Lassa Receives Voice of Courage Award

Madison — State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) will receive a 2012 Voice of Courage Award from the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault at a ceremony Saturday in Madison.

The Voice of Courage Award “formally recognizes and honors the outstanding work of Wisconsin individuals and organizations that have exceeded the very highest standards and expectations in their dedicated efforts to end sexual violence,” according to a WCASA release.

WCASA is recognizing Sen. Lassa for her leadership in passing a new law that removes the statute of limitations on prosecutions of sexual assault of an adult. A number of crimes, including sexual assault of a child were already exempted from the criminal statute of limitations; the new law adds sexual assault of an adult to the list of exempted crimes, ensuring that prosecutors will be able to bring criminal charges against perpetrators of sexual violence without time limitations.

“WCASA has been an effective advocate and a powerful ally in the fight against sexual violence,” Lassa said. “I’m humbled by this honor and I look forward to continuing to work with WCASA to support victims of sexual assault, bring perpetrators to justice, and work for an assault-free society.”

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sen. Lassa also passed the Internet Crimes Against Children Act, which allows prosecutors to seek maximum penalties in cases that arise from undercover investigations where the perpetrator is using the Internet to try to engage in sexual activity with a child. The new law also amends the criminal discovery statute to prevent inadvertent or intentional reproduction and further dissemination of child pornography images and video.

WCASA is a membership agency comprised of organizations and individuals working to end sexual violence in Wisconsin. Among these are 46 sexual assault service provider agencies throughout the state that offer support, advocacy and information to victims of sexual assault and their families. WCASA works to ensure that every victim in Wisconsin gets the support and care they need.

Car Seat Recycling Day April 28

Wood County (April 2012) — Do you have an old car seat taking up space in your garage or basement? Safe Kids Wisconsin is providing a way for parents to drop off old car seats, free of charge, Saturday, April 28, across the state.

At Car Seat Recycling Day, seats older than 6 years old, purchased at a garage sale or thrift store or involved in a crash will be collected and dismantled to be recycled and disposed of properly. Safe Kids Wood County will be participating locally from 9:00 am – Noon at Marshfield Fire Department, 514 E. 4th Street, Marshfield. There will also be Safe Kids events held at Kohl’s Department Store, 3600 Rib Mountain Drive, Wausau and Kohl’s Department Store, 150 Crossroads Drive, Plover on the same day and time.

All car seats have an expiration date that can be found on the manufacturer’s label. If there is not an exact expiration date listed, a general rule is 6 years from the manufacture date. Seats used after their expiration date may not be safe or hold up in a crash.

Car seats purchased secondhand are dangerous as well. The history of the car seat is unknown and may have been involved in a crash or recalled.

The following also are good seats to bring to the event:
• Seats that have been recalled
• Seats that have broken or missing parts
• Unwanted seats

For more information, call Safe Kids Wood County at (715) 387-8646.

Car Seat Recycling Day is sponsored by AAA®, Safe Kids Wisconsin, Veolia Environmental Services, Safe Kids Wood County, and Marshfield Fire Department.

Earth Day Highlights Sustainability in Central Wisconsin

Madison — State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) released the following statement in recognition of Earth Day on April 22, 2012:

“Earth Day is a great opportunity to highlight the many innovative efforts underway in Central Wisconsin that are developing and promoting sustainable practices to reduce our demand for natural resources and release less pollution in our environment.

“At UW-Stevens Point, the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology is breaking new ground in biofuels research, creating energy from papermaking waste products and developing new sources of plant oils. WIST is also developing new recycling techniques for biodegradable plastics, researching commuting habits for UWSP students to determine and reduce pollution, congestion and fuel use, and educating students and the entire community on everything from sustainable papermaking methods to green chemistry.

“Recently I had a chance to visit Central Rivers Farmshed, a vacant greenhouse that is being converted into a center to promote the local food movement in Central Wisconsin. Farmshed enhances the relationship between local residents and their food, and strives to provide opportunities for participation, education, cooperation, and action to support a local food economy in Central Wisconsin. When food doesn’t have to travel far from farm to table, we reduce fuel consumption and pollution while we help support local farmers. Local food is good for the environment and good for our health—and it tastes great, too.

“And Central Wisconsin is home to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, which promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration projects. Its annual Energy Fair, the longest running event of its kind, attracts tens of thousands to the area to learn about the latest in sustainable energy technologies. The MREA’s ReNew the Earth Institute and hundreds of workshops develop our understanding of green energy applications and build the expertise of everyone from contractors to homeowners.

“Throughout Central Wisconsin, individuals, businesses and communities are finding innovative ways to reduce waste and consumption, using more earth-friendly practices, adopting Green Community resolutions, implementing water quality and conservation methods, turning manufacturing and agricultural wastes into green energy, and so much more. I’m proud to say that we’re a leader in building a more sustainable future. In Central Wisconsin, every day truly is Earth Day.”

Lassa: Honoring the Veterans Assistance Foundation

Madison — State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) released the following statement today in recognition of the opening of the new offices of the Veterans Assistance Foundation at 312 Superior Avenue in Tomah:

“I’m pleased to congratulate the Veterans Assistance Foundation on the opening of its new facilities. Since its founding in 1974, VAF has been assisting veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless maintain and improve their status in society by providing a safe and secure environment through which they can access a wide array of human services. In addition to housing, VAF helps homeless and at-risk vets access nutritional meals, essential physical health care, substance abuse aftercare, mental health counseling, job assessment, training and placement assistance.

“The problem of veterans’ homelessness is a crisis that demands our attention. Nationally, nearly 150,000 veterans spend at least one night in a homeless shelter each year. It is estimated that vets make up nearly a quarter of the homeless population. We need to do better than this for our veterans, who have sacrificed so much for us. VAF’s programs are part of a coordinated effort among federal and state veterans’ agencies and non-profit groups to make sure that our returning veterans can reintegrate into our communities and have the support they need to succeed. I commend VAF for its efforts and urge all Americans to join the fight to end veteran homelessness.

“Those interested in learning more about VAF and making a contribution online can visit them online at vafvets.org, or write them at P.O. Box 610 Tomah, WI 54660.”

Hazen Paper And NewPage Earn Printing Industry Recognition

STEVENS POINT, Wis., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — NewPage announced today that the company’s 7 pt. Sterling® Ultra web cover paper served as a key component of an award-winning Super Bowl XLV collector’s edition program cover produced by its customer, Hazen Paper.

Hazen’s marketing entry swept the “decorative/display category” in the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) product competition awards.

Hazen created the custom holographic image and embossed it onto transfer film that was coated in-house. Hazen then metallized the transfer holographic material and transfer metallized the coated two-side NewPage paper stock. The final step involved sheeting and printing the 19×36 inch sheets in register with the holography. Once printed, the cover was bound to the program by Quad/Graphics, Sussex, Wisconsin.

The judges commented that they were impressed by how the elements of the 2011 Packers/Steelers Super Bowl program worked together. “These holographic images go beyond patterns to become an integrated design,” they concluded.

John H. Hazen, president of the Holyoke, Massachusetts-based company said, “Hazen Paper is excited to have scored a touchdown with NewPage Sterling Ultra on the Stadium Edition Super Bowl Program Cover.”

“With this award, Hazen has further distinguished itself in the customized holographics and transfer metallization industry,” said David Diekelman, NewPage executive director of specialty papers Sales and Marketing. “We are delighted to have teamed with Hazen to provide a high-quality, highly engineered paper that would support such a sophisticated, technical and successful printing process.”

Recreational Vehicles Auction

Scott Krug: A Final Look Back at Session

By State Representative Scott Krug

It has been a historic time to serve in our State Assembly, and I am proud of the many important items that we’ve been able to pursue over this past year and a half.  I am confident that by refocusing our energy on balanced budgets, fiscal integrity, personal responsibility, job creation, and a vigilant stewardship of the people’s money that we have made Wisconsin a better place to live for future generations.  Over the course of this term I have done my best to do the will of my constituents.

This session I authored 18 bills (of which several became law), co-sponsored 82 Assembly bills, 24 Assembly Joint Resolutions, 72 Senate bills, and 10 Senate Joint Resolutions.  Many of these bills passed with bipartisan support and without the controversy that is often portrayed on the nightly news.  My hope is that future years here in Madison will be spent advancing the valuable work which was begun this session, and which will continue to ensure the economic well-being, restored optimism, and sense of obligation to future generations of citizens in the great state of Wisconsin.

Wanna play tag?

WHAT: In celebration of National Boys & Girls Club Week, Boys & Girls Club of Portage County will join the Major League Baseball WANNA PLAY? program and Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide to attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the MOST PARTICIPANTS IN A GAME OF TAG IN 24 HOURS MULTIPLE VENUES. At the event, each game of tag will begin and end with a declared winner.

Guinness World Records defines the Multiple Games of Tag record as, “…the greatest number of people playing tag, at events held within a 24-hour period at different venues, which have been set up by the same organization.” For the purposes of the record, a game of tag is defined as a playground game that involves two or more players chasing other players in an attempt to tag or touch them, usually with their hands.

WHY: This attempt to break the world record will bring attention to the importance of our commitment with our partner, Major League Baseball, to improve the overall fitness of young people by living healthy, active lifestyles and show how Boys & Girls Clubs help fill this need every day.

WHEN: Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 5:30 PM

WHERE:

• Stevens Point Unit- located at Jefferson Elementary
  1800 East Avenue
  Stevens Point, WI 54481
• Junction City Extension- located at JF Kennedy Elementary
  616 W. 2nd Street
  Junction City, WI 54443
• Almond-Bancroft Extension- located at Almond – Bancroft School
  1336 Elm Street
  Almond, WI 54909

CONTACT: Danielle Goska
Boys & Girls Club of Portage County – Director of School Sites
1007 Ellis Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481

Internet Crimes Against Children Act Signed

Madison — A bill creating tougher penalties against pedophiles who use the Internet to target children and giving greater protection for child pornography victims, authored by State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and Representative Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis) was signed into law by Governor Walker today. The Internet Crimes Against Children Act, introduced in collaboration with Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen, was one of three pieces of legislation authored by Sen. Lassa that were signed today.

“The Internet Crimes Against Children Act creates important new protections for children who are preyed upon by online predators and child pornographers,” Sen. Lassa said.

The new law allows prosecutors to seek maximum penalties in cases that arise from undercover investigations where the perpetrator is using the Internet to try to engage in sexual activity with a child. The bill also amends the criminal discovery statute to prevent inadvertent or intentional reproduction and further dissemination of child pornography images and video. The bill is modeled after a federal rule adopted in 2006. While increasing the security of these images, the bill maintains a defendant’s opportunity to fully present a defense to criminal charges.

“Regardless of whether a pedophile is caught by an undercover officer in a sting operation or actually makes online contact with a victim, their intent is the same – to have sexual contact with a child. Judges will now be able to hand down the same punishment either way, and prevent these criminals from successfully preying on kids in the future,” Sen. Lassa said.

“The law also protects child pornography victims by preventing child pornography held as evidence from being inadvertently or intentionally distributed. Child pornography will be treated the same way as drugs and other contraband. While defendants will still have access to it, it will remain in police custody,” she said.

Governor Walker also signed a bill that eliminates the statute of limitations for first degree sexual assault of a child and for attempts to commit first-degree intentional homicide, second-degree intentional homicide, and first-degree sexual assault of an adult. A bill that would allow farmers to receive compensation for damage to crops or livestock caused by cougars was also signed today; Sen. Lassa was a Senate author of both proposals. The three bills bring to twelve the number of bills authored by Sen. Lassa that have been signed into law this session.

“I have always worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to enact good public policy for my constituents, and I did so again this session,” Lassa said.

Bear Killed after Aggressive Behavior

(Marshfield, WI) – Members of the Marshfield Police Department shot and killed a bear in the 1400 block of Arlington St on April 9th, at 9:54 pm.

The bear’s feeding pattern on April 9th was consistent with those reported to police on April 7th. A resident reported at that time a bear stood on its rear legs in an attack or defensive posture while close to her and her dog; causing her to be fearful of harm. This change in the bear’s aggressive behavior was the subject of much discussion and concern for the welfare of the citizens of Marshfield.

The attempts to live trap this animal with a culvert trap and snares had been unsuccessful. A decision was made by the Marshfield Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to immediately remove any further possibility of danger from this bear by having it destroyed.

At 9:16 PM, the Marshfield Police Department received a call from a citizen who resides in the 1400 block of Arlington Street that the bear was in his yard. The bear once again stood on his hind quarters in a threatening posture. Police were notified and arrived shortly thereafter. The DNR was notified immediately. Officers of the Police Department were instructed not to allow the bear to escape if it appeared that it may attempt to do so. The bear was destroyed prior to DNR arrival.

It is never preferable to take an animal’s life in this situation if avoidable. With regard to this bear, every effort had been made to take it humanely. Further complications of its recent aggressive behavior dictated a necessary and immediate action.

Comparisons of pictures taken of the bear removed from Marshfield in late March with this bear would indicate they are not the same bear.

The Marshfield Police Department continues to encourage residents to remove food sources to discourage the presence of bears. Bird feeders should be at least 10 feet off of the ground and 5 feet away from tree trunks or a limb that would support a bear. Do not compost meat scraps and keep garbage cans in an enclosed building until pick-up day. If you encounter a bear within the community, calmly move away from the animal and notify the police immediately.