Stevens Point Journal from Stevens Point, Wisconsin • Page 2

a PAGE A2 Steuens Point Journal MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2003 Recording industry warns of more lawsuits SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The recording industry's trade group has warned 204 people suspected of illegally swapping music over the Internet that it plans to file lawsuits against them. The Recording Industry Association of America started mailing sternly worded warnings last week. Unlike last month's crackdown against 261 alleged song sharers, the targets are being notified before lawsuits are filed. "In light of the comments The letters give the recipiwe have heard, we want to go ents 10 days to contact the the extra mile and offer ille- RIAA to discuss a settlement gal file sharers an additional and avoid a formal lawsuit. chance to work this out, The RIAA declined to identishort of legal action," said fy the individuals, but said RIAA president Cary they were sharing an average Sherman.

of more than 1,000 songs on Terror, N. Korea dominate economic conference their computers. The advanced notice also could help the RIAA avoid embarrassment. Last month's targets included a 12-year-old girl and a grandmother who claimed she was falsely accused of sharing rap songs. Many of the accused learned of the lawsuits when they were called by reporters.

So far, the RIAA says it has settled 64 suits and received an average of $3,000 per settlement. CRASH BLOCKS TRAFFIC NAVE SHIFT IA 7 MY YEARS A FREED Associated Press A GROUP OF THAI activists march Sunday in a downtown. Bangkok street with a cutout likeness of President Bush. BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) should be discussed in the other Terror and security threats forums," Malaysia's Prime overshadowed pressing global Minister Mohamad Mahathir economic issues at the Asia- was quoted as saying in Kuala Pacific summit on Monday as Lumpur's The Star newspaper. the leaders of the United States Security surrounding the and South Korea went behind summit was tight.

Fighter jets closed doors over a new initia- escorted the planes of arriving tive to break the divided penin- VIPs and helicopters shadowed sula's nuclear standoff. motorcades through Bangkok's And, as President Bush used unusually empty streets. Tough the annual gathering to pro- action taken by Thailand to premote his war on terror, other vent the kind of violent demonleaders pressed ahead with the strations that have marred 21-member grouping's core other international trade contheme promoting free trade. ferences, seem to have worked. Some complained the meeting There were no sign of protests.

had gone off track. At a morning breakfast are putting obstacles in ing, Bush and South Korean the way of advancement of our President Roh Moo-hyun sought economies," said Mexican ways for their nations as well as President Vicente Fox, who China, Russia and Japan to end wants the World Trade the North Korean nuclear Organization to restart interna- weapons crisis that has simtional global trade talks that mered for a year. collapsed last month when Bush told Roh: "We have a many developing nations common goal to make sure that walked out. "We should go back the Korean Peninsula is nuclear to the table, but we should go weapons free." back with a political will to Earlier, Bush rejected North overcome this problem." Korea's demand for a formal Others said it was a mistake nonaggression pact. But he left to change the focus of the Asia- the door open for a security Pacific Economic Cooperation pledge, that would fall short of forum.

an actual treaty. The president "We know, of course, that said he would talk with Roh security is a very important about how to move the process matter, and we admit that, but it forward. LAND: Portage County wants to create reserve FROM A1 farms I've bought in Wood Lemke has offered the lands ing to a county map. While any County for those purposes," he to area parks officials with the properties that would be purcloser to next summer, once any said. idea that they could be used for chased would be overseen by the grant money would be secured, The papermaker wants to sell green space or to benefit the county's Park Department, don't Speckmann said.

the properties for several rea- Green Circle trail, including expect campsites, picnic tables The county may acquire the sons, said Carl Lemke, who creating a Linwood loop. or playground equipment to pop smaller parcel through a' land retired from Stora Enso North "I think it's good for the compa- up if the county buys the properswap agreement that involves America as director of real ny to do that from a public affairs ties. The space, would be largely the county's Solid Waste Man- estate for and continues to serve standpoint and a financial stand- untouched. with the exception of agement Board, which bought a as a real estate consultant. point," Lemke said.

get a possible trail system, he said. roughly 80-acre plot at Highways A statutory requirement market value for it. They're just Stora Enso had permitted some 34 and for its clay content restricts how much land for- happy that we think of them and hunting on the land, and snowwhen officials initially planned eign-owned Stora Enso can offer it first to them." mobile trails also have crossed to construct another landfill. own, Lemke said. The company Portage County currently has the property, he said.

Speckmann said. Stora Enso is also is streamlining its finances 1,800 acres of land within its interested in the site at 34 and and selling off surplus proper- parks system, Speckmann said. Kampmeier can be reached at Lemke said. "That clay land is ties, which the Linwood proper- There are 21 county parks of 344-6100, Ext. 2503, or at within a half mile of two other ties are deemed, Lemke said.

varying sizes and uses, accord- susan.kampmeier@cwnews.net. net. CRASHES: Two people killed in fatal car wrecks FROM A1 collided with a car driven by vessels of her chest ruptured, Boelter Road in the town of Brett Q. Ellingson, 37, which causing her to bleed internally Helvetia, when she lost control County Sheriff's Department was headed south on Coolidge and creating extreme pressure of her car on a straight road. report.

No patient information Ave. The van rolled. in her chest, Rifleman said. The car struck a rock, overwas available on Sunday for "It's my impression that the Ellingson was cited for fail- turned and hit a tree, coming to Vernon Steinke, but he had cars just barely collided. She ure to yield the right of way rest on its left side about 25 feet been listed in fair condition on swerved to avoid a major colli- from a stop sign, according to a from the road.

McFarlane was Saturday at the hospital. sion," Rifleman said. "Because report. pinned in the vehicle. The state Emergency workers were of the lack of seat-belt use, she The State Patrol cited speed patrol's Wausau office said called to the scene at 10:12 a.m., was ejected from the vehicle." as a factor in McFarlane's Sunday evening that officials after the van Margaret Steinke After Margaret Steinke was death.

She was headed south on have not yet determined exactwas driving east on Highway 54 ejected from the car, one of the Highway just south of ly when the crash occurred. DNA: More than 500 cases waiting for lab work which runs the state crime labs. The National Institute of Justice, the U.S. Justice Department's research arm, doesn't have firm figures on DNA backlogs nationwide, but estimates there's hundreds of thousands of rape and homicide cases waiting. Wisconsin has crime labs in Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau, but only the Madison and Milwaukee labs can handle DNA tests.

The AP examined case intake and monthly backlog numbers in both labs in 2002 and 2003. It found: The Madison lab had 337 cases waiting for DNA examinations at the end of September. Milwaukee had 186. The Madison lab has averaged 332 backlogged cases a month so far this year. The Milwaukee lab has averaged 206 a month.

The Madison lab took in 492 cases with requests for DNA testing in the first nine months of 2003 compared with 446 during the same period in 2002. The Milwaukee lab took in 442 cases for DNA testing from January through September compared with 461 during the same period last year. Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher, a former president of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association, 618 PORTAGE COUNTY AMEDIC UNIT THOMAS Point Journal A CRASH AT Maria Drive and Prentice Street blocked the intersection Sunday afternoon around 5 p.m. The car flipped over. DAY: Volunteers needed to 'Make a Difference' FROM A1 and Alma stressed the importance of dressing in layers.

said. "I volunteer because I "You really start warming up," want to make a difference in Alma said. They also rotate someone else's life." so they get tasks don't bored That's exactly the message or get blisters, Daniel said. the day is meant to send, said When they aren't raking, the Judy Butcher, director of the family enjoys various hobbies. United Way Volunteer Center Alma likes to read, Isabel and Interfaith Volunteer enjoys swimming, Daniel Caregivers.

skateboards and plays soccer, "Make a Difference Day is a and Eden likes exercising and national event, so it's millions boxing. The family also of people coming together squeezes in time to volunteer across the country to show with other efforts, such as the that individuals can truly annual community Christmas make a difference in some- toy drive. one's life," Butcher said. "We just help a bit here and More than 200 volunteers there," Alma said. like the Martinezes have That's an example Butcher signed up already for the rake- knows many area residents fola-thon, including grade school, low in their lives.

youth and university groups, "I think people in Portage Butcher said. But more volun- County in general have always teers are always welcome. been very generous with their "We appear to have close to time, their talents, their 100 yards already that need to finances, to support others. be raked," Butcher said. They appreciate the quality of The Martinez family raking life we enjoy here, and they team will expand this year to make a commitment to maininclude Daniel's friend, Trevor tain that quality of life," she Koziczkowski, and cousin said.

"I'm continually amazed Eden Reyna, a junior at at what our volunteers are SPASH. willing to do," Butcher said. "I'm just going to help them Alma encourages everyone out a little bit in the communi- to try out volunteering and ty," Eden said. "This is the first find something they enjoy. time I've volunteered for this." "They'll like it and do it As seasoned rakers, the again," Alma said.

Martinez raking crew has plenty of good advice to share Kampmeier can be reached at for fellow volunteers. Isabel 344-6100, Ext. 2503, or at recommended wearing gloves, susan.kampmeier@cwnews.net. FROM A1 ON THE WEB Wisconsin Justice Department: http://www.doj.state.wi.us/ said prosecutors need results faster. Juries have begun to ignore other evidence and judges want to speed cases through the system, he said.

But state officials said cases such as Avery's, DNA tests' booming popularity and TV shows such as "C.S.I.," which feature forensic scientists solving crimes in minutes, have created expectations their staffstrapped labs can't meet. "In a perfect world, someone would be waiting at the door to take the case, a la But that's not how it works," Madison lab director Jerome Geurts said. The Madison lab has 10 scientists trained to perform DNA tests. Milwaukee has 11 and one part-time scientist too few to handle the dozens of cases that come in each month, Wilcynski said. DNA analysis on just three or four evidence samples can take up to a week to complete, Geurts said.

But major crimes, such as homicides, might generate hundreds of pieces of evidence and take longer. The state's $3.2 billion budget deficit has hurt the labs, too. Although they were spared cuts in the budget Gov. Jim Doyle signed, scientists can't work overtime anymore, Wilcynski said. Investigators increasingly are sending more and more evidence in for DNA tests, Geurts said.

"There's no magic black box you can dump a sample in and it will light up and tell you what the DNA profile Geurts said. Prosecutors don't have any choice, Bucher said. DNA testing has become so well-known that juries are starting to discount other types of evidence and testimony, he said. Prosecutors also need results quicker because judges are creating tighter court schedules in hopes of speeding up cases, Bucher said. "Our response is the DNA's not back.

The judge says 'too bad," Bucher said. The labs try to prioritize cases according to court deadlines and case severity, Geurts said. Spurred by Avery's story, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R- Menomonee Falls, introduced a bill that would authorize $755 million over five years to eliminate DNA backlogs in crime labs nationwide.

The bill was scheduled to go to the House floor this Wilcynski said even if the bill passes, the money may go to equipment rather than new staff. Bucher said his office rarely sends evidence in routine cases for DNA testing to the Milwaukee lab anymore because of the backlogs. He relies on the FBI's crime lab in Washington at times, but that lab can take months to return samples, he said. "We know turnaround time is so slow, we won't get it," Bucher said. "It certainly does cause us some problems in court.

That's the first thing the defense questions. 'Where's the DNA?" Need a Change? Call us a for a FREE Consultation. Your new look is at The Hair Performers A Full Service Hair Salon 341-2820 VISA We do our best to accommodate walk-ins. Stevens Point Journal ISSN 0748 6332 Vol. 131 Issue 251 Steuens Point Journal www.stevenspointjournal.com Address: 1200 Third Court, Office hours: 8 a.m.

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