Friday News 2/8/19
8 February 2019 News
Former Waupun Corrections Officer Arraigned
The former Waupun Correctional officer suspected of bringing marijuana and pornography into the prison was arraigned in Dodge County court this week. Forty-one-year-old Mose Rice of Janesville entered a not guilty plea during the hearing Wednesday. An inmate tipped off investigators telling them Rice was smuggling in the contraband to pay back gambling debts. Rice claimed he did it out of fear of retribution from a street gang with ties to the inmate. The felony Rice is charged with carries a maximum sentence of three and a half years in prison.
Congressman Grothman On Trump Infrastructure Plans
During his nearly 90 minute State of the Union address this week President Donald Trump mentioned wanting to spend more money on the nation’s infrastructure. That was probably lost with the focus on the wall and trying to get things done through a bipartisan effort. Congressman Glenn Grothman says though briefly mentioned in the President’s speech infrastructure improvements are important to Trump. “He didn’t give a lot of detail on it, but he ran on a big infrastructure plan. Obviously he spent a lot of money in his first two years, big increases in spending.” The Federal lawmaker from Glenbeulah says he’s confident Trump will get through some kind of infrastructure bill that will include more money for highways, ports and airports.
Sturgeon Protection Efforts Paying Off
The sturgeon biologist for the DNR’s Lake Winnebago System says sturgeon spearing is enjoying the fruits of a concerted effort to restore the sturgeon population over the years. Ryan Koenigs says more 100 pound plus fish and sturgeon in general are in the population because of conservation efforts, the work of groups like Sturgeon for Tomorrow, and the Sturgeon Guard program while sturgeon are spawning in the spring. “These are really the good old days when it comes to sturgeon spearing. We’ve got more fish than we’ve probably had since at least prior to the early 1900s. On the Winnebago System it’s definitely the most fish we’ve had since we’ve had abundance estimates dating back to the 1970s.” The sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes begins Saturday.
Shopko Announces More Store Closings
Shopko stores this week announced the closing of 174 stores. In January the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Among the Shopko stores, Shopko Express or Shopko Hometown Stores closing in the area are stores in Appleton, Wautoma, Waupaca and Winneconne. Shopko has identified 250 stores across the nation that are closing or will close. Closings are expected to start on March 17th and wrap up by May 12th.
ThedaCare Limits Childrens Visits To Hospital Patients
ThedaCare is temporarily restricting children under the age of 12 from visiting patients in its seven hospitals. The healthcare system is trying to limit the spread of the influenza virus. ThedaCare officials say the restriction does not apply to outpatient or clinic services. One exception is siblings, who do not have cold or flu symptoms, will be allowed to visit the OB unit. According to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services 7,530 people were hospitalized due flu-related complications, and 379 people died during the last flu season. ThedaCare has hospitals in Appleton, Berlin, Neenah, New London, Shawano, Waupaca and Wild Rose.
Telemarketing Complaints Number One In 2018
Telemarketing generated the most complaints to the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in 2018. Nearly 4,900 (4,860) complaints were about unknown numbers, unwanted sales calls, and scams. Coming in a distant second with 1,188 complaints were landlord/tenant beefs. Telecommunications, home improvement, and medical service complaints rounded out the top five. The remainder of the top ten consisted of identity theft, motor vehicle repair, gas pumps, motor vehicle sales, and fuel quality complaints. Officials received 11,303 complaints through the Bureau of Consumer Protection and 390 to the Bureau of Weights and Measures. The agency returned more than $4.6 million to Wisconsin consumers in 2018 in the form of refunds, settlements, and court-ordered restitution.
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