"California voters will decide Nov. 8 whether to legalize marijuana
for recreational use — an issue that has sown deep division among
longtime growers.
"Down a winding mountain road in a remote redwood
forest lies one of many illegal 'grows' that make up Northern
California's famous Emerald Triangle, a rural region that developed over
decades into a marijuana-producing mecca.
"Some of of the farmers
here yearn for legitimacy that growers of legal crops enjoy. Others fear
Proposition 64 will bring costly regulations and taxes, lower prices
and the risk that corporate interests could put smaller operations out
of business.
"'It will end traditional marijuana farming like
this,' said Laura Costa, 56, sitting in the middle of one of four
40-plant gardens, puffing on a glass pipe. 'It will end our way of
life.'
"While Costa and other Humboldt County growers are staunchly
opposed to the ballot measure, other farmers in the region support it.
"'If
we wait, we will fall behind,' says Swami Chaitanya, 73, a longtime
grower in remote Mendocino County whose ranch is situated in a peaceful
meadow of Hindu statutes and marijuana plants 5 miles down a
tooth-rattling dirt road."
"The Journal Times believes in the
importance of open dialogue for readers and we have encouraged readers
to comment online. However, because of one problematic commenter, we
have had to recently limit comments.
"We
have shut down comments on most stories, although we have left them
open on our editorials and we are opening them on select articles to
encourage discussion and hope to open up more stories if problems
subside. If you read any inappropriate comments, please report them, by
clicking the report button next to the comment.
I look at the online Journal Times paper today and there now are stories you can comment on. Thing is, no one is commenting.
Originally published on Tuesday, October 27, at 7:40 PM:
I just was browsing the Journal Times when I noticed something: none of the stories have a commenting area at the end. Maybe it's a computer glitch. Maybe it's new policy. Maybe I should put up more local stories in an effort to get more commentators here.
"RACINE — Elmwood Plaza, which lost
its last anchor store, Racine Produce, seven years ago, is getting a
Save-A-Lot grocery store in its place.
"The
Racine Building Department recently issued a renovation permit for the
future store, which will occupy 31,000 square feet in the center of the
long-struggling shopping center at 3701 Durand Ave. The project needs no
other city approvals, said Chief Building Inspector Ken Plaski.
"It
will be the city’s second Save-A-Lot; the other one, at 1500 State St.,
opened in December 2003. Its opening resulted from a concerted effort
by city and economic development officials to bring a grocery store to
Racine’s inner city.
"Save-A-Lot
is considered a 'hard-discount' retailer with stores usually ranging in
size from 12,000 square feet to about 20,000. It is currently owned by
Supervalu, which has more than 3,400 owned, licensed, franchised and
affiliated stores across the country. However, on Oct. 17,
Minneapolis-based Supervalu announced it will sell Save-A-Lot for $1.4
billion to private equity investor Onex Corp."
"RACINE — A case against a Racine man accused of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl last August has been dismissed.
"Orlando
Deleon, of the 1600 block of Holmes Avenue, was charged on Sept. 2,
2015, with first-degree sexual assault of a child, after it was alleged
that he assaulted the girl in his home.
"According
to a criminal complaint, the victim, a 6-year-old friend and her
8-year-old sister were playing with Deleon’s cats when the victim stayed
behind.
"The
6-year-old allegedly told investigators that the victim went back
inside, where Deleon is alleged to have given the girl a dollar because 'she had played a game.'
"As
part of the 'game,' the victim later told investigators that she was
blindfolded and walked to a bathroom where the assault is alleged to
have taken place, the complaint states.
"The
victim’s sister told investigators she saw Deleon place a blindfold on
the victim and guide her to the bathroom. The older sister also
allegedly heard Deleon tell the victim: 'Don’t tell anyone.'
"Deleon
told investigators that he had merely asked the girl to close her eyes
and then placed a spoonful of applesauce in her mouth.
"Deleon was jailed on his
charge and given a $100,000 bond. The case was proceeding towards a
Sept. 13 trial date when the state on Friday called for the charge to be
dismissed on a prosecutor’s motion.
"Asked
why the state had asked for the dismissal, Racine County District
Attorney Rich Chiapete stated that there 'were burden of proof issues.'
"The
prosecutor handling the case, Assistant Racine County District Attorney
Robert Repischak, had recently reviewed the entirety of the case with
the victim’s family, including the Child Advocacy Center interview,
Chiapete said, and based on a meeting with the victim and her family it
was agreed that the case would be dismissed without prejudice.
"'ADA
Repischak indicated that they met at length and that the family
understood the issues with the case,' Chiapete wrote in an email. 'If
additional information or evidence is received that impacts this case,
it could be re-issued.'
"Deleon
had faced up to 40 years imprisonment if convicted on the charge. It is
not clear how long he spent in jail while the case was proceeding.
"Attempts to reach the defendant and his attorney on Monday were unsuccessful."
Graphic Illustration by Dan Talsky, daniel.talsky@journalttimes.com, using artwork by Dee Hutch.
"The Origins of Hip Hop event will
return to Racine’s lakefront on Saturday, Aug. 20, and everyone is
welcome to come share this exploration of the culture of hip-hop, from 4
to 10 p.m. at Smoke’d on the Water, 3 Fifth St.
"In
its fifth year, Origins of Hip Hop aims to highlight the five primary
elements of hip-hop culture: DJ-ing, emceeing, graffiti art,
breakdancing/all-styles hip-hop dancing and knowledge, according to Nick
Ramsey, one of the event organizers. It will do so through a series of
performances, workshops and competitions, or 'battles,' which together
will not only celebrate the rich culture of this music genre, but raise
awareness about it.
"By learning
more about hip-hop culture, people will be better able to understand
it, said Ramsey, a local emcee, poet and self-described 'addict of
hip-hop culture.'
"Presenters
will include local performers and artists, as well as those from as far
away as Milwaukee and Louisville, Kentucky. And representatives of each
element will present mini workshops designed to showcase that aspect,
Ramsey said. His own presentation about the art of emceeing, for
example, will include information about its historical roots in ancient
storytelling, as well as practical tips about everything from meter and
line to mic-holding skills, he said.
"Attendees
will also have opportunities to get involved in the action. Anyone
interested in trying their hand at graffiti art can do so on special
panels provided at the event. And area hip-hop DJs, emcees, dancers and
more are invited to enter competitions in their categories, with a
chance to win cash prizes. Registration for competitions is available at
the event, but must be done prior to the start of each competition (See
event schedule below for details).
Cultural diversity
"'This
event is really about everybody — young, old, all races — getting
together and celebrating cultural diversity,” said Ramsey. “The thing I
am most proud of is the way the Origins of Hip Hop really represents
this city.'
"Since its
inception, Origins of Hip Hop has expanded its reach throughout the
community to include a variety of partnerships with businesses,
organizations and individuals including Black Hand Tattoo, Christi
Beerntsen, the College of Art & Humanities at the University of
Wisconsin-Parkside, Downtown Racine Corp., Family Power Music, the
Racine Public Library, Sweatshop Movement, Willy’s Sole Kitchen and
Smoke’d on the Water. In years past the event has drawn as many as 300
people, and Ramsey said organizers are expecting between 400 and 500
this time around.
"Caleb Robinson — owner of
Smoke’d on the Water, who has been involved with the event since its
start — said he, too, appreciates the diversity of Origins of Hip Hop.
"'What
I love most about this event, is that it has such a positive feel,'
Robinson said. 'It’s really about bringing people together and I wish
everyone would stop down and see what it is about. Everyone is welcome.'
"Admission
to the Origins of Hip Hop event is free (donations will be accepted),
including all performances, presentations and competitions. Food and
beverages will be available for sale at Smoke’d on the Water during the
event.
"Robinson said the
venue’s usual menu will be available, featuring specialities including
pulled pork sandwiches and chicken wings. Origins of Hip Hop 5 T-shirts
will also be available for sale, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Origins of Hip Hop 5 events
"(Schedule is subject to change)
4-5 p.m. — DJ spinning old-school Hip-Hop and graffiti artists beginning their pieces
5-5:15 p.m. — DJ workshop
5:15-5:45 p.m. — DJ battle (DJs must register by 4:30)
5:45-6 p.m. — Performance by ESCH, of Racine
6-6:15 p.m. — Graffiti workshop: Pre-made backdrops will be available for people to create their own graffiti art
6:15-6:30 p.m. — Performance by Sypher Lady X of Milwaukee
6:30-6:45 p.m. — Breakdance workshop
6:45-7 p.m. — Dancer warm-up and opportunity for attendees to try out their new knowledge
7-8 p.m. — Breakdance and All-Styles dance battles (dancers must register by 6 p.m.)
8-8:15 p.m. — Performance (performer TBA)
8:15 — 8:45 p.m. — Freestyle Emcee Competition (emcees must register by 7 p.m.)
8:45-10 p.m. — Performance by RMLLW2LLZ , of Louisville, Kentucky
"SANTA
MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Dick Van Dyke has treated diners at a Denny's
restaurant in California to a rendition of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.'
"A post accompanying a YouTube video
of the performance says the 90-year-old Van Dyke and the other three
members of his quartet, The Vantastix, had just finished an appearance
on a local television show before going out for breakfast. The video
shows the quartet seated with pancakes at the table and singing the
theme song to the 1968 British musical, which starred Van Dyke.
"Van Dyke said on Twitter that it was the grits that convinced him to break into song.
"Van Dyke and The Vantastix are promoting a show later this month in southern California."
by Paul Revere "The Journal Times, contrary to popular opinion, does a *GREAT JOB* of reporting the news – although it does,
at times, seem to provide cover for some of the illegal acts performed
under the color of law by local officials – or even their outright
criminal acts – but then again, the obfuscation, cover-ups and outright
lies by public officials complicates the problem, which is excaberated
by LEE ENTERPRISES CEO Mary Junck who has gutted the Newsroom,
emphasizes revenue over quality reporting, while lowering the pay and
benefits for Employees, and just like Racine Mayor John Dickert, whose
tax policies are Looting a City of Ill Repute (transferring money via
taxes from the productive and creative to an unacountable, bloated and
incompetent Bureaucracy) – Mary Junck’s fiscal manipulations and
disasters are Looting a Company of Ill Repute."
"MADISON — Dane County Sheriff's deputies say two people crashed their cars this past weekend while playing 'Pokemon Go.'
"The sheriff's office issued a
press release Monday saying around 2:30 a.m. Saturday a 25-year-old
Madison man crashed into a tree in the town of Verona. He was taken to a
local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and cited for drunken
and inattentive driving.
"Around 6:30 a.m. that same
day a 26-year-old Fitchburg man drove his car into a tree in the town
of Verona. The car caught fire but the man was able to escape. He was
taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was also
cited for drunken driving, not having insurance and driving left of
center.
"Both drivers acknowledged they were playing 'Pokemon Go.'"
MARK SOMMERHAUSER
msommerhauser@madison.com, 608-252-6122 Updated 1 "A majority of Wisconsinites want marijuana to be legal and regulated like alcohol, a new poll shows.
"Results were released Wednesday for the Marquette Law School Poll, a leading measure of public opinion in the Badger State.
"The
poll asked registered voters: 'When it comes to marijuana, some people
think that the drug should be fully legalized and regulated like
alcohol. Do you agree or disagree with that view?'
"Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they agreed, while 39 percent disagreed.
"Poll
director Charles Franklin noted the results were a shift from those
given to a survey question in Wisconsin two years ago — although,
Franklin emphasized, that question was worded differently.
"It asked voters in September 2014: 'Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal or not?'
"Then, 46 percent of poll respondents said it should be legal and 51 percent said it should not be.
"The
new poll results show 'the tide in Wisconsin is turning' on public
opinion of legalization, state Rep. Melissa Sargent said Wednesday.
"Sargent, D-Madison, has introduced marijuana legalization bills in the state Assembly, but they gained little traction.
"Marijuana,
while still illegal under federal law, has been legalized for
recreational use in several states in recent years. They are Alaska,
Colorado, Oregon and Washington, and the District of Columbia.
"The latest Marquette poll was conducted July 7-10 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points."
"RACINE — A Racine Interfaith
Coalition prayer vigil is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at
Monument Square to remember the police officers who were killed in
Dallas on July 7.
"The Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen, pastor
at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, will lead the vigil and
the public is invited to come together 'to pray for the end of pervasive
violence in the country, for the police officers and the loss of life
of so many African American men.'
"Monument Square is located at Main and Sixth Streets in Downtown Racine"
"MOUNT PLEASANT — While illegal, cliff diving has been a fact of life at Quarry Lake Park for generations.
"But
it hasn’t gotten any less dangerous, as evidenced by an 18-year-old
Illinois girl who was taken to a hospital by helicopter last month after
reportedly going to the park to cliff jump with friends.
"Law
enforcement officials say social media and peer pressure have helped
drive more cliff divers to the county park at 3533 Northwestern Ave.
Many come from out of state, sometimes after park hours.
"So far this year, the Racine County
Sheriff’s Office had issued 84 citations at the park, according to a
figure The Journal Times obtained Wednesday. The vast majority of those
are for trespassing, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said, with many of
those people taking a jump estimated from 20 to 40 feet.
About fifty years ago, I had a part-time job while in high school. In the summer there wasn't always enough work for all of us to put in an 8 hour day. One day four of us took off for the day after 4 hours. One guy had a brand new Mustang. The rear seats were all but nonexistent. The seats felt like scrub board. Anyway, we ended up at the Quarry, high on a bluff. The driver and one of the othr guys dove in. I can't beleive that I gave it serious consideration. I'm not that good of a swimmer. Anyway, I didn't jump and neither did the other guy. We should've chcked the Mustang for keys and taken off.
"MOUNT PLEASANT — Kurt Wahlen appears to be on his way out as Mount Pleasant village administrator.
"The
Village Board has called a special meeting Monday to discuss a
separation agreement with Wahlen, whom the new board majority has
generally opposed.
"The
closed-session meeting has been set for 7:30 a.m. at Village Hall, 8811
Campus Drive. Board members then may reconvene in open session to vote
on matters discussed in closed session.
"Wahlen expects Monday will be his last day on the job.
"'Elections have consequences,' Wahlen said when reached by phone Thursday. 'That's what I'm facing here.'
"Power
on the factional Mount Pleasant Village Board shifted after the April 5
election, with the new majority often at odds with the current
administration. The most high-profile example is a controversial Highway
V water and sewer project, which Wahlen helped bring to passage before
the election.
"Questions over Wahlen's job status were first raised June 3, when the board met for 90 minutes in closed session about his contract, which had expired three weeks earlier.
"Talks about extending the contract never materialized, Wahlen said.
"In another meeting, a fired employee took to a public forum to make a variety of claims about 'questionable practices' under Wahlen, who denies the claims.
"It's
been part of a turbulent period for the board after two incumbents were
unseated in April, in a race driven by their support for the Highway V
project. In recent weeks, the board has clashed over closed-session
meetings, special assessments for water mains and grant funding for Pike
River work.
"Wahlen, the former Racine police chief, began his tenure as Mount Pleasant village administrator in 2013.
"'It's time for the village to move on, and if it means getting me out of the way, so be it,' Wahlen said.
"Village
Board members and Village President Jerry Garski could not be reached
for comment Thursday. The village canceled its regularly-scheduled
Monday night meeting."
"RACINE — Eight cats were removed from
a home in the 1600 block of Deane Boulevard during a police
seizure Wednesday afternoon, according to Angela Speed, vice president
of communication for the Wisconsin Humane Society.
"The
house, located at 1608 Deane, had a sign posted from the City of Racine
Health Department that read: 'This unit can not be used for human
habitation, occupancy or use.'
"Of the eight cats, three were
kittens and five were adults, Speed said. The cats are currently in the
custody of the Wisconsin Humane Society.
"'We have the cats in our (Racine County) facility and are taking care of them,' Speed said.
"The owner of the house appeared to
have taped a note on the door before the police seizure. The note read, 'Health Department will be here 7-6-16 approx. noon for inspection plus
animal removal. No one is in the house until then. Thanks, Owner.'
"Attempts to reach police and Health Department officials Wednesday for elaboration were unsuccessful."
"RACINE — A Racine man was taken into custody Thursday in connection to an armed robbery on the afternoon of June 25.
"Deonte
D. Anderson, 17, of the 4100 block of Marquette Drive, who is also
reportedly known by the street name 'Snot,' allegedly robbed a
27-year-old man at gunpoint in the 1500 block of Packard Avenue, Racine
police allege.
"According to the
criminal complaint, Anderson and another individual approached the
victim, who was talking with his neighbor, and asked the victim if he
wanted to purchase a firearm. The victim reportedly said he did not, but
might know someone who might. The victim then took a picture of the
weapon with his cell phone.
"Anderson then allegedly pointed the
firearm at the victim and demanded money. The victim reportedly gave up
$900 in cash and then Anderson fled from the scene. The victim chased
Anderson, but lost him, according to the criminal complaint. The
neighbor said that Anderson was accompanied by another man, who the
neighbor was able to identify.
"Racine Police copied
images of the photos that the victim had taken of the firearm. Police
then obtained a search warrant for the home of the man who accompanied
Anderson. There, they reportedly recovered a firearm that matched the
one in the photo and the victim’s description.
"According
to the criminal complaint, Anderson reportedly stashed the gun at the
accomplice's apartment.
"According to police, the firearm was a
brown-gripped black .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun.
Anderson was later identified in a photo lineup, police said.
"Anderson
is facing one felony count of armed robbery and one felony count of
possession of a firearm by a felon. He was in the Racine County Jail as
of Saturday night and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday
morning in Racine County Circuit Court."
"RACINE — Police are investigating a
shooting incident that occurred at about 1 p.m. Wednesday in the
vicinity of English and Geneva streets.
"Nobody was injured in the
incident, but a van parked on Geneva Street did sustain minor damage
from a bullet or bullets ricocheting off the vehicle.
"Unconfirmed reports
indicated that the shots were fired from a red truck carrying
approximately five occupants and driven by a female. They may have been
firing at two people on a bicycle, according to unconfirmed reports."
"RACINE – Three juvenile girls were
cited for disorderly conduct after they allegedly threatened to light a
lifeguard’s hair on fire at North Beach Wednesday afternoon.
"Police said nobody was injured in
the incident, which was reported at about 1:40 p.m. Police also
confirmed that no hair was ever lit.
"Police said that the girls were each being issued a citation that carries a fine of $334.50. The suspects declined to comment."
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