August 18, 2005
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Prescott Daze Medallion Clue#1
The hunt is on once again for the annual Prescott Daze Medallion! Think you have what it takes to track down the infamous medallion? If you do, you'll have to be able to solve a few riddles.
In the next four weeks leading up to Prescott Daze, turn to the Prescott Journal to find a new clue every week. The first riddle is as follows:
Birds in the trees,
Wind in the air;
Look down not up,
The medallion is there.
The only other item of information that can be released is that it is on public property in the city of Prescott.
If you are lucky enough to find the medallion after solving this riddle, take it to M&I Bank to claim your prize - but be sure to wear your Prescott Daze Button. With a button, the prize is a $200 savings bond. If you forget the button, the prize is a $100 savings bond.
Buttons can be purchased at local retailers for $2 and help fund the Prescott Daze event.
Thanks go to M&I Bank and the Prescott Journal for this event.
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Elderly man arrested for OWI
by Matthew Perenchio
A 78-year-old Prescott man was arrested last week for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after his truck struck a power pole on Highway 10.
According to the accident report, Leroy A. Struve was operating a 2000 Ford F150 eastbound on Highway 10 when he failed to properly negotiate a curve near 1200th Street.
The vehicle entered the ditch and traveled 600 feet, striking a power pole and vaulting over a culvert. The vehicle later came to rest amid bushes and trees.
The accident occurred on Aug. 9 at 6:18 p.m., according to the report.
Struve was arrested at the scene for OWI. Injuries were reported and Struve was transported by Prescott EMS to River Falls Area Hospital. He was treated and released, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Responding to the scene were the sheriff's department, Prescott EMS, the Prescott Fire Department and the Prescott Police Department.
Struve has an initial appearance in Pierce County Circuit Court scheduled for Sept. 26.
The accident remains under investigation.
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Prescott Pirates eliminated by Osceola
by Jason Strangis
As the top-seeded team in their region, the Prescott Pirates were expected to make it to the state tournament for the second straight year.
But it wasn't looking good for Prescott in its first playoff game against the St. Croix Ravens Saturday in Osceola. The Pirates trailed 5-2 in the top of the ninth inning when Jason Bayer belted a three-run homer to tie the game. Another run was brought home on a wild pitch, and the Pirates somehow escaped with a 6-5 victory.
That put Prescott in the regional final against Osceola. Earlier in the season, Prescott blanked the Braves 4-0 behind a no-hitter from Jon Holt.
But with Holt unavailable to pitch last weekend, the Pirates called upon steady Luke Hoff - who was 9-0 going into the big game.
The Braves had the home-field advantage, though, playing at familiar Oakey Park. The Pirates quickly silenced the Osceola fans, getting out to a 3-1 lead after the first inning. Brent Pattridge's double scored two runs, and the Pirates also benefitted from two Osceola errors and a leadoff walk.
Braves left-handed pitcher Dave Leske settled down from there and held the Pirates to just two runs the rest of the afternoon.
Osceola scored three runs in the top of the third to grab a 4-3 lead. After Hoff walked two batters, an Osceola player lined a hit down the middle of the field, and a Prescott outfielder overran the ball, leading to two runs. A sacrifice fly brought home another run.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Prescott scored two times to regain the lead at 5-4. After Brady Randolph reached first base on an error, Pattridge slugged his second double of the day, putting runners on second and third bases with no outs. A single by Eric Carlson tied the game. Chad Tousley was the next batter, and although he hit into a double play, a run still scored, putting Prescott back on top.
The lead wouldn't last long, though. In the top of the sixth, Osceola got a key hit with two outs, scoring two runs that would ultimately prove to be the difference. The Braves added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, and the Pirates were unable to rally for a second straight time.
The Pirates notched only four hits on the day - two doubles by Pattridge and two singles by Carlson.
"We struggled at the plate," said player/manager Brady Randolph. "We just didn't hit the ball very well."
The Braves enjoyed a better day at the plate with eight hits.
Hoff took his first loss on the mound for Prescott this summer. He threw six strikeouts with four walks. The Prescott defense committed three errors. Osceola had five defensive mishaps, most occurring early in the game.
The Pirates ended their year with a 22-10 record. They won the St. Croix Valley League Southern Division.
Osceola (20-8) advances to the state tournament next weekend.
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Wisconsin property taxes are among the nation's highest
Wisconsin's property tax rates on residential properties were third highest nationally in 2003-04, according to a new study from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.
In a comparison of homes in large cities, Milwaukee's rates (2.416 percent to 2.522 percent, depending on value) trailed only Detroit and Bridgeport, Conn.
In a comparison of small cities, Antigo trailed only similar cities in New York and Pennsylvania.
While residential property taxes were relatively high here, the study found Wisconsin was more competitive nationally on commercial properties. Among the 54 large cities studied, Milwaukee ranked 15th to 17th, depending on value, with a commercial property tax rate of 2.53 percent. The lower rankings were not due to lower rates for Wisconsin's commercial properties but rather higher rates on such properties elsewhere. The average rate nationally for urban commercial properties was just over 2 percent, compared to 1.3 percent to 1.6 percent for urban residential properties.
The differences in rankings between commercial and residential properties were due largely to preferential tax treatment of residential properties in other states. According to Dale Knapp, WISTAX research director, "Some states tax only a portion of the value of residential properties but 100 percent of the value of commercial properties. Others have a lower rate on residential property than on commercial. Wisconsin's constitution requires uniform taxation and generally prohibits these types of relief."
WISTAX researchers compared the tax rate differences between commercial and residential properties to identify states providing the largest breaks to residential property owners. In Wisconsin, the only difference between residential and commercial property taxes is the small lottery credit paid to homeowners but not to other property owners. States that provided relatively large breaks to residential property owners included Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts and New York.
As with commercial property taxes, Wisconsin was also fairly competitive on industrial property taxes. Among large cities, Milwaukee ranked from 14th to 16th nationally, depending on property value. Among the small cities studied, Antigo ranked sixth or seventh, depending value. In both case, Wisconsin had one of the highest industrial property taxes in the Midwest.
WISTAX researchers noted that the industrial estimates did not account for the state's exemption of manufacturing machinery and equipment because only some industrial properties are eligible for the exemption. For eligible properties, property tax rates fell .6 to .8 percentage points (depending on values and the amount of machinery and equipment) and Wisconsin's national rank fell into the 30s.
The WISTAX study provides tables showing tax rates and rankings for residential, commercial, industrial and apartment properties at various values. For residential properties, values ranged from $70,000 to $1 million. Commercial and industrial properties were compared at values from $100,000 to $25 million. Apartment buildings were assumed to have a market value of $600,000. Taxes were estimated for the largest city and a representative small city in each state.
The WISTAX study, "Property Taxes by State," compares property
taxes on residential, commercial, industrial and apartment properties at
various values nationwide.
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