State digest

Lawmaker defends new work rule for teens

Madison A rule effective May 1 that limits to five the number of hours per day that 16- and 17- year-olds may work allows teens, parents and school officials more flexibility in setting a teen's work schedule, Rep. Daniel Vrakas (R-Hartland) said Friday.

Vrakas is chairman of the Assembly Labor Committee, which allowed the rule to go into effect by taking no action on it.

Vrakas defended the committee's position against comments made Thursday by Rep. Barbara Notestein (D-Milwaukee).

Under the rule, the total number of hours per week that 16- and 17-year-olds may work remains 26.

Cadott man is charged in death of his wife

Chippewa Falls A rural Cadott man faces murder charges in the death of his wife, who had taken a drug overdose.

Paul C. Nelson, 30, was charged Friday with second- degree reckless homicide in the March death of Mary Jane Nelson, 36.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Chippewa County:

Mary Jane Nelson went to a tavern next to her home and started drinking at 8:30 a.m. She was also taking medication.

She called a friend to say she had taken 30 pills, the complaint stated. The friend then talked to the bartender by phone, saying Nelson had overdosed and that help should be summoned.

The bartender eventually went next door and told Nelson's husband that his wife had overdosed. Nelson reportedly said, "She'll be all right; I'll keep her alive." He then allegedly laid her face down on the couch, where she was found dead the next morning.

Student draws probation for disorderly conduct

Whitehall A Trempealeau County teenager received two years of probation for mixing up a batch of brownies laced with laxatives that were placed in the high school teachers lounge.

David C. Olson, 19, of Strum, recently pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.

Assistant District Attorney Bell Nember said seven teachers ate the brownies and that some were "discomforted."

The incident happened in November at Eleva-Strum Central High School, where Olson was a student.

Molestation victim sues ex-priest, diocese

Merrill A teenager whose accusations of sexual molestation led to the conviction of a former Catholic priest has filed a civil suit against the man and the Catholic Diocese of Superior.

The Tomahawk boy and his parents claim the former priest and the diocese intentionally inflicted emotional distress on the boy in 1991, when he was 14, court records said.

In October 1993, David Leg 3 ends here Malsch pleaded no contest to a charge of sexually enticing a child in a motel room. Malsch, then 54, was sentenced to a year in jail, placed on eight years' probation, and ordered to undergo treatment for sexual offenders.

The victim told police the priest fondled him in a Wausau motel pool, took nude photos of him and served him alcohol.

Railroad conductor dies in box car accident

Argonne Authorities on Friday identified a Wisconsin Central Railroad conductor who was killed when he was trapped between two derailed box cars.

Nicholas Vadenschaaf, 45, of Iron River, Mich., died Thursday during the accident, which occurred when freight cars were being hooked up on track east of Argonne, Forest County sheriff's officials said.

From Journal Sentinel staff, correspondents and wire services

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