This Just In...

A look back at the people and events that made news the past week.
Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In...



HEROES OF THE WEEK


Joseph Dwyer


Brookfield officers


Faith Mondry


My friend and colleague, state Representtaive Jim Ott


Franklin Little Leaguers


To  a certain lion, these folks.



VILLAINS OF THE WEEK


Jose Carman Gonzalez-Ricardo


Edwin Ramos


Milton Thomas........caught on video.


Barack Obama



QUOTES OF THE WEEK


“I like to be an informed voter ... I want to take the time to make an informed decision.”
Debra Bartoshevich, the Waterford resident who was stripped of her delegate status Friday by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Bartoshevich said following Hillary Clinton's departure from the White House race that she would vote for John McCain instead of Barack Obama.


“You’re saying you can’t flip a switch and jump to Senator Obama, but you certainly were able to flip a switch and jump to Senator McCain. I find that to be a very serious flaw in your argument.”
Les Nakamoto, the Democrat Party’s 5^th Congressional District Chair.


“I’m done. I will never support the Democrat Party again. Not after how they treated me ... If you don’t drink the Kool-Aid, I guess you can’t be a Democrat.”
Bartoshevich in an interview with Wispolitics.com.


“My opponent likes to tell people she is ‘out knocking on doors.’ But the voters know the difference between riding in a car watching staff drop off taxpayer-funded road maps that people did not even ask for and actually knocking on doors and talking to people.”
State Representative Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee), once again criticizing the health of his opponent for the 8th District Senate seat, Alberta Darling (R-River Hills).


“I take great offense to Sheldon Wasserman’s false accusation that I am not actually knocking on voters’ doors, and his continued insinuation that I am too sick to run for office and restricted to campaigning from a car.”
Senator Darling’s response.


“Consumers should be irate. It shouldn't be the government's job to make sure that they're paying more for gas.”
Christian Schneider, author of a Wisconsin Policy Research Institute study on the state’s minimum markup law. The study argues gas markups cost state drivers at least $267 million annually.



OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK


Sex offenders living .............in nursing homes.

Read more.



MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK


Property taxes just keep going up, and up, and up, and up, and  up.....



MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE WEEK


Barack Obama's trip overseas. One gigantic news media lovefest.



STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE WEEK


Mystery noise in Green Bay


Cable repairman taken for ride


Black and white twins.


They named their kid....WHAT???



REMEMBER: Your suggestions/nominations for any of these categories every week are welcome, especially for HEROES OF THE WEEK. If you know of anyone in the community deserving of recognition, please e-mail me.

My friend Brian Fraley continues to push for a special legislative session to repeal Wisconsin’s minimum markup law.

Take a look.

Last Monday night, when the Milwaukee Brewers opened a 4-game series against the Cardinals in St. Louis, Busch Stadium offered what could be a baseball promotion first……designating an entire section a peanut-free zone. Only fans with peanut allergies and their families were allowed in Section 328 in the outfiled down the first base line, just behind the foul pole.

Peanut-free zones at the ballpark was a topic on my program Friday as I filled in for Mark Belling on Newstalk 1130 WISN. Comments ran the gamut.

Some viewed the promotion as a wonderful, thoughtful idea. Others wondered where you draw the line on special accommodations for fans.

Several callers made the valid argument that parents are taking a serious risk bringing their peanut allergy suffering kids to the stadium because in order to get to their seats, they have to pass many areas where peanuts are still being sold, consumed, and dropped on the ground.

Here are more details.from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Tonight on Friday Night Live, our guests on NBC’s The Midnight Special are Weather Report and Chuck Mangione.

During those late night concert programs on Friday nights in the 70’s, the stars of the time were featured, no matter the musical genre: pop, rock, soul, disco, country, and even though it didn’t fit the target audience, jazz……..or at least the contemporary pop-chart version of jazz.

Weather Report was one of the first bands to mix jazz with rock. From airjudden.tripod.com:

Lots of good stuff, as the weekend is almost upon us.

Please listen at 3:00 today, Friday, as I fill in for Mark Belling on Newstalk1130 WISN and attempt to squeeze 9 hours of talk programming into 3. It's always live;y when I sit in Mark's chair, that's for sure.

We continue my walk down memory lane with my summer TV concert series looking at 70's late night Friday night concert programs. This week, we "jazz" things up a bit, at 11:30 tonight.

Saturday morning, I have asked a local celebrity to guest blog about a very timely subject. I can't say more than that, but if this local celebrity has accepted my offer, watch for a special blog sometime Saturday morning.

Speaking of Saturday morning, someone in Franklin made HEROES OF THE WEEK in my weekly feature, Week-ends.

And my better half, Jennifer, has another installment of the Barking Lot. Her blog has become very, very popular.We do appreciate your support.

Then when Sunday rolls around, it's time for Culinary no-no. My goodness gracious, what interest you people simply amazes me. I write about weird, strange, and controversial food/drink situations........and you read this stuff? In huge numbers?!  You keep readin', and we'll keep writin'.

Thanks again for stopping by. And do keep checking back all weekend long.

In Tampa Bay on Sunday, September 28th.

Hmmmm......

Oh, but we're not a tax hell.

Bravo to the editorial board at the Wisconsin State Journal for writing a piece on the latest studies showing Wisconsin property taxes are insane.

There is a mountain of data proving what homeowners know all too well. And yet, while the people out working hard every day to pay these outrageous taxes understand it, local units of government and the state keep spending and spending and spending and spending and spending.

And they keep asking for more tax increases.

And they keep asking for more fee increases.

And they wonder why people put up FOR SALE signs and move out of the Badger State.

And they wonder why businesses leave and take their jobs with them.

And they wonder why prospective businesses decide to go elsewhere.

It's the taxes, stupid!

I have blogged in defense of Club Porticello, a restaurant owned by Tony Pepito that is right next to Silver Lake in Oconomowoc.

For a long time, the local bureaucrats fought like hell to keep the restaurant from opening, threatening heavy fines because it was too close to the shoreline. It was a perfect example of how Wisconsin hates business.

But then the locals came to their senses and allowed the restaurant to open legally.

End of story? End of business harassment?

No.

Who would enter the picture at this point? Who always throws tacks in the road? Who lives for finding ways to throw up obstacles to business opening up shop?

Did someone say the DNR (Department of Natural Resources)?

DING DING DING DING!

That’s no surprise. I blogged yesterday about the DNR standing in the way of one of Wisconsin’s most successful industries.

What is surprising is that Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has joined forces with the DNR to resurrect the attack against Club Porticello. I am very disappointed to hear the news. Let the locals handle this. They already have. And get off Club Porticello’s back.

From jsonline.com:


State sues to overturn restaurant opening

Waukesha — The state has filed suit to overturn Oconomowoc’s decision allowing a restaurant to open on the shore of Silver Lake.

In the civil suit, state Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen contends that Oconomowoc zoning commissioners improperly granted variances for Club Porticello, which opened for business in May.

On behalf of the state Department of Natural Resources, the suit alleges that Oconomowoc officials violated the law, partly by failing to address “extensive testimony” that the restaurant would hurt water quality and fish habitats at Silver Lake.

The restaurant is just 17 feet from the shoreline, which normally would not be permitted except for Oconomowoc’s approved variances.

The state’s suit, filed last week in Waukesha County Circuit Court, seeks a judge’s ruling overturning the variances and granting a restraining order on the matter.



God love our businesspeople who put up with this heavy-handed regulation that has ruined our business climate in this state.

From jsonline.com:


"Police now say that the baby who died in a vehicle outside a day care today was a 6-month-old boy.

Lt. Victor Beecher of the Milwaukee Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau gave this account:

At about 4 p.m., a 911 caller reported that a child was not breathing or responsive. Police went to Kuddle Kare Day Kare, 3828 W. Lisbon, and the baby was pronounced dead at the scene. It appeared he had been left alone in a vehicle that police believe belonged to or was being used by an employee of the day care.

The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death, Beecher said.

He said it appeared the baby might have been left unattended for a number of hours."


Get ready for the same old tired excuses:

1) It was a mistake.

2) No one intended this to happen.

3) No need to hold anyone accountable. They’ve suffered enough.

The defenders of idiots who leave babies or children unattended in vehicles for hours never seem to mention the dead child, do they?


UPDATE 7/25/08

Normally on Thursday I promote the topics up for discussion on Channel 10's InterCHANGE, the program where I'm one of the regular panelists.

This week is one of those extremely rare situations where host Dan Jones and most of the panel are unavailable, so no show this weekend.

In its place at 6:30 Friday night and 11:00 Sunday morning:

There could be new developments breaking today in the case of the city of Franklin vs. convicted sex offender Steve Hanke.

Keep checking back here for updates, the only Franklin blog site for the latest details on this story.

This should come as no surprise to any Wisconsin homeowner. Your government, the 2008 legal incarnation of Jesse James continues to stick you up and rob you.

The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance says Wisconsin property taxes rose 5.7 percent in 2008. That's the largest single-year increase since 2005.

Take a guess, beleaguered property taxpayer, and my guess is you’ll get it right in nano seconds…..guess what part of your property tax bill went up the most?

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School levies rose the most, at 7.4 %

Not surprised, are you Franklin taxpayers? Your school tax levy went up just under 12 % last year.

Let me repeat. Your school tax levy increase, Franklin taxpayers was just under 12% last year, after  EVERYBODY associated with the school district swore for months that the increase would be under 6%.

Now we know where a part of those huge school tax increases has gone.

You think I’m going to say right back into the classrooms, don't you?

Nope.

How about teacher salaries?

Extra-curricular activities?

Try salaries for superintendents.

The hired guns for school boards are getting bigger and bigger raises at a time when teachers moan and groan about having to resort to buying their own chalk for the blackboards.

Since we’re focused on the superintendent scorecard, let’s take a look at how our area superintendents are doing, salary –wise. Remember, school districts are always crying the blues that they have no money, that voters have to approve colossal referenda, and that students will only perform better in the classroom if communities build Miller Park-like school buildings.

Superintendent salaries and enrollments for area school districts (most available data from Wisconsin DPI):

Franklin School District Supt. Steve Patz: $150, 000
Enrollment: 4,178

Greendale School District Supt. William Hughes: $147, 088
Enrollment: 2598

Whitnall School District Supt. Karen Petric: $143, 412
Enrollment: 2420

Oak Creek-Franklin District Supt. Sara Larsen: $134, 649
Enrollment: 5,867

Greenfield School District Supt. Conrad Farner: $105, 947
Enrollment: 3,255

Milwaukee Public Schools Supt. William G. Andrekopoulos: $171,000
Enrollment: 86, 815

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle: $137, 092
The national average for gubernatorial salaries is $124, 398

Whoever negotiated for Steve Patz took our School Board to the cleaners. No way, no how should Steve Patz be making more than the governor.

Franklin taxpayers, be advised, the next time you hear a Franklin teacher, or principal or administrator or School Board member or his Royal Highness, the Superintendent himself begging for money for the district, keep this blog in mind.

FYI:

Remember the biggest crook in the Franklin School District, the guy keeping track of the books, “Business Manager” James Milzer saying publicly over and over and over again that Franklin had to increase school taxes by 5.6%?

Milzer told the Franklin School Board the night they voted for the school budget that the increase was 5.6%. It turned out weeks later after I reported it on my blog that the increase was actually just under 12%.

Milzer, the man who singlehandedly screwed Franklin taxpayers and is still a trusted man on the taxpayer-funded payroll earns the following annual salary:

$119, 893

Milzer does two things when he cashes his checks, thanks to you, the Franklin taxpayers:


1) Laughs

2) Lets out a loud shout of: SUCKERS!


Your school tax dollar going directly into classroom instruction?

Guess again.

Longtime Milwaukee Judge Ted Wedemeyer has died, one of the classiest and most professional judges to serve in our community. I knew Judge Wedemyer and I didn't always agree with his rulings and he knew it. That never affected our professional relationship. My deepest sympathies to his family.

From jsonline.com:

Appeals Court Judge Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. died Wednesday, five months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

He was 75.

Wedemeyer's death surprised most of the legal community.

"I know that his death may come as a shock to most of you, as many of you did not even know he was sick," wrote Patricia S. Curley, the presiding judge in the 1st District Court of Appeals that sits in Milwaukee. "It was Ted's wish and request that his illness be kept confidential."

A lawyer for 50 years, Wedemeyer, was appointed byMayor Henry Maier as the first municipal judge for the City of Milwaukee in 1975. He helped organize the court system before his appointment.

Gov. Martin Schreiber appointed him to the circuit court in 1977, a position he held until 1982 when he was elected to the appellate court. He was defeated in his bid fore re-election to the appellate court in 1988 but won the seat again in 1991. He ran unsuccessfully for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1995. a job the Milwaukee Bar Association ranked him as the best qualified.

Wedemeyer successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to allow cameras in state courtrooms in the late 1970s. His municipal courtroom was the first where cameras were allowed.

He also served on a committee that worked for a victim's rights constitutional amendment and on one that advocated anti-gang legislation.

Wedemeyer is survived by his wife, Susan.

A wake will be held Sunday from 4 until 8 p.m. at Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capitol Drive. A funeral mass will be held at Old St. Mary's Church, 836 N. Broadway, at 10 a.m. Monday.

Only in the world of Wisconsin business could you be enthusiastic about your prospects in one instant, and then in the next have your prospects come crashing down like a fallen soufflé.

Case in point, one of the biggest products to come out of Wisconsin besides beer: cranberries.






Earlier this week, the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel first tantalized us with the better than good news:

"Two of  the largest buyers of Wisconsin cranberries are on a mission to persuade growers to increase their output, with the hope of adding $75 million annually to the state economy and creating 1,115 jobs.”

Tremendous, right?

Then came the dose of reality.

“But in order to make that happen, the presidents of Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. and Cliffstar Corp. say the state needs to cooperate in  speeding up the permit process to turn more acreage into cranberry bogs.”

We have heard that story time and time again: Wisconsin bureaucracy standing directly in the way of Wisconsin success.

“They are looking for a nearly 30% boost in acres planted —from the current 18,000 to 23,000. If they can’t get the additional 5,000 acres in Wisconsin, the cranberry industry may have to turn to Canada, they say. “

Somewhere in Madison, a taxpayer-funded bureaucrat, armed with visor, a pocket protector, and a book of statutes as thick as the Manhattan phone pages is standing with arms folded shaking his fool head saying “no, no, no, no, no.”

He might as well be saying, “I don’t care. Screw you, Wisconsin. Rules are rules. Our state economy be damned.”

Let’s cut to the chase. Wisconsin’s heavy-handed regulations are preventing Wisconsin business from doing business and prospering, to the point that we have to go internationally to get the job done instead of utilizing our own economic resources to prosper.

The villain? Take a guess: the Gestapo-like Department of Natural Resources, the state agency that isn’t happy unless it’s ruining someone’s life.

Pretty darned stupid, isn’t it? We are our own worst enemy.

We over-license, over-permit, over-regulate, over-dictate in this state. We kill business in this state by inviting firms and companies to pack up and leave for other states with climates that are fare more accepting and friendly to places that want to set up shop and create jobs and build the economy.

Why wouldn’t we bend over backwards to help the cranberry industry? Visualize a bureaucrat with a pocket protector, etc.

We need to change our laws that will make it more attractive for business to come here and stay here. If not, be prepared for more businesses to leave.

I’m not a fan of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. In a blog last fall, I wrote, “TSA workers are unskilled, arrogant, rude rent-a-cops whom I have little faith or trust in providing the kind of security needed in our airports.” Airport security is ineffective because we have ineffective people using ineffective measures.

To make matters worse, you now have these slugs groping and practically molesting air passengers during screening. What can people do about it? If you object, are you subject to arrest? Will you be detained and miss your flight? Will some TSA Neanderthal get physical with you?

These highly unskilled people need to be reined in, and more effective, appropriate measures need to be implemented to improve airport/airline security.