Top Stories March 30th

Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy Week #4: Walk The Line

3/30/09 - Two volunteers spent a couple hours drinking rum as part of an OWI simulation for the most recent session of the Beaver Dam Citizens Police Academy. As part of the class, officers walked the cadets through a typical OWI traffic stop. The volunteers were well over the legal limit for driving; they harassed the officers, tried to walk the line and blew into breathalyzer. Beaver Dam Patrol Officer Jim Van Erem says people need to get the message that drinking and driving is deadly, and reaching out to the community through the Citizens Police Academy is one more tool for law enforcement to deliver that message. Citizen Cadet Steve Mindt, an Auxiliary Police Officer for the city of Beaver Dam, says the class has been an eye-opening experience. Next up for the Citizens Police Academy: criminal investigations.

Charges Expected Today in Cold Case

3/30/09 - Formal charges are expected to be field today against the Randolph man accused of murdering a Columbus woman 29 years ago. Curtis Forbes was arrested on charges of First Degree Intentional Homicide following a traffic stop Tuesday evening. The 51-year-old is accused of beating, stabbing and strangling 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre at her Columbus residence in March of 1980. The case was reopened in late 2007 as investigators had a tool not available in 1980: DNA analysis.

Three Killed in Washington County Accident

3/30/09 - An accident in Washington County yesterday morning took the life of three people, including two kids. The Sheriff’s Department says an SUV carrying seven people on Highway 164 swerved to avoid a flatbed truck that had crossed the centerline and went into the ditch. However, the flatbed went into the ditch as well and slammed into the drivers side door. Killed was 42-year-old Karl Ziebart, his nine-year-old son Luke, along with an unidentified 12-year-old girl from another family. The four remaining passengers in the SUV were seriously hurt. None of three men in the flatbed were injured but were taken to jail on suspicion of being in the U-S illegally.

Watertown Man Facing Attempted Homicide Charges

3/30/09 - A 20-year-old Watertown man is facing felony charges after allegedly punching his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach to kill her fetus. The man is expected in court today on a number of significant felony charges, including the attempted homicide of an unborn child. Police arrested the man on Thursday after investigating reports of a loud argument. Court documents show the man allegedly told the woman, while he was punching her, that he was going to kill the baby. He was jailed over the weekend to allow prosecutors to complete the criminal complaint. The woman is around 14-weeks pregnant.

Acker Denies Accusations

3/30/09 - A Milwaukee area swimming instructor denies having sex with dozens of boys he’s accused of molesting over the last 30 years. 61-year-old Daniel Acker tells the Journal Sentinel he’s not a “predator,” but he has made “poor choices.” He said he struggled with self-doubt and loneliness for years – and he sought comfort in kids who accepted him more. Acker was charged Friday with the sexual assault of a 15-year-old swimming student who’s now 19. More charges are pending, after at least five other men in their 40’s have told police Acker molested them when they were 7-to-18. He remains in jail under a 65-thousand-dollar bond. Acker told the Journal Sentinel he asked the county to have mental experts evaluate him to identify his weaknesses. He said was disappointed with those weaknesses – but he was too ashamed to get help. Acker is an Air Force veteran, and he spent over a quarter-century working as a nursing assistant for the Milwaukee County Health Department. He also spent 31 years as a part-time swim instructor for the West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation Department. Acker said he didn’t have much confidence as a child, but swimming empowered him. And by teaching it to kids, he said he was passing on a skill that could make them safe. Acker is due back in court a week from tomorrow.

Memorial Day Parade Theme Announced

3/30/09 - The theme of the Beaver Dam Memorial Day 2009 Parade will be “Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave.” Lois Levenhagen with the Parade Committee says the theme was chosen to honor veterans and soldiers past and present, who have served or are serving to preserve our country’s freedom. The parade will be held on Monday May 25. The committee is asking service organizations, bands, schools, churches, and others to enter the parade. For more information or to sign up contact Peter Jozefowski at 887-3698 or Lois Levenhagen at 887- 0642.

BDUSD Seeks To Honor Staff

3/30/09 - The Beaver Dam Unified School District is seeking nominations for teacher, administrator and Support Staff of the Year Award program. Awards will presented for Elementary teacher, Middle School teacher, High School teacher, Administrator/ Coordinator, Special Services Teacher, Secretary, Teacher Assistant, Food Service Worker and Custodial/ Maintenance/ Computer Technician. Nominees will be judged primarily on the significance of their contributions to the well-being of the educational community. Representatives selected will be sent to the state teacher and administrator of the year competition. Parents, students and community members who would like to nominate an employee can obtain a nomination form at any Beaver Dam public school office, the Educational Service Center or on the district’s website. The deadline for submitting a nomination form is Monday, April 20.

School Referendums Prevalent on April Ballots

3/30/09 - At a time when folks are scraping for cash, about 30 Wisconsin school districts will ask people to give more of it to them. There are 43 total school referendum questions on next Tuesday’s ballots statewide, including three in Dodge County. Most ask voters to exceed the state’s revenue limits to keep their current programs going. West Bend schools want the okay to borrow almost 69-million dollars for new-and-improved buildings. Superintendent Patricia Herdrich says it’s the perfect time for such a project – since interest costs and construction bids are their lowest in years. But Michael Birkley of the Wisconsin Property Taxpayers’ group says that as more people get laid off, now is the wrong time to ask them to spend more on education. He agrees, though, that the schools need the money by-and-large. West Bend delayed its referendum from last November, which was right after the financial markets collapsed. And some voters say the district should have delayed the issue again.

Teachers Union Backs Evers

3/30/09 - The Wisconsin teachers’ union has thrown its support behind Deputy Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers in his attempt to ascend to the top job. The union, along with a number of other organizations, have backed Evers because of his 34-years of education experience. The last eight have come as second in command to Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster, who will become the new President of Nicolet College after leaving her post at the state level. Evers opponent in the race, Rose Fernandez, is an advocate of virtual schools and is pushing for major reforms within the state education department. The election is a week from tomorrow.

Powerball in the Triple Digits Again

3/30/09 - The Powerball jackpot is above 100-million-dollars for the first time in just over a month. The top prize for Wednesday night’s drawing is 109-million, after nobody won the jackpot on Saturday night. Nobody from Wisconsin won the second-or-third prizes, either. The last jackpot was won on February 28th. Two tickets sold in Delaware and Pennsylvania split the top prize of 174-million dollars.