Voice Shorts

National Guard units may be deployed
River Falls and New Richmond Companies of 32nd Infantry Brigade have been advised that they may be going back to Iraq.
National Guard soldiers who attended weekend drill in River Falls, New Richmond and 34 other Wisconsin communities Saturday were told they may be heading for the Middle East in another 18 months. For members of River Falls’ Company D, part of the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry headquartered at Eau Claire, and New Richmond’s Company B, it would be about three and a half years since their last tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Both served in Iraq from June 2004 to Nov. 2005. Many of the 3,450 member 32nd Brigade have served in at least one tour to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, for 12 to 15 months since Sept. 11, 2001.
The Wisconsin troops and other brigades from Mississippi and Oregon are receiving alert orders now in order to provide them the maximum time to complete their preparations, Lt. Col. Tim Donovan, director of Public Affairs for the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard, said Monday. Their tasks are expected to include base defense and route security in Iraq and Kuwait.

Local man pleads guilty to sexual assault
A River Falls man pled guilty Wednesday in Pierce County Circuit Court to first degree sexual assault of child.
Mark A. Campbell, 36, was originally charged with four felonies stemming from a March 25 incident in the city of River Falls: first degree sexual assault of child; incest with child; exposing child to harmful materials; and causing children under 13 to view and listen to sexual activities.
The last three charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. He will be sentenced 8:45 a.m. Feb. 8., Pierce County District Attorney John O’Boyle said. As part of the agreement the state will seek a sentence of 20 years, including five to seven years confinement plus 13 to15 years of extended supervision.
Circuit Court Judge Robert Wing ordered a pre-sentence investigation (PSI). Wing explained to Campbell and to everyone in court that he’s not bound by the state’s PSI and that he could sentence Campbell to the maximum penalty for the sexual assault — 60 years confinement.
Wing also ordered that Campbell’s bond be revoked. Court records show Campbell was found not guilty of child neglect in Pierce County earlier this year and found guilty of disorderly conduct in St. Croix County in 2003.

Fifth grader saves life of young girl
Maya Shelton-Davies described a recent incident near Rocky Branch Elementary School, where she is a 5th-grader and on the school’s safety patrol, according to the River Falls Journal.
At her post, just down the street from Rocky Branch Oct. 26, the young girl was approached by two fellow students, a young boy and his younger second-grade sister. He rode a scooter while his sister struggled to keep up. Ignoring Shelton-Davies’ request to not cross the street, the young boy barged through the patrol’s outstretched arms and crossed anyway.
Shelton-Davies could see and hear a white 4x4 pickup truck that she could tell was traveling much faster than the suggested 15 mph school zone speed limit. Not wanting to be separated from her brother, the little girl was determined to follow him.
She dashed off the curb. Shelton-Davies grabbed the little girl by the hood and pulled her back to the curb. That decision probably saved the little girl’s life.
As Shelton-Davies pulled on the girl’s hood, the speeding white truck whizzed by. With no other incidents, Shelton-Davies simply continued her patrol duties until the end of her shift.
Shelton-Davies was presented with a Certificate of Excellence and a gold badge as part of the school’s Safety Patrol of the Month award.
The only regret Shelton-Davies had about that morning’s event is that she didn’t catch the truck’s license plate number.

Escaped River Falls felon caught by police
Craig Harp, 25, a wanted felon who ran and escaped arrest from River Falls Police seven weeks ago on the city’s west side, was captured Wednesday night by Red Wing, Minn., Police, according to the River Falls Journal. Harp was also wanted in Minnesota.
  No one was hurt in the arrest, but Harp allegedly gave a false name to officers, River Falls Police Chief Roger Leque said. He was picked up at a house in Red Wing at 6:40 p.m.
Leque also said that River Falls Police, acting on a tip, notified Minnesota authorities about Harp’s whereabouts that led to his arrest.
Leque said police have been active in this investigation since Harp outran officers, eluded a sheriff’s deputy’s dog and got away through a cornfield. The Oct. 11 foot chase began before dawn at Harp’s girlfriend’s house at 919 Pine Ridge Terrace.
Harp is wanted in Wisconsin for a parole violation and in Minnesota for failing to register as a sex offender and aggravated assault.
Harp was arrested twice in August by River Falls police at the Pine Ridge Terrace address for probation violations. He allegedly tried to run away during one of those arrests but was caught andtaken to county jail in Ellsworth.

Family-friendly event celebrates holidays
Mike Norman, narrator, and Kristin Tjornehoj, conductor, are preparing to celebrate the holidays 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10.
Poetry, narration, visuals, sing-along for audience members, chamber choir and festive music will come together with a family-friendly atmosphere.
The fee for the concert is $5 for the general public, $3 for ages 18 and under and $2 for students with ID. The concert will be in the Abbott Concert Hall in Kleinpell Fine Arts.

Preparation urged for new file system
People are reminded to clean up network file space in prepration for the University’s move to FalconFile. 
Moving during J-term will be file and folders in the S:/Homes, P:/Courses, and T:/Oasis (student organization) file areas. Moving spring semester will be H:/Home and G:/Dept. 
For details on how to get ready for the big move, and to view a FalconFile video for a sneak peek, visit www.uwrf.edu/moving.