Top Stories, June 7th

Forbes Gets Bond Reduction

6/7/09 - Accused murdered Curtis Forbes had his bond reduced during a motion hearing on Friday. The Randolph man is accused of killing 18-year-old Marilyn McIntyre at her Columbus residence on March 11, 1980. The 51-year-old Forbes had his bond reduced from $750,000 to $450,000 though his attorneys indicated that he would still be unable to pay it. Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Alan White did not explain the reason for the change but did say that a high bond is necessary for a defendant facing life in prison because they are a flight risk. McIntyre was discovered by her husband after he returned home from work; their three-month old son was asleep at the time. She was beaten, stabbed and strangled. Forbes, who was a close personal friend of the victim’s husband, was initially a person of interest but he fled the state shortly after the murder. The case had gone cold for several years but was reopened in late 2007 at the request of the family. According to the criminal complaint, Forbes was overheard in 2002 saying he took a friend’s wife home from a bar, and she didn’t breathe any more after that night. Authorities used D-N-A to link Forbes to the crime. A preliminary hearing is slated for mid-July.

Trailer Park Offices Burglarized

6/7/09 - Authorities are investigating a burglary at the North Hills Trailer Court offices on Kellom Road in the Town of Beaver Dam. According to Dodge County Sheriffs Department records, the break-in was reported yesterday morning and occurred during the overnight hours. Over $10,000 in cash and checks were taken. There was forced entry to the offices. Anyone with information should contact the Dodge County Sheriffs Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline at 800-78-CRIME.

Buchholz Brothers Bound Over

6/7/09 - Probable cause was found to bind two brothers over for trial on charges that they mistreated animals on their farm. Authorities say they found an “appalling” and “abusive situation” at their seven acre property in Lomira. 40-year-old Harvey Buchholz and 35-year-old Heath Buchholz are each charged with four felony counts of Mistreatment of Animals Causing Death. The mistreated animals include dairy cows, calves, steer and sheep, all reportedly sick – bellowing with hunger -- with inadequate food, water and bedding. According to the criminal complaint, there were dead animal carcasses strewn all over the barnyard. The remaining animals were covered in mange, with open sores and visible bones and ribs. A veterinarian brought in to assess the conditions said he was “appalled by the total lack of husbandry… and disregard for the welfare of the animals.” The brothers were given several weeks to address the situation this January. They denied that financial troubles lead to the conditions. They now each face up to 14 years in prison, if convicted. The Buchholz brothers have an arraignment hearing scheduled for June 24.

Student Bound Over for BDHS Bomb Scare

6/7/09 - A Beaver Dam High School student accused of sparking a bomb threat, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Dodge County court. Colton C. Haase faces over three years in prison if convicted on the felony Bomb Scare charge. The 18-year-old is accused of using a yellow marker to scribble “there’s a bomb tomorrow” in a school hallway that leads to a staff parking lot in January. Arraignment is scheduled for July 1.

Gas To Break $3

6/7/09 - Triple-A Wisconsin now predicts the cost of a gallon of gas in the state could top three dollars soon. The average price is $2.77 a gallon now. Last spring Triple-A predicted a peak price of $2.75 a gallon, but the organization has adjusted that. It says the world supply and the improving American economy have changed things. More people are driving and the summer travel season is just starting. That means even more demand for gas. The price of regular unleaded in Beaver Dam, Watertown, Johnson Creek and Mayville is at $2.79. Fond du Lac and Ripon are at $2.84. Oshkosh is at $2.89. The cheapest gas in Wisconsin is in Superior at $2.67 a gallon. Eagle River is paying the most at $3.03. Gas was over 50 cents cheaper last month at this time, but last year at this time it was nearly $4 a gallon.

Kleinhans Remembered

6/7/09 - Tina Kleinhans says her 9-year-old daughter played at the park in the village of St. Nazianz nearly every day. She says it's an ideal place for the memorial for Savannah. She died there last February when her father drove his truck through the ice on Lake Winnebago. Dan Kleinhans died in the accident, too. The lone survivor, Tiffany Dombrowski, spent five weeks in the hospital recovering. The memorial bench honoring Savannah includes a poem written by her fourth grade teacher. Officials at St. Gregory's School say a scholarship has been set up in Savannah's name.

Fundraising During Budget Talks Criticized

6/7/09 - Critics say holding fundraisers while lawmakers are still working on the budget makes it look like you can buy special consideration. Even though Assembly leaders passed a rule banning the practice last winter, Democrats are still planning an event to raise money a week from tomorrow. The thousand-dollar-a-person golf outing at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells comes just days after the two-year spending plan has been worked out. It won't go to the Wisconsin Senate until later this month. The group Common Cause in Wisconsin has some harsh criticism for the violation of the rule just four months after it was put in place. Leader Jay Heck says that's why people feel cynical about politicians.

Pregnant Bussing Plan Under Fire

6/7/09 - There's opposition to a plan to help pregnant Wisconsin girls get to school. Current state law says school districts only have to provide taxpayer-funded transportation when a student lives more than two miles from school. A provision in the state budget provides an exception for girls who are pregnant and live less than two miles from their education destination. Republican Representative Steve Nass isn't happy about the proposal, saying there is no reason for the change and it makes no sense whatsoever. Nass says it's like the state is rewarding pregnant girls with a ride to school for sexual indiscretions. Some Democrats are also raising questions about the budget item.

I-94 Interchange Moves Forward

6/7/09 - A road project in Racine County will be completed three years sooner with the help of some federal stimulus funding. Ground was broken at the Interstate 94 interchange with County Highway "G" in the town of Raymond last Friday. Governor Jim Doyle and a federal transportation official say 529 million dollars in stimulus funding will help pay for nearly two billion dollars in Wisconsin highway construction work. The governor says that could mean an estimated 23 hundred jobs for the state. It will cost about 20 million dollars to replace the bridge over the interstate, while rebuilding the entrance and exit ramps.

Wisconsin Mountain Climber To Be Honored

6/7/09 - Bayfield honors one of its most tenacious residents with a parade, a potluck party and music Tuesday night. Lori Schneider is a mountain climber. She reached the summit of Mount Everest May 23 -- and has now climbed the tallest peak in each of the seven continents. What makes the accomplishment even more impressive is the fact the 52 year old retired school teacher has multiple sclerosis. Bayfield Mayor Larry MacDonald says Schneider is inspiring to everyone who hears about her accomplishments. Friends and neighbors at Tuesday's event will also see pictures taken from the summit of the world's highest mountain.

Recount Underway in Edgerton Building Referendum

6/7/09 - A recount of votes in Edgerton could be completed today after a formal challenge. Voters approved a plan to spend more than a million dollars on a new city hall last week. The approval came by a narrow 17-vote margin. The current city hall building was constructed in the early 1900s and has been used as city hall for more than 50 years. A city ordinance requires voter approval of any spending plan costing more than seven percent of the operating budget in Edgerton. The 1-point-2 million dollar construction project is expected to take about two years to complete.

Students Punished Following Food Fight

6/7/09 - Nearly 40 students at Marinette Middle School wound up with egg on their faces -- or, at least, some kind of food. The students were shut out of the school's recognition ceremony Friday after a big food fight the day before. Middle school officials say the cafeteria was trashed, with trays, food and other stuff spread around. Quick response by teachers is credited with calming the situation and making it unnecessary to call police. The punishment? The kids involved had to clean up the mess and, even worse, call their parents and tell them what happened. About 150 students were in the cafeteria when the food fight started.