Sunday State News Briefs: Kohl gives farwell address to Dem state convention

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APPLETON - A big crowd of Democrats at the party's annual state convention chanted, “Thank you,” as the retiring Herb Kohl finished his speech last night.

The 77-year old U.S. Senator is not running for a fifth term, so he gave a farewell address in Appleton last night. Kohl expressed gratitude to his fellow party members. He said he won’t completely disappear from the political world. He has endorsed Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) as his replacement. She is to face the winner of four-person Republican primary in August.

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Police say they had to Taser 34 year old James Warfield five times to bring him under control Friday. Police were called to a McDonald’s in Janesville when Warifled allegedly threw a big rock through a window in the restaurant. He’s accused of punching the first police officer on the scene and incapacitating a Janesville police dog by kicking and punching it. The incident happened a little before midnight Friday. Warfield is being treated for an existing medical condition at Mercy Hospital. He will be transferred to the Rock County Jail when he is released.

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Graduation night can be an exciting time for graduating high school students, but it got a little too exciting Friday night outside the Kohl Center in Madison. Several police units were called to the scene a little before 9:30 when a fight broke out between two groups of females. That was shortly after diplomas had been handed out to graduating seniors from La Follette High School. East High School had held its graduation ceremonies earlier in the evening. Memorial and West High Schools had their ceremonies yesterday with no incidents reported.

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Marquette University school officials have been notified that two students have been raped while participating in the school’s study abroad program in Italy. Both victims were female. Both rapes happened in a private bar in Cagli, Italy, and students have now been forbidden to return to that establishment. Marquette officials say local authorities have been cooperative and Italian police are investigating. The program has been running for 14 years and these are said to be the first incidents of their kind. Students were given the option to return home early, but none took advantage of the offer of travel reimbursement. Those students are scheduled to return June 21st.

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A Washington County accident leaves a 49 year old motorcycle rider from Jackson dead. It happened at about 6:45 p.m. Friday on Pleasant Valley Road, just east of U.S. 45. A 16 year old boy from Brookfield was driving the van which hit Rick M. Steger’s motorcycle. The boy will be cited for violating his graduated drivers license between he had two teenage passengers in the vehicle when the license only allows one. Police say they will consult with the district attorney’s office to decide if additional charges should be filed in the fatal accident.

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The Reverend Jesse Jackson says he will be in Milwaukee tomorrow for the arraignment of accused killer John H. Spooner. The 75-year old is the man charged with first degree intentional homicide in the shooting death of Milwaukee teenager Darius Simmons. The boy was laid to rest yesterday, with funeral services at All Peoples Church. Police are being criticized harshly for questioning his mother for two hours after the shooting and leaving the family’s home in disarray after searching for the shotgun which killed the 13 year old. Mayor Tom Barrett has called for a complete investigation into police conduct.

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