A look back at the people and events that made news the past week.
Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In...
HEROES OF THE WEEK
Flood heroes (added 9:00 pm, 6/21/08)
Pistol-packer
The Boy Scouts
Jenny Masche
Shawn Johnson
Kendall Bailey
Johnny Depp....the story.........the video.
VILLAINS OF THE WEEK
Mother of the Year candidate
Jeff Pelo
Virginia charity
Ohio teacher
The state of Wisconsin.....tax hell
The state of Illinois
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"That is a really creepy feeling to look around your house and say what is most important. I can 't tell you how sickening that was. "
Rita Strutz of Saul County on what personal belongings she would save from the flooding.
"It's insane. I've never experienced such extremes. I've lived in Wisconsin all my life and this is just crazy. You just think, 'Oh no.' You think it isn't going to strike twice. But then I never thought it could the first time. You're a little bit on edge now."
Renee Klotz, of Wheatland, used to love watching storm clouds gather. But that was before a freak tornado in January destroyed her home and she watched flood waters this week cover the street outside her Burlington apartment. Now whenever she hears a storm warning she gets nervous.
"You begin questioning your own safety.”
Bill Henricks, a psychologist at Columbia St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee.
“The only people parking in our lot are those coming to see the lake. I feel like someone I knew died. You go through a grieving process. Things will eventually get back to normal. We just have to get through this year.”
Kathy Zowin, co-owner of Lake Delton Water Sports.
“Like everyone else, I get in my car and I moan and groan. It's going to be a bottleneck. But you know what? We won't have the 100-mile detour.”
Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi on the $896,000 bypass ordered to replace a 100-mile detour on a flooded section of I-94 in Johnson Creek. The project was completed Thursday.
"I have an off-line product, and it's an online world. It's another example of laws not being able to keep up with technology."
Wisconsin Lottery Director Mike Edmonds, who wants to have online games in Wisconsin. They’re now unconstitutional.
“Unless you’re one of the fringe that actually rides the bus, transit just isn’t that important. Almost everybody who has a job drives to it or gets a ride from somebody else. Throwing tens of millions at such a tiny part of the transportation ridership is pointless. Creating a train that runs along Lake Michigan is beyond pointless; it’s moronic. Raising our already onerous tax burden for the benefit of the cult that uses transit is another nail in the region’s economic coffin.
‘But rising gas prices will be a boon for buses and trains!!!!!’ So they tell us. If that’s so, the increases in fare box revenues will take care of all of our transit needs. Don’t count on it. Most people hate riding the bus and will cut out Starbucks, car washes and Doritos before they give up their cars to ride a train. And next to none of them will take the bus.”
Mark Belling in his weekly column.
“I’m kind of disenfranchised. I will not be voting for Obama. I will cast my vote for John McCain. I just feel you need to have somebody who has experience with foreign matters.”
Clinton delegate Debra Bartoshevich of Waterford.
“It's extremely important that we send a message that Democrats in the state of Wisconsin will never support somebody who supports John McCain for president.”
State Democrat Party chair Joe Wineke urging delegates to approve a motion to oust Bartoshevich.
“I am enthused and eager and it will be a new challenge. This allows me to continue in an area that has always been important to me, which is serving the public.”
Retiring State Senator Carol Roessler, R-Oshkosh, announcing that she would resign her office early to take a Doyle administration position as head of Revenue's Division of State and Local Finance.
“With Barack Obama in the state, Obama's top campaign staffer, Jim Doyle, gave voters a glimpse of the Democrats' priorities this year -- politics over Wisconsin families.”
State Republican Party chair Reince Priebus criticizing the governor for his appearance at a golf fundraiser while dealing with flooding in the state last week. Doyle’s office said his appearance at the fundraiser had no impact on the flood response; a campaign spokesman said Doyle "spent most of the day dealing with official state business." Doyle’s campaign said Thursday it would keep the money raised at the event.
OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK
Teenage girls make a pact to get pregnant.
Apparently, teens think it's cool.
MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK
Governor Doyle....golfing for dollars while Wisconsin deals with flooding.
MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE WEEK
As I mentioned last week, all of the flood coverage, and now this week, the flood aftermath reporting, is warranted.
However, there's a fallout.
People see and hear about the devastation in the news media, and suddenly vacation plans are put on hold.
Tourism is already starting to suffer.
STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE WEEK
Tough to nail it down to just one.
An enema monument.
High heels.........for babies.
Bumper stickers = road rage
REMEMBER: Your suggestions/nominations for any of these categories every week are welcome, especially for HEROES OF THE WEEK. If you know of anyone in the community deserving of recognition, please e-mail me.
