BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017 VOL. 55 NO. 40 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
DAIRY DAYS: Fun had by all. See photos from this annual event. P16-17
Gableman won’t seek Supreme Court re-election
SEAN DEVLIN |SENTINEL
2017 Burnett County Dairy Breakfast Filled with events for all ages, June Dairy Month is a month-long celebration where Wisconsinites come together to celebrate the important role that the dairy industry plays in our state. This year’s BC Dairy Breakfast was held at the Peterson’s family farm outside Grantsburg. More photos on page 31.
Man accused of beating grandmother is sentenced to prison BY SEAN DEVLIN SENTINEL
WEBSTER— A Webster man faces seven years in prison and five years extended supervision in a case that began over 13 months ago. Jacob T. Widmyer, now 27, was taken into custody in April 2016 at the Webster home of his grandmother with whom he was living at the time. Widmyer was reported to have beaten his grandmother after she refused to grant him cash that he demanded. According to the complaint, his grandmother attempted
to call the police but Widmyer grabbed the phone and began to beat her, causing several injuries including shattered eye sockets and lacerations on Jacob T. Widmyer multiple parts of her body. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a 65-year-old female who had been severely beaten. Deputies were able to rescue the victim from the residence by helping her escape
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through a window. She was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, then airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Widmyer had barricaded himself in a bedroom and refused to cooperate with officials. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team was called for assistance. Team members removed Widmyer from the house after continued attempts to get him to surrender had failed. Widmyer was drunk and high at
MADISON—Former Burnett County Circuit Court Judge and Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman announced Thursday he will complete his 10-year term but not run in the Spring 2018 Supreme Court election. “Today, I announce it is my intention not to seek re-election to t the t Wisconsin Supreme Court,” Gableman said. G “I make this announcement with a heart filled with gratiw t tude to the people of the great s state of Wisconsin for permitt ting me to serve them in public o ce for the past 23 years, inoffi c cluding the past 18 years in elecMichael Gableman tive office. “Ten years ago, I began my campaign for the Wisconsin Supreme Court by setting out a vision based on the rule of law—that judges ought to apply the law rather than make it. The people of Wisconsin agreed with this vision, and I defeated an incumbent justice for the first time in 41 years and won 60 of our state’s 72 counties. “Serving on the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the last nine years has been my great privilege. In decisions large and small, I have fulfilled my promises and put my judicial philosophy into practice. I trust the people of Wisconsin will elect a successor who is similarly committed to the rule of law. “In addition to my regular duties on the Court, I have been especially gratified by the opportunities conferred upon me by way of my assignments as the Court’s Liaison to the Tribal Courts, the Access to Justice Commission, and the Business Courts. Beyond my opinions, I have worked hard to improve the administration of justice throughout Wisconsin. Though many thanksgivings are due, I want to offer special thanks to my colleagues on the court, past and present. It has been a privilege to engage with such capable people in the collaborative search for justice through law as the sacred mission it is. Through robust discussion, debate, and sometimes disagreement, my colleagues have been hard working, intelligent, and dedicated to the application of the law as they saw it.
‘Thank you, Burnett County’
Finally, my heart will always have a special place for the people of Burnett County, who in 2002
SEE WIDMYER, PAGE 9
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SEE GABLEMAN, PAGE 6
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