Local and State News
local and state news 3-11-10
Former Appleton fire-fighter Scott Schmidt was found guilty last night of shooting and killing his wife, and wounding his mother-in-law. A jury of Portage County residents deliberated four hours before convicting the 39-year-old Schmidt of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Kelly Wing Schmidt outside their home last April. The jury also found Schmidt guilty of a lesser charge in the wounding of Barbara Wing. That conviction was for reckless endangerment instead of attempted homicide. Schmidt faces life in prison when he’s sentenced on May seventh, but the judge can set a date for a supervised release. Schmidt testified that he was trying to save his marriage when he went to see Kelly, after she arranged a weekend trip with her boyfriend. But the couple argued, and he shot her three times outside their home. Her mother was wounded while confronting Schmidt. He did not deny killing his wife. But his lawyer Greg Petit claimed it was not intentional, and he had sought a lesser conviction for reckless homicide. Petit refused comment after the verdict. Outagamie County District Attorney Carrie Schneider said the Wing family was happy with the outcome – but nobody wins because five children are dealing with the loss of a mother.
A convicted felon from Sheboygan is behind bars for allegedly causing serious injuries to baby he was caring for. Police say the infant was left in the care of the 23 year old man…who was arrested shortly after police responded to the 9-1-1 call Tuesday afternoon. Captain Jim Veeser said Sheboygan Police received the call about 2 o’clock Tuesday, from someone reporting that a one-month old child was not breathing. E-M-T responded to the 3500 block of Eisner Avenue and the infant was taken to Sheboygan Memorial and later transferred to Children’s in Milwaukee. The infant is listed in critical condition. The unidentified man was arrested for allegedly injuring the child. Officers interviewed the man who says he accidentally dropped the child. He was arrested however, and now faces a charge of 1st degree reckless endangerment as a repeat offender due to being a convicted felon.
Extra officers will be out patrolling the streets of Manitowoc, looking for drunk drivers during these upcoming days surrounding Saint Patrick’s day. The Manitowoc Police Department says they’re using a state grant to help provide the resources they need for this latest crackdown. According to officials, the department is participating in an alcohol grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Safety. They plan to deploy a high number of alcohol-grant officers during this holiday, which is often associated with heavy drinking. Police say there are alternatives to drinking and driving…including having a designated driver, calling a cab, calling a friend or family member to give you a ride home or asking your bartender or social host to assist you in getting home safely.
Flood warnings are in effect on parts of three rivers in far southern Wisconsin. The National Weather Service said minor flooding is already taking place on the Fox River at New Munster in Kenosha County. At mid-morning, the river was three-inches above its 10-foot flood stage – and it was expected to crest at 13-and-a-half feet on Sunday. Moderate flooding was expected on the Fox, with minor floods predicted for the other two rivers – the Pecatonica at Martintown in Green County, and the Sugar River at Brodhead. Rain, mild temperatures, and melting snow are all causing the waters to rise. The Pecatonica was a foot-and-a-half below its flood stage this morning. But forecasters said it would be a half-foot above flood stage on Saturday, before dipping below its banks on Sunday. The Sugar River at Brodhead was about nine inches below its flood stage this morning, but was expected to be one-point-three feet above its banks tomorrow afternoon. Forecasters say it will drop below its flood stage again on Sunday.
A public hearing is being held today on the best ways to meet transit needs in three parts of Wisconsin. The Assembly Transportation Committee is considering the creation of regional transit authorities for commuter rail and bus service from Milwaukee-to-Kenosha. Other measures would create similar authorities in the Fox Valley and the La Crosse area. Transit authorities normally have their own taxing authority to provide for an area’s bus and-or train needs. Supporters say it helps create jobs and reduces traffic congestion – but critics are concerned about giving taxing powers to non-elected officials.
An environmental group says some of Wisconsin’s coal-fired power plants should be shut down in the wake of this week’s soot pollution. Clean Wisconsin says the state is making more electricity than it can use. And the group’s Katie Nekola calls plant shut-downs “a logical conclusion.” Particles from power plants and other sources are hanging in the air this week because of a lack of winds. The state D-N-R has had air quality watches and advisories for most of the state since last Sunday – and forecasters say there’s no relief in sight until at least Saturday. The D-N-R says the high soot makes the air unhealthy for seniors, kids, and those with lung and heart conditions. And the E-P-A said there was so much soot lingering in Milwaukee on Tuesday that even healthy adults were at risk. But the D-N-R calls this week’s conditions an exception. In general, officials say Wisconsin’s air quality has improved in the last few years – both present and future pollution limits will make the air even cleaner.
The Better Business Bureau says it’s getting fewer consumer complaints in Wisconsin, at a time when they’re going up nationally. The B-B-B handled about 15-thousand complaints in the Badger State last year. That’s down eight-percent from the year before, while the number of consumer gripes rose by 10-percent throughout the country. Ran Hoth (hoeth) of Wisconsin’s Better Business Bureau says retailers do a better job of evaluating customer needs – and the state’s strong consumer protection laws also help. Nationally, cell-phone providers got the most complaints in 2009, along with banks and cable companies. In Wisconsin, new car dealers were the biggest target of consumer dissatisfaction.
(Thanks Kirk Carapezza, WHA-WERN, Madison)
Governor Jim Doyle signed a bill yesterday that requires carbon monoxide detectors in all one-and-two family homes. They’re already mandated in larger housing units. The law takes effect next February, and it requires C-O detectors on all floors – including basements. More than two dozen Assembly members had voted against the measure, saying government should not be deciding what’s best for families. There will be no penalties for not having the detectors. Homes without fireplaces, fuel-burning appliances, and attached garages will be exempt. Also, the governor signed a bill that lets women breast-feed in public places. The law was written after mothers complained of being harassed in shopping malls and restaurants.
It’s about six months until the Republican primary for governor, and both major candidates are running T-V ads. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is airing his first statewide ad today. Former Congressman Mark Neumann of Nashotah has already run two ads, and will debut a third tomorrow. Democrat Tom Barrett says he won’t advertise yet. The Milwaukee mayor does not have a major primary challenger. Walker’s ad said has returned 370-thousand dollars of his salary to the taxpayers over the last eight years. He says he packs his own lunch every day, and he tells voters to go to a Web site that lists how frugal he’s been. Walker makes almost 130-thousand dollars a year to run the Milwaukee County government. He gave back 60-thousand-dollars in each of his first six years, then dropped that to 10-thousand the last two years. State Democratic Party chairman Mike Tate took a dig at that, saying Walker broke a promise to give back 47-percent of his pay the last two years. Meanwhile, Neumann portrays himself as an outsider in his new ad, saying it’s hard to tell Republican insiders from liberal Democrats some days.
