Top Stories March 6th

Relocation Plan Approved

3/6/09 - The city of Beaver Dam’s downtown redevelopment plan is moving forward after worries earlier this week that it could be held-up. City officials had been getting conflicting answers from the Department of Commerce regarding the need to develop a “relocation plan” for those businesses that are targeted for acquisition and demolition. On Wednesday, a meeting was held with the mayor, city attorney, and representatives with the Commerce Department and DNR. The state confirmed that a relocation plan was required but also learned that the city would not have to provide additional relocation expenses. Property owners waived relocation expenses in their original offer to sell but are also expected to acknowledge the agreement in a letter they are being asked to sign for the Commerce Department. Meeting in special session last night, the common council voted 11 to nothing to hire a Minneapolis firm at a cost of $15,000 to conduct the relocation study, a process that typically takes two to three months. Closing on nine of the eleven properties targeted for demolition is March 31, but Mayor Tom Kennedy says the firm will have it done by next week. A relocation study is required if the city wants to be eligible for a Community Development Block Grant. Kennedy says Beaver Dam could be eligible for up to a half million dollars to assist with acquisition and demolitions efforts. The grant could also pay for a portion of the relocation study.

Authorities Looking For Yellow Vehicle

3/6/09 – Authorities in Beaver Dam are investigating two incidents of attempted child enticement. Four children ages 5 to 9 years old were approached by two men in a yellow vehicle while walking home from school around 3:12pm Wednesday afternoon in the area of Gilmore and DeClark Streets. A passenger exited the vehicle and asked the kids if they “want some candy” and added, “you know you want it little girl.” The passenger is described as a white male between 30 and 40 years of age with dark hair and a goatee, wearing blue jeans and a blue t-shirt. The driver of the vehicle is described as a white male, also between the age of 30 and 40, with a full beard and wearing a black and white striped shirt. They were driving a shiny yellow, newer-model SUV or Jeep-style vehicle with a black stripe down both sides and a license plate that begins with the numbers 4-2-5. There was also a female passenger said to be sitting in the backseat described as having black hair. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department at 887-4612 or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

BD-Randolph Girls Hockey State Semi-Finals

3/6/09 - The Cinderella story of the Beaver Dam -Randolph girl’s hockey team continues this morning with the fledgling team’s first appearance in the state semi-finals. During a pep rally at the school yesterday afternoon, Athletic Director Bill Loss told the crowd that the circumstances surrounding this season –a first year team that is self-funded and all the other obstacles that they have overcome – proves that anything is possible if you believe. Coach Paul Uttech thanked the players for allowing the coaching staff to go along on the ride with them. Beaver Dam- Randolph takes on Fond du Lac-Waupun at the Alliant Energy Center beginning at 11am. Coverage on WBEV begins at 10:05am.

Tax Delinquencies Up

3/6/09 - It’s another sign of the times: more tax delinquencies in Wisconsin. Delinquent taxes and fees owed to the state have topped a billion dollars for the first time – an increase of nearly 30 percent in the past year. State Senator Glenn Grothman says it's sad, but not very surprising. The West Bend Republican says it shows people don't really have any money to pay their bills and taxes. Grothman also estimates that a great deal of the money owed is from businesses that are failing, increasing the chances the state will never get paid. It's not just all due to the current economic troubles though. More than 200 million dollars of what's due has been owed to the state for nearly a decade.

Council Gets Grant Funding To Fight Obesity

3/6/09 - The Columbia County Children’s Council is working on a plan to prevent childhood obesity. The council was recently awarded $6000 in grant funding from the state health department. Family Resource Center Director Andrea Uherka says the money will be used to assemble a coalition of physicians, teachers, child care providers and dieticians to come up with a plan. The goal: to get young kids exercising and eating more fruits and vegetables. Uherka says they want to mobilize communities to create healthy environments, which she says will make it easier for residents to eat healthy, be physically active and achieve a healthy weight. She says the problem is especially evident in Columbia County. The children’s council is inviting those interested in participating in the coalition to attend a meeting at the UW Extension Columbia County Annex on March 24.