WXRO Radio

Newborn Found Dead in Garbage Bag

4/30/09 - A newborn infant was found dead last night in a garbage bag just a few miles south of Theresa. Sheriff Todd Nehls says a man cutting wood in the area came across the bag around 5pm and called it in. Authorities believe the infant was born within the last 24 to 48 hours and abandoned at the location soon after its birth. Nehls says they are looking for information from people that are familiar with others who were pregnant and close to delivery. An autopsy is expected to be performed this morning to determine cause of death. The Sheriff’s Department is asking that anyone with information call their office or the anonymous WeTip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.

Suspected Outhouse Bombers IDed

4/30/09 - The names of three men suspected in a pair of mailbox and outhouse explosions last week have been released. 18-year-old Robert Hanson and 20-year-old Kyle Livingston, both of Beaver Dam, along with 19-year-old Stephen Peterson of Fitchburg, are being held in the Dodge County Detention Facility in connection with the pipe bombing incidents. The three were identified with the use of in-store video surveillance after allegedly purchasing the explosive components at a Beaver Dam retailer. Authorities say charges are likely but may not come until early next week. The men are accused of blowing up a mailbox in Burnett and a port-a-potty at Lost Lake Park. Investigators say they used a pipe bomb and, in the case of the outhouse, also used liquefied gas. The Dodge County Sheriffs Department, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the US Postal Service and the FBI are investigating.

Inmate Death Under Investigation

4/30/09 - Authorities are investigating the unexpected death of an inmate at the Waupun Correctional Institution. The Dodge County Sheriffs Department and Medical Examiners Office is working with the Department of Corrections. The death was reported Tuesday morning around 6:30am. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

Swine Flu Hits Wisconsin

4/30/09 - Wisconsin now has three probable cases of swine flu – two in Milwaukee and one in Adams County. Four Milwaukee schools have been closed indefinitely, after one adult and one child got sick. The two are not related, and officials could not say if they had contact with each other. Milwaukee health commissioner Bevan Baker said at least one of them had contact with children in the schools that were closed – which include one high school, Riverside. A number of those kids are reportedly getting symptoms of swine flu, but Milwaukee school spokeswoman Rosanne Saint Aubin said there was not a high number of absences at the four schools. A man was infected in the Adams County case. Media reports said he was exposed while on a trip to San Diego. As of yesterday, the state had arranged tests for 144 suspected cases of swine flu. Besides the probable cases, 41 turned up negative, and 100 cases were still pending.

Sewing Expo Starts Today

4/30/09 - The city of Beaver Dam is starting to experience an influx of people for the Nancy’s Notions Sewing Weekend Expo. The three-day event begins today but by yesterday hotel rooms were filled, gas stations were busier and restaurants more crowded. Nancy’s Notions president and founder Nancy Zieman says 300 people turned out in 1985 when she held the grand opening of her first official warehouse in Beaver Dam. Around 4000 people are expected this year. Zieman says there’ll be more creative people in Beaver Dam this weekend than any other place in the country.

YMCA Evacuated

4/30/09 - A minor chemical reaction forced the evacuation of the YMCA of Dodge County last night. The Beaver Dam Fire Department responded shortly after fire alarms rang at 7:46pm. Captain Lee Smith says the cleaning crew was using a disinfectant fogger in the child care area and the gas mixed with floor cleaning agents creating a “hazy chemical smoke.” Smith says that type of combination could have resulted in eye and throat irritation. There were no injuries. The Y closed early and the building was ventilated but people were allowed back inside to collect their belongings. Emergency responders were on scene for about a half hour.

The Other Side of the Fence

4/30/09 - A Beaver Dam-area woman has a new, free horse today because the previous owner just couldn’t keep a handle on it anymore. The Dodge County Sheriffs Department responded to a report of an animal on the loose yesterday morning just before 9am along Highway 151 in the Town of Calamus. Sgt. Steve Allermann says he and the owner tried for a couple hours to corral “Jack,” but the stallion must have enjoyed his taste of freedom too much to cooperate. The owner was ready to call the rendering plant. Allermann asked the woman who reported the inciden if she wanted the horse and both parties signed-off on the exchange. It took some time for the woman and her family yesterday to capture Jack, but he is finding out today if the grass really is greener.

Unemployment Benefits Way Up in ‘09

4/30/09 - New claims for Wisconsin’s unemployment benefits are up 76-percent so far this year. Over 417-thousand initial applications were filed from January first through last week. That’s 180-thousand more than the same period a year ago. About 24-hundred new claims were filed last week alone in Milwaukee County. In Rock County – where the closing of the General Motors plant spurred the state’s highest jobless rate – 400 new claims were filed last week. Unemployment in the Janesville area is now 13-and-a-half percent. Just over three-million benefit claims have been continued statewide this year. Four-and-half million claims were continued for all of last year.

Milwaukee’s Gokey into Final Four of American Idol

4/30/09 - Wisconsin’s first “American Idol” finalist has made the Top-Four. Danny Gokey of Milwaukee was the first to be told he was safe during last night’s results show on Fox. He sang the Frank Sinatra classic “Come Rain or Come Shine” on Tuesday night’s show, which featured songs from the Rat Pack era. Viewers cast 47-milion votes, and Gokey was one of the top-two for the week. Adam Lambert, considered the favorite by many, was in the bottom-two this time. Michigan native Matt Giraud got voted off. Gokey celebrated his 29th birthday this past week.