Top Stories January 13th

Electric Blanket Causes Early Morning Fire

1/13/09 - A malfunctioning electric blanket is to blame for an early morning fire in the Town of Williamstown. According to Assistant Kekoskee Fire Chief Don Bonack, the owner of the home on County Trunk T-W awoke to the blanket and his mattress on fire. The man was able to pull the mattress out onto an extended portion of the second floor. However, the roof was made of rubber so it caught on fire and did moderate damage to the back of the house. Bonack says they had the fire under control within 15 to 20 minutes but were on the scene for about 2 ½ hours. The man suffered minor injuries to his fingers. No other injuries were reported. The Mayville Fire Department and Dodge County Highway Department assisted with the fire.

More Snow on the Way

1/13/09 - You better keep those snow shovels handy. After the more than 4-inches of snow we got last night into this morning the National Weather Service predicts we could see an additional 3 to 4-inches late tonight into tomorrow morning. Winds are expected make conditions even worse as gusts of up to 30 miles per hour will lead to blowing and drifting snow through tomorrow afternoon. As for conditions this morning Dodge County Highway Supervisor Ken Stock says roads are slippery. Snow totals are starting to filter in this morning. In Beaver Dam, the National Weather Service measured 4.1-inches as of 9:45 last night, while Portage picked up 4.5-inches by 9 o’clock. Ripon had 4.2-inches as of 1030 last night and Berlin in Green Lake County had 4.5-inches by 10:15.

Dodgeland School Board Takes Action in Closed Session Meeting

1/13/09 - The Dodgeland School Board took action in closed session last night but, because the matter dealt with personnel, board officials could not comment on the nature of that action. However, a dozen parents showed up last night to voice their concerns about the possible non-renewal of a district administrator. The agenda did not specify which administrator – and board officials have not commented – but the parents came to show their support for Superintendent Ron Vaughn, whose two-year contract is up this year. Vaughn told us that whatever decision the board made he would be fine with as he respects every member on the board. Board President Jeff Caine says negotiations are continuing and until those are completed the district would not comment publicly.

Quad/Graphics Cuts 400 Wisconsin Jobs

1/13/09 - Governor Jim Doyle says the recession is hurting even the healthiest of companies – and what happened at Quad-Graphics proves it. The state’s largest commercial printer announced 400 layoffs yesterday at its five plants in southeast Wisconsin, and another 150 layoffs at four of its other U-S facilities. Doyle said companies which talked about expanding as recently as last September now have to get smaller – and Quad-Graphics is one of them. Quad is the nation’s third-largest printing firm, based in Sussex. The layoffs represent almost six-percent of its total workforce. C-E-O Joel Quadracci called it a strategic move. He said the firm still leads the industry in its profit margins, and it wants to stay that way as the economy gets smaller. Doyle said what happened at Quad is exactly why Congress should pass a federal economic stimulus package as soon as possible.

Change in Number Causes Confusion for Taxi Customers

1/13/09 - New management of Beaver Dam’s Shared Ride Taxi Service told the city’s Administration Committee last night that a change in phone numbers has caused some complications. Top Hat Taxi took over operations of the service on January 1. But S & R Taxi, who had managed the city service before low-bidder Top Hat was awarded the contract, kept the phone number and has continued to operate in the overnight hours. Top Hat Owner Beverly Scott says customers call for service during the day and the answering machine for S & R says operations begin at 10pm. Scott says the company is The committee last night approved their lease agreement with Top Hat. The contract was amended to allow the city to maintain ownership of the taxi service’s phone number. The new phone number is 885-4800.

Huber Accused of Stealing from Work Site

1/13/09 - A Huber inmate is accused of stealing a laptop computer while working at the Dodge County Humane Society. 26-year-old Adam Rueckert is charged with a misdemeanor count of Theft for allegedly stealing the laptop from their new offices last September and attempting to sell it to another inmate. The charge carries a maximum nine month sentence upon conviction, but because Rueckert is a repeat offender, he could have up to two more years added. A signature bond was set at $500 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 9.

Harmony Grove Couple Face Multiple Drug Charges

1/13/09 - A Columbia County couple made an initial appearance yesterday on drug charges. 32-year-old Stacy Ripp and 37-year-old Rory Trickle of Harmony Grove were arrested at their home January 7 on multiple felony drug distribution charges. Trickle had been arrested before on drug charges in October of 2007 and November of 2008, and his newest arrest reportedly came after the Columbia County Sheriffs Office received a number of complaints that he had been dealing again. Trickle had cash bond set at $10,000 yesterday while Ripp had her cash bond set at $5000. Both Ripp and Trickle will be back in court February 16.