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• Somerset man dies when tire hits car
• Doyle's last State of the State is Tuesday night
• Lake Superior area expects 8-14 inches of snow; more state briefs
• Somerset man dies when tire hits car
• Firefighters rescue farmer from corn bin

A western Wisconsin man was killed in a freak traffic accident over the weekend just across the border in Minnesota.

Authorities said Shane Erickson, 23, Somerset, died after the car he was driving was hit by a flying tire from an oncoming pickup truck.

The accident happened Saturday afternoon on Hwy. 95 in Oak Park, Minn.

Troopers said Erickson was wearing a seat belt, and his airbag was activated when the car was hit. Another Wisconsinite, a 39-year-old man from New Richmond, was driving the pickup.

Gov. Jim Doyle will give his final State of the State address tomorrow night.

Doyle has not said much about what he might tell the Legislature and a statewide public television audience.

Normally, the State of the State highlights Wisconsin's progress and introduces some of the people behind that progress. The governor also outlines challenges and gives lawmakers general ideas of what he wants them to do.

The state will not draft a full budget this year, but it normally acts on a bill that makes adjustments to the current budget, depending on how spending and tax revenues are doing.

There has been no formal talk about a budget adjustment bill this time around, but that could change as unemployment took a big rise last month after four months of improvement.

Tuesday night's speech starts at 7 p.m. from the State Capitol.

A snowy day is in store throughout Wisconsin, but only the Lake Superior region is supposed to get socked.

Eight to 14 inches of snow are predicted for Iron County with up to 10 inches at Ashland and Superior. Most of northern Wisconsin could get 1-3 inches.

Much of the south will get an inch or less.

The National Weather Service says a low pressure system will head toward Lake Superior today. That's why places near those waters will be hit. A winter storm warning is in effect into tomorrow in Iron, Bayfield and Ashland counties, and until midnight tonight in Douglas County.

Burnett and Washburn counties are under winter storm advisories until late this afternoon.

Blowing snow could be a problem as winds pick up from the northwest. The snow is supposed to clear out tonight except near Lake Superior. Wind chills of 20 below are forecast for tomorrow morning in Superior.

Overnight lows in the southeast will stay in the upper teens. But all of Wisconsin will be colder than it's been, and it could stay that way for most of the week.

North central areas had one to two inches of snow and slush yesterday.

Temperatures above freezing melted some of the December snow in many places.

This morning most spots were around the freezing point. Phillips in the northwest was the state's warm spot at 5 a.m. with 34 degrees.

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USDA plans job forum in Eau Claire

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold a job forum Tuesday in Eau Claire.

Federal, state and local officials will take part, along with business and union leaders, economists, non-profit groups and others.

President Obama has asked federal agencies to hold job forums throughout the country to explore ideas for boosting the economy and creating new jobs.

Tomorrow's program is called "Forum for the Future -- Pathways to Wisconsin Job Creation." It will take place at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire.

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State's largest building project ever goes online

The largest building project in Wisconsin history goes online this week as We Energies starts running its $2.3 billion power plant in Oak Creek.

Environmentalists opposed the coal-fired plant every step of the way, and they're still complaining, saying the utility over-estimated the need for power in Wisconsin.

But We Energies said the project was badly needed in the 1990's when the state was getting brownouts because the supply was so low.

The recession put a crimp into that demand, and state officials say Wisconsin doesn't need the extra power at the moment.

We Energies officials say the new plant still has value because it's reducing a reliance on out-of-state electricity. It's also letting the utility close up older and less efficient coal plants, and it's helping keep the company profitable.

The first of two boilers at Oak Creek is going online this week after several months of testing. The other boiler is due to be finished later this year.

When both units are running, they'll make enough power to supply a million homes. Construction has taken 4 ½ years. Work began the day after the Wisconsin Supreme Court threw out a lawsuit from environmentalists.

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Schools, teachers scramble to deal with budget cuts

Wisconsin schools and teachers are getting more creative in providing basic classroom needs as they continue to face budget deficits.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette says schools in northeast Wisconsin are resorting to foundation grants, naming rights for facilities and fundraising for endowment funds.

But Ashwaubenon Superintendent David Schmidt said those things don't buy new teachers, and they don't make up for the thousands of dollars that must be cut each year due to tight budgets. The Green Bay School District faces a budget deficit of up to $8 million in the next term.

Chemistry teacher John Sebranek said he's had to get more creative just to provide some of the more basic things for his students. He used a national Website called donorschoose.org to get a few hundred dollars for clear tape and dry-erase markers. When a school supply store changed its logo, Sebranek was able to hundreds of binders with the old logo for free.

But small town school officials say they don't have as many businesses to solicit for help. Denmark Administrator Tony Klaubauf said that has potential to create more disparities between small and large districts.

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Firm offers speedy wheelchair kits

A Necedah company will soon sell kits for motorized wheelchairs aimed at helping those within spinal cord injuries enjoy the outdoors.

Chris Wiedmeyer of Camp-Inn Trailers said he rides a wheelchair that goes 25 mph up and down hills so he can enjoy off-road things like hunting and fishing.

His firm created a separate business called Motive Transportation to sell the $1,200 kits. They include drive trains, controls and other such items.

But they don't include the chairs or the gas engines, which cost around $150 from another manufacturer.

Camp-Inn's co-owner, Cary Winch, said the kits are easily put together in a couple hours. A video takes buyers through a step-by-step process.

Braking and steering are down by the wheelchair's standard controls, and they do not include seatbelts.

Craig Edevold of Camp-Inn said he would not drive the wheelchairs in a city of any size, but they could help folks in rural areas. He knows of no traffic laws that govern motorized wheelchairs.

A Somerset man was killed in a Saturday afternoon accident near Stillwater, Minn.

Shane Erickson, 23, was killed when a wheel from a Ford F-350 vehicle bounced across Hwy. 95, striking Erickson's Pontiac Grand Am.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol report, the crash occurred at about 2:23 p.m. in the southbound lanes of 95 at the intersection with Hwy. 36.

Bradley Wicklem, 39, of New Richmond, was the driver of the pickup. He was reportedly uninjured, as was his passenger, Jacob Wicklem, 7.

Troopers said Erickson was wearing a seatbelt, and his airbag was activated when the car was hit.

BALDWIN -- Volunteers from five area departments converged on a town of Rush River farm Friday afternoon to rescue a farmer trapped in a large bin while trying to release corn that had crusted near its top.

Baldwin Fire Chief Gary Newton said Buddy Schumacher had climbed atop and entered the bin through its rooftop access cover to loosen corn stuck around the edges of the structure.

Schumacher somehow slipped from the inside ladder and became mired up to his chest in corn. After struggling for about 15 minutes to free himself, he managed to reach his cell phone and called one of his sons for help. The son then called emergency workers.

Upon arrival at 2056 18th Ave., near the junction of Hwy. 63 and County Road Y, personnel from United Fire's Baldwin station entered the bin, located Schumacher and got a safety harness around his upper body. Once they knew he was stable and secure, rescuers were able to take their time in extricating him, Newton said.

Because Schumacher was trapped in an area opposite the access door, Newton said his department requested help from Hudson Fire's rope rescue team and another ladder truck from the River Falls Fire Department to join the Baldwin ladder rig already at the scene.

The aerial platforms allowed firefighters to rig ropes which were eventually used to pull Schumacher free without having to cut a hole in side of the hopper. Newton said firefighters were poised to cut the hole had that been necessary, however.

Newton said volunteers from United's Hammond and Woodville stations also responded to the call and assisted.

Last September Pierce County emergency crews were unable to rescue Patrick Harrington, a 75-year-old town of El Paso farmer who became trapped in a corn bin while it was being unloaded.

Ellsworth Firefighters and EMS personnel worked for 90 minutes unloading the corn bin before they found Harrington. They were not able to resuscitate him.