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• Roberts woman gets two years for selling stolen parts on eBay
• Free hearing tests Tuesday in River Falls
• Xcel Energy asks for rate hike

A Roberts woman will spend two years in federal prison after she pled guilty to stealing home security parts from her employer and then selling them on eBay.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for western Wisconsin, Sherry La Tourneau, 32, was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to the interstate sale of stolen goods on Feb. 6.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office say that from August 1999 - July 23, 2004 La Tourneau stole parts for home security systems from GE Security in North St. Paul, Minn., where she worked as a computer support technician.

At the time of the crime La Tourneau lived at a Division Street address. in River Falls.

La Tourneau received approximately $93,000 for the parts, but the loss to the company was around $450,000.

The FBI, along with the Ramsey County (Minn.) Sheriff's Department and the River Falls Police Department all participated in the investigation.

By Debbie Griffin, RiverTown Staff

Eau-Claire-based Better Hearing Aids of Wisconsin Claire comes to the River Falls Motel, 1300 S. Main St., 11:15 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday to provide free hearing tests to anyone who may need one.

BHA comes to River Falls the second Tuesday of every month to offer free hearing tests. A company representative said if needed, BHA will come to people's homes to conduct a test.

BHA sells and services hearing aids made by many different manufacturers and has locations throughout Wisconsin. Reach the company by calling 1-800-472-3577 or learn more online at www.betterhearingaids.net.

Citing increasing production costs, Xcel Energy has filed a request with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for an electric fuel surcharge.

According to Xcel officials, the company is requesting an overall electric fuel surcharge of $19.7 million.

Company officials say the impact will vary depending on a customer's rate class and amount of electricity used.

For a typical residential customer the increase will be about 3 percent, or $2.34 per month.

Company officials claim that the surcharge is necessary because Xcel Energy's costs to generate and purchase electricity are significantly higher than amounts currently authorized by the PSCW.

If approved, an interim fuel cost surcharge will go into effect in May.

The actual amount of any change will be determined by the PSCW and could be higher or lower than what was requested.

Xcel officials claim that the company continues to have the lowest residential electric rates in Wisconsin.