Top Stories May 2nd

Number of Probable Swine Flu Cases up to 14

The numbers change from hour to hour. At last report, the Wisconsin Department of Health had submitted a total of nearly 400 samples for testing. They're looking for swine flu. Of those, 243 tested negative, 14 were probable and 132 test results weren't in yet. Many of the same schools which didn't hold classes yesterday will be closed Monday as well. Most of them were in the southeastern part of the state. A half-dozen probable cases of swine flu were located in Milwaukee County.

BDHS Holds Mock Accident

5/2/09 - Two people were killed and four others injured in a two-car accident yesterday in Beaver Dam. That’s the headline that would have been written had the incident not been part of a mock accident put on at the high school yesterday. The event comes in the wake of eight deaths of Beaver Dam students or recent graduates since the start of 2008. The day started with students watching a video of six of their classmates drinking before they piled into two cars which led to the accident. Using it as a drill, the accident was called into the dispatch center exactly as it would have if it were real. Beaver Dam police, fire, and EMS responded as did the Dodge County Medical Examiner and a funeral home. Students watched as two of the kids were pronounced dead at the scene and others cut from their vehicles. After the reenactment, students were led back into the gym where police officer Lisa Jones, former Deputy Fire Chief Randy Koehn, and recent accident victim Sarah Starr spoke in an effort to drive the point home of how dangerous not paying attention or driving drunk really is. The six students involved in the accident were Melissa Rompre, Dustin Blanchard, Ben Buhalog, Nick Reilly, Cady Roedl and Courtney Miller.

DC Still Looking for Mother of Abandoned Infant

5/2/09 - Authorities in Dodge County are still looking for the mother of a baby who was thrown in the woods in a garbage bag. Sheriff Todd Nehls said his officers were following up on what he called a “credible tip” that matched details of the case that have not been released. A man cutting wood found the infant in the garbage bag late Wednesday afternoon near Theresa. Since the case hit the media yesterday, Nehls said his agency has been flooded with leads from all over Wisconsin. He said the most credible tip came from a source in southeast Dodge County. Pathologists believe the child was born only 12-to-24 hours before being tossed in the woods. Nehls would not say whether the death was a homicide, or what he called the “unauthorized disposal of a corpse.” An autopsy was conducted yesterday and the sheriff would only say that the baby was a female Caucasian. He said his officers learned the mother had a rough delivery with the infant – and doctors told him the mother might need subsequent care and not know it until it’s too late.

Fire Damages Juneau Home

5/2/09 - A fire at a home in Juneau yesterday morning caused a significant amount of damage. Juneau Assistant Fire Chief Dan Wegener says they were called to 252 East Center Street around 9am after receiving reports of flames inside the home. He says after turning off the utilities firefighters entered the home and were able to get the fire under control quickly. Wegener says there was considerable smoke and heat damage to the home and it is unlivable. The home is owned by Anthony Jezyk though no one was home at the time. Firefighters were on the scene for about an hour.

Archeology Weekend Begins Today

5/2/09 - The Rock River Archaeological Society is holding their annual Archeology Weekend today (Sat) and tomorrow (Sun) at the new Horicon Marsh International Education Center. The Society’s Don Gerhke says the 2-day event will feature hands-on demonstrations, a Native-American Indian artifact show, story telling and drum circle and an authentic Buck Skinners Camp. DNR Naturalist Bill Volker will also be on hand and will give a presentation about Horicon’s Native American roots. The Archeology Weekend will be held from 10am to 4pm today (Sat) and tomorrow at the Horicon Marsh International Education Center on State Highway 28 between Horicon and Mayville. The event is free and open to the public.

Authorities Investigating Apparent Suicide

5/2/09 - Sheboygan police say a 17 year old student who apparently shot himself to death had been troubled recently. School had been dismissed for the day about 40 minutes before the teenager killed himself. The victim's classmates were inside Sheboygan North High School, decorating the hallways for an event to be held today. The boy was found outside in the school parking lot with a serious stomach wound. He died at Aurora Sheboygan Medical Center. Investigating officers found a gun in a car that was near the spot where the boy was found. The school was put on lockdown status while the shooting was checked out.

Steele Speaks at Republican Convention in La Crosse

5/2/09 - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's address was the highlight of the party's annual state convention in La Crosse. Party members from all over the state filled the Radisson Hotel and the La Crosse Center Arena. The convention runs through tomorrow morning. Signs for Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker covered the arena's walls. Walker is running for Wisconsin governor. He is among the speakers scheduled to talk to convention attendees. He will take the podium today.

Dells Jobs Filling up Fast

5/2/09 - Lake Delton is ready for business and Wisconsin Dells area jobs are filling up fast. There are the same number of jobs this summer as in previous years, but more people are looking for work. Tom Diehl, owner of the "Tommy Bartlett Show," says many businesses in the Dells have a lot more applicants to choose from this year, something Diehl attributes to the bad economy. Diehl says the greater pool of job seekers this year made it easier to put together a summer staff. He just finished hiring on Tuesday.

Kenosha Chrysler Plant Closing by the End of ‘09

5/2/09 - Chrysler's engine plant in Kenosha is among eight to be closed by the end of the year. Attorneys for the automaker say a motion will be filed today to sell most of Chrysler's assets to Italian automaker Fiat. Nearly five thousand people work at the eight plants being shut down. About 850 are employed in Kenosha. Chrysler says the workers affected will be offered positions at other plants. Another hearing on Chrysler's bankruptcy plans will be held Monday morning. In that courtroom Chrysler will ask the judge to let it start using four and a half billion dollars in loans to keep operating under bankruptcy protection.

Rally for Immigration Reform Held Despite Flu Concerns

5/2/09 - The crowd was smaller due to fears of swine flu, but eventually thousands of people joined the lunchtime rally in Milwaukee to support immigration reform. Organizers said they would understand if some people didn't feel comfortable enough to march due to the health threat. A few marchers did show up wearing masks. The marched through downtown Milwaukee, ending with the rally at Veterans Park.

Man Drowns While Running from Police

5/2/09 - If you're going to jump into the river to get away from police -- make sure you can swim. Milwaukee police report a 23 year old man died yesterday afternoon. Officers report they approached him, wanting to talk to him, and he took off running. The man jumped into the Milwaukee River near the intersection of North Plankinton and St. Paul. The man jumped in at about 12:30 p.m. and was pulled out 30 minutes later.