News 03.28.17
28 March 2017 News
Legislators are poised to order an audit of University of Wisconsin System schools’ relationships with their private foundations. The Legislature’s Joint Audit Committee is set to hold a hearing on the scope of the review and vote on ordering state auditors to begin the work on Thursday in the state Capitol. The move comes after UW System regents in January accused UW-Oshkosh’s former chancellor, Richard Wells, and former vice chancellor of administrative services, Thomas Sonnleitner, of theft. The regents alleged in a civil lawsuit that the pair concealed millions of dollars in improper financial transfers to the school’s nonprofit foundation. According to the lawsuit, the money went to help the foundation complete a number of development projects. The regents argue money should flow only from the foundation to the university.
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Two Fond du Lac residents accused of leaving a harness on their pet dog for so long it became embedded in the animal’s body have been bound over for trial. Amy Shaw and Daniel Eisenach waived their preliminary hearings in Fond du Lac court to a charge of mistreatment of animals. Amanda Muellenbach is charged with aiding a felon. According to a criminal complaint a Fond du Lac woman purchased the Pit Bull mix on Facebook as a Christmas present for her family and noticed an infected gash on the dog. Fond du Lac Animal Shelter Manager Renee Webb says the dog has recovered and is living with a new owner. According to a criminal complaint a veterinarian says the harness must have been placed on the dog when he was a puppy and the dog’s growth made the harness embedded in the skin.
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Wisconsin officials are working to determine how to improve the statewide emergency communications network and who will pay for it. The Wisconsin Interoperable System for Communications allows public safety agencies to communicate with one another across the state, and sometimes coverage can be spotty. The state hired a consultant last year to examine networks in surrounding states and provide recommendations for maintaining Wisconsin’s system. The system went live on 80 state-owned towers in 2012 and has grown to include nearly 120 sites. Each Wisconsin county or community that provided the infrastructure for a network site pays for tower maintenance. Josh Ripp, a program manager for the network at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, says similar networks are supported by state funding. He says Illinois requires those on its system to pay a monthly user fee.
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Hundreds of people gathered in the rain to pay their respects to the four victims fatally shot in a several northern Wisconsin communities last week. Organizers say the candlelight vigil Sunday was a chance to show support for the families of the three women and one man who lost their lives in Wednesday’s violence. Four balloons were released — one pink for Sara Quirt Sann, two red for Marathon Savings Bank employees Dianne Look and Karen Barclay and one blue for Everest Metro Detective Jason Weiland. Everest Metro Chief Wally Sparks thanked those gathered for their support. Sparks says it’s a difficult time for everyone, including the suspect’s family. Organizer Brandi Bradford says it’s important for the communities to stand together as one.
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