Saturday State News Briefs: Dane County authorities ID Dodgeville man involved in fork-lift accident

MAZOMANIE - Dane County authorities say the forklift driver killed on the job last week in Mazomanie was 54 year old Marc Nondorf of Dodgeville.

Nondorf was reportedly operating that forklift Wednesday morning when a load of trusses collapsed, pinning him. He was moving the trusses onto a flatbed trailer when the accident that took his life happened. An autopsy confirmed Nondorf died of blunt force injuries. Because it was a fatal accident, it is still being investigated.

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The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has approved a 3.8 percent increase in base electricity rates for Madison Gas and Electric. The average customer will pay an additional four dollars, 11 cents per month. At the same time, state regulators approved a natural gas rate hike which would cost the average customer about 65 cents a month. The combined increases will mean an additional 16 and a half million dollars in revenue for the utility. MG&E had requested a 5.8 percent electric rate hike and 2.6 natural gas increase.

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A former plant researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been charged with growing marijuana in a university laboratory. Forty-five year old Christopher Schwartz got in trouble with the law when a dozen marijuana plants were found growing inside a growth chamber at the Biochemistry Building on the Madison campus. Schwartz was originally placed on administrative leave, but he resigned 10 days after the plants were found October 16th. Schwartz admitted to police investigators he had been growing the plants for personal use.

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A Madison man was waiting to be sentenced for stealing a purse from a woman at the Ho-Chunk Casino when he allegedly robbed a 76 year old man of his wallet in that casino’s bathroom. Forty-seven year old Frank Gentry has been charged with robbery and bail jumping. A surveillance video reportedly shows the suspect following his victim into a bathroom, then, moments later, hurriedly walking out. Gentry followed the man into the bathroom after that man had cashed in his winnings. Gentry had pleaded guilty to snatching the woman’s purse last July. He’s awaiting a trial in another case and has a criminal history which includes two prior Dane County robbery convictions.

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Wisconsin students, Governor Scott Walker is asking for your help. School children in the state are being asked to decorate ornaments for the Capitol Christmas tree. Walker says the theme for this year’s tree will be “In Wisconsin.” The governor is asking the ornaments we brightly colored, representing goods or products made in Wisconsin – things like milk, cheese, cranberries or even Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Those who want to submit ornaments are being asked to do so by a week from Monday, November 19th.

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A Milwaukee doctor who ran medical clinics for poor children has been sentenced to spend a year and a day in a federal prison. Sixty year old Noemi Prieto was convicted last March of health care fraud. With good behavior, Prieto could be out in 10 months. She was found guilty of billing the federal government for services which were provided by an unlicensed doctor. Despite her noble efforts on behalf of the poor, the court found she also tried to cover up the crime. She billed the government, insurance companies and the patients more than $200,000 for the care provided by the unlicensed doctor, Rafael Nunez.

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