Due to a lack of staff resources, people caught with less than 25 grams of marijuana will no longer be criminally charged by the Dane County district attorney. Those caught can still receive a substantial fine - up to $1,000 - but will not be charged for possession. "This is not an absolutely new policy," Assistant District Attorney Mike Verveer said. "We actually have been following this policy in an informal way for quite some time in our office." But District Attorney Brian Blanchard made this announcement to police chiefs throughout Dane County for the first time this weekend. [continues 152 words]
People who are busted in Dane County for having less than 25 grams of marijuana - a little less than an ounce of pot, or the equivalent of about 20 to 25 joints - will no longer face criminal prosecution, but they could still pay some hefty fines. Citing a lack of resources and continuing staff reductions, District Attorney Brian Blanchard has told police chiefs his office will no longer file charges of criminal possession against individuals for having less than 25 grams of marijuana - an amount many law enforcement agencies consider to be for personal use rather than for distribution to others. [continues 543 words]
Marijuana: The harmless drug. A mellowing agent. An herb. Carrie Kulinski tossed those ideas to her class at the Rock River Charter School this week. Ever hear that kind of talk? she asked. They had. One student had heard it another way: "God made weed. Man made alcohol. Who do you trust?" he recited. Kulinski was out to convince her students that "weed" is no good for them. She knew she had a hard audience. Surveys have consistently shown that only alcohol is more popular among local teens. [continues 674 words]
The Chetek City Council won't be doing students or parents any favors if it purchases a police K-9 unit for drug sweeps in local schools. These days zero tolerance poses a greater threat to students than drugs. According to the Monitoring the Future survey, over half of all high school seniors have tried an illicit drug. Denying a majority of the nation's youth an education and the chance to grow up to become productive members of society is not in America's best interest. [continues 66 words]
Regarding Teresa Puschnig's Feb. 22 column, the U.S. Supreme Court made a terrible mistake when it created an exemption to the Constitution and ruled in favor of allowing drug tests for students in extracurricular activities. Student involvement in after-school activities like sports has been shown to reduce drug use. Sports keep kids busy during the hours they are most likely to get into trouble. Forcing students to undergo degrading urine tests as a prerequisite will only discourage participation. [continues 207 words]
Cedarburg, Hamilton Might Join Pewaukee In Testing Students Nearly five years after the U.S. Supreme Court gave the green light to random drug testing of students in extracurricular activities, two local school districts are exploring whether to take advantage of it. The Hamilton School Board has a study session scheduled this month to discuss the matter with its attorney. Meanwhile, Cedarburg High School is gauging support, mailing a survey today to about 1,200 district households to ask parents what they think of the idea. [continues 412 words]
The recent donation of $30,000 to Crime Stoppers will put more eyes on drug dealers in Sheboygan County. The money comes from a businessperson in Sheboygan County who wishes to remain anonymous, according to Lt. James Veeser of the Sheboygan Police Department. The donor indicated that the money should be used to reward those who offer information on drug dealers in Sheboygan County. Crime Stoppers is also getting more help form Lamar Outdoor Advertising, which said it would donate space on five billboards around the county and print up posters to advertise Crime Stoppers and its toll-free number. Lamar said it will charge only a nominal cost for production work. [continues 346 words]
MADISON, Wis. - Police found 29-year-old Leah Gustafson in a pool of blood in her apartment last year. Next to her was her collector sword. She'd been stabbed through the heart. A blood trail led police in Superior, Wis., to an apartment across the street, where her killer, Jason Borelli, had just gotten out of the shower. Borelli got life in prison. "This is something nobody else should go through," said 32-year-old Kelly Ziebell of Superior, Gustafson's friend since high school. "It feels like an empty hole without her." [continues 879 words]
Chetek police officer Ray Parr brought before the city council a proposal for the implementation of a K-9 unit at the council's monthly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 13. Parr began explaining his proposal by recalling an incident at Chetek Middle School where a seventh-grade student was caught with possession of marijuana and two others were found with marijuana seeds. "After that incident, a woman I know was talking to her sixth grade daughter," continued Parr. "She asked her daughter how easy it would be to get drugs if she wanted them. The girl responded that if she wanted to, by the end of the school day she could go home with whatever she wanted." [continues 1551 words]
During his tenure on the federal bench, U.S. District Judge John Shabaz has forged a reputation for being in complete control of his courtroom. While criticized for dealing out harsh sentences, he's known for his keenness of mind, his unparalleled work ethic, his ability to get to the core of an issue. But some attorneys say Shabaz's legendary capabilities are not always evident now, his intimidating presence diminished. Federal judges have their job for life, and Shabaz is 25 years into his appointment. At age 75, no one could fault the hard-working judge for slowing down. But several attorneys say he's also prone to slipping up. Confusion in the court: Hard-working Judge Shabaz shows signs of slipping Photo by David Sandell/The Capital Times Federal Judge John Shabaz. [continues 1640 words]
Donor 'Wants To Get Drug Dealers Off The Street,' Says Crime Stoppers Treasurer An anonymous donor has given $30,000 to Sheboygan Countywide Crime Stoppers to reward people who turn in drug dealers. The money came from a businessperson who wants to remain anonymous, said Lt. James Veeser of the Sheboygan Police Department. "This person wanted to make a difference in the community," Veeser said. "The main thing was to get the assistance of the citizens, people to help fight this war on drugs." [continues 520 words]
Middle And High Schools Should Adopt New Policy To Combat Growing Problem It seems like kids these days are growing up too quickly. At the risk of sounding like an old lady at the age of 23, I have to admit that I think young people are engaging in sexual activity and the use of drugs and alcohol way earlier than my peers did when I was in middle and high school. Drugs and alcohol existed in the lives of some middle-school aged students when I was younger, but they weren't as prevalent as they seem to be in many schools today. Because of the changing patterns in society and the activities of younger generations, school policy alterations need to be made to accommodate. [continues 616 words]
Citation Would Be for First Offense Only MANITOWOC -- Possession of marijuana in Manitowoc might soon be an ordinance violation -- meaning offenders would only be issued a city citation for the crime. On Monday, the city's Public Property and Safety Committee discussed the possibility of giving police officers the choice of ticketing first-time marijuana possession offenders or sending them to circuit court to be charged with a misdemeanor. Currently, all alleged offenders are charged in circuit court with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and face up to $1,000 in fines, six months in jail and a six month driver's license suspension, according to Manitowoc County District Attorney Mark Rohrer. [continues 235 words]
The handwriting is a little sketchy, but the message from elementary students is clear-bring back the DARE program. Facing budget pressure from Walworth County supervisors and a need to put more deputies on the road, the Walworth County Sheriff's Department eliminated the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program from its 2007 budget, Sheriff David Graves said. "It's not a decision I wanted to make, but one I feel I had to," he said. An external study of the sheriff's department recommends at least nine more patrol deputies. [continues 484 words]
Pro-Pot Group Plans Protests At Hearing A minor marijuana charge could generate some heat in the Dane County courthouse Wednesday as Circuit Court Judge Patrick Fiedler rules on a motion in which the prosecution and defense seemed to have switched sides. The prosecution has moved to dismiss without prejudice a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana and resisting an officer against Chris Lankford, 31, of Madison, who was charged with passing a joint to [name redacted], 23, during last year's 36th annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival in Madison. [continues 603 words]
WAUPUN -- They didn't mince words or try to varnish the truth. Standing before a roomful of sophomore and freshmen students, the message from local officials was unmistakably clear: choices -- good or bad -- have the power to open the doors of opportunity or shut the cell door. Dodge County District Attorney Steve Bauer, Sheriff Todd Nehls and Circuit Court Judge Daniel Klossner gave sage advice to Waupun High School students as part of a panel during the "Risky Business" seminar on Jan. 29. [continues 294 words]
A small crowd asked some big questions at the follow-up community forum on methamphetamine at Colfax High School Tuesday evening. About 20 people attended an event that was the first of four companion sessions to the Dunn County Community Forum on methamphetamine held at Menomonie Middle School in November. The second follow-up session is scheduled for Tuesday at Boyceville High School from 6 to 8 p.m. The Colfax forum featured the Dunn With Meth video, followed by a panel discussion. [continues 1566 words]
Dear Editor: I'm writing about Dave Zweifel's thoughtful column: "Sentencing laws should make sense." It seems to me that our jails and prisons should be reserved for those who intentionally harm others against their will. Not gardeners. Not people who produce or sell "unapproved" substances to willing buyers. For the sake of our children, we need our government to protect us from real criminals not ourselves. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. [end]
Dear Editor: Regarding Dave Zweifel's thoughtful Jan. 19 column, mandatory minimum prison sentences have done little other than turn the alleged land of the free into the world's biggest jailer. If harsh penalties deterred illegal drug use, the goal of a "drug-free" America would have been achieved decades ago. Instead of adding to what is already the highest incarceration rate in the world, we should be funding drug treatment. The drug war is a cure that is worse than the disease. Drug prohibition finances organized crime at home and terrorism abroad, which is then used to justify increased drug war spending. It's time to end this madness and instead treat all substance abuse, legal or otherwise, as the public health problem it is. [continues 65 words]
A Letter to the Editor Dear Editor: I'm writing about Dave Zweifel's thoughtful column: "Sentencing laws should make sense." It seems to me that our jails and prisons should be reserved for those who intentionally harm others against their will. Not gardeners. Not people who produce or sell "unapproved" substances to willing buyers. For the sake of our children, we need our government to protect us from real criminals not ourselves. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. [end]
Inside Wisconsin
