The Oshkosh Northwestern from Oshkosh, Wisconsin • 17

Northwestern AREA STATE Wednesday, June 4, 2003 C3 Court rules on hearing examiners Associated Press MADISON Police and fire commissions can hire independent hearing examiners to speed up disciplinary cases against police officers or firefighters, the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. A Madison firefighters' union sued to stop the city's police and fire commission from using hearing examiners to expedite cases as part of an investigation into cocaine trafficking at a downtown Madison bar. The union claimed having an examiner, rather than the full commission, hear cases violates firefighters' and police officers' due process rights. But the state Supreme Court said in a 4-3 decision that imple- Ho-Chunk Associated Press BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. The Ho-Chunk Nation has called for the resignation of Wisconsin Republican Party chairman Rick Graber, saying he failed to apologize for an offensive cartoon the party ran on its Web site.

"Mr. Graber has insulted our heritage, refused to apologize publicly to all Native Americans, and has now insulted our intelligence and integrity," Ho-Chunk Nation President Troy Swallow said in a news release Monday. The cartoon ran on the Web Police and fire commissions can hire them to speed up disciplinary www.courts.state.wi.us menting the rule permitting hearing examiners "provides a rational and efficient means of carrying out the board's duties." Justice Patrick Crooks, writing for the court's majority, said firefighters' due process rights are not harmed because the commission, not the hearing examiner, makes the final decision. Madison Fire Chief Debra Amesqua filed disciplinary charges connected to the drug investigation against seven firefighters alleging they used or sold cocaine. Five firefighters ruled hiring examiners was within the board's authority under state law.

The appeals court decision overturned Dane County Circuit Judge Moria were Krueger, who said state law were fired after an investigation, and four of those firings upheld in court. Two others were demoted and suspended. The commission, made up of community residents, usually meets only during evenings or weekends. State law requires the department to pay firefighters while they are under suspension, which was one reason the commission wanted to expedite the cases, said commission attorney Scott Herrick. "We had cases that were going on for three months," he said.

The union appealed after the 4th District Court of Appeals doesn't include justification for hiring examiners. Aaron Halstead, an attorney for Firefighters Local 311, did not immediately return a telephone message Tuesday to The Associated Press. Herrick said the commission didn't get to use hearing examiners in the drug-related cases because it put those plans on hold while the court challenge was pending. But Herrick said the decision will have statewide impact, and he expected other city police and fire commissions to adopt similar rules. tended to be offensive.

But the Ho-Chunk said Monday Graber has made only "halfhearted" attempts to right the wrong the cartoon did. Graber said Tuesday he would not resign. He said the cartoon was meant to be "a light -hearted poke" at Gov. Jim Doyle and some other Democrats and he had made repeated efforts to reach out to the Ho-Chunk to resolve their concerns. The GOP chairman said he spoke to the Ho-Chunk tribal legis- want Republican chairman to resign Failed to apologize publicly for cartoon lature April 23 and expressed his regrets over the incident, then sent site for one day in April and was meant to criticize a gaming compact the governor reached with the Forest County Potawatomi.

It depicted a tomahawk flying through the air at a Wisconsin taxpayer. The voiceover said: "As taxpayers, we got scalped." The party pulled the cartoon from the Web site after complaints that it was racist. Republican Party spokesman Chris Lato said at the time that the cartoon was not in- www.wisgop.org/ OBITUARIES Robert "Bob" W. Bues Beatrice Alice Westphal band Bill, Suamico, WI; Kathryn Strey and husband Dave, Omro, WI; Daniel Bues and wife Tammy, Green Bay, Matthew Bues and wife Teresa, Houston, TX; and grandchildren Luke Hogan and Hannah Bues. I He was preceded in death by one son Walter Glenn and his sister Carol Zwicky.

Friends may call at Messiah Lutheran Church, 3186 Eaton Road on Thursday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Memorial Service at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Stephen Sauer officiating. Proko-Wall Funeral Home (468-4111) is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Bob's name. Lemoye C. Jarvis WAUTOMA-Lemoyne C. Jarvis, age 98, formerly of Wautoma died December 27, 2002 in Sister Bay. She was born April 17, 1904 in Wautoma, the daughter of George and Daisy (Booth) Wilcox.

She married Edgar Jarvis on June 1927 in Waukegan, IL. He preceded her in death on April 9, 1992. She is survived by one son, Eugene (Barbara) Jarvis, Sister Bay; one daughter, Sonja Ring, Palm Harbor, two grandchildren; four great-grandchil- Robert W. Bues, age 78, of Green Bay, died June 1, Proko-Wall Funeral home. Lemoyne C.

Jarvis, age 98, formerly of Wautoma, died December 27, Leikness Funeral Home. Karen Nigl, age 50, of Oshkosh, died June 3, A 7-day archive of obituaries may be found on The Northwestern's Web site at www.thenorthwestern.com Robert "Bob" Robert "Bob" W. Bues, 78. Green Bay resident since 1981, formerly of Neenah, passed away on June 1, 2003. He was born on March 24, 1925 to the late Walter H.

and Clara (Koeppen) Bues, in Milwaukee. He married the former Elizabeth Norstrandt on September 8, 1951. She preceded him in death on October 30, 1994. Bob graduated from UW Madison with a degree in civil engineering. He retired from working for the City of Green Bay.

Bob was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed bowling and golfing as well. He was very active in his church, and enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Survivors include: daughters, Martha Hogan and hus- Coming Soon PILAR dren, other relatives and friends. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, one grandson, and by her son-in-law. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m.

Friday, June 6, 2003 in Leikness Funeral Home with the Rev. Dale R. Hanaman officiating. Burial took place at Maple Grove Cemetery in the town of Dakota. Leikness Funeral Home 358 South Oxford Street Wautoma (920) 787-3746 Konrad-Behlman Funeral Homes.

Jack L. Sams, age 74, of Pickett, died June 3. Fiss Bills-Poklasny Funeral Homes. Beatrice Alice Westphal, age 95, of Oshkosh, died June 2, Seefeld Funeral and Cremation Services. SYMPATHY OR FLOWERS PLANTS SPEAK FROM THE BOTTOM OF YOUR HEART HRNAK'S 1307 W.

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18th Oshkosh. Call for details 231-7701 A member of the Wheaton Franciscan System Senior retirement OLE OLE MISS a letter to Swallow the next day proposing that they issue the letter together publicly. Graber said he talked later that day with Swallow, who suggested changes to the letter. The party leader said he then sent a revised letter to the tribe and called Swallow April 25 seeking further comment from him, but he had not received a response. Republicans who control the state Legislature have been feuding with Doyle for more than three months over gaming compacts.

Brenton and Danielle Arndt; brothers-in-law, Wilbur (Mary) Westphal of Appleton and Melvin Rohloff of New London. She is further survived by special friends and caregivers at the Bethel Home. She was preceded in death by siblings Muriel Jolin, Wayne, Clifford, Lloyd, Alton, Kenneth, and Marjorie Curtis. Funeral services for Bernice A. Westphal will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2003 at noon at First English Lutheran Church, 1013 Minnesota Street with the Reverend Jeffrey Tomberlin officiating.

Burial will be in Lake View Memorial Park. Family and friends may call at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established for the Bethel Home in her name. Seefeld Funeral and Cremation Services www.seefeldfuneral.com (920) 236-7750 Jack L.

Sams, Sr. Jack L. Sams, age 74, of Pickett, WI, died Tuesday morning June 3, 2003 at his home. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Poklasny Funeral Beatrice Alice Westphal, age 95, of Oshkosh, passed away at Mercy Medical Center on Monday evening, June 2, 2003. She was born on March 27, 1908 in the Town of Morris in Shawano County, Wisconsin, a daughter of the late Ray Deville and Grace Mae (Buck) Curtis.

She married Harold Westphal on June 27, 1931 in Oshkosh. Harold preceded her in death on February 18, 1985. She was a member of First English Lutheran Church. She is survived by two sons, Duane (Pat) Westphal of Neenah and Jerry (Mary) Westphal of Oshkosh; five siblings, Avis Pasch of New London, Guerney (Myra) Curtis of Tigerton, Laverne (Mrs. Oscar) Kading of Oshkosh, Betty Wilson of Oshkosh and Virginia Streblow of Oshkosh; three grandchildren, Gina (Daniel) Arndt of Wausau, Kyle of Oshkosh and Darcy of Appleton; three grandchildren, home.

Fiss Bills-Poklasny Funeral Homes 870 W. South Park (920) 235-1170 Karen Nigl Karen Nigl, 50, of Oshkosh, Arrangements are pending died at her home on Tuesday, with the Konrad-Behlman FunerJune 3, 2003. al Homes. WEB DIRECTORY Automotive King Clift www.kingclift.com Pommerening Dodge www.pommerening.com Racette Ford www.racetteford.com Commercial Real Estate G. Earl Real Estate www.gebroker.com Entertainment Restaurant Magnet Billiards www.magnetbilliards.com Wisconsin Timber Rattlers www.timberrattlers.com Employment Cadre Services www.codreservices.com Seek www.seekcareers.com 4-imprint www.4imprint.com Healthcare AuroraHealthCare www.aurorahealthcare.org Professional Services Advance Care Smile Center smilemaker.wdol.com Real Estate Adashun Jones www.adashunjones.com Coldwell Banker Schwab Realty www.coldwellbankerschwabrealty.com Jeff Paulsen www.homesandmore.net ASSOCIATED PRESS WILLIAM PAULSON, 18, left, Michael Rieckhoff, 19, and Tyler Gustin, 19, background from left, the three young men who saved Pedro Cruz' life Monday afternoon in Racine and Cruz' wife, Karin MendezCruz, watch as Cruz is taken to an ambulance.

Wheelchair-bound man rescued from Root River Rieckhoff said. Cruz was able to hold on to the river bank for a while, but the weight of the chair pulled him down, Rieckhoff said. They ran over, leaped into the river and held his head above the water until they were able to get him out of the chair, MendezCruz said. "We had to unbuckle him from the chair to get him out," Gustin said. "That chair was really Cruz, who has been using the electric wheelchair for about a year because he's broken his back twice, said the young men should be recognized.

"I'll never forget those kids," he said. "One of them held my head up. He said 'I'm getting but he didn't let go. Associated Press drowning, he's RACINE Three men rescued a man from the Root River after he and his wheelchair fell into the water. Pedro Cruz, 50, and Karin Mendez-Cruz were taking their dogs for a walk at Island Park when Cruz tried to turn his electric wheelchair around Monday.

It tipped over, pulling him down the bank into the rushing river. "I think he was playing with the dogs and trying to turn around when he went into the water," said Michael Rieckhoff, 19, one of Pedro's Rieckhoff, Tyler Gustin, 19, and William Paulson, 18, were working at a park pavilion when they heard Mendez-Cruz scream for help. "She started yelling, 'He's DEATHS Remember Dad on Lay with an ad for $15.50 or 2 ads I Love you Daddy, for $25.75 Hannah What a unique way to tell dad (and about 120,000 other Northwestern readers) how much you care. For just $15.50, you can get an ad in the Northwestern Father's Day Greetings Page on Sunday June 15th. All ads must be pre-paid Deadline for your message is Thursday, June 5th Name Daytime Phone Check VISA No.

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