Section A Judged as VILAS COUNTY Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Newspaper Association 2011 and 2013 NEWS-REVIEW Large Weekly Division EAGLE RIVER, WI 54521 • (715) 479-4421 • vcnewsreview.com $1.50 VOL. 129, NO. 21 WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6, 2014 State high court rules Act 10 is constitutional ___________ In upholding Walker’s sig- Bradley dissented, joined by Richie. “We are working with BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH nature piece of legislation, Chief Justice Shirley Abra- all employees, and within Act NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR ___________ the court handed the gover- hamson. 10, to find alternative meth- nor a major victory three ods to maintain a competitive The Wisconsin Supreme months before he seeks re- Pines saves compensation plan and bene- Court ruled last Thursday election. The decision also Last May, during a visit to fits in order to retain quality that Act 10, which ended col- cast doubt on the validity of the Northland Pines School staff.” lective bargaining for general several union contracts nego- District in Eagle River, Walk- Just last week, Richie public union members, is con- tiated after a lower court er announced that statewide announced the Northland stitutional. found the law unconstitu- savings for taxpayers from Pines School District will The collective bargaining tional. Act 10 reforms had exceeded save taxpayers nearly provisions of Act 10 led to In its 5-2 decision, the $1 billion — including more $100,000 after seeking com- massive protests by union court said public workers in than $1 million at Northland petitive bids for providing members that consumed the Wisconsin do not have a con- Pines. group medical health insur- Capitol in Madison for sever- stitutional right to bargain The Northland Pines ance. al weeks in February and collectively. School District saved an esti- “With Act 10, we could March 2011, as well as the “We reject the plaintiffs’ mated $1.2 million as a direct seek bids for our health cover- unsuccessful recall campaign argument that several provi- result of Act 10 for the 2011- age and we received five against Gov. Scott Walker the sions of Act 10, which delin- ’12 school year, according to bids,” said Richie. “Of the following year. eate the rights, obligations District Administrator Mike bids, four actually would have Justice Michael Gableman and procedures of collective Richie. The district’s tax levy increased our cost, and one, wrote the 5-2 decision, which bargaining, somehow infringe was reduced by $613,596.00, from the Wisconsin Counties stated collective bargaining upon general employees’ con- which equated to a 2.84% Association, reduced our is not a fundamental consti- stitutional right to freedom of decrease. cost by $99,121. Therefore, tutional right under the First association,” Gableman wrote “I am extremely proud of our rate is lower than last YOUNG ARTIST — A youth squirted a T-shirt with yellow paint Amendment, but rather “a in a 90-page decision. all of our employees, school during the recent Wild Eagle Days at Wild Eagle Lodge in creation of legislative grace.” Justice Ann Walsh district and community,” said To ACT 10, Pg. 6A Eagle River. —Photo By Kitty Sookochoff New era in construction Buell sentenced Schiffmann invents composite foundation to three years ___________ BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR ___________ in state prison ___________ Concrete foundation walls have been the indus- BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH try standard for residential NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR homes in the United States ___________ for more than 100 years. A former custodian for the $6,036 in fines and court That is about to change, Phelps School District, who costs, including a surcharge however, with the introduc- in June entered guilty pleas of $500 for each of the 10 tion of patented Epitome to two counts of possession of pornographic images that led Quality Foundation Walls child pornography, was sen- to the original charges. from Composite Panel Sys- tenced to three years in the In his sentencing re - tems. Wisconsin Prison System in Nearly seven years in marks, Judge Nielsen noted Vilas County Circuit Court that he was confined to a the making, Eagle River last Thursday. businessman Glenn Schiff- minimum mandatory sen- Richard Buell, 62, was tence of three years in prison mann and his father, Gary, originally charged last invented this revolutionary for the possession of child August with 10 counts of pornography charge, a Class new composite foundation child pornography after it with both the builder and D felony, though he believed was learned a school comput- it was a probation-type case. homeowner in mind. er he was using for custodial “We elect judges in this Homeowners looking to work had child pornography state,” he said. “The judges optimize the square footage images. The other eight that you elect are account- of their entire structure by counts were dismissed in the able ultimately to the com- utilizing the lower level as plea agreement. munity. When the hands of additional living space may In addition to the prison judges are tied by the Legis- want to consider the com- sentence, Vilas Circuit Judge lature, I think it does a dis- posite foundation for their Neal A. Nielsen III sentenced service to the judiciary, and next home, according to Buell to three years of can result in a disservice to Schiffmann. extended supervision and the rule of the law in individ- “Having been in the A construction crew with Composite Panel ity Foundation Wall at a property on Anvil said Buell was eligible for the ual cases. Any judge doesn’t To COMPOSITE, Pg. 7A Systems in Eagle River set an Epitome Qual- Lake last week. —STAFF PHOTO early-release program. Buell also must pay a total of To BUELL, Pg. 6A Father, son sentenced for possessing eagle Vilas Fair starts Thursday A father and son who farm the Western District of Wis- The 98th annual Vilas will feature all rides for $1. in the Sugar Camp area were consin. County Fair will be held in Returning this year will sentenced Monday by U.S. His son, Paul Sowinski, Eagle River Thursday be the juggler and petting District Judge James D. 46, received a $10,000 fine, a through Sunday, Aug. 7-10, zoo, featuring a variety of Peterson for conduct relating five-year ban on his hunting, supplying area families animals with pony and to the possession of an Amer- fishing and trapping privi- with an abundance of activ- camel rides for children. ican bald eagle. leges, $100,000 in restitution, ities as it has since the Children’s games will be Alvin Sowinski, 78, re- and one year of probation. inaugural event in 1916. held by the band stage Sat- ceived a $30,000 fine, a sev- Both men pleaded guilty The fair will open Thurs- urday from noon to 2 p.m. en-year ban on his hunting, to the charge on May 14, day night with the signal- fishing and trapping privi- Ribbons will be awarded 2014. ing of the Civil War cannon. leges, $100,000 in restitution to the winners of the veg- “This sentence is both cor- “Join us for our second and one year of probation etable races, water balloon rect and just. The message to annual truck pull Saturday and four months of home con- toss, watermelon-eating these two defendants and at 2 p.m. at our track west con test and gunnysack finement, announced John W. of the midway,” said an Vaudreuil, U. S. Attorney for To EAGLE, Pg. 2A races. The fair also will event spokes person. “Par- have a money hunt for chil- ticipants and spectators are dren age 3 and younger and both welcome.” for ages 4-6. INSIDE THIS ISSUE The carnival by Calkins The judging of flowers, Midways will bring in the vegetables, woodworking rides and carnival foods. and homemade wine ex - Guide offers The midway will open hibits will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday night at 5 p.m. Friday night and the public fishing tips and noon Friday, Saturday Midway rides will be one of the featured activities at the Vilas is welcome to watch. and Sunday. County Fair Thursday through Sunday. —STAFF PHOTO More open class and n Guide George Lang - Wristband specials will junior exhibits will be ley provides the lat- be Thursday night from 5 to rides for all ages for one set who take along two nonper- judged Saturday starting at est information on 10 p.m. for $20 and again price. ishable food items will gain 9 a.m. in crafts, photogra- Sunday afternoon from fishing in the North Saturday’s wristband admission for $23. phy, clothing, canning, poul- Woods. Pg. 10A noon to 5 p.m. for $20. special will run from noon Friday will be Dollar Wristbands offer unlimited to 10 p.m. for $25. Those Day from noon to 5 p.m. and To FAIR, Pg. 2A 2A WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6, 2014 VILAS COUNTY NEWS-REVIEW/THE THREE LAKES NEWS WEATHER NEWS CORNER Note: Precipitation amounts are recorded at 8 a.m. for the previous 24 hours. LAST SEVEN DAYS ONE YEAR AGO Eagle: search warrants led to charges Hi Lo Prec. Hi Lo Prec. Wed., July 30 ............73 47 .49R Tues., July 30............72 53 .11R Thurs., July 31 ..........78 48 .36R Wed., July 31 ............72 56 Tr.R property. The DNR warden died on or near these bait ment, U.S. Environmental Fri., Aug. 1.................78 48 None Thurs., Aug. 1............72 54 .09R FROM PAGE 1A found dead a bald eagle, a sites on the Sowinski proper- Protection Agency, and the Sat., Aug. 2 ...............80 48 None Fri., Aug.