Unemployment Dips Below Double Digit Peak
9/24/09 - After posting double digit numbers last month, the unemployment rate in Dodge County has dropped. The jobless rate for August was at 9.5% down nearly a full percentage point from July but twice what it was last year at this same time. Columbia County dipped three-tenths of a percent to 7.7%. Jefferson County dropped two-tenths to 8.8%. Fond du Lac County is also at 8.8% after a half-point decline. Washington County is at 9.1%. According to the Department of Workforce Development, all but three counties in the state saw a decline in unemployment filings last month. Secretary Roberta Gassman calls that an “encouraging sign that the economy is improving.” Dane County continues to have the lowest rate in the state at 5.8%. Menominee County has the highest at 17.8% while Rock County is a distant second at 12%. Statewide, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate went down four-tenths from July to 8.4%, well below the national average of 9.6%.
Plea Agreement For Church Burglar
9/24/09 - A former Beaver Dam man who broke into a church and two businesses last fall has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. Trevor Waller pleaded “no contest” to a felony Burglary charge related to a break-in at the First Lutheran Church of Beaver Dam on October 20. In exchange, the 28-year-old had a misdemeanor charge of Criminal Damage to Property, and two other felony Burglary charges dismissed but read into the record. Authorities heard about the First Lutheran burglary while they were one block down the street at the United Methodist Church investigating a similar break-in. There have been no charges filed yet in connection with that incident. Authorities found blood and fingerprint evidence at First Lutheran and connected it to Waller, who was also charged, along with two others, with break-ins at Kelm Painting and Beaver Plumbing around the same time. In July, Tabatha Pellett pled to reduced charges for her role in one of the business break-ins and was sentenced to probation. Kurtis Billings has a Plea and Sentencing Hearing scheduled for next month. Judge Brian Pfitzinger ordered a pre-sentencing investigation for Waller, which will be set at a later date.
Swine Flu Update
9/24/09 - Six people in Wisconsin have been hospitalized this month with the H-1-N-1 swine flu virus, and there have been no reports of deaths. State health officials say flu cases have been higher than normal for September, and many incidents have been in the southern half of the Badger State. The state’s health agency is rounding up information about public flu clinics where people can get the H-1-N-1 vaccine once it’s available. Dodge County Public Health Officer Jody Langfeldt says she will release the information as soon as she gets it. Wisconsin has had eight deaths from the virus this year. Another 239 have been hospitalized.
Gun Deer Season Expansion Proposed
9/24/09 - The idea of a longer deer hunting season in Wisconsin took one step forward Wednesday. The Natural Resources Board agreed to hold public hearings to find out what people think. D-N-R staff members have proposed a 16-day gun deer season instead of the traditional nine days. It would help keep the state’s growing deer herd in check, after the board scrapped the controversial Earn-a-Buck program earlier this year. The proposed 16-day gun hunt would begin two Saturdays before Thanksgiving, and run through the Sunday after the holiday. It would take effect in 2010 if the board eventually agrees. The public hearings on the idea will be held next month around the state. The closest one to our area will be in Madison on October 21.
Beaver Dam Film Festival Planned
9/24/09 - Dodge County will have its first ever film festival later this fall. The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association is hosting the event and Executive Director Karla Jensen says they are looking for amateur film makers from in and around the county to submit their original movies. Jensen says for those who new to film making, the Arts Association will offer a 4-session course that covers all aspects of the filmmaking process. She says technology has gotten to the point where anyone with a personal computer and digital camera can write, produce and edit their own movies. After the class wraps up, students will have about a month to make their own two-minute film. “Take One,” the Arts Associations film making course, will be held on four consecutive Thursday’s beginning October 15. And Jensen says you don’t have to take the class to submit a film to the festival; that is open to everyone. The Film Festival will have a public screening on Friday, December 4. Submission forms can be obtained through the Arts Association.
9/24/09 - After posting double digit numbers last month, the unemployment rate in Dodge County has dropped. The jobless rate for August was at 9.5% down nearly a full percentage point from July but twice what it was last year at this same time. Columbia County dipped three-tenths of a percent to 7.7%. Jefferson County dropped two-tenths to 8.8%. Fond du Lac County is also at 8.8% after a half-point decline. Washington County is at 9.1%. According to the Department of Workforce Development, all but three counties in the state saw a decline in unemployment filings last month. Secretary Roberta Gassman calls that an “encouraging sign that the economy is improving.” Dane County continues to have the lowest rate in the state at 5.8%. Menominee County has the highest at 17.8% while Rock County is a distant second at 12%. Statewide, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate went down four-tenths from July to 8.4%, well below the national average of 9.6%.
Plea Agreement For Church Burglar
9/24/09 - A former Beaver Dam man who broke into a church and two businesses last fall has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. Trevor Waller pleaded “no contest” to a felony Burglary charge related to a break-in at the First Lutheran Church of Beaver Dam on October 20. In exchange, the 28-year-old had a misdemeanor charge of Criminal Damage to Property, and two other felony Burglary charges dismissed but read into the record. Authorities heard about the First Lutheran burglary while they were one block down the street at the United Methodist Church investigating a similar break-in. There have been no charges filed yet in connection with that incident. Authorities found blood and fingerprint evidence at First Lutheran and connected it to Waller, who was also charged, along with two others, with break-ins at Kelm Painting and Beaver Plumbing around the same time. In July, Tabatha Pellett pled to reduced charges for her role in one of the business break-ins and was sentenced to probation. Kurtis Billings has a Plea and Sentencing Hearing scheduled for next month. Judge Brian Pfitzinger ordered a pre-sentencing investigation for Waller, which will be set at a later date.
Swine Flu Update
9/24/09 - Six people in Wisconsin have been hospitalized this month with the H-1-N-1 swine flu virus, and there have been no reports of deaths. State health officials say flu cases have been higher than normal for September, and many incidents have been in the southern half of the Badger State. The state’s health agency is rounding up information about public flu clinics where people can get the H-1-N-1 vaccine once it’s available. Dodge County Public Health Officer Jody Langfeldt says she will release the information as soon as she gets it. Wisconsin has had eight deaths from the virus this year. Another 239 have been hospitalized.
Gun Deer Season Expansion Proposed
9/24/09 - The idea of a longer deer hunting season in Wisconsin took one step forward Wednesday. The Natural Resources Board agreed to hold public hearings to find out what people think. D-N-R staff members have proposed a 16-day gun deer season instead of the traditional nine days. It would help keep the state’s growing deer herd in check, after the board scrapped the controversial Earn-a-Buck program earlier this year. The proposed 16-day gun hunt would begin two Saturdays before Thanksgiving, and run through the Sunday after the holiday. It would take effect in 2010 if the board eventually agrees. The public hearings on the idea will be held next month around the state. The closest one to our area will be in Madison on October 21.
Beaver Dam Film Festival Planned
9/24/09 - Dodge County will have its first ever film festival later this fall. The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association is hosting the event and Executive Director Karla Jensen says they are looking for amateur film makers from in and around the county to submit their original movies. Jensen says for those who new to film making, the Arts Association will offer a 4-session course that covers all aspects of the filmmaking process. She says technology has gotten to the point where anyone with a personal computer and digital camera can write, produce and edit their own movies. After the class wraps up, students will have about a month to make their own two-minute film. “Take One,” the Arts Associations film making course, will be held on four consecutive Thursday’s beginning October 15. And Jensen says you don’t have to take the class to submit a film to the festival; that is open to everyone. The Film Festival will have a public screening on Friday, December 4. Submission forms can be obtained through the Arts Association.
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