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NAMES RELEASED IN BERLIN SHOOTING

Names have been released following a shooting incident in the City of Berlin Wednesday evening. Berlin Police say an autopsy was performed on 50-year-old Michael G. Post. Results of that autopsy are still pending. 46-year-old Tane M. Thomas was treated at an area hospital for a gun shot wound and is in stable condition. Both individuals are from Berlin. Police say the incident occurred Wednesday evening after numerous calls came in reporting shots fired at a residence in the area of Oak Street and E. Liberty Street. Once on scene, police found Thomas injured and transported her to a hospital. Around 9:15 pm, the Green Lake County Combined Tactical Unit entered the residence and found Post deceased. The case remains under investigation.

SENTENCING HEARING SCHEDULE FOR RIPON MAN

A sentencing hearing is set for a Ripon man charged with having sexual contact with three girls. 48-year-old Anthony Zink will be in Fond du Lac County Circuit Court October 6^th. Zink pleaded guilty to three counts of repeated sexual assault of the same child – 1^st or 2^nd degree sexual assault. Those charged were amended, from repeated sexual assault of the same child – 1^st degree sexual assault, which changes the counts from “B” felonies to “C” felonies. Numerous other charges were dismissed on a motion by the prosecutor or dismissed and read into the record in July. Zink had been charged after being accused of sexually assaulting three girls, ages 10, 11 and 12 between 2006 and 2009.

OSHKOSH POLICE LOOKING FOR PUBLIC HELP IN BURGLARIES

Oshkosh police are looking for the public’s help in identifying an individual who may be responsible for burglaries at the south side and west side garages in Oshkosh. Officer Joseph Nichols says between August 28^th and 29^th, garages on Hennessey, Reichow Avenue and Armory Place were entered. Nichols says a vehicle parked on Huntington Place was rummaged through, but nothing was taken. Nichols says a vehicle was then stolen from a garage on Greenfield Trail, which was later recovered. A witness says the suspect in the vehicle was a white male, 16 or 17 years old, wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information is asked to contact Oshkosh police at 920-236-5700.

SECOND OF TWO TEENS CHARGED IN ARMED ROBBERY IN COURT TODAY

The second of two Oshkosh teens charged in connection with an armed robbery in the City of Oshkosh will be in court today. 18-year-old Latrice Collins will be in Winnebago County Circuit Court for an arraignment. Collins, along with 18-year-old Brittany Walker, is charged with party to the crime of armed robbery. Police say the two women robbed a 27-year-old man during the night of August 4^th on Westfield Drive. The women stole an undisclosed amount of cash. When police located the women, the found the two had used BB guns during the hold up that looked like real guns. If convicted, both Walker and Collins face up to 40 years imprisonment and $100,000 in fines.

DOG INVOLVED IN DEATH OF FOUR-YEAR-OLD TO BE PUT DOWN

A dog involved in the death of a four-year-old Hustisford girl will be put down today. Taylor Becker was mauled by a five-year-old boxer while playing in another families back yarn near Iron Ridge in Dodge County last week. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says Becker was taken to a hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after the incident. Nehls says the dog was on a leash and chain in the back yard of the residence, but authorities suspect the dog slipped out of its collar during the attack. Nehls says the dog had no history of violence or attacks, but the owners decided to have him euthanized.

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NEWS FROM AROUND WISCONSIN

Wisconsin had a 50-percent increase in federal funds last year, because of the stimulus program. And the Census Bureau said the Wisconsin increase was much higher than the national spending hike of 16-percent. The Badger State received the 21st-highest amount of federal funds per person in 2009. The total was 21-billion-dollars – and that does not include the 810-million for the controversial high-speed train from Milwaukee-to-Madison. Normally, the state ranks near the bottom in federal funds per capita, because of our lack of defense bases and federal headquarters. But Wausau House Democrat Dave Obey, one of the major authors of the stimulus bill, said the state had a much bigger return for its tax dollars last year. Governor Jim Doyle’s office said it was much more aggressive in seeking federal funds not only through the stimulus program – but for university research grants and federal contracts for military suppliers like the Oshkosh Corporation. Also, the governor’s office said the new hospital tax brought in a large increase in federal Medicaid funds. But House Republican Paul Ryan of Janesville says there’s nothing to cheer about. He said the stimulus raised each Wisconsin resident’s share of the national debt by 43-thousand dollars, and quote – “The borrowing binge continues with job-killing tax hikes looming.”

-9/3-

Last year’s eighth graders in Wisconsin had lower reading scores than they had the year before as seventh graders. And the drop was not as big in Metro Milwaukee as in the rest of the state. That’s just one finding in a new report which focused on public schools in 50 southeast Wisconsin districts. Milwaukee’s Public Policy Forum analyzed a variety of school data. And it found that last year’s eighth-graders had a two-point-two-percent drop statewide in reading proficiency from the previous year’s seventh-graders. The drop was a half-percent in the Milwaukee area districts. Policy Forum president Rob Henken says the decline has been evident the last five years – and we’re not seeing the improvement that’s necessary. Also, the study found that girls out-performed boys in reading at every grade level. That’s similar to national trends. Whites continue to out-perform minorities by a large margin in reading and math throughout Wisconsin. Southeast Wisconsin’s graduation rates lag behind the rest of the state. And the effects of the poverty are more evident, as the number of kids eligible for free-and-reduced-priced lunches jumped five-to-six-percent statewide. Anneliese Dickman of the Public Policy Forum says those trends bode poorly for test scores unless someone intervenes.

-9/3-

A 750-thousand-dollar bond was set yesterday for a gun dealer charged with shooting-and-killing a man on the deck of a Sheboygan County tavern. 63-year-old Frank Hvizdak of rural Glenbeulah was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of 31-year-old Jason TenPas of Cascade. It happened late Tuesday night at Racers’ Hall near Plymouth. Prosecutors said the two men did not know each other, but they got into a conversation that nobody overheard. Witnesses said Hvizdak suddenly pulled a small handgun and started shooting. And that’s when other patrons grabbed Hvizdak and held him for authorities. He was later treated at a hospital, and defense lawyer Brian Kinstler said he had a broken rib and bruises. The attorney sought a lower bond, saying Hvizdak could be trusted to make his future court appearances if he was free. But Court Commissioner Rebecca Persick disagreed, and said the senselessness of the alleged incident is quote, “mind-boggling.” Hvizdak is due back in court Wednesday, when a judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to order a trial.

-9/3-

Wisconsin health officials are urging folks to protect themselves against mosquito bites, so they don’t come down with the West Nile Virus. There have been no human cases reported this summer – but officials said yesterday that three mosquito pools in Milwaukee tested positive for the virus last month. Human cases of West Nile often occur in the late summer and early fall. Birds and horses also get the mosquito-borne disease. The Badger State only had one confirmed human case of West Nile last year, that being in Dane County. But over 50 people were sickened in 2002, when the disease was first reported. Symptoms include fever, headache, and a rash that can last for a few days. Most people will have mild symptoms if anything, but some get seriously ill.