New Year's Day State News Briefs: Body IDed from Christmas Day fire in Winter

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WINTER - Authorities have identified the 84-year old victim of a Christmas Day fire in the Town of Winter in northern Wisconsin.

Harold Kingery’s body was found two days after the fire was put out. The Sawyer County Sheriff’s office says the fatal blaze apparently started in a heater in the home. Published reports indicate investigators don’t think the cause of Kingery’s death or the cause of the fire are considered to be suspicious. The Wisconsin State Fire Marshal’s office helped in the investigation.

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The Racine County Sheriff’s office reports a car belonging to a woman reported missing from the Town of Waterford has been found. The search for 51 year old Annette Maki started Sunday. Her vehicle was found at about 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon east of the Wadewitz Nature Center. Maki is described as white, five feet, seven inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds, with brown hair and eyes.

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Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele has announced special elections to fill two open seats on the county board will be held April 2nd. The elections will fill the unexpired terms of supervisors Nikiya Harris and Joe Sanfelippo and they will be held on the same day as the regular spring elections. Harris and Sanfelippo resigned from their seats on the county board effective yesterday. Each had three years left on their term in office and each is leaving to serve in the state Legislature. Nomination papers must be submitted at the county Election Commission by January 15th.

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An autopsy is being conducted today on a man’s body found near a bike path on Madison’s west side. Madison police say it appears to be a case of suicide. The victim is believed to be in his 20s to 30s, but he hasn’t been identified. Police say he was about five feet, seven inches tall and weighed about 160 pounds, with an average build and short hair. A person walking a dog spotted the dead body at about 9 a.m. yesterday.

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Wisconsin gas prices will be down for the year – but oh, so slightly. The Triple-“A’s” statewide average for New Year’s Eve is $3.22-point-seven a gallon for regular unleaded. That’s almost four-cents cheaper than at the end of 2011. But it’s also three-and-a-half cents more than a week ago. Patrick DeHaan of Gas Buddy.com says the nation’s oil refineries took the spotlight in 2012 – and how vulnerable gas prices can be when the infra-structure is compromised. DeHaan cited numerous challenges for refineries in the Great Lakes this past spring – and it pushed gas prices in Chicago to record highs. Wisconsin did not see any record highs this year. Gas hit $3.93-a-gallon around the first of September – and it’s been going down pretty much since then.

Tags: news, wisconsin