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 3 vy E-Mail Address: Citydeskcaptimes.madison.com Tuesday, July 4, 1995 ITSSSST! Compiled by The Capital Times staff Flags spangles drawing ogles Plombon denies boozing By Pamela Cotant The Capital Tunes People who drive by Millard and Ruth Johnsons home on Madisons far west side first notice the size of the flag hanging from their second-floor balcony. Its huge 12.5 by 22 feet. But when people look more closely, they notice something different about die formation of the stars. They are arranged in eight vertical rows of six each.

Thats only 48 stars. Ruth Johnson said the flag gets some curious looks from pass-ersby, who often stop by the house, at 802 Blue Ridge Parkway, to get a better look. They stop in the car and they gaze at it because you dont often see a flag like this, she said. Ruth said her father-in-law, Millard Johnson purchased the flag new in 1945, 15 years before the 50-star flag was officially created. The senior Johnson and his wife, Marian, displayed the flag outside their large home in Racine before giving the Stars and Stripes to thjeir son.

The 48-star flag served as the national flag from 1912 to 1959, which is the longest of any flag. Arizona became the 48th state in 1912. It wasnt until 1959 that Alaska joined the union to become the 49th state. Hawaii followed in the same year to become the 50th. A year later, the 50-star flag was created.

Orders from then President Dwight Eisenhower fixed the positions of the stars in 1959 for 49 and in 1960 for 50. The Johnsons hang the wpol flag, which is still in great shape, for holidays such as the Fourth of July, Flag Day and Memorial Day. We are very patriotic," Ruth Johnson said. We really think we are blessed to live in this country. Just the freedom we have in this country is so rare.

Ruth Johnson is active in area political circles. She is the past president of the Wisconsin Federation of Republican Women and served in the Electoral College in 1984. She is treasurer for the Republican Party in the 2nd Congressional District and co-chairman of the campaign committee of the Dane County Republican Party. Millard and Ruth Johnsons 50-year-old, 48-star, 22- by 12Vz-foot flag constantly draws attention to their home at 802 Blue Ridge Parkway. CHIPPEWA FALLS (AP) A still-jailed state Rep.

David Plombon on Monday denied charges that he drank alcohol in two Madison bars in violation of his probation on a marijuana conviction. Plombon, who is on 18 months probation on the marijuana matter, said he was formally charged Friday with two drinking violations in taverns near the Capitol Square. A hearing before a state Department of Corrections magistrate is scheduled for Wednesday in Madison the first of at least two administrative hearings to which he is entitled, said Andy Brunk, regional chief of the Eau Claire district probation and parole office. Plombon, D-Stanley, was taken into custody June 23 after state Department of Corrections officials received information that he allegedly had violated the nodrinking provision of his probation. Either I admit to something I am not guilty of, or stay in here for four to five weeks while I defend myself in the administrative process, Plombon said from jail Monday.

Brunk declined to release details of the alleged violations and the administrative process under which paroleprobation revocations are handled, saying they are closed to the media and public. When a revocation is sought, a preliminary hearing is held before an administrator generally a probationparole supervisor or senior agent to decide if the case warrants seeking revocation and whether the person should remain in custody. If the administrator finds enough evidence to continue, a hearing is held before a judge from the state Department of Administration. The defendant ultimately can appeal back to the trial court of the original case. Plombon, 34, was elected to the Assembly in a special election in June 1993.

He was convicted of two separate incidents in the spring of 1994 drunken driving and disorderly conduct. In one instance, his estranged wife accused him of ramming her car with his car in a parking lot. He was re-elected last November, campaigning on a promise that his personal problems were behind him. During a routine probation review last December, a chemical test indicated cocaine in his system. Police searched his car and found maryuana.

Paying for stadium? Havent a clue: gov TIMES Tommy Thompson tails ironed out." Brewers President Bud Selig, in a separate interview, repeated his contention that the Brewers, as a small-market team, must have a new stadium to be a financially viable business in Milwaukee. We either have to get this done and know that were going to get this done or we cant survive here, and Ive said that all along, Selig said. up schools Hanson recommends eliminating 40 new positions added to the district in 1995-1996, at an estimated savings of $800,000. Lon Sprecher, a senior vice president with Wisconsin Physicians Service, offered ideas for even greater savings. He suggested increasing class sizes in the middle and high schools by 0.5 students per teacher.

He would also eliminate 112 support staff. The cuts would bring Madison more in line with statewide school staffing patterns. Mary Paul Long from the Dane County Humane Society urges people to keep an eye on their pets this Fourth of July. We have a lot of dogs here already, she said Monday afternoon. Its not the big fireworks that get to them, its the kind that kids in the neighborhood shoot off.

Frightened by loud noises and bright flashes of light that accompany any fireworks display, animals are liable to make drastic attempts to flee their environment. Oftentimes they will break their leash, jump a high fence, or even crash through a window. By July 5, shelters are inundated with confused, disorientated and exhausted animals who were terrified the night before and fled from their homes. So, she says, keep your pet indoors and try to create a soundproof atmosphere for the animal. One way to do that is to close the windows and turn on the air conditioning.

Its all about timing. When the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld Gov. Tommy Thompsons veto powers which allow him to completely rewrite legislation to his own liking David Merritt noticed that the court was releasing its decision on the eve of the Fourth of July. That was enough to send the erstwhile executive director of the Citizens Utility Board to his computer, where he dashed off a holiday missive that would have done Thomas Paine proud. It is ironic that as the citizens of Wisconsin prepare to celebrate Independence Day commemorating our freedom from the unbridled power of a dictatorial King of England, the court today has granted similar unlimited power to Gov.

Thompson. Our founding fathers are rolling over in their graves. If Thomas Jefferson were here today, he would be calling for a law to overturn the courts decision and demanding that power be put back in the hands of voters and elected representatives. Allowing the governor the tremendous power to rewrite laws passed by the Legislature makes a mockery of our elected form of government. Given the extremely limited powers of our elected representatives, perhaps the governor should provide more property tax relief by eliminating the 1 00 million appropriation for the Legislature.

Novel notion. But an even better idea might be to put someone with Merritts good sense and flair for the dramatic in the Legislature. This Fourth of July, we could use another Patrick Henry. Our favorite joke of the week: How many Bill Clintons does it take to change a light bulb? None, hell just keep promising to change them. MiPEITEDGIBLESM My name is Stubby.

Im a domestic shorthair, black and white, neutered male cat. Im desperately searching for a loving home. Ive had a very rough life and am ready to give the love in my heart and receive the love I know I deserve. Please come and adopt me! Im 9854 and available for adoption at the Dane County Humane Soci-ety. The shelter offers low-cost spay and neuter services for eligible families.

For shelter hours or more information, call 246-3340. fDUNAGINPEOPEEl Quick! Itslhe building!" Helmet gets credit for saving boy By Jeff Richgels The Capital Times A 6-year-old village of Dane boy has a special reason to celebrate today. In fact, he should consider himself lucky just to be able to watch the fireworks tonight, police say. The boy, Michael R. Gustafson, was saved from serious injury, or perhaps even death, by a bicycle helmet during an accident near his home Monday, the Dane County Sheriffs Office says.

Michael, the son of Robert and Rhonda Gustafson of 208 N. Mili-tary rode his bike into the side of a pickup truck about 4 p.m. Monday, said Sgt. JJ. Mo-lony.

The boy suffered only abrasions to his elbow and didnt require transportation to a hospital, but his helmet was severely damaged, Molony said. That helmet was really beat up, Molony said. "The deputies credited the helmet with saving him. Molony said he had heard, but hadnt confirmed, that the helmet was split in half. The pickup driver, Richard P.

Bannen of Dane, was not ticketed, Molony said. Bannen was eastbound on Wisconsin 113 just past the intersection with Military Road when Michael rode into traffic, Molony said. Molony said the accident was a good reminder to people of all ages to wear helmets when biking. Biz whizzes advice likely to stir -V DAVID SANOELLTHE CAPITAL He said substantial progress has been made on the first step of determining the type of stadium authority that will be needed to run the facility under a lease agreement with the baseball team. The second step, Thompson said, is negotiating a long-term lease with the Brewers, and the third step is determining how to pay the estimated $223 million cost of the project.

We havent even gotten to No. 3, he said of paying the bill. Were just started on No. 2. Were pretty much done with No.

1. So were a long ways off, but the pieces are starting to come together, the governor said. I would say its going to be at least a month before we get all the de- School of Business, wrote a one-page outline for the final report in advance of Wednesdays meeting. Reactions are starting to come in. Dick Hanson, chief executive officer of Firstar Bank, offered some of the most biting critiques.

I am not comfortable in endorsing a statement that acknowledges overall fiscally sound management practices, he wrote. In many ways, it seems that single issues, status quo, job security and politics are contrary to best management practices. mm. Tammy Baldwin Baldwin said. Having a committee comprised largely of people outside the department would provide a more independent and objective evaluation, she said, and would "prevent whitewashes within the department.

She said such a committee would also reduce tensions in prisons that usually follow prisoner deaths, and would head off violent outbreaks. By Scott Russell The Capital Times Business experts are getting ready to sink their teeth into the budget of the Madison Metropolitan School District. The 10-member Blue Ribbon Commission appointed by Superintendent Cheryl Wilhoyte will meet Wednesday at 7 a.m. to take its first crack at making recommendations. The school district might not like all the recommendations it eventually receives.

MILWAUKEE (AP) Talks on building a new Milwaukee Brewers stadium havent progressed to the point of figuring out how to pay for it, Gov. Tommy Thompson says. Thompson, in an interview broadcast Monday night on WTMJ-TV, said the negotiations on the stadium project have not been easy. The governor had been expected to announce a stadium funding plan early this month, but he now says that announcement is at least another month away. Its very difficult.

You have the need to build a new stadium. You have to have the city and the county and the state all involved plus you have to have the Brewers agree to it, Thompson said. Initial indications show some commission members are ready to save money by cutting staff, cracking down on borrowing and tinkering with special education programs. Up to this point, the Blue Ribbon Commission has digested information prepared by the district, taken public testimony and asked questions. Now, it will sit down and write the recommendations.

Andrew Policano, chair of the commission and head of the University of Wisconsin-Madison I was pleased with the open process incorporated into this impartial review, Baldwin said. The special committee was a temporary one appointed by Corrections Department head Michael Sullivan for the express purpose of determining how and why the murders of Dahmer and Anderson occurred. Baldwin says a permanent committee should be established to examine all inmate deaths. We need to extend the same close scrutiny that we have for high-profile criminals to all inmates in the state prison system, Baldwin said. Baldwins proposed permanent committee would differ substantially from the five-member committee appointed by Sullivan, which was chaired by Marianne Cook, warden at the Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution.

The only member of the committee not directly involved in corrections work was Gerald Boyle, Dahmers attorney. My intent is to make sure we arent going to have just insiders, Wheres Melrose? Lost in catastrophe Review board urged for prisoner deaths thanks to a microwave system on loan from WKOW-TV Costs of repairs and lost revenue from advertising are still being assessed. Meanwhile, the phones are ringing constantly, Arnold said. The timing couldnt have been any worse" because of the Fourth of July holiday, he said. The situation is complicated by the fact that the station is in the process of moving its antenna to a new tower on the west side.

The antenna that self-destructed was a temporary system used by the station just for the past few days. The normal antenna has been moved to its new tower but is not hooked up yet. The station has not decided whether to repair the standby system or to accelerate efforts to hook up its regular antenna. "One way or the other, there is a good shot at being back on the air by Thursday, Arnold Said. The Capital Times The bad news is that thousands of Melrose Place fans couldnt see their favorite show Monday night.

The good news is, its summer rerun time. The thousands of Fox 47 television viewers who lost their channel on Sunday will not be able to watch Fox again until Wednesday, unless they are one of TCI Cablevi-sions 80,000 customers, said WMSN general manager Jim Arnold. Station officials blamed the blackout on catastrophic equipment failure. Arnold estimated TCI will reach about one-third of Channel 47s normal viewership. Those without cable service, however, are out of luck.

The cause of the failure, a meltdown of a transmitting antenna and about 100 feet of transmission line, was unknown late Monday. The failure hit at 6:30 a.m. Sunday. TCI cable viewers got WMSN back 3:30 p.m. Sunday, By Mike Miller The Capital Times On the heels of a state inquiry into the prison death of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, state Rep.

Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, has proposed creating a permanent review board to look into every inmate death in the state. Baldwin, who chaired the Assembly Corrections Committee when Democrats controlled that house, said she was pleased with the recently completed work of the special committee that looked into the deaths of Dahmer and his fellow prisoner, Jesse Anderson. That committee issued a report June 20 in which it recommended the suspension of four guards for various periods of time and called for policy changes. Dahmer and Anderson, who was serving a life term for killing his wife, were killed Nov. 28, 1994, by inmate Christopher Scar-ver while they were on work duty cleaning a locker room at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portagk.