Packers Re-Sign Three Players, Among Them Mason Crosby

July 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

The Green Bay Packers have re-signed K Mason Crosby, TE Spencer Havner and WR Brett Swain. The moves were announced Saturday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.

Crosby, a sixth-round draft choice of the Packers in 2007, has scored 507 points in four seasons, the second most in NFL history by any player in his first four seasons behind only New England K Stephen Gostkowski (513 points from 2006-09). He has connected on 107-of-137 field goal attempts (78.1 percent) during his career, including a franchise-record 56-yard field goal at Philadelphia in Week 1 last season.

Havner (HAY-vner) has played in 26 games during his NFL career with 22 of those coming with the Packers. In 2009, he appeared in all 16 contests with one start for Green Bay and caught seven passes for 112 yards (16.0 avg.) and four touchdowns. He also ranked third on the team in ’09 with a career-high 20 tackles on special teams.

Swain, a seventh-round selection of the Packers in 2008, played in all 16 games with one start in 2010 and posted six receptions for 72 yards (12.0 avg.). He also recorded seven tackles on special teams during the regular season and tied for the team lead in the postseason with an additional seven stops on special teams.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on the official website of the Green Bay Packers.

The illustration used in this article was drawn by Joseph Szabo.

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Badger Insulated Pipe Creates New Tubing for Outdoor Wood Furnaces with Much Less Heat Loss

July 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Badger Insulated Pipe manufactures insulated pipe for Outdoor Wood Furnaces, Solar applications and Geo Thermal applications.

Badger Insulated Pipe, based in Montfort, Wisconsin, has recently developed a 5 wrap Insulated pex tubing. This was developed to replace the foam insulated or other expensive insulated pipe for underground use.

Badger Insulated Pipe states that this was produced because many of their dealers requested a product for installing outdoor wood stoves without the pipe costing almost as much as the stove.

Badger Insulated Pipe have the ability to produce 15,000 feet of insulated pipe per day. They are very proud of their record of shipping over 99% of orders placed the same or next day to points all over the US and Canada.

Badger Insulated Pipe can manufacture insulateted tubing in sizes from ½” to 1 ½” in B-Pex and ½” to 1 ¼” in Pex-AL-Pex. The pipe can be produced as a single line, two line (feed and return), three line (feed, return and potable water) or four line insulated pipe.

Testing has been conducted on the 3 wrap and 5 wrap products and the 5 wrap insulated pipe loses 0.3 degrees per 100’ with 10 GPM. Needless to say that is very minimal heat loss for a wrapped insulated pipe.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release issued by Badger Insulated Pipe on pr.com

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Green Bay Packers Sign Three Draft Choices

July 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

The Green Bay Packers signed draft choices Derek Sherrod, Alex Green and Davon House. The signings were announced Saturday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.

The Packers have now signed all 10 of their selections from the 2011 NFL Draft.

Rd
Name
Pos
Ht
Wt
College
HS Hometown

1
Derek Sherrod
T
6-5
321
Mississippi State
Caledonia, Miss.

3
Alex Green
RB
6-0
225
Hawaii
Portland, Ore.

4
Davon House
CB
6-0
195
New Mexico State
Palmdale, Calif.

Sherrod, 22, was a first-team All-America selection by CBSSports.com and Rivals.com in 2010 and earned first-team All-SEC honors from the coaches and the media. He helped the Bulldogs rank second in the conference in rushing in 2010 and first in ’09. Sherrod is the only Mississippi State offensive lineman ever selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Green, 23, rushed for 1,199 yards and 18 TDs in 2010, ranking second in University of Hawaii history for rushing yards in a single season and tying the school mark for rushing TDs. His average of 8.2 yards per carry in 2010 ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I-A among players with 100 or more carries.

House, 22, earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors as a junior and senior. He finished his career ranked first in school history in interception return yardage with 319 and tied for sixth with 11 INTs. House was named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list in 2010 and was an honorable mention All-America selection by The NFL Draft Report as a senior.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on the official website of the Green Bay Packers.

The illustration used in this article was drawn by Joseph Szabo.

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Steitz Campaign: Releases Ad “Wirch is Nothing like us”

July 31st, 2011 by Robert Rosati

The Steitz for Senate Campaign released an ad taking 20-year Madison insider Senator Bob Wirch to task for his tax and spend agenda that has helped drive more than 7000 from the Kenosha area.

Wirch joined forces with then-Governor Doyle’s in raising taxes by $4.7 billion and increasing government spending by $3.6 billion. Wirch’s reckless spending spree left Wisconsin taxpayers $3.6 billion in debt.

“More than 7000 jobs have been lost in the Kenosha area since Bob Wirch was sent to Madison. It’s a shameful record that Wirch wants to hide from voters, so he is now resorting to lies about my family,” said Steitz. “Bob Wirch likes to say he’s one of us. But after nearly 20 years as a career politician in Madison he’s nothing like the working families in the 22nd Senate District.”

“For eight years, I owned a small business where I traveled constantly. In 2003 I had a tax lien related to my business because I failed to file a sales and use tax return on time, which was a mistake for which I accept responsibility,” said Steitz. “Despite the accusations that I owed thousands in taxes, the truth is I owed a couple hundred dollars. My tax lien was satisfied in full shortly after it was issued.”

“Due to the excessive paperwork associated with owning a small business, many small business owners face issues like this, something that, as a career politician, Sen. Wirch knows nothing about,” he added.

The outrageous ad also accuses Steitz of supporting hundreds of millions in tax breaks for corporations and the rich.

Steitz add the voters are tired of the same old political rhetoric.

“The voters of the 22nd District are hurting for jobs and they want to know why Bob Wirch felt it was okay to leave his job on their dime for 26 days. That’s the issue here – not baseless claims made by union-funded third parties,” Steitz said.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release issued by Jonathan Steitz’s campaign.

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Ron Johnson Introduces Regulation Moratorium and Job Preservation Act

July 30th, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Senator Ron Johnson introduced S. 1438, the Regulation Moratorium and Job Preservation Act. The bill calls for a moratorium on burdensome federal regulations until the national unemployment rate falls to 7.7 percent, below where it was when President Obama was sworn into office.

Johnson said:

“According to the White House, we’re now into the third year of the Obama ‘recovery.’ But job growth is anemic, and companies are still laying off workers. You would think that Washington would be focused on job creation. Instead, the White House is intent on adding new layers of job-killing regulation.

“With unemployment at 9.2 percent, and employers nationwide fearful about the Obama agenda, regulators should take a pause. The EPA’s Boiler MACT rule for example, would cost as much as $20.7 billion, and risk 338,000 jobs. There’s no reason for the EPA to go forward with such a costly new rule when the economy is in terrible shape. My legislation gives workers and employers a break.”

During the Obama Administration, the unemployment rate has never been lower than it was the day the President was sworn in, when it was at 7.8% Johnson’s legislation prohibits federal agencies from implementing any new significant regulatory actions until the nation’s unemployment rate falls to 7.7% It allows the President to waive the rule for regulations dealing with national security, or national emergency. It is cosponsored by 19 Senators: Kelly Ayotte (NH), Richard Burr (NC), John Boozman (AR), Dan Coats (IN), Tom Coburn (OK), John Cornyn (TX), Jim DeMint (SC), Mike Enzi (WY), Chuck Grassley (IA), Orrin Hatch (UT), Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), Jim Inhofe (OK), Johnny Isakson (GA), Mike Lee (UT), Rand Paul (KY), Jim Risch (ID), Marco Rubio (FL), Pat Toomey (PA), David Vitter (LA), and Roger Wicker (MS).

What They’re Saying About the Regulation Moratorium and Job Preservation Act:

Wisconsin National Federation of Independent Business Director Bill G. Smith:

“Onerous regulations are the number one concern for many small businesses today, and we are glad to see that someone in Washington is paying attention”

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce

“Senator Johnson’s common sense legislation would provide direct and necessary relief from the steady flow of job-killing regulations from Washington.”

Chamber of Commerce:

“Your legislation would allow the thousands of minor, noncontroversial regulations that “keep the lights on” to move forward, while placing an important check on the relatively small number of economically significant regulations that impact the business community’s ability to compete.”

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Senator Ron Johnson’s official website.

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Milwaukee Brewers acquire Jerry Hairston Jr. from Washington Nationals

July 30th, 2011 by Robert Rosati

The Milwaukee Brewers today acquired the versatile Jerry Hairston Jr. from the Washington Nationals in exchange for minor-league outfielder Erik Komatsu. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Brewers transferred left-handed pitcher Mitch Stetter from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. A 25-man roster move will be announced later today.

“Jerry is a valuable addition to our ballclub with the injuries to Carlos Gomez and Rickie Weeks,” said Melvin. “He is a versatile player who has experience at every position except pitcher and catcher. He also provides an energetic and veteran presence.”

Hairston, 35, batted .268 with 4 HR and 24 RBI in 75 games with Washington this season. He started 60 games at four different positions, making 40 starts at third base, 13 in left field, six in center field and one at second base. He was on the 15-day disabled list from July 1 to July 18 with a fractured right wrist (hit by pitch by Dan Haren on June 29 at LA of Anaheim).

Hairston, a 14-year veteran, owns a career batting average of .258 with 63 HR, 365 RBI and 145 stolen bases in 1,223 games with Baltimore (1998-2004), Chicago-NL (2005-06), Texas (2006-07), Cincinnati (2008-09), New York-AL (2009), San Diego (2010) and Washington (2011).

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on the official website of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The illustration used in this article was drawn by Joseph Szabo.

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Packers Sign Seven Players, Among Them Draft Picks

July 30th, 2011 by Robert Rosati

The Green Bay Packers signed seven of their 10 draft choices and two rookie free agents. The signings were announced Friday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.

Rd
Name
Pos
Ht
Wt
College
HS Hometown

2
Randall Cobb
WR
5-10
191
Kentucky
Alcoa, Tenn.

5
D.J. Williams
TE
6-2
245
Arkansas
Little Rock, Ark.

6a
Caleb Schlauderaff
G
6-4
302
Utah
Shelton, Wash.

6b
D.J. Smith
LB
5-11
239
Appalachian State
Charlotte, N.C.

6c
Ricky Elmore
LB
6-4
256
Arizona
Simi Valley, Calif.

7a
Ryan Taylor
TE
6-3
254
North Carolina
Winston-Salem, N.C.

7b
Lawrence Guy
DE
6-4
304
Arizona State
Las Vegas, Nev.

UD
Chris Donaldson
DE
6-1
300
Oklahoma State
Anderson, S.C.

UD
Elisha Joseph
DE
6-2
290
Temple
Hartford, Conn.

Cobb, 20, earned first-team All-America recognition from The Associated Press, ESPN.com and SportsIllustrated.com as a junior in 2010 as an all-purpose player. He set the SEC single-season record for all-purpose yards with 2,396 in 2010, topping the previous mark of 2,310 yards by Arkansas RB Darren McFadden (2007).

Williams, 22, became the first Razorbacks tight end to win the John Mackey Award, an honor given to the nation’s top tight end. He also received the 2010 Disney Spirit Award, which is given to the most inspirational figure in college football. Williams finished his Arkansas career with 152 receptions, the second-highest total in school history and the most by a non-wide receiver.

Schlauderaff, 23, earned second-team All-America honors from Walter Camp and SportsIllustrated.com and was named first-team All-Mountain West in 2010. A four-year starter, he was part of a Utes squad in 2008 that finished No. 2 in the AP’s final poll, the only team in the country to post a perfect record (13-0).

Smith, 22, was one of only two players in school history to record 500 tackles in his career, joining three-time NFL Pro Bowler Dexter Coakley. He finished his career at ASU as the NCAA Division I FCS active leader in tackles with 525.

Elmore, 23, finished his collegiate career with 25½ sacks, second in school history behind only Tedy Bruschi (52, 1992-95). Elmore led the Pac-10 in sacks in 2010 with 11, giving him 21½ over his final two seasons for the Wildcats.

Taylor, 23, set a single-season school record for receptions by a tight end with 36 in 2010. He was also a key contributor on special teams, serving as a two-year captain for that unit during his UNC career.

Guy, 21, earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 recognition each of his three seasons with the Sun Devils. He was part of units that led the conference and finished in the top 20 nationally in run defense in 2009 and 2010. Guy played in 35 games with 31 starts and recorded 122 tackles, eight sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

Donaldson, 22, started all 13 games at defensive tackle for the Cowboys as a senior and registered 25 tackles, three sacks, two pass breakups and a blocked field goal. He appeared in 12 contests as a junior in 2009 and recorded nine tackles, including one stop for a loss.

Joseph, 23, started all 12 games at nose tackle for the Owls as a senior and posted 44 tackles on his way to earning first-team All-MAC recognition. He played in 48 games with 19 starts during his collegiate career and registered 97 tackles, including 6½ tackles for loss, and a sack.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on the official website of the Green Bay Packers.

The illustration used in this article was drawn by Joseph Szabo.

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Ron Johnson Thanks Tom Poberezny for Service at Experimental Aircraft Association

July 30th, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Yesterday Senator Ron Johnson congratulated Tom Poberezny for his service as Chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA):

“When I first met Tom, I could tell immediately what an extraordinary person he was, and why he has been so successful as Chairman of the EAA. Thanks to his leadership, membership in the EAA has grown dramatically, and AirVenture Oshkosh has become the world’s largest annual general aviation event.

“For years, the EAA has been an asset to general aviation in the United States, and it has helped raise the national profile of Oshkosh, and Wisconsin. They’ve put on a tremendous airshow, which now attracts a half million people to the Fox River Valley annually. Tom is to be congratulated on his fine service.”

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Senator Ron Johnson’s official website.

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Packers Release Seven Players, Among Them Nick Barnett

July 30th, 2011 by Robert Rosati

The Green Bay Packers have released Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar, Justin Harrell, Brady Poppinga and Mark Tauscher. The team also waived first-year safety Michael Greco and first-year linebacker Curtis Young. The transactions were announced Friday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.

Barnett, who was selected in the first round by the Packers in 2003, ranks No. 2 in franchise history with 1,014 career tackles (703 solo). He started all 107 games that he appeared in during his eight seasons in Green Bay and led the team in tackles five times. In 2005, Barnett set the single-season franchise mark with 194 tackles (128 solo), breaking a 24-year old mark of 180 held by LB Mike Douglass (1981). Barnett was limited to four games in 2010 due to a wrist injury.

Chillar, who signed with the Packers in 2008 as an unrestricted free agent from St. Louis, played in 34 games with 12 starts during his three seasons in Green Bay. In ’08, he appeared in 14 contests with seven starts and registered 65 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a career-high nine passes defensed. Chillar was limited to eight games in 2010 due to a shoulder injury after missing just seven contests in his first six NFL seasons.

Harrell was drafted in the first round by Green Bay in 2007 and appeared in 14 games with two starts during his four seasons with the Packers. He played in seven games as a rookie in ’07, recording 24 tackles (13 solo) that season. Harrell was limited to seven games over the past three seasons due to injuries.

Poppinga, a fourth-round pick by the Packers in 2005, played in 81 games with 44 starts during his six seasons in Green Bay. He registered 271 tackles (174 solo), five sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and eight passes defensed during his career. Poppinga played in a career-low six games in 2010 after his season was cut short by a knee injury.

Tauscher was a seventh-round pick of the Packers in 2000 and went on to play 134 games with 132 starts during his 11-year career in Green Bay. He was named the team’s Ed Block Courage Award winner in 2008, following a 2007 campaign that saw him start all 16 games for a Green Bay offense that ranked No. 2 in the NFL. In 2009, Tauscher returned from a significant knee injury sustained the previous season to start eight contests and help the offense allow only 10 sacks in the final seven games.

“We want to thank all of the players for their many contributions to the Green Bay Packers throughout their careers,” Thompson said. “During their time here, they have been valuable members of our organization and our community. We wish all of them the very best in the future.”

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on the official website of the Green Bay Packers.

The illustration used in this article was drawn by Joseph Szabo.

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Senator Herb Kohl Urges Administration to Shorten Waits Times for Business Visas Which Impact Wisconsin Businesses

July 29th, 2011 by Robert Rosati

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, urging them to implement policies aimed at decreasing wait times to obtain business visas. Senator Kohl has heard concerns from local Wisconsin businesses including Oshkosh Corporation, DealerFire, and Hughes Company and has worked to resolve visa delays for these companies on a case-by-case basis.

Wisconsin manufacturers have expressed growing concern that visa processing delays hinder their ability to do business with international customers. These companies manufacture and sell complex machinery, bringing business into the American economy, but when foreign buyers apply for short-term business visas to come to the United States for training on how to use this machinery, they can face delays of more than 90 days.

“I am concerned about delays in visa processing that hinder the global competitiveness of American businesses. I have heard from several Wisconsin businesses that these delays make it harder to sell their products internationally and create jobs here at home,” Kohl said in the letter.

In March, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Senator Kohl asked Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano to explain what steps the Department of Homeland Security is taking to decrease wait times for Business Visitor Visas (B-1 visas). Napolitano expressed a desire to work with the State Department and the Department of Commerce to shorten visa times to meet the current demands.

In the letter, Kohl asked the three administration officials for answers to the following questions:

1. Which five U.S. embassies have the largest number of B-1 visa applications that have been pending for over 90 days?

2. What are the most common reasons for a B-1 visa applications to be delayed over 90 days?

“I recognize that this is a difficult problem, and there are important security requirements that must be maintained. We need solutions that make the visa process more efficient and understandable for applicants while continuing to protect our homeland security,” Kohl said in the letter.

Information used in this article was retrieved from a press release on Senator Herb Kohl’s official website.

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