February 12, 2012

You are here: Home / 2009 / July / Archives for 1st

Great Circus Parade expected to be huge

July 1, 2009 By

Governor Doyle talks about Great Circus Parade (Photo: Jackie Johnson) Over half a million people are expected in Milwaukee for the Great Circus Parade .

A couple of authentic, wood-carved circus wagons make a brief stop in the state's capitol city, as they travel from the Circus World Museum in Baraboo to Milwaukee for the big parade. Museum Executive Director Steve Freese says this year's parade is expected to be the largest parade they've ever produced, as they celebrate Circus World's 50th anniversary.

"We at Circus World are absolutely delighted to be able to stage for the people of Wisconsin what will most likely be the third-largest parade in America this year. Only the Rose Bowl Parade and Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade are likely to be larger."

Freese says the Great Circus Parade will feature over 130 units, including over 50 horse-drawn wagons, as it rolls through the streets of Milwaukee on Sunday the 12th. Over 500-thousand people are expected for the event. Governor Jim Doyle says he'll participate in the parade, wearing period clothing.

"It has been six years without the Great Circus Parade in Milwaukee … and it has been missed during that period of time."

Doyle calls the parade a "Wisconsin tradition," which is good for the state economy. It's expected to generate $27-million in spending from residents and tourists.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:27 MP3)

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment, Top Story

Doyle downplays veto mistake

July 1, 2009 By

Governor Jim Doyle signs state budget The governor says an unconstitutional veto of a provision in the state budget was just a mistake.

Governor Jim Doyle is coming under fire, after he used the so-called "Frankenstein veto" on a provision in the state budget. The power of the governor to delete parts of sentences to create new language, which changes the intent of a bill, was taken away after a recent constitutional amendment.

The budget veto in questions would have changed how, who, and when a study on state facilities for the mentally retarded would be carried out.

Doyle says the accidental use of his former veto power was just a mistake and was overlooked by his staff and the Legislative Reference Bureau in the short time frame they had to go over the budget. Doyle signed the budget bill and made 81 vetoes just over two days after it passed the Legislature.

Legislative leaders are reviewing their options and believe the law should stand as it was originally passed. Doyle says he's fine with just doing the study as originally written.

Speaking with reporters, Doyle downplayed the impact of his actions. He says it was a "technical little thing" in the budget and it's not a big deal if his veto doesn't stand.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:03)

Filed Under: Budget, Politics & Government, Top Story

Briggs & Stratton cuts jobs here

July 1, 2009 By

Wauwatosa based Briggs & Stratton Corporation will close production plants in two Wisconsin communities, resulting in the permanent loss of 430 jobs.

Briggs will consolidate manufacturing of its Home Power Products Group, located in Jefferson and Watertown, to several existing Briggs & Stratton locations in Alabama, Georgia and Wauwatosa.

The Jefferson and Watertown plants currently manufacture all portable generator, home standby generator and pressure washer products marketed and sold by the company. A spokeswoman said some 390 hourly production employees and 40 salaried employees will be permanently laid off as a result of the closings, with an additional 90 to 100 salaried employees to be given an opportunity to transfer.

Company president and CEO Harold Redman said market volatility and the current economy led to the decision to wind down production at the Jefferson and Watertown plants. He said Briggs & Stratton has available capacity at other locations and shifting work to those plans will make manufacturing more efficient.

Filed Under: Business

Family's close call with real "Public Enemy"

July 1, 2009 By

As Public Enemies opens nationwide in theatres Wednesday a Northwoods man recalls a story of his parents unintentionally helping one of John Dillinger's cohorts getaway from the law. A famous shootout occurred at the Little Bohemia Lodge in April of 1934 where George "Baby Face" Nelson shot a G-Man at point-blank range as Dillinger and his gang escaped.

A couple of days later, Nelson pulled up to the Gregorich family's home who welcomed the stranger in. Robert Gregorich, who was not yet born at the time, says his parents had "pleasant" conversations with Nelson who even helped with chores. The family recalled Nelson preferred to sit in a chair that had a view of the outside.

Robert's father offered Nelson a ride to Neillsville. With too many police on the road and expired license plates on the car the two detoured to Marshfield. After dropping off the stranger, Gregorich became suspicious and reported to police the license number of the car that Nelson had driven to their home.

Following Dillinger's death in July 1934, Nelson was dubbed "public enemy number one." Nelson was gunned down by the FBI later that year outside of Chicago.

AUDIO: Robert Gregorich on Babyface at their home (MP3 :30)

Filed Under: Human Interest

Neumann files for gubernatorial run

July 1, 2009 By

The Republicans have another candidate who is officially running for Governor. Although Mark Neumann is a former US House member, he is actually touting his work in the private sector over the past decade. Since leaving Congress 10 years ago he's claims to have sat down and negotiated business deals with more than a thousand people. Neumann says that experience what sets him apart from other candidates and will help bring employment back to Wisconsin.

Neumann says jobs are the number one thing he's focusing on, in a state that lost 133,000 of them in the past 12 months.

The 55-year-old Neumann served two terms in the House through 1998, when he lost a US Senate race to Russ Feingold.

The Republican from Nashotah is filing his papers for the gubernatorial race Wednesday and says he'll be assembling his team later this month. Milwaukee County Exec Scott Walker and Appleton Businessman Mark Todd are the other Republicans running.

The three GOP candidates will face off for 14 months before the primary winner takes on the Democratic nominee, who's expected to be incumbent Jim Doyle for the third straight time.

Both Neumann and Walker believe Doyle has spent too much. Had he froze state spending in the last budget, Neumann said the Governor could have avoided the big deficit he just had to close , partially by raising taxes.

AUDIO: Mark Neumann (MP3 :30)

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With:
Next Page »