With historic budget crisis looming, all other issues take backseat Found: 1 Day 9 Hours 41 Minutes ago The Northwestern - MADISON Wisconsin Democrats had Monday to savor their takeover of both houses of the Legislature, a dream theyve chased since 1987 and made official with the swearing-in of legislators at the Capitol....
Gov. Jim Doyle: Wisconsins budget issue front, center Found: 1 Day 9 Hours 42 Minutes ago The Post-Crescent - MADISON Wisconsin Democrats had Monday to savor their takeover of both houses of the Legislature, a dream theyve chased since 1987 and made official with the swearing-in of legislators at the Capitol....
State Legislature starts new session with Democrats in power Found: 1 Day 10 Hours 3 Minutes ago The Green Bay Press-Gazette - MADISON Wisconsin Democrats had Monday to savor their takeover of both houses of the Legislature, a dream theyve chased since 1987....
Issues take backseat to state budget Found: 1 Day 10 Hours 14 Minutes ago Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter - MADISON Wisconsin Democrats had Monday to savor their takeover of both houses of the Legislature, a dream theyve chased since 1987....
Budget crisis overshadows all other issues Found: 1 Day 11 Hours 15 Minutes ago The Daily Tribune - MADISON -- Wisconsin Democrats had Monday to savor their takeover of both houses of the Legislature, a dream theyve chased since 1987 and made official with the swearing-in of legislators at the Capitol....
Area freshmen playing big rolesInside Hockey: Freshmen making an ... Found: 1 Day 14 Hours 38 Minutes ago Leader-Telegram - The reasons an impressive number of freshmen are finding their way into hockey box scores this season are wide ranging. For some schools, like the Altoona and Chippewa Falls boys teams it's a numbers issue. For others, like Eau Claire Memorial and Rice Lake, it's injuries and undeniable levels of talent that have freshmen finding their way onto varsity rosters. But whether these youngsters are playing due to talent, injuries or roster numbers matters little. Because when it comes down to it, there's no denying that a glut of area freshmen are making names for themselves in rinks around the Chippewa Valley this season. "What I like about that group is they are rink rats," Chippewa Falls coach Scott Parker said of his freshmen. "I would see them all around the rink. They are always there and they all love hockey. And it's one of those things - you need to have rink rats nowadays."You look at Memorial's team last year. They had that group that stuck together and that's the key nowadays. Hockey is not just a four-month sport. You've got to have guys sticking together and working together in the offseason, and that's what we are hoping for."For Parker, who has skated as many as seven freshmen in a game this season, playing so many freshmen was a decision of necessity. With five seniors graduating from last year's team along with the usual defections and injuries that occur during the offseason, the long-time coach had little other choice. Five freshmen are seeing regular shifts for the Cardinals, including Mac Walsh on the second forward line, Mitch LaVelle on defense and a third line of Austin Taylor, Jerod Sabaska and Logan Murphy. Add in the play of goaltender Alex Tillotson, who has been gaining more and more minutes in the last half of December, and Parker is relying heavily on six youngsters to carry his team through a tough Big Rivers Conference slate."We're expecting a lot out of them. And there were times where the inexperience shows," Parker said. "But these kids, I think they are going to work on their game outside the hour and 15 minute practice we have. These days, you've got to do that."The same is true down the road in Altoona, where coach Steve Marczinke lists nine freshmen on his varsity squad - the most of any area team. And the youngsters don't seem to be blinking either, with Justin Jinkins and Trever Brock tied for second on the team with three goals, Austin Potter skating with the Rails second line and Justin Johnson a regular contributor on the blue line. "I hope so," said Marczinke about the improvement of a young team. "I hope we keep improving all year. It's just the little things you learn as they year goes on that will help us."For Rice Lake coach Keith Paulsen, his young freshman class has provided not only depth, but an impressive scoring punch. Kody Novinska leads the Warriors with 15 points, while defenseman Reid Giddings has five. Derek Robarge and Trae Taylor also are providing solid minutes for Rice Lake. And while the number of impact youngsters is lower elsewhere, the strength of their play speaks for itself. Menomonie freshman Drew Otto's nine goals and 17 points this season put him in a tie for third in both categories in the Big Rivers. Memorial defenseman Jacob McCabe has displayed so much talent that he captains the Old Abes power play unit and is fifth on the team in scoring. Across town at North, Brad Money has two points while skating on the Huskies top line."He's a great fit for us," North's Derek Lund said of Money. "We need someone that can get open and create his own opportunities for us and hopefully, we can feed him the puck and he can bury it when we get it to him. And so far he's done his job."And it's not just the freshmen boys making a name for themselves either. Menomonie's Shauna Bollinger already has 11 goals on the season for the Indians, while St. Croix Valley's Hailey Rock has been a stalwart at the top of the Fusion's rotation. The ECA Stars' Emily Lester has quickly settled into a role on the Stars top line with Erin Stenseth and Kelsey Lund and is second on the team with 13 points. Add in Hailey Watkins' six points and some strong defensive play by blue line anchor Macki Fadness and ECA coach Marty Fadness is excited about the way his youngsters have adapted to the varsity game. "I knew there were three or four of those girls who could step in and play this year and we needed them to," said Marty Fadness, who coached many of the freshmen as a U14 coach last year. "And they've done a good job for us."Where to beLooking for a few good hockey games this week? Look no further than Hobbs Ice Center on Tuesday, where Memorial and North resume their heated rivalry with the 92nd meeting in school history. The Old Abes have dominated the action the past few years, winning the past four to help them claim a 46-44-1 lead in the all-time series. The puck drops at 7 p.m.River Falls is the place to be Thursday, as the BRC-leading Wildcats host second-place Rice Lake at 7 p.m. First-year River Falls coach Nick Jenkins has his veteran team off to a hot start (5-0-1), but don't count out Rice Lake. The Warriors have three capable lines and more than enough firepower to keep this game close.If the girls game is more your style, trek over to Chippewa Falls, where the Cardinals will take on last year's state champion Cental Wisconsin Storm on Tuesday, and fellow top-five team Hayward on Saturday. The Storm took both games from the Cardinals a year ago and remain one of the top teams in the state, while the Hurricanes have been on a tear all season with their only loss coming against Eveleth Gilbert (Minn.), 7-6.In the pollsA tough loss to New Prague (Minn.) didn't hurt the Eau Claire Memorial boys hockey team in this week's wisconsinprephockey.net poll, as the Old Abes remained an honorable mention. River Falls, however, continues to climb the top 10 ladder, checking in at No. 5 this week. In the inaugural wisconsingirlshockey.net poll, undefeated St. Croix Valley remains entrenched at the top of the list. Big Rivers foe Chippewa Falls checks in right behind the Fusion at No. 2. One-loss Hayward, which is outscoring opponents 50-15 this year, claimed the No. 5 spot. Inside Hockey appears every Tuesday throughout the season. Parks can be reached at 830-5842 or at by e-mail at adam.parks@ecpc.com.StandingsBoysBig Rivers W L T P GF GARiver Falls 3 0 1 7 25 11Rice Lake 3 1 0 6 20 10Hudson 2 1 1 5 14 13Eau Claire Memorial 2 1 0 4 9 8Eau Claire North 1 2 0 2 11 15Menomonie 0 3 0 0 12 17Chippewa Falls 0 3 0 0 6 23OVERALL RECORDS: River Falls 5-0-1, Rice Lake 6-2-0, Hudson 4-3-1, Eau Claire Memorial 5-3-0, Eau Claire North 4-3-0, Menomonie 4-5-0, Chippewa Falls 1-7-0.Middle Border W L T P GF GAAmery 3 0 0 6 13 7Somerset/Osceola 1 0 0 2 5 2Baldwin-Woodville 0 1 0 0 2 6New Richmond 0 1 0 0 2 5OVERALL RECORDS: Amery 6-3-0, Somerset/Osceola 5-4-1, Baldwin-Woodville 4-5-0, New Richmond 3-5-0.Independents W L T GF GAHayward 6 4 0 53 34Altoona 2 5 1 22 28Barron/Chetek 2 6 0 18 48Spooner/Shell Lake 2 7 0 20 52McDonell/Regis 0 10 0 8 84GirlsBig Rivers W L T P GF GASt. Croix Valley 3 0 0 6 18 2Chippewa Falls 3 1 0 6 20 9Hudson 1 2 0 2 10 13ECA Stars 1 2 0 2 11 10Menomonie 0 3 0 0 2 27OVERALL RECORDS: St. Croix Valley 11-0-1, Chippewa Falls 7-2-0, Hudson 3-7-0, ECA 6-4-0, Menomonie 0-7-0.Independents W L T GF GAHayward 7 1 0 50 15...
Seven People Escape House Fire Found: 1 Day 15 Hours 17 Minutes ago WEAU 13 News - Fire destroyed home Monday morning after all seven people got out safely...
