Top Stories June 16th

Demerit Point System Established in Beaver Dam

6/16/09 - Taverns in the city of Beaver Dam are now governed by a demerit point system. The ordinance was voted down in May but was reintroduced earlier this month and approved by a 8 to 5 vote last night. In voting against the plan, Alderman Laine Meyer said the points were too strict, making it too easy to pull somebody’s livelihood away from them. Alderman Don Neuert, who chaired the ad hoc committee that drafted the ordinance, says its vital the police department and the city have a tool by which to measure problems with local taverns. Under the plan, demerits could be given to bars for such violations as serving minors, excessive noise or failing to notify the police of a fight. Taverns in violation could have their license suspended or revoked.

Weyco Closing Extended

6/16/09 - The closing date for the sale of the former Weyco Shoe Factory property has been extended. Wisconsin Redevelopment sought the extension as they await the sale of low-income tax-credits to potential investors to cover the costs of the $9 to $10 million dollar project. The company is seeking renovate the structure into loft-style apartments and extended its option to purchase the building from the city by paying another $5000 non-refundable fee. The closing date is now August 31.

YMCA Purchase Update

6/16/09 - The city of Beaver Dam his hoping to close on the purchase of the former YMCA property by July 31. The city approved a counter-offer in a special meeting last Monday that was accepted by the YMCA Board later in the week. In an update to the Common Council last night, Mayor Tom Kennedy said he will be meeting next week with the Operations Committee chair and MSA Professionals to evaluate various options for developing the site.

Koehn Addresses Staff Shortages With Columbus PFC

6/16/09 - Newly appointed Columbus Fire Chief Randy Koehn said that one of the first things he would do is recruit new firefighters to fill the current vacancies in the Department. He also told the PFC he hoped to get the firefighters trained as soon as possible. Since Columbus has been without a Chief for over two years the former 40 person Department roster has dropped to 34. Koehn said that he would like to fill the Department roster with enough trained on-call firefighters to ensure full response crews at all hours.

Dodge County Fatal IDed

6/16/09 - The name of the person killed in a one-vehicle accident near Brownsville Sunday morning has been released. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, Jeffrey L. Strub of Sparta, Missouri was driving a pick-up truck that was pulling an enclosed trailer on State Highway 49 when he failed to negotiate a curve and rolled the vehicle down and embankment and it caught fire. The 45-year-old was unable to get out of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dodge County Medical Examiner.

Oconomowoc Man Identified in Motorcycle Fatality

6/16/09 - Washington County authorities have released the name of the 25-year-old Oconomowoc man killed in a motorcycle accident on County Highway E Sunday afternoon. Kenneth Christenson was taken to a hospital in Hartford after his bike failed to negotiate a curve. He died there. Sheriff's officials say speed was a factor in the accident.

Milwaukee Man Charged In Fatal FDL County Motorcycle Accident

6/16/09 - Last month's fatal motorcycle crash that led to the death of a 31-year-old West Allis woman in the Campbellsport area has resulted in homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle charges for the driver of the bike. Thirty-two year old Jay Taylor of Milwaukee was charged in Fond du Lac County Court Monday. One of the charges is for having a prohibited alcohol content. According to the criminal complaint Taylor's blood alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit when the motorcycle went off Highway 67. Both Taylor and his girlfriend Crystal Daly were thrown from the bike. She was killed after hitting a utility pole. Taylor told investigators he'd had five or six beers. His bond is set at $25,000 cash and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, June 25th. (KFIZ)

Drive By Shooting Suspect Charged

6/16/09 - Bail has been set at $100,000 cash for a 20-year-old Fond du Lac man who fired at a group of people during a drive-by shooting at the Calumet Apartments last Wednesday afternoon. According to the criminal complaint Terrence Whitaker was in the back passenger seat in a car that went by the apartments. Witnesses say they saw a black man with a gun point it at a group of people and yell, "Shorty get down." "Shorty" is the nickname for one of those who were in the group. Five shots were fired; three hit a car that a man, a woman, and two children ages 2 and 5 years old were in. The Waupun woman driving the car told investigators she did not know Whitaker planned to shoot at anyone when he asked her to drive towards the apartments. She said and a passenger, another Waupun woman yelled at him to get out of the car a short distance from the shooting. Whitaker took off on foot after that. Police arrested him the following evening. No one was hurt in the shooting incident. Whitaker is charged with 9 counts of 1st degree reckless endangerment by use of a dangerous weapon and 5 counts of discharging firearms from a vehicle towards a building or vehicle. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 25th. (KFIZ)

Sprague Sentenced in BD Break-Ins

6/16/09 - A Beaver Dam man will spend three and-a-half years in prison for a pair of burglaries in Beaver Dam last fall and a handful of other charges. Bradley Sprague pleaded “no contest” in March to felony Theft and Misappropriating ID Information and had several other counts dismissed but read into the record. In December, a Horicon police officer pulled a vehicle over for a traffic violation. The officer noted the car matched the description of a suspect’s vehicle in several Beaver Dam area burglaries. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed two guns, stereo equipment and ammunition that had recently been stolen from a residence in Beaver Dam. Authorities say Sprague was hiding the guns until a buyer could be found. In addition to serving three and-a-half years in prison, the 26-year-old was ordered to serve four and-a-half years of extended supervision. Sprague was also placed on probation for three years and is required to pay nearly $700 in restitution on the identity theft charges.

Three Teens Apprehended For Recent Burglaries

6/16/09 - Three teens were apprehended early Monday morning following a burglary at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel building in Beaver Dam. Chief Dale Boldt says officers responded to the newspaper warehouse at 200 Stoddart Street around 2:30am. After entry was gained to the building, a soda machine was broken into near the point of entry. A short time later, three Beaver Dam teens were taken into custody in the connection with the incident. Authorities arrested one 18-year-old male on charges of Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, Criminal Damage To Property and Entry Into A Locked Coin Box. Another 18-year-old male was arrested on charges of Party to a Crime of Burglary, felony Bail Jumping and drug possession charges. A 17-year-old male was arrested on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. All three were transported to the Dodge County Detention Facility. Boldt says the investigation continues into other recent burglaries in the city and more arrests are expected.

Weekend Burglaries in BD

6/16/09 - Three other break-ins were reported this weekend in Beaver Dam. On Friday, the Snack Shack at the Athletic Field was targeted for the second time this year. Parks officials tell us they will be installing a surveillance system. On Saturday morning, a burglary was reported at Expedition Supply on the 100 Block of South Center Street and several unidentified items were stolen. Also Saturday morning, there was a report of a garage break-in on the 200 block of Walnut; a GPS unit was taken. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact the beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

YMCA Triathlon Kicks Off Modes

6/16/09 - The YMCA of Dodge County is gearing up for their big fundraising event this weekend. The first annual Modes of Transportation will feature every mode of transportation imaginable, including helicopters, hot air balloons, the Original Wisconsin Ducks, the Oscar Meier Weiner-Mobile, fire trucks, ambulances and even golf carts. Another big part of the event is their triathlon, which kicks off the festivities Saturday morning with a serpentine swim, seven-mile bike ride and one-mile run. The event this year honors two long-time YMCA members: Bill Hollihan and David Brandenburg, both of whom were very involved in competitive events. Registration forms for the triathlon are available at the YMCA on Corporate Drive in Beaver Dam or on-line at www.ymcaofdodgecounty.org. Officials with the Y will be our guests on WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon (Tue) beginning at 12:35pm. In our second segment, we’ll get all the details on this year’s Rock ‘n River Jam in Horicon.