The Capital Times from Madison, Wisconsin • 3

The Capital Times 3A City editor: Charles D. Sherman 252-6419 Associate city editor: Ron McCrea 252-6430 E-Mail Address: Citydeskcaptimes.madison.com Friday, June 16, 1995 Lawmakers want later school start PSSSST! Compiled by The Capital Times staff Labor Day used to be the best weekend of the summer. Now, the latter part of August has become a real dead time for the tourism industry. CHET ERLACH ready for school, Waters said. Labor Day is a tough time for us.

There are also no reliable figures on how much it would cost schools to accommodate the switch. According to the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau, the costs of starting school after Labor Day are indeterminable because every school district in the state would incur different costs on items such as transportation, heating and air conditioning. In many local school districts, the measure is seen as one more state mandate getting in the way. A lot of local circumstances go into planning an calendar, said Senn Brown, director of legislative services with the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. "Nationwide, were looking at yearlong schools.

It puts potential limitations on these kinds of experiments. One of the Joint Finance Committee chairmen, Sen. Joseph Leean, R-Waupaca, predicts the measure will go before the full Legislature for debate in the fall. The co-chairman of the committee in the Assembly, Rep. Ben Brancel, R-Endeavor, down plays the importance of having him as a sponsor.

Having the heads of finance may be a drawback," Brancel said with a chuckle. Were too busy working on the budget to work on anything else. Associated Pres The co-chairmen of the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee are sponsoring a proposal to postpone the opening ofpublic schools until after Labor Day. One of the co-chairmen predicts full legislative debate on the matter in the fall. The issue involves a struggle over prospects for increased state revenue against the issue of local control.

From the tourism industrys perspective, its a simple matter of extending the tourist season to get more families at vacation spots and to allow high school students to continue working in summer jobs through the end of the season. Labor Day used to be the best weekend of the summer, said Chet Gerlach, president of the Wisconsin Tourism Federation, which is lobbying for the measure. Now, the latter part of August has become a real dead time for the tourism industry." After a couple of slow weeks in August, Labor Day brings one last rush of tourists except theres no more summer help. Once school starts, its like turning off a switch, said Mike Dricken, operator of Lake Lenwood Campground near West Bend. Theres some great weather, but people dont come out until Labor Day weekend.

There are no reliable figures available on how much more revenue businesses and resort areas could make if the season were longer. A survey commissioned by the federation showed that 76 percent of state residents would support a uniform school starting date, on Sept. 1 or later. The measure enjoys its strongest support in travel destination areas such as Wisconsin Dells, the northwoods and Door County. But local tourist attractions express support as well.

In West Bend, Lazy Days Campground owner and operator Jill Waters says she loses 10 of her 15 summer workers and can only fill about half of the 300 campsites at the end of August. Labor Day weekend still fills up all the sites. They all have to get registered, buy clothes and get Baldwin: State should legalize gay marriages Group to use La Follette as model By John Nichols The Capital Times When Laurie Carlson was 16, he spoke on behalf of Robert M. La Follettes 1924 presidential candidacy before a forum at his Bayfield County high school. I stuttered, but I got my point across.

In the mock election, the students voted overwhelmingly for La Follette, Carlson recalls. Its a boy and its a girl, for Jennifer Sereno, business editor of the Wisconsin State Journal, and her husband, David. But birthday parties for the twins are going to be an extended affair because 8-pound Jeffrey John arrived at 1 1 p.m. Thursday, while 7-pound Virginia Claire waited until 12:30 a.m. today to make her debut.

The Serenos had been told they were going to have two girls, so someone will undoubtedly be making a quick switcheroo for the excess of pink in the baby clothes department. David Sereno works for Affiliated Engineers. Ivan L. Preston has been named Journal Communications Warren G. Heyse Bascom professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The position is designated for a faculty member specializing in advertising. The Madison Metropolitan School District Office of Minority Recruitment recently hosted a Diversity in Education Recognition Banquet that honored and showcased 30 teachers, administrators, counselors, educators and companies whove shown commitment and dedication toward achieving diversity in the district. Recipients of the Educator i Awards are: Gayle Bannister, a teacher at Midvale Elementaiy; Geraldine Bernard, a retired teacher; Nancy Evans, a teacher I at Randall Elementary; Rafael I Gomez, counselor at Sennett Middle School; Darlene Hancock, principal at Stephens Elementary; Mary Tenia Jenkins, a teacher at Shabazz High; Maria Keilor, a teacher at Sennett; Elaine Lohr, director of curriculum and instruction; Lonnie Smith, a teacher at Allis Elementaiy, and Lopao Vang, a counselor at West High. Some of the recipients of the Special Awards are Susan Hawley, labor contract manager for the school district; Walter Lane from the UW School of Education; John Matthews, executive director of Madison Teachers and Jerry Smith, former member of the Board of Education. Here are some interesting facts about Wisconsin men and women from a 1993 behaviorial risk factor survey: 29 percent of men and 26 percent of women said they have no fire escape plan, should there ever be a fire in their home.

18 percent of men and 31 percent of women said they cannot swim or tread water for 5 minutes. 31 percent of men and 19 percent of women said they wear safety belts in their vehicles sometimes, seldom or never. By Matt Pommer The Capital Times A bill to legalize same-sex marriages is being prepared by Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison. Baldwin said at a Capitol news conference Thursday that she also was drafting a "domestic partnership policy bill that would provide marriage-like legal protections for same-sex couples.

Introduction of the bills will offer lawmakers a chance to debate how the state should be rewarding and promoting responsible parenting, she said. Earlier this week, a divided Wisconsin Supreme Court established a four-part test under which a trial judge could order child visitation for the absent adult when a same-sex relationship ends. Baldwin said she was delighted by the courts decision, praising the justices for putting the interest of the child first. Baldwin said the courts decision has focused attention on childrens rights. Introduction of her two bills could increase the public debate, she said.

Dialogue has to occur in every comer of the state, she added. Baldwin also commented on an incident Tuesday in which she was one of 40 gay and lesbian public officials visiting the White House who were welcomed by security personnel wearing rubber gloves who apparently feared exposure to the AIDS virus. We thought they were wearing the gloves for everybody, but found out that they were worn only for us, she said. This shows Baldwin termed the incident a disgraceful show of ignorance. The Clinton administration has launched an investigation, and Baldwin predicted the practice wouldnt be repeated.

The surgical gloves were worn by rent-a-cops hired in the rush to increase White House security. The security personnel werent Secret Service agents, she said. After learning of the incident from Baldwin, state Sen. Fred Ris-ser wrote to Clinton on Thursday urging that the White House fire its security chief because of the incident. This report contains information from the Associates Press.

The foundation hopes to host forums and seminars on the La Follette legacy as it relates to current affairs. Seventy-one years later, Carlson is still standing up for La Follette the man he confidently proclaims is the greatest leader Wisconsin ever produced. This morning, Carlson will be joined by others who recall the La Follette legacy in filing papers with the Wisconsin secretary of state to register the nonprofit Robert M. La Follette Foundation Ltd. Named for the legendary Wisconsin governor and U.S.

senator, who campaigned for social and economic justice under the banner of progressivism, the new foundation will seek to promote an understanding of La Follette and progressivism. Ive been guided all my life, since I was a youngster, by his ideas, says Carlson, an 87-year-old Waunakee resident, who served in the Wisconsin Legislature in the 1930s as a member of the Progressive Party founded by Phillip La Follette and Robert La Follette Jr. I wanted to make sure that the La Follette legacy will not be forgotten. The foundation hopes to host forums and seminars on the La Follette legacy as it relates to current affairs. The new organization is the brainchild of Carlson and former state Sen.

Carl Thompson of FILE PHOTO with the Wisconsin secretary of Robert M. La Follette Foundation forum honoring the La Follette legacy. Carlson was offended, he said, by the sight of a conservative Republican seeking to cloak himself in the legacy of the politically progressive La Follette family. What I want to restore is the legacy of La Follette. Tommy Thompson has been trying to usurp the whole idea of the La Follettes having his picture taken by the bust of Robert M.

La Follette, appearing at La Follette events. I was starting to get afraid that people would think that Tommy Thompson and his ideas had something to do with La Follette which they dont, said Carlson. Theres a big lobby against government these days. Wed like to remind people that La Follette believed government can play a positive role in peoples lives. Laurie Carlson will file papers state to register the nonprofit Ltd.

Stoughton, who attended the Wisconsin Progressive partys founding convention in 1934. The foundations other founding directors include: Peter Ei-singer and Dennis Dresang, of the University of Wisconsins La Follette Institute; John Cooper of the UW history department; former Attorney General Bronson La Follette; Dave Zweifel, editor of The Capital Times; Gretchen Pfankucken, a longtime Progressive Party activist; former Wisconsin First Lady Sheila Earl; former state Rep. Midge Miller and former state Sen. Tom Har-nisch. Carlson, who first campaigned for Robert M.

La Follette at age eight, and met the senator in 1922 in Ashland, says he decided to work on creating the foundation after watching Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson attend a naMmrar-i My name is Fabian. Im a neutered, male collieLabrador mix. I love to play Frisbee and Im a great swimmer. I need a home with a big yard, so I can get plenty of exercise.

Please come to the Humane Society and adopt me. Im 9585 and available for adoption at the Dane County Humane Society. The shelter offers low-cost spay and neuter services for eligible families. For tPUNAGlITSTEOPCEt Theft, rubber check fine hikes endorsed By Matt Pommer The Capital Times Shoplifters and rubber check artists could end up paying treble damages under provisions being added to the 1995-97 state budget bill. Assembly Republicans, who Thursday unanimously endorsed the idea in caucus, said it would encourage merchants to use civil courts to remedy their wrongs.

The merchants federation loves it. Restaurant owners love it. The district attorneys love it, said state Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay. In many counties, district attorneys almost ignore shoplifting and bounced check cases because of an overload of serious crimes, said Rep.

John Dobyns, R-Fond du Lac. Current law allows only recovery of damages. Many retailers dont use that route because of the time and expense involved, lawmakers said. The GOP caucus also rejected a Joint Finance Committee recommendation to make $1,500 the threshold for felonies involving shoplifting, theft, receiving stolen property, misuse of credit cards, issuing worthless checks and hotel fraud. Under the GOP caucus position, the current threshold of $1,000 for felonies would be continued.

The Assembly is scheduled to begin debate on the $34 billion state budget bill Monday. Republicans, who control the Assembly by three votes, have been staking out their positions in caucus. Approval there is tantamount to be included in the bill. Included in the Joint Finance Committee-endorsed version of the budget bill are provisions to allow district attorneys a prosecution option for first-time offenders of more than 500 crimes. Under the option the person wouldnt face jail time, and thus could be denied the services of a taxpayer-paid public defender.

Dobyns said the goal was to reduce the work of the public defenders staff and ease jail overcrowding. The GOP caucus removed drug offenses, domestic abuse and crimes against children from the more than 500 crimes eligible for the no-jail prosecution option. In addition, the Assembly Republicans are backing provisions to slow down lawsuits being brought by prison inmates. Inmates would have to exhaust prison rules and remedies before seeking redress in the courts. The Republican position also includes a $5 increase in Red Arrow to be revamped, headquarters will move here pared for civil emergencies and natural disasters, said Lt.

Col. Peter Fox. Most of the brigades units are currently at Fort McCoy, near Sparta, for their annual mandatory 15-day training exercises in the field. They will pass in review before their peacetime commander, Gov. Tommy Thompson, on Friday, June 23.

The brigades units are located throughout Wisconsin, ranging from Eau Claire in the northwest to Fort Atkinson in the southeast. One of the brigades battalions has been headquartered in Madison. The downsizing of the Red Arrow Brigade is small and should have little effect on its ability to carry out its mission, said Fox, Army National Guard public affairs officer. Continued on Page 10A By Jerry Ambelang Area News Chief Wisconsins famed Red Arrow Infantry Brigade soon will be reorganizing, restationing and downsizing and moving its top staff from Milwaukee to Madison. The brigade officially the 32nd Separate Infantry Brigade (Mech.) will lose its independent (separate) status and be attached to Minnesotas 34th Division within the next two years.

The changes reflect the Pentagons restructuring and downsizing of U.S. Army fighting forces, often with mission and tactical changes, in line with decreasing military budgets. Its also part of the state of Wisconsins plan to realign its Army National Guard units to best retain its very high degree of combat readiness and be pre-.