February 11, 2012

New charge for man accused in triple slaying

A Nelsonville man is facing a new charge in connection to a triple slaying in late April. Shane Kettner was already charged with the three homicides for killing his girlfriend and two children. But Portage County district attorney Tom Eagon added a recklessly endangering safety charge because Kettner tried to set the house on fire with himself and a baby girl inside.

Kettner was overcome by gas fumes before he could finish the job. He stood mute Monday so a judge entered not guilty pleas to all four counts. A pre-trial conference is set for mid-September.

A final autopsy report released last week says Shane Kettner shot his two young children to death and repeated the idea that his girlfriend died from a complex homicidal fatality. Portage County district attorney Tom Eagon said it’s possible they may never know exactly how Christine Gollon died.

Submitted by Matt Lehman, WSAU

AUDIO: Matt Lehman reports (:35 MP3)

Eight Badgers selected to U.S. National Team

Two current and six former Badgers were selected to the 23-player roster fof the U.S. Women’s National Team, which was announced by USA Hockey today.  Five of the Badgers were part of the 2009 NCAA Championship team, which includes Patty Kasmaier award winner Jessie Vetter (pictured), Erika Lawler, Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight and Angie Keseley.  Former Olympian Molly Engstrom is the only Badger with Olympic experience representing Team USA.  Kerry Weiland and Jinelle Zaugg-Siergiej have also had plenty of experience on a U.S. Women’s National Team.Kazmaier Award winner Jessie Vetter

Weiland, Engstrom, Knight, Duggan, Vetter and Lawler were members of the U.S. Women’s National Team that captured back-to-back gold medals at the 2008 and 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship.

The team will be centered in the Twin Cities and will take part in the Qwest Tour, which is a 10-game, nine-city domestic tour that begins on Sept. 25 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and concludes just prior to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.

In addition to the 10 Qwest Tour stops, Team USA will compete in two international tournaments, as well as three games against the Canadian National Team in Canada and additional games against Minnesota high school boys’ teams.

Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson will coach the squad, which will conclude play in the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver.

Barnett cleared for contact tonight

Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett posted on his twitter account today that he has been cleared for at least some contact drills tonight.Nick Barnett watches warmups

Barnett had surgery in mid November to repair a torn ACL and didn’t return to the practice field on a limited basis until last Monday.  This will be his first contact since his knee injury.

Barnett is presumed to be the starter at inside linebacker.  It’s not certain if he’ll play in the team’s third preseason game on Friday night at Arizona.

In Fond du Lac, fears of ‘another Janesville’

If Mercury Marine moves out of Fond du Lac, it’s not going to be good, in the opinion of at least one small business owner. The manufacturer of outboard marine engines could soon leave Wisconsin. Over 800 union workers on Sunday rejected a package of wage and benefit concessions the firm says it needed to remain profitable. Mercury say the vote could force it to move hundreds of jobs to a non-union plant in Oklahoma.

Cheryl Millay owns and operates the Three Aces North bar in the city, and feels there will be more to go. “It’s going to effect everybody and everything,” she says, predicting that “at least ten” taverns will close down as a result of the job loss.

Mercury Marine is also threatening to move their headquarters to Oklahoma. “We are going to be like another Janesville and another Detroit,” says Millay. The union has until Saturday to re-vote, if it wishes. The company says it will not change anything on its end.

Submitted by Chandra Lynn, WIBA

AUDIO: Chandra Lynn reports (:40 MP3)

Goat thefts baffle law enforcement

In Dodge County, it’s likely not a case of ‘escape’ goats, but it is question authorities don’t have the answer to: why would someone want to steal goats? Some 80 of the animals have gone missing over the past month, says Dodge County Deputy Blaine Lauersdorf.

“Forty in one incident in our county, that happened about a month ago, and just last week we had six that were reported stolen,” says Lauersdorf, adding that neighboring Green Lake has also had reports of up forty goats stolen.

“These animals to my knowledge were not marked,” Lauersdorff says, “I know some goat farmers do tatoo their animals, and that’s a very good idea. At least we’ll have some idea who they belong to in the event we recover them. But right now we don’t have a lot going on as far as leads in this case.”

Submitted by Robin Colbert, WIBA