Top Stories January 3rd

Two-Vehicle Accident in Beaver Dam

1/3/09 - One person was injured in a 2-vehicle accident in Beaver Dam Friday afternoon. Authorities say the wreck occurred at 12:49pm at the intersection of North Spring Street and Industrial Drive. The patient was transported to the Beaver Dam Community Hospital with minor injuries.

Sutter Charged in Dodge County Court

1/3/09 - A 41-year-old woman taken into custody in mid-December, after authorities who raided her home allegedly found $11,000 worth of drugs, has been charged. Angela Sutter of Horicon is charged with a number of drug related offenses including, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, manufacture and delivery of cocaine, and possession with intent to deliver marijuana. Police raided her home on Hubbard Street December 18th following a controlled buy. If convicted of all charges, Sutter could be going to prison for more than 65-years and face a fine of up to $245,000. Sutter is due back in court January 28th.

Business Break-In Suspect in Court

1/3/09 - One of the suspects arrested following burglaries at two area businesses appeared in Dodge County court for an arraignment hearing yesterday morning. Trevor Waller of Stoughton entered a “not guilty” plea to charges that he and two other people broke into Beaver Plumbing last October. Nothing was stolen from the business but the group did drink several cans of soda. The trio also face charges related to a break-in at Kelm Painting, later that same evening. The cases are being tried separately. Last month, 23-year-old Kurtis Billings of Orfordville entered a “not guilty” to charges related to the Beaver Plumbing break-in, but failed to appear on charges related to the Kelm Painting burglary and had a warrant issued for his arrest. 21-year-old Tabatha Pellett of Stoughton has a preliminary hearing scheduled for later this month on the Beaver Plumbing break-in. Authorities have indicated that additional charges related to a rash of business break-ins are possible against the trio.

FDL Fire Department to Assess Response to Fatal Fires

1/3/09 - In the wake of two fatal fires Fond du Lac firefighters will take time to assess their performance and the human impact. Fire Battalion Chief John Duffy says during the next week their different shifts will evaluate whether they could have done anything differently during the blazes at the Briar Crest Apartments and a 4th Street home. He says they’ll also keep a close eye on firefighters to determine how they are coping with working at the scenes of fires that claimed two lives. He says they have counseling available if it’s needed, but they are more concerned with the families who lost loved ones. Twenty-one year old Jedidah Betts died in the apartment complex fire and 56-year-old Leland Haskins in the house fire.

Milwaukee Murder Rate Down

1/3/09 - It could be an approach that put more officers in trouble spots. Or, it could be that emergency medical procedures are better at keeping shooting victims alive. Whatever the reason, murders in Milwaukee dropped by 32 percent last year. It's not a national trend. Chicago reports its homicides were up 17 percent. The Milwaukee police union is giving credit for the trend to Chief Edward Flynn. Mayor Tom Barrett praises police, too, but he also says it could be a case of people simply being more respectful of each other.

Governors Looking for Bailout from Obama Administration

1/3/09 - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle says congressional leaders and the Obama team have been receptive to the idea of helping out states with budget issues. Doyle and four other Democratic governors say the states need a trillion dollar boost from Washington. Forty-one states are projecting budget shortfalls. Wisconsin's is pegged at 5-point-4 billion dollars. Doyle says there is no commitment yet. He says a plan is being created based on a meeting with Obama last month.

Companies Struggling to Pay its Bills

1/3/09 - Another big-time publisher is struggling to pay its bills. Lee Enterprises, Incorporated, says it will have a hard time paying down its debt because advertising revenues are off. Lee owns the Wisconsin State Journal in Madison. Newspapers have seen revenues drop sharply as the recession built on already existing declines due to readers and advertisers switching to the Internet. Lee says it is negotiating with lenders to refinance the hundreds of millions of dollars it owes.

Madison Man Celebrates New Year by being Tasered

1/3/09 - It was an electrifying way to start the new year. A Madison man was tasered and arrested after fighting with security at a bowling alley Wednesday night. Larry Keith Bruce faces charges of disorderly conduct, trespassing and resisting an officer. Police officers say they pleaded with Bruce to calm down. They say he cursed them and kicked at them as they tried to put him in handcuffs. Even after being tasered, Bruce attempted to kick out the back windows on the police where he was seated. Investigators say the 48-year-old punched two security guards after being asked to leave the Badger Bowl because he had gone behind the bar and pushed two bartenders.