The Post-Crescent from Appleton, Wisconsin • 1

1 STTPRR. TSfe THE SPIRIT OE CHOW Hearty foods to satisfy Alumni pleased with latest rendition LookforyourSackrtto Goodwill bag in Sunday's Post-Crescent me super ljowi crowd -Trv 'S: of the school's Galloping Ghost mascot see Rental PageB-1 1 I CHALLENGE 2000 Ik 11 1MB) IrvUte) likMyMI 50 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2000 Wisconsin's Best Newspaper A Fatal crossing in state's crosshairs Eisenhower St. tillage of Chute Buchanan Street moves to top of safety upgrades list North AyeountyOJ dents in an eight-month period last year Kreunen said the DOT wants to commit a part of the $250,000 to improve two crossings in Waukesha. "We'll have to push the Washington Street and Rose Hill Road Please see CROSSING, BACK PAGE By Steve Wideman Post-Crescent staff writer LITTLE CHUTE A portion of $250,000 in state funds originally eyed for railroad crossing improvements in Stevens Point will now be used to install crossing gates and other safety devices at the targeted deadly Buchanan Street crossing. But two other crossings in the village with warning lights dating back to the mid-1950s will have to wait for additional funding before the installation of new warning devices.

State Commissioner of Railroads Rodney Kreunen had asked state Department of Transportation officials on Tuesday to use the $250,000 to improve the crossings at Buchanan Street, Washington Street and Rose Hill Road. "We went over all the crossings in the state and Buchanan Street tops the list," Kreunen said. The crossing had two fatal acci- I Crossing 1 for safety Crossing upgrades Post-Crescent graphic Assembly vote would reinstate state tax credits Senate, governor must also OK relief for Wisconsin property owners and renters New Fox Cities Children's Museum exhibit puts focus on geography "MM I i Highlights of the property tax-rent credit proposal approved by the Assembly Tuesday: TOTAL VALUE: $371 million for tax year 2000. MAXIMUM CREDIT: $350, up from previous caps of $200. TUESDAY'S VOTE: 98-1.

WHAT'S NEXT: Goes to Senate for consideration, where leaders have said they support restoring the credits. The Thompson administration also says it supports restoring the credits. rrr iih.ii MADISON (AP) A $371 million proposal that would give Wisconsin property owners and renters up to $350 of relief on their tax bills next year has won Assembly approval. The property tax and rent credits, passed Tuesday on a 98-1 vote, would replace breaks twice vetoed by Gov. Tommy Thompson to help pay for $700 million in sales tax rebate checks sent to Wisconsin residents this month.

The Assembly voted to reinstate the credit a day after fiscal experts announced that Wisconsin will bring in $380 million more in tax money than expected over the next 18 months. "We've said we're going to cut taxes every year we're in office," said Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha. "We found out yesterday we have an extra $380 million, and now we're giving 98 percent of it back." The average size of the credit was not immediately known but likely would be around $215, legislative fiscal analysts said. Thompson administration offi-' 4 cials have said the governor supports restoring the credits in light of the new fiscal forecast. He was expected to discuss the credits in his State of the State address tonight, Thompson spokesman Kevin Keane said.

"He'll be making his own statement about this and there will be a strong property tax-rent credit," Please see CREDITS, BACK PAGE r. XV 3 if MiMiMiiin.iiii im'' i faiM ilBriiuf'nW tiirTa- By Terri K. Milner Post-Crescent staff writer Calumet treasurer resigns after tax flap I arth mirth. "To get them revved up over this big, beautiful world where they live that's the goal," said Alan Westby, director of exhibits and education for the Fox Cities Children's Museum. EXHIBIT TECHNICIAN Kevin Reed cleans the new "Starship Discovery -Mission: Earth" display Tuesday at the Fox Cities Children's Museum.

The exhibit (left) opens Friday. Post-Crescent photos by Sharon Cekada P( ft. 1 i Ll2 two-year term. Her resignation follows a billing season that resulted in errors in tax bills in three municipalities. "She said that she felt upset over the issue," said Administrative Coordinator John Keuler, adding that a successor could be appointed in February.

County officials said notices would begin going out to residents this week to correct remaining bill Please see RESIGNS, BACK PAGE By Ben Jones Post-Crescent staff writer CHILTON Calumet County Treasurer Patricia Wettstein has announced her resignation after an independent audit confirmed problems in some county tax bills mailed out last month. Wettstein, a longtime county employee in her second term as treasurer, plans to step down after county officials appoint someone to fill the remaining year of her "Starship Discovery Mission: Earth," opens Friday and is the museum's latest and most ambitious permanent exhibit to date. Covering 1,600 square feet, the multi-room exhibit uses an out-of-this-world approach to turn young minds on to the wonders of the only Please see EXHIBIT, BACK PAGE Ellis steps down as minority leader to explore gubernatorial bid inside A-9 Classified C-5 Comics C-4 Crossword C-10 Donohua D-8 Editorials A-11 Food C-1 Landers. D-8 Obituaries B-4 Sports. D-1 Stocks A-10 TV C-3 Theater.

C-5 Weather. A-12 Tuesday to begin the final stretch of the 1999-2000 session. Panzer, 48, narrowly defeated Assistant Minority Leader Brian Rude, 44, R-Coon Valley, in a closed-door election. Rude also has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor. Two Republicans who already are maneuvering to run for the party nomination on the assumption that fellow Republican Gov.

Tommy Thompson doesn't seek a fifth term welcomed Ellis as a potential candidate. SEN. MICHAEL ELLIS of Neenah will test his chances as governor in 2002. He will be replaced in his minority leader i post by Sen. Mary Panzer, R-West Bend.

Post-Crescent file photo by Dan Powers "I think Mike Ellis would make a good candidate for governor and I encourage him to run," said Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, R-Wauke sha. "I think he's doing the right thing, to explore it," said Lt. Gov. Scott McCallum. Ellis said he felt obliged to quit the leadership position to free himself for testing the gubernatorial campaign waters while continuing to represent his Senate district Please see ELLIS, A-8 By Cliff Miller Post-Crescent Madison bureau MADISON Republican senators promoted state Sen.

Mary Panzer, R-West Bend, to minority leader Tuesday after Sen. Michael Ellis of Neenah quit the post to test his chances as a candidate for governor in 2002. Ellis has led Senate Republicans the past 12 years either as minority or majority leader. His resignation shocked lawmakers as they returned -r! I .11 I IH papw -n Lease a suite oejore January ji, zuuu oc receive one mown rem riiuu 66 Shared Secretarial Service State of the Art Office Equipment Al TPA ureat Locations jVJiLO 501 S- Nicolet Rd- or 4650 W' Spencer in Appleton properties LLC Call or 920832-4503 gK i tfmmmrrj qP hmwiMmmiMmtom 1.