of Juneau County
The Messenger WONEWOC PUBLIC LIBRARY DONOR WALL VOL 15, NO. 25
LOOK INSIDE FOR YOUR LOCAL NEWS:
Elroy: Page 5 Mauston: Page 4 New Lisbon: Page 6
County: Page 3 Wonewoc: Page 11 Hillsboro: Page 10
Classifieds: Page 12 Legals: Page 11 & 13
THE AWARD WINNING OFFICIAL LEGAL NEWSPAPER OF JUNEAU COUNTY
Schultz will not run for re-election In an exclusive interview with WISC Channel 3000 on Sunday, State Senator Dale Schultz announced he would not be seeking reelection. In that interview Schultz stated, "I've decided after listening to my constituents, and a lot of contemplation and thought with my wife and my family, that I'm not going to stand for re-election this year." Schultz was first elected into the State Assembly in 1982 and then the State Senate in 1991 where, in 2004, he was elected as the majority leader. He lost that position as majority leader in 2006 when Democrats won control of the senate. It has been in the last few years that the Senator from Richland Center has had the spot light on him as a swing voter, most notably with Act 10, the collective bargaining bill. He told Channel 3000 that his vote against Act 10 was the hardest vote he registered in 30 years. "I would say that because it was a point in my life where I had to make a decision on what was most important, what the people of my district wanted as opposed to what would allow me to continue to be a member of the caucus in good standing," stated the Senator. While it may have been a hard vote to register, it is one he stands by as he said he would not be able to endorse the Republican candidate for his seat, Howard Marklein, who now serves on the assembly. Marklein and Schultz disagree on Act 10 and mining legislation. The Senator went on to tell Channel 3000 that he has been uncomfortable with a deciding vote he made last session on voter identification. "While I certainly believe we need to safeguard the integrity of the ballot box I think we have crossed the line on a couple of occasions," he explained. "It's been a very uncomfortable situation for me having to vote along with the caucus because I've tried to be a good Republican." The Senator described himself as candid and a straight shooter, and that while he may be retiring from the senate, he has not ruled out ever running again for political office including a possible bid for the the congressional 3rd District seat should Rep. Ron Kind seek the the Senate. As the interview came to a close, the senator had a message to his constituents, "I have thought it through, I have certainly felt the love and know how much they would like me to stay, at least most of them," he said," And I hope that they will recognize that sometimes it’s just time to move on and that they will take hope in the future."
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014
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Propane issue is out of control BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD This past weekend Governor Scott Walker announced something that many in the Juneau County area already knew - Wisconsin was in a State of Emergency. That emergency dealt with the rising cost of propane nearing $5 per gallon and what some experts and officials have referred to as a propane shortage during a time when Wisconsin was about to be hit by a series of winter storms and bitter cold. “The health and safety of our citizens is our number one priority, and this declaration gives us the necessary resources to protect the residents of Wisconsin,” Governor Walker said. “Since last fall, we have taken action to help alleviate the impact the propane shortage is having on our state. I will do everything I can within my power to help our friends and loved ones relying on propane to heat their homes or businesses during this challenging situation.” Causing the shortage, according to Governor Walker has been unusually cold winter temperatures, a major pipeline supplying propane to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa being temporarily closed for maintenance from November 28 – December 18 and a wet fall causing increased propane demand for grain drying. Following his weekend announcement was a Monday meeting with "stakeholders" in an effort to find a solution. The outcome of that meeting resulted in yet another press release announcing that he had instructed the Department of Administration’s Division of Energy Services to release an additional $7 million in energy assistance benefits, for a total of $8.5 million in additional funds, to help support lowincome Wisconsin residents who use propane to heat their homes. The Governor also directed the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to move forward with a combined $8 million in loan guarantee programs to help ensure propane dealers are able to obtain propane on the wholesale market and deliver it to consumers. While the announcement came as a welcomed relief to some in the area, others complained that it did not help the majority who would not qualify for assistance and could not afford the rising cost of propane to heat their homes and businesses.
"Doesn't help people that aren't considered low income. How are we suppose to pay for the propane? I don't know about you but I don't have $1,000 to buy 200 gallons of fuel," stated Anna Volk on The Messenger's Facebook page. Volk's concerns were echoed Tuesday morning during a phone interview with Joe Mueller, owner of Reliable LP in Richland Center and Elroy. "I would have liked to seen a plan that would have helped the average working class person, not that I fault low income people from getting assistance, but more people are hurting than that." The plan Mueller said he would have liked to seen would have included a committee being formed and money pumped into lowering the cost of propane across the board for everyone. "Companies like mine are hurting. We are honoring our customers' contract prices meaning they pay for what we can deliver at prices that can be under $2 while last week I was paying $5 wholesale. That is how we do business even though the contract we may have with our suppliers are not being honored," he said. As for the guaranteed loans to businesses like Reliable LP, which the Governor instructed agencies to move forward with, Mueller has this to say, "I am not taking one government penny. I will not seek out a loan to pay off outrageous wholesale prices. Our company will get through this."
See PROPANE, page 15
Motion denied for Coughlin BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD A motion to dismiss the child sexual assault case against 50 year old Daniel Coughlin was denied Monday by Judge John Roemer. Coughlin's attorney Michael Ganzer filed the motion after a July 2013 mistrial due to video recordings of victim interviews being discovered. In addition to denying the dismissal of the case, Judge Roemer also ruled on a motion filed by the defense for attorney fees. According to records, the motion was denied and Coughlin was
er, and once Lyndon Station Village President, Donald, is also facing multiple charges of child sexual assault. Donald is facing 22 felony counts of child sexual assault and one felony count of child enticement. The male victims in the cases against both brothers were known to them at the time the crimes were alleged to have occurred. A March 19th telephone conference is scheduled as the next step in the case against Daniel while Donald is scheduled for a nine day trial beginning February 17, 2014.
informed he must apply with the State Public Defender's officer before an attorney can be appointed to his defense. After that process is completed the court would move forward in appointing an attorney. The charges against Coughlin were filed on 2011. He is facing two counts of first degree child sexual assault and three counts of second degree child sexual assault for crimes that are alleged to have occurred between 1989 through 1992. Daniel is not the only Coughlin facing significant charges. His older broth-
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