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Wednesday 10 March 2010
Local News 3-10-10
Some of us just can't stay sober. Jacob Shimko, 24 of Ladysmith, was arrested Tuesday for bail jumping. Shimko violated a bond out of Barron County for no alcohol consumption.
A Glen Flora man was arrested for operating a motor vehicle after his license had been revoked. Charles Reisner, 23 of Ladysmith, was arrested Tuesday afternoon for operating after revocation and was taken to jail.
Congratulations to Rusk County DNR Conservation Warden Jeremy Peery. Peery will be honored in June with the Haskell Noyes Award. The Haskell Noyes Award has been given annually since the 1930s to the warden with the most outstanding program in all of Wisconsin. The award chosen by the family of the late Haskell Noyes, a Wisconsin conservationist. More than 50 years after his death, Noyes is best known for being a lead advocate for the establishment of th Wisconsin Conservation Commission, the precursor to the Natural Resources Board, the the Conservation Act of 1927. According to the DNR website, the award includes a gold pocket watch with an inscription stating: “Faithful and Able Service.” The watch has been presented to a warden by a member of the Noyes family since 1930. Again, Congratulations to Warden Peery.
Nationally, consumer complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau jumped nearly 10 percent in 2009. However, Wisconsin companies have faired much better: Complaints against companies located in Wisconsin actually dropped by more than 7 percent, according to statistics released by the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau.
Starting next week the Easter Egg hunt is returning. Area businesses taking part will be, or have already, hidden an egg in their store. Everyone that finds the egg in each participating business will be entered for a chance to win a gift certificate from all the participating businesses. Also starting next week, area businesses will have registration boxes set up for you to win a delicious ham from Barney's Meats in Weyerhaeuser or Gordy's Ladysmith County Market. 12 hams total will be given away, just in time for Easter.
Looking for something fun and interesting to do this weekend? While winter is still somewhat around. Friday and Saturday the World Ice Fishing Championship will take place in Rhinelander. Also Flambeau River Outfitters will be hosting their first ever Musky Expo on Saturday. Special guest speaker Rich Reinert will be on site, Mike Etzel and Paul Parise will be offering local waters and tackle tips, and all the latest musky fishing equipment. Also Glory B's Corner Saloon will be hosting their annual St. Patrick's Day party Saturday. Erin Go Bragh!
Posted by Aaron on Wednesday 10 March 2010 - 11:52:49
Wisconsin News 3-10-10
Flood watches have been issued for two rivers in far southern Wisconsin as the result of rain, mild temperatures, and melting snow. The National Weather Service says the Fox River in Kenosha County is under a flood watch until further notice. And the Sugar River in Rock and Green counties is under a watch from tomorrow until at least Saturday. Both rivers were just over two feet below their flood stages early this morning. Rain is in the forecast today through Friday in much of Wisconsin, and there’s a chance of more rain during the weekend. Forecasters in Madison say up-to-an-inch could fall tomorrow. Highs are expected in the 40’s-and-50’s each day. Meanwhile, things are much worse to our west. Rivers in northeast Iowa are expected to crest above their flood stages on Friday, and warnings have been issued for a half-dozen counties. And in Minnesota, Governor Tim Pawlenty has asked President Obama for federal aid even before the flood waters start to hit. Forecasts call for flooding on the Mississippi, Minnesota, and Red rivers in the Gopher State. And Pawlenty wants Washington to help provide things like sandbag machines and generators.
The national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants the state Legislature to hold a public hearing on tougher reforms than the ones signed just before Christmas. Laura Dean-Mooney has asked the co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee to take testimony on legalizing sobriety checkpoints, and making first-time O-W-I a crime in all cases. The group has been seeking those changes for years. But a spokesman for Senate Finance Co-Chair Mark Miller says it doesn’t make sense to pass more changes now, before the earlier package takes full effect. Also, he said the budget panel does not generally hold hearings on bills. Last year’s crackdown charges more repeat offenders with felonies, and makes first-time drunk driving a crime if kids are in the car. Governor Jim Doyle has agreed that sobriety checkpoints should be legal. But Assembly Republican Dean Kaufert of Neenah has said that most people are leery of the idea – and there does not seem to be much support in the Legislature for having the checkpoints.
Lawmakers of both parties have raised concerns about letting the governor challenge federal deployment orders for the Wisconsin National Guard. The Assembly Military Affairs Committee held a public hearing yesterday on a bill from Madison Democrat Spencer Black. It would allow the governor to go to court to challenge a federal call-up, if he-or-she does not believe the move is authorized by Congress. Wisconsin Rapids Democrat Marlin Schneider wonders why the governor should oversee something that’s already examined closely at the federal level. Marathon Republican Jerry Petrowski (peh-truss’-kee) said the bill could delay needed back-ups for troops in the field. And Eagle River Republican Dan Meyer questioned the motivation for the measure. It was introduced last year, at a time when over 30 states considered following the lead of Vermont – which saw it as a back-door way to bring troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Black has denied that motivation. He said he just wanted to make sure things are done legally.
Milwaukee’s new Catholic Archbishop does not expect to deny communion to lawmakers who vote against their Catholic teachings. But Jerome Listecki says he won’t rule it out – and he’ll consider it if an individual circumstance justifies it. Listecki addressed the issue yesterday at a Newsmaker Luncheon held by the Milwaukee Press Club. Former La Crosse Bishop Raymond Burke made an issue of it seven years ago. He told Catholics who are state-and-federal lawmakers that they risk being denied communion if they vote pro-choice on abortion issues, in violating of Catholic teachings. Listecki says it’s hard to see how somebody can be pro-choice while knowing the teachings of the church – but it’s possible to be pro-choice while seeking to limit abortions.
Posted by Aaron on Wednesday 10 March 2010 - 11:52:09
National-World News 3-10-10
A California jury recommends the death penalty for a serial killer convicted of slaughtering four women and a young girl more than three decades ago. 66-year old Rodney Alcala was convicted last month in the slayings. He told jurors during closing arguments that he would appeal a death penalty sentence and urged them to give him life in prison instead. Alcala was in prison for murdering a 12-year old girl when authorities used DNA evidence to tie him to the four murders. He has also been convicted of raping two children, ages 15 and 8.
Officials suspect foul play in the death of a Texas energy executive In New Orleans. The body of 54-year old Douglas Schantz was found the French Quarter. The president of Sequent energy Management had visited the city to give money to Tulane University. He was last seen leaving a restaurant about a block from his hotel sometime after midnight on Friday. Federal authorities are assisting in the investigation.
A Pennsylvania housewife is charged with helping recruit Islamic terrorists via the Internet. Colleen LaRose was known as "Jihad Jane" to authorities online. Officials say the 46-year old was also helping to execute a plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist whose depiction of the Prophet Mohammed offended some Muslims. A federal indictment released yesterday also says that LaRose traveled overseas to train with terrorists.
The Nigerian Army was warned about possible attacks well before hundreds were slaughted in three villages over the weekend. The accusations come after the massacre of Christians and Muslims on Sunday. The governor of the nation's Plateau state and the head of Nigeria's Christian Association both said they reported the potential of violence, but were ignored. More gunfire was reported on Tuesday and more villagers were fleeing the country.
A 22-year old man died of dehydration in a British hospital. Kane Gorney called police and asked them to get him some water. He was a patient at St. George's Hospital in South London. When they arrived, officials there said the man was fine. Police left. Gorney, who was immobilized, died the next day. A medical examiner said the man died of dehydration. Authorities are investigating.
Posted by Aaron on Wednesday 10 March 2010 - 11:51:02
Local News 3-10-10
