1410 WIZM

After three days of searching, the body of a six-year-old swimmer is found in the Mississippi.

Word came in late Wednesday that Junior Thao had been located in the Goose Island area. That's a few miles south of the Pettibone Beach area, where the boy's family had been swimming on Monday. Rescue teams had been working since then to find Junior.

It may take awhile to get there. But eventually fines and tickets in La Crosse could be much higher. Depends on the outcome on a proposed study that would determine how La Crosse fines stack up against those in comparable cities in the state. Do that study, says city councilman Doug Farmer, but don't be surprised to find that, among other things, the city has enacted ordinances for which a ticket has never been written.

The police department says it wouldn't be able to complete a fine study for several months.

It's happened with little fanfare. After months of debate over whether people In La Crosse could keep chickens in their backyards, the first two applicants have come before the city council seeking permission for just that. One fellow on Sunset Lane and a family on Farnam street are hoping to get permits to have up to five hens in their yards. First hurdle cleared last night. Both applicants received quick approval from one city council committee. Two more yes votes will be all they need.

It's become pretty commonplace for election canvassing groups to get you to fill out an application for an absentee ballot. Certainly been happening this summer for the state senate recall elections. Something that's led to more than a little confusion, says West Salem clerk, Theresa Schnitzler.   She says, when outside groups go knocking door-to-door with absentee ballot applications in hand, they often don't know which municipalities the applications should actually wind up at.   So, Schnitzler says she's had to try to sort out absentee applications from people in the surrounding towns who don't vote in West Salem.   The other significant problem her office has faced: About a fourth of the absentee applications she's processed are from people who aren't registered to vote.