Wednesday, 4.15
Land O'Lakes Inc. announces plans to close Madison Dairy, 1002 E. Washington Ave., tossing its 120 employees out of work. Its spokesperson says the plant "was no longer cost-efficient." Land O'Lakes has annual sales of $12 billion. You know, that Deerfield brand is much better anyway.
Thursday, 4.16
The state Department of Workforce Development reports that unemployment in Wisconsin last month rose to 9.2%, the highest rate in 26 years. DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman says the news "reflects the challenges we currently face."
Paul R. Obbink, 45, the owner of Bink's Window Cleaning, is charged with using a shotgun to shoot out the window of a competitor he mistakenly thought was trying to woo away a customer. "I shouldn't have done that," he later tells police. You think?
Friday, 4.17
Midge Miller, a former state rep and peace activist who helped found the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971, dies at 86. Writes Stu Levitan in an Isthmus tribute, "[She] didn't come to Madison to change the world, but that's what she ended up doing."
New assessment figures show the value of the average Madison home has fallen, for the first time in decades. The new average is $245,424, down about 1% from 2008. But due to new construction and growth in commercial assessments, the overall value of real estate and personal property in Madison rose 1%, to a total of $22.3 billion.
Richard A. Stackhouse, 27, resigns as a Sun Prairie High School library aide after being arrested for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old student. His father, Sun Prairie school board president David Stackhouse, had no comment, at least not to the press.
Saturday, 4.18
Ian E. Kies, 36, charged last fall with selling heroin that caused the death of a 37-year-old Stoughton woman in 2007, is found dead in his home on Madison's east side. The coroner has ordered toxicology reports; police do not suspect foul play.
Monday, 4.20
State Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen advises state prosecutors that Wisconsin residents should not be charged with disorderly conduct merely for walking around carrying firearms. Woo-hoo! But some police officials say they still will take down gun-toters. D'oh!
Tuesday, 4.21
Tim Bruer is reelected to a second consecutive term as president of the Madison Common Council, and Ald. Mark Clear was reelected pro tem. Five new council members are sworn in. The new council, at its evening meeting, passes a hike in parking meter rates and tables a proposal to only enforce alternative side parking rules in snow emergencies - i.e., when it's necessary.
Compiled (in Part) from local media
