Top Story
Charges: Man on lam wanted Portage County assistant district attorney dead, home burned
MONTELLO - A Portage County man is wanted by authorities and faces 115 years in prison for allegedly conspiring to kill a Portage County district attorney, burning down a home and beating a man with a baseball bat.
Authorities are searching for Frederick L. Lucht, 37, of Amherst, who was charged Monday in Marquette County Circuit Court with conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide, conspiracy to commit arson of a building, and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery.
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Featured Photo
Who is that bearded man?
Santa Claus, also known as Fred Reckling, dean of students at Portage Junior High School, waits for his cue Thursday as the eighth-grade concert band plays for a crowded gymnasium of parents and residents.
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Milestones
Baldwin-Davis wedding
Sheila Baldwin and Benjamin Davis were united in marriage Sept. 20, 2008, at Portage Presbyterian Church in Portage. The Rev. David Hankins performed the ceremony. Parents of the couple are Sharon Baldwin of New Lisbon, Donald Baldwin of Tomah, and Jeffrey and Marilyn Davis of Portage.
Rothe birthday
Stanley B. Rothe of Portage will celebrate his 90th birthday Dec. 9, 2008, with his family.
Births Dec. 1
Dec. 1, 2008
Obituaries
Gail Sue Mertely
NEKOOSA - Gail Sue Mertely, 51, of Nekoosa, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, at Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids.
John Frederick Schuman
PACKWAUKEE - John Frederick Schuman, 90, of Packwaukee, passed away at his home Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008.
Russell H. Johnson
PORTAGE - Russell H. Johnson, 90, of Portage, died Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at Meriter Hospital in Madison.
Local
Consultant for stormwater utility proposed
Common Council will hear a presentation from Strand Associates of Madison at next Thursday's meeting before being asked to approve the consultants to work on developing a stormwater utility for Portage.
Council's Municipal Services and Utilities Committee voted Thursday to recommend Strand, which placed a bid of $47,938. The bid includes all work involved in developing a stormwater utility task force, developing a feasibility study and implementing the utility.
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Sports
BOYS BASKETBALL: Warriors look forward
The way practice ended Thursday night spoke volumes of the team's personality.
Portage's boys basketball team just finished a quiet, serious round of free-throw drills before wrapping up practice with another installment of ‘Throwdown Thursdays,' where those who can dunk do, and those who can't, well they give it their best shot.
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Opinion
MURTAGH COLUMN: When will Portage turn green?
Words about changing the Portage water rate structure are flowing as fast as the water from the opened kitchen sink faucet. Even with the faucet turned off, I detected an errant drop of water, a gentle reminder to call the plumber, and that the city fathers do have the responsibility and desire to operate under a reasonable city budget, as well as retaining natural resources accorded us in this place, such as clean air and adequate water.
The voice of the people is usually heard on issues that affect them directly. The placing of new sidewalks brings out more raised voices and concern than starvation in Africa, or that more snowmobiles will be allowed in Yellowstone Park. There is much discussion among the folks regarding the possibility of the city of Portage issuing water bills every three, or is it four, months instead of the monthly bill. It is an attempt to save money on postage, and the time of the water department personnel.
