Saturday State News Briefs: Fromer DOC agent admits drug addiction

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WAUSAU - The attorney for a former state Department of Corrections probation agent says his client admits she has an addiction and is cooperating with authorities.

Forty-one year old Kim Hoenisch has been charged with stealing prescription drugs. The Wisconsin Department of Justice says Hoenisch was working in the Wausau field office when she stole Vicodin from probationers while they were taking urine tests last summer. State agents say she also admitted taking Vicodin during a visit to a probationer’s home last year, plus thefts on at least two additional occasions. Charges against Hoenisch include felony drug possession and misconduct in office. Hoenisch is the wife of the Marathon County Sheriff.

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It wasn’t a perfect storm, but several factors worked together to keep a lot of Oshkosh public school students out of class yesterday. As much as 41 percent of the students at one of the district’s high schools stayed home. They were kept away by the first major snow storm of the season, rumors of a weapon threat a Oshkosh North High School, and a prediction by the Mayans hundreds of years ago that the world would end yesterday. Some students were just starting their Christmas vacation early. Classes resume January 2nd.

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A Kronenwetter woman was found guilty of making illegal copies of movies. Kimberly Maciaz waived her preliminary hearing and entered a no contest plea. Judge Vincent Howard found her guilty of manufacturing counterfeit DVD movies and selling them online. Kronenwetter Police raided the home of Maciaz and 21-year-old Megan Chenier and seized thousands of blank DVDs, plastic cases, hard drives, and some label making machines. Maciaz faced up to 6 years in prison and $10,000 in fines plus possible federal charges, but ended up with six months in jail with work release privileges and three years probation. Maciaz’ accomplice, Megan Chenier’s charges were dismissed under a separate court agreement.

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Federal prosecutors said Michael J. Scott robbed 10 banks over a two and a half month period. Scott admitted the crimes last September and was sentenced to five years in prison yesterday. Federal prosecutors had argued for a longer sentence due to the nature of the crimes committed by the 37 year old man from Beaver Dam and the trauma suffered by the bank tellers who were robbed. Scott got away with 28 thousand dollars in the 10 bank hold-ups.

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Federal prosecutors said Michael J. Scott robbed 10 banks over a two and a half month period. Scott admitted the crimes last September and was sentenced to five years in prison yesterday. Federal prosecutors had argued for a longer sentence due to the nature of the crimes committed by the 37 year old man from Beaver Dam and the trauma suffered by the bank tellers who were robbed. Scott got away with 28 thousand dollars in the 10 bank hold-ups.

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The Town of Delavan police and fire commission has terminated the employment of police officer Jeremiah Burdick. The unanimous decision was made after a meeting was held last week. Burdick was accused of being drunk August 12th when he drove to the Vegas Gentleman’s Club in the town of Darien. He reportedly showed his police ID in an attempt to get in for free. Once inside, witnesses said the veteran officer was offensive to dancers and other customers. When Walworth County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, they found him urinating in the parking lot. Open beers were found in his car. Burdick had been a full-time officer with the town of Delavan for more than five years.

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The search for a Chief Operating Officer for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is nearing an end. The original pool of 100 applicants has been cut down to three – Ralph Howard of Random Lake, Michael Jenkins of Cedarburg and Jason Jensen of Madison. A search committee was formed by the governor last September to come up with a replacement for Paul jading. The WEDC was formed by Governor Walker to replace the state Department of Commerce. It is focused on creating Wisconsin jobs. The organization has gone through some growing pains, but two independent reviews have produced a list of recommendations to improve its operations.

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A higher gas tax, higher license-and-registration fees, and a first-of-its-kind fee according to how many miles you drive. That’s what a special commission recommended today, to come up with six-billion-dollars it says will be needed over the next decade just to maintain the quality of the roads we now have. Governor Scott Walker and the Legislature created the study commission, to advise them on the best ways to pay for Wisconsin’s transportation needs. The pay-as-you-drive fee was first floated a few months ago – and incoming GOP State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington) recently sold people are generally not ready to accept the concept yet. What the commission recommended was a fee of one-point-oh-two cents for every mile a vehicle drives between three-thousand and 20-thousand per year. The motorist who drives 12,000 miles a year would pay an extra $108-dollars on the top of the gas tax, which the commission says should go up by five-percent. It also recommends a $20 increase in the fee for a new-or-renewed driver’s license – plus higher annual registration fees for commercial vehicles.

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The latest reported victim of this week’s snowstorm in Wisconsin was identified today as 20-year-old Erik Johnson of Kenosha. Authorities said his SUV didn’t stop in time to avoid being hit by Amtrak’s Hiawatha passenger train. The car drove through the left ditch, and then went up onto the railroad tracks where it was hit. None of the 89 passengers and three crew members were hurt on the Hiawatha train what was going from Chicago-to-Milwaukee. Sheriff’s deputies said speed was a factor in the crash, as well as the weather. They’re still investigating. Erik Johnson was at least the third person to be killed as a result of this week’s heavy snow-and-ice. Two Footville men were killed Wednesday night when their vehicle slid into an oncoming semi-truck west of Janesville.

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This week’s snowstorm has created a major shortage of blood. The Blood Center of Wisconsin said lots of appointments for blood donations were canceled yesterday. As a result, the center expects a shortfall of over a-thousand units over the next several days. All blood types are needed, but officials say there’s a particular need for “O”-Negative – the universal type that’s used in emergency rooms and med-flight helicopters. The Blood Center also has a critical need for platelets, which are used to help cancer and trauma patients recover from life-threatening injuries. The Blood Center serves 56 hospitals in Wisconsin. It’s asking everyone to keep their scheduled appointments if they can safely do so – and others who wish to help can make appointments for tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday. The Blood Center’s Wauwatosa location will have extended hours tomorrow – and only platelet donors can make appointments for Sunday at the ‘Tosa site.

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About 21,000 electric customers were still without power in Wisconsin late Friday morning, after the massive snow storm from the past two days. We Energies had 11,600 customers out as of 10:30, mainly in the Milwaukee region. Wisconsin Power and Light still had 8,900 customers in the dark in the south central part of the state. The Wisconsin Public Service utility only had about 625 customers still out – about half of those being in Door County. Much of the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin had 10 inches or more. The biggest total is now reported near Beaver Dam, with 20-point-one inches. The snow stopped falling last night, but the storm continues to push strong winds into the Badger State. In fact they were stronger late this morning than they were overnight. Milwaukee had wind gusts of 45-miles-an-hour at 10 a.m. The strongest winds were generally in the eastern half of the state, in the 20-to-35-mile-an-hour range. Clearing skies and colder temperatures are due in for the weekend.

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One person was taken into custody for a threat of violence at Green Bay Preble High School. Police said they became aware of the threat last night, and the apparent suspect was taken into custody this morning. Extra police are on hand at the school today. School district officials said it was not immediately known if the threat had anything to do with a possible threat reported on Monday at Green Bay Southwest High School – which officials said was the result of a misunderstanding. Student services director Barb Dorff said those at Preble had their school ID’s checked individually this morning. A rumor about the threat was spread on Facebook – and Dorff said schools would not be shut down because of rumors. Officials at schools throughout Wisconsin say they’ve been dealing with rumors of violence this week related to the Mayan calendar, and its indication that the world’s supposed to end today. And last week’s Connecticut shootings have resulted in numerous threats and incidents at schools around the country.

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A pregnant woman made it to a hospital in Janesville – but it took a team of first responders, three ambulance crews, and a snow-plow to get her there. The woman is from Clinton, east of Beloit. Authorities said she was driving to the hospital when she got stuck just after midnight on Highway 14. A team of Clinton’s first responders could not get her on her way with their ambulance. She then walked over to a private ambulance, and it also got stuck. A third ambulance was then dispatched from the Janesville Fire Department, but it, too, got stuck. A Rock County snow-plow was summoned – and the third ambulance drove behind it to get the woman to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Janesville. A hospital spokeswoman said the woman was treated for nausea – but at last word, she was not ready to have her baby yet.

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The chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee says there’s still at least some hope for warding off a large price increase for milk at the start of the New Year. Oklahoma Republican Frank Lucas says his staff has been working on piece-meal items that would re-instate parts of the federal Farm Bill which expired at the end of September. One of them would prevent a return to an old 1949 law which doubles the government’s guaranteed rate for dairy products. Lucas said an effort would be made to attach the farm bill provisions to other bills next week. Democrats from farm states have been trying to make an entirely new Farm Bill part of the package that’s being negotiated to avert the fiscal cliff come January first. But House Speaker John Boehner said he wouldn’t do it, because many in his party would never favor it. Senate Ag Committee chairman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said she’s appalled that Boehner is doing nothing to move the Farm Bill forward. And Minnesota’s Collin Peterson, the ranking Democrat on the House Ag Committee, says a new Farm Bill won’t be considered now until the end of February.

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State officials estimate that Governor Scott Walker will fall more than 100,000 jobs short of his campaign promise from 2010 to create a quarter-million new jobs by the end of 2014. The Revenue Department released its quarterly economic forecast yesterday. It said Wisconsin would net 38,000 new jobs for 2011 and 2012 – and the state would add around 36,000 more jobs in 2013, with a slightly higher total in 2014 when Walker stands for re-election. Walker says employers have had to wrestle with political uncertainty caused by last year’s protests and recalls, the Obama health care law, and the fiscal cliff. The Revenue Department report also cites a weak domestic demand for U.S. products along with slower exports, persistently-high unemployment, the slow recovery of the housing market, and tight credit. It also said Wisconsin’s gross domestic product would only grow by about half the national rate in 2013. Still, the Republican Walker is still confident he can keep his promise, by putting a renewed focus on the priorities that can lead to more jobs – things like improving education and worker training, and investing in infrastructure.

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Fewer Wisconsinites are having trouble keeping up with their mortgages. Core-Logic, a national real estate research firm, said one-point-seven-eight percent of Wisconsin homes were in foreclosure in October – down from two-point-three-six percent in the same month of 2011. Also, fewer Wisconsinites are delinquent – which means they’re more than 90 days behind on their mortgage payments. Core-Logic said four-point-one-three percent of homeowners were delinquent in October, down from 4.66 percent percent the previous year.

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Even if federal tax hikes are avoided, Wisconsinites could still see a big increase in at least one thing come January first – the price of milk. It’s been almost two months since the last package of federal farm programs expired. And if a new Farm Bill is not passed by the New Year, the USDA would have to enforce an old 1949 law which doubles the government’s guaranteed rate for dairy products. Retailers would have to charge a lot more to make up the difference. Democrats who chair the Senate ag committees have been trying to include a new Farm Bill in the fiscal cliff negotiations between congressional leaders and the White House. But House Speaker John Boehner said he wouldn’t do it, because many in his party would never favor it. House Agriculture Committee ranking member Collin Peterson of Minnesota says Congress won’t consider a Farm Bill until at least February 27th. The dairy package could be considered separately, but Petersen says he’d like the entire Farm Bill in the fiscal cliff talks. Senate Ag Committee chair Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said she’s appalled that Boehner has done nothing to move the Farm Bill forward. And she said the 16-million Americans who work in agriculture deserve to be a priority. But negotiators will have other things to discuss, after Boehner pulled back a compromise last night that would have raised tax rates for families making a million dollars or more. Boehner said too many in his party refused to support that kind of a tax hike.

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An Oshkosh man is scheduled to be sentenced January 31st, after a jury found him guilty of providing the heroin that killed a man from Winneconne. 32-year-old Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the death of 25-year-old Cole Trittin in April of last year. A man told investigators that Van Dyke got scared, after the heroin he gave Trittin and another man turned out to be stronger than they expected.

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A Manitowoc woman will spend six years in prison for killing three people with her van while driving drunk. 44-year-old Becky Holly must also spend 15 years under extended supervision once she leaves prison. Holly struck a plea deal in September, in which she pleaded no contest to three charges of negligent homicide – and seven other charges were dropped. She agreed at the time to spend 20 years behind bars, and that’s what prosecutors asked a judge for yesterday. But her lawyer says it’s not necessary. He said Holly no longer drinks nor drives, and she needs rehabilitation. Holly struck-and-killed Lawrence Gerroll, his wife Lou Ann, and their daughter Joan near Two Rivers in October of last year, while they were on a lawn watching a neighbor’s roofing project. Holly’s van drove off a road, and into a yard where the Gerrolls were standing. Holly was also injured, and she entered her sentencing with a walker. Holly cried as she apologized to the victims’ families and friends.

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Governor Scott Walker has declared Friday as a “Day of Mourning” to remember the 20 children and six adults killed in last Friday’s school rampage in Newtown Connecticut. Walker asked Wisconsinites to observe a moment of silence at 9:30 this morning. And he asked churches and other buildings that can ring bells to do so 26 times, to honor each of the lives that were lost. Walker said Connecticut Governor Daniel Malloy has asked states across the country to join his in a moment of silence. He also called it an opportunity to honor the bravery of the staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and the first responders to the tragedy. Walker said quote, “During difficult times such as these, it is important that we stand together to support our neighbors who are suffering.”

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A monthly report issued today said Wisconsin gained 10,300 private sector jobs in November – while the state’s seasonally-adjusted jobless rate dropped two-tenths of a point from October. Federal figures supplied by the state’s workforce development agency also showed the October job losses were not as bad as first reported. After more comprehensive employer surveys, 1,300 jobs were added – which now reflects a decline of 4,700 private sector jobs for the month. Meanwhile, the state Revenue Department said today that Wisconsin should add three-thousand jobs a month in 2013. The agency’s quarterly report said the state’s economy is growing at a moderate pace. It said 38,000 jobs were added the past two years, with 36,000 expected next year – still not on pace for Walker to keep his promise of adding a quarter-million jobs by the time his current ends in January of 2015. The Revenue agency also said unemployment should average six-point-eight percent next year, while personal incomes grow by three-point-seven percent.

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The current Milwaukee County economic development director says he will step down, rather than go through the confirmation process again. Brian Taffora’s job will be eliminated at the end of the year, then re-created with slightly different wording in the contract. Members of the county board are reportedly trying to force him to comply with the county’s residency requirement. Taffora lives five miles outside the country line in Cedarburg. He had a four-year waiver, but the re-wording would force County Executive Chris Abele to appoint him again, starting the approval process. Taffora put his house on the market last January, but has been unable to sell it. His last day on the job will be a week from tomorrow.

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A judge in Madison has delayed a ruling on whether wolf hunters can use dogs for whatever’s left of the season. Dane County Circuit Judge Peter Anderson was scheduled to issue a verbal ruling today – but the courthouse is closed due to the massive snowstorm. So Anderson will hold the proceeding on January fourth, and the season could be over by then. The statewide quota is 116 – and as of yesterday, only six of those wolves remain available to hunters, all in far northwest Wisconsin’s Zone-Three. Environmental and animal rights’ groups filed suit before the inaugural wolf hunt began. They said the wolves would attack the hunting dogs, and many would be killed. Judge Anderson banned the dogs until he could give a final ruling – and as it turned out, hunters did not need them. Some experts thought Wisconsin might not reach its quota by the time the season was due to end next February. But they were wrong, and the season could be wrapped up any day now.

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Authorities have identified two people killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes on Tuesday. In Milwaukee, police said 28-year-old Keena Green died after her vehicle hit a round-about and rolled over several times. And in Adams County, 44-year-old Michelle West of Nekoosa died after her car crashed on Highway 73, about 15 miles southeast of Wisconsin Rapids. The State Patrol continues to investigate that mishap.

Tags: news, wisconsin