A hallucinogenic herb, banned in several states and foreign countries, remains legal in Wisconsin but might soon be outlawed in Minnesota. The herb, a member of the sage family, is called salvia divinorum, but is most widely known as salvia and many different street names. It is sold locally and over the Internet as an incense, but when the herb is chewed or smoked, it can cause a psychedelic high that can last up to a few minutes, or even longer when salvia extract is smoked. While the substance is legal, local police still keep their eyes open for its use, particularly in the schools, but a La Crosse investigator, Jake Jansky, said he does not believe it is being widely abused. [continues 499 words]
The report early Saturday was that a man had burst into [name deleted] apartment and tried to steal a stereo system he was attempting to sell. But authorities now say the focus of that robbery - and the interrupted sales discussion - was a quarter pound of marijuana. La Crosse police say they're looking for the high-grade marijuana and are trying to unravel just what happened in [name and address deleted] [name and age deleted] called police just after midnight to report a man broke into his apartment while he and [name, age and city deleted] were inside discussing the sale of a stereo. [continues 129 words]
The wife of Wisconsin state Sen. Dan Kapanke was arrested Thursday, accused of stealing prescription painkillers to treat her chronic back pain. Ruth Kapanke, 58, took the drugs from the home of a friend she was helping care for, said La Crosse County District Attorney Scott Horne. She's a nurse at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, but wasn't caring for the woman professionally, he said. Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Wolf said he arrested Ruth Kapanke for possession of a prescription drug without a prescription, possession of a controlled substance and theft Thursday after questioning her about missing painkillers. [continues 503 words]
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. - A Memorial Day weekend drug enforcement operation in Jackson County resulted in drug-related charges for occupants in 42 of 62 vehicles stopped outside of Black River Falls, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. Advertisement During the enforcement action Friday and Saturday, sheriff's deputies stopped 62 motorists for traffic infractions. While the vehicles were stopped, a drug dog was walked around the vehicle. If the dog indicated drugs were in the vehicle, deputies searched for drugs. [continues 208 words]
A 21-year-old college student accused of transporting marijuana into La Crosse in shipments as large as 40 pounds was charged Thursday with three felony counts that carry a maximum penalty of more than 30 years in prison. Karl R. Stauffacher, who is a resident of Platteville, Wis., according to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Student & Staff Directory, was arrested after police raided his La Crosse home in the 2800 block of East Fairchild Street on Nov. 7. He was charged with conspiracy to deliver marijuana in excess of 2,500 grams, engaging in racketeering activities and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, less than 500 grams. [continues 207 words]
