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• Elmwood man's death blamed on bull, exposure to cold
• Man shot outside Harbor Bar
• Tax reciprocity dead until 2011; special session convenes Wednesday
• Update: Shooting case slowed by unanswered questions

An Elmwood man died Thursday evening as the result being trampled by a bull at his farm.

Dennis A. Churchill, 53, was found unresponsive and lying on the ice next to his barn at 1397 State Hwy. 72 after family members were unable to locate him for several hours, according to Lieutenant Dennis Sorenson of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

Elmwood Ambulance personnel and an Ellsworth paramedic were called to Churchill's house at 5:04 p.m. Attempts by personnel to resuscitate him at the scene were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene by deputy Pierce County Medical Examiner John Worsing.

Sorenson said the cause of death was blunt force trauma, caused by a bull attack, in conjunction with hypothermia.

Mr. Churchill was currently serving as treasurer for the town of Rock Elm.

Funeral service has been set for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 15th at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2700 S. Broadway, Menomonie, with visitation from 6-9 p.m., Monday, Dec. 14th at the church.

Arrangements are being provided by Olson Funeral Home, Menomonie.

A man, evidently involved in a fight at the Harbor Bar in the town of Trenton, was shot in the upper torso early Friday morning.

The man, whose named is being withheld for now, was taken to Fairview Hospital in Red Wing, Minn., and then flown by Mayo One helicopter to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn. His current condition is unknown.

According to a press release from the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, authorities received a call of shots fired shortly after midnight Dec. 11.

"Investigation shows that the victim was involved in some type of altercation in the bar that then carried (over) into the parking lot where the incident took place," according to Lt. Dennis Sorenson.

Sorenson said his department had not taken anyone into custody as of 10 a.m. Friday morning.

The Harbor Bar is located in Pierce County just north of Red Wing.

Red Wing Police Department also assisted at the scene.

Efforts by two area legislators to restore Wisconsin's income tax reciprocity for state residents who work in Minnesota appears to be dead until new Governors are elected in both states.

Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) and Rep. Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake) met Wednesday, Dec. 9th with Minnesota Commissioner of Revenue Ward Einess, armed with a proposal that would have offered Minnesota accelerated payments and interest in exchange for continuing the tax reciprocity agreement that has been in place since 1967.

The proposal was actually "better than the deal Minnesota last offered to Gov. Doyle", according to Harsdorf spokesman Jack Jablonski. The offer was made with "unprecidented" support from Wisconsin Legislative leadership to immediately take up the issue in a special session of the Legislature scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Dec. 16th.

But Einess essentially said no, Jablonski said, citing Minnesota's looming additional $1.2 billion budget deficit.

The reciprocity agreement has allowed residents who live and work in different states to file a single tax return in their home state. Because there are more than twice as many Wisconsin residents who work in Minnesota, Wisconsin then reimburses Minnesota for the tax it collects but the process usually takes more than a year. Minnesota wanted its money more quickly.

"The long-standing agreement should not have been scuttled for short-term proprietary gain as it was," said Harsdorf in a press release. "While I'm greatly disappointed in both Governors for failing to reach agreement months ago, I am heartened for the future of reciprocity because our state's legislative leaders took unprecedented action to try and make this work."

Harsdorf and Hraychuck expressed hope that once both states have new governors in 2011 the can "get back to the table and restore a common-sense agreement that benefits taxpayers of our region," the release stated.

Wednesday's special session is being called under the pretense of passing tougher penalties for repeat drunk drivers but Doyle has also asked that lawmakers deal with an issue of governance with Milwaukee Public Schools.

Both the Senate and the Assembly have already passed drunk driving legislation on unanimous votes. But they have to agree to the same bill before they can send it to the Governor's desk, something that's eluded them so far.

They've agreed on a provision that would require an ignition interlock device for repeat drunk driving offenders, and another that would make a fourth drunk driving offense within five years of a previous offense a felony. They've disagreed on how to pay for the changes. Senators called for a major increase in the criminal assessment fee to cover part of the bill while Assembly lawmakers were less specific.

Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed allowing Milwaukee's mayor to appoint the superintendent for Milwaukee Public Schools. Several Democratic lawmakers adamantly oppose that and have proposed an alternative that would keep more power with the school board. Doyle says the two sides are still talking, but he feels strongly about the issue. Doyle says while he's glad opponents are no longer defending the status quo, their alternative does not make it clear who would be in charge of Milwaukee schools.

By Mike Longaecker

A suspect vehicle in Friday's shooting was located in Red Wing, Minn., but authorities said they have not taken anyone into custody in the case.

"We've got a lot of pieces to put together," said Lt. Dennis Sorenson, Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

Pierce County deputies were called just after midnight Friday to the Harbor Bar in the Town of Trenton for reports of shots fired.

Deputies said a 24-year-old man was shot in the upper torso. He was taken to Fairview Red Wing Medical Center, then airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

A hospital spokeswoman said there was no information on the victim. The name is being withheld at the request of authorities.

Sorenson said the victim is alive, but the man's condition was unknown Friday afternoon.

According to a press release, the victim and a possible suspect, identified by police as a 25-year-old Red Wing man, became involved in "some type of altercation" in the bar that carried over into the parking lot, where the shooting occurred.

Red Wing police Capt. Darold Glander said a suspect vehicle in the case was found in Red Wing.

Sorenson said investigators continue to search for persons of interest in the case, but "too many unanswered questions" were slowing progress.

"We haven't even positively identified a suspect yet," he said.