News 2008-06-03 Andanh.com

As primaries conclude: What went wrong for Clinton Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:03:00 CST
WASHINGTON Hillary Rodham Clinton spent a year as her partys prohibitive front-runner, then five months mostly reeling from forces she and her advisers could not, or did not, see coming. In one of her many debates with Barack Obama, a wistful Clinton framed the historic nature of her campaign this way: I am thrilled to be running to be the first woman president, which I think would be a sea change in our country and around the world. Almost as an afterthought, she added, Either of us will make history. She has not yet conceded, but Obama is on the verge of making that history by becoming the first black nominee of a major political party. If he does, he will have won the mantle of change, outspending and outmaneuvering Clinton on his way to the Democratic nomination. Here are seven things that went wrong for Clinton: 1. A yearning for change. Clinton underestimated Democrats yearning for something beyond politics as usual and their disdain for the Iraq war and George W. Bush. Clintons 2002 vote to authorize the war became a symbol of status quo, allowing Obama, who had opposed the war, to become the agent of change on an issue that had inflamed the left. When the nomination fight boiled down to Clinton versus Obama, the 35 years of experience Clinton constantly talked about became a liability as Obama became an exciting and plausible alternative. She made an initial strategic blunder by focusing on experience in a Democratic primary, said Dick Morris, who once advised former President Bill Clinton and has become a harsh critic of Sen. Clinton. They dont want experience. They want change and newness. Thats why theyre Democrats. 2. Hot and cold persona. Clinton could never seem to settle on a political style or persona. In her defense, she may have been hurt by gender bias. While Obama drew praise for his ability to invoke passion in his audiences, emotion was radioactive for Clinton. She was criticized as either too hot or too cold, rarely a transcendent figure, and not authentic. When she became teary-eyed before the New Hampshire primary, defenders saw it as a rare glimpse into her soul while detractors saw it as calculated. She also hurt herself with false claims of ducking sniper fire during a trip to Bosnia when she was first lady. A Gallup Poll in March found half of Americans doubted her honesty and trustworthiness, twice the percentage that had the same doubts about Obama or presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. 3. Race trumped gender. When Democratic voters assessed the breakthrough aspects of having a black man or white woman head their ticket, race ultimately won out over gender. The excitement over Obamas candidacy and the prospect of the first black nominee of a major political party brought young voters into a process they had ignored in the past. Black women, especially, were torn, but overwhelmingly settled on Obama after he won predominantly white Iowa. Although Clinton still regularly won among women, the movement of black women and younger women to Obama cut into her strongest base, said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. 4. Tactical errors: While Clinton focused on winning the big states, Obama racked up a delegate lead by winning most of the smaller states primaries and caucuses. Clinton put a lot of her eggs in the Super Tuesday basket and her campaign seemed unprepared fiscally and strategically for the fight to go on past Feb. 5, when more than 20 states voted. But no clear victor emerged that day and there were more states than that left to vote. Clinton had to lend her campaign money, and her campaign manager stepped down amid reports of infighting among her strategists. Clinton was ill served by other advisers, whose ego clashes or professional blunders often made news. She demoted longtime chief strategist Mark Penn after it was revealed he was working to help the government of Colombia get a free trade agreement with the U.S. while Clinton was campaigning against the deal. 5. So close on issues. Obama outflanked Clinton on the left or successfully argued there was little difference between them on everything from ending Bushs tax cuts for the rich to improving health care to revisiting trade deals like NAFTA. In debates, the two Democratic rivals themselves noted they had similar positions on some issues. And while both agreed on the need to get out of Iraq, Clinton had to defend her 2002 vote authorizing the use of force in Iraq while Obama repeatedly pointed out his early opposition to the war. While I think that her vote on Iraq was a responsible vote, she may have underestimated the degree to which the far left in the Democratic Party is on the ascendancy, said Gary Bauer, a longtime conservative activist and 2000 Republican presidential candidate. As voters concerns dramatically shifted from the war to the economy, both candidates changed messages. Clinton was able to win some big, late primaries with an economic populist message targeting blue-collar voters, but by then she was behind in delegates. Obama painted her proposal for a 90-day gas-tax holiday as politics-as-usual pandering that wouldnt solve the energy crisis. 6. One word: Bill. While some voters fond of Bill Clintons presidency saw voting for Hillary Clinton as getting two for one, others loathed the thought of the scandal-tainted ex-president back in the White House. A string of Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton presidencies also was an unpleasant thought for some. Then Bill Clinton infused race into the campaign during the crucial South Carolina primary by comparing Obamas victory to Jesse Jacksons in 1988. He spent later stages of the campaign hitting small colleges and small towns where he faced less media scrutiny. 7. Obama the phenom. In Obama, the candidate became the message. Obamas national appeal, backed up by a broader and deeper national campaign strategy than Clinton had, was arguably the most important reason for her loss. As a long campaign progressed, Obama got more comfortable on the stump and in debates, drew massive crowds and evoked Change sign-waving, cell phone photo-snapping and swooning from supporters. Her supporters complained that the media, wowed by the phenomenon, didnt ask Obama tough questions. Capitalizing on the ease of Internet fundraising, Obama turned the phenom factor into a political gold mine, out-raising Clinton, sometimes at an unprecedented clip of more than $1 million a day.

Clinton open to VP nod Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:54:00 CST
WASHINGTON (AP) Hillary Rodham Clinton told colleagues Tuesday she would consider joining Barack Obama as his running mate, and advisers said she was withholding a formal departure from the race partly to use her remaining leverage to press for a spot on the ticket. On a conference call with other New York lawmakers, Clinton, a New York senator, said she was willing to become Obamas vice presidential nominee if it would help Democrats win the White House, according to a participant who spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to speak for Clinton. Clintons remarks came in response to a question from Democratic Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who said she believed the best way for Obama to win key voting blocs, including Hispanics, would be for him to choose Clinton as his running mate. I am open to it, Clinton replied, if it would help the partys prospects in November. Clinton also told colleagues the delegate math was not there for her to overtake Obama, but that she wanted to take time to determine how to leave the race in a way that would best help Democrats. I deserve some time to get this right, she said, even as the other lawmakers forcefully argued for her to press Obama to choose her as his running mate. Aides to the Illinois senator said he and Clinton had not spoken about the prospects of her joining the ticket. Obama effectively sewed up the 2,118 delegates needed to win the nomination Tuesday, based on a tally of pledged delegates, superdelegates who have declared their preference, and another 18 superdelegates who have confirmed their intentions to The Associated Press. It also included five delegates Obama was guaranteed as long as he gained 15 percent of the vote in South Dakota and Montana later in the day. Word of Clintons vice presidential musings came as she prepared to deliver a televised address to supporters on the final night of the epic primary season. She was working out final details of the speech at her Chappaqua, N.Y., home with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, their daughter Chelsea, and close aides. Earlier, on NBCs Today Show, Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said that once Obama gets the majority of convention delegates, I think Hillary Clinton will congratulate him and call him the nominee. Clinton will pledge to continue to speak out on issues like health care. But for all intents and purposes, two senior officials said, her campaign is over. Most campaign staff will be let go and will be paid through June 15, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge her plans. The advisers said Clinton has made a strategic decision to not formally end her campaign, giving her leverage to negotiate with Obama on various matters including a possible vice presidential nomination for her. She also wants to press him on issues he should focus on in the fall, such as health care. Universal health care, Clintons signature issue as first lady in the 1990s, was a point of dispute between Obama and the New York senator during their epic nomination fight. In a formal statement, the campaign made clear the limits of how far she would go in Tuesday nights speech. Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination, the statement said. Clinton field hands who worked in key battlegrounds said they were told to stand down, without pay, and await instructions. Speaking not for attribution because they didnt want to jeopardize their jobs searches, many said they were peddling resumes, returning to their hometowns or seeking out former employers. Clinton officials have said they would not contest the seating of Michigan delegates at the convention in Denver this August. The campaign was angry this past weekend when a Democratic National Committee panel awarded Obama delegates it thought Clinton deserved.

Springs baseball team to play in sectional final tonight Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:52:00 CST
The St. Marys Springs baseball team beat Algoma, 5-0, in a Division 3 sectional semifinal this afternoon in Horicon. The Ledgers, who got a one-hit pitching performance from Jason Schmitz, will play the winner of University School and Shoreland Lutheran at 6 p.m. today in a sectional final at Discher Park in Horicon. Also Tuesday, Oshkosh North beat Fond du Lac, 4-2, in a Division 1 sectional semifinal at E.J. Schneider Field. In Division 2, the Waupun vs. Winnebago Lutheran sectional semifinal in Chilton was rained out and rescheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Clintons trajectory began in Iowa Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:52:00 CST
PHILADELPHIA In the saga of Hillary Rodham Clintons defeat, all roads lead back to the beginning. Back to Iowa. Before her loss in that states first-in-the-nation caucuses, which took place Jan. 3, she still looked like the near-certain winner of her partys presidential nomination. After all, she was one of the best-known women in the world, the former first lady, the senator from New York, and the bearer of the Democrats number-one brand. In the national polls, she was 20 points ahead of Barack Obama, an upstart senator from Illinois whose campaign had yet to catch fire and whose mantra was easy to belittle. Change is just a word, if you dont have the strength and experience to make it happen, Clinton told party activists in Iowa last fall. We must nominate a nominee who has been tested and elect a president who is ready to lead on day one. The Clinton-Obama struggle proved to be one of the most dramatic, historic, all-consuming nomination fights of the modern era a contest between two political trailblazers, a white woman and a black man, that produced record voter turnout week after week. But for all that transpired, for all of the slipups and surprises, no event had more impact on the eventual outcome than the first one, those Iowa caucuses, in which Clinton finished third behind Obama and John Edwards. Change that outcome, and everything else changes with it. Had she won there, the mistakes that were waiting to happen including her campaigns decision to downplay the future caucus states in which Obama thumped her might not have mattered a whit. The startling result in Iowa stripped her of the veneer of inevitability and made Obama a star. And it signaled to African Americans, who had been evenly divided between Clinton and Obama up to that point, that a black man actually might be able to capture the Democratic nomination. If he could win in Iowa, a very white place, they figured, then he could win anywhere. Most of her black support migrated to him in a flash, providing Obama with a base that was more than a match for hers among women eager for a breakthrough of their own. This became hugely apparent when Obama routed Clinton in South Carolina on Jan. 26. That primary, during which Bill Clinton first stirred racial feelings with his words, was the true thunderclap of the political season, the clearest sign that her candidacy was in jeopardy. In the course of the long campaign, thanks to her early pitch emphasizing experience more than what she would do with it, Hillary Clinton wound up looking to many like the candidate of the status quo a remarkable accomplishment for someone trying to become the first female president in U.S. history. Starting in late February, as she defied the odds to stave off elimination time after time, she recast herself as the scrappy champion of hardworking, blue-collar Democrats. Already a hero to legions of women eager to see her break through the ultimate glass ceiling, she won over millions of voters, male and female, with her grit, her fight, and her focus on bread-and-butter issues. In the final three months, she got far more votes in the primaries than did Obama. But the damage to her chances had been done. Much of the reason for Clintons failure rests with her rival. At a time when America seemed to crave a new direction, Barack Obama embodied change with his message, his appearance and his roots. For the most part, he ran a splendid campaign, raising an extraordinary amount of money and campaigning almost everywhere. And the Clinton brain trust did not. It made a series of strategic blunders that contributed to her defeat the way it allocated resources, the way it failed to prepare for a long battle, and the sense of entitlement it sometimes conveyed. To Iowa Democrats, Clinton offered herself as the candidate of experience, 35 years of it, even though she had served only seven years in public office and much of her experience came from being a political spouse. Obama, in contrast, spoke of a party that offers not just a difference in policies but a difference in leadership and a nation that shouldnt spend the next four years refighting the same fights that we had in the 1990s. The untried newcomer also reminded Iowans early and often that he, unlike Clinton, had opposed the Iraq war from the start. Had she not supported the war resolution in 2002, its hard to imagine the Obama campaign ever getting off the ground. In Iowa, Clinton was asked constantly to explain her vote, and whether she regretted it. The contrast was stark a fresh and compelling change-figure in Obama against a familiar representative of the past. As it turned out, the change-figure had far more appeal to Iowas independents and its young people, who came out in droves to support him. Her defeat in those caucuses put her in a hole from which she never truly emerged, although she seemed to have done so with her dramatic comeback victory in New Hampshire five days later. And being in that hole highlighted the poor decisions already made by her campaign. One was the choice to downplay the post-Iowa caucus states in favor of those holding primaries. At first glance, that made good sense the more-populous primary states had a lot more delegates to offer, and caucuses require a huge organizational effort. But by virtually abandoning such caucus states as Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota and North Dakota, Clinton let Obama hold her to a draw on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5, the day she had announced in advance that she expected to wrap up the nomination. This result was vitally important because Clinton and company didnt have much of a plan beyond Super Tuesday, which became apparent as the rest of February unfolded. In a disastrous two-week period, Obama defeated her in 11 consecutive events, among them caucuses in which she wasnt prepared to compete and primaries in which his core supporters including blacks and upscale whites were well-represented. In the process, he amassed a delegate lead he would never relinquish. One reason the Clinton campaign couldnt recover quickly, despite several campaign-staffing shake-ups, was that it was strapped for cash. Clinton had matched Obama in fund-raising in the early going by focusing on big donors, those capable of giving the maximum contribution of $2,300 for the primary season. But such donors couldnt give any more when the going got tough they were maxed out. Obama didnt have that problem he had used the Internet to build up a vast base of donors willing to make small contributions, over and over again. From mid-February on, Clinton was in survival mode, a desperate condition in which she seemed to thrive, even as the demographic breakdown of the race became set in stone. She developed her own army of small donors. She talked less about her experience and more about her commitment to fighting for middle-class Americans worried about energy prices, health care, home foreclosures, and jobs moving overseas. It was a message in tune with an electorate shaken by a worsening economy and the price of gasoline, which just kept rising. For weeks, she seemed to live on the edge. A defeat in the Texas primary March 4 would have done her in. And defeat there seemed a real possibility. But she won, also prevailing in Ohio the same day. Next came Pennsylvania, where she hoped to build on her emerging claim to be the queen of the big-electoral-vote states, the one with the ability to attract votes from the white working class. She stumbled along the long road to the April 22 primary, saying on several occasions, incorrectly, that she had braved sniper fire when landing in Bosnia as first lady in 1996. Fortunately for her, though, Obama found himself on an even more daunting path, dealing with the inflammatory words of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., and his own comments about bitter residents of small towns who were clinging to guns and religion. Clinton won impressively in Pennsylvania, again fending off elimination. Given the hole she was in, though, her victory did little more than buy her two more weeks, until Indiana and North Carolina on May 6. She used those two weeks to argue that she had the stronger base within the party, that she had won more of the states critical to winning in November, and that she would be more electable than Obama against Republican John McCain. She had the reappearance of Wright working in her favor as well. But none of it had any impact on her delegate deficit, little changed since the dark days of February. Her deficit at the beginning of June was almost exactly what it was at the beginning of March. For all the ground she made up in the popular vote, and for all the turbulence Obama encountered, nothing much changed. On May 6, her smaller-than-expected win in Indiana, combined with her bigger-than-expected loss in North Carolina, all but ended the race, prompting undeclared superdelegates to start moving to Obama. She soldiered on and could gain no ground, despite landslide victories in West Virginia and Kentucky. The final outcome might have been different had Michigan and Florida, states she claimed as her own, not broken party rules by holding primaries too early, thereby putting their delegates and her advantage in limbo. Or if she had deemphasized the ready on day one message and moved more quickly to become the fighter for the middle class. Or if her campaign had planned effectively for the long haul. But none of those things would have mattered had she managed to connect a little better with the caucus-goers of Iowa, back in the days when she still looked inevitable.

What do women really want Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:37:00 CST
Its what many men would like to know. .

Wisconsin senators remain uncommitted Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:09:00 CST
WASHINGTON Pressure is building on uncommitted superdelegates to back one of the Democratic presidential candidates, but Wisconsin Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold said they wont rush to endorse anyone. Kohl and Feingold said they will wait until after todays Montana and South Dakota primaries to announce support for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama. Obama holds the edge over Clinton in pledged delegates. Reports varied as to whether he had enough public and private commitments from superdelegates to secure the nomination. In Wisconsin, 11 of the 16 superdelegates back Obama. Two superdelegates support Clinton and three, including Kohl and Feingold, are uncommitted. In a brief interview, Feingold said he understood the push by Obama supporters to wrap up the nomination as soon as possible. However, he said no one should try to push Clinton out. I have enormous regard for Sen. Clinton. Shes the first serious woman candidate for president, said Feingold, who voted for Obama in Wisconsins Feb. 19 primary. In a prepared statement, Kohl repeated what he has said since February: Let the primaries run their course. The process is drawing to a close and were looking forward to an early resolution, he said. Lets see what tomorrow brings.

The Reporter seeks boaters for comment Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:41:00 CST
The Reporter is looking for Fond du Lac area boaters to discuss how spiraling gas prices will affect their summer plans.

Ladies, has your career path been detoured Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:36:00 CST
Experts predict that individuals make 3 to 11 career changes over their lifetime. While those transitioning into a new job may mark a move to a more lucrative, challenging career, some women may find themselves adrift in the world of unemployment when that career change is driven by forces out of their control. Has your career path been railroaded by downsizing, a layoff, family circumstances or a work-related injury Wed like to hear from women on how they handled the challenge. Contact Colleen Kottke no later than Thursday, June 5 by calling 324-5492 or emailing her at ckottke@fdlreporter.com.

PHOTOS: 2007 Walleye Weekend gallery 1 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:36:00 CST

2 attempted abductions reported in Fox Lake Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:47:00 CST
JUNEAU The Dodge County Sheriffs Department is asking the public for help in locating a man suspected in two attempted abductions in the town of Fox Lake.

Former town of Chester official charged with misconduct Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:13:00 CST
MADISON The Wisconsin Department of Justice has filed a criminal complaint charging Rebecca L. Day, 38, a Dodge County resident, with misconduct in office (one count), Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today. If convicted of misconduct in office, a felony, Day faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years and six months and a maximum fine not to exceed $10,000. The criminal complaint alleges that Day served as the treasurer for the town of Chester in Dodge County for approximately eight years. Among her duties as treasurer, Day was responsible for accepting property tax payments and documenting their payment. During an examination of the towns finances, an accounting firm discovered that Day recorded payment of property taxes for her own residence in the town of Chester without actually making a payment to the township for her property taxes, according to a press release from the Wisconsin Attorney Generals office. This happened each year between 2002 and 2006. The allegations in the complaint and described above have not been proven in a court of law. The defendant is presumed innocent, and the state bears the burden of proving the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is currently scheduled for an initial appearance in Dodge County Circuit Court before Court Commissioner James Olson at 9:30 p.m. June 30. The Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the criminal investigation in this matter. Assistant Attorney General Donald Latorraca from the Departments Division of Legal Services will represent the state as a special prosecutor for Dodge County.

Eagle spotted in Campbellsport Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:03:00 CST
Campbellsport Police Chief Randy Karoses snapped this picture of an eagle he spotted in a tree May 21 west of the Mill Pond dam in Campbellsport. He captured the image on the video camera in his squad. .

Cigarette causes porch fire Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:31:00 CST
A cigarette is to blame for a porch fire Monday evening at a Fourth Street home. Neighbors of 225 Fourth St. put out the fire with a garden hose before firefighters arrived, said Battalion Chief Larry Wunsch of the Fond du Lac Fire Department. The renter of the apartment, Vincent Parish, was not at home when the fire was reported around 5 p.m. Monday, Wunsch said. A cigarette dropped between the cracks of the porch and started the fire, he said. Minor damage was reported.

Military hosts training exercise today in Juneau Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:23:00 CST
JUNEAU A clandestine operation for manufacture of weapons of mass destruction in Juneau Thats the impression some Dodge County residents may have while watching the Wisconsin National Guard and the Dodge County Sheriffs Office storm the vacant high school on the south side of Juneau this morning during a training exercise. The unit being evaluated is the 54th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD CST), said Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls, who also holds the rank of colonel in the Wisconsin National Guard. This is a highly specialized 22-person unit that is available to first responders to handle nuclear, chemical and biological hazards that are outside the capabilities of the local communities. The vehicles and equipment are very impressive. The exercise scenario includes a militant group holed up in the old Dodgeland High School building hatching a plan to develop and release a biological warfare agent. The group is also laying the groundwork to launch an attack on various Wisconsin government officials including Gov. Jim Doyle, Nehls said. The Dodge County Sheriffs Department is acting on an anonymous tip to stake out a business on Main Street and observe the activities of the group, Nehls said. Believing that a laboratory may have been established to produce weapons of mass destruction, the Sheriffs Department requests the support of the 54th WMD CST to apprehend the militia. Activities will begin at 7 a.m. and run throughout the day. Nehls said viewing areas will be set aside for onlookers. Cooperating agencies include the Dodge County Airport and Wisconsin Aviation, City of Juneau Police and Fire Departments and Public Works crews, and Dodge County and Juneau Emergency Management teams.

Semi hits cows in the road Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:22:00 CST
TOWN OF HERMAN A semi-driver escaped injury after his truck collided with five cattle standing in the road early Tuesday morning. The 54-year-old driver struck the animals about 3:34 a.m. on Highway 33 near Town Hall Road in the town of Hermann, according to Dodge County dispatch logs. The owner of the animals is Michael Moldenhauer. On Monday, the Dodge County dispatch center received a report of three angus steers running loose on Highway 60 in the town of Lowell.

Police search for bloody woman at wayside Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:18:00 CST
TOWN OF LOMIRA The search for a woman reportedly bleeding in a Dodge County wayside Monday afternoon proved fruitless. A female semi driver using the restroom located at the northbound wayside on Highway 41 south of Lomira told officers she saw a woman standing in the restroom wearing only one shoe around 4 p.m., according to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department report. The driver said she saw a red substance on the floor where the woman was standing and believed it was blood. When officers arrived on the scene, a wayside maintenance employee said he cleaned up blood on the floor in the womens restroom area but did not see a woman matching the description given by the driver, according to the report.

Car warranty telemarketers using deceptive practices, state says Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:08:00 CST
MADISON -- The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection has opened investigations of companies and telemarketers allegedly using misrepresentation and deception to sell motor vehicle extended service contracts. According to law enforcement agencies around the country, scores of consumers have been misled into paying for unnecessary extended service contracts costing about $2,000. In addition to inundating consumers with telemarketing calls that violate the No Call law, these out-of-state companies prey on consumers fear, sending misleading letters informing them that their current motor vehicle warranties are about to expire, when in fact they are not, says Janet Jenkins, administrator of Trade and Consumer Protection. As a result, consumers may purchase unneeded warranties for thousands of dollars. Wisconsin consumers can assist in our investigation by contacting us if they have made these purchases. We need your help because some operators appear to be hiding behind fake caller ID information. Call us at 1-800-422-7128. According to Jay Nixon, Attorney General in Missouriwhere many of the companies are located, the companies mislead consumers in letters and postcards with boldfaced statements such as Notification of Interruption and Important Dated Material Enclosed leaving the impression that they are sent from the manufacturers or the dealers who sold the vehicles to them. In fact, the companies fail to inform the consumers that they are not affiliated with the manufacturer, dealer or any local, state or federal government agency, and that the mailings amount to advertisements. Many consumers confused, but not wanting their car warranties to expire went ahead and purchased the new, but in most cases unneeded, service contract the company was hawking. For more information, call the toll free hotline of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: 1-800-422-7128.

GM to close Janesville plant Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:53:00 CST
WILMINGTON, Del. General Motors is closing plants in Janesville and three other North American sites that build trucks and SUVs as surging fuel prices hasten a dramatic shift to smaller vehicles. CEO Rick Wagoner said today before the automakers annual meeting in Delaware the other plants to be closed are in Oshawa, Ontario Moraine, Ohio and Toluca, Mexico. He also said the iconic Hummer brand may be discontinued. Wagoner said the GM board has approved production of a new small Chevrolet car at a plant in Lordstown, Ohio, in mid-2010 and the Chevy Volt electric vehicle in Detroit. Wagoner announced the moves in response to slumping sales of pickups and SUVs brought on by high oil prices. He says a market shift to smaller vehicles is permanent. The cuts will affect about 2,500 workers at each of the four facilities, although Wagoner did not know exact numbers. Many will be able to take openings created when 19,000 more U.S. hourly workers leave later this year through early retirement and buyout offers. He said the company has no plans to allocate products to the four plants in the future. The moves will save the company $1 billion per year starting in 2010. Combined with previous efforts, GM will have cut costs by $15 billion a year, Wagoner said. Wagoner said GMs board approved the production schedule of the Chevrolet Volt, and the company plans to bring the plug-in electric car to showrooms by the end of 2010. The Volt runs on an electric motor and has a small engine to recharge its batteries. He said the change in the U.S. market to smaller vehicles likely is permanent. We at GM dont think this is a spike or a temporary shift, Wagoner said.

FdLs Maass candidate for Green Bay superintendent job Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:49:00 CST
GREEN BAY -- Five men from school districts in Wisconsin and Illinois make up the pool of semifinalists for the position of Green Bay School District superintendent. The Green Bay School Board announced the candidates Monday after a closed-session meeting with search firm Hazard, Young, Attea Associates Ltd. The firms nationwide search yielded applicants from several states, but a more local semifinalist pool is common for a district like Green Bay, said senior search firm consultant Marvin Edwards. Its pretty typical, unless its a large urban area with regional identification, Edwards said. Medium cities like Green Bay tend to attract people in a cluster around the area, rather than a national (spread). The semifinalists are: Jack Baldermann, superintendent, Riverside Brookfield High School, Riverside, Ill. Kim Eparvier, superintendent, Peshtigo School District. Gregory Maass, superintendent, Fond du Lac School District. Lalo Ponce, assistant superintendent, Elgin Area Unit District 46, Elgin, Ill. Mark Swanson, superintendent, Manitowoc School District. The Green Bay district is looking for someone to fill the shoes of Superintendent Daniel Nerad. A longtime district employee and superintendent since 2001, Nerad begins his tenure as the head of the Madison School District on July 1. School Board members in February selected Hazard, Young, Attea Associates Ltd., the same search firm that brought Nerad to Madison, to help find his replacement. In April, search firm consultants spent two full days in the area, gathering verbal and written feedback from some 275 district stakeholders to create their superintendent leadership profile. The extensive profile identified experience, community-mindedness and a student achievement focus as just a few of the qualities the next superintendent should have. The next couple of weeks will be busy for School Board members, who hope to identify their preferred candidate June 14. That individual would start before the beginning of the school year, said board president Jean Marsch. Selecting the next top administrator is a big but exciting responsibility, she said. Im excited, because these five individuals are an excellent slate of candidates, Marsch said. I think any one of them would be prepared to take on a district such as ours. The field of 25 applicants for the superintendent position included 17 individuals from Wisconsin, three from Illinois and one each from Minnesota, California, Texas, Iowa and South Dakota, Edwards said. Fourteen are sitting superintendents, three are assistant superintendents and eight are directors or hold other positions. The field of 25 included only one female applicant, Edwards said, which came as a surprise and somewhat of a disappointment. But he said hes confident in the pool as is. When you have good candidates, its never that clear, he said, referring to a possible frontrunner. If everybody stays in the race, its going to be tough.

Americas pastime provides local players with fond memories Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:50:00 CST
Once spectators at the annual Dream Catcher Softball game began their jubilant cheer, they never let up.

Oshkosh woman accused of sex with Appleton boy waives hearing Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:11:00 CST
OSHKOSH A woman accused of having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old Appleton boy waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday on three felony counts of sexual assault of a child.

Little Chute man faces charges for tracking his ex Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:29:00 CST
APPLETON A man who showed up on a Combined Locks womans doorstep complaining about a breakup seven years earlier has been charged with stalking.

Motorcyclist ticketed for traveling more than 100 mph Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
TOWN OF CHESTER A 19-year-old Waupun man with a lengthy history of traffic violations was arrested May 31 for driving his motorcycle in excess of 105 mph in a 55 mph zone.

FdL County homes wanted for exchange students Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
Fond du Lac County families are invited to host international exchange students this fall.

Bake sale and lunch to benefit Thailand orphanage Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
A bake sale, sloppy joe lunch and root beer float sale will be held on Thursday, June 19, in the lobby of the Fond du Lac City County Government Center, 160 S. Macy St.

31 graduate from FdL leadership program Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
Thirty-one members of the 2008 Leadership Fond du Lac Class graduated on May 21 during a dinner and ceremony at the Stayer Center for Technology Executive Learning.

Summer brings more road projects for Fond du Lac area Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
Road projects are in full swing in the Fond du Lac area.

Graduation ceremony scheduled for ARC Fond du Lac Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
ARC Community Services Inc. will hold graduation ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at the Sisters of St. Agnes Founders Hall, 320 County Trunk K. The ceremony is open to the public.

Moraine Park partners with college from Nebraska Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
Moraine Park Technical College students who are pursuing or have received an associate of applied science degree have a new option to extend their education.

Michels Corp. ranks high among top contractors Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
BROWNSVILLE Michels Corporation has been ranked among the nations top contractors by a leading construction industry trade publication.

PHOTOS: Habitat for Humanity house Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:52:00 CST

PHOTOS: SMS class of 2008 graduation Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:32:00 CST

PHOTOS: WLA class of 2008 graduation Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:09:00 CST
Winnebago Lutheran Academy class of 2008 graduated Sunday, June 1.

Ashwaubenon girl who lied about assault gets jail time, supervision Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
GREEN BAY A 17-year-old girl who lied about being abducted and assaulted will serve three days in a juvenile facility and be supervised until she is 18.

Sheboygan boy, 13, accused of sexually assaulting children Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
Authorities say a 13-year-old Town of Herman boy sexually assaulted a 5-year-old boy and had been sexually abusing a 6-year-old girl for months.

City tests green sidewalks Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:31:00 CST
City officials are testing new sidewalk materials in Lakeside Park as part of an effort to save money and green up Fond du Lac.

Buddies help out Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:29:00 CST
Once spectators at the annual Dream Catcher Softball game began their jubilant cheer, they never let up.

Iwonas hopes residents want a cup of tea Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:32:00 CST
Joel and Iwona Downs were opposites when they met four years ago.

State golf: Fondy in chase for title Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
VERONA The Fond du Lac boys golf team is in the hunt for a state title.

Summer baseball: New Holstein wins EWC opener Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
TWO RIVERS A two-out, three-run rally in the third inning brought Two Rivers even with New Holstein in their Eastern Wisconsin Conference opener on Monday night.

Summer baseball: Kewaskum defeats Campbellsport, 4-1 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
Kewaskum took control of the game on consecutive at-bats en route to a 4-1 home win over Campbellsport on Monday.

Milwaukee 4, Arizona 3: Sounds like a win Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 CST
MILWAUKEE Prince Fielder wants a blaring siren to be his signature sound.

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