BRIEFS: Rice Lake's Deutsch challenges Jauch

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RL businessman challenges Jauch

RICE LAKE -- Citing concerns about high unemployment, high taxes and out-of-touch Madison politicians, Dane Deutsch, a Republican small-business owner in Rice Lake, has announced his candidacy for the 25th state Senate District seat held by Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar.

"Wisconsin families are very worried about losing their jobs and watch hopelessly as Madison politicians raise their taxes and drive jobs to business-friendly states," said Deutsch, a small-business owner for more than 20 years.

"The one question I will ask myself before voting on any bill in Madison is 'Will this help create jobs, or will it kill jobs?' " Deutsch said. "I believe that reducing taxes on businesses and personal property will allow small businesses and citizens to once again grow jobs and revenue."

Deutsch, a former Air Force officer, and his wife, Katharine, have four adult children. He is the CEO and owner of Deutsch's, which is composed of three companies: Deutsch's GymnasticsTrainingCenter, DCS Netlink (security/network/computer company) and Leadership Management Development Center.

Dog badly mauls ex-Hudson cop

WOODBURY, Minn. -- A retired Hudson police officer suffered severe facial wounds Oct. 25 after being attacked by a bulldog he had rescued.

Jim Stewart, 53, of Woodbury, reportedly suffered a severed ear and had the skin torn away from most of his face in the attack. He was listed in good condition Thursday at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. He retired from the Hudson Police Department in 1998.

The attacker was a bulldog named Igor, which Stewart got from an animal rescue group in Texas about five months ago.

Stewart was watching TV in the basement with the dog when Amy Klinefelter, who owns the townhouse she shares with Stewart, heard a noise. She went downstairs to find the dog standing over a barely conscious Stewart. The skin of the lower half of Stewart's face was hanging loose, and one of his ears was on the floor.

The dog made no sound and wasn't moving around. Klinefelter shoved the dog into the garage and called for help. Igor reportedly will be quarantined for several days to make sure it doesn't have rabies, then euthanized.

Lake Altoona drawdown to begin

A 0.7 foot drawdown of Lake Altoona's water level will begin today and proceed at a pace of six inches or less per day.

The annual winter drawdown is done to minimize damage to property from ice shifting and create a larger reservoir for spring runoff and rain, according to the Eau Claire County Parks and Forest Department.

Boat docks at Lake Altoona County Park will be removed for the season after the drawdown is complete. Public docks on Lake Eau Claire will be removed in the first two weeks of November.

From staff reports

-- Copyright (c) 2009, The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis./Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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