Top Stories April 4th

BD Man Charged in Death of UWM Student

4/4/09 - A Beaver Dam man has been charged with selling a UW-Milwaukee freshman a prescription drug that authorities say may have played a role in his death. 20-year-old Troy Kelm was arrested earlier this week after authorities found 19-year-old Luke Murphy dead in his girlfriends dorm room apparently of a drug or alcohol overdose. Kelm was charged Friday with two counts of delivery of Suboxone, one count of delivery of a methadone, and one count of possession of marijuana. According to the criminal complaint, Murphy went to Kelm’s apartment Sunday night where they drank beer and vodka punch while also smoking marijuana. One of the other men at the apartment was a recovering heroin addict, like Kelm, and asked if he had any Suboxone, which is used to wean addicts. Kelm sold him a pill, and he told authorities that made Murphy curious as to what the pill was. Officials say Kelm told them that he sold Murphy a ½ of a tablet and told him not to take it while drinking. The next morning Murphy was found dead in his girlfriends dorm room. Authorities are still waiting on toxicology reports for Murphy, which could take as long as a few weeks. If convicted of all the charges Kelm could be sentenced to as much as 32-years in prison and fines of more than $70,000.

Kamps to be Honored Today

4/4/09 - The Beaver Dam community will be honoring someone this weekend who has dedicated her life to the theater and the arts. On Tuesday, Annette Kamps officially retired after seven years as the Executive Director of both the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association and the Beaver Dam Area Community Theater. Kamps, who began her career at the Beaver Dam High School in 1960, plans to stay active with both organizations in a volunteer capacity, but she admits that she may give herself a little breathing room as she plots her next steps. The arts and theater groups have joined forces to host a reception for Annette and her husband Jerry Kamps. It will be held today (Sat) at the Bayside Supper Club from 2pm to 5pm. There will be light refreshments and a short program will be held at 3:30pm.

More Charges Filed Against Acker

4/4/09 - Four more counts of child molestation have been filed against Waukesha swim coach Daniel Acker. An additional alleged victim contacted police last week, saying the coach had tied him up in the early 1990s, taken naked pictures of him, then had sexual contact with him. Acker is accused of molesting boys for more than three decades. The alleged assaults happened around 18 years ago, well within the statute of limitations for the crimes.

Avery Seeks More Time

4/4/09 - Convicted killer Steve Avery's attorney is asking for more time to prepare an appeal. It's the fourth time such a request has been made. This time they want another 60 days to review all the evidence. Avery is serving a life sentence with no possible parole. His nephew is also serving life. Avery and the nephew were convicted of killing freelance photographer Teresa Halbach. Their trial was two years ago -- the murder happened in 2005.
Suspected Sun Prairie Killer to Get Psych Evaluation
4/4/09 - Accused killer Zachary Schams of Sun Prairie will be given a psychiatric examination before his next court hearing in two weeks. Schams was charged yesterday with first-degree intentional homicide. Investigators say he repeatedly stabbed 31 year old Anthony Edlbeck with a sword, leaving him to die in a Sun Prairie parking lot. Edlbeck's body was found Wednesday morning outside his apartment. Cops say there is no evidence the two men knew each other. An attorney for Schams says he thinks there is reason to question his client's mental competency.

Neumann’s Unable to Retrieve Seized Property

4/4/09 - Attorneys for Dale and Leilani Neumann say the judge should find the district attorney in their case to be in contempt. The Newman’s are the Marathon County couple accused of praying instead of getting medical help for their dying 11 year old daughter last year. A judge had order seized property be returned to the couple by last Tuesday. They say they were only able to retrieve six of two dozen items when they went to the police department that day. The daughter died from untreated diabetes in March 2008. The Neumann’s' attorney asked the judge to fine District Attorney Jill Falstad two thousand dollars per day for each day the property isn't returned.

Exotic Animals Found in Milwaukee Home

4/4/09 - No tickets for the owner of several exotic animals, but Milwaukee police confiscated a crocodile, several snakes and four snapping turtles. The reptiles were found when police went to the house yesterday afternoon. Officers say the owner was cooperative. Inside cops found a five-foot long Nile crocodile, a 14-foot reticulated python and the turtles. There was also a 10-foot yellow anaconda, a second python and a red tail boa constrictor. The animals are said to be in good condition. They have been placed at the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission shelter. It isn't clear what will happen to them.

Healthy Wisconsin Proposal to Get another Look

4/4/09 - Efforts are underway to revive the state Senate's Healthy Wisconsin proposal. State Senator Jon Erpenbach says the legislation, which would provide health care coverage for every Wisconsin resident, could be brought back later this year. He hopes to re-introduce the bill in the next "three to four months" and then hold public hearings on the proposal across the state. If President Obama unveils national health care reforms, Erpenbach says he may not need to reintroduce it. He says Healthy Wisconsin remains a strong plan for the state and Obama has already talked about several of the reforms included in the plan, such as allowing patients to choose their own doctor and large pools for the self-insured.

National Guard Bill Could Be Debated in Legislature Soon

4/4/09 - A bill that would the governor the power to block the deployment of National Guard troops to Iraq or Afghanistan may soon be debated in the state legislature. The bill is part of a national effort to give governors a say in whether state National Guard soldiers are deployed in foreign wars. Madison Democrat Spencer Black drafted the Wisconsin version of the bill. He says the goal is to make sure that National Guard troops aren't federalized until the governor has signed off on the legitimacy of the war they'd be fighting in. Black's bill would give the governor the power to sue the federal government if he determines a troop deployment doesn't comply with the federal war powers act that grants the president the right to wage war. The bill has about a half a dozen co-sponsors but it will likely face substantial opposition. First year UW-Madison law student Matthew Silverman says the National Guard is an integral part of the national military team protecting the country.

VA Medical Facilities to Get Influx of Stimulus Cash

4/4/09 - A number of state veteran affairs buildings will see significant upgrades through the economic stimulus package. Senator Russ Feingold announced earlier today that around $25.6-million-dollars will be used to upgrade and renovate facilities. The Madison VA will get about $6.7-million-dollars to renovate facilities and the Tomah VA Medical Center will receive approximately $5.8 million, including almost $2 million to renovate its urgent care unit and mental health clinic. Milwaukee’s Zablocki VA Medical Center will receive nearly $5.5 million for upgrades. Feingold says the funding will help put Wisconsinites to work making improvements to Wisconsin veteran’s facilities that care for the men and women who have served their nation. The Union Grove and King extended care facilities in Wisconsin together will also receive approximately $6.6 million in grants to improve the quality of life for veterans and expand their services.

Man Sentenced in Beating of Karaoke Singer

4/4/09 - A western Wisconsin man has been sentenced to 60 days in jail for beating another man, partially because he didn’t like the way he sang in a karaoke bar. 24-year-old Kyle Drinkwine was also put on three years’ probation, during which time he’s not supposed to drink alcohol. Police saw the two men fighting outside a River Falls tavern last November. The victim told officers he was singing at another bar, and Drinkwine criticized his singing. He said the two argued – and then Drinkwine followed him to the other bar where he started beating him.