12-19-13 wrong way driver

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A southeastern Wisconsin woman is accused of driving the wrong way down the freeway and nearly causing a drunken collision with a deputy.  Alicia Sulok of Hales Corners was charged Wednesday with second-degree recklessly endangering safety. The felony carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.  A Milwaukee County deputy was driving Saturday about 2:20 a.m. when he saw a vehicle coming at him. The deputy turned on his emergency lights but still had to swerve to avoid a collision. He then gave chase, and other drivers also had to swerve to avoid the wrong-way vehicle.  The criminal complaint says Sulok eventually pulled over. Prosecutors say her blood-alcohol level registered 0.18 percent, more than twice the legal limit.

12-19-13 prayer death

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of a Wisconsin couple who prayed instead of seeking help as their 11-year-old daughter died from a treatable form of diabetes.

A Daily Herald Media report says Dale and Leilani Neumann of Weston were appealing their convictions. Now they're due in Marathon County court next month where a judge will decide whether they'll begin serving their court-ordered sentence.  Separate juries convicted them of second-degree reckless homicide in 2009. A judge ordered them to serve one month in jail every year for six years, but the sentences were postponed pending an appeal.  Dale Neumann's defense attorney, Steven Miller, says he'll ask the judge to toss the sentence, while prosecutor Lance Leonhard says they should begin serving their sentences immediately.

12-19-13 charter schools

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) — Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow independent charter schools to be started throughout Wisconsin.  Currently, independent charter schools are allowed only in Milwaukee and Racine.  The bill introduced last week by five state representatives would let regional educational agencies and technical college district boards contract with companies or nonprofits to run independent charter schools.  Most Wisconsin charter schools now are overseen by local school boards. The bill would rename those charters as magnet schools.  Rep. Dale Kooyenga, of Brookfield, says the changes would bring Wisconsin's definition of a charter school in line with the federal government's and make it easier for the schools to get federal money.

12-19-13 deer hunt-cwd

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democrats on the Assembly's natural resources committee are demanding state wildlife officials do more to stop chronic wasting disease.  Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Health Section Chief Tami Ryan told the committee Wednesday during an update on the disease that the agency is now essentially monitoring the disease but it's continuing to spread. She told the committee that the agency has no public support for the herd reduction strategy the DNR employed in the first years after the disease was discovered in Wisconsin.  Committee Democrats demanded the DNR take a tougher stand against the disease, questioning whether public or special interest groups didn't support herd reduction. Rep. Fred Clark, a Baraboo Democrat, said he's afraid the agency is "fiddling while Rome burns."

The committee isn't expected to take any action.

12-19-13 kornelli express convenience donates to breast cancer awareness

During October, all three Korneli Express Convenience Centers locations sold pink pumpkins to raise money to help build breast cancer awareness among women in this area. A total of $500 was raised, which was recently donated to the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation.

12-19-13 reedsville-salvation army

In every small community, there are people doing good things every day.  Country Visions Co-op has several locations and wanted to do their part to help out their communities.  The employees of Country Visions Cooperative brought donations for the Salvation Army to their recent Christmas party.  New toys, clothing for ages up to 18, non-perishable food items and cash were collected.  The items and cash were split up for distribution to the organizations in the counties of Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac and Manitowoc.    The Salvation Army is dedicated to helping the less fortunate children in our community.  Country Visions wanted to be a part of that effort and hoped to help out by making this donation.   Country Visions Cooperative is your local cooperative offering products and services to farm, home, and commercial customers.  The Co-op operates Convenience Stores in Branch, Greenleaf, Kiel, Manitowoc, Mishicot, Reedsville and Valders.  The company provides Agronomy, Grain, Propane, Bulk Petroleum, Feed, Seed and Auto Repair services and operates Country Stores and food services. Country Visions Cooperative is ‘Helping You’ with quality products, service and knowledge throughout a trade territory that covers over 12 counties from Menominee, MI to Ripon, WI. 

12-18-13 fatal accident victim identified

The victim of a car versus semi accident in Fond du Lac County has been identified.  Sheriff’s Captain Rick Olig says 29 year old Nicholas Ryan of Fond du Lac was killed when his car skidded on snow-covered Highway 44 near Ripon Tuesday afternoon into the oncoming lane of traffic and collided with a semi.  Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene.  This is the eighth traffic fatality on Fond du lac County roadways this year.