This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Heartfelt testimony on the Buckhorn controversy
FranklinNOW blogger Janet Evans wrote in her summary of last night’s Franklin Common Council meeting that two citizens stepped forward to address the Aldermen about the Buckhorn fatal hit-and-run controversy.From Janet’s blog:
Orville Seymer spoke first and told the Council he lives just around the corner from where the incident occurred and has family and friends who have been involved in accidents and death related to drunk drivers. He said, "I am opposed to taking the liquor license away from the Buckhorn because that simply will not solve the problem. In my opinion, what will solve the problem is tavern owners and bar tenders who take more responsibility for their actions. In other words, they simply cannot refill a patron glass just because it is empty and they have money laying on the bar.
"I am willing to go with any person who is willing to go with me and speak to every bar owner along 27th St. and exert a little peer pressure on them in a nice way so that they understand the consequences of these senseless deaths.”
Shari Hanneman spoke and said she disagrees with Orville Seymer. This also happened in her neighborhood. She is a Mother Against Drunk Driving. She believes the Buckhorn's license should be revoked. She said the employees admitted that Eddie Lynn Keck had repeatedly been over served. The Buckhorn should lose the privilege of having a license.
Both Seymer and Hanneman are friends of mine and I respect them both. I am not surprised that these two upstanding citizens were willing to voice their views.
Hanneman is a member of the Franklin Planning Commission, Citizens for a Safe Wisconsin (CFSW), and MADD. Hanneman, along with her CFSW colleague Sandy Maher-Johnson did extensive research on one of the Wisconsin Statute that applies to this case. Hanneman referred to the statute in her testimony before the Common Council.
Hanneman and Maher-Johnson deserve all the credit for their hard work and for making the public aware of this angle to the story. Hanneman has given me permission to re-print her testimony to the Common Council last night:
The tragic accident of Christmas night occurred in my neighborhood. We heard the commotion and hoped that someone had simply burned their Christmas dinner. Unfortunately two people died for no reason. I am heartbroken and I am really angry that this happened and that it happened in my neighborhood. This incident is a black mark on the soul of this community.
I’m sure you have all read the criminal complaint. I am sure you are as shocked as I am that the bartender at the Buckhorn Tavern discerned that the alleged killer was already “intoxicated at that time” when he continued to serve him beer and shots. The bartender also discerned that when the defendant left the establishment, his “ability to operate a vehicle was materially impaired because of consumption of an alcoholic beverage.” There is no indication that any employee of the Buckhorn made any concerted effort to keep the defendant from driving away. It was “assumed” that he would sleep it off as he had done in the past. This indicates that employees of the Buckhorn Inn knowingly and repeatedly over-serve intoxicated customers. This would seem to satisfy Wisconsin Statute 125.12, paragraph 2, item #3 which lists selling or giving away alcohol beverages to known habitual drunkards as grounds for license revocation.
I will say that if the criminal complaint is indeed truthful and reliable, I believe The Buckhorn Inn to be a very serious threat to our public safety. In my opinion, a business that is that cavalier about the responsibilities that come with the privilege of holding a liquor license has no business doing business in my neighborhood. I want that liquor license revoked!
I understand the complicated legal process that you are charged with. I don’t like it but I understand it.
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