeff) Schock and we do have some Criminal Investigation-State agreements," defense attorney Fire Marshal's Office. Jessa Nicholson told Jefferson The Jefferson County Sheriff's County Circuit Court Judge Office and State Fire Marshal's Randy Koschnick Thursday. "The Office are seeking assistance defense and prosecution are free from anyone with information to argue both cases, but we have about the blaze at W7496 agreed ... Mr. Erdman will enter Manske Road. a plea of count one arson." The fire was deemed suspiThe judge reviewed three doc- cious by authorities when a uments with Erdman, including neighbor reported seeing a vehithe case-settlement form. cle and a male subject in the "You intend to plead either driveway of the residence apguilty or no-contest to the fol- proximately 15 minutes prior to lowing charges: count one, crim- an explosion that apparently iginal trespass to a dwelling, which nited the fire. Jefferson County Sheriff's Ofis a misdemeanor; count one, arfice Chief Deputy Jeff Parker son of a building, that's a felony; said the actual cause of the fire count four, operating a motor veremains under investigation. hicle without consent as a reHe could not reveal details bepeater, which is another felony; count five, bailjumping as a re- cause investigators use them to peater which is a misdemeanor," determine the legitimacy or accuracy of information that might Koschnick said. An earlier charge of felony come in. Meanwhile, he said investigareckless endangerment and an uncharged referral of theft on tors are continuing to collect ev(Continued on page 5) May 30 from the Watertown PubUnion staff writer

Waterloo residence fire arson

BRANCHING OUT — How's this for atmospheric during this Halloween season? A barren tree with the moon caught in its branches, by the light of a fading sunset. This photo was taken along County Highway D, north of Helenville, this week. — Daily Union photo by Pam Chickering Wilson.

Economic growth rate 2 percent WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a slightly faster 2 percent annual rate from July through September, buoyed by more spending by consumers and the federal government. Growth accelerated from the 1.3 percent rate in the April-June quarter, the Commerce Department said Friday. Even with the increase, growth remains too weak to rapidly boost hiring. The report is the last snapshot of the economy before Americans choose a president in 11 days. Republican nominee Mitt Romney has criticized President Barack Obama's handling of the economy and has noted that the pace of growth has slowed from last year. The 1.74 percent annual growth rate for the first nine months of 2012 remains slightly behind last year's 1.8 percent growth. Still, the pickup in growth could lend weight to Obama's message that the economy is improving. "Growth came in a little higher than we had feared, largely because of the big jump in federal spending," said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics. "But the economy is still not growing rapidly enough to create sufficient jobs to reduce the unemployment rate." The economy grew faster last quarter in part because consumer spending rose at a 2 per(Continued on page 10)

Van Hollen seeks stay in union suit MADISON (AP) — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has asked the state appeals court to put on hold a judge's ruling repealing major parts of Gov. Scott Walker's law effectively ending collective bargaining for most public workers. Van Hollen's request made Thursday comes after Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas on Monday refused to issue a stay to his September ruling. Colas says Van Hollen and the state "failed to show that they will suffer irreparable harm if the stay is not (Continued on page 5)

Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation salutes Vorpahl's 20-year service By Ryan Whisner

most $6 million has been applied toward research. Despite its international influA Fort Atkinson couple who ence, this organization is not lost a child to Niemann-Pick Disbased in Los Angeles, New York ease Type C are among the corCity or even Chicago. The founnerstones of the National Niedation is located in Fort Atkinmann-Pick Disease Foundation son, Wis. as it celebrates its 20th anniver"After 20 years, the spirit and sary. essence of the NNPDF continues Niemann-Pick Disease is a to be the same: parents not willrare, genetic, terminal illness. A ing to just sit back and watch lysosomal storage disease, it their children die," NNPDF Excauses the accumulation of fats ecutive Committee Vice Chairin the cells of the liver, spleen and person Barb Vorpahl said. "They brain. When cell function is are empowered by a common Barb Vorpahl blocked, physical and neurologibond, determined to make a difcal deterioration occurs, includ- Pick Disease Foundation was es- ference so their children's suffering the loss of the ability to walk, tablished in 1992 to raise money ing would not be in vain." for family support services and speak and swallow. The Vorpahls' youngest daughSpearheaded by Barb and research. Since then, the foun- ter, Stacey, died eight years ago Gary Vorpahl and six other af- dation's membership has grown at the age of 19 after a coura(Continued on page 7) fected families, the Niemann- to more than 450 families, and alUnion regional editor

Fort council advances $8.12 million budget $315,100 and debt service of $672,079 added in, total expenditures for the City of Fort AtkinThe Fort Atkinson City Coun- son for 2013 amount to an esticil gave preliminary approval to mated $9,113,436, representing the 2013 budget of $8,126,257 an increase of less than 1 percent Thursday during the final night from 2012. of budget workshops. The overall tax levy is expectThe proposed budget repre- ed to increase by 1.38 percent, tosents an increase of 0.47 percent taling $6,659,039.55. The profrom 2012. posed tax rate of $7.38 per $1,000 City residents will have an op- assessed valuation is an increase portunity to comment on the of 1.17 percent or about nine budget during a public hearing at cents per $1,000 from 2012. Fort Atkinson City Manager the council's Tuesday, Nov. 20, meeting. John Wilmet said that about With capital outlay expenses of eight of the nine cents was for the By Ryan Whisner Union regional editor

debt service increase from borrowing for the Fort Atkinson Fire Department's new aerial ladder truck and the renovations to the Dwight Foster Public Library. He noted that operating expenses increased $45,843, or less than half of 1 percent. Expenditure increases were kept to a minimum due to union employees paying into healthcare and retirement benefits. Wilmet pointed out that the 2013 budget reflects the full impact of Wisconsin Acts 10 and 32, with all full-time employees, excluding police, paying half the

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cost of retirement and 12 percent of health premiums. Combined with five unfilled positions, this allowed room for an overall 2-percent wage increase within the levy limit. By law, the city must limit the levy hike to the percentage of new construction in a given year. Generally, Wilmet said, the 2013 budget is pretty much the same as 2012. As part of its review Thursday, the council addressed a total of $65,918 in anticipated overdrawn accounts relating to the (Continued on page 5)

1219 S. Main St. Jefferson Sales & Service (920) 674-6777

Clintonville I Manawa I New London

October 11, 2012

Aschliman purchases B & H building CLINTONVILLE — Sue Aschliman, owner and operator of B & H Fashionwear and Footwear, has purchased the building that currently houses her business at the corner of Ninth Street and Main Street. The building was previously owned by Carol Johnson, who passed away last fall. Johnson donated the building to the Clintonville Area Foundation. The Foundation can't accept a building, but they can take the proceeds from the sale of the building as a donation. Johnson's executor of the will decided to put the building up for auction on Oct. 13. A local realtor began to publish the auction date last week in various forms of advertising. Meanwhile, Aschliman had put in an offer on the building,

which was accepted Monday, Oct. 1. "Since the advertising hit, we have had numerous concerned patrons call thinking we are closing the shoe store and the clothing store," said Aschliman. "The answer to that is absolutely not. With purchasing both the Trophies and Treasures building along with B H Fashionwear's building, we were trying to keep two successful businesses open without having to relocate if the building had been sold to someone else and we were asked to vacate the buildings. "Both Kathy Schmoll (owner of Trophies and Treasures) and my family wish to serve our community needs for as long as we can," said Aschliman. "Go Clintonville!"

Colorful kayaking

Fall colors accented many beautiful days for kayaking on Keller Lake this fall. This photo was captured the weekend of Sept. 29-30. Tim Sweet photo

WisDOT schedules public involvement meeting CLINTONVILLE — The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is conducting a public involvement meeting to discuss proposed improvements to WIS 22, between 10th Street and WIS 156/Green Tree Road, in Clintonville. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 22, from

5-7 p.m. at the Clintonville Community Center, 30 South Main Street, Clintonville. A brief presentation is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The remainder of the meeting will follow an open house format. Maps and exhibits will be on display and

Ev,sythin I

WisDOT staff will be available to answer questions. The objective of the meeting is to familiarize the public with the purpose and need for the project and to obtain input on the proposed improvements, which include: • Replacing the Pigeon River Bridge and approaches; • Replacing the pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm sewer, street lighting, and traffic signals; • Widening and upgrading the intersection of Main Street and 12th Street; and • Upgrading the intersection of WIS 22 and WIS 156/Green Tree Road. Various intersection improvement options that are currently being investigated

will be presented at the meeting. As part of the road improvements, the city plans to replace the water main and sanitary sewer systems. The Pigeon River Bridge and the section of WIS 22 between 10th Street and 13th Street are currently scheduled for construction in 2015. WIS 22 between 13th Street and WIS 156/ Green Tree Road is currently scheduled for construction in 2017, but may occur as early as 2016. Citizens who are hearingimpaired and require an interpreter may request one by contacting Kristin McHugh at least three working days prior to the meeting via the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay system (dialing 711).

Truckers offer leaf raking Oct. 13

Honey Creek 102 S. Main • Clintonville -, 715-823-6262 - www.honeycreekgallery.com

CLINTONVILLE — The Clintonville High School Trucker football team will be doing community service through leaf raking on Saturday, Oct. 13. Any city residents or acquaintances who would appreciate their leaves being raked are encouraged to contact Karen Petermann

at 715-250-1399 and leave their name, phone number, and location. This event is sponsored by the Clintonville Trucker football team in recognition of the community that has supported them during the 2012 football season and their educational upbringing in this community.

Local municipalities to receive transportation, highway aids REGION — Local municipalities will be receiving checks for General Transportation Aids and Connecting Highway Aids from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). General Transportation Aids (GTA) help defray the costs of constructing, maintaining, and operating roads and streets under local jurisdiction. Connecting Highway Aids (CHA) reimburse municipalities for maintenance and traffic control of certain state highways within municipalities. Communities also receive state transportation fund revenues for public transit, elderly and disabled transportation, and airport and harbor development from WisDOT. State and federal funds will also be allocated

for specific highway and bridge construction projects. Here's a breakdown of funds to be received by various local municipalities: Waupaca County • Waupaca County: $406,808.27 GTA • Town of Bear Creek: $18,947.09 GTA • Town of Dupont: $21.328.79 GTA • Town of Larrabee: $27,034.09 GTA • Town of Lebanon: $25,054.71 GTA • Town of Little Wolf: $24,895.92 GTA • Town of Matteson: $21,858.04 GTA • Town of Mukwa: $22,535.48 GTA • Town of Royalton: $22,313.18 GTA

• Town of Union: $25,615.70 GTA • Village of Big Falls: $751.55 GTA • Village of Embarrass: $1,450.27 GTA • City of Clintonville: $13,617.03 CHA; $61,183.76 GTA • City of Manawa: $15,921.98 GTA • City of Marion: $17,869.35 GTA • City of New London: $89,672.73 GTA Shawano County • Shawano County: $297,968.40 GTA • Town of Belle Plaine: $32,849.61 GTA • Town of Navarino: $12,368.58 GTA • Town of Pella: $27,939.13 GTA

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Ralph Beversdorf, Mary-Beth Kuester, and Dawn Meverden act out a portion of "The Marquis Crossing Ladies Society's First Attempt at Murder" which will take the stage at Clintonville's Rexford-Longfellow auditorium Oct. 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 13 and 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 715-526-2525.

Diplomas • Technical and trades areas

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Why wait? Apply now. Spring semester applications close on Jan. 4. Classes start Jan. 22. Ask about the new weekends-only option for degree-completion adults in CMN's newest Bachelor's Degree programs, Business and Public Administration. CMN Keshena Campus N172, Highway 47/55 Phone: 715 799-5600, ext. 3051 Or toll free: 800 567-2344, ext. 3051 ' 1-<.k

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WAUKESHA

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Life & Leisure

Sports

Scary times in Waukesha

Tennis: Teams advance to state

Page 20

Page 26

WaukeshaNOW.com

Volume 2, Issue 27

Encore! GuitarTown returns to Waukesha Mayor met with Gibson execs in Nashville By CHRISTOPHER KUHAGEN ckuhagen@cninow.com

Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima said Monday afternoon that after meeting with Gibson Guitar Corporation's CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and President David Berryman last Friday in Nashville, Tenn., there will be a Phase II of the GuitarTown project. "Phase II of the project will

amplify Waukesha's identity as the birth and resting place of Les Paul and continue to move our community forward as a small town incubator for musicians, artists and entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams," Scrima said. Waukesha joined cities such as Austin, Texas, Nashville, Orlando, Fla., Cleveland, Hollywood, Calif., Miami and London last year when it was named a GuitarTown by Gibson Corporation. But Scrima said only the Sunset Strip in Hollywood has had more than one phase of GuitarTown.

"It's a natural progression for Waukesha to have a continuation of the project and keeps with the rhythm of our community." Jeff Scrima

Waukesha's mayor on GuitarTown Phase II

Scrima said he and Gibson's top officials have had conversations since Waukesha's kickoff in June. When he went to Nashville last week, Gibson gave him the go-ahead to bring back GuitarTown to Waukesha.

"They had a good experience back in June when they were here," Scrima said referring to the GuitarTown kickoff that included the unveiling of the 10-foot Gibson Les Paul fiberglass guitars and regular sized guitars that were designed by

local artists. "And we stayed in contact through their foundation director and when I visited them we said this is perhaps something we could do again." Going beyond downtown

Like Phase I, Scrima said the new series will include a new round of 10-foot guitars and regular-sized guitars. Phase I of GuitarTown features 10, 10-foot fiberglass guitars and 20 regular-sized playable guitars placed outside and inside various downtown businesses. Scrima said since it was just agreed upon last week, he isn't sure yet how many guitars will be designed by local artists this time. But he said the concept will be the same and he will look to have new artists and sponsors for 2013. He did, however, add that he wants Phase II to expand beyond downtown Waukesha. "Gibson has given us the flexibility to be creative and augment this national and public art and music project," Scrima said, "while at the same time to make even better than the first time." In its first year, the project raised $105,000 for three local charities: $45,000 to the Waukesha Public School District for new musical instruments and art supplies; $45,000 to the Les Paul exhibit at the Waukesha County Museum; $15,000 to the Waukesha Memorial Hospital to help fund the new Community Health Clinic. Structured similarly

Fall colors

SCOTT ASH/SASH@JCPGROUP.COM

Artist Peter McMaster of Spry Whimsy Fiber Arts, LLC. stands among his handmade hats and scarfs during the Waukesha Art Crawl on Saturday. More photos on Page 10.

The mayor said the timeline of the project is not finalized, but he said he would like to have it be similar to this year when the kickoff event coincided with Les Paul's birthday and the kickoff of the Friday Night Live concert series at the beginning of June. This year the 10-foot guitars and the regular-sized guitars were unveiled at a gala at The Rotunda in downtown Waukesha that also featured Turn to PAGE 10

LLM_121005_001_Layout 1 10/3/12 6:32 PM Page 1

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Special prosecutor named in Vilas County open meetings complaint Trempealeau County DA will investigate allegations filed by sheriff against Vilas County supervisors By Joe VanDeLaarschot of The Lakeland Times

Trempealeau County District Attorney Taavi McMahon has agreed to serve as a special prosecutor to investigate allegations by Vilas County Sheriff Frank Tomlanovich that some members of the Vilas County Board of Supervisors may have violated the state's open meetings law in 2011. Tomlanovich filed a formal complaint alleging violations of state law when work-

ing on the county's then-proposed 2012 budget. McMahon said he doesn't know how long his investigation will take, but he will have the aid of a private investigator in his query. The supervisors accused by the sheriff of committing the violation were members of the county's finance and budget committee in 2011. They include board chairman Steve Favorite and supervisors Chris Mayer, Charles Rayala, Jim Behling and Linda Thorpe. Favorite denies Tomlanovich's allegations that anything illegal occurred. "I drafted all of the amendments that were brought up at the county board meeting with the aid of the county clerk and then they were reviewed by the corporation counsel," Favorite said. "I am surprised I was not interviewed for his complaint. I

haven't reviewed the complaint yet, but I deny that anything illegal took place." Tomlanovich had contacted District Attorney Al Moustakis who he says never took action on the matter. Since then Sheriff Frank Tomlanovich Tomlanovich wrote a June 1 letter requesting the Wisconsin Attorney General's office investigate the matter. The AG's office responded and said the investigation should be handled by the local district attorney. On Aug. 24, Tomlanovich filed a formal complaint with Moustakis who then said a special prosecutor would

handle the case. McMahon then agreed to handle the investigation a short time later.

Sheriff's allegations In the investigative report conducted and provided by the sheriff's department that listed details of the alleged violation, Tomlanovich claimed: "Between Oct. 18, 2011, and Nov. 8, 2011, members of the Finance and Budget Committee of the Vilas County Board of Supervisors held one or more illegal meetings for the purpose of formulating a plan, and an agenda, to amend Vilas County's preliminary 2012 budget." The preliminary budget had been prepared by the committee during a two-day meeting held in open session on Oct. 17 and 18 in 2011. The preliminary budget was to be presented to the full county board See COMPLAINT. . . page 14

2012 Beef-A-Rama a record-breaking event

A fine day for a rainbow

More than one ton of beef was served By Sarah Hirsch of The Lakeland Times

Dean Hall photograph

A rainbow forms in front of teacher Carolyn Kovar and her 4K students when Manitowish Waters Fire Chief Skip Skrobot operates the fire hose Wednesday, Oct. 3, at North Lakeland School in Manitowish Waters. Local fire and rescue departments provided an educational and safety program for 4K through 4th grade students as part of Fire Prevention Week at North Lakeland School. Pictured (from the left) are Levi Stoltenberg, teacher Carolyn Kovar, Greta Johnson, Logan Galasel, Lukas Halvorson, Kyla Bandel, Owen Thoma, Jeannette Albert and Spencer Swedberg.

Thousands of people, blue skies, perfect temperatures, music, excitement in the air and over a ton of beef, literally — these were some of the ingredients that made the 48th annual Beef-A-Rama such a record-breaking event. "There were so many people I couldn't believe it," Beth Wetzler, Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce events and community coordinator, said. "Last year was my first Beef-A-Rama and I thought that there was a lot of people

then, but that just did not prepare me in any way, shape or form for this year." Though the numbers aren't finalized, Wetzler can say with confidence that there were "well over 5,500 beef sandwiches served between the Rotary Garden on Chicago Street and Torpy Park" — shattering any previous year's record. "Last year we did just short of 3,000 sandwiches and my goal was 4,000, so we definitely got to our goal," Wetzler said. "It was really great to have sandwiches sold at two spots." And the Rotary Club also broke their record of about 300 sandwiches sold last year. "Our goal at the Rotary was See BEEF. . . page 24

The fiscal cliff: It's closer than you think `Average' family would lose nearly $3,500 in income next year By Richard Moore of The Lakeland Times The term has been floating around the Internet and various news sites for months, but so far the so-called fiscal cliff has remained a remote speck in the distance for most Americans as they live their daily lives. But the fiscal cliff could be a lot closer and more likely to happen than most

News Analysis people believe, and, if it does, get ready for a wallop to your pocketbook. Specifically, if Congress cannot reach a deal by the end of the year, a barrage of automatic tax hikes — including an end to Bushera and payroll tax cuts — are scheduled to increase taxes for families next year by an average of $3,446, according to a new report by the Tax Policy Center. For the middle class, the sticker shock wouldn't be quite as bad, but gruesome enough — the Policy Center report indi-

No Solution

cates those households would lose 4.4 percent of their income, or approximately $1,984. The poorest families would take a hit of $412 a year, while the now famous top 1 percent of earners would say goodbye to 10.5 percent of their after-tax income, or $120,537. The lapse of the payroll tax cut alone would cost the average American about $1,000 a year. President Obama and Congress extended the cut in the tax rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent. Add to all that spending cuts due to sequestration, and, in a time of already stagnating incomes and high unemploy-

Generations

ment, another recession would be almost inevitable. "Taken together, the scheduled changes would significantly increase the marginal tax rates that can influence behavior," the report by the Urban InstiSee CLIFF. . . page 14

Maulson re-elected LdF Tribal President See results from Tuesday's LdF Tribal General election on page 12

Making a statement

Evenson

Under 1 roof

T-Birds

A dispute between former jail administrator and sheriff continues. Turn to page 3

This loving family shares and "pays it forward." Turn to Extra, page 1

The cross country teams are competitive at Griak tournament. Turn to page 26

Ln M

IN AMERICA •

41 LAKE COUNTRY REPORTER Y‘‘‘

Named Newspaper of the Year among small weeklies by Suburban Newspapers of America

$1 VOLUME 41, NUMBER 79

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

LIVINGLAKECOUNTRY.COM

Fall fun moves in The weather is getting cooler, and sweaters and boots are replacing T-shirts and flipflops. As cooler weather moves in, so, too, does a huge variety of fall events, from family-friendly fun to more frightening experiences. We've put together a sampling of events, including corn mazes, haunted houses, places to pick pumpkins and where you can find some tasy seasonal treats. Story on Page 14

KM tops Warhawks Arrowhead first-year coach Shane Reid, a former assistant at Kettle Moraine, found a rude welcoming committee when his Warhawks took on the Lasers in a Classic 8 Conference boys volleyball match Thursday, one that went to KM in three sets. With the biggest matches of the year on the horizon, the talented Lasers are gearing up for another playoff run. Story on Page 22

TODD PONATH/TPONATH@JCPGROUP.COM

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Sands of time Tibetan Buddhist monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery work on a colored sand mandala in the student center at Waukesha County Technical College on Tuesday, Sept. 25. The monks completed the elaborate sand painting Wednesday and held a closing ceremony Thursday. More photos on Page 16.

CRITICAL TIME FOR FUND PAGE 2 Pewaukee's Conservancy Fund is drying up.

MONEY TALKS

PAGE 7

The formula behind funding Lake Country Fire and Rescue could change.

"How do these kids get taken care of unless someone reaches out?" Carol Leair,

LASERS FALL TO MUKWONAGO PAGE 19 Football team held down by talented Indians.

who is selling everything and moving to Swaziland

Page 17

firiilterirn

From c

Area fall events have something for everyone By ANDREA BUDDE abudde@jcpgroup.com

As another page is ripped from the calendar, thoughts turn to fall events. Here's a sampling of what you can look forward to in Lake Country and the surrounding area.

Haunted houses and haunted woods From the scary to the super scary, these will keep you screaming for more. Halloween Haunted Woods 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19

It's the 20th annual Haunted Woods event in Dousman. Start at Dousman Elementary, where a free shuttle bus will take you to and from Three Pillars. Enjoy a free community trick-or-treat, for children in fifth grade and younger and their families. Bring a nonperishable food donation for the local food pantry. (262) 965-7452, www.threep illars. org

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012 I

LIVING REPORTER/ FOCUS

Haunted High

Attend treacherous tech ed class, avoid the paranormal principal's office, experience the "final prom" in the haunted auditorium and stay out of the "hell-th room" at Haunted High, 550 E. Forest St., Oconomowoc. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and tours run from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 25-27, plus Lights-On Day on Oct. 14. Sponsored by the Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation. For more information, visit www.haunted high.info. Wisconsin Feargrounds

Four haunted houses in one location. Open from 6:45 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October and from 6:45 to 9 p.m. Oct. 25 and Oct. 28 at the County Expo Center, 1000 Northview Road, Waukesha. (262) 547-6808, wisconsinfeargrounds.com

Bear Den Zoo, Petting Farm, Haunted Woods

Pick pumpkins, enjoy a hayride or pony ride and take a walk through the haunted woods, at 6831 Big Bend Road, Waterford. Open 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28 and 29, and Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27, weather permitting. (262) 895-6430 Glacier Rock Farms

This educational farm, N1255 Hoard Road, Ixonia, offers a corn maze, hayrides and a haunted house. (866) 458-4562, www.glacierrock farms.com Fright Hike

Stop by Lapham Peak State Park, Highway C, Delafield, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26 and 27 and take part in the 1-mile ghoulish haunted hike, sponsored by the Town of Delafield Parks and Recreation Commission. For ages 6 and older. Cost is $5 per person, plus $7 car admission or state park sticker. For more information, call (414) 4299468 or visit www.frighthike.com. Halloween Haunt/ Jack-o'-Lantern Jaunt

New this year, the Jack-o'Lantern Jaunt will be held in partnership with the Rotary Club of Mukwonago's Halloween Haunt from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 19 and 20 at Field Park, Highways 83 and NN, Mukwonago. Families will travel through themed venues and view dozens of jacko'-lanterns. Drive-through hour is 6 to 7 p.m.; walkthrough hour is 7 to 10 p.m. A movie will be shown at 8 p.m. both days. Drop off carved pumpkins at Field Park from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 19. Check it out on Facebook by searching for the Mukwonago Rotary Club.

Corn mazes Get lost in a labyrinth of corn and enjoy a crisp autumn day at one of these

SCOTT ASH/SASH@JCPGROUP.COM

Hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins glare back at spectators during the annual Grand Pumpkin Illumination event in Delafield in 2011. This year's event is Oct. 27.

local farms. The Maize at Army Lake Camp

Enjoy the giant corn maze, wagon rides, crafts, concessions, courtyard with mini maize, games, bounce house and more. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday by reservation, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21-Oct. 27 at N8797 Army Lake Road, East Troy. www.armylakecamp.org Homestead Animal Farm

Visitors can delight in a new corn maze each year. Open weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 29-Oct. 28, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26; W320 N9127 Highway 83, Town of Merton, (262) 9663840, www.homestead animalfarm.com Schuett Farms

Check out Schuett Farms, W299 S6370 Highway 83, Mukwonago, for a 6-acre corn maze, hayrides and pick your own pumpkins. (262) 768-4348, www.schuettfarm.com

SCOTT ASH/SASH@JCPGROUP.COM

Visitors stand atop a viewing platform as they look over last year's corn maze at Homestead Animal Farm in the Town of Merton.

Apple picking and pumpkin patches Cozy Nook Farm

This farm at Sll W30780 Summit Ave., Town of Delafield, offers pumpkins, Indian corn, gourds, squash, corn stalks, tours and hayrides. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 22Oct. 31. (262) 968-2573, www.cozynookfarms.com The Elegant Farmer

This Mukwonago tradition offers 12 varieties of apples and features its famous

apple pie baked in a paper bag. In addition to orchards and pumpkins, the site offers hayrides, vintage trolley rides and an assortment of baked goods and beverages. For information on The Elegant Farmer's Autumn Harvest, visit www.elegant farmer.com or call (262) 3636771. Green Meadows Petting Farm

Seasonal activities at this Waterford farm at 33603 High Drive include pumpkin picking, a petting zoo, hands-on cow milking, pony rides and Turn to PAGE 15

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

THREE SECTIONS

75 CENTS

Council eyes policy changes By MIKE DESOTELL EagleHerald staff writer mdesotell@eagleherald. corn

night. The council discussed ways to help accomplish those goals but admitted that changes won't come overnight. MENOMINEE — Streamlining Mayor Jean Stegeman said she city government and making it and City Attorney Rob Jamo typimore open to taxpayers was the cally get together after a council gist of a special meeting of the meeting to review how the meeting Menominee City Council Monday went and to discuss ways to make

the next one better. The result of more inclusive with the public. those briefings led Jamo to come In November of 2009, then City up with a four-pronged plan. The Manager Richard Goode had creimmediate focus would be to iden- ated a policy which eliminated tify and define standing commit- standing committees and allowed tees, find ways to make public just one opportunity for public hearings more informative, estab- input at council meetings. The lish a better plan for filling council policy was amended three months vacancies and look for ways to be later after Good resigned. The

revised policy added a second opportunity for public input at meetings and a return to a committee form of government. Goode's policy also ruffled a few feathers by trying to establish a dress code for council members. "I find it interesting that he who See COUNCIL, A3

Huge federal tax rise looms

Baumgartner will be more than three times higher than the cruising altitude of jetliners when he hops, bunny-style, out of the capsule and into a near -vacuum where there is barely any oxygen and less than 1 percent of the air pressure on Earth. If all goes well, he will reach the speed of sound in about half a minute at an altitude of around 100,000 feet. Then he will start to slow as the atmosphere gets denser, and after five minutes of free fall, he will pull his main parachute. The entire descent should last 15 to 20 minutes. He will be rigged with cameras that will provide a live broadcast of the jump via the Internet, meaning countless viewers could end up witnessing a horrific accident. Baumgartner is insistent on going live with his flight.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A typical middle-income family making $40,000 to $64,000 a year could see its taxes go up by $2,000 next year if lawmakers fail to renew a lengthy roster of tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year, according to a new report Monday Taxpayers across the income spectrum would be hit with large tax hikes, the Tax Policy Center said in its study, with households in the top 1 percent income range seeing an average tax increase of more than $120,000, while a family making between $110,000 to $140,000 could see a tax hike in the $6,000 range. Taxpayers across the income spectrum will get slammed with increases totaling more than $500 billion — a more than 20 percent increase — with nine out of 10 households being affected by the expiration of tax cuts enacted under both President Barack Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush. The expiring provisions include Bush-era cuts on wage and investment income and cuts for married couples and families with children, among others. Also expiring is a 2 percentage point temporary payroll tax cut championed by Obama. The looming expiration of the large roster of tax cuts is one of the issues confronting voters in November, with the chief difference between Obama and GOP candidate Mitt Romney being the tax treatment of wealthier earners. Obama is calling for permitting rates on individual income exceeding $200,000 and family incoming over $250,000 to go back to Clinton-era rates of as much as 39.6 percent. Both candidates call for rewriting the tax code next year, but any such effort promises to be difficult and could take considerable time. Monday's study, by the independent Tax Policy Center, deals with the immediate increases set to slap taxpayers in January under the existing framework of the tax code. Few are talking of renewing Obama's payroll tax cut, even though that would mean a healthy tax increase for many working people. Working families with modest incomes would be hit hard as the child tax credit would shrink from a maximum of $1,000 per child to $500. As a result, a married couple earning $50,000 with three dependent children that currently receives an almost $1,500 income tax refund largely due to the child tax credit would see their fortunes reversed by

See SKYDIVER, A3

See TAXES, A3

EagleHerald/Rick Gebhard

Nose biting Brittany Terp's green parrot cheek conure Pippin bites Ellie Maye, a female Corgi puppy as Tammi Hartwig (left) introduces the two pets at the Mighty Pet Expo Saturday at the M&M Plaza in Menominee. See A3 for related photos. (Color reprints: www.ehextra.com )

County to hold its first health fair By TIM GREENWOOD

"When I was looking at Marinette optometry, dentistry and public County to decide whether I was to health. tgreenwood@eagleherald. corn going to apply here (for the adminisIt also will feature food, fun and trator job), I saw the county had a prizes. Anyone can attend, but only MARINETTE — Health and well- very strong wellness committee," county employees are eligible to win ness can be enjoyable to achieve said Sorensen. "It's one of the rea- prizes and participate in some of the and maintain and need not be a sons Marinette County was of inter- activities, according to Sorensen. burden, stresses Marinette County est to me. "There will be about 30 vendors," Administrator Ellen Sorensen. "So one of the first things I did she said. "We limited the types of To help convey that message, the when I got here (a year ago) was to vendors because of limited space; inaugural Marinette County Health start talking with the wellness folks the response from the community Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 because I was very interested in has been overwhelming. p.m. Thursday at the UW-Marinette what they were doing. They had had "It's wonderful to see that they Field House. a desire to have a health fair, so we want to engage with people. You are The theme of the event, which just decided to do one." going to see a wide variety of things has been in the planning stages for The fair will provide access to going on at the fair." nearly a year by the county well- professionals in several health and She said the grand prize will be a ness committee, is "Mission Possi- wellness areas including: Sports Nintendo Wii game console donated ble: Achieving Good Health." and fitness, massage, chiropractic, by one of the vendors. EagleHerald staff writer

"Another vendor has donated a Wii Fit. There'll be a demonstration

on that and people can actually participate in that," Sorensen said. The county has more than 300 employees and she expects at least a 50-percent turnout. "Typically at a first wellness fair like this, 50 percent would be the goal," Sorensen said. "I'm optimistic that we're going to exceed that." She said the health and wellness the fair will promote is not only good for county government, but the entire area. "As an employer, it is in our best interests to have a healthy workSee FAIR, A3

Skydiver aims to break sound barrier CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — His blood could boil. His lungs could overinflate. The vessels in his brain could burst. His eyes could hemorrhage. And, yes, he could break his neck while jumping from a mind-boggling altitude of 23 miles. But the risk of a gruesome death has never stopped "Fearless Felix" Baumgartner in all his years of skydiving and skyscraper leaping, and it's not about to now. Next Monday over New Mexico, he will attempt the highest, fastest free fall in history and try to become The Associated Press the first skydiver to break In this 2010 photo provided by Red Bull Stratos, Felix Baumgartner makes a 25,000-foot the sound barrier. high test jump for Red Bull Stratos. On Monday, over New Mexico, Baumgartner will "So many unknowns," attempt to jump higher and faster in a free fall than anyone ever before and become the Baumgartner says, "but we first skydiver to break the sound barrier. have solutions to survive." He will have only a pres- go faster than the speed of believe they have done The 43-year-old former everything possible to bring military parachutist from surized suit and helmet for sound. Doctors, engineers and him back alive. He has testAustria is hoping to reach protection as he tries to go 690 mph, or Mach 1, after supersonic 65 years after others on Baumgartner's ed out his suit and capsule leaping from his balloon- Chuck Yeager, flying an Red Bull-sponsored team in two dress rehearsals, hoisted capsule over the experimental rocket plane, have spent as much as five jumping from 15 miles in became the first human to years studying the risks and March and 18 miles in July. desert near Roswell. Good morning, Linda Erickson! Thank you for subscribing to the EagleHerald

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Community: Program teaches children about history of the area. A7 Sports: Maroon girls volleyball and tennis teams have a good day. B1

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$ 1 00 7

1111!))., 111,11$3 i J t Volume 124, Number 5

Glenwood City, Wisconsin 54013

City Council learns police car was damaged during arrest During his monthly report to the city council, Police Chief Robert Darwin informed them that one of the city police cars was damaged by a 17-year old male during an arrest on the morning of September 9. Darwin indicated that the estimate to repair the police car was $1,200, but his taser was also damaged during the incident. Darwin informed the council that his taser was replaced free of charge by the taser company. But, Darwin, questioned the council if he should wait for a judge to order the person responsible for the damage to the car to pay restitution, or turn it over to the insurance company. The city would be responsible for the $500 deductible. The council indicated to turn over the matter to the insurance company. In his report to the council, Public Works Director Doug Doornink asked about taking large load of items like old sheetrock at the dumpster. He noted that they recently accepted a large load of sheetrock which the person paid $35.00 to dump into the city's dumpster. But Doornink noted that it took an extra removal of the dumpster and cost the city an extra pull at $800. He also had questions about the burn site and that the city could only accept brush and tree branches at the site and not any wood that has been painted or treated can be burned. Mayor Larson asked Doornink what he would recommend to the council. He suggested that the home owner should get their own construction dumpster for building projects and the city limit items to less than 500 pounds or a half of a pickup load. The mayor

put in matter into committee for study, The mayor went over the city budget and proclaimed it is "doing very well." He noted that most items showed income above budget figures with expenditures below expectations. In other business the council passed a resolution requesting exemption from county library tax. The city has always been exempt from the county library tax, but now is required to file paper work indicating it. What is necessary is that the city spends more for library services than the county tax would be. Mayor Larson indicated that the county tax base on a graph that the county had send would be some $24,483 tax. But Larson noted that the city funded the local library at $48,000. He noted that the local library also receives funds from St. Croix County and Dunn County. Council member Nancy Hover presented the monthly library report which indicated that the library board had its annual meeting with the following members re-elected: Jan Scepurek, President; Lorie Jensen, Vice President; Barb Dillow, Treasurer; and Paula Brandt, Secretary. Her report indicated that checkouts in August totaled 2636, which prompted the mayor to question if there were that many people or people checking out more than one item. Hover felt that it could be like 200 checking out ten items each. But she would have that number defined.

Council

Please see pg 2

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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Fire destroys shed in Emerald Township

FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED a large steel shed on the Brad Bazille farm on 250th Street in the Town of Emerald. Fire started in the shed from a welding torch being used by Cory Bazille to weld on his mud buggie. All the contents of the 70 ft. by 80 ft. shed were lost in the flames. The Glenwood City Fire Department received the call shortly before eleven on the evening of Thursday, September 27 and when they arrived on the scene the entire building was in flames. Lost were 4 pickup trucks, a pontoon boat, a 32 foot fiberglass boat, a farm tractor, a four wheeler and many tools. Firefighters from United Fire assisted the Glenwood City Department. A large backhoe from Albrightson Excavating was called to the scene to remove the sheet metal that had fallen into the structure so firefighters could extinguish the burning items under the metal. Glenwood City Firefighters also were called to a small grass fire on the Denzil Dayton property on 135th Avenue in the Town of Glenwood on Saturday afternoon. Here a small area of tall grass was burned over. —photo by Shawn DeWitt

Touchdowns for Tyler a success By Kelsie Hoitomt BOYCEVILLE - This was an extra special homecoming football game for ten year old Tyler Schmidt of Boyceville. Schmidt, a fourth grader at Tiffany Creek Elementary, was diagnosed with a rare cancer after an MRI discovered tumors on his brain and spine. On Friday night during the game, Schmidt was named honorary water boy for the Bulldogs and he wore that title with pride and a smile as wide as it could be. "He was so overwhelmed and really just amazed to have the football team treat him like a buddy," said Jeremiah Schmidt. During the game, people could donate a flat rate of money or they could pledge a certain amount for every touchdown, hence the title "Touchdowns for

Tyler". As of Monday, the Tri-County Youth Football Tournament had donated $160.00, the homecoming game itself raised $979.85, there was $828.00 in donations before and after the game, $1,000.00 was pledged for touchdowns and $128.00 was pledged for the number of points in the game. All together there was $3,095.85 donated to Tyler and his family to help with the expenses. Head coach Brian Roemhild has extended the invite beyond Friday night's game and has told Tyler he is more than welcome to attend every Bulldog practice if he wishes. "It was just amazing to have the community come together when someone is going through a hard time. We didn't ask for any of this so it is just amazing," shared Jeremiah about the special night.

2012 BOYCEVILLE SENIOR HOMECOMING COURT — Will Kraft and Laramie Schutts were crowned as the 2012 Homecoming king and queen at Boyceville High School during the pep fest Friday, September 28. The Bulldogs meet the Spring Valley Cardinals on the gridiron later Friday evening. The entire court is shown above. From left to right are: Ashley McHenry, Patrick O'Connell, Kysa Franseen, Zach Klassen, 2012 Queen Laramie Schutts, 2012 King Will Kraft, Alex Wold, Dominic Olson, Katelyn Merten, and Matt Leach. —photo by Shawn DeWitt

City to participate in Downtown Loan Program GLENWOOD CITY — The city council is moving ahead to participate in a Regional Business Fund project called the "Downtown Façade Loan Program." The Downtown Façade Loan Program provides financial assistance to encourage property and business owners in core downtowns to revitalize downtown commercial buildings within the towns, cities and villages of West Central Wisconsin. Mayor John Larson spoke of the project at the City Council's monthly meeting on October 1st, informing the council about the

program. The mayor had received a letter from the Regional Business Fund recently, which informed the mayor about the program. The letter stated, "Glenwood City is eligible for this program because it is in St. Croix County." However, the city must take three steps to begin the application process. They include adopting a map that defines Glenwood City's core downtown area. A Loan Committee must be established that will review all Downtown Loan Program applications." The mayor suggested to the council that the City's Planning

Commission could serve as this committee. The final step is that the city must adopt design guidelines for all future projects. But Mayor Larson pointed out to the council that property owners in the area need not follow those guidelines for remodeling projects. The council agreed to move ahead with the program and hopefully a final draft of the guidelines will be ready for the November council meeting. The loan program provides interest free loans of up to $30,000 for downtown projects.

THE SENIORS GATHERED around ten year old Tyler Schmidt for a picture with a signed game ball that was awarded after the 32-8 homecoming victory over the Spring Valley Cardinals. (Front row L to R) Ryan Williams, Matthew Wathke, Will Kraft, Tyler Schmidt, Dominic Olson, Jared Smith, Josh Cormican. (Back row L to R) Matt Leach, Matthew Woodford, Zach Klassen. —photo by Carlton DeWitt

MO September 28, 2012

Courier-Life/Coulee News

RINGING 'EM UP

MICHAEL MARTIN PHOTO

Kicking off a week of Homecoming activities, West Salem High School students and staff formed giant Olympic rings on the gym floor at a rally before school last Friday. Each class wore a different color, with the staff members also wearing matching colors.

Dreaming of a Bigger Backyard? 1,& hetfast etn# ewitheA why s.

MEET THE 2012 COURT

Call me or apply online.

Tina Mueller Merchants Bank - Onalaska (608) 779-8294 (608) 790-0442 Cell tmmueller@merchantsbank.com merchantsbank.com/tmueller 1101 R_

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MICHAEL MARTIN PHOTO

West Salem High School's Homecoming court this year includes, from left: front sophomores Larissa Jacobson and William Tremain, juniors Sara Frank and Logan Petree, freshmen Tim Schauf and Sophia Clements; second row, senior girls MacKensie Bruring, Samantha Strom, Alexis Priebe, Jennifer Fortun, Maggie Garbers, Alyssa Noll and Elizabeth Reschke; back row, senior boys Bryce Dejno, Carter Bahr, Nicholas Zwart, Jacob Ungerer, Kevin Martinson, Brody Rogala and Trevor Hastings-Freit. Seniors Trevor Groth and Kathryn Block are missing from the picture. The Homecoming king and queen will be announced at a pep rally at 12:30 p.m. today (Friday, Sept. 28), with the annual parade set to begin at 2:15 p.m. The Panthers football team hosts Black River Falls for the Homecoming game starting at 7 p.m., and the Homecoming dance will run from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Sept. 29.

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Walk to School week is Oct. 1-5

WE HELPED THE QUIETEST GUY ON THE BLOCK

DISCOVER HE WAS

RN FIGHTER

The sixth annual Coulee Region Walk to School Challenge runs Oct. 1-5 to kick off internationally observed Walk to School Month. The goal of the challenge is to encourage children throughout the Coulee Region to adopt an active lifestyle by walking or biking to and from school. Students also can participate by walking at least 15 minutes at school. Children who walk to

school: ■ Are more likely to be physically fit and less atrisk of becoming overweight. ■ Learn to handle traffic safely. ■ Contribute to a cleaner environment and improved air quality by reducing traffic volume near their school. ■ Come to their classroom each day better able to concentrate and learn. Classrooms are encour -

aged to sign-up for the Walk to School Challenge and set a classroom participation goal. Classroom registration forms and logs are available online at www.childhoodobesitycoalition.org under Community Challenges. The school with the highest participation during the challenge will receive the Golden Shoe Award, presented later in October.

Neshonoc Lakers to hold 14th annual chickencue today The Neshonoc Lakers 14th annual homecoming chickencue will be held Friday, Sept. 28. Serving will be prior to the football game from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Lions Community Shelter.

Tickets may be purchased from any girls basketball player or by calling Melody Schmitz at 786-1521. Walkup tickets will be available. The dinner includes grilled chicken, coleslaw, vegetables, bread and a

beverage for $8. Proceeds

from the fundraiser go to Neshonoc Lakers Girls Basketball Club, which is a volunteer group that promotes additional basketball opportunities for West Salem girls in grades 7-12.

mum( ztChicken Dinner

Bells Coulee Lutheran Church • Hwys E & DE, Bangor

Sunday, October 7

61 •

Serving family style 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mayo Clinic Health System brings Mayo Clinic cancer care to your community. The knowledge of hundreds of cancer specialists— and the experience of treating more than a million patients—is focused on you. Never underestimate the power of collaboration.

View Pete's story and schedule an appointment at mayoclinichealthsystem.org/cancer.

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Adults: $9.00, 6-12 Yr. Olds: $6.00 • Carry Outs Available Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Dressing, Cole Slaw, Carrots, Rolls, Milk or Coffee, Choice of Pie

VISIT OUR COUNTRY STORE Quilt tickets will be sold. Cookbooks are still available-$10

PART OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARD MISSIONS

ON THE RISE Country artist Armiger coming to Spencer GO! I 4A

NFL reaches tentative agreement with referePc

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Marshfield Marshfield News-Herald

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 WWW.MARSHFIELDNEWSHERALD.COM

Lost hunter rescued from woods

MARSHFIELD, WIS.

On the bright side

Multiple agencies cooperate to find Clark County man By Liz Welter Marshfield News-Herald

A walk in the woods was a near-disaster for a 50-year-old Clark County man who left his home at 3 p.m. Sept. 12 for a quick hike to scout a location for squirrel hunting. "It's something that could happen to anyone. If you get disoriented, one tree begins to look like another," said Jim Backus, Clark County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy, who coordinated a multiagency search for the lost hunter. The incident highlights the importance of communicating hiking or hunting plans with other people and carrying emergency equipment, Backus said. The family of Bradley G. Pohlmeyer didn't realize he hadn't returned home until a day later and began searching the Clark County forest near their Rock Dam residence. At about 2 a.m. Sept. 14, the Sheriff's Department received a 911 call that Pohlmeyer was missing. Backus and representatives from other agencies began to formu-

late a plan and initiated a search in the morning. "The outcome, that we found him quickly and that he was safe, is terrific. This could have turned out completely differently," said Backus, who added the nighttime temperatures were dropping into the low 505 and the weather had been damp. 'When someone gets cold and wet, it's not difficult for hypothermia to set in, and that can be deadly," Backus said. Efficient collaboration between the agencies led to the rapid location of Pohlmeyer, Backus said. Both Pohlmeyer and his family declined to be interviewed for this story. The Clark County forest covers about 133,000 acres, and it's not unusual for local authorities to be called to search for missing hikers or hunters, Backus said. Cellphones important Although cellphone service is spotty in Clark County and other rural areas, the signal the phone generates when it is left on can be "pinged" off of local towers to deSee RESCUE, Page 8A

Ex-Greenwood teacher files union dues complaint By Logan T. Carlson Marshfield News-Herald

When former Greenwood teacher Amy Anaya started working for the district last year, she said she was told she had to join the teachers union and pay the required dues against her wishes. One year later, and $750 paid into the teachers union, Maya filed a complaint against the district and the union with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, claiming they were both in violation of provisions of Act 10. Anaya says members of the Greenwood Education Association approached her in September 2011 and told her she had to sign the union's membership form, according to a statement by the National Right to Work Legal Defense

Foundation, a nonprofit group that's providing her free legal counsel. She informed them at the time she had no intention of joining, or paying any dues. "I just want the fees back when they took them out of my paycheck," Anaya said. "I told them they didn't have permission, but they did anyway. "As someone who doesn't want to be in the teachers union, I've sometimes been bullied, and I just want that to stop," Anaya said. "We teach students not to bully, but then you get these union people from Milwaukee or Chicago who come in and try to bully teachers into the union," she said. When asked whether the district would consider trying to reach a settleSee DUES, Page 8A

Index II III 11110111 0 4090 52 25

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Opinion 7A Records 2A Sports 1B

A woman walks her dog through Wildwood Park on Wednesday as the sun sets over the Upper Pond.

Community Foundation moves to Heritage Bank building By Marisa Cuellar Marshfield News-Herald

MORE INFO Marshfield Area Community Foundation

The Marshfield Area Community Foundation celebrated its grand reopening Wednesday at its new location in the Heritage Bank building, 907 N. Central Ave. Amber Kiggens-Leifheit, executive director for MACF, said the decision to move came after about 50 of 100 people interviewed by the foundation said they didn't know what the MACF was.

907 N. Central Ave. 715-384-9029 www.marshfield areacommunity foundation.org

"We realized we had a problem," Kiggens-Leifheit said. "I think better visibility will help us reach out to that 50 perSee MACF, Page 8A

CUELLAR/MARSHFIELD NEWS-HERALD

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Today: Mostly sunny.

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OPEN DAILY UNTIL 5:30PM Great Pumpkin Cave, Hay Mountain

FOR MORE INFORMATION: PLEASE CALL 715-591-9277

Directions:

I 3/4 miles Southeast of Marshfield on former HwylO, North side of road OR Veterans Parkway South (Hwy 13) turn right on former Hy.), I 0, first farm on the right side of road (all white buildings) Watch for the signs!

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Ed Englehart, chairman of the board of trustees for the Marshfield Area Community Foundation, speaks at the group's grand reopening Wednesday. MARISA

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Tight county budget would cost jobs, hike tax orate PUBLISHED IN PORT WASHINGTON

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Hawks on a roll

Grafton rumbles past Lutheran for a big homecoming win. Sports

The zen of bow hunting Some of Will Hollrith's happiest moments are spent hunting in the woods with a bow in his hands and teaching young people the joys of the discipline he loves. Good Living

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Section A Opinion pages Sports • Business • Public notices Section B Front page news Obituaries • Saukville news Grafton news • Fredonia news Belgium news Section C Good Living features Recipes • Weddings • Engagements Real Estate • Classifieds

Horsing around on the farm for a good cause The pigs gave them a run for their money, but a bunch of energetic children eventually caught up with them and claimed the monetary prizes affixed to their backs during the ninth annual Jeri Boehlke Memorial Old West Open Speed Show and Fall Market Sunday at Forest Rich Stables in the Town of Fredonia. Proceeds from the event fund scholarships awarded in the name of Jeri, who died in 2004 at the age of 13 from injuries Photo by Sam Arendt suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident.

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel JSOnline.com/milwaukee Friday October 26, 2012

SS Badger: 2 legislators say ferry shouldn't be allowed to dump. 3B Library: Trims planned in downtown hours, branch services. 5B

LOCAL

Tippi Hedren stars in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "The Birds."

TV: Horror shows seem to be on daily, especially now. Encore/6B NEWSWATCH DELIVERED: Go to www.jsonline.cominewsletters to have a free news digest sent to your inbox each weekday, and when major news breaks

Boss warns of risks of voting Obama Some at Rite-Hite see email citing `personal consequences' as a threat By DON WALKER dwalker@journalsentinel.com

Mike White, the chairman and owner of RiteHite, a major Milwaukee manufacturer of industrial equipment, wanted to be sure his employees understood what he feels is at stake in the presidential election. In an email sent this week to employees, White said his workers "should understand the personal consequences to them of having our tax rates increase dramatically if President Obama is reelected, forcing taxpayers to fund President Obama's future deficits and social programs (including Obamacare), which require bigger government." The email, which may conflict with state election law, stunned some employees. One employee said he felt threatened by the email. "It's a good company, but for this to come out, it's absurd," Please see VOTE, 5B

ELECTION 2012

Baldwin says she supports Affordable Care Act Congresswoman backs off calls for single-payer system By PATRICK MARLEY pmarley@journalsentinel.com

Madison â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Democrat Tammy Baldwin said Thursday that if elected to the U.S. Senate, she would focus on implementing Obamacare rather than advocating for having the government go even further and pay all citizens' health care costs, as she's backed in the past. "Voters have a choice of moving forward with the Affordable Care Act and its implementation or electing a candidate who would rip it up and start all over again from

scratch," she said. "As I run for the U.S. Senate, I run for the opportunity to work on a bipartisan basis to implement Baldwin Thompson the Affordable Care Act as it was passed and address anything about it that isn't working." Baldwin is running against Republican former Gov. Tommy Thompson in a nationally watched race that has seen record spending from outside groups. Independent polls show a tight race.

The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, has been a top issue, with Baldwin championing it and Thompson saying he would vote to repeal it. During her 14 years in the U.S. House, Baldwin has often pushed for a single-payer health care system that would have the government pay all health care claims, a level of government involvement beyond what eventually passed. Asked if she still supported a single-payer system, she said: "It's irrelevant. We have a bill (the Affordable Care Act) that was passed. I worked on it. I voted for it. That's what our task is going forward. It doesn't matter the debates Please see SENATE, 5B

County supervisors add to 2013 budget

GOURD ALMIGHTY! PUMPKINS EVERYWHERE

Proposal would raise tax levy by $3.35 million By STEVE SCHULTZE sschultze@journalsentinel.com

County supervisors Thursday endorsed a 2013 budget with a $3.35 million property tax increase, by scaling back Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele's plan to shift additional health insurance costs onto employees and launching a new employee wellness program. The committee also unraveled a deal to enlist the Milwaukee Police Department to take over county park patrols, though it did approve a smaller city-county collaboration in which the county would pay the city to handle all emergency 911 cellphone calls. Abele had proposed a property tax freeze for 2013, with the levy at the same $275.4 million figure as this year's. The budget approved by the County Board finance committee would set next year's levy at $278.7 million. That's an increase of 1.2 % County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic said the budget revisions by the board's finance committee more fairly balanced program needs with taxpayers' pocketbook concerns. Killing the park patrol deal and increasing funding for paramedics should enhance public Please see BUDGET, 3B

MARK HOFFMAN / MHOFFMAN@JOURNALSENTINEL.COM

Mark Szumski places jack-o'-lanterns Wednesday at the Great Pumpkin Festival at Old Schoolhouse Park, 5420 N. Marlborough Drive in Whitefish Bay. The event, sponsored by the Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation, features food, music and pumpkin carving, and runs 6 to 9 p.m. through Sunday. There also will be a special lighting and trick-or-treating on Halloween. Szumski, a board member, says that by the end of the event, 800 pumpkins will have been carved.

OBITUARY

His column will return.

Rain gives thirsty areas a break

`Hot Rod Rosie' was one tough cookie'

Drought rating improves in parts of state; moisture could help winter wheat planting

Clown, mom and derby diva, Young met life head-on

By MEG JONES mjones@journalsentinel.com

tion derby in 1962, he thought she'd be perfect. He was right. Hot Rod Rosie became one of the first women to drive in a demo derby. "I think it was the challenge of keeping the car running, because you're banging into somebody," her daughter

Enough rain fell in the past two weeks to soothe parched areas of Wisconsin suffering from drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday shows a one-category improvement in parts of the state, including southeastern Wisconsin, from severe to moderate drought conditions. Rainfall in Milwaukee this month is 2.69 inches, more than half an inch above normal for the period. In Madison, 4.15 inches of rain has fallen in October, more than 2 inches above average. Still, even with the rain, much of southern Wisconsin remains in extreme or severe drought conditions. Though it's too late for Wisconsin farmers now finishing this year's harvest, the moisture will help agriculture producers getting ready to plant winter wheat, said J.J. Wood, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in

Please see YOUNG, 3B

Please see DROUGHT, 5B

By JAN UEBELHERR juebelherr@journalsentinel.com

Her name was Roselyn Young, but to demolition derby fans she was known as "Hot Rod Rosie," the fearless driver who walked off with seven trophies during a career spanning 30 years. "My mom was a pretty tough cookie," said her daughter Barbara Wagner, who figures that's how Hot Rod Rosie lived to be 90. She died Saturday of complications due to kidney failure. Young got into the demolition derby business by first getting a job she hadn't applied for. She walked into Crazy Jim's Motors to buy tires, hit it off with Crazy Jim Groh, and was hired to sell cars. Cra-

Jim Sting!

FAMILY PHOTO

Roselyn Young drives at the Hales Corners Speedway demolition derby in 1966. Young, known as Hot Rod Rosie, became one of the first women to drive in a demo derby.

More Rosie To see a photo gallery, go to jsonline.com/photos.

zy Jim nicknamed all the women who worked for him â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there was Leaky Sue and Gruesome Grace. Now there was Hot Rod Rosie. When Crazy Jim started his demoli-

WIAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

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RANGERS ON A ROLL

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SATURDAY, October 27, 2012

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Alcohol report: We're 'safer' Commission finds La Crosse County showing progress in drinking behavior By ALLISON GEYER ageyer@lacrossetribune.com La Crosse County residents may be adopting safer drinking behaviors, according to a study released this month. Significant declines in the number of alcohol-related car crashes, emergency room visits and deaths are among the most promising findings by the Changing the Culture of Risky Drinking Behavior Coalition. "I think we tend to focus on

the bad things in our community," said Brenda Rooney, a Gundersen Lutheran epidemiologist and medical director of community and preventative care services who prepared the report. "It seems like we're making some progress. There are a lot of positive things in the report!' It's an important step for a community with a long and complicated history with alcohol. But there's a long way to go: La Crosse County still has one of the highest binge drinking rates

in a state that leads the nation in binge drinking. Among the report's findings: ■ Only four people in the county age 15-24 died an alcohol-related death between 2008 and 2012. That number was 14 between 2004 and 2007. • There has been only one alco hol- related drowning since 2007. Alcohol has contributed to the drowning deaths of nine collegeage men in area rivers since 1997. ■ Car crashes caused by drunken driving decreased by 25

ON THE WEB > Find a link to the report at lacrossetribune.com . percent in La Crosse County, which now has a lower alcoholrelated crash fatality rate than the state as a whole. ■ Drunken driving arrests are down as well, falling by 7 percent between 2007 and 2010. That may be because of a decreased police presence, Rooney said.

But she noted that other areas of the state with more officers patrolling have experienced a similar trend. ■ The rate of emergency room visits for drunken injuries dropped from 3.8 to 2.4 percent, and hospital admissions are down from 17.1 to 13.7 percent. "I think people are being safer," Rooney said. Still, overall alcohol consumption remains the same. See ALCOHOL, A5

Housing, retail site proposed in campus district

LUNCH IN THE PARK

By BETSY BLOOM bbloom@lacrossetribune.com

ERIK DAILY/LA CROSSE TRIBUNE

Gulls flock around a man Friday afternoon as he feeds them in Riverside Park.

A developer wants to build a five - story, multi- million- dol lar shopping and studenthousing complex in the heart of La Crosse. The concept for the complex at loth and State streets calls for four to five commercial spaces on the first floor and about 46 rental units, with a total of 188 bedrooms, in the upper levels, according to developer Pointe West Investments LLC. The facility would provide secure student housing in a setting that would easily allow walking or biking to any of the city's three college campuses, plus ready access to public transit, Pointe West wrote in its letter to the city. La Crosse officials will consider a rezoning request Monday. The retail tenants — including Hmong's Golden Egg Rolls, now at 929 State St. — could cater both to building residents See HOUSING, A5

Enrollment continues to surge in Holmen schools By PATRICK B. ANDERSON panderson@lacrossetribune.com More students are crowding the hallways and classrooms of Holmen public schools again this year. About 3,833 students attend Holmen schools, a 25 percent increase in the past decade. Annual enrollment increases have become so common, district officials even account for them when they prepare their budgets. The ballooning student body is a financial boon for the dis trict, since enrollment numbers are tied to local and state aid. But it also keeps educators on their toes. "There are unique challenges with it," Holmen Superintendent Dale Carlson said. "Some would

District La Crosse Onalaska Holmen West Salem

2011 12 6,868 2,992 3,814 1,806

2012 13 6,726 3,025 3,833 1,806

/0 change -2 1

La Crosse public schools have experienced a steady drop in enrollment, a trend that continues 0.5 this year with the loss of another none 142 students. Most are leaving the region, More area school enrollment numbers on A5. not moving to nearby districts, La Crosse Superintendent Randy Nelson said. Unlike Holmen, the say it's a nice problem to have!' ing," Carlson said. "Still educate city has limited room to expand and Aid is figured using three- the full child." relatively flat population growth. year average enrollment. That requires adding staff, "When you look at the city of In districts like Holmen that carefully placing teachers where La Crosse, we're rather landlocked," continue to grow each year, they're needed and even building Nelson said. -

teachers teach more, buses bus more and there's more maintenance and upkeep. But the dollars are watered down, because each year's enrollment numbers are higher than the previous two, Carlson said. "We don't get that full fund-

ti:). 44/26 FORECAST AS

La Crosse down again

ENROLLMENT CHANGES

new schools. Prairie View Elementary School opened three years ago to Principal Patrice Tronstad said. relieve the burden on the dis Tronstad joined the Holmen trict's packed elementary district in 1988 and worked as a schools. guidance counselor and "It freed up capacity in all of our buildings," Prairie View See SCHOOLS, A5

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Coming Sunday Just two years after the La Crosse County Jail completed a $30 million expansion, the facility holds so many inmates that some are sleeping on floors. Justice officials are already taking steps to trim the population, including releasing some low-risk offenders. But the county may have to spend nearly $400,000 to open a second pod built as part of the expansion. Learn more in Sunday's Tribune.

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WATER74JWN DAILY TIMES October 17, 2012

Vol. 117

ELECTION

No. 279 75 cents

DODGE COUNTY

Second debate takes on feel of boxing match

Little people, big stuff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) — Two alphas in the fight of their lives, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney sparred with passion and grit in a debate that previewed the closing arguments of a campaign that keeps circling back to bedrock questions about which candidate can do more to strengthen the fragile economy. Fresh off their latest encounter and with just three weeks left in the race, the candidates fanned out in all directions today to pitch their tuned-up messages directly to voters on some of the campaign's most treasured turf: Romney in Virginia, Obama in Iowa. Vice President Joe Biden is westward bound for Colorado and Nevada; GOP running mate Paul Ryan returns to all-important Ohio. It was a re-energized Obama who showed up for Tuesday's debate at Hofstra University, lifting the spirits of Democrats who felt let down by the president's limp performance in the candidates' first encounter two weeks ago. But Romney knew what was coming and didn't give an inch, pressing his case even when the arguments deteriorated into did-not, did-too rejoinders that couldn't have done much to clarify the choice for undecided voters. Tuesday's debate was the third installment in what amounts to a four-week-long reality TV series for Campaign 2012. Romney was the clear victor in the series debut, Biden aggressively counterpunched in the next-up vice presidential debate, and the latest faceoff featured two competitors determined to give no quarter. (Continued on page 11, col. 3)

WATERTOWN

City hires firm to design bridge for Second Street BY DAVID BRAZY

davidb@wdtimes.com The Watertown Common Council unanimously approved hiring MSA Professional Services of Madison Tuesday night to design a replacement of the North Second Street bridge. The city will pay $88,000 to MSA Professional Services and for its share of the construction costs for the new bridge. The city had previously budgeted $90,000 to replace the bridge. MSA Team leader Mike Statz addressed the council and said he would begin working with Street Department Superintendent Rick Schultz and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to plan out the next steps in the process to replace the bridge. Statz said in addition to replacing the old bridge, which was built in 1950, MSA is looking to raise the bridge up in the air to accommodate larger boats traveling on the Rock River. Statz added they are hoping to begin construction in 2015. Alderman Tony Arnett said the Public Works Commission conducted extensive interviews with five engineering firms and MSA Professionals came out on top across the board. Arnett added he wanted to ensure neighbors living near the bridge that they could have their voices heard during the bridge replacement. "Neighbors can participate in a number of meetings before and during the construction process," Arnett said. The council also approved contracts to keep the city's waste and recycling removing humming along. The council approved a three-year contract with Johns Disposal of Whitewater to dispose of residential recylables. According to the agreement, if Johns Disposal is able to sell the recycled materials it receives from the city for between $20 and $45 a ton the city does not have to pay any fees to Johns Disposal. If the price for recycled materials drops below $20, the city has to pay Johns the difference. However, if market price for materials goes above $45, John's Disposal pays the city back the difference. As of this August the market rate for recycled materials was $55 a ton. (Continued on page 11, col. 1)

SAMANTHA CHRISTIAN/Daily Times

The Watertown Street Department came to storytime jamboree at the Watertown Public Library to show dozens of area youngsters and their caregivers some of the city's largest pieces of equipment Tuesday morning. Above, Sarah Harper, 2, needs to crouch to run under the dump truck's snowplow. At top, Hudson Bremberger, 3, pretends to operate a grader in the library's parking lot. More photos at www.wdtimes.com .

Proposed tax levy down, rate is up for county BY DIANE GRAFF dianeg@wdtimes.com JUNEAU — While the tax levy is lower than the previous year, the tax rate is still projected to increase, members of the Dodge County Finance Committee learned Tuesday morning. The members received a proposed copy of the 2013 budget from Administrator James Mielke. The proposed appropriations, including operations, debt service and capital projects, amounts to $106,122,298, according to Mielke. "This compares to an adopted 2012 budget of $114,166,970," he said. "One of the major contributing factors of the overall reductions is the completion of phase two of the Clearview project." The Clearview project included the construction of a $44 million long-term care and rehabilitation center in Juneau. The entire facility opened at the end of June. To support the expenditures, the proposed property tax levy is $31,976,321 a decrease of $105,499 from the 2012 levy of $32,081,820, the administrator pointed out. Due to a decline in property valuation of 3.05 percent, an increase of 16 cents per $1,000 equalized valuation is required to fund the levy, Mielke said. "Even though the tax levy is decreasing, with the decrease in equalized valuation the reduced levy will require an increase in the county's portion of the tax rate of 16 cents," Mielke said.

According to a memo in August, the finance committee directed officials to prepare the 2013 budget based on the full available tax levy of $32,081,820. Officials prepared the budget on a lower levy and still the tax rate is projected to increase. "The tax rate is going up because the equalized valuation is going down," finance committee Chairman David Frohling of Watertown said. "It is a concern under current state law with the levy limits whatever the levy is this year is the base for next year," he pointed out. "So it is somewhat of a use it or lose it situation. We have to get the state law changed to have X number of dollars as base and if we do not use it should still be the base in future years. What we need to do is get the legislature to let municipalities budget to need." Last year, county valuation dropped 2.18 percent causing the tax levy to jump 12 cents from the previous year. The economy needs to improve to curtail the drop in valuation, Frohling said. "Bringing in new businesses and new jobs will bring the equalized value up." County sales tax revenues will be used for some highway projects and more projects may be considered with the sales tax funding, Frohling said. The county's tax rate is proposed to be $5.68 per $1,000 market valuation, up from $5.52 needed to fund the 2012 budget and levy. (Continued on back, col. 1)

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

OCONOMOWOC

Reeseville man killed in crash

Gun storage may lead to charges

LOWELL — A 65-year-old Reeseville man was killed instantly Tuesday morning when the sport utility vehicle he was operating struck another vehicle head-on on state Highway 60 near Lowell. The victim has been identified as Charles N. Long. An autopsy was performed this morning with the assistance of the Dodge County medical examiner. The other driver, George G. O'Neal, 62, from Madison, sustained non-life threatening injuries. The accident occurred at 10:56 a.m. Tuesday on state Highway 60, one-tenth of a mile west of County Highway K in the town of Lowell. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, who handled the accident, the SUV was traveling west on state Highway 60 when it appeared the vehicle went left of center on a solid painted yellow (Continued on back, col. 4)

BY STEVE SHARP steves@wdtimes.com IXONIA — Charges are pending against a 41-year-old Elkhorn-area man in Jefferson County for his alleged poor judgment in storing a firearm at a youth football event in Ixonia over the weekend. According to Jefferson County Sheriff's Department Detective Sgt. Donald Hunter, the man took the handgun to an Oconomowoc Youth Football organization event at a park on Ski Slide Road in Ixonia on A 65-year-old Reeseville man was killed instantly late Tuesday Saturday afternoon and decided morning when the sport utility vehicle he was driving struck a to store the weapon in a wooddelivery truck head-on on state Highway 60, one mile west of ed area near the location where County Highway K in the town of Lowell. Aerial photo is cour- the event was taking place. (Continued on back, col. 1) tesy of WISN.com .

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*,11■10--imr— WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

Chuck Miller calls it a career

Mayor expects fund fight

Insurance agent was big supporter of community through the years By Ken Leiviska

"The goals were to be an insurance professional and build a big agency, which was something I was able to Chuck Miller is going do," Miller said. to have a lot more time for It took a lot of hard work hunting, fishing, curling and spending time with his and long hours, he said. For the first 25 years as an family on the farm. After 38 years of provid- agent, he routinely worked 60 hours a week, he said. ing insurance for residents He also was quick to in the Portage area, he is point out that he was only retiring from American able to accomplish those Family Insurance. His last goals because of a friendly day is today. It's the end of what Mill- and dedicated staff. "My staff has really done er called a "great career." When the Pardeeville native a terrific job;' Miller said. Three of them — Dorothy joined the Portage office May 1, 1974, he had only a few goals. Please see MILLER, page Al2 Daily Register

Main Street, BID might lose $26,400, $9,500, respectively

KEN LEIVISKA / DAILY REGISTER

Merwyn Jenkins, right, shakes the hand of his neighbor, Chuck Miller, at a recent retirement party. Miller has spent more than 38 years in the community as an insurance agent for American Family Insurance. He will continue to live in the area and spend time with his family and pursue his hobbies in retirement.

Don't pooh-pooh this party

JEN MCCOY / DAILY REGISTER

By Craig Sauer

The proposed changes Mayor Ken Jahn said in fundTuesday he expects a fight ing likely over a proposal to realwould locate economic develop- hurt ment funding. Main The proposal would Street strip all city funding for more Jahn two downtown-oriented than BID. economic development BID is funded through a organizations — Main special tax on the downStreet Portage and the town business district and Business Improvement has levy authority. District — in favor of a Main Street's other new city economic devel- sources of revenue, besides opment professional. the city, include BID and "Oh, I am sure that donations. Funding from they will (fight it)," Jahn the city was a significant said following a meeting chunk of the group's budof the Common Council. get. It is unclear what the "I am sure that they will funding changes would have some questions. mean for the future of the They will probably not organization. want to be cut off cold "I do feel for them, but I turkey and that will be up also know that I have to do to the Council's decision what is best for the com— what they want to do munity," Jahn said about with it." the cut to MSP. BID would lose $9,500, Jahn said the realwhile MSP would lose location of the monies $26,400. to potentially fund a Main Street Portage city-hired professional to Executive Director Gil handle economic develMeisgeier, who also proopment throughout the vides contract maintewhole community would nance services for BID, improve growth efforts. attended Tuesday's meet"When someone comes ing but said it was not his to the city of Portage (for place to respond to the city economic development), proposal. we need to have a profesMeisgeier said, prior to sional presence;' Jahn the meeting, that organisaid. zational leadership would be responding. Please see MAYOR, page All Special to the Daily Register

Arminda Agosto holds her grandson on Tuesday at the Lewiston Elementary School fall fiesta. More than 125 people attended the costume party, including students and parents from Caledonia and Fort Winnebago elementary schools.

Nonbinding Reward aimed at vandalism downtown library question on Poynette ballot By Shannon Green

said. "I see a lot of what goes Gil Meisgeier has had on down enough, and he hopes $500 there?' will solve the problem. And "You can't sit there with what is a shotgun, so the next best going on thing is to offer a reward to includes catch them;' Meisgeier said. incidents Meisgeier Meisgeier is director of over the Main Street Portage and past year of vandalism, both a maintenance worker for on his property and in the the Business Improvement downtown area, including District; he also owns prop- the underground parkerty near the Portage Public ing lot. He has had several Library. broken windows, both in a "I'm downtown probably garage and a truck, and the more than anyone else;' he truck has been scratched or Daily Register

"keyed." "I've had enough of the vandalism, not only for my place but downtown," Meisgeier said. The "last straw" occurred at 6:36 p.m. Sunday; Meisgeier was contacted by police about a trailer, containing cornstalks harvested by volunteers last week, destined to decorate downtown Portage. The trailer, police said, was on fire. "They did a great job;' Meisgeier said of both the Portage police and fire

departments. By the time he was able to get there, the fire was out. "It didn't damage the trailer," Meisgeier said. But the cornstalks are a loss; they may not be replaced to decorate Portage's downtown. Police are investigating the incident. "We're taking it very seriously:' said Assistant Police Chief Kevin O'Neill. Meisgeier does not blame police for the vandalism and arson incidents. Please see REWARD, page Al2

Habitat homes to Baraboo; Portage can try for 2014 By Ed Zagorski

Capital Newspapers

The local chapter of Habitat for Humanity will more than double the number of new homes it typically builds during the next two years, thanks to a $268,000 federal grant. Eleanor Chiquoine, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of the Sauk-Columbia Area, said

the organization expects to build five new homes on Baraboo's south side in the Chiquoine spring. "We're halfway to our goal of five families. We've got two for sure, so we definitely need

two to three more in the Baraboo area;' Chiquoine said. Baraboo was chosen as the build site because the applicants were among the first approved with a qualified credit, which is difficult to find right now, Chiquoine said. However, people in Portage should not feel discouraged. Another five homes that will be supported by the

grant will be built in 2014, although the organization has not decided where those will be constructed. "We're definitely interested in working in Portage and with Portage. This grant is a two-year process, so maybe next spring (2014) will be the next batch of five;' Chiquoine said. Families who want to see Please see HABITAT, page All

Editor's note: The following is part of an ongoing series on races in the 2012 general election on Nov. 6.

vacant adjacent building that used to be the Little Blessings coffee shop. Passage or defeat of the referendum won't obligate the Village Board to take By Lyn Jerde any particular action on Daily Register the library's expansion. And, at least two village POYNETTE — A nonofficials — one in favor of binding referendum, on expanding the library into the village of Poynette the former Little Blessings ballot for Tuesday's elecbuilding, one opposed — tion, is intended to gauge say the referendum's outpublic opinion about come would not, by itself, whether the Poynette Area determine how they'd vote Public Library should be Please see LIBRARY, page Al2 expanded into a longWEATHER

Partly sunny and chilly High 46 Low 27 See page Al2 Michael Van Horn kindergarten Rusch

CZ)

OBITUARIES • Dale L. Utke 59, Dalton

See page All

INSIDE Thousands remain without power in Sandy's wake. See page Al2

COMMENTARY

Weight is our biggest national crisis; that's not so bad

JEROME CHRISTENSON Winona Daily News

Y'know, things could be worse. A lot worse. I know at this point, six days from Election Day, that sure seems hard to believe. If you've been listening to the election ads it seems like the last good news we've had came about 2,000 years ago — and from the Middle East of all places. But I've been getting up to blue skies and sunshine and even if New York City and most of the east coast was threatening to blow away, the more I look around the less I'm inclined to believe the vote-seekers who've been out to scare the bejeezus out of us. Oh, we've got some troubles, but as troubles go, we've had a lot worse. If you don't believe me, think back 5o years. That would be October 1962 — the Halloween we were all rightfully spooked. Just a few days earlier, we all darn near died. Yeah, that was the Cuban Missile Crisis — Kennedy and Khrushchev nose to nose and just in time they both blinked. We were one twitchy finger from being turned into radioactive ash ... and now, 50 years later, we're supposed to be worried about Ahmadinejad and Iran? C'mon, they just want a bomb. The Soviets had scads of 'em — pointed at us. After living in the shadow of a few million megatons all those years, that scruffy little sandbox dictator doesn't really keep me up at night. Neither do most of the other things that are supposed keep me awake and pacing the floor. I hear a whole lot of moaning and groaning about our national debt and how, like a family deep in hock, we as a country have to tighten our belts and cut our spending to get ourselves back in the black. Well, there's a problem with that analogy. If this country is like a family, I can't help but notice that a certain number of our national family members are quite literally swimming in cash and looking to the rest of us to keep the lights on. It's like Mom and Dad sending their paychecks to, oh, say, the Cayman Islands while they make Junior cover the mortgage with his paper route money. By that analogy, it seems that digging a little

Hometown LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS

Iacrossetribune.com

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2012

Church to receive Purple Heart Second Lt. Jason Church lost both legs in Afghanistan By PATRICK B. ANDERSON panderson@lacrossetribune.com

Second Lt. Jason Church can't wait to see the gridiron again. The last time he played at Veterans Memorial Field at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was as a defensive end for the Eagles. He will return a hero. Church lost both legs in

Afghanistan after surviving a bomb blast. The Army infantryman plans to accept the Purple Heart during halftime of the Nov. 10 match-up between UW-L and UWWhitewater. His father, Col. David Church, will present him with the award. The ceremony will be part of a two-day celebration to honor current and former members of the military the weekend before Veterans Day. "Things like this show that the school cares about its alumni far beyond the time you spend in the university itself!" Jason Church said.

Church was with Comanche Company, an Army infantry unit, southwest of Kandahar when his platoon struck an improvised explosive device. After more than 20 surgeries, Church lives in an Church apartment complex at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, undergoing phys ical therapy. Recovery could take a year, as therapy continues and doctors fit him with prosthetics, Church said. "It really just depends on how things go," Church said.

ON THE WEB For ticket locations or more information visit uwlathletics.com

/veterans.

The university announced plans Tuesday to offer free tickets to the Nov. 10 game. University athletics will host pregame festivities to honor local veterans as part of the "Pack the Vet for the Vets" event, which also includes Church's halftime ceremony. "We think it's going to be a See CHURCH,

PANESTAKING WORK

PETER THOMSON/LA CROSSE TRIBUNE

Workers with Glass Service Center out of La Crosse install windows Tuesday on the west facing facade of the La Crosse Performing Arts Center, currently under construction on Front Street downtown.

The rush is on for early voting By ALLISON GEYER

VW"

The students are politically

ageyer@lacrossetribune.com

About one in five registered voters have already cast ballots before next week's election. That's about on par with early voter turnout in the 2008 presidential election, say area municipal clerks. Voters have until 5 p.m. Friday to cast early ballots. About 20 percent of Onalaska's registered voters have cast their ballots, along with 16 percent from the town of Shelby. "As of (Monday), we are tracking just a little bit below the last presidential election," said Onalaska city clerk Cari Burnmaster. "We expect a heavy turnout for presidential elections and always more absentee

qi. .

Casting an early ballot takes engaged and understand imporabout 15 minutes. It's been a tant issues." Shilling faces GOP challenger popular option for people with Bill Feehan for her 32nd Senate seat. busy schedules and those who District Both parties have encouraged may not be able to make it to a people to vote early. Casting an early ballot takes polling place Tuesday. about 15 minutes. It's been a voting for presidential!' Incumbent state Sen. Jennifer Shilling campaigned Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus, where she encouraged students to vote early. "The student vote is always very important," said Shilling, a Democrat. "UW-L has a strong reputation of high voter turnout.

ja-le ' "ftwr

A look back at the Coulee Region 90 years ago:

Oct. 31, 1922 ■ The La Crosse chief of police today issued an appeal to boys of the city not to destroy property during their Halloween celebrations tonight. ■ The WisconsinMinnesota football game at Minneapolis next Saturday will occupy the center of the stage this week as far as conference football is concerned.

By MATTHEW DEFOUR MADISON — The state's two largest teacher unions are contemplating a merger after losing about 30 percent of their members in the wake of new collective bargaining rules and cuts in education funding. AFT-Wisconsin, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, voted at its annual convention over the weekend to enter formal merger talks with the Wisconsin Education Association Council. WEAC, an affiliate of the

National Education Association, plans to discuss the same proposal at its annual Representative Assembly on Dec. 1. AFT-Wisconsin President Brian Kennedy said the merger discussion is partly driven by the state's new collective bargaining law, known as Act io. But the current discussion began in 2010 and the organizations have been gradually coordinating more of their efforts and services since 1991. Before then the organizations feuded over membership. "Now that recalls are over and

%art g

Halloween safety tips

popular option for people with busy schedules and those who may not be able to make it to a polling place Tuesday. The UW-L College Democrats are providing students with information about early voting and giving voters rides to City Hall. "Early voting helps us feel more confident on Election Day,"

Tribune staff La Crosse police encourage parents to review these safety tips with their children for a safe Halloween. ■ Households that welcome trick-or-treaters should keep outdoor lights on from 4 to 8 p.m. today. ■ Children should be accompanied by a parent or older, responsible person. ■ Examine treats before eating. ■ People are encouraged to give out only wrapped or packaged candy. ■ Wear light-colored clothing short enough to prevent tripping; add reflective tape to the sides, front and back of costumes for better visibility. ■ Stay within the neighborhood and visit homes you know. ■ Watch for traffic. ■ Drivers should watch for

See VOTE, B2

Teachers unions talk merger after membership drops 30 percent Wisconsin State Journal

4 1/2. lir 4.0 1.

THINKSTOCK PHOTO

See JEROME, B3

FROM TRIBUNE FILES

Fewer area teachers are union members School unions in the La Crosse area also experienced a marked decrease in membership from last year. Union membership is down roughly 20 percent for Coulee Region United Educators, a regional affiliate of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, according to the group. CRUE represents unions in 32 western Wisconsin school districts, including La Crosse.

children. ■ Children should carry a flashlight. ■ Keep costumed children away from pets. The pet may not recognize the child and become frightened.

See UNION, B4 fir

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Gook Luck at State Westby Girls Cross Country

estby Times

The only newspaper in the world that October 25, 2012

Westby, Wisconsin

s a whoop for Westby, Coon Valley and Chaseburg

Volume 115, Number 43 750

Westby school district to receive increase in state aid for 2012-13

ROYAL MOMENT.... The 2013 Westby Snowflake Ski & Golf Club royalty were crowned on Sunday, Oct. 21. From left: Kerri Johnson, first attendant; Sammi Hansen, queen; and Megan Bakkum, second attendant. (Jasperson-Robson photo)

by Dorothy Jasperson-Robson dorothy.jasperson@lee.net When the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released its general aid certification on Oct. 16, it was good news for the Westby Area School District, which is expected to receive $106,134 in additional state aid for the 2012-13 school year. "This is good news for taxpayers in the Westby Area School District," Chuck Norton, the Westby district administrator, said. Overall the DPI document showed that 64 percent of the state's public school districts (272 of 424) will receive less school aid for the 2012-13 school year than they did in the previous year, even though there's more money to go around. That's because about $158 million is being directed toward private school choice programs in Milwaukee and Racine. In the second year of Wisconsin's two-year budget, school aid allocations change because of local property values and rolling three-year enrollment tallies. Following the third Friday in September, the "head count" in the Westby Area School District was continued on page B-4

New law prohibiting cell phone use for teen drivers goes into effect Nov. 1 by Dorothy Jasperson-Robson dorothy.jasperson@lee.net A new state law prohibits drivers with an instruction permit or probationary license, which includes many teenagers, from "using a cellular or other wireless telephone except to report an emergency" while driving, goes into effect Nov. 1. The new law is a needed change according to Vernon County Sheriff John Spears. "Texting and driving is a bad combination, and we need to remind our children not to do it every time they leave the house to drive or when they get into a vehicle with another young driver. Just reminding them to wear their seat belts isn't enough. One is just as important as the other," Spears said. Probationary licenses are issued to expire two years from the applicant's next birthday. For example, if a new driver is 16 years old on the date they obtain their probationary license, the earliest that license would expire would be on their 19th birthday. A driver violating the new restriction on the cell phone use law is subject to a forfeiture of $20 to $40 for a first offense and $50 to $100 for a subsequent offense within a year.

"We hope that the new law will deter teenagers and other inexperienced drivers from using their cell phone while behind the wheel, which can be a dangerous distraction. Traffic crashes kill more teenagers in Wisconsin and the rest of the nation than any other cause of death," said Wisconsin State Patrol Maj. Sandra Huxtable, director of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Safety. Spears went on to say that texting is a dangerous distraction because it requires visual, manual and cognitive attention from the driver. It is by far the most alarming distraction. He said in doing presentations to area youth from third grade through high school, he is well aware that cell phone use is an ever-increasing part of our children's lives. "More and more young people are getting cell phones, almost all of them have unlimited texting with their plans. Young people prefer texting over talking on their phones, because of the sense of privacy," Spears said. Spears has also seen the increased use of Smart phones, especially by young drivers.

Smart Phones allow users to surf the Internet, watch videos such as YouTube, update their Facebook and more. He said every new element added into the mix is a new distraction and a cause for concern. "Statistics show that drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to get into a crash. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent, at 55 mph, of driving the entire length of a football field blind," Spears said. In a national study, 43 per cent of 16- and 17-year-olds said they have talked on a cell phone while driving, and 40 percent of teens up to age 17 said they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger. Westby Police Sergeant Scott Stuber said the use of cell phones and other electronic devices, while behind the wheel, is an ever-increasing problem. It is a major distraction for all drivers, of all ages, not just teens, but when you add inexperience behind the wheel into the mix, it's a recipe for disaster. continued on page

B-12

continued on page .i.

A-12

Cancer walk/run on Saturday, Oct. 13. A full wrap of the event with photos can be found inside on page B-1. (Jasperson-Robson photo)

County records its 10th fatality by Matt Johnson matt.johnson@lee.net A rural Hillsboro man, not wearing a seat belt, was killed when his vehicle went off a steep embankment in the town of Greenwood, Thursday, Oct. 18, at 9:2o p.m. According to the Vernon County Sheriff's Department, Joseph D. Verbsky, 59, was driving east on St. Johns Avenue and negotiating a curve

when he lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle went off the road, followed the shoulder and continued down an embankment. The vehicle went through a small stand of trees before striking the bottom of the embankment and coming to a rest. The crash occurred in a rural area about six miles southwest continued on page A-8

FCCLA collecting cans not candy for Halloween

Halloween hours in downtown Westby by Dorothy Jasperson-Robson dorothy.jasperson@lee.net On Halloween all the little ghosts, goblins, super heroes and princesses should make Westby a destination point for special treats being handed out by the majority of downtown businesses and some north and southside businesses. The Westby Chamber has organized a business trick-or treating event from 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. to coincide with citywide residential trick-or-treat hours from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Westby business establishment participating in the trick-or-treat event on Wednesday, Oct. 31, include:

A WATCHFUL EYE.... Norah Bethke gets a sticker on her face at the Chaseburg

SISTER POWER.... Senior Allyson Daines, left, and her sister, freshman Kelsey Daines, right, are headed to state with the Westby girls cross country team. Allyson won the sectional meet with a time of 15:54, while Kelsey placed ninth at 17:16. (Eric Wuennenberg photo) Ja1111111111111111

by Dorothy Jasperson-Robson dorothy.jasperson@lee.net The Westby Area High School and the Westby Middle School FCCLA members are putting a new twist on the ageold tradition of Halloween trick- or treating by holding a "Trick or Cans" event in an effort to help stock the shelves of area food panties. On Wednesday, Oct. 31, FCCLA members will be in search of homes with outdoor lights on that are participating in the annual trick or treat festivities. The FCCLA students won't be looking for a sweet treat for themselves, but will be asking residents to donate a canned or non-perishable food item for the local food pantry.

The second annual "Trick-orCans" event was a successful venture in 2011, and FCCLA advisor Jennie Marx is hoping for the same response in 2012. "FCCLA students will walk around the city of Westby and the village of Coon Valley on Oct. 31. Instead of giving them candy, give them a canned good for the local food pantry," Marx said. The collection will run from 5-8 p.m. and participating students will be wearing a large sticker with FCCLA lettering on it. It's a great community service project for the kids and teaches them the importance of helping others," Marx said.

â&#x2013; 1116 Where to Find it Inside the Times

A 2 History A 3 What's Happening A 4 Obituaries A 5 Church A 6-7 In the Coulee A 8 Cop Shop A 9 Election Preview A 10-11 Across the Fence A-12 Snowflake Royalty B 1 Chaseburg ACS Wrap B 2-3 Sports B 4 School B 5 Puzzle B 6-7 Fall Home Improve B-9 News/Classified B 10-11 Classified

UrnIlett wants comma atiLtnalwas surcorti 14.11 1 11 lid nit MOTE

TAKE US WITH YOU: The Journal Times' news app is available for the iPhone and Android. It's free!

page editor: Jason O'Connell

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Local

Obituaries 2-3B Today 3B

SECTION B

THE JOURNAL TIMES

Caledonia TIF district dissolved

Village Board ends agreement for old Western Publishing building after project stalls LUKE FEUERHERM luke.feuerherm@joumaltimes.com

CALEDONIA The Caledonia Village Board approved a resolution Tuesday to dissolve the tax incremental finance district for the old Western Publishing building on Erie Street. The TIF district was originally created back in 2007 to fuel a proposed high-end condominium develop—

ment on the land, but the project was never completed. "There's been no activity there," Village Administrator Mark Janiuk said before Tuesday's vote. "There's no reason to have the TIF district there because nothing is happening. So, we are just trying to clean house." The board voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to dissolve the

TIF district Tuesday night at the East Side Community Center, 6156 Douglas Ave., with board President Ron Coutts excused for the meeting. Tax incremental financing allows a municipality to pay for improvements in a district with the future taxes generated as development occurs there. The TIF district was approved in

2007 by a Joint Review Board made up of representatives from the four taxing bodies in Caledonia: the village, Racine Unified School District, Gateway Technical College and Racine County. These entities will now receive the tax revenue that had been diverted for the TIF district. More on TIF DISTRICT, Page 3B •

GREETM THE DAY

Courts Notes KRISTEN ZAMBO kristen.zambo@joumaltimes.com

Plea deal pending in ring theft from dying mother RACINE A Racine man accused of stealing his terminally ill mother's anniversary ring — so he could sell it and allegedly give the cash to his pregnant girlfriend — pleaded not guilty Wednesday in court. Juan R. Ramirez, 18, who is charged with felony theft and felony bail jumping, is accused of taking the $4,500 ring off his mother's finger during a medically induced nap Monday morning in her Racine home. He waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday, pleading not guilty during his arraignment to those two charges and another theft charge. Prosecutors filed the other felony theft charge against him on Oct. 1 in a separate case, court records show. "There has been an offer that will resolve both of these matters:" Assistant State Public Defender Erin Larsen said in asking that a plea hearing be scheduled. Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch set Ramirez's plea hearing for Nov. 15. —

SCOTT ANDERSON scott.anderson@joumaltimes.com Buy this photo at jtreprints.com

A man watches the sunrise on Wednesday over Lake Michigan across from the DeKoven Center.

Shots fired near Park High School No one reported injured Journal Times staff

RACINE Shots were fired near Park High School Wednesday morning but no one has been reported injured. Racine Police Department Sgt. Marty Pavilonis said a call came in to police at about 9:15 a.m. for shots fired in the 1900 block of Linden Avenue. Park is at 1901 12th St. Gunshots reportedly struck a garage across the street from the high school, but no people, said Sgt. Steve Herold of the Police Department. "The suspects are not believed to have made it into the school," Herold said. School staff secured the building and worked with law enforcement anyway, Racine Unified spokeswoman Stacy Tapp said. "All the kids were kept in their classrooms. There were no hall passes. The hallways were cleared and they made sure all the students were in secure places in the building and worked with law enforcement to make sure they were doing what they needed to do," Tapp said. Some students were allowed in or out of the building during that time, she added, but security was upped. Park was back to normal operations as of 10:04 a.m., Tapp said. An autodialer phone message will be sent to parents this morning and a letter about the incident will be sent home with students this afternoon, Tapp said. Several officers were on the scene of the shots Wednesday morning, taking photos of the garage and examining damage to the side wall. Pavilonis said there were no suspects at this time. —

Still on the hunt for a lawyer RACINE A Racine man charged in connection with an alleged stickup that turned into a more than four-hour police standoff told a court commissioner Wednesday that he has the money to hire a lawyer, he just hasn't done so yet. Jeremy A. McGee, 27, is charged with armed robbery and obstructing an officer in connection with the police standoff Sept. 17 in the 2000 block of Howe Street in Racine. McGee, who remains in the Racine County Jail, was McGee scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday. But his court-appointed defense attorney, Pamela Popken, asked to delay it for the second time, saying McGee still wanted to hire a private lawyer, but hadn't yet. "Mr. McGee, we can't set this out indefinitely:' Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch said. Court records show that during what was to have been his preliminary hearing Oct. 3, McGee said he intended to hire a private lawyer. On Wednesday, McGee said he has the cash and still plans to hire a different lawyer. "Ms. Popken is extremely qualified;' Rudebusch told him firmly. "I don't want to adjourn this if you don't have the money." Popken maintains a private practice, although she takes public defender cases, too. State bar records show her license is in good standing. Rudebusch set a Oct. 24 status hearing. —

No bond change to help sister learn to drive RACINE A Sturtevant man accused of growing and selling marijuana to reportedly support his cigarette habit failed in his bid Wednesday to get out of jail by having his sister put up their house as bond. Scott A. Kiekhofer, 49, is charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was charged Oct. 11 after Racine County Metro Drug Unit investigators allegedly found marijuana — including recently harvested plants — at the home. While Kiekhofer's preliminary hearing had to be rescheduled because his lawyer had a flat tire, that didn't dissuade Kiekhofer from making a bid for his freedom. "My sister is 55 and doesn't have a license;' he said. "So I have to teach her how to drive before I go to prison so she'll be able to keep her job and keep the house?' Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch refused to modify his $50,000 cash bond, saying Kiekhofer's sister could take a class to learn. "Apparently she's a grown woman," Rudebusch said. She reset his preliminary hearing for Oct. 24. —

GREGORY SHAVER gregory.shaver@joumaltimes.corn

Police collect evidence Wednesday morning from a garage in the back of 1954 12th St. after shots were fired near Park High School. No one was reported injured in the incident.

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:klte::„ LAKE COUNTRY REPORTER

Local fire departments respond to Brookfield shooting

America

Three area fire departments sent personnel and equipment to help Brookfield authorities with the Azana salon shootings.

VOLUME 41, NUMBER 86

Page 6

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Runners ready for the big race

Few answers to domestic violence

Local teams charge into the WIAA Division 1 state cross country meet Saturday, with several expecting to finish near the top.

By MELISSA GRAHAM mgraham@jcpgroup.com

On Oct. 8, Zina Haughton,

Page 18

42, filed for a temporary re-

straining order against her estranged husband. "His threats terrorize my every waking moment," she said.

LET'S GO! Hartland business trick-or-treat

"(Domestic violence is) the most complicated thing that we deal with."

Downtown Hartland will be swarming with ghosts and goblins tonight (Thursday) as area kids collect goodies from merchants with the business trick-or-treat from 6 to 8 p.m. (262) 3677059, www.hartland-wi.org

Brad Schimel

Waukesha County District Attorney

Cute lir punkin

NOTABLE Waukesha County will get a new clerk after this election. Hear from the candidates.

SCOTT ASH/SASH@JCPGROUP.COM

Five-month-old Haven Pancake of Delafield nestles into the pumpkin patch to find just the right one during a visit to Homestead Animal Farm and Corn Maze in Hartland on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012.

Page 7

P•

■ $1

Remembering Maelyn

ONLINE See all these stories and more on our Web site, LivingLakeCountry.com

Family, friends treasure memories of shooting victim V SPACE RESERVED FOR MAILING LABEL V

By DONNA FRAKE

dfrake@jcpgroup.com

Two hundred people gathered Monday evening at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc to mourn the loss of Maelyn Lind, 38, of the Town of Merton, who was gunned down Sunday afternoon at the Azana Salon & Spa in Brookfield. Lind was one of three women who lost their lives to a man on a rampage sparked by a turbulent domestic situation involving her co-worker. Radcliffe F. Haughton, 45, entered the salon Sunday morning carrying a .40-caliber handgun and searching

for his estranged wife, who had been granted a four-year-restraining order just two days earlier, according to Maelyn Lind police. At the end of his rampage, three women were dead, four were injured and Haughton was found in a locked area, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. "The Lind and Hanson family would like all to know that the death of Maelyn is a tragic loss for our family. We have been comforted by the outpouring of support from both family and friends," Maelyn Lind's family said in a prepared statement. "Maelyn will always be remembered as a wonderful

wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, and community member. Her infectious smile will always be remembered by all in the Lake Country area. We will miss her willingness to assist all who were in need," it read.

The order was granted by the family division of Milwaukee County Circuit Courts and prohibited Radcliffe Haughton from having any contact with his wife. He was also prohibited from owning any firearms, yet he bought one two days later. He used it to gun down seven women at Asana Salon and Spa in Brookfield on Sunday, killing three of them, including Zina Haughton, before killing himself. Co-workers Cary Robuck, 35, of Racine and Maelyn Lind, 38, of Merton were also killed. Turbulent history

The Town of Merton woman and mother of four was remembered by longtime friend and client Sara Junio. "Maelyn would do anything to help a friend or family member. The story we've been told is that she stepped in the line of the bullet to save Zina's daughter," Junio said, referring to target of the gunman's rage, Zina Haughton. "While I want to scream `how could you do this, Maelyn?' I believe she was just

It's not the first time that the state recognized a domestic dispute between the two. In 2011, he was charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, modified charge of domestic abuse, but the case was dismissed when Zina Haughton failed to appear in court. The Brown Deer Police Department is still trying to sort out details from that first incident. "What happened on Sunday - it's unimaginable that something that so terrible can happen. It's something we can't predict," said

Turn to PAGE 3

Turn to PAGE 8

A friend remembers

Thursday, November 1, 2012 Vol. 119, No. 44

SOUTH SHORE

BAY VIEW CUDAHY ST. FRANCIS SOUTH MILWAUKEE MyCommunityNOW.com

NOW Photo by C.T. Kruger

SALT MOUNTAIN — As a storm approaches, salt is loaded into trucks from a massive road salt pile in the Port of Milwaukee last week.

AROUND THE TOWN FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Join the members of the Woman's Club of South Milwaukee for a tour of the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, 901 15th Ave. The tour will follow a noon lunch on stage. For information, call (414) 766-5049 or visit southmilwaukeepac.org .

Bring children ages 6 to 14 to tryouts for the Schroeder YMCA swim team from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Deer Creek Elementary School pool, 3680 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., St. Francis. There is a team registration fee that will include membership to the Y.

Lave With Our

►

For details, call (414) 897-8932 or visit wsacltd.org . Shop for produce, natural products, homemade items and more at the weekly indoor winter farmers market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Ann Center, 2801 E. Morgan Ave., Milwaukee. Call (414) 977-5000 or visit stanncenter.org for information. Support the Marian Center for Nonprofits by attending the Sip & Taste Fundraiser from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the

Fall 4* Get Two Months F nt S ecials brenwood Park senior Apt.es Ct 00 091

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center, 3211 S. Lake Drive, St. Francis. Tickets are $20. For information, call (414) 444-6544 or visit mariancenter.net .

MONDAY Enjoy social time and Holiday Designs by Kitty Schaefer during the South Shore Garden Club meeting at 6 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2931 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee. Call (414) 482-1256 with questions.

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Miniature horses bring enjoyment to nursing home residents. Page 7A. • As drought worsens, Minnesotans asked to rethink water use. Page 6C. Grouse hunt intermingles with other Northwoods activities. Page 7B. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012

The Country Today "The NewspaperThat Cares About Rural Life"

Volume 35, Number 40 36 Pages, 4 Sections

www.thecountrytoday.com

Cover girl

Spring photo selected as winner in The Country Today contest Tourist attraction preserves historic Eleva barn.

Giant pumpkins earn honors at competition.

6B Dairy: There's no

one-size-fits-all approach to treat mastitis.

10C

By Jim Massey Editor I jimmassey@mhtc.net

Amanda McConaghy had no intention of entering a photo contest when she snapped a picture of her daughter Patience sitting next to a clothesline on a warm May morning. But once she posted the photo on Facebook, McConaghy's friends encouraged her to enter it in a contest. One of her friends had heard about The Country Today's photo/calendar contest and suggested that she submit the photo. The photo was selected as the grand prize winner in The Country Today's first photo/calendar contest. McConaghy received a $200 Farm & Fleet gift certificate for her winning entry. "It turned out just to be a really awesome picture," McConaghy said. "But I was stunned when I found out I had won. There were some really good photos — some really professional ones — in the contest." See PHOTO, Page 2A

Photo by Amanda McConaghy

Amanda McConaghy's photo of her then 8-month-old daughter, Patience, watching a chicken stroll by a clothesline filled with diapers was the winning photo in The Country Today's first photography/calendar contest. The photo will appear on the calendar's cover and as June's selection.

FTD donors get sneak peek North African grain buyers tour Dunn at 2013 host dairy farm

County ethanol plant

Olsons ready to show off rural community, new manure system

By Anita Zimmerman

By Heidi Clausen Regional Editor I clausen@amerytel.net

DALLAS — Major

We're on the web Find our stories online at www.thecountrytoday.com . To buy an online subscription, call 800-236-4004.

INDEX Classifieds 2D Country Calendar 3B Country Options 8C Dairy 9/10C Farm 6C Farm Business 5C 2B Food

Gardening 6B 4B Horses Letters 9A Livestock 2/3C Markets 4C Opinions 8A Outdoors 7B Yarns of Yesteryear 1B

donors to next year's Wisconsin Farm Technology Days got a sneak peek inside the host farm, Breezy Hill Dairy, last week. About 40 sponsors were treated to lunch and tram rides around Alex and Mary Olson's 500-cow dairy farm during a donor appreciation preview Oct. 18. Participants dined in a white tent in the staked-out alfalfa field that, come next summer, will be abuzz with thousands of spectators and the more than 600 exhibitors making up Tent City. A fall donor appreciation preview hasn't been done by other host counties, said Barron County FTD executive committee chairwoman and Hillsdale dairy producer Audrey Kusilek. The day was designed to thank sponsors for providing seed money for the show and give them a chance to mingle with the show's executive committee and host farmers, she said. Kusilek said donors' seed money allowed FTD organizers to offer leadership training for more than 100 volunteers and get the ball rolling for the commemo-

Photo by Heidi Clausen

Excitement is building for Alex and Mary Olson, who will host Wisconsin Farm Technology Days on their dairy farm next July. They're shown with a full-scale version

of the commemorative show tractor — a Farmers Union Co-op No. 3. rative toy tractor and show cookbook. Despite the sluggish economy, Kusilek said, persuading people and businesses to support FTD financially has been relatively easy. "We're very, very fortunate to have the local businesses that have stepped forward to be sponsors," she said. Cookbook sales have been brisk, she said, and they expect to sell out their second printing of 1,500 books by Christmas. More than 50 area farms have invested in the show through the Landmark Farms program. For a $300 donation, participants receive an FTD toy tractor, yard sign and cookbook. Kusilek said Barron County hopes to at least

match the $1.8 million local economic impact seen in 2010 when Pierce County hosted the state's biggest agricultural event. But the show's impact goes much deeper than economics, she said. "The money (donors) invest in the show will come back to them as future leaders ... ," she said. "How do you put a value on that?"

New manure system built Mary Olson said it seems like just yesterday that she and her husband, Alex, were announced as 2013 FTD hosts. Now, the show's just nine months away. See

FTD, Page 2A

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"There's no bill. We I anita.zimmerman@ecpc.com don't know if there will be money," said Nancy KavaBOYCEVILLE — zanjian, communications Congress' failure to pass the director with the Wisconsin farm bill was a source of Corn Growers Association. consternation during a tour "The question is, what will of the Big River Resources happen?" ethanol plant Oct. 19. The North African grain Twelve grain-company buyers were in the state to executives from Tunisia, learn about U.S. products Algeria and Morocco were through touring farms and in Dunn County for the U.S. plants before they moved Grain Council-sponsored on to the two-day Export tour, accompanied by three Exchange 2012 conference consultants with the council. Oct. 22-24 in Minneapolis. Charged with developing The idea is to connect buyAmerican grain export mar- ers with suppliers and to kets, the U.S. Grain Couneducate potential customers cil is half funded through industry and half through the farm bill. See PLANT Page 2A 1 Regional Editor

The Nature Conservancy considering opening some land to cattle grazing By Jim Massey Editor I jimmassey@mhtc.net

BARNEVELD — People could see more cattle back on the rural landscape if a project being considered by The Nature Conservancy comes to fruition. TNC officials hosted an Oct. 16 field day at their Barneveld Prairie property to discuss the possibility of opening some of their protected natural areas and preserves to grazing. The field day featured

For more information, call Eric Mark at 715307-1695. a presentation by an Iowa State wildlife biolo-

gist who has a history with similar projects in Iowa. TNC officials said there could be multiple benefits of integrating agricultural activities on conservation land. See

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VILAS COUNTY

EVIEW

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Wisconsin Newspaper Association 2012 Large Weekly Division

VOL. 127, NO. 33

Section A

EAGLE RIVER, WI 54521 • (715) 479-4421 • vcnewsreview.com

$1.25

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 2012

Big voter turnout expected for Obama, Romney contest BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR

The presidential contest between incumbent Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney, and several state legislative races are expected to draw a big voter turnout in the North Woods next Tuesday, Nov. 6. In addition to the presidential election, other races of interest for Vilas and Oneida county voters include positions for the 34th Assembly District, 12th Senate District, 7th Congressional District and U.S. Senate. Vilas County Clerk Dave Alleman said when the presidential election rolls around every four years, voter interest also increases. "I would expect that we could get up in the 80% voter turnout range," said Alleman.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

MITT ROMNEY

"There is a lot of interest this year in the presidential election, as well as the state races." Alleman noted that there also are contests for county clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, surveyor and district attorney this fall, but all

Vilas County incumbents are unopposed. Alleman also expects a lot of new voters. "There has been a lot of voter registration," said Alleman. "A substantial number of people only vote in the presidential election." The interest is high, ana-

lysts say, because the presidential contest is still a split among voters less than a week before Election Day. A Politico/George Washington University Battleground Tracking Poll of 1,000 likely voters shows Obama ahead of Romney by 1%, 49% to 48%. That represents a three-point swing in Obama's direction from a week ago, but reflects a race that remains statistically tied. Meanwhile, a Washington Post-ABC News poll shows Romney leading Obama 49% to 48%. Wisconsin is being considered a swing state for the presidential race, with at least two polls showing Obama leading 51% to 45%. Those surveys were by Public Policy Polling and Rasmussen Reports. But the NBC News poll has Obama To PRESIDENT, Pg. 2A

PRIZE-WINNER — Ellie Chicka dressed as a plant at the St. Germain Lions Club Halloween party. —Photo By Wally Geist

Tiffany, Sommer seek Senate seat BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR

North Woods voters in the general election next Tuesday, Nov. 6, will select a new state senator in the 12th District, with Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat Susan Sommer vying for the seat. The new state senator will claim the position currently held by Democrat Jim Holperin of Eagle River, who is not seeking re-election after serving one term in the Senate. Tiffany, who lives in Hazelhurst, has served as an assemblyman in the 35th District for the past two years. He also owns a small business, Wisconsin River Cruises in Rhinelander. Sommer is a native of Rhinelander and currently lives in Phelps. She is an attorney with an office located in Eagle River. Running on his record in the Assembly, Tiffany says he

TIFFANY SOMMER

made three commitments to voters in his campaign to become a state representative in 2010 — to pass a balanced state budget, to hold the line on taxes and to reform the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "I fulfilled the promises I made to the voters of the 35th Assembly District, and will take the same approach when representing my new Senate district constituents," To 12TH DISTRICT, Pg. 6A

ELECTION RESULTS ON WEB ALBINO — This ruby-eyed gray squirrel, a true albino, was busy on some cold winter day. Squirrels go into massive food storage collecting and hiding food that supposedly it will find another time mode in the fall. —Staff Photo By KURT KRUEGER

Kreitlow challenging Duffy Congressional race set in new 7th District BY ANTHONY DREW NEWS-REVIEW ASST. EDITOR oods voters will cast their ballots next Tuesday, Nov. 6, in a race between incumbent Republican Sean Duffy and Democrat challenger Pat Kreitlow for the Wisconsin 7th Congressional District seat. Also on the ballot as an Independent will be Dale Lehner of Prairie Lake. In the past, all of Vilas County and a portion of Oneida were in the 8th Congressional District, represented by Republican Reid Ribble. However, redistricting in

2011 resulted in both counties being positioned in the 7th, along with Forest, Florence and Langlade counties. The district now encompasses all of northcentral and northwestern Wisconsin and reaches as far south as Monroe County. Following is a brief biographical sketch of the Republican and Democratic candidates. Duffy, now seeking his second term in Congress, was born and raised in Hayward. He has a marketing degree

LIGHT AE ENDS

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4

DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK!

Results of the general election contests Tuesday, Nov. 6, including the Presidential, 7th Congressional District, 12th State Senate District, 34th Assembly District and Wisconsin Senate elections, will be on the News-Review's website by 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7.

Go to vcnewsreview.com

Swearingen, Van Buren vie for 34th Assembly BY ANTHONY DREW NEWS-REVIEW ASST. EDITOR

REP SEAN DUFFY

PAT KREITLOW

from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minn. The 10th of 11 siblings, Duffy's family history revolves around lumberjacking. Duffy said he was a nationally recognized professional lumberjack athlete who worked his way through law school by performing in lumberjack shows and exhibitions across the state and

around the country. After graduating from law school, he practiced law for two years in Hayward before becoming a special prosecutor in Ashland, where he eventually became the District Attorney of Ashland County. Working with law enforcement, Duffy helped make the county one of the first in the state to investigate and prosTo CONGRESS, Pg. 3A

Area voters will select a new State Assembly representative in the 34th district next Tuesday, Nov. 6, as Democrat Merlin Van Buren and Republican Rob Swearingen will contend for the position. The seat is currently held by Republican Dan Meyer of Eagle River, who has decided not to seek re-election. Van Buren and his wife, Ann, have lived in Rhinelander for the past 17 years. He has been a merchandising agent at Drs. Foster and Smith since 1999 and has served on the Rhinelander School board since last April. Swearingen is a lifelong resident of Rhinelander. He and his wife, Amy, have owned and operated the All Gen Dinner Club in Rhinelander since 1993. He

SWEARINGEN VAN BUREN

is the current president of his industry trade association, representing nearly 5,000 members across Wisconsin. Van Buren said he's running in an effort to close the growing political breach in Wisconsin. "I believe that in this time there is a great divide in our state," he said. "It's important to have someone who is willing to work to bring this state To ASSEMBLY, Pg. 2A

WEATHER • 9A TODAY

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Glazette SERVING JANESVILLE, ROCK AND WALWORTH COUNTIES

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 • Our 167th Year •75(

School budget gets OK District's tax levy decreases as expected By Frank Schultz fschultz@gazettextra.com JANESVILLE The Janesville School Board did as expected Tuesday, shifting funds from its reserves to

balance the 2012-13 budget. Also as expected, the board approved the school property tax levy of $36.07 million, a decrease of about 1.9 percent from last year. Taxes on an average house valued at $112,000 will be $18 less than last year, officials said, although that estimate is based on equalized values and does not reflect actual taxes in the various municipalities that comprise the school district. Not so expected was a last-minute addition of $288,271 to the 2012-13 budget. The money

will pay to replace carpeting at Marshall Middle School. Board member Greg Ardrey said the existing carpet should be replaced in various classrooms and wings of the school where it is worn. "They are tripping hazards. ... We are extremely fortunate that we haven't had any accidents there," Ardrey said. The very worst areas have already been replaced at Marshall, but bad areas remain, said Turn to BUDGET on Page 8A

Rainy reflection on the trail

RELATED • State: Economic news helps Democrats in Midwest./Page 5A

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79a333

Gazette at a Glance LOCAL • 2A-3A Man sentenced for enticement An Edgerton man will likely live out the rest of his life in prison after a Rock County Judge on Tuesday sentenced him for enticing two elementary-school-aged girls. Donald E. Jenson, 66, of 14 Maple Court, Edgerton, was sentenced to 24 years in prison and 20 years of extended supervision on two counts of child enticement. Dismissed but Jenson read in to the record were charges of first-degree sexual assault and repeated sexual assault of the same child. According to the criminal complaint, Jenson fondled the girls repeatedly between June 2011 and January 2012. The girls were 5 and 7 at the time.

It's possible that Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings will return this week from a groin injury, but don't expect to know until Thursday at the earliest. Jennings will continue with the rest and rehabilitation he began Oct. 1 after aggravating the injury against the New Orleans Saints. Team doctors believe Jennings practicing too much before that game aggravated the injury. Jennings has missed three games while recuperating.

Party back on offense in legislative races Associated Press

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SPORTS • 1B-4B Will Jennings return for Pack?

A change of pace for GOP MADISON For a year and a half, Wisconsin Republicans have been taking it on the chin. Protesters have booed them, Democrats have pushed them into recall election after recall election and erased their majority in the state Senate. Now the GOP is going into the Nov. 6 elections itching for payback. If even one Democratic Senate incumbent goes down and the GOP maintains control of the Assembly, Republicans will have full run of state government again. The stakes, as always, are enormous. No one has hinted at what legislation might be coming in the next session, but lawmakers will begin debate early next year on Gov. Scott Walker's second state budget and another bill rewriting the state's mining laws is almost certainly on tap after the GOP's first attempt fell through. If Democrats maintain Senate control they'll be able to block any Republican legislation, promising protracted

FALL INTO COMFORT

SNUGGLE UP IN A NEW MATTRESS

NATION/WORLD • 7B US oil production rising Oil output is surging so fast that the United States could soon overtake Saudi Arabia as the world's biggest producer. U.S. production of crude and other liquid hydrocarbons could rise this year to an average of 10.9 million barrels per day. U.S. crude output is on track to post the biggest single-year increase since 1951. The drilling boom is helping the economy by slashing imports and boosting employment.

DEATH NOTICES • 8A • loseph R. Brazil Jr./Union Grove Wilton "Milt" Lee Brown Sr./Beloit •Shirley Ann Buhr/McFarland • Luella M. Cuff/Beloit • Creal C. Marr/Janesville • Irving "Bud" Weiss/Turtle Lake

OBITUARIES•8A • Lois Bain/Janesville •Joyce A. Bolen/Beloit •William John Engler/Janesville •Irving Dean "Bud" Weiss/Delavan

Mark Kauzlarich/mkauzlarich@gazettextra.com Barb Peterson walks along the Spring Brook Trail near Palmer Park in Janesville on Tuesday. The damp weather of the past few days will give way to higher temperatures today and Thursday, although rain is still possible. For a gallery of weather photos, visit gazettextra.com/multimedia . For more on the weather, turn to Page 9A.

Push begins for Boys & Girls Club in Walworth County Organizers are targeting Delavan for first location By Jim Leute jleute@gazettextra.com DELAVAN Promoters say Walworth County needs a Boys & Girls Club, particularly in Delavan, where nearly two-thirds of school-age children are economically disadvantaged. So far, organizers have raised about $50,000 of the $200,000 needed to start a club. Judy Mueller, chairwoman of the club's local advisory council, said the Boys & Girls Club of America requires clubs to raise 150 percent of their first year's operating budget before they can open. Mueller and other supporters dis-

cussed plans for the club Tuesday at Lake Lawn Resort. Mueller said the club, which will target kids between the ages TO LEARN MORE of 7 and 18, hopes to open For more inforby October mation about the 2013. While a proposed Boys & site has not Girls Club for Walbeen selected, worth County or to she said talks donate, go online are ongoing to bgcwalco.org . with the Delavan-Darien School District about opening it at one of the district's schools. Mike Heine, the school district's coordinator of school-community relations, said the school board heard a Bill Olmsted/bolmsted@gazettextra.com presentation earlier this month, and all Gov. Scott Walker speaks to a crowd at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan on Tuesday about efforts to build a Boys and Girls Club in WalTurn to CLUB on Page 9A worth County. Walker visited his hometown to support the group.

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Questions linger after spa shootings actly what happened, and emphasized they were still interviewing witnesses and rescuers and did not have a firm timeline of events. At a news conferBROOKFIELD (AP) — A a nearby mall, a country club ence Sunday Wisconsin man who had been adjacent to the spa and the night, Mayor accused of domestic violence hospital where the survivors Steve Ponto and slashing his wife's tires were taken. The search froze called the took a gun into the spa where activity in a commercial area Radcliffe shootings "a she worked Sunday and shot in Brookfield, a middle-to-up- Haughton senseless act seven women, three fatally, per class community west of on the part of before killing himself, a poMilwaukee, for much of the one person." lice chief said. day. Ultimately, he was found The chaos started around The shootings set off a con- dead in the spa. 11 a.m. at the Azana Day Spa, fusing, six-hour search for Authorities said it would a two-story, 9,000-square-foot the gunman that locked down take time to sort out exbuilding across from a shop-

Investigation continues after man kills 3, then self

ping mall. The first officers on the scene found the building filled with smoke from a fire authorities believe was set by the suspect, Radcliffe Franklin Haughton, 45, of Brown Deer, Brookfield Police Chief Dan Tushaus said. They also found a 1-pound propane tank they initially thought might be an improvised explosive device, Tushaus said. That slowed the search of the building as law enforcement agents waited for a bomb squad to clear the scene. Tushaus said later that police didn't know whether the gunman brought the propane

Taking a stab at winning pumpkin contest

tank to the spa or it was left by a contractor. The search also was complicated by the layout of the building, with numerous small treatment rooms and several locked areas, Tushaus said. While officers initially thought the gunman had fled the building, they later found his body in one of the locked areas, he said. The bodies of the victims also were found in the spa. Tushaus said investigators were still working to identify them. He said the four survivors were between the ages of 22 and 40. He didn't know if they were employees at

the spa or customers, and it wasn't clear if the man's wife was among the victims. Haughton had recently been arrested after witnesses identified him as the person who slashed his wife's tires, police said. He appeared in court Thursday. A four-year restraining order was issued, and Haughton was ordered to turn any firearms over to the sheriff's department. The hospital released a statement saying two women had undergone surgery, and one was in critical condition. Another was expected to have surgery Sunday night.

Heroes Cafe serves up coffee, lots of memories for vets BY PATTI WENZEL pwenzel@kenoshanews.com

KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY SEAN KRAJACIC

Justin O'Keefe, center, his wife Emily, right, and Nick Thelen carve their pumpkins during the underwater pumpkin carving event at Diver Dan's on Sunday.

Carvers go to great depths for their art

BY JILL TATGE-ROZELL jrozell@kenoshanews.com

he pumpkin Margaret Novak carved Sunday isn't your typical toothy-grinned jack-o'lantern. Then again, she didn't carve it in a traditional manner, either. Like many of the pumpkins carved during Diver Dan's annual underwater pumpkin-carving contest, Novak's design was based on a marine animal theme. The jack-o'-lantern fish took second place — a three-peat for Novak, 62. Novak said she may have taken first place had she not lost most of the pieces she cut out of the pumpkin in the pool. In addition to doing all the carving underwater, contestants were required to bag the pieces and be finished in 20 minutes. The divers could add to the pumpkins poolside when they were done carving. "There's a few pieces missing in the

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pool," Novak said. "That's going to hurt my score." Novak carved a gaping mouth in an oval pumpkin and gouged out some eye sockets. Once out of the water, the creation was enhanced with toothpicks for teeth and other materials for the distinctive look of a deep-sea creature. Reigning champion Duane O'Keefe retained his title by carving a giant spider. His prize was an air regulator valued at more than $300. Laurie Compher took third place with a pumpkin eating a smaller pumpkin, like fish taking the bait.

Started in rock quarry Dan Vaccaro, owner of Diver Dan's, said the annual contest dates back at least 25 years. It started in a rock quarry and also took place in the pool

IMAGE LEGEND Links to relevant, trusted websites Additional stories related to topic More photos on this story

It's just a small nook across from the checkout counters at Spiegelhoff's SuperValu, but every Friday morning between 8 a.m. and noon that nook becomes a home for local veterans to enjoy coffee, doughnuts and memories. The Heroes Cafe was the brainchild of Mary Domes and Sharon Janusz. They wanted to thank local veterans of all eras for their service to the country and give Kenoshans the opportunity to do the same. Domes came up with the idea when her father, World War II veteran Robert Shultz, prepared to take a Stars and Stripes Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2010. Shultz died before the flight, but Domes wanted to fulfill her father's desire to "thank all the other vets." Domes and Janusz instead went to the celebration of the flight's return to Mitchell International Airport with flags and pictures

of Shultz. "I proudly wore my dad's Ike jacket," Domes said. "We spent the evening shaking strong hands, shouting out thank yous and crying tears of pride. Little did we know, that evening would change our lives and strengthen our love of our country's heroes."

SuperValu responds Domes and Janusz went on to organize a bus from Kenosha for people who wanted to share in the homecoming event and set up a signup table at SuperValu. In response to their excitement, SuperValu manager Kevin Karweik offered them a 10-foot-by-10foot storage room to honor veterans. "We cleaned up this room, put up posters and flags and opened up 10 weeks ago to honor our vets," Domes said. Each month, the room is See CAFE, Page All

at the former Kenosha Youth Foundation before moving to the pool at Diver Dan's. "It is a way to keep divers active," Vaccaro said. "A lot of people only dive during the summer months. We hold several fun activities like this to keep them in the water year-round."

Family affair Ryan Hickey, 12, of Kenosha, earned his scuba certification through Boy Scouts earlier this year and participated in the carving contest with his parents, Howard and Karen Hickey. "It's a good opportunity for (Ryan) to get back in the water, so he doesn't lose the skills he just learned," Karen said. The family moved to Kenosha from South Carolina. They say they prefer See CONTEST, Page All

DEATHS

BIRTHDAYS

Lawrence "Larry" M. Grabot, 85, of Kenosha, died Sunday at St. Joseph's Home and Rehabilitation Center.

Delaney Strash, 13, becomes a teenager today. She enjoys singing, reading and piano.

Charlotte E. Minshall, 97, of Kenosha, died Sunday at Hospice House, Pleasant Prairie.

KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY PATTI WENZEL

World War ll veteran Gene Schutz, left, shares war stories with Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Chris Schroeder at the Heroes Cafe.

Celebrity birthdays: Annette Funicello, actress, 70. Jeff Goldblum, actor, 60. TobyMac, Christian singer, 48. Shelby Lynne, country singer, 44. Shaggy, reggae rapper, 44. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, actor, 37.

Video/audio footage captured at event

William F. "Bill" Malicki, 75, of Wheatland, died Friday at his home.

Delaney Strash

Follow the icons to www.kenoshanews.com

For a complete list of obituaries, see Page A4

Check out more birthday photos in the Weekday Report at www. kenoshanews. corn.

INDEX Advice A9. Classifieds B7:9. Comics 1310. Deaths A4 Local A1,4,11 Lottery All Money A7 More B6. N.ation/World A10. Opinion A8.,9. Region AS Sports 133,5 TV..Listings Al2 Weather A1.2

O'UNTY

October 18, 2012

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Fall colors helped enhance an already picturesque lake scene near Kiel recently.

Salubrious KIEL

By Mike Mathes

Homecoming fun at Kiel High PAGE 1O

A Kiel firm know for making dog treat biscuits has announced plans to increase its manufacturing space. Salubrious, Inc, which manufactures Phoebe products on Persknickety Drive, its planning an addition that will double its space. Pete Thielmann of Salubrious, Inc. presented the company's plans to the Kiel City Council at its Oct. 9 meeting. Thielmann said the company has recently inked a large contract with a Canadian firm, which involves co-packing a dog treat product. "We have been getting very busy on our baked treat line. This means we have been warehousing both product and raw

Mazy Matsumoto photo

expansion

materials in areas like Manitowoc and New Holstein," he said.

Positive job outlook Thielmann said the expansion would lead to more employment in the Kiel area. He projected a potential addition of 11 new people on top of the current nine full-time and six to seven temporary employees of the company. Starting the first of the new year, Salubrious, Inc. could hire an additional one or two college graduate employees on top of its current level of three. They also could add more line workers, including those who work as bakers and freeze drying technicians. Thielmann said that the overall cost of

the physical plant improvements would come to about $2.5 million. Currently, the plant and warehouse consists of about 27,000 square feet. The new additions of manufacturing and warehousing space will bring the total to about 60,000 square feet. "The last time we added on, we added 11,000 square feet and we were out of room in 18 months," Thielmann said. In addition to the physical structure to be added, the company also will be installing additional freeze drying equipment, which also carries a significant price tag. Thielmann put a round number of $2.5 million on the entire expansion project.

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State absentee voting off to fast start By JENNIFER ZAHN jzahn@journalsentinel.com

Absentee voting in Wisconsin is off to another rapid start — more than a third of the 2008 election's total number of absentee ballots have already been issued, according to a release from the state Government Accountability Board. Local election officials around the state had issued 225,209 ballots as of late Thursday for the Nov. 6 general election, according to the release from the elections agency; 633,610 total absentee votes were issued in 2008. "We are seeing long lines at many municipal clerks' offices around the state," Kevin Kennedy, Wisconsin's chief election official, said in the release. "One in five ballots cast in 2008 were absentee, and we expect to see

Rising trend could continue as long lines form at clerks' offices; city voting to be open this weekend similar numbers in 2012." Municipalities tracked the absentee ballots using the Statewide Voter Registration System and found that clerks' offices issued 101,253 ballots, while 123,956 were issued by mail, the release said. Locally, the city of Milwaukee is reflecting the absentee voter trends seen statewide by posting large gains in a short span of time. Although the 2008 election's window for absentee voting spanned three weeks and three weekends as opposed to this year's two weeks and one weekend, Milwaukee is on pace to break its absentee ballot totals from 2008, according to Neil Al-

brecht, executive director ofthe City ofMilwaukee Election Commission. As of Thursday, Milwaukee already accumulated more than half the city's total amount of absentee ballots from 2008 with 16,640 votes cast. At the end of the voting period in 2008, Albrecht said Milwaukee tallied 32,000 absentee votes. "At the rate we're going, we will actually exceed the number of inperson absentee voters that we had in 2008," Albrecht said. At least two cities in Wisconsin will offer locations for voters to cast in-person absentee ballots this weekend — Milwaukee and Madison.

Milwaukee's Zeidler Municipal Building will stay open this weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and then from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Friday, according to the city's Election Commission website. Voters registered in Milwaukee may enter the building through the 830 N. Market St. entrance, while voters seeking to register or make changes to their current registration may enter through the 841 N. Broadway entrance. The deadline for clerks to receive a request for an absentee ballot by mail is 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the accountability board release. Ballots must be postmarked by election day and received by the municipal clerk by 4 p.m. the Friday after the election, the release stated.

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No Quarter

Baldwin's Iran votes muddled Timeline hurts defense for opposing sanctions

emocratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin has offered a firm defense of her votes opposing sanctions on Iran. Specifically, Baldwin has said she didn't want the U.S. to do anything that would disrupt the so-called Green Movement — the effort by pro-democracy forces beginning in 2009 to overturn the Iranian governDaniel ment. Bice "It was during the lead up to and Baldwin the point in time opposed where hundreds of extending thousands of Iraniand an citizens were in toughening the streets protesting the 2009 existing elections and, of sanctions course, the time against Iran leading up to that," in 2006 long Baldwin told Journal Sentinel editors Wore there and reporters earli- was a Green er this week. Movement "I thought there was a chance for a regime change from within. I believed we needed to do something as the United States to send a signal of support to those citizens." Once the movement was crushed, she maintained, she started voting once again for sanctions. She first voted for sanctions in 2001. "They were brutally beaten back by the Iranian government," Baldwin said at her second debate with Republican opponent Tommy Thompson. "So we had to go back to the tactic of crippling sanctions, crippling sanctions. And that's where we are right now." It's an interesting explanation. But does it fit with the facts? Not really. As Baldwin said, the reform movement was launched after the 2009 presidential elections in

Hubert, one of the Milwaukee County Zoo's African lion cubs, gets a special treat for Halloween in the form of pumpkins to play with. The cub, which is pretty big right now, is going to be headed to a zoo in Oklahoma City.

Please see NO QUARTER, 4B

OBITUARY

In The Moment

Wanzo's church more than place of worship

Girl Scouts helps teen be a leader

in the 1980s and where he camPastor created spot paigned for Democratic candidates in 1998. Among its memfor the community bers is Vernita Lee, mother of By JAN UEBELHERR talk show host Oprah Winfrey. juebelherr@journalsentinel.com And it's the scene of twice For four decades, the Rev. weekly hot meals and a neighWillie D. Wanzo Sr., the son of a borhood food pantry — all nursharecropper and grandson of a tured by Wanzo, who died Tuespreacher who traveled the day of cancer at age 86. South, led what has been called "Everybody was important "the voice on the corner" — to him, from the lowly to high," Metropolitan Missionary Bap- said his daughter, Cathy Wantist Church — drawing 500 or zo. more to Sunday services and State Sen. Lena Taylor (Ddishing up hot meals for those Milwaukee), who frequently atin need. tended the church, called him a It's where the Rev. Jesse pillar in the community who Jackson stopped to campaign for the presidential nomination Please see WANZO, 4B Advertisement

Ambitious Shorewood High junior uses passion for chess to help others By JENNIFER ZAHN jzahn@journalsentinel.com

njana Murali's family doesn't own a TV, and she said it shows. "It frees up my time," Murali said. "I like to feel engaged." A junior at Shorewood High School and honor roll student, Murali already has a robust résumé. Her array of commitments includes student council, several science clubs, the chess and tennis teams, the school newspaper and the Girl Scouts. This year, Murali is vying for her Gold Award, the Girl Scouts' highest achievement. Only 5.4 % of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the award, which honors the completion of a sevenstep project that resolves a community problem in the short and long term, according to the Girl Scouts of America website. Murali hopes to earn her award with "Queen's Game," an all-girls chess camp she has been organizing for months after receiving a $1,200 grant

from Lead2Change, an organization that supports In The Moment community service projects developed by young is a new feature people. Inspired by an experience she had as a of the Journal child at her first chess tournament, Murali hopes Sentinel devoted to the her efforts will help equalize the gender disparity in chess. people, places and character "A guy looked at me and said to his friend, 'I'll be out of here in 10 seconds,' " Murali said. "He did of our communities. beat me quickly, but it was really discouraging that it was all boys. I wanted to get better and beat these guys who thought they were better than me." She did get better. Two years later, Murali became the girls all-state chess champion. Since then, she has also competed and been ranked nationally. But her game slowed down as high school courses became more demanding and her father, who taught her how to play, moved to Texas for his job as a software engineer. Please see MOMENT, 3B

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Abele promises accountability in patient's death But county executive stresses it's unclear yet if staff played role By STEVE SCHULTZE sschultze@journalsentinel.com

County Executive Chris Abele on Wednesday promised to discipline any staff member at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex found to have had a role in the death of a 25-year-old patient there. Abele emphasized that he doesn't know whether any county staff played a role in the death of Brandon T. Johnson on Oct. 6. "We need to know everything about how this happened," Abele said in an interview. "If there are issues and if there is staff responsible, people will be held accountable." He said he wanted a thorough investigation to find out circumstances surrounding Johnson's death. Johnson died from complications of a broken neck, according to autopsy information released by the sheriffs

office. The neck injury caused a blood clot that traveled to Johnson's lung, leading to his death from pulmonary embolism, according to the sheriff office. Johnson was brought to the Mental Health Complex by Milwaukee police Oct. 3, after they responded to a call about a man behaving irrationally, the sheriff's office said. Police brought him to the complex in handcuffs and leg irons. Abele said some procedures at the county complex had been changed as a result of Johnson's death. Abele declined to specify what those procedures were. Paula Lucey, administrator of the county's Behavioral Health Division, said the county's internal investigation was ongoing. "Once the investigation is concluded, we will take whatever (disciplinary) actions are necessary," Lucey said in an email response to a reporter's question. Abele said the death was frustrating considering recent efforts on improvements at the complex. He included $3 million in extra funding in

2012 to implement changes tee. Reports were given by Lurecommended by a mental cey, county lawyers and Hechealth study committee, in- tor Colon, director of the cluding increasing communi- county's Health and Human ty treatment options as a first Services Department. step toward downsizing the Supervisors left the courtMental Health Complex. house meeting room through The complex also opened a back entrance, avoiding special units for violent pa- news media. County Board tients and spokeswomwomen this "We need to know an Velia Alvarez said year to help everything about how this alleviate supervisors happened. If there are problems, were advised issues and if there is staff Abele said. not to disHis 2013 responsible, people will be cuss what budget calls held accountable." was said at for closing the meeting. one of the Chris Abele, Johnson's complex's death is the Milwaukee County executive adult acute subject of incare wards vestigations and for downsizing the Hill- by police, the sheriff's office, top Rehabilitation Center for the district attorney, the state patients with long-term men- Division of Quality Assurtal illness or developmental ance and Disability Rights disabilities, with a goal of car- Wisconsin, a patient advocaing for those patients in the cy group charged under state community. law with investigating patient abuse. Closed-door meeting Barbara Beckert, manager Also Wednesday, the John- of the Milwaukee office of Disson death was the subject of a ability Rights Wisconsin, special closed-door meeting said that agency's review had of the County Board's Health just begun. She said the case and Human Needs Commit- was a reminder "of the re-

sponsibility we have to work more aggressively" to address concerns over a system that relies on police to determine whether someone is forcibly taken to the county complex for treatment. A new program aimed at modifying that system would pair mental health professionals with police to respond to crisis mental health calls. Until larger issues on how the community deals with mental illness are resolved, "there are going to be more tragedies," Beckert said. Beckert also said she was concerned that Abele's 2013 budget didn't appear to include any significant increase in funding for community-based services. She said it was unclear whether Abele proposed reinvesting savings from downsizing the Mental Health Complex into community care, as required in a policy approved last year by the County Board and signed by Abele. Abele's budget lists more than $1 million in savings from closing two units at the Mental Health Complex. Brendan Conway, a spokes-

man for Abele, said budget cutting savings in the department were rolled into the more than $5 million increase in costs to continue other services for 2013. Any additional savings might be available for investing in community care in 2014, he said. Fifth death this year

Johnson was the fifth death of a patient at the Mental Health Complex this year. Three of the others were ruled deaths by natural causes, while a fourth remains under investigation by the county medical examiner. Patients Sherry Van Gorden, 43; Natasha Ann Cegla, 38; and Alfred Heit, 76, all died from heart disease, according to medical examiner reports. Van Gorden died Feb. 5, Cegla died July 9 and Heit died April 16. Another patient, Michael Martin, 57, died at the complex July 28. He was found unresponsive in his bed by a nurse's assistant, according to a medical examiner's report. A final cause of death for Martin has not been given.

Busalacchi out as director of county transportation No explanation given on departure By STEVE SCHULTZE sschultze@journalsentinel.com

Frank Busalacchi abruptly ended his job as Milwaukee County's transportation director Wednesday, less than a year after he took the post. County Executive Chris Abele confirmed Busalacchi's departure, saying only that he was "no longer with Milwaukee County. I appreciate the hard work Frank has done for Milwaukee County and I wish him well." Abele didn't immediately respond to an interview request. Brendan Conway, Abele's spokesman, declined to say whether Busalacchi quit or was fired. Busalacchi also couldn't be immediately reached. Abele praised Busalacchi for his "strong leadership" of the county department in April, when he nominat-

A FINE DAY FOR A TROT Warm October days are great for a jog, for both turkeys and humans. A turkey trots past a runner on a sidewalk along the N. Milwaukee River Parkway in Glendale. KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF / KWENTZ@JOURNALSENTINEL.COM

When life gives a Public can provide lemon, lawyer it info in investigation Court voids car deal made behind attorneys' backs By BRUCE VIELMETTI bvielmetti@journalsentinel.com

Frustrated parties entangled in certain consumer litigation can't just cut deals behind their lawyers' backs, a court ruled Tuesday. The state Court of Appeals threw out the settlement that a car dealer had worked out with a disgruntled customer and reinstated the lawsuit a Milwaukee County circuit judge had dismissed. "The parties are now back to square one — they can settle if they wish, or try the case if they wish," the court wrote. Vince Megna, a noted lemon law lawyer who represented the buyer in the case and stood to lose his fee under the private settlement, said: "This is a good decision for consumers." Randy L. Betz of Milwaukee bought a 1999 Cadillac Escalade from Diamond Jim's Auto Sales in October 2009. He had constant engine problems and hired Megna in 2010, who sued for misrepresentation, contending the dealer knew of the problems and failed to disclose them. If Betz prevailed, Megna would have been paid by Diamond Jim's, under the fee-shifting provisions of the applicable consumer laws. But after initial offers

and counteroffers fell flat, the dealer went to Betz in 2011 and got him to take $15,000, without notice to Megna or attorneys for Diamond Jim's. When Megna learned about it, he sought his fee share, but Circuit Judge Maxine White rejected the claim. Megna appealed. "This case hinged on public policy, that these fee-shifting statutes are very important because without them the courthouse is closed to the average person with a claim like this," Megna said. The Legislature last year imposed presumptive caps of three times the actual damages for fees under fee-shifting laws, driven in part by car dealers hit with huge fees Megna had won in lemon law cases. Megna and other consumer lawyers lobbied against the caps, saying that huge fees result in cases only in which deeppocket defendants ramp up costs by trying to out-litigate consumer plaintiffs, rather than reach reasonable settlement. In Betz's case, the don'ttell-the-lawyers settlement likely will backfire in the end, especially given that Megna's initial settlement demand was for about the same amount. Betz will have to return the $15,000. He's already given back the Cadillac. Megna estimates the case has grown to about $100,000. "It's a big mess," Megna said.

of Milwaukee police U.S. inquiry has been under way for a year By JOHN DIEDRICH

jdiedrich@journalsentinel.com

As the U.S. Department of Justice investigates whether the Milwaukee Police Department has demonstrated a pattern of violating civil rights, it is providing a way for the public to provide information. The department's Civil Rights Division is conducting a preliminary investigation of the Police Department's practices to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to file a federal lawsuit against the city and the Police Department. Depending on what the Justice Department finds, it might file a lawsuit, seek changes short of a lawsuit or do nothing, according to U.S. Attorney James Santelle, who publicly disclosed the preliminary investigation last week. The investigation has been under way for roughly a year, he said. It likely will be several months before Santelle and the Justice Department decide whether a lawsuit will be filed or agreements in lieu of litigation will be sought. Santelle has declined to say what areas triggered the Justice Department's examination of the Police Department's practices or what incidents are being examined. In other cities, Justice Department officials have looked at issues such

as use of force, tracking and investigating problem officers, training and hiring practices. The Police Department has been under fire in recent weeks over the in-custody death of Derek Williams and charges against four officers for illegal body cavity searches. Santelle said both of those incidents surfaced after the Justice Department already was investigating the Police Department. Those two cases can be examined, but attorneys must be careful not to interfere because they are ongoing matters, he said. Separate inquest

The FBI has launched a criminal civil rights investigation into Williams' death. Separately, an inquest into Williams' death is pending. Officers present when Williams died initially were cleared of wrongdoing, but the investigation was reopened based on the reporting of the Journal Sentinel. Anyone with information on the Williams case can call the FBI's local office at (414) 276-4684. That number is always available for people to report civil rights violations, according to the FBI. Anyone interested in providing information on the Justice Department investigation can call (855) 544-5132 or email community .milwaukee@usdoj.gov . The recorded message is in English and Spanish.

ed him to extend his tenure on the job for four years. "Mr. Busalacchi has proven invaluable as we negotiate with the state on the Zoo Interchange" project, Abele said in a letter to supervisors. He said Busalacchi had helped in the county's efforts to secure state and federal transportation aid. His is the second highprofile departure from Abele's cabinet in the past two months. Abele fired Sue Black in August, suggesting he was dissatisfied with her job performance. Black, who was Milwaukee County parks director, has said Abele never gave her a reason for her dismissal. Busalacchi, 68, was state transportation director under former Gov. Jim Doyle and also is a former Wisconsin Teamsters union official. Abele renewed Busalacchi's and Black's appointments in May after Abele

Busalacchi was state transportation director under former Gov. Jim Doyle. won re-election to four-year term. Both were confirmed by the County Board by overwhelming majorities. "I'm surprised and I find it unfortunate," County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic said about Busalacchi's departure. She said he was "well-respected for his knowledge of transportation issues." Supervisor Mark Borkowski said he was "absolutely stunned" about Busalacchi's leaving. "I had no issues with Frank and thought he was a very good hire," Borkowski said. Brian Dranzik, operations director of the county Transportation Department, was named interim director by Abele.

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