Sunday, February 28, 2010

Top Stories February 28th

Jansen on Superintendent Search


2/28/10 - Columbus Superintendent Mark Jansen has responded to last week’s withdrawal of an internal candidate for his job that left the search for a new Superintendent in limbo. Jansen said there is still plenty of time before his July 1st departure for a smooth transition to a new Superintendent. The two most likely ways the Board will use to find a new top administrator would be to appoint a search committee or hire a search firm. Unless a special meeting is called before then, the School Board will be having a lively discussion on how to proceed with the search at their March 8th meeting.


Authorities Investigating Car Break-in


2/28/10 - The Sheriff’s Department is once again investigating a car break-in, this time in the town of Hubbard. Authorities say a 78-year-old man had checks taken from his vehicle and one of the stolen checks was later cashed in Milwaukee. This latest theft is added to more than a dozen car break-ins in and around Dodge County over the past three weeks. If you have any information about the theft you can call the Sheriff’s Department or the anonymous WE-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.


Wisconsin Women OK After Earthquake


2/28/10 - A Wisconsin woman caught in Chile during one the biggest earthquakes on record contacted her parent’s yesterday morning, just a few hours after the 8-point-8 magnitude quake struck the country. Catherine Curley told her family the building in Santiago where she was staying was still standing, but didn't have power or water. Michael Curley of Delafield says his daughter left for Chile three weeks ago. She was to start working with grade school children this Wednesday. She was just starting a two-year tour of duty as a social worker in Chile.


State Trying to Reassure Those with Expiring Unemployment Benefits


2/28/10 - Wisconsin state officials offer reassuring words for people drawing unemployment benefits -- you're not going to be knocked off overnight. A filibuster in the U.S. Senate last week blocked passage of renewed federal funding for unemployment insurance. A Washington-based advocacy group estimated 27 thousand Wisconsin recipients would exhaust their benefits next month. The state Department of Workforce Development disputes that. It says Wisconsin is set up differently from other states, pointing to an additional safety net to keep the program solvent. Senators have vowed the federal funding will be brought up again this week.


School to Offer Abstinence-Only Class


2/28/10 - Some lawmakers think offering an abstinence-only class will present legal difficulties for the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District. A new state law says all sex education courses have to offer information about contraceptives. School officials says the state Department of Public Instruction issued a legal opinion letting the district move ahead. The DPI says it hasn't formally approved the approach. West Allis-West Milwaukee is offering the health class as an elective. Students would opt out of the comprehensive health class to take it.


Woman Gets Jail Time for Leaving Baby on Neighbors Roof


2/28/10 - A Wisconsin woman who abandoned her newborn baby girl will spend 90 days in jail. Rose Freeman pleaded guilty last month. She was convicted of dressing the one day old girl in warm clothes, placing her in a diaper bag and putting her on top of her neighbor's car -- in hopes they would find her. The infant was found a few hours later, unharmed. Freeman is 19 years old and the baby is her fifth child. A Milwaukee television station is reporting Freeman will have school and work privileges and she has to take classes on family planning and how to be a good parent.


Man Charges with Hiding a Corpse


2/28/10 - Chippewa Falls police have arrested 30 year old Shane Hawkins in the death of a teenager. Hawkins is charged with hiding a corpse. Seventeen year old Jason Grau's body was found on the banks of the Chippewa River earlier this week. The two apparently knew each other. Grau's body was found last Wednesday near a bridge over the river in Chippewa County.


Tax Revenues Down for Milwaukee County


2/28/10 - We won't have access to the exact figures until April, but it appears Milwaukee County will be getting some more bad tax revenue news. Sales tax figures may have to be adjusted down by more than eight million dollars. County Executive Scott Walker is being quoted as saying the county budget will still stay in the black. Milwaukee County had to scramble to deal with what's being called a roller-coaster of increases and decreases in the monthly sales tax figures last year. The half-cent sales tax collections were off more than 17 percent last December.


Clarke Looking to Fire a Deputy, Again


2/28/10 - For the second time in two years, Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Junior is trying to fire one of his deputies. Sheriff Clarke recommended termination for Deputy Christopher Paul Conell last Friday. Conell is being charged with second-offense drunken driving. Two years ago, when Conell faced the same charge the first time, he was given a 30-day unpaid suspension from the county's personnel review board. Clarke wanted him fired then, too. The current criminal complaint says the 36 year old Conell was found passed out in his van early in the morning of February 5th.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Top Stories, February 27th

Slinger Man Airlifted From Hustisford Accident Scene

2/27/10 - A Slinger man was seriously injured in a one-vehicle accident in the Town of Hustisford late Friday afternoon. The Dodge County Sheriffs Department says Richard Justmann lost control of the straight truck he was driving on County DJ, just north of State Highway 60, around 5:20pm. The truck went into a counter-clockwise spin, through the oncoming traffic lane and into the ditch. The truck then went airborne, struck a power pole and came to rest with the power lines lying across the top of the truck. Justmann was ejected from the vehicle and was flown from the scene by Flight For Life to Froedtert Hospital. The roadway was closed and local residents were without power for about six hours. The accident remains under investigation by the Dodge County Crash Investigation Team.

Pharmacy Burglar Sentenced

2/27/10 - One of the men who broke into a Horicon pharmacy in September has was sentenced yesterday in Dodge County court to nine months in jail. 22-year-old Andrew W. Stockwell of Watertown pleaded “no contest” in December to felony charges of Burglary and Possession With intent To Deliver Narcotics. Two felony drug possession counts and a misdemeanor were dismissed but read into the record. Officers responded to an alarm at the Marshland Pharmacy just after 3am on September 23. Stockwell was in possession of a large duffel bag filled with stolen prescription narcotics and was taken into custody without incident. His alleged accomplice, Nathan G. Davis of Beaver Dam was reportedly seen running from the scene with a hammer and was taken into custody after a brief foot chase. The 34-year-old Davis is being held on a $50,000 cash bond and has a jury trial scheduled for next month. In addition to nine months in jail with work privileges, Stockwell was placed on probation for seven-and-a-half years, ordered to perform 80 hours of community service and must pay $2700 in restitution.

Two Charged In Robbery of Pregnant Woman

2/27/10 - Formal charges have been filed against two men accused of beating up a woman in the Watertown High School parking lot and stealing her purse. Cash bond has been set at $50,000 for 20-year-old Andrew Hoffman of Madison and at $10,000 for 22-year-old Brad Kiefer of Delafield. Hoffman and Kiefer are charged with felony Theft and Robbery with the Use of Force and a misdemeanor count of Batter related to the February 8 incident. The victim was attempting to get into her car around 9:30pm when Hoffman and Kiefer allegedly walked up behind her and knocked her to the ground and started kicking her. A 23-year-old Lake Mills man was identified in the criminal complaint as a participant but has not been formally charged. The victim was around four months pregnant at the time and she sustained cuts and scrapes in the strong armed robbery. Approximately $1000 in student loan money was stolen from her purse. She was able to get a partial license plate and it turns out she may have known her alleged attackers. According to the criminal complaint, the battery in her vehicle was manually disconnected. After the attack, she arrived at home to find her apartment had been broken into. Police were able to lift fingerprints from both the hood of her vehicle and the point of entry to her residence and connect it to her assailants, who were friends of friends. The suspects claim the victim had stolen $400 that they had collected to purchase illegal drugs and they were just trying to get their money back. Kiefer was in court yesterday. He had a motion to change his bail from a cash bond to a signature bond denied; a preliminary hearing scheduled for next Thursday.

Seven Years For Pocketed Pipe Bomb

2/27/10 - A Waterloo man has been sentenced to seven years in a federal prison for carrying around a pipe bomb. 21-year-old Christopher Hamlin pleaded guilty in December to a possession charge. He was sentenced Thursday by Federal Judge Barbara Crabb in Madison. Justice officials said police stopped Hamlin as he walked down a street in Watertown last August, because he had a strong scent on intoxicants. An officer found the five-inch pipe bomb during that stop – and the Milwaukee County bomb later detonated it.

Shed Destroyed In Alto

2/27/10 - Fire destroyed a shed in the Town of Alto yesterday afternoon. A skid loader parked in the shed caught fire around 2pm, destroying the loader, four tractors, hay and bedding. Traffic was diverted on Highway AW for several hours as crews from Alto, Fox Lake, Brandon and Waupun battled the blaze. Despite strong winds, firefighters were able to contain the flames to the shed.

Deer Population meeting In Horicon March 15

2/27/10 - The state D-N-R will hold almost 40 deer management meetings throughout Wisconsin next month. This fall’s hunting seasons will be discussed, along with efforts to increase the number of hunters, and deer research that’s part of a new two-million-dollar effort to examine the deer herd. The program is called “Investing in Wisconsin’s White-tails,” and it was announced this week. The meetings run March 8th through the 18th statewide and will include video presentations and round-table discussions. On Monday, March 15 the program will be held at the Horicon Marsh International Education Center beginning at 5:30pm.

Farm Bureau Hosts Working Lands Program

2/27/10 - The Dodge County Farm Bureau is hosting a public meeting Monday to discuss the Working Lands program, which used to be known as the Farmland Preservation Program. Farm Bureau Coordinator Becky Anding says anyone with agricultural interests is encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about the program and what it entails in the future. Speakers include Nate Olson, Senior Planner for Dodge County Land Resources and Parks and Paul Zimmerman, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Director of Public Relations. There will be an open discussion period after both speakers. The Working Lands meeting will be held at the Dodge County Administration Building beginning at 1pm.

BDPD Citizens Academy Application Deadline

2/27/10 - Applications for the Beaver Dam Police Department’s Seventh Annual Citizens Police Academy will be accepted through Monday. Officer Bill Linzenmeyer says the 10-week course covers a number of topics including firearms training, defensive tactics, OWI procedures and cadets even participate in a ride-along. Linzenmeyer says that the academy is not designed to certify citizens to perform law enforcement services. The course is free of charge, but applicants must be 18 years old and either reside or own property in Beaver Dam. The programs begin March 10 and continue on consecutive Wednesday’s through May 12. Applications can be picked up at the police department. Around two dozen applications have already been received and the top 12 candidates will be selected. Additional contact information is available on our website wbevradio.com. Contact Bill Linzenmeyer at 382-6529 or 887-4614 or email blinzenmeyer@bdpd.org.

Oconomowoc MS Building Sale Imminent

2/27/10 - The former Oconomowoc Middle School building could be converted into 60 loft-style apartments, if a planned sale moves forward. The Oconomowoc Area School District accepted a million-dollar offer from an in-state developer. There is one catch. That developer says his offer is dependent on the company receiving nine million dollars in tax credits from WHEDA, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. It will also seek another two million in historical tax credits.

Water Bills Could Surge In Waukesha

2/27/10 - People living in Waukesha can anticipate a rapidly-rising water bill. The Waukesha Water Utility says the cost of buying Lake Michigan water from Milwaukee and pumping to city customers would inflate those bills anywhere from 67 to 142 dollars. The mayor says a radium-free water supply is critical to the city. The Waukesha Common Council will be asked to approve the Great Lakes water option at a meeting in April.

Risser Challenges Governor Veto Pen

2/27/10 - Democratic state Senator Fred Risser says the governor is supposed to approve or reject laws, not create new ones on his own. Risser is backing a constitutional amendment that would limit the veto power for a Wisconsin governor. The amendment would eliminate a governor's ability to delete parts of a sentence in a law with his veto pen. It's called "line-item veto" power. The veteran Madison legislator says the change would bring this state's veto powers more in line with other states.


Top Stories, February 26th

Donations Still Needed for Tanzanian Education Project

2/26/10 - There is still time left to donate to the Tanzanian Education Project. Beaver Dam-native Cassie Parkhurst is rallying community support to help collect a library full of books and educational supplies for the east African country. She started the task after returning from a 4-month volunteer opportunity there. Her mother, Nancy Parkhurst, told us on WBEV’s Community Comment that they are very close to filling a 20-foot container. Items being collected include elementary and middle school-level textbooks and reading books along with pencils and paper and lab supplies like rulers, protractors and globes. The container will only be at the YMCA of Dodge County until Sunday. After that arrangements will have to be made through the Kiwanis’s Club before March 15. Parkhurst says she is very proud of her daughter for undertaking such a project, but she admits she was a little nervous when she first heard she was going from her college dorm room in Winona, MN to Tanzania. Parkhurst says they are still about $2000 short of the $7000 needed to ship the container. While a couple fundraisers are scheduled, Parkhurst says they are also welcoming donations from the community before the container leaves port on April 1. Contact: Cassie Parkhurst at cassie.parkhurst@yahoo.com, Nancy Parkhurst at 920-887-0930 or the Kiwanis’s Sharon Lubkeman at 920-887-3788. The YMCA of Dodge County website is http://www.ymcaofdodgecounty.org/support-community.cfm. Tax deductible donations can also be made to www.africanchildrenshaven.org.

Average “Joe” Runs For Mayor

2/26/10 - The write-in candidate for Beaver Dam mayor was our guest on WBEV’s Community Comment this week. Joe Liverseed, a member of the class of 2010 at Wayland Academy, fell on valid signature short of appearing on the April ballot alongside incumbent Mayor Tom Kennedy. The 18-year-old says it all started out as a theoretical campaign for a class project but he wanted to do something real and it flowered into an actual campaign. Liverseed says his American Government teacher has been very helpful and the best advice she gave him is just to be himself. While his campaign may have started out as a class project, Liverseed says it’s no joke. He says there are changes that can be made in Beaver Dam and he’s the right guy to do it. Liverseed is a Columbus-native who moved to Beaver Dam four years ago to attend Wayland. He plans to attend UW Madison in the fall but if he is elected, Liverseed says he will postpone his education until the end of his term in office. He says Beaver Dam deserves the best from its government and the best for its people. Liverseed says there are challenges in Beaver Dam that will affect all residents in years to come. But with all those challenges, Liverseed says there is also a lot of opportunity.

Kennedy On Community Comment Friday Afternoon

2/26/10 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy will be our guest on WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon. We’ll talk to Kennedy this afternoon about Monday night’s council vote for a new police station and related funding options. We’ll talk about the changes that will be taking place as part of the Phase II projects of the downtown redevelopment plan. Community Comment airs weekdays on WBEV 1430AM beginning at 12:35pm.

High Speed Rail Concerns In Waterloo

2/26/10 - New concerns are being raised about the high-speed passenger rail line that will go from Milwaukee-to-Madison. It’s supposed to go right through Waterloo. But residents there say it will cut their community in two. And Fire Chief Vern Butzine wonders how the trains will affect fire and emergency medical services. The concerns were expressed to local leaders at a public hearing Wednesday night. The new rail line would close two-of-the-nine existing rail crossings in Waterloo. There would be fencing, and perhaps sound barriers. The train is not scheduled stop at Waterloo. It will go at 79-miles-an-hour until the tracks can be upgraded – and then the speed would rise to 110. The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee has voted to accept 810-million dollars in federal stimulus funds to start up the high-speed line. The state has not said how it would pay for maintenance costs – and for that reason, many Republicans still oppose the line. The trains plan to stop in Oconomowoc and Watertown.

Drug Bust In Lodi Results In 239 Plants

2/26/10 - The Columbia County Sheriffs Department says they recovered 239 marijuana plants at a Town of Lodi residence this week. Sheriff Dennis Richards says Drug Unit officers executed a search warrant on Summerville Park Road on Tuesday. 33-year-old Joshua Driscoll has been formally charged with two felony counts of drug trafficking and misdemeanor possession. A 32-year-old Lodi woman is charged with Maintaining A Drug Trafficking Place and a 41-year-old Black Earth man was arrested for obstructing.

BDPD Investigates Vehicle Break-Ins

2/26/10 - A couple vehicles in Beaver Dam had their windows smashed Wednesday night or Thursday morning. A car on the 100 block of Stone Street and a van on the 1000 block of South Spring Street were targeted. In both incidents purses were stolen. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Beaver Dam Police Department or the anonymous We-Tip hotline 800-78-CRIME.

DNR Promises Better Deer Population Estimates

2/26/10 - Wisconsin wildlife officials hope to regain the trust of deer hunters with its biggest study ever on the state’s deer population. The D-N-R announced a two-million-dollar project yesterday called “Investing in Wisconsin’s White-tails.” It follows several years of complaints that the D-N-R over-estimated the size of the deer population, and almost devastated the herd with special hunting seasons and other rules. Secretary Matt Frank says they’ve gotten the message – and they’ve taken major action to ensure the best system possible. Among other things, they’ll work with U-W experts to research buck-and-fawn mortality rates and come up with hunter retention strategies. They’ll expand their data-base of hunter’s observations, monitor deer with radio collars, and study the usefulness of deer accident data in estimating the animal population. And the D-N-R promises to improve communication with those affected, and issue quarterly progress reports. The D-N-R’s Keith Warnke says some parts of the project will take five years to finish – and hunter participation will be crucial. It will be funded by an increase in the state’s share of federal firearm-and-ammunition taxes.

Wisconsin Bar Wants Records Expunged From CCAP

2/26/10 - The Wisconsin Bar Association wants the state Supreme Court to grant judges broader powers to expunge court records. Under current state law, judges can expunge records for young offenders who commit low-level crimes. The state bar wants the high court to expand this to any case where charges have been dismissed or a defendant has been acquitted. Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack says the court can't grant that authority unless the current state statute is changed. A proposal to do just that was granted a hearing this week (Wed), and more than 30 people turned out to testify for -- and against -- the plan. State Representative Marlin Schneider is the strongest legislative advocate for a new rule. But he says passing laws that allow innocent people to protect their privacy is a “tough sell” because lawmakers fear they'll be seen as soft on crime.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Top Stories, February 25th

Common Council To Consider New Police Station



2/25/10 - The Beaver Dam Common Council will decide on Monday whether or not to move forward with building a brand-new $5.1 million police station. During a joint meeting of the city’s two standing committees last night, members of the Administrative Committee unanimously approved to recommend the five-year Capital Improvements Plan to the full council, in two parts. One vote would be to authorize the construction of the police station and the other vote would be for all the other projects. The council will eventually have to decide if they should lock into historically low interest rates now and borrow the money needed for the police department all at once, or just borrow the $925,000 that will be needed to move forward on the project this year and the remaining $3.5 million at a future date. The proposed CIP also includes construction of a new DPW storage facility at a cost of $60,000 and engineering or construction work for about a dozen street projects. In addition, $600,000 would be allocated to either replace the dam gate on Beaver Dam Lake or to undertake a downtown storm sewer diversion project which is intended to reduce flooding in portions of the downtown area; a final decision on that is contingent on grant funding. There is no funding anywhere in the five-year plan to help with a new senior center. The Common Council meets Monday evening at 8pm in City Hall.



Crescio Arraigned on OWI Homicide Charges



2/25/10 - A Randolph man accused of killing a passenger in a drunken driving rollover was in Dodge County court yesterday for an arraignment hearing. Anthony Crescio stood mute and the court entered a “not guilty” plea on his behalf to charges of Homicide by Intoxicated use of a Vehicle. The 22-year-old was driving on Highway 73 early on the morning of December 19 when his vehicle left the roadway and rolled over, killing 22-year-old Dustin Vredeveld. EMS personnel had to extract Crescio from the back window of the vehicle. Soon after, they found Vredeveld still strapped into the passenger seat. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Crescio reportedly told authorities that a third person had been driving the vehicle, but according to the complaint, they were unable to find any evidence to support that claim. Court records show that Crescio was convicted twice of OWI and his license was revoked at the time of the accident. In addition to the homicide charge, he has been charged with Knowingly Operating a Motor Vehicle after Revocation Causing Death, which is a misdemeanor. Crescio is currently free after posting a $50,000 cash bond. He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted.



Zubke Enters “Not Guilty” Plea To Wife Poisoning Charges



2/25/10 - A Watertown man entered a “not guilty” plea yesterday to charges that he poisoned his wife with weed killer. Peter Zubke is charged with a felony count of Placing Objects in Edibles, Domestic Abuse for allegedly slipping the herbicide into her soda and coffee over a three to four week period ending in mid-June. The victim says she became suspicious because her soda looked like dishwater soap, was “very sudsy” and tasted “bitter.” Home brewed coffee was said to be “foggy” and store-bought coffee tasted like bleach or chemicals. She also found a bottle weed killer under her kitchen sink and while her husband does lawn work for a living, she noted that he never used that particular type of poison and typically kept herbicides in the garage. The 54-year-old Zubke denied the allegations and told investigators instead that his wife has a “bad tongue” and does not have very good taste buds. According to the criminal complaint, he told his wife he was trying to dilute the chemicals in the coffee pot before spraying the weed killer outside their home. He reportedly said he must have forgotten to clean out the coffee pot. Toxicology tests from the State Crime Lab confirm the chemicals found in the coffee and soda were the same ones found in the bottle of weed killer kept under the kitchen sink. If convicted, the felony charge carries a maximum sentence of three and-a-half years in prison. A motion hearing is scheduled late next month.



Jobs Coming To Mayville



2/25/10 - Up to 100 new jobs will be added at a plant in Mayville over the next year. Tab Products recently said it’s buying the Ames Safety Envelope Company, and will move its production from Somerville, Massachusetts. The deal is expected to be closed sometime next month, with 75-to-100 jobs being moved to Tab’s plant in Mayville. The Ames Company makes specialty folders for the health care industry. Tab Products says the new acquisition will increase its presence in the health care market. Ames will keep its sales office in the Boston area.



Columbus Interviewing Engineering Firms



2/25/10 - The final four Engineering firms vying for a seven year contract with Columbus are wrapping up their interviews today with city officials. Ten firms responded to the Request for Proposals (RFPs) issued by the City and the Water & Light Dept. Columbus faces major Capital Improvement projects such as regionalization of their wastewater system and the James Street project. Administrator Boyd Kraemer said hiring a City Engineer for a short term or single project was NOT the way to go. Interview committee recommendations will be brought to a Joint Meeting of the Council and Water & Light Commission in early March.



January Foreclosures Hold Steady in Dodge County



2/25/10 - Foreclosures in Dodge County held steady for the first month of 2010 when compared to the same time period in 2009. According the website foreclosurealarm.com, there were 42 foreclosures in both January of ’09 and last month. The same pattern held true in other area counties as well. Fond du Lac County had 33 foreclosures last month up one from a year ago. Columbia County was also up one foreclosure to 26, while Washington County actually saw a decrease of four to 38 foreclosures last month. The only area county that saw a big difference between ’09 and 2010 was Jefferson, where there were 44 foreclosures last month as compared to just 30 during the same time period last year.



Beaver Dam Actors Take Madison By Storm



2/25/10 - Four stars of Beaver Dam community theater and high school productions have found success in Madison community theater. Bryce Muenchow, Chris Hughes, Trevor Kastein and Brian Tuel have secured the lead roles in the “Broadway Madison” production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Muenchow, who directed last year’s Beaver Dam Area Community Theater summer show “Peter Pan,” told us on WBEV’s Community Comment recently that their success in the state’s capital is directly related to experience they picked-up in their hometown. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has four performances scheduled from 10pm Thursday night through midnight Saturday at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Madison. Tickets are $15. The four promise that those who trek from Beaver Dam to Madison will not be disappointed. More information is available at: www.brownpapertickets.com or www.orpheumtheater.net.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Top Stories, February 24

BDPD K-9 Cop Retiring

2/24/10 - The Beaver Dam Police Department has had to retire their K-9 officer. Chief Dale Boldt says Ali has been having some health problems. K-9 dogs typically cost around $10,000. A significant portion of the money to purchase Ali was obtained through fundraisers by Middle School students. Boldt says while they haven’t looked at the budget yet, he doesn’t know when or if the department will be able to afford another K-9. Ali came to the department in the summer of 2004 and teamed up with Officer Andy Strachota and has been used for narcotics identification and locating missing people. The last time Ali was on the beat was last week and there are no plans to use her in the future.

Jefferson Man Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud

2/24/10 - A Jefferson man pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges that he defrauded a bank of $4.5 million. Brian Johnson admitted that he provided false documentation when taking out loans from the Evergreen State Bank of Stoughton. According to the US Attorney’s office, the 52-year-old indicated that he would use loan proceeds to pay subcontractors and other expenses to repair or construct buildings on Hartford, Jefferson and Oconomowoc. Johnson instead used the money for personal expenses, to repay other loans and to pay subcontractors for work done on other properties. He faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentences May 6.

Waupun Man Sentenced In Chase

2/24/10 - A Waupun man will spend three months in jail for leading police on a high speed chase that at times reached speeds in excess of 100mph. David A. Johnson entered a “no contest” plea to a felony charge of Fleeing and Eluding an Officer related to the September 27 incident. Waupun Police initiated the pursuit after observing the 21-year-old speeding on his motorcycle. The chase ended when Johnson crashed his bike on Highway 49 and Shamrock Road. The officer came upon the accident scene when there was still a large cloud of dust at the intersection. Johnson attempted to hide at a nearby residence but would up turning himself in without further incident. He was not injured in the crash. Johnson also had his license revoked for six months.

Relay For Life of Beaver Dam Kick-Off Tonight

2/24/10 - The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Beaver Dam committee is holding their kick-off meeting Wednesday night. Chair Maria Rognstad says survivors, committee members and previous team captains will be on hand to provide information to those interested in developing a team or joining a team. The meeting will be held in the Beaver Dam Community Hospital first floor conference room from 6:30 to 7:30pm. The cancer walk will be at the high school track on June 25 and 26.

Yet Another Oshkosh Contract

2/24/10 - The Army wants the Oshkosh Corporation to build another 14-hundred-60 rugged all-terrain vehicles to help fight the war in Afghanistan. The Pentagon likes the new grade of vehicles because they can handle the mountainous terrain in Afghanistan. And they can withstand roadside bombs which the previous Humvees had trouble dealing with. The Army’s latest order is worth 640-million dollars. That brings the total orders so far to more than eight-thousand M-R-A-P vehicles at a total cost of four-and-three-quarter billion dollars – plus work on spare parts and related items. Oshkosh C-E-O Robert Bohn says the Army vehicles will continue to be a top priority for his firm, because they understand the urgent need for them. Yesterday, the firm announced another military contract to build Army Reserve supply vehicles.

Quarter of Wisconsin Banks Lost Money Last Year

2/24/10 - About one-of-every-four Wisconsin banks lost money last year. That’s according to the F-D-I-C, which reports that 71 of the state’s 281 banks failed to turn a profit. That’s just over 25-percent, which is better than the national figure of 29-and-a-half percent. Wisconsin’s largest bank, the M-and-I chain of Milwaukee, lost 735-million dollars in 2009. Anchor Bank of Madison lost 159-million, and Associated Bank lost 118-million. The F-D-I-C also said 83 banks headquartered in the state lost money in the final quarter of last year, compared to the same time in 2008.

Liverseed on Community Comment

2/24/10 - On Community Comment this afternoon our guest is Joe Liverseed, the Wayland Academy senior who fell one valid signature short of having his name appear on the April ballot for Beaver Dam mayor. Liverseed is running as a write-in candidate against incumbent Tom Kennedy. We’ll ask him about his platform when he joins us on Community Comment this afternoon beginning at 12:35pm. Kennedy will join us on Friday.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Top Stories, February 23rd

Charges Filed In Violent Beaver Dam Domestic Incident

2/23/10 - A Sun Prairie man has been charged in connection with a domestic incident last May that left his girlfriends sister with a broken arm. Bryant D. Williams is accused of assaulting his girlfriend at her Town of Beaver Dam home. When her sister intervened, she was allegedly pushed down a flight of stairs. When she tried to call 9-1-1, the phone was alleged snatched away. When she tried to leave, she was allegedly pushed to the ground. She finally did escape and called 9-1-1 from a nearby gas station. The 23-year-old fled before authorities arrived and a statewide bulletin went out to law enforcement and local media outlets. Williams has yet to be taken into custody and an arrest warrant was issued along with the formal charges. He faces over 14 years in prison if convicted on the felony charges of Substantial Battery and Bail Jumping and misdemeanor Intimidating a Victim. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 8 and a signature bond was set yesterday at $1000.

Man Charged For Sending Sexually Explicit Texts

2/23/10 - A Westby man is charged with sending sexually-explicit pictures to the cell phone of a 14-year-old Lomira boy. Kelvin Stebbins is charged with a felony count of Exposing A Child To Harmful Materials, which carries a sentence of up to three-and-a-half years in prison, upon conviction. According to the criminal complaint, the mother of the child is in a custody battle with Stebbings and she reported the pictures to her brother, a Dodge County Sheriffs Deputy. The 39-year-old Stebbings told investigators that he and his former wife often exchanged text messages of a similar nature. Stebbins says she told him that her cell phone was broken and she would be in possession of the 14-year-olds phone. She says he made up that story. A signature bond was set at $1000 and a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 31.

BD Teen Sentenced For Fleeing

2/23/10 - A Beaver Dam man teen will spend a month in jail for leading authorities on a high speed chase. Kodey Meredith pleaded “no contest” to a felony charge of Fleeing/ Eluding an Officer and had five misdemeanors dismissed but read into the record. The 19-year-old was arrested last August after a deputy clocked his motorcycle going 69mph in a 45mph zone. When the deputy turned around to initiate a pursuit, Meredith fled at a high rate of speed. He was apprehended after losing control of his bike at the intersection of Highway 33 and County B. In addition to 30 days in jail with work privileges, Meredith was placed on probation for three years and lost his license for six months.

Detour Selected for Highway 33 Reconstruction

2/23/10 - The Beaver Dam Operations Committee last night selected a detour route for the Highway 33 reconstruction project, which is slated for 2013. The city will recommend the DOT direct traffic down Highway 151 to County Highway B. The detour route was selected over one that would have diverted traffic to Industrial Drive and DeClark Street.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Top Stories, February 22nd

Horicon Man Arraigned For $100K Embezzlement

2/22/10 - A Horicon Man is accused of embezzling over $100,000 from the Neosho tire store he managed. During an arraignment hearing Friday, Michael N. Wagner entered a “not guilty” plea to a felony charge of Theft in a Business Setting and 17 counts of Forgery. The 43-year-old is accused of taking cash and writing checks to himself for personal reasons throughout the course of his ten year employment and Rinderle Tires. Wagner says the owner of the store told him that if Wagner ever needed personal money “just handle it and pay me back.” The owner denied that such a conversation ever took place. Wagner faces up to 112 years in prison if convicted. Wagner has court activity on the calendar next month.

Fitzgerald on Fish Fry Fracas

2/22/10 - Plans to host a DOT-funded fish fry during a public hearing last week has drawn harsh criticism. The Department of Transportation held the hearing last Thursday to discuss plans for a Madison interchange project and officials said offering the free meal and free child care at the meeting would boost attendance. State DOT workers were the first to criticize the move, questioning the spending at the same time they had to take a furlough day. Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald criticized the decision on WBEV’s Community Comment Friday saying in the current economy it absolutely sends the wrong signal. The Republican from Horicon called it the epitome of the state government doing something that flies in the face of what people expect. The money would have come from the state’s gas tax but the complaints made their way to the media and DOT officials soon after said the plan was “a mistake.” An anonymous donor eventually stepped in to pay for the cost of the fish fry and child care.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Top Stories, February 21st

Pick-Up Strikes House In Hustisford

2/21/10 - A Grafton man was seriously injured after losing control of his pick-up truck and crashing into a house. It happened yesterday afternoon just before 4pm near the village of Hustisford. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, Michael Bonney was traveling northbound on County Highway E when his vehicle spun across the roadway, through the southbound lane striking several trees and a fence before running into the home. There was no one in the residence at the time. The jaw-of-life was used to cut the 38-year-old from the pick-up. Bonney was transported to the Watertown Hospital and then transferred to UW Hospital in Madison. Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the accident, which remains under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriffs Department Crash Team.

BDCH Announces New Medical Clinics

2/21/10 - Beginning Monday, two new family medicine clinics will begin serving patients in the Beaver Dam area. Officials with the Beaver Dam Community Hospital have announced the opening of clinics at 109 Warren and 148 Warren Street as part of an effort to meet a regional need for more family medicine physicians. Both clinics will serve patients of all ages and offer appointments Monday through Friday.

Price At The Pump Going Up

2/21/10 - After briefly dipping below two-and-a-half dollars, the cost of a gallon of regular unleaded has shot up 13 cents over the past week. The price in Beaver Dam this morning is $2.62 which is in-line with the statewide average but three cents below the national average. Gas in Oconomowoc is at $2.63. Fond du Lac is averaging $2.64. West Bend is as high as $2.69. According to wisconsingasprices.com, fuel still costs ten cents less on average than it did one month ago but its 68 cents higher than it was last year at this time.

Marine Reservists Return To Madison Early

2/21/10 - After several years of tours in Iraq being extended, a group of reservists from Wisconsin actually got to come home two months early. About 20 Marines arrived in Madison Friday night to a happy reception from family and friends. The Marine Corps reservists will remain on active duty until their debriefing is completed.

Paper Company Restoring Jobs

2/21/10 - Ohio-based NewPage Corporation credits increased demand and lower paper inventories for its decision to restart a paper machine at its mill in Whiting. About 40 jobs will be restored next week. The paper company shut down the machine last October, eliminating 58 positions. Seventeen of those workers transferred to other mills. The rest were laid off. NewPage owns Wisconsin mills in Biron, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids.

Robson: ‘Elderly, Disabled to Benefit From Rail’

2/21/10 - Wisconsin state Senator Judy Robson puts a different face on the riders who might be using high-speed rail service. The Beloit Democrat thinks seniors and the disabled with find the train service a sensible and convenient traveling option. Work on the line could start this year. Robson says there are some elderly and disabled people who can't travel between Wisconsin's two largest cities, Madison and Milwaukee. Using more than 800 million dollars in federal stimulus funds, upgrades to the tracks and trains should allow the locomotives to reach speeds of 110 miles an hour by 2015. Tickets are expected to cost 33 dollars. Previously we had been told of commuters and business people who would ride the rails. Republican opponents have criticized the high-speed rail as an expensive option that won't be used and will have to be heavily subsidized by taxes. Stops are planning in Watertown and Oconomowoc.
Dane Co Dispatch To Handle Parking Calls

2/21/10 - Dane County says its dispatchers could be better used on emergency calls. Nonetheless, a judge has blocked an effort by the county to use an automated answering system to deal with parking enforcement calls in Madison. The city had asked for an injunction. The county had told Madison it would have to fork over 33 thousand dollars if it was going to dispatch those calls. Madison's mayor had said that could lead to additional charges for services it was already paying for through county taxes. County Executive Kathleen Falk says calls will be diverted from 9-1-1 operators to take care of parking enforcement, but the judge will make a broader ruling at a later date.

Barrett Continues Hand Surgery

2/21/10 - Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will return to the hospital for a second round of hand surgery. Barrett was injured last August when he came to the aid of a woman outside the State Fair Park who was calling for help. His right hand was shattered when it was hit with a tire iron by 20 year old Anthony Peters. Doctors say extensive therapy should allow Barrett to get back about 90 percent of the full use of his hand. Meanwhile, Barrett is running the state's largest city and simultaneously conducting a campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Milwaukee Landlord Accused of Tennant Murder

2/21/10 - An apartment manager in Milwaukee is charged with beating one of his tenants to death. Felony murder charges were filed against Jimmie Richardson last week. Prosecutors say tenant Richard Bohannon got drunk and lost his keys. When he asked Richardson to help him get into his apartment, Richardson allegedly became enraged, threw Bohannon down a flight of stairs, then kicked him down a second flight of stairs. Bohannon died a week later from blunt force injuries, including a fractured skull.

Charges Filed Following Shotgun Incident

2/21/10 - Police say 20-year-old Tyler Chaney shot a woman in the head at a drinking party in Waukesha last week. He has been arrested. Chaney apparently loaded a shotgun and shot the 18 year old victim. Witnesses say several underage people were drinking at the party. Chaney tells investigators he thought there was only a shell in the gun when he put it to the girl's head and fired. Because the bullet wasn't the right size for the gun, it failed to penetrate her skull. The woman's condition wasn't reported. Chaney is charged with reckless injury.

Ice Shacks Vandalized

2/21/10 - Vandals broke into 50 ice shacks on Otter Lake in Chippewa County, stealing fishing gear and destroying equipment and smashing windows. Authorities are looking for the vandals who spread the path of destruction last Thursday night. Three groups have joined to create a reward of 15 hundred dollars which is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the vandals. One victim said the door to his shack was broken and the stuff inside was stolen or dumped in the lake. The window of another shack was broken. Sheriff's investigators say they have no suspects yet.

DNR Adds More Trout Stream Waterways

2/21/10 - Lingering snow on the ground could make some Wisconsin streams inaccessible, but Wisconsin wildlife officials say the early trout season will open on time. The DNR says that snow is a good thing because it replenishes streams with cold, clean water. The catch-and-release early trout season runs from March 6th through April 25th, with the regular trout season starting a week later. There are more opportunities for anglers. The Department of Natural Resources had added another 260 miles of waterways to its list of classified trout streams. Most were added in Barron, Crawford and Monroe counties.

Top Stories, February 21st

Pick-Up Strikes House In Hustisford

2/21/10 - A Grafton man was seriously injured after losing control of his pick-up truck and crashing into a house. It happened yesterday afternoon just before 4pm near the village of Hustisford. According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, Michael Bonney was traveling northbound on County Highway E when his vehicle spun across the roadway, through the southbound lane striking several trees and a fence before running into the home. There was no one in the residence at the time. The jaw-of-life was used to cut the 38-year-old from the pick-up. Bonney was transported to the Watertown Hospital and then transferred to UW Hospital in Madison. Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the accident, which remains under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriffs Department Crash Team.

BDCH Announces New Medical Clinics

2/21/10 - Beginning Monday, two new family medicine clinics will begin serving patients in the Beaver Dam area. Officials with the Beaver Dam Community Hospital have announced the opening of clinics at 109 Warren and 148 Warren Street as part of an effort to meet a regional need for more family medicine physicians. Both clinics will serve patients of all ages and offer appointments Monday through Friday.

Price At The Pump Going Up

2/21/10 - After briefly dipping below two-and-a-half dollars, the cost of a gallon of regular unleaded has shot up 13 cents over the past week. The price in Beaver Dam this morning is $2.62 which is in-line with the statewide average but three cents below the national average. Gas in Oconomowoc is at $2.63. Fond du Lac is averaging $2.64. West Bend is as high as $2.69. According to wisconsingasprices.com, fuel still costs ten cents less on average than it did one month ago but its 68 cents higher than it was last year at this time.

Marine Reservists Return To Madison Early

2/21/10 - After several years of tours in Iraq being extended, a group of reservists from Wisconsin actually got to come home two months early. About 20 Marines arrived in Madison Friday night to a happy reception from family and friends. The Marine Corps reservists will remain on active duty until their debriefing is completed.

Paper Company Restoring Jobs

2/21/10 - Ohio-based NewPage Corporation credits increased demand and lower paper inventories for its decision to restart a paper machine at its mill in Whiting. About 40 jobs will be restored next week. The paper company shut down the machine last October, eliminating 58 positions. Seventeen of those workers transferred to other mills. The rest were laid off. NewPage owns Wisconsin mills in Biron, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids.

Robson: ‘Elderly, Disabled to Benefit From Rail’

2/21/10 - Wisconsin state Senator Judy Robson puts a different face on the riders who might be using high-speed rail service. The Beloit Democrat thinks seniors and the disabled with find the train service a sensible and convenient traveling option. Work on the line could start this year. Robson says there are some elderly and disabled people who can't travel between Wisconsin's two largest cities, Madison and Milwaukee. Using more than 800 million dollars in federal stimulus funds, upgrades to the tracks and trains should allow the locomotives to reach speeds of 110 miles an hour by 2015. Tickets are expected to cost 33 dollars. Previously we had been told of commuters and business people who would ride the rails. Republican opponents have criticized the high-speed rail as an expensive option that won't be used and will have to be heavily subsidized by taxes. Stops are planning in Watertown and Oconomowoc.
Dane Co Dispatch To Handle Parking Calls

2/21/10 - Dane County says its dispatchers could be better used on emergency calls. Nonetheless, a judge has blocked an effort by the county to use an automated answering system to deal with parking enforcement calls in Madison. The city had asked for an injunction. The county had told Madison it would have to fork over 33 thousand dollars if it was going to dispatch those calls. Madison's mayor had said that could lead to additional charges for services it was already paying for through county taxes. County Executive Kathleen Falk says calls will be diverted from 9-1-1 operators to take care of parking enforcement, but the judge will make a broader ruling at a later date.

Barrett Continues Hand Surgery

2/21/10 - Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will return to the hospital for a second round of hand surgery. Barrett was injured last August when he came to the aid of a woman outside the State Fair Park who was calling for help. His right hand was shattered when it was hit with a tire iron by 20 year old Anthony Peters. Doctors say extensive therapy should allow Barrett to get back about 90 percent of the full use of his hand. Meanwhile, Barrett is running the state's largest city and simultaneously conducting a campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Milwaukee Landlord Accused of Tennant Murder

2/21/10 - An apartment manager in Milwaukee is charged with beating one of his tenants to death. Felony murder charges were filed against Jimmie Richardson last week. Prosecutors say tenant Richard Bohannon got drunk and lost his keys. When he asked Richardson to help him get into his apartment, Richardson allegedly became enraged, threw Bohannon down a flight of stairs, then kicked him down a second flight of stairs. Bohannon died a week later from blunt force injuries, including a fractured skull.

Charges Filed Following Shotgun Incident

2/21/10 - Police say 20-year-old Tyler Chaney shot a woman in the head at a drinking party in Waukesha last week. He has been arrested. Chaney apparently loaded a shotgun and shot the 18 year old victim. Witnesses say several underage people were drinking at the party. Chaney tells investigators he thought there was only a shell in the gun when he put it to the girl's head and fired. Because the bullet wasn't the right size for the gun, it failed to penetrate her skull. The woman's condition wasn't reported. Chaney is charged with reckless injury.

Ice Shacks Vandalized

2/21/10 - Vandals broke into 50 ice shacks on Otter Lake in Chippewa County, stealing fishing gear and destroying equipment and smashing windows. Authorities are looking for the vandals who spread the path of destruction last Thursday night. Three groups have joined to create a reward of 15 hundred dollars which is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the vandals. One victim said the door to his shack was broken and the stuff inside was stolen or dumped in the lake. The window of another shack was broken. Sheriff's investigators say they have no suspects yet.

DNR Adds More Trout Stream Waterways

2/21/10 - Lingering snow on the ground could make some Wisconsin streams inaccessible, but Wisconsin wildlife officials say the early trout season will open on time. The DNR says that snow is a good thing because it replenishes streams with cold, clean water. The catch-and-release early trout season runs from March 6th through April 25th, with the regular trout season starting a week later. There are more opportunities for anglers. The Department of Natural Resources had added another 260 miles of waterways to its list of classified trout streams. Most were added in Barron, Crawford and Monroe counties.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Top Stories February 20th

Train v Minivan Ruled a Suicide


2/20/10 - Authorities have ruled the death of West Bend man, who was killed when his minivan was struck by a freight train in Allenton Wednesday night, as a suicide. Officers said 47-year-old Gary Lewein drove past two vehicles and a warning gate before stopping on the tracks. The minivan was then immediately hit by the Canadian National train, which pushed it more than a quarter mile south of the Highway 33 intersection. Lewein was the only person in his vehicle, and he died at the scene. Washington County authorities say they believe Lewein intentionally drove into the crossing.


Woman Cited for OWI after Rolling Car into a Ditch


2/20/10 - A 23-year-old woman was apparently drunk when she put her car into a Town of Leroy ditch early this (Friday) morning. Dodge County Patrol Captain Molly Soblewski says the woman showed up the Beaver Dam hospital around 4am with injuries consistent with being involved in a traffic crash. She told the hospital she had put her car into the ditch near the intersection of County Y and Z. Deputies went to the scene and found the vehicle, which had apparently rolled over several times and the air bags had deployed as well. The woman was treated for her injuries before being arrested for driving under the influence.


Three People Indicted in Connection with Bank Robbery


2/20/10 - Three people have been indicted in connection with a bank robbery in Madison earlier this month. 33-year-old Jennifer DeBoef of Poynette and 28-year-old Gregory Allen of Memphis, TN each face up to 25 years in federal prison if convicted on the felony charge. The two also face charges of possessing stolen money, along with Allen’s brother 39-year-old Raymond Allen, who is also from Poynette. That charge carries a 10 year prison sentence. Witnesses say the robber had a handgun and stole money from two cash drawers. Authorities say the money stolen from the Anchor Bank contained dye-packs which exploded and tainted the money red. The FBI and Columbia County SWAT team joined local police in arresting the trio in Poynette in the days after the robbery. Gregory Allen and DeBoef made an initial court appearance in federal court earlier this month and were detained pending an arraignment hearing which is scheduled for this afternoon.


White House to Release Plan to Fight Invasive Species in Great Lakes


2/20/10 - The Obama administration is expected to release details of a plan to fight invasive species in the Great Lakes at a news conference tomorrow morning. EPA Director Lisa Jackson is expected to release details of the effort to restore the lakes by reducing toxic contamination and reversing the loss of wildlife habitat. President Obama has pledged to spend five billion dollars over the next decade and Congress has already appropriated 475 million toward the goal. A portion of that money will go toward efforts to keep the predatory Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan waters.


Power Plant Not in Compliance


2/20/10 - Five state-run power plants are out of compliance with federal clean air regulations. The Department of Natural Resources says those plants need tighter pollution controls. The Doyle administration is promising to fix the problems uncovered by the DNR. The plants provide power to University of Wisconsin campuses in Eau Claire, La Crosse, River Falls and Oshkosh. The DNR says more study is needed to find out whether five additional plants will have to be fixed. A consultant has said the second group of five power plants don't violated the Clearn Air Act, but the DNR disputes that finding.


Book Won’t Be Removed from FDL Library


2/20/10 - Thirteen-year-old Fond du Lac middle school student Shelby Berg says the Sonya Sones book One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies moved her. She says that’s one of the reasons she asked it be included at the Theisen (TIE-sun) Middle School Library. Berg testified last night during a public hearing for a Fond du Lac Schools committee considering whether the book should be removed from the library. Ann Wentworth who wanted the book removed from the school library also testified. She’s the parent of an 11-year-old girl who brought the book home from the school. She says the sexual content in the book wasn’t age appropriate. The committee is sending District Superintendent Jim Sebert a unanimous recommendation to keep the book in the school’s library.


Bill Aimed at Helping Kids with Dyslexia


2/20/10 - A parents’ group is urging Wisconsin lawmakers to pass two bills to help school kids with dyslexia. Assembly Republican Keith Ripp of Lodi introduced both measures. One would screen all kindergarten-through-second graders for dyslexia – along with third-through-fifth graders who do poorly on reading tests. The other bill would require elementary reading teachers, reading specialists, and special-ed teachers to be trained in methods to help dyslexic children learn to read. The Learning Differences Network of Madison is pushing for votes on both measures before the current legislative session ends in a month-and-a-half. Both measures are now in the Assembly Education Committee, and lawmakers of both parties have signed on as co-sponsors. One of the learning network’s founders, Doctor Julie Gocey, says she calls every week from Wisconsin parents looking for help in getting their kids to read. Representative Ripp said he had reading problems growing up, and his son is dyslexic – and he said both measures would be a huge help in providing answers to affected families.


Legislator Wants Virtual Schools Enrollment Cap Lifted


2/20/10 - Enrollment in Wisconsin's virtual schools is growing rapidly -- leading a state lawmaker to call for a removal of the enrollment cap. Under a 2007 state law enrollment in distance learning programs is limited to 52-hundred-50 students statewide. State Representative Brett Davis predicts that limit will be hit within the next two years. More than 36 hundred students are currently enrolled, taking classes at home using a computer. Enrollment is up 21 percent this year. The Oregon Republican is sponsoring legislation lifting the cap completely. He says the only ones opposing the idea are members of the state teachers' union.


Improved Education Benefits for Veterans Sought


2/20/10 - A state representative from Dodgeville is calling on other Wisconsin lawmakers to support his plan which improves education benefits for veterans. Democrat Steve Hilgenberg says he's upset veterans have to exhaust a new federal education benefit before they can use the Wisconsin G.I. bill to pay their tuition. Hilgenberg is the chairman of the Assembly committee on veterans and military affairs. He wants to give veterans up to 64 credits of free tuition through the Wisconsin G.I. bill after they use their federal benefits. He says this would keep more veterans in the state and give them the ability to attend graduate school.


Brown Deer Soccer Coach Faces Sexual Assault Charges


2/20/10 - An assistant soccer coach at Brown Deer High School is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 16 year old student. Emily Patterson was charged with felony sexual assault of a student yesterday. Patterson is 26 years old. The student says they became close after they talked about the teenager's personal and family problems. Patterson is accused of staying overnight at the girl's house two times last month. That is when they allegedly touched each other inappropriately. Patterson has an initial court appearance scheduled for next Wednesday.


Ellis Wants New Lawyer


2/20/10 - Accused serial killer Walter Ellis tells the judge he wants a new lawyer. Ellis is charged with killing seven women over a 21-year period. He has pleaded not guilty to first degree intentional homicide charges in the deaths. He says he hasn't had enough contact with his current lawyer. He also told the judge he hadn't seen a witness list and he didn't think his lawyer had filed enough pretrial motions. Judge Rebecca Dallet told Ellis is was normal not to have much contact with a legal representative at this stage of a trial. She has scheduled a hearing for March 3rd when she will rule on his request. The prosecution objected, pointing out that it only turned over its witness list to Ellis' attorney yesterday morning.


Merger Talk Continues in Pewaukee


2/20/10 - Merger talks have been going on for the past 40 years or so -- and they may keep on. Efforts to merge the City of Pewaukee and the Village of Pewaukee could be unraveling. The two communities have spent about a quarter-million dollars studying a possible merger. Now, City of Pewaukee alderman H. Roger Hathaway is calling for the merger advisory committee to quit working and quit spending taxpayer money on studies. Hathaway says it is time to "stop the bleeding." He's going to ask the City of Pewaukee Common Council to vote to cease the merger committee's activities at the next meeting March 1st.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Top Stories, February 19th

Man Killed in Train v Mini-Van Identified

2/19/10 - The driver of a mini-van killed by a freight train was identified yesterday as 47-year-old Gary Lewein of West Bend. Washington County authorities are still investigating the crash, which occurred Wednesday night on Highway 33 in Allenton. Officers said the mini-van drove past two vehicles and a warning gate before the Canadian National train hit the mini-van on the tracks. Lewein was the only person in his vehicle, and he died at the scene.

Committee Will Study Size of County Board

2/19/10 - Over the next few months a five-person committee will be conducting a study to determine whether or not trim the number of Supervisors on the Dodge County Board. Chairman Russ Kottke appointed five supervisors that, as a group, represent areas in each region of the county. One of the members, Dave Frohling of Watertown, says he his goal is to save money but also to keep the board efficient. The board currently has 37 members, which makes it the third largest in the state, though by state statute they could have as many as 39 members. The committee’s first meeting is slated for March 10th.

Barrett Calls for Scaling Down of Clean Energy Bill

2/19/10 - Some top leaders joined the main Democratic candidate for governor yesterday in calling for a scaled-down bill to create clean energy in Wisconsin. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett made waves when he told a bio-tech company in Middleton that the package to fight global warming will have to be scaled back. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker said he was concerned about the impact it would have in raising utility rates. And with only a month-and-a-half left in the current session, Decker said the package will need re-tooling. The head of the Assembly Clean Energy Jobs Committee, Green Bay Democrat Jim Soletski, said he expected amendments from both houses. And his goals are to make a quarter of Wisconsin’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2025 – and to allow new nuclear power plants in a way that’s constitutional.

DNR Looks to Speed Up Permitting Process for Large Farms

2/19/10 - The state D-N-R says it wants to speed up the process for large farms to get environmental permits. The agency is proposing a uniform, blanket permitting system instead of considering each request from scratch on an individual basis. Officials say farmers would not face easier restrictions – but the review process would be quicker. Public hearings on the change are planned for later in the spring. Right now, farmers must get individual permits from the D-N-R if they plan to start a farm with over a-thousand animal units, which equals about 700 dairy cows. Those permits outline specific restrictions for things like spreading manure when the ground is frozen. But now, the D-N-R wants to change to general permits for farms of one-thousand to 57-hundred animal units. And those with at least 300 units might have to get general permits if they don’t fix old problems with pollution.

Clyman FD Receives $121K Grant

2/19/10 - The Clyman Fire Department has been awarded a $121,000 grant for the purchase new equipment. Fire Captain Dave DeCono says the money will be used to purchase voice-activated face pieces that will allow firefighters to communicate with the command center during a fire. In addition, the department will be getting new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. DeCono says the new SCBA equipment will give firefighters up to 35 minutes of breathing time. Their current equipment only provides 15 to 20 minutes of oxygen. The Clyman Fire Department has been applying for the grant for the past five years and this is the first year they’ve been successful.

Sex Offenders To Register Their Twitter

2/19/10 - Registered sex offenders will now have to tell the state whenever they sign up for Twitter, Facebook or other social networking sites under a plan the governor has signed into law. Sex offenders already have to provide the state Department of Corrections with their fingerprints, their home addresses, their current employers and a recent photograph. This plan expands that list to include electronic information. Fort Atkinson Assembly Democratic Sponsor Andy Jorgensen says when he first started working on the plan, it was geared toward e-mail because Twitter didn't even exist yet, but he says the law is written to be flexible, to keep up with technology. The plan passed the full legislature unanimously. It takes effect immediately.

Six Years For Fox Lake Child Molester

2/19/10 - A Fox Lake man who molested a preteen girl was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison. Jonathan Sparacio pleaded “no contest” in December to a felony charge of Child Enticement and had a felony Sexual Assault charge dismissed but read into the record. The 63-year-old committed a series of offenses in 2004. The mother of the victim is said to have legally recorded two conversations with Sparacio in which he admitted guilt but blamed the girl. In addition to the six year prison sentence, Sparacio was ordered to serve three years of extended supervision and must also attend sex offender treatment and provide a DNA sample.

Brandon Woman Sentenced For Bethesda Thefts

2/19/10 - A Brandon woman was placed on probation for one year for stealing money from residents at Bethesda Lutheran Homes in Fox Lake. Lalonnie Schouten pleaded “guilty” to one misdemeanor charge of Theft In A Business Setting and had four others dismissed but read into the record. According to the criminal complaint, the 41-year-old was employed part-time at the facility and was responsible for conducting banking transactions for residents. Over the course of her 18-month employment, an audit revealed that Schouten stole money from five different residents. There were nine transactions in question resulting in a total of $1000 in stolen money. A restitution hearing will be held at a later date.

Fishing With Fuzz Casts First Line

2/19/10 - In an effort to keep younger teens out of trouble the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department will be hosting the first annual “Fishing with the Fuzz” event that will teach kids age 12 to 14 how to ice fish. Communications Director Pat Ninnman says the goal of the event, which will be held on February 28th, is to allow law enforcement and the younger people in the community to bond. Ninmann says the event will take place at Beaver Dam Bay Marina beginning at 9am. Following two hours of fishing the kids will be brought back inside for some refreshments. Ninmann says the kids will be able to take home the ice fishing gear and there is no cost. For those wishing to participate, Ninnman says you can go online to shopwithcops.org to find the sign up forms which can be mailed in.

Wisconsin Pension Obligations Covered

2/19/10 - A new report said Wisconsin was one of only four states which had enough money set aside in 2008 to cover its pension obligations to public employees. The Pew Center on the States said there was one-trillion-dollar gap nationally between the money that state-and-local governments set aside for retirement benefits – and the actual costs of those benefits. In 2000, Pew said just over half the states had fully-funded pension accounts – but the number shrunk to just six by 2006. And two years later, only Wisconsin, Washington, New York, and Florida still had fully-funded pensions. Pew rated Wisconsin as one of nine solid performers in maintaining its benefits for state retirees, for both pensions and other commitments.

Unemployment Projected To Hold Steady

2/19/10 - The Federal Reserve says the nation’s unemployment rate will stay around 10-percent this year, and eight-to-nine-percent in 2011. The biggest reason is that consumers will most likely keep their spending down. U-W Whitewater professor Russell Kashian says the projection is quote, “dead on.” He says the current recovery is not creating enough new jobs to meet the demands of the unemployed, plus those now entering the workforce. Over 160-thousand Wisconsinites lost their jobs over the past year – and Kashian says the state has only created an average of two-thousand-jobs a month over the last decade. Analysts say jobless rates won’t go down very much until the economy starts growing by five-percent a year. It’s expected to grow no more than three-and-a-half percent in 2010. Wells Fargo economist Jay Mueller of Menomonee Falls said the big rush for credit before the recession will be felt for a long time. He says families and businesses are using any new-found money to pay down their debt – and as a result, consumption could be restrained the next 2-to-5 years. Mueller expects some consumer spending growth – but not as much as past economic recoveries. In the last recession in 1991, Mueller said it took 21 months for employment to return to its pre-recession levels.

Badger State Web Surfers Leading The Nation

2/19/10 - More Wisconsinites go on-line than the national average. The U-S Census Bureau says 79-percent of household residents have Internet access – and that’s the 10th highest percentage in the nation. Also, the Census Bureau said 75-percent of all Wisconsinites three-and-older used the Internet last year, either inside or outside their homes. That makes Wisconsin ninth in total Web usage. Nationally, 68-percent of Americans used the ‘Net in 2009 – and 73-and-a-half percent lived in households with Internet access. Alaska had the highest percentage of users at 79-percent. Mississippi had the lowest at 55-percent.

Fitzgerald On Community Comment Friday

2/19/10 - Assembly Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald will be our guest on WBEV’s Community Comment this afternoon. The Republican from Horicon will be on to talk about the current legislative session and answer questions from our listeners. Community Comment airs weekdays on WBEV 1430AM beginning at 12:35pm.