News 6/6/2010

Schumacher Resigns

6/7/10 – The Cambria Village Board will be looking to fill an open seat at tonight’s meeting after a member resigned last week. Jeff Schumacher, who was re-elected for a second time in April, recently accepted a new job in Florida. His resignation is on Monday’s agenda as is a vote to fill the resulting vacancy.

Field Supports Movement on Limiting the Use of Gas Tax Money

6/6/10 – The Dodge County Highway Commissioner Brian Field says he’s in support of a current movement by groups that represent Wisconsin road builders and county highway departments who are trying to get as many counties as possible to have referendums this fall on the issue of using state gas tax money for other things. Those leading the effort are urging law makers to eventually pass a constitutional amendment to ban future raids. Field says the amendment will set up a “firewall” that would make sure money paid by taxpayers into the transportation fund will actually be spent on transportation improvements. 22 states already have similar amendments to their constitutions.

Accident Victim Identified

6/6/10 – The 47-year-old Mayville man killed Thursday afternoon after rolling his vehicle in Fond du Lac County has been identified as Brian W. Janssen. Police say Janssen was driving southbound on Highway 26 when he went off the right shoulder of the road, overcorrected back onto the road and then traveled back to the right where the vehicle overturned, ejecting Janssen and rolling on top of him. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Waupun Memorial Hospital. The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department says the accident is still under investigation.

Columbus Man Sentenced

6/6/10 – A Columbus man will go to prison for two and half years on charges of bail jumping and substantial battery. 30-year-old Eric Landphier, who pled no contest to the charges in January, will also be on extended supervision for another two years after getting out of prison. The charge of substantial battery stemmed from an incident in October 2007 when Landphier hit a man in the face who was trying to stop him from driving drunk. Then in August of last year police say they were called to a confrontation in an area near the intersection of Ludington and East Mill Streets in Columbus last August. Once on scene, police found an intoxicated Landphier yelling and being restrained by a friend. He later told police he was yelling at a man who insulted a family member. Landphier has now been convicted of 19-felonys.

Avery’s Last Minute Story Change has No Impact

6/6/10 – The Washington County judge wasn’t buying convicted killer Charles Avey’s last minute story. Avey was found guilty of strangling his 14 year old son Cody. In a statement read in court before sentencing, Avey called it a mercy killing, saying his son asked to be killed so he wouldn’t face further sexual assaults from an unnamed abuser. The judge said Avey’s attempt to put some spin on the facts of the case didn’t make sense. He called it a final insult to the victim and his surviving family members — then sentenced Avey to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judge James Muehlbauer called Avey calculating and dangerous. Avey had previously told investigators he strangled his son using a tie to get back at the boy’s mother. She had reported him to police for beating her with a hammer the same day as the killing.